Issue 5, Article 10
CONNECTICUT... represent.
The Pit, Torrington, CT
Directions: Take 66-W to 91-S/15-S (New Haven) merge onto 691-W. Take 84-W to Rt. 8 North. Get off at Exit 44, take a left off the ramp. The Pit will be on your left about 1/8 mile down the road. It’s a big red building, can't miss it.
Estimated time (according to an ‘87 Toyota Tercel): 40 min.
Info: A relatively new venue for local CT punx. All ages so they serve juice, not beer. Adam from Crypt Kicker Five says, "The Pit is pretty much owned by a guy named Kevin who has been in the punk scene for years — a bunch of other Torrington punks help out with the place.. it’s really laid back and DIY, open during the day for kids to come and hang out, do homework, get coffee, what ever.."
Contact: For more information or bookings call Kevin (860) 482-9906. You can get show listings at:
http://members.esslink.com/~reiterate/shows1.htm but their web site is not constructed yet.
The Extreme Skate Park. Building 21, Wallingford, CT
Directions: Route 66-W to 91-S/15-S (New Haven). Exit 64 Wallingford. Take right off ramp, right at first stop sign and right into the first driveway. You’ll see a big parking lot and a huge ugly building surrounded by a fence with a small sign "21". Go to the front entrance, it’s on the fourth floor.
Estimated time: 15 min.
Info: There are 3+ big half pipes taking-up the back half the space. The bands play in the front section which looks like it’s normally used for street skating and biking by the look of the streaks on the floor. Most shows are straight edge and hardcore, all ages. Drinks and pretzels/nachos are sold; there are graffiti murals; and the toilet is unusable (which you won’t discover until you nearly die crossing the ramps to find it). I think it is associated with the guys at the Subterranean store in Wallingford; they share ad space in the Advocate (clothes and lots of metal & hardcore, some generic music stuff that seems to cater to the Choat kids around).
Contact: Mike Zimmerman owns the place but different promoters do shows. (203) 741-1196.
Tune Inn, Center Place, New Haven, CT
Directions: Route 66-W. Take exit for 91-S/15-S (New Haven). Take Exit 1 (downtown New Haven), make sharp right off ramp. You'll go under the Civic Center and the street ends (two blocks). Turn left, this street is a good place to park if you can or turn right on Church St. The Tune Inn is on a one-way street (Dunkin’ Donuts on the corner), the first right once you’re on Church. It probably doesn't have parking and you don’t want punks sitting on it so circle around until you find something. Church St. is probably best because it's well lit. Don’t park in the fenced-in lot across from the Tune Inn. If open, it costs a lot; if closed, you'll get towed.
Estimated time: 30 min.
Info: The Elevator Music store is inside. There is a strange 3-person limit in the tiny store so you'll usually see a line of people waiting to get in. There's a bar surrounded by a cage with the cigarette machine and pool tables. The sound is usually bad, but it's a good space. The dual-level stage is pretty high; fits a couple hundred kids; gets the big punk bands who make it over to CT.
Contact: Fernando Pinto owns and books the club. He also runs Elevator Music. (see WMJ #2)
Toad’s Place, 300 York St. #1, New Haven, CT 06511
Directions: You know the routine: 66-E to 91-S. Take the Trumbell St. exit in New Haven. Turn left on Temple St, right on Grove St. which becomes Tower Parkway. Take slight left onto Broadway, slight left onto Elm St. and a left onto York St. You'll see the awning. Check the streets for parking on the way there, there’s also those median lots on Elm.
Info: Toad's hosts all ranges of music, good and bad. Kinda pricey like the Webster but a smaller space. Doubles as a bar so maybe check if the show is all ages.
Estimated time: 30 min
Contact: (203) 624-8623
Hanover House, Meriden, CT
Directions: probably downtown? Sorry, my "contacts" didn’t get back to me.
Estimated time: 10 min
Info: A small, dirty venue (holds a good 25 people) with no sound equipment (D.I.Y. and B.Y.O.). Across the street from a cemetery, next to a bar and appears to have been a bar at one time. It's so punk I can't find any directions or real information about it. Who knows how long it'll last; the word is, "it's going under".
Contact: (203) 238-2749
CT Bike Exchange / Bristol Skate Park , 86 South St., Bristol, CT 06010
Directions: Take 66-W to 91-S to 84-W. Get off at exit 31 (West St.).
Take right off the ramp. Go 4-5 miles into Bristol. You'll see a Mobil station on the right, a grocery store on the left; take a left past the grocery on Mountain Road. Go through 3 traffic lights, they’re on the left.
