1 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Double Elvis. Two decades after closing, and while only being 2 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: open for six years, the Elvis Room still looms large 3 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: in the minds of the music scene locals. You know, 4 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: the way New Yorkers moon over CBGB's or Angelino's breathlessly 5 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: tell you about the heyday of the smell. The Elvis 6 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: Room was once the beating heart of the region's incredible 7 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,480 Speaker 1: music scene in one of America's oldest states. Like the King, 8 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: it is long gone, but it's the legend still lingers, 9 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: And that's just the way it goes in small towns 10 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: where dedication runs hot and efforts to uphold the scene 11 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: are interwoven in what comes after. In this town, they 12 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: know what stages are worth, what they represent, and what 13 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: they can become. And that is why the legend of 14 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: the Elvis Room hangs around beckoning, saluting all the scene 15 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: means and stages and troubadours that come next, drawing you 16 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: in to the center of the Sea coast town. And 17 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 1: you don't know it yet, but once you visit, you're 18 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: never going to be the same. Johnny Winter Nos Show 19 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 1: BB King just turns on the New Hampshire Boys, Steve 20 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: and Joe have gone beyond doing it for life, unlike 21 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: Buddy Guy, who has decimated the Riffbat with one hypertonic note, 22 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 1: lead on lead on New Hampshire sonic youth. Back when 23 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: Portsmouth was founded sixteen twenty three, four hundred years ago, 24 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: making it one of the oldest cities in America, it 25 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: was the only coast that the settlers knew about, and 26 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: it has that feel of original America, even if we 27 00:01:56,160 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: all know that's not where the land's history starts. Smith 28 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: is the anchor of a small but mighty music scene 29 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: on the Eastern Seaboard, or the Sea Coast, as they 30 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: like to call it themselves. Maybe it's the biggest little 31 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: city in the world. With the population of over just 32 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,239 Speaker 1: twenty two thousand, it's definitely in the running. But even 33 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: the propens city to name itself the Sea Coast lets 34 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: you know how this insular region feels sure of a 35 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: defining factor that separates it from the rest of a 36 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: gigantic East coast. And they're right, you know, before anyone 37 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: was here at all, the sea was already chipping away 38 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: at the coast, becoming part of the atmosphere of this land. 39 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: There's so little separation between the water and the dirt 40 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: here that sometimes this area is called the Mother of Rivers, 41 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: A true tributary of America, like water, was born here 42 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: and nothing else. It was built on the river Mouth 43 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: for a reason, designed to be a true port city 44 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: and fishing settlement for some of the very first Americans. 45 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: Portsmouth is New Hampshire's oldest settlement in its second oldest city, 46 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: right after Dover. That means seventeenth and eighteenth century houses 47 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: are still standing looking out across the water, sentinels that 48 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: remind us of all the good and yes, all the 49 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: bad that went down way back when. Another landmark, the 50 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: eighteen fifty five North Church, still looms over downtown's Market Square. 51 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: And there's Prescott Park on the waterfront, with its fair 52 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: share of boat docks and gardens lining the river's edge. 53 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: Not a lot of places have parks with docks and 54 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: do that. Even stranger to an outsider is a submarine. 55 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: The uss Albacore is run ashore in a park and 56 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: turned into a museum open to the public. All these 57 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: bridges and ports, docks and ships of all sizes and kinds, 58 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: They're as common here as bikes and cars and freeways 59 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: in other cities. Actually, for most of the twentieth century, 60 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: Portsmouth was a center for the building and repair of submarines, 61 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: and since nineteen seventy one it's now the only place 62 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 1: American submarines go to get repaired. That sounds like a 63 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: subject for another podcast, though don't go listen to it 64 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: yet Submarine Hospital, though I do want to put that 65 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: out there as a band name for a punk band 66 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: out of Portsmouth. In the meantime, here are the names 67 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: of some of the best real bands to emerge from 68 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: both this city and the rest of the Sea Coast. 69 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 1: Lady Land, the Beekeeper, The Bruisers, Fly Spinach Fly Gig 70 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: Allen Connie Conners, John Spencer, The Queers Will Shed, Wild Light, 71 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: Savoy Truffle, Assembly of Dust, Dreadnought Broke thanks to grab 72 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: Pemmi Kuda, Choosy Mom's Funky Dance, Carn Gandhi's Lunch but 73 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: Heavens to Murgerator, Adam Sandler and the Shags. All that water, 74 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: all that traffic from the river in the sea, That's 75 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: what's built this town into a place where musicians like 76 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: to come. Portsmouth was the State of New Hampshire's first capital. 77 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: It remains its only meaning people were always coming in 78 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: and out, Freight was always moving through. This was a 79 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: happening place. So it remains on the tour route of 80 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: many musicians wandering up and down the sea coast, because well, 81 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 1: some things can just be chalked up to habit, but 82 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: habit begets culture, and there's constant music shifting along these 83 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: brickline streets, in and out of the light, in and 84 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 1: out of buildings, mixed into the full restaurants that are 85 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 1: packed every night, with crowd noise spilling out to reach 86 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 1: the buskers who sing on the streets. It all feels 87 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: a little mystical. It also feels a little bit like 88 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: the Truman Show. It's a little bit perfect. This is 89 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: a super tiny, quaint town with tight streets, but a 90 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: little bit of intrigue is tucked between the cobblestones. Right 91 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: when you start getting comfortable, something slips or shifts, a 92 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: bit of eeriness sets in. Is it all too perfect 93 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,799 Speaker 1: or is it just that you're visiting? It's hard to tell. 94 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: When I roll into Portsmouth to play, something sets upon 95 00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: me that I do like visitors, feel like I want 96 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: to move here right away, enjoy a rich, simpler life. 97 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: But is the facade real or is it all a 98 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: dream along the sea coast? Time to ground down or 99 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: maybe lean into the haze. Either way, the best way 100 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: to get the lay of the land in this particular 101 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: town is simply by wandering, and that is your no 102 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: cover activity for this episode. Pace through the perfect seeming 103 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: downtown and see what you can discover from the outside 104 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: looking in, an activity that costs what my grandfather called 105 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: a very good price free. You are listening to Sound 106 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: of Our Town, a podcast about the music scene and 107 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: the vibe and the places to go in the next 108 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: town you're gonna visit, or the town you're moving to, 109 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: the town you just arrived in, or the town that 110 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: you lived in your whole life that you never really explored. 