Gentrification blues

No renaissance for the Safari Lounge?

by Bob Gulla

Jason Kendall of the Amazing Crowns

Providence doubled back recently -- and, one hopes, momentarily -- on its so-called commitment to artists when they pressured landlord Stanley Weiss to shut down one of the music scene's vibrant landmarks, the Safari Lounge on Eddy Street, even though a year remains on its lease. Though Weiss was not available for comment when approached by Phoenix correspondent Dave Hirschman, bar owner Jimmy Ilarraza believes the venue doesn't fit into developers' notions of Providence's newly gentrified downtown. That gentrification, spurred by the opening of the Maul, is fast bleeding into areas of downtown normally reserved for the city's precious arts and underground scenes, which were once-prized by the city's politicos. The Safari Lounge is one of downtown's great hangouts, serving as a host for cool art, an outlet for excellent music, and a blue-collar place dedicated to the city's talented and genuine alt.culture class.

Motivated by the news, local artists have mobilized around the Lounge and Ilarraza. An ad hoc group of 50 or so, including reps from local bands, labels, and promoters, met last Friday (1/14) to plot their next move, though time's a-wastin'. The lease is set to end on January 31, a full year before it officially expires. Is there anyone out there who has legal experience in the area of tenant rights? Is there a case against Weiss?

Strangely enough, in light of this impending adversity, there's something positive going on, too. The well-intentioned group of local artists and musicians, which includes AS220's Matt Obert, Alec Redfearn of the Eyesores, and Cara and Michelle of P Squared Promotions and V for Vendetta, came together quickly and conspired to attack the issue without hesitation. Perhaps the meeting was symbolic of some kind of solidarity we thought didn't exist in Providence; that there actually are a bunch of people who care what goes on here. We're all hopeful that this kind of tragedy will strike the match that will ultimately light a fire under the city's scene. Don't let Providence's contrived sense of Renaissance and Gentrification and Fabulousness undermine the fact that downtown has always been the domain of humble creative-types like you and me.

Word has it that a massive benefit might be in the planning stages, though with only a few weeks before the doors are due to shut, planning time is minimal. If it doesn't save the Safari Lounge, at least a benefit will give the place a good send-off and a final note of gratitude to Ilarraza for his undying enthusiasm and local talent support. It sure has been a colorful, 12-year tenure. Stay tuned for details.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE. The Amazing Crowns, who have earned the reputation these days as the city rock scene's favorite sons, have slated the weekend of January 27-29 for their fourth annual Providence Payback. The weekend serves as a raucous debt of thanks from a band grateful to its fans for vaulting them onto the national scene. "Because we're not around a lot," says singer-songwriter Jason Kendall, "we're not in touch as much as we'd like to be. It's our way of giving back and also keeping in touch with a lot of the bands we really love."

For fans, the deal is a great one: five bands a night, $6 a night, including talent such as the Double Nuthins on Thursday, out-of-towners the Belmont Playboys on Friday, and the Fabulous Itchies on Saturday, among many others. The Crowns will headline each night with their own fireball brand of muscle-car rock. They'll be giving away bags of cool stuff every night to the first 100 people in the door. And if that's not enough, the Crowns'll be recording the night for a potential live album. "We tried to pick bands we thought our own fans would really dig," says Kendall, "so I'm sure it's gonna be a great weekend all around."

The Crowns also have a live album slated tentatively to arrive in March on the Monolith label. It's a stop-gap measure for a band itchy to get their major label material out and on the shelves. They are currently signed to BMG subsidiary Time Bomb Records, home of two like-minded punkabilly rock outfits in Social Distortion and the Reverend Horton Heat. "We feel really comfortable being displayed alongside those bands," Kendall says. "We look up to them. At least we know the label's not gonna promote us as a swing band!"

The past year has been a tough one for the Crowns, considering their label Velvel folded, they suffered through a ridiculous suit over their name with the Royal Crown Revue, and lost their co-founder Johnny "The Colonel" Maguire. But Kendall, bassist Jack Hanlon, guitarist J.D. Burgess, and drummer Judd Williams have righted the ship and begun plotting their course. "Losing John was a huge blow at first," Kendall admits. "Everyone always told us that you can't fuck with the chemistry of a band. But we've managed to work through it."

Their recovery also includes an album of new material, due this summer. (The cover's done, incidentally, courtesy of Kendall colleague and beloved Mekon/folk artist Jon Langford.) "Our new stuff is more varied than it ever was," says Kendall. "There are typical punk singalongs, rockabilly, country with lap steel from Dennis Kelly. There's even a garagey song with some organ. We're really proud of it. All I know is that we're gonna work hard and ride it . . . 'til you can't ride it anymore."

WANDERING EYE. Got word that "Blood From a Turnip," the edgy puppet show for big people, is hitting the Perishable Theatre on Friday (1/21). Musical guest is power folkie Erin McKeown.

On Sunday there will be a Louie Camp Memorial Benefit gig featuring the Calamari Brothers, Ken Lyon and the Outriders, Lonnie Gasperini Organ Trio, Louie's original Heavy Juice with Lennie Sambuco and Mark Baker, 2nd Avenue, Louie's 1955 a cappella group the Corals, and Miss Marci and the Bar Chords. It'll start around 1pm and go til closing at Memories (1665 Hartford Avenue, Johnston). Donation is $10 to help defray medical/funeral costs. Call 861-0222 for details.

Richard Walton over at Stone Soup forwarded "Local Anesthesia" this letter from his friend Bill Harley. Or should I say Grammy-nominee Bill Harley. "I thought I should let you know it happened again. This week I was nominated for a Grammy for `The Battle of the Mad Scientists' in the Children's spoken word category . . . Lest any of you are really worried about my swelled head, don't. I'm up against the audio version of Harry Potter, and although he isn't real, he's certainly more famous, and the Grammys are, after all a beauty contest. If any of you vote, do so. Maybe a real person will win." Congratulations to Harley for his second Grammy nod.