Info: Open for bikes and skating Tues-Sun.
Contact: (860) 582-3334 business line for both. Brendon 589-5444 and Nate book shows on the local ska and punk tip.
Brass City Records, 489 Meadow Street, Waterbury, CT 06702
Directions: Take Route 66W which becomes I-691 W. Take the I-84W to Waterbury. Take the Meadow St. exit. Stay straight off ramp to go onto Meadow St.
Estimated time: 30 min
Info: A record store stocking independent music in the habit of putting shows on in a small upstairs space. Walt Quadrato says, "We've been doing store shows for almost 9 years now. We have a PA (small but does the job) and a stage. We've done everything from Henry Kaiser (solo avant guitarist) to a 12 piece blues band to poetry readings to Blur and almost every band on the Deep Elm label...with special emphasis on local bands-artists leaning toward the more creative side. We'll generally do evening shows or weekend things but we're really flexible. We don't charge an admission but we do encourage donations for the touring bands. Hey, we're not the ones making the music, we just provide a space."
Contact: The people working there are very cool. Ask for Walt (203) 574 7805 wvsq@ix.netcom.com
El'N'Gee Club, 81 Golden St., New London, CT
Directions: Take 9-S to I-95N (Providence/New London). Get off at Exit 84 to Downtown New London. Go straight through 3 lights. One block after 3rd light, there is a well-lit parking lot on the left. The club is on the right; look for the marquis. Cops might try to pull you over after the show if you look like a delinquent (and if you're going the wrong way on a one-way street).
Estimated time: 45 min
Info: Similar feel as the Tune Inn with a wider variety of acts.
Contact: (860) 437-3800 Steph (manages Inspecter 7) and Derek T.C. (who books them) says Scott Magruder, the contact person at El'N'Gee, is a "great guy": scooter@ctol.net
T>A>Z temporary autonomous zone, Downtown New London, CT
Directions: Hop on 9-S to I-95N. Take the left hand exit for "New London". Follow Route 32 past Connecticut College. Take "Downtown New London" exit, straight to fifth light, left on Bank Street, it’s three blocks down on right.
Estimated time: 45 min
Info: A great new club that just opened. "Hozomeen Press is a publishing and arts collective based in the T>A>Z. Besides hand-making short run poetry prose and art collections, the group also plays its hand with numerous puppet shows and dramatic presentations through the Secret Theatre, art shows at the Atavist Gallery as well as rock jazz and psychedelic music at T>A>Z's Listening Room."
Contact: www.hozomeen.org.
Schools that do shows.
Every school has a variety of basements where they can put on shows. The kids in charge change every year so maybe ask your friends or poke around on campus to see what’s going on: Your very own Wesleyan University!, Trinity, UCONN, Yale, University of Hartford.
RHODE ISLAND:
There is a ranch in Texas as big as Rhode Island. My backyard in Alaska is as big as Rhode Island.
Studio 159, 118 Manton Avenue, Providence, RI
Directions: Take 9S to 95N to Providence. Once you’re in Providence, take exit 22 to Route 6&10. Stay on Route 6W. Take Plainfield St. exit. Go through two lights. Left on Manton Ave. After the Price Rite grocery store, take a left between the Price Rite and the big mill warehouse. The club is behind the mill. Park behind the grocery store, not in the driveway to the club entrance.
Estimated time: 1hr. 45min. It's worth the drive, really.
Info: The club opened this fall I think. Really nice and freshly painted white, colored pipes across the ceiling. There’s a small skate ramp in the back of the club. Cheap admission ($5), a nice stage, snack bar. The policy seems to be smoke outside which is fine because it's nice outside; a river runs past the club, the entrance is lit with x-mas lights. The show listings this month seem to be mostly hardcore and emo, some metal and indie rock too. Erik from Bound by Nothing says "Studio 159 is a great place... Its my favorite for shows. The atmosphere is more relaxed and the Boston scenesters don't hang out there. The one time when there was an In My Eyes/Ten Yard Fight show, a fight broke out."
Contact: http://www.ids.net/contrast/studio159/ (401) 521-3177 and alcontrast@ ids.net
Lupos Heartbreak HoteL / The Met Café, 239 Westminster Street 130 Union Street, Providence, RI Providence, RI
Directions: Take 9-S to I-95N (New London/Providence). In Providence, take Franklin St. exit. Right on Broadway, light left on Fountain St. Slight right on Dorrance St. Right onto Westminster St.
Estimated Time: 2hr max.
