The booking policies of club owners have long had an influence on music. Generally speaking, this influence has not exactly been a nurturing one as those with a financial stake in a venue prefer safe bets to adventurous outings. As such, musicians, especially young ones, wanting to test new ideas have historically had to do so in their homes, at private loft parties or in the kind of clubs that can afford to take a risk.

Koto player Michiyo Yagi has a multifaceted musical personality that might delight her fans but could be a nightmare for booking gigs. While her reputation as an accomplished classical musician regularly lands her in conventional concert halls, such places don't indulge much in the way of experimentation -- especially when she plugs her instrument into an amp. Clubs, meanwhile, aren't exactly hungry to book koto players. But when she revealed the lineup of her new power trio -- Talon -- to Mike Kubek at SuperDeluxe, he says he "jumped at the chance to have them play.

Granted, with Mitsuru Nasuno of the long-standing improv rock group Altered States on bass and Tatsuya Yoshida of Ruins on drums, Talon should be a killer combo. But strong potential can secure a gig only at a club with enlightened booking policies -- or a venue like SuperDeluxe.