Where Have All The Good Times Gone (redux)

Robert McCarthy
Aug 26, 2017 · 4 min read

I attended the show at TCAN in Natick last night, part of the monthly Rock Off Main Street (ROMS) series, admittedly because my daughters were playing as part of the show, and my son works at the spot. But I attend generally regardless of whether I have a familial stake in the game or not.

For those unaware, TCAN, a performing arts center in the heart of Natick, is a gem of a location to experience every facet of the arts, from plays to music to theater, and ROMS is coming up on its twentieth anniversary next month. Diane, who runs the program, has been an incredible supporter of local and youth art, and she inspires so many others like myself to take on other projects to support local music. My little label Five By Two Records wouldn’t exist without her as inspiration.

My girls got to play last night with Flight of Fire, another all-female rock band, and winner of copious and well-deserved awards from the music scene over the last couple of years.

How frickin’ cool is that?

So, all of that should make me super, super happy, right?

Sadly, when I looked around last night at all the empty seats, I could only think how disappointing it was that the combined efforts of all of us — bands, venue, label, family, friends — in promoting this show generated such a small turn-out. And, yes, vacations, commitments, work, schedules, all of that factors in to people not being able to attend a show, but honestly, if I had the audacity to ask each and every one of you what you were doing last night, would you have a good answer?

And if a great band like Flight of Fire at a great venue like TCAN on a beautiful Friday night in the summer cannot compel enough of you to get off your couch, what hope do we have?

I tripped over this Vanyaland article this morning by happy accident. It’s a review of a video set from 1988 lamenting the closing of bars in Boston and fretting about the future of live music in the city. Here are some quotes, but I urge you all to watch the whole thing and see what the local Boston scene was like when hanging on the precipice of disaster … because it is an all-too-real scenario for you today.

“At one time there was more live music here [in Boston] on a daily basis than anywhere else in the world”

— Marshall Simpkins venue manager

“It makes it harder and harder for bands to be heard when there are only 4 or 5 clubs in Boston and you have 2000 bands…trying to get their music heard”

— Dave Minehan of The Neighborhoods

“Clubs are closing all over the place…it’s a sign of the times…people are less inclined to go out and hear rock and roll today”

— Joe Wolves of Take The Veil

At one time in Boston there were more opportunities to play…Boston *was* a unique city [back then] in the sense that there were so many clubs to play.

— Ann Prim of November Group

We shouldn’t take our local music scene for granted. Boston rock musicians need and deserve our support now more than ever.

— Charles Laquidara radio personality

I’ve posted on Facebook a lot about some recent closings and worries around the area and around the country. Spotlight Tavern shut down. Johnny D’s shut down. Church closed. Out of The Blue Too on the brink. And while there are still venues hosting live music, like Sonia, Sinclair, HoB, Middle East, O’Briens, Midway, etc, many of these are tied to heavy, heavy up-front investments associated with real estate, entertainment, and liquor license costs that make it near impossible for a band to “just go play a show” and instead drop the burden of advanced ticket sales, 21+ only, or other less-than-ideal business practices in order to guarantee a return for the venue (which needs to make money, obviously).

Which leads to, one hopes, some great opportunities outside of Boston (usually) in places like Manchester, Providence, Worcester, Lowell, Haverhill and western MA. There are clubs like The Bungalow, TCAN, The Raven, Ralph’s, Bull Mansion, UnchARTed, Alchemy, and more that are keeping their doors open through multi-use strategies, or through sheer force of will in keeping costs low.

But these too are suffering the effects of lack of attendance…and it won’t be forever that the doors can remain open and the lights can stay on. It won’t be forever that the staff can be paid and the PA system can be maintained. It won’t be forever that the location doesn’t become a prime target for gentrification or take-over.

It won’t be forever if you all don’t collectively do something about it.

Watch those videos above, and while you’re watching them, remember the words of “Oh Captain, My Captain”

“Peruse some of the faces of our past….they’re not much different from you…invincible, just like you feel….if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you…”

Seize the day.

Take control of your destiny. Get out today, get out tomorrow, get out every day, and support your local community of artists in one form or another.

Don’t go to a club today because you’re playing there, go to a club today so that you can play there tomorrow.

I hope to see you around…I really do.

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Robert McCarthy

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dad, husband, mobile advisor (payments, compliance, security, infrastructure, etc...stop yawning)

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