Info: Big venue with big bar feeling. Hosts all levels of rock. The smaller venue, The Met Café is attached on the back but the venues aren’t really connected. Go there for a more intimate, indie-rock feeling.
Contact: Lupos: (401) 272-5876 lupos@ tiac.net The Met: (401) 861-2142
AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence, RI
Directions: Take 9-S to I-95 N (New London/Providence). In Providence, take Franklin St. exit. Left on Washington, right on Empire St. I’d check a map to be sure, sorry.
Info: The entire space includes a cafe and performance area, two art galleries, the Perishable Theater, and Groundwerx dance company. (So you’ll find the occasional indie rock show.)
Contact: (401) 831-9327
MASSACHUSETTS:
Wow, what a scene; the list never ends.
The Old Store, Main Street, Palmer, MA</P>
Directions: Take 9-N to 91-N through Springfield. Take I-291/20-E, stay straight on I-291. Take Mass Pike I-90E to the Palmer exit 32. After tollbooth, take right on Thorndike St. At the 2nd set of lights, take right on Main St. (Palmer). Bear right at next set of light. Next light, take a left on Main St. (Three Rivers village). The Old Store is about 1 mile down on the right.
Info: Opened in May 1998, Michael S. from UMass runs it as a "community project" putting on about two shows a month. Its an old store handed down in the family; now with a hand-painted sign out front, couch and bizarre decorations for ambiance.
Contact: This person books shows there sometimes: WMHC413@aol.com. check out www.theoldstore.com for an interesting history of the place and show listings.
Serendipity Hall, Rt. 16, Uxbridge, MA
Directions: Get on the Mass Pike I-90. Take exit 10-A which will take you to rt.146 in Auburn. Once you have paid the toll, take a left at the light. Go down to the end, take a right onto Rt. 20. Take first right on Rt. 146-S (Providence). Get off at Rt. 16 (Uxbridge Douglas exit). Take a left at the end of the exit, Serendipity is the very first thing on your left.
Info: Haven’t been there yet, but there will be a huge show; the Summer Uxbridge Outdoor Hardcore Fest, June 26 starting at noon with 2 stages, 20 bands, piercing, distros and more so tell me how it is.
Contact: sumproductions@hotmail.com I suggest asking about the festival (I don’t know what it is about hardcore and festivals)
Reflections Hall, 497 Belliville Ave., New Bedford, MA
Directions: Take 9-S to 95-N to Providence. Get on I-195E/6-E exit. Stay straight on I-195. Take exit 16 "Washburn St.", right off the ramp. Take right at stop sign. Go straight through the lights and Reflections is 1/2 mile down on your left across from a gas station.
Estimated Time: since its further east than Providence, its quite a haul: 2.5hr.
Info: Reflections is a Drug and Alcohol Free Club for recovering addicts that they rent out... really nice people to work with, about 2 shows a month, usually $5 or $6.
Contact: Eric from the band Bound by Nothing books shows there (508) 998-2840 or email: XCardDownX@aol.com or try Russ (508) 823-5333. (508) 991-7487 is the number of the hall.
The Space, 85 Harding St., Worcester, MA
Directions: Take 395-N, it will become 290-E. Follow 290-E to Exit 14 (Grafton St). Go left at the top of the off-ramp. Take a right at the 1st set of lights. Take your first left onto Temple St. (by Fairway Beef). Take your first left onto Harding St from Temple St.; The Space is on the left.
Info: Located in a very deserted, old industrial park. It is an awesome space that probably won't last forever. It's run like a cooperative (=non-profit) where people volunteer their time to run the space. The homepage says, "The Space is a collectively run, not for profit project of the Artists' Alliance of Worcester (AAW), and The Worcester Artist group (WAG). The Artists Alliance of Worcester is a nonprofit, volunteer run organization, with the goal of building and promoting an underground arts and music scene in central Mass." The door is always $6 or $5+a can for Food Not Bombs; shows start at 7pm. There are two adjoining rooms, which can be awkward when the band is really popular and you're forced into the second room (i.e. band not in view). They host an annual Punk Rock Prom. Lots of emo played here as well as raves, and noise-fests.
Contact: One of the people known to book shows: Jason Carlin, XjcarrX@ aol.com. (508) 753-0017, home.earthlink.net/ ~sunra/The_Space/space.html Good site for Worcester in general: www.worchesterpheonix.com
The Espresso Bar is being relocated!
