As one might imagine with any venture that includes nearly 60 live acts performing at some 17 venues over a 12-hour period, First Night Northampton is far from a one-man show.
At the end of the day—and calendar, in this instance—this year-end bash buck does stop squarely on the desk of one Penny Burke, director of Noho's Center For The Arts.
Recently, your friendly neighborhood Nightcrawler beckoned Burke to illuminate him on some of the event's inner workings, intriguing backstories and bits of trivia. The following is his secondhand account of some of her more notable First Night insights.
Penny on the band selection process: "Well, you know, we start the application in June, and everyone—even Brooks Williams—fills them out. While we do get a significant amount from, say, Boston or New York, the truth is, we have enough reliable, local talent to fit the bill. There are a couple of exceptions, most notably Mad Agnes of Connecticut, back for their second year."
Penny on rethinking "reliable": "I sort of use that as a catch-all, but really, when I say reliable, it means more than just showing up on time. There are no soundchecks at First Night, for example. So we're looking for professionals who can get in, set up and start playing in 15 minutes or so, which is of course no easy task. So when we find great artists that can do this—your Art Steeles, Ray Masons (solo or Lonesome Brothers) and acts of that caliber, we stick with them."
Penny on pinching pennies: "While we try to include something for everyone and ensure everyone has fun, at the end of the day, this is also a fundraising for the Center. So we're always wheeling and dealing, and luckily, we're able to afford some large names like Brooks and The Nields, who like to stay local for the holiday. Other bands, the Drunk Stuntmen in particular, give us a really great value for our dollar by signing on to play earlier in the evening, then taking another (presumably higher-paying) gig somewhere else that night."
Penny on eco-friendliness: Former VP/Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore would be happy to note that, according to Penny, one of this year's acts, The Kennedys, should require little to no fossil fuel consumption to make its scheduled set at the Academy of Music. "They literally live right across the street," laughs Penny. "So I'd imagine they'll walk over and start playing."
Considering that the aforementioned Nields are pulling double duty for First Night 2008—performing a total of four sets at two different venues—sheer logistics suggest that some automotive assistance may be in order. That said, Mr. Gore can take solace in the fact that for at least half these shows, many of the attendees have historically utilized stroller-power to make their way to the venue.
"The Nields do an amazing children's set, and it's so popular," Burke says. "Last year, I remember walking up to the church they were playing in, literally seeing hundreds of strollers outside. It was quite a sight."
For the full lineup of First Night festivities, visit www.nohoarts.org.
Other Dec. 31 decibel-deliverers of note include Big Al Anderson, formerly of NRBQ infamy, throwing down two sets at the Iron Horse, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Over at the Horse's sister venue, Pearl Street, Noho notables Ware River Club will reunite for the evening with friends Winterpills, Fancy Trash and National Carpet in tow.
Reggae fans should bop over to Bishop's Lounge Dec. 31 for a beat-happy bill featuring The Equalites. After two First Night sets in the late afternoon, the Drunk Stuntmen will officially let their unkempt hair down—and ring in the New Year—at the Route 63 Roadhouse in Millers Falls.
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to:(860) 698-9373 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
