Capitol Heights establishment MSG ends go-go shows. (photo courtesy MSG)

Music, Sports & Games, better known as the Capitol Heights entertainment complex MSG, is changing its format starting Sept. 11, owner Eric Pickens says. There will be more sports, more games, and still some music, but a lot less of one genre in particular — go-go.

"We’re transitioning to more of a sports bar establishment,” says Pickens. “We’ll still have live entertainment, but it will be modified tremendously. The goal is to be a sort of Dave & Buster’s with live entertainment, sports, and so forth."

That makes one more venue that the Metropolitan Police Department can remove from its Go-Go Report. MSG was previously Le Pearl, a banquet hall available for rental, and a popular spot for go-go shows. The venue changed its name and look earlier this year. When Le Pearl became MSG, go-go shows continued, albeit less frequently. But Sept. 11 will mark the official end of go-go music at the establishment.

Pickens says the decision was based on “community feedback.” In January the Prince George's County's Liquor Control Board issued a $7,500 fine to Pickens, for license violations, and for violating the peace and safety of the community following a December 2009 shooting death that occurred after a Le Pearl go-go show. Pickens also formerly owned Club Neon, a Clinton, Md., teenage club, which he voluntarily closed in 2007 after a fatal shooting outside of the club.

“I’ve been in contact with some of the surrounding communities and their feedback was that they wanted to make it more community-oriented," he says. "People will come for the nightlife, but what about during the day? We’re modified so people can come and be social for a happy hour, but still have karaoke, a band, a DJ, and then during the day, TV, games...the whole family can come.

He adds that the community “pointed out a couple of bands that they didn’t want in my establishment."

"We’re looking at statistics, and when these bands performed, things happened around that time, so we wanted to get away from those statistics,"  he says.

Although Pickens said he would not name the bands mentioned, it's not difficult to figure out: XIB, Reaction, and TCB all played at the Central Avenue venue.

Pickens said he wouldn't rule out hosting bands such as Suttle Thoughts and Mambo Sauce, but says he would not classify them as go-go bands, as they play all genres of music.

"When we say go-go, that’s such a taboo word around here. There will be live entertainment and there will be bands, but not on the level we used to have — not anywhere near that capacity," he says. "I would be looking at bands along the lines of [Suttle Thoughts], bands of that caliber, but I would debate whether you can call Suttle go-go.  I would classify them as 'alternative,' they play a mix. They can do a range. There may be some go-go songs in their set, but they're not boxed into that for their whole performance."

Although Pickens is losing the draw of go-go, he says he hopes that the new daytime hours will make up for the loss.

"That is the plan," he says. "We think these games be more of a draw, get people in to eat more, and that people will stay in here a little bit longer to offset some of the things we’re losing. Having bands — and when I say bands I mean R&B, rap, go-go, everything — I wouldn't say it's lucrative, but it's profitable. And in this economy, you can have all the bands you want and still lose, but it helps out with the odds of you winning."