Lucky Dog Music Hall, used to be 70 James Street 89 Green St., Worcester, MA
Directions: 9-N to 91-N to 84-E (Boston) to Mass Pike I-90. Take I-395/Rt-12/I-290 exit. Left off the ramp. Stay on Route 12, left at Main St (still Rt. 12), left on Stafford St., left on James St. I’m sure Green St. is nearby.
Info: It was a small club, good bands. Nick Kyte of Tsaroth/Year of Our Lord says, "The more typical punk/rock club in Worcester (the other being The Space). This small, but not tiny, club supports local music pretty well. Known for decent hardcore shows and uneven band treatment in the money department." Sorry, I wish I knew the latest on what's happening with the relocation. The Lucky Dog held a benefit show April 9 to relocate the Espresso Bar so it’s probably a good place to hang until your old dive is back, contact: (508) 363-1888.
Saint John’s Gym 149 Chestnut Street, Clinton, MA
Directions: Yahoo maps got me this far, better ask the person booking the next show: Take Mass Pike I-90 to the I-395/RT-12/I-290 exit. Merge onto I-290 E. Take the Plantation St. exit. Keep left at the fork in the ramp to turn left onto Plantation St. and right onto Rt. 70.
Info: Hometown high school of members of Converge. The location of this year's phenomenal Neurosis, Cave-In, Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge, Coalesce, etc. show. Saint John's has many more than one show a year but it is a gym, not a club by any means. Some people who used to book shows independently at Pearl Street and other clubs put on shows here.
The Turnhall, Holyoke, MA
Directions: Take I-91N through Springfield to I-391N to downtown Holyoke. Again, this place is too punk to find complete directions.
Info: This is downtown Holyoke so lock your doors if you go. It is like a VFW hall. The shows are good if lots of heads come. Just another resource for independent show booking.
Contact: It's a hall you can rent, simple as that. Pedro Garcias, of Sike Records, sometimes books shows here. He can tell you what's happening in Western Mass: pedrosike@hotmail.com. His web site has a comprehensive calendar of MA/HC: www.geocities.com/Sunset Strip/Palace/4911/shows.html
The Middle East Club; TT the Bears (TTs), 472/480 Mass Ave. Central Square 10 Brookline Street, Cambridge, MA
Directions: Get on the Mass Pike I-90, get off Brighton/Cambridge exit. After tollbooth, follow signs for Central Square Cambridge. Merge onto River St. (crosses over Charles River, stay on it to Central Square). Right on Mass Ave. Middle East is three blocks down on right; look for the painted mural. Don’t park behind the club or you’ll get towed (I know that because...) Turn left at the McDonald’s, there's a free lot.
Info: The Middle East doesn't need our help with advertising but for your information: Upstairs (holds 200) is much smaller than Downstairs (holds 600). Almost all shows are 18+ because there are bars upstairs, downstairs, and in the restaurant. It is really easy to find, and they book all levels of independent and mainstream rockstardom so it's not a bad place to start. TTs is around the corner to the Middle East (basically the next door down from the Downstairs entrance). It’s a bar about the size of Upstairs plus pool tables and artwork. They have really good sound, but most shows are cheesy bar bands.
Contact: http://www.mideastclub.com (617) 864-EAST If you’re worried a show will sell-out, you can buy advance tickets from them in person Mon-Sat. 1-7 pm or suffer the wrath of TicketMaster. www.ticketmaster.com poot. TTs general #: (617) 492-0082 concert line: (617) 492-2327.
Greek American Club, 288 Green St., Cambridge, MA
Directions: It’s two blocks behind the Middle East. I bet you can figure it out.
Contact: This person put on the Bouncing Souls, Vision, AntiFlag show this April: eyemost@aol.com. I don't know how frequently this venue will be used.
First & Second Church, 66 Marlborough Street, Boston, MA
Directions: Get to Boston via Mass Pike I-90. Take the Cambridge St. exit. Turn right onto Soldiers Field Rd. which becomes Storrow Dr. Take the ramp towards Copley Square. Merge onto Claredon St. Turn left onto Marlborough St.
Info: Recently being used for shows.
(Club) Infinity, 1393 Liberty St., Springfield, MA
Directions: Hop on 9-N to 91-N. Once you’re in Springfield, take the I-291E/20-E exit. Keep left to merge onto 20-E. Take the Armory St. exit. Keep left at the fork in the ramp. Stay straight to go onto Liberty St.
Info: Pedro Garcia of Sike records says, "it’s the only cool club right now." Nick Kyte of Year of Our Lord says "Infinity is a bit like Pearl Street, but has only one stage and so must act more professional to stay afloat. This means less opening bands with your friends in them and a slighty steeper door price. Has some good metal bands as well as other rock and hardcore. One of the only Western Mass clubs that you can see metal at right now."
