I've had one musician friend killed at a bar in town here...stabbed, actually...guns just make it easier and less personal. Not trying to start anything political...I'm the most apolitical person any of you will ever know (Patman is painfully shy and quiet), but alcohol and weapons are a bad mix. It has been a constant fear of mine ever since Frank was stabbed. Frank was probably the greatest trumpet player (literally) to ever walk the face of this earth FWIW. His death was so senseless.
No we don't play Over-the-Rhine...but we do play quite often in a 300 seat roadhouse on river road in the extreme west of town in a sketchy neighborhood. I generally try to steer us to places that serve meals as well as booze...makes me feel safer.
The 300 seat roadhouse BTW is a wonderful place to play. Jim and Jack's...best food and rock n' roll in town. I grew up on the west side and still miss it and the people there.
You can run, but you can't hide from your upbringing.
Ive been gigging 40 years,also...and I think that if I stop playing, pretty soon I will no longer be able to...I don't want that to happen. They can pry my Precision Bass out of my cold dead hands.(yes, i have had a few beers tonight)...