|
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I got a call from a Hartford Courant reporter..
The building being demolished this week. :(
The writing a story on a legendary local concert venue. Lots of memories there
Wendy O Williams blowing up a Cadillac
The story should run this Sunday. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Oh yeah!! Was there a couple of times. Spent most of my time down at TOAD'S PLACE in New Haven. Saw Bruce (a surprise visit), GoGo's, Cindy Lauper, John Caferty and the Beaver Brown band and a few others before they got big in the 80's. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Wendy O. Williams blowing up a Cadillac??!!! Maybe THAT's why that race car driver in the other thread smashed that guitar - he was just getting even! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Game 6 of the 86 world series...
NRBQ refused to go on stage till the game ended....
They finally took the stage at 130 am.
Names over the years
From Columbia Music Hall, Hard Rock Cafe
(had to change trade marked name) Then it was
Stage West, Agora Ballroom (franchise went south)
West Hartford Ballroom & Music Hall
I was there from mid 1985 to 1988.
I was the Bar Manager.
acts there over time
The Marshall Tucker Band, Stevie Ray Vaugh
The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Little Feat,
Blue Oyster Cult,
John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
UB-40, Poison, Charley Danials Band, The Greatfull Dead (unexpected guest stars of Max Creek)
The Outlaws, Brian Adams, The Charlie Watts Orchastra, Adam Ant, The Ramones, Eddie Money
Devo, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter, The B-52s,
The Bangels, Heart, Motorhead, Stray Cats,
The Clash, Men at Work, Carlos Santana,
Steffenwolf & The Guess Who (great show)
Alvin Lee, Fates Warning, Eric Burdan.
Billy Idol, Alvin Lee, Slayer, John Valby,
Joined Forces (got there start there Ovation endorcer Jimi Bell on Guitar) U2, Sam Kinison,
Rodney Dangerfield, Stryper, Mega Death,
The Police, Anthrax, Jerry Lee Lewis,
Huey Lewis, Tower of Power, Ted Nugent,
Blondie, Areosmith, Metalica,
Joan Jett & the Black Hearts
Cyndi Lauper, The Allman Brothers,
Katrina & the Waves, Wang Chung,
Those are just the ones IU can think of
I took some picts before it was gone
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc285/pezcleo/?action=view&curre...
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc285/pezcleo/?action=view&curre...
The bathrooms there legendarily bad.....
No doors on the stalls good luck with toilet paper
Nov 30th 1986.... It was unbarably hot in the due to crowd size lights and pushing in toward the pit in front of the stage.
We needed to throw ice cold water on the crowd to keep people from passing out.
For one brief momment I was on the stage to hurl the 5 gallon pail of water on the crowd and saw the performers view of 5000 cheering people.
The dream began. I knew I had to be on a stage. I bought my first guitar shortly after that.
I am sure the 2 stages at Agora launched or forfilled the dreams of many people. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
Wendy O. Williams blowing up a Cadillac??!!! Maybe THAT's why that race car driver in the other thread smashed that guitar - he was just getting even! :D The doors the hood and trunk came off
It was impressive! They did it at the
Palladium in NY too. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by BT717:
Oh yeah!! Was there a couple of times. Spent most of my time down at TOAD'S PLACE in New Haven. Saw Bruce (a surprise visit), GoGo's, Cindy Lauper, John Caferty and the Beaver Brown band and a few others before they got big in the 80's. Cindy was interesting....
She screaming telling the sound guy to turn off the reverb.
Not getting the room itself had reverb in it.
Greg Allman telling us why devorced from Cher after 6 weeks,
I was there fot those acts.
John Caferty and the Beaver Brown band was one the best I ever saw there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | I hate to admit this but, John Caferty is my 2nd cousin on my mom's side of the family, Complete Ass! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | He is a really good performer and wasn't hard to deal with. Family is differnt.
So you must been on the balcony for the show. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Too clarify my statement. I've never meet him in person. Only heard stories from my cousins in RI.
They are the ones who said he was an Ass.
I think he was my Mom's sister (aunt), husbands (my Uncle), sister's kid. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Went to school at Camp U-HA -insert radio voice- 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford Connecticut - end radio voice....
The only thing I remember other than some moments DJ'ing at -insert radio voice - WSAM West Hartford, where sounds come alive musically, 640 UP your AM dial -end radio voice- was that Harvey's Liquer Store DELIVERED!!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Them are some great memories ya got there PEZ ..
Thanks fer them pix ..
Vic |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
Went to school at Camp U-HA -insert radio voice- 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford Connecticut - end radio voice....
The only thing I remember other than some moments DJ'ing at -insert radio voice - WSAM West Hartford, where sounds come alive musically, 640 UP your AM dial -end radio voice- was that Harvey's Liquer Store DELIVERED!!!!!! They still do deliver |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by FlicKreno aka Solid Top:
Them are some great memories ya got there PEZ ..
Thanks fer them pix ..
Vic No one including me have pictures of the place in its hey day. I hoping the Courant runs some. I know the took photos there fairly regularly.
The place ended in the "West Hartford Chainsaw Massecre" Vandals broke in cut up almost anything wood. 10s of Thousands in damage.
They had to be in there for hours.
They had a computer that dropped mixed into the cup instantly. Never saw one before or after.
Press a button and you had a Long Island Ice tea
or Rum and coke or whatever you wanted.
Impressive for 1980s tech. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Here the story
http://www.courant.com/community/news/hfd/hc-second-look-agora0614.... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Wow!Great article!
Thanks PEZ! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | A BIG touch of the past .. what a shame .. overhere something like it is going on with " Den Gra Hal " ( Grey Hall ) , still functioning , but it`s end draws near .. all in the name of progress ..
Vic
.. thanks fer sharing PEZ .. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Here the photo that went with the story
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc285/pezcleo/?action=view&curre...
Peter Gabriel from 1983 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Y'know, if you go anywhere via Agora, you're likely to get stiffed. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Here a walking tour.
A bit drawn out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELDGcJMOJQ4 |
|
| |
Anyone remember the old West Hartford Agora???
