1/22/24 THIS FEELS REALLY, REALLY FAMILIAR

1/22/24 THIS FEELS REALLY, REALLY FAMILIAR

I feel like I've been in this exact spot before.... do you know what I mean? I'm definitely older, and this certainly is a different place. But I can't shake this feeling. I had plans this morning to announce our first annual Valentine's/Palentine's Day Show next month at DUSK in Providence, but the inevitable has happened to my (new?) town – the very same thing I was escaping in Boston in the first place – DUSK has come to an unceremonious and abrupt close. Wait.... maybe I have been here before.

Come with me, and let's travel back to 2014. At the time, The Big Lonesome was an eager young band trying to get our music into the world. Somehow, we started becoming a fixture at my favorite venue in town, TT the Bear's Place. Back in the heyday of the mid-90s, I remember hearing about local bills at TT's on 'BCN, 'FNX, 'ERS and the Phoenix. I didn't know how I would do it, but I remember sweating over a beater guitar in the summer between 6th and 7th grade, plunking through guitar tabs written on torn sheets from notebooks, knowing that one day, I would belong in this room too. I was sure I belonged somewhere, and it certainly didn't feel like I fit in the surburban malaise of my hometown.

Wishful teenage thinking perhaps, but dreams die hard, and I eventually found my way on my first bill at TT's... a Tuesday evening “headlining” slot from 11:30 PM – 12:15 AM some fifteen years later. Over the better part of two years, we built up a steady following in Boston and eventually moved up to a proper headlining slot, selling out the venue on a Saturday night. This young man felt on top of the world – and like I finally found a place that I truly belonged.

But nothing ever stays the same, right? We should all know that by now... especially these last few years. I can't remember exactly where I was when I found out that TT's was going under... the inevitable stretch of gentrification that takes no prisoners in its all out war on local cultures had come for my beloved venue; but I do remember the feeling that I had to “just be in the room one more time”.

During the last week of shows at TT's, I showed up the ticket office outside the venue two hours before show time. My hope was that I would find a staff member that would recognize me, and help me get in... ticket or no ticket. I figured, surely, the last shows at TT's ever would sell out. When I turned the corner where the Middle East was off of Mass Ave, I found myself double checking I was on the right street... to my surprise, there were no people there... no line to get in. I was met with the image of a solitary figure – skinny black jeans, black boots, a white t-shirt and some imitation Ray Bans - flicking the ash off his cigarette and staring down into the depths of his cellphone, as if that had any answers. I slowed my anxious speed down, and approached the space I expected a line to be a bit more calmly. Cigarette guy looked annoyed that anyone was outside yet, but I figured I would petition my case anyways for a ticket. After blurting out my sixty second plea, Cigarette Guy told me to come back in an hour. “We have plenty of tickets left kid – no one comes here anymore, we’re closing”. I deflated back into the wall behind me, and decided to stay anyways (surely he's wrong, and I'll miss my place in line). After ten or so minutes, I mentioned to Cigarette Guy how important this room is, and how its such a shame to see it go. I'm not sure if he even looked up from what ever was keeping his gaze locked onto his phone, but I can remember the words that came out like a bullet.... “Welcome to Everytown, USA kid”.

...and sometimes the inspiration hits you. Realizing I had about 100 minutes until the show started (and I guess people don't come to these places anymore), I took the 10 minute trek back down Mass Ave to my sedan, pulled out a notebook out of the back seat, and scribbled down the words ricocheting around my head. You may not be able to see us next month at DUSK, and there’s no way to ever catch us at TT’s again, but you can stream Everytown, USA right here:

https://open.spotify.com/track/3vvZoJN7ia3ZRv7jsb5FYL?si=395d01dfc1b94543