Paradise Rock Club
The Paradise Rock Club has been one of the most successful and influential live music venues in the Boston area for the better part of 45 years. Though the old adage “location, location, location” is usually the key phrase when speaking of business properties, when it comes to The Paradise’s address at 967 Commonwealth Avenue, that far from the case.
PRE-PARADISE HISTORY
Prior to becoming the hugely successful live music venue that it is today, 967 Commonwealth Ave. was home to more than a few failed attempts at greatness. “It was first called The Together Garage, known usually as just ‘the Garage,’” according to Steve Berkowitz, artist manager and tour manager for The Cars. “Then it was The Boston Club. Just prior to becoming The Paradise Theater, it was Dummy’s.” Citizens Bank, a current partner in the club, notes on its website that in its earliest existence it was home to an automotive dealership, back when that particular area of Boston was known as “The Auto Mile.”
This little trip down memory lane serves as more than just a historical recount of the many incarnations of 967 Commonwealth Avenue. It serves as a lesson and proof that there is more involved in the success of a rock and roll club than just a great location.
“THE DICE,” DON LAW, OPENING, NOTABLE APPEARANCES
Today, “The Dice,” as it’s sometimes called, is under the management and constant manicuring of its current owner, rock music promoter and artist developer Don Law. When discussing New England’s rock ‘n’ roll history, one would be hard pressed to do so without mentioning Law and the tremendous success he has attained in the music industry in the New England area and beyond.
What’s now The Paradise Rock Club sits on the edge of the Boston University campus and opened as The Paradise. The venue began its legendary rise to the top of the local scene in September of 1977 when Livingston Taylor headlined the opening night. When Law took the helm, his goal was to bring the brightest rising stars to an eager Boston audience and to this day, the parade of stars to grace the stage continues to impress. Among those who’ve performed at the esteemed venue are U2 (on their first US tour in 1980), AC/DC, The Cars, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, The J. Geils Band, Blondie, Pixies, Goo Goo Dolls, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Rage Against The Machine, Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Phish, Bruno Mars, Warren Zevon and too many more to bother listing.
LIVE NATION, CROSSROADS PRESENTS, NAME CHANGE, RENOVATION
In 1998, The Don Law Company dba Blackstone Entertainment was sold to SFX Entertainment for a whopping $92 million. SFX Entertainment is now known as Live Nation, so with that sale, control of The Paradise also transferred to Live Nation.
As mentioned earlier, it takes more than just a great location and an incredible track record to run a successful live music venue. It takes talent, know-how and an honest-to-goodness knack for the business. With that in mind, in 2009 Live Nation partnered with The Don Law Company dba Crossroads Presents once again, placing The Paradise under the control of Don Law, who renamed it the Paradise Rock Club.
Along with the new name, the Paradise underwent a complete renovation in 2010, making the stage more visible from all areas of the club. The balcony offers the perfect combination of VIP vibe and a luxurious view, giving the sensation that you are sitting on top of the stage because that is almost literally where it sits. Following the renovation, it has a capacity of 953, making it one of the most intimate performance spaces in the area.
SOUND SYSTEM, STAGE GEAR
At this point, we should back track for a moment and discuss the word “paradise.” “Paradise to whom?” you might ask. The answer to that would certainly be audiophiles everywhere and those who have an appreciation for crystal clear harmonics and tonal ambiance. The new renovation included a sound system capable of delivering acoustic warmth and depth while harnessing enough power to melt your face like an Indiana Jones movie.
So what’s in a name? The stage at the Paradise is armed with JBL’s finest line of array speakers. There’s five at stage right and six at stage left. The VRX932LA-1’s have a top rating of 3,200 watts each. Billy “Bud” McCarthy, the manager at Paradise chose four Crown amplifiers to power those bad boys up. Maximum output? 4,200 watts each.
Now, for brave and talented few ladies and gentlemen who would grace the stage, let’s talk performance gear. There are seven stage monitors, also JBL’s that boast a maximum output of 3,200 watts each. Let’s sing along shall we? They are also powered by two Crown XTi6000’s maxing out at 4,200 watts each all processed through the BSS Blu-100 12×8 signal processor by way of the award-winning Midas Pro 2 sound board. At the front of the house, two more 3,200-watt speakers, also part of the JBL array.
And we haven’t even talked sub-woofers yet. Are you getting the picture? Is it truly Paradise? Yes, absolute sonic Paradise. No expense spared.
PROVING GROUND, STEPPING STONE, HOMETOWN CHARM
Now partnered with Live Nation and Citizens Bank, Don Law’s Paradise Rock Club offers something to performers at every level of success, from the US, Europe and beyond. For new artists, it serves as a proving ground and a stepping stone to larger venues like Boston’s 2,700-seat Orpheum Theater, House of Blues Boston and Brighton Music Hall (all part of Law’s empire). To the seasoned performer, the Paradise provided hometown charm and the opportunity to reconnect with fans on a personal level. Along with legendary rockers and up-and-coming artists of all sorts, the Paradise also hosts music festivals, hip-hop, electronica and stand-up comedy.
(by John Cappello)
