They changed the face of local music, and provided a template for venues featuring original acts to imitate. They had art. They championed diversity.
In fact, as far as then-scenester Bill Myers recalls, the only thing the former Zone Art Center on Dwight Street in Springfield didn’t have was a proper sendoff. That’s something he’s looking to remedy this Saturday, Sept. 11 in the form of a “30th reunion and benefit celebration.”
“You know, when the doors closed in 1995, everyone just walked away,” the artist/musician remembers. “Here was this amazing place that was getting attention in the College Music Journal and being hailed as the CBGB [a New York music club] of Western Massachusetts, that had touched so many lives since opening in 1980… and no party?”
As the years went by, Myers says that his commitment to a fitting farewell never wavered. But as band after band that helped build The Zone splintered, he knew he’d have his work cut out for him.
“Yeah, some of my friends said this whole thing was like an episode of VH1’s Bands Reunited,” Myers laughs. “I guess I have a way with people. But, hey—band relationships are some of the most intense relationships you can have, and your first band is like your first love.”
The result of Myer’s “Dr. Phil”-anthropic efforts have landed the likes of Zone scene stalwarts Art Kritics, Bamboo Steamers, Donut Kings, Eighth Route Army and The Malarians on the Sept. 11 reunion bill. The one-night-only engagement will take place at the Canal Gallery (532-4141) in Holyoke starting at 8 p.m., and a $10 donation will be collected at the door.
History buffs may raise an eyebrow at the inclusion of Thrillpillow in the evening’s entertainment. And rightly so, as the Noho indie rockers never played the hallowed hall.
But according to Myers, Thrill was given the honor because the anniversary committee unanimously agreed that the current band “would have been embraced by the Zone Saturday night music crowd” back in the day.
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Speaking of musical milestones, Valley veteran Ray Mason will celebrate both his 60 years on the planet and a quarter century of alt-country with one of the bands he helped form, playing full sets with the Ray Mason Band and the Lonesome Brothers at the Iron Horse (iheg.com) this Friday, Sept. 10.
“My band started around 1980, ’81,” the elder statesman of roots-rock recalls. “At that point, I figured I had been stockpiling tunes and wanted to see how they would sound with a band. By 1985, Jim Armenti and myself were also in a country band. We decided to start the Lonesomes as a side project. Now here we are, 25 years later!”
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In other news…. any Bugs Bunny buff knows exactly what “Marvin The Martian” utters right after his latest ACME instrument of destruction fails to blow up the planet: “Where’s the ka-boom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!”
Thanks to local promoter Scott “Ogre” Lee, the affable alien may get an answer—in Springfield. “My Kaboom Fest came about because of my strong desire to bring heavy music back to Springfield,” Lee says of his Sept. 12 Hippodrome/Paramount Theater fest featuring hometown heroes Shadows Fall, Thy Will Be Done, and more than two dozen other heavy hitters. “Shadows Fall cut their teeth here, and I challenge people to come out and see what Springfield is all about. My hope is that it will be recognized for what it is—a symbol of the epicenter of extreme music.”
Tickets for the Kaboom Fest are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, and are available at tickets.com.
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Last up, Mike and Ruthy (mikeandruthy.com) celebrate their latest, Million to One, at the Unitarian Society of Northampton this Friday, Sept. 10, while local notables Space Captain use their upcoming Black Moon (myspace.com/blackmoonjazz) performance Sept. 9 to flesh out new material for a yet untitled third release.”
Catch the Nightcrawler every Wednesday at 8:50 a.m. on the Steve Cantara Radio Show, WRNX 100.9 FM. Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, PO Box 427, Somers, CT 0071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.
