Last night I was reminded (once again) of just one of the many reasons I love my hometown. An evening spent at the Northside listening to live music from a great band reminded me of the rich music heritage that exists in our little corner of the the Akron/Kent/Cleveland world. I grew up here, and like many of my friends, have gone through stages of lovin' it and wanting to move. Although I admit that most of the "wanting to move" reasons hit me in February!
I was at Kent State during the heyday of the "New Wave" scene in the late 70's and early 80's, and regularly hung out at JB's to see The Numbers Band, Unit 5, The Action, and Hammer Damage to name just a few of the local bands who played the bars during those years. I also recall an amazing country/rock band, Buckeye Biscuit, as well as one of the great blues guitarists who still plays around, Frankie Starr. Of course our area also has its claim to fame with artists that went on to be downright famous in various genres: Chrissie Hynde, Jim Brickman, Tracy Chapman, Eric Carmen, and others, but last night was a real treat, because I sat and watched some amazing local players who gathered together for a jam session under the name of "The Mid-Life Chryslers".
The Chryslers, with Akron native Mark Lee Shannon and a guy you might have heard of: Michael Stanley also featured a cast of great players, most of whom have played together in various Michael Stanley projects. This formation treated us to a blend of rock and blues, featuring some of Marc's originals as well as covers of classic rock and blues songs from Sly and The Family Stone, to The Rolling Stones, Clapton and tons more. Paul Christensen was exceptional on sax. Marc's passionate guitar playing and vocals were soulful. And Michael had a few blistering guitar solos himself. It was a great evening of music.
One of the highlights of the night for me was non-musical. I met one of the owners of the Northside, Michael Owen, who gave me and my friend the rich history of the building that is home to the club. The rooms above have been lovingly restored and contain an artist colony featuring boutiques and galleries upstairs. The galleries are housed in a myriad of small rooms, one after another that in Akron's historical heyday, was a brothel. Each of those rooms were used for, well...you get it. Across the street in another historical building is a glass blowing gallery. And of course, the famous Akron institution Luigi's is right next door to the Northside!
As Michael talked about his "neighborhood" on this little block of downtown Akron, he made me smile. He said Akron has all you need. it's a small big town--or a big small town, and it has at least "one" of everything you'd want to do. From every genre of live music, to live theatre, to art galleries, museums and such. It's just that once you do it, you have to keep going back to the same place!
Working in radio, I am blessed to see a lot of live music. But there is nothing like watching a gathering of exceptional musicians who are playing because they just love to play--having the kind of fun you can feel in an intimate setting like the Northside.
To quote a famous MSB song "This is My Town"...Akron. And I don't have to apologize that I grew up here, raised my girls here, and am still gainfully employed here (Thank God) And I fell in love with it again last night.
And oh, the weather helps too.
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