Contact: Scott "Ogre" Lee books there Scurvy66@aol.com and (413) 731-9329.
Tic Toc Lounge, 286 Worthington St., Springfield, MA 01103
Directions: Take 9 N to I-91 N. Take E Columbus Ave. exit in to downtown Springfield. Turn Right onto Boland Way. Turn Left onto Main St. and right on Worthington St.
Info: 21+ blues bar in downtown Springfield’s "entertainment district". Sometimes they let punk and heavier bands play.
Contact: Jim McNamara (413) 736-9378 website: http://members.aol.com/jtmack1/
Pearl Street Night Club / Iron Horse Music Hall, 10 Pearl St. / 20 Center St., Northampton, MA 01060
Directions: Take Route 9N to 91N. Get off at the Northampton exit for Route 5. Take left off the ramp, left onto Pleasant St. and then ask someone for Pearl Street or Center St. because for some reason it didn't come up on yahoo maps.
Info: Pearl Street changed its format when it was bought by it's competition in the rock area: The Iron Horse. The club no longer rents itself to people who want to book their own show there. So, this means more rock and alternative and other formats and almost no underground music like hardcore, punk, or metal. Iron Horse is a smoke-free bar/restaurant plus club. Shows can be pricey both locations.
Contact: Someone named Scott used to book at Pearl St. but they got a new owner so he quit. They still try to do hardcore and other cool stuff, but they always fail. Pearl: (413) 584-7771 www.mass live.com/pearlstreet/ Horse: www.mass live.com/ironhorse/ (413) 584-0610.
South Foxboro Community Club, Foxboro, MA
Directions: Take Route 95 to Exit 8. Right off ramp onto Mechanic St.
Rollow to rotary, go aorund and take right after the Bank Boston onto South St. The club is a couple of miles down on the left before the bridge.
Info: Bi-monthly shows are put on here by members of My Magnificent Machine.
Contact: The members of My Magnificent Machine put on a couple shows a month in their hometown. Jon (781) 258-7090/ magnificent666@hotmail.com, http://members.tripod.com/ MyMagnificentMachine /main.htm I also suggest you check them out live. Remember the Murder City Devils show in Middletown in November? They lit the drum set on fire and you thought that was badass? The singer Pat set himself on fire at Studio 159 in March. Top that you wimpasses.
Flywheel, Easthampton, MA
Info: Terri Rosenblatt from Smith says Flywheel is great.
Contact: Mike Burke (413) 585-8877
SCHOOLS THAT DO SHOWS:
Amherst, Smith, Hampshire College, UMASS, Merrimack College.
MASS. CLUBS I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT:
Tilly’s, Downtown Springfield, MA
Info: Its an Irish bar that for some reason lets some bands play, the emo band Shwagg plays there all the time.
Funny Bones Café, 164 Main St.(508) 949-1, Webster, MA
Contact: (508) 949-1587 John booked a show there: (508) 757-7056 John@justforsundae.com
The Art Space, 1 Center St., Gloucester, MA 01930
Info: Dave Walker, invaluable research assistant, says, "This is a fun place to go to shows, but a terrible place to play (just because Shep, the guy who runs the place, is kind of difficult...on a side note, he wrote that movie "Chud"). It's a small space on the second floor of an apartment building on a small side street. It‚s really part of Shep's apartment flat, which he converted to a show space."
Contact: www.artspace.org (978) 283-1381
Games & Lanes, Agawam, MA
Info: Bowling alley, you rent it and do shows. Nick says: "This place has the worst sound you ever heard. You know why? Because it is an indoor soccer gym. I have seen one show that I really liked here out of maybe four. If the bands stink, you can always bowl a few games."
Knights of Columbus, 375 Foundry St., North Easton, MA
Contact: (508) 238-7585 number at the =hall. Questions about show in May, Ben: xhardcorex19@netscape.net
Upcoming show: Sat. May 8th: Pinkerton Thugs, 30: Seconds Over Tokyo, The Nutskies, Darkbuster, Zippo Raid, The Jonnee Earthquake Band
Orpheum Theatre, Hamilton Place, Boston, MA
Info: This is a really nice place if you like sitting while watching shows (or standing in one place). I'm pretty sure that they assign you a seat. It's an old playhouse. It has really good sound, though. I saw Sonic Youth there and had a blast, despite the restrictions on my movement.
Contact: (617) 679-0810