Revel with a Cause

by Laura Kallio
photo by Chris Johnson

Lately, those of us who espouse smaller, more intimate, local rock venues have experienced quite a shudder through our collective spines. With all the monolithic, monopolistic organizations in the Boston rock scene (which will remain nameless to protect the guilty) making inroad within the independently-owned, and therefore, less financially stable, club world, and bringing all of their neon and exorbitant prices with them, there seems to be an insecure feeling among club owners and audience alike.

The most timely and obvious example of this encroachment was the loss of Bunratty’s. (Luckily, the club we now know as Local 186 isn’t that much different.) This changing of hands is, of course, simply the nature of the beast we call capitalism. But let’s put aside all the varied socio-economic factors for now.

What’s really out there for those serious about checking out local Boston acts? There’s the D.J.ed, neo-discotheque scene of Landsdowne Street which welcomes national acts and, to a select extent, local acts. There’s the Paradise Rock Club, which you might be lucky enough to get a ticket for. And then there are three major local clubs for those who enjoy dirtier, less intimidating, homier environs in a rock club. There’s the Middle East Cafe, the Rathskeller (better known as the Rat) and T.T. the Bear’s Place. There are other, smaller venues in the Boston area, but this list, pretty much narrows down the field.

As a direct result of the insecurity brought upon us by the Bunratty’s take over, it was with an enthusiasm rarely seen around these parts, that people took on the plight of T.T.’s in early May.

The club, which was established as a restaurant in 1973 by Bonney Bouley and Miles Cares, takes it’s name from Bouley’s pet hamster. It wasn’t until 1985, when the establishment ran into financial difficulty, that the restaurant was turned into a nightclub, providing local as well as national acts a forum within which to perform. Since its inception as a rock club, T.T.’s has seen the likes of Robin Hitchcock, Paul Westerberg, Jane’s Addiction, and the Indigo Girls pass across its postage-stamp stage.

In late April, it was announced that the club would be forced to close its doors forever unless it could rectify its financial liabilities. In order to raise the necessary $10,000 to keep T.T.’s open, over 15 bands joined forces on May 1st and 2nd to perform a benefit for T.T.’s at the Paradise (ironically, one of the aforementioned mega-clubs).

The diverse line-up included Chuck, Heretix, O Positive, Orangutang, Talking to Animals, Bim Skala Bim, and Letter to Cleo, among many other big Boston names. An especially poignant moment occurred during the first show when Brendan Haley, soundman and a familiar face to all T.T.’s regulars, performed a folk set. All alone on this huge stage with an acoustic guitar – the scene was almost surreal and packed a whopping metaphor. Haley followed some seriously heavy rockers, making an eloquent plea for T.T.’s survival.

Throughout both shows, this overwhelming sense of community, of common purpose, remained. There was no battle-of-the-bands sort of competitive feel to be found. Rather, there was a real sense of camaraderie, a feeling, on stage and off, that everyone was there to have some serious fun and, in the process, help an important club.

“I was very touched by the outpouring of support from the local rock community,” said Bonney Bouley, co-owner of T.T.’s who attended both Paradise shows. In addition to the two benefit shows, T.T.’s received encouraging letters and anonymous donations. Bouley expressed her gratitude also to Boston’s Ethiopian community which held benefits on their own to raise funds for the club. T.T.’s ties to the Ethiopian community date back to benefits held by the club to raise funds for those suffering during the Ethiopian famine crisis.

Thanks to the generosity of so many, T.T.’s will remain in business and will in fact be expanding somewhat in the near future (a patio will be opened out back and reggae and a D.J. will be added to the club’s musical format). So, we can all breathe a little easier knowing that one of the few surviving “little” clubs in Boston will be able to continue flourishing.

But please, no neon!