A Royal Labor of Love

On January 7, 2022, Royal Bliss played the last show they would ever play at The Royal in Salt Lake City. The house was packed with savvy music fans who recognized that this event would go down as a significant night in Utah Rock n’ Roll history.

After nine years, The Royal is closing its doors for good. I reached out to co-owner of the club, Neal Middleton and asked him about the closure. For those of you as ignorant as I was in 2017, Middleton is also frontman for the band Royal Bliss who—along guitarist Taylor Richards and business partner Kelly Petersen—opened The Royal nine years ago.

When Middleton answered the phone, he sounded all gravelly—like I had woken him up from a deep sleep. I felt bad when I realized he was actually on the road playing shows in Wisconsin, Cabo San Lucas and who the hell knows where else. I mean, he was probably up all night doing all the stuff rock stars do. Right?

I mean, he was probably up all night doing all the stuff rock stars do.”

I jest of course. Middleton always has always had that gravelly sort of rock n’ roll voice, and he didn’t hang up on me so after a bit of small talk I asked the question I had been dying to ask. 

What the fuck was happening with the club?

Middleton’s answer was a story has been told many times before. For Middleton and Taylor, running the club was a part-time gig. Even so it was a lot of work and required a lot of time and effort—especially during the past two years with tyrannical lockdowns (my words). When Petersen was presented a business opportunity that would take her away from active participation of the business, Middleton and Richards had to make the very difficult decision of selling the club.

Growing families…new business opportunities and of course the band, all had to be considered.

After two great sets by Andrew W Boss and The Lonely Ones, Royal Bliss took the stage in dramatic fashion.

For Middleton and Richards, The Royal had been a labor of love. During their set, Middleton took a moment to tell the story of how—after a fight with his better half—he drove to the newly-acquired, soon-to-be club, and began busting up concrete with sledge hammer. As he told the story, he was looking down at the club floor and no doubt he could still sees it as is was back then.

For the next nine years, The Royal became a haven for local music fans who flocked to the club to see rising local artists and breakout touring bands. Royal Bliss, of course, played often enough—giving their hometown fans an opportunity their national fans would jealous about. The club also served as a launchpad of sorts—used by Middleton and Richards as a tool to promote those local bands they felt were ready to take the next step.

The Lonely Ones, from Columbus Ohio, played a great set.

The club also served a launchpad of sorts—used by Middleton and Richards as a tool to promote those local bands they felt were ready to take the next step.”

The show on the 7th was no different. In addition to Royal Bliss, the lineup included The Lonely Ones, out of Columbus Ohio, and Utah’s own Andrew W Boss and the Boss Crew.

I asked Middleton about this mentorship and he mentioned some of the many bands they invited to share the stage. Bands like like Ginger and the Gents, Late Night Savior and of course the Boss Crew.

Andrew W Boss and the Boss Crew played a fantastic set and got the mosh pit going.

My Own Brief Memories

I remember the first time I went to The Royal. It was shortly after moving to Salt Lake City in 2017. Back then, the club hosted a Monday night open mic/open jam and I had a few new originals I wanted to share. I had no idea who owned the club, nor did I really care.

I was a regular that first winter. I remember always looking forward to hearing what three songs the jam’s host band—with Mitch Olsen, Kevin Gardiner and Trevor James—would play. I also remember Taylor Richards showing up now and then to jam. Everyone treated Richards with a sort of reverence and I finally asked a friend “who is this guy? Embarrassment ensued.

More recently, as other local venues shut down during the pandemic, The Royal continued to stay open—not only for the financial benefit of bands, artists and club employees, but the emotional benefit and mental health for all of us. I wrote about that period and you can read about it here.

Back to the Future

Fast forward to January 7, 2022. During their opening number, Save Me, Middleton talked about how important the club was to him and the band. He talked about how important fans and patrons were, and how it was they quite possibly saved him. Check out the video of their opening number, Save Me.

During that opening number it dawned on me that, while this may have been the end of an era, it was likely the beginning of perhaps something bigger and better for the band. I could see it in the band’s eyes. They were having the times of their lives. There were no regrets. 

On January 24, 2022, The Royal will become a third location for The Break—a growing local sports bar establishment with locations in South Jordan and West Jordan. Middleton says they never listed the club. One call to the owner of The Break and the deal was done.

See any bands you know? This might be of interest to the women who always wondered what the Mens’ bathroom at The Royal looked like. I wonder if they’ll auction off these stalls?

What Middleton calls the Final Throwdown will take place on January 23. The event will include live music—with Middleton and Richards likely doing an acoustic set—and other artists TBA. There will also be live and silent auctions to sell the memorabilia that decorates the walls of the club. In addition to framed show posters, flat screen TVs and who knows what else, Middleton says they will be auctioning off signed guitars from Buckcherry, Shooter Jennings and other legends.

In addition to doing the band thing, Middleton says they have started a production company. Middleton confirmed the new company will carry on the tradition of putting local bands on the big stage. There are a lot of show ideas in the works. Stay tuned for news on that.

Plan on dropping in to say hello on the 23rd. Perhaps you’ll walk away with something really cool, like the decal-laden mens’ bathroom stall.