111 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Will Daily. I'm a songwriter troubadour, and 112 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: I've been called worse things than that. No matter. This 113 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: podcast is here as the anti content podcast. We keep 114 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: these things short and sweet to get you into the 115 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: city and out into this live music culture so that 116 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: you can get to living, get off your thumbs and 117 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: get out and see some live music. And in this episode, 118 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: we're visiting one of my favorite towns in America, Tucked 119 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: Up in the northeast corner Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Portsmouth is 120 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: split up into four main sections, the waterfront, downtown, the 121 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: North end, and the West End. For the purpose of 122 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: a visit to this city that focuses around music, downtown 123 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: is the place to be. It is small enough to 124 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,239 Speaker 1: walk around in the half hour or less, and in fact, 125 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: it is so essential that this activity is perfect for 126 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: a no cover spot. You're worried about saving a couple bucks, 127 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: the rising costs of everything, or looking for a simple, 128 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 1: straightforward way to have some fun. This is it. Walk 129 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: around a port city and feel the ocean breeze, feel 130 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: the music of the place seep into your bones, feel 131 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: the hopes and the dreams from the streets. Out on 132 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: the streets in Portsmouth, it really is as if you're 133 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: in a movie set. What space could be this tight? 134 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: Everything is so compact. As you walk along the old buildings, 135 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: it's almost like you believe you're in a simulation. It's 136 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:34,839 Speaker 1: also like every other giant to small city expanding right 137 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: now with some questionable architecture. But even this can't eclipse 138 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: the feel of the old town, Market Street, Pleasant Street, 139 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: Congress Street. These are the main drags in downtown Portsmouth, 140 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 1: all emanating from the main shopping district, Market Square, Every 141 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,359 Speaker 1: left and right hand turn leads to a new microadventure 142 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: along these brickline sidewalks. Every venue worth going to in 143 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: this town sits within a couple of blocks radius of 144 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: each other, which can be overwhelming, but it's also incredibly convenient. 145 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: Imagine if every small town in America had a ring 146 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: of stages, supporting each other and boasting plenty of local 147 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: nights while still bringing in plenty of musical outsiders. Walking 148 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: the sidewalks looking at all these glass windows of full restaurants. 149 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: Walk by the music hall lounge mid set, see what 150 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: author or songwriter is in there. Look up the arches 151 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: that lead to the grand music Hall. Walking underneath them 152 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: feels like you're entering a special place, and you are. 153 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: This is the spirit of Portsmouth. Not everything happens indoors 154 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 1: on the stage at the show. You know a lot 155 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 1: of what happens in a real music city happens in 156 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: and around before and after. Just let yourself be in Portsmouth. 157 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: It wouldn't be that surprising to me, someone who has 158 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: spent a lot of time doing just that. If you 159 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: get a better music story out of it that way. 160 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: Also the mouse boush to Your First Stop. Your First 161 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: Stop is located in Portsmouth's stately one hundred and fifty 162 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: year old Customs House, just one of the many examples 163 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: of the city's ancient architecture that has been repurposed and 164 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: incorporated into its contemporary life. Portsmouth Book and Bar is 165 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 1: the stuff of legends. Founded about a decade ago by 166 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: a collective of book collectors with successful shops elsewhere, it 167 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: has become a staple for the community in a celebrated 168 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: space for passionate live performances in Portsmouth. I performed there 169 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: on early runs through the town, back when I dreamed 170 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 1: of one day performing on the much larger stage at 171 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: the press room, and it was easy to appreciate my 172 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: book in bar phase while I was there. The custom 173 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: House and post office is a big deal in port Town, 174 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: as international mail and expensive goods of all kinds changed 175 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: hands across the American border. That means this building was 176 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: constructed to make an impression. Originally designed by Amy Young 177 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: in eighteen sixty, it makes his Greek Revival and Neo 178 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: Renaissance styles. In the current space still benefits from the 179 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: grandeur of its design, lots of room almost three thousand 180 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: square feet airy lofted ceilings in original floor to ceiling windows. 181 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: Now a lot of that space is packed out with books, 182 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: a bar for serving local beer, coffee and small plates, 183 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: and of course a corner stage where everyone for musicians 184 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: to beat poets, to authors and DJs and comedians are 185 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: welcome to come in for live performance events. It's the 186 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: ideal place to not just get your bearings in Portsmouth, 187 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: but to really feel like you've arrived in your own 188 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,959 Speaker 1: movie while being surrounded by a plethora of stories, ancient, 189 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: new and musical Plan ahead by checking out the substantial 190 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: calendar on their website or drop in during the early 191 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: evening for surprise. There's performances almost every night and plenty 192 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: of books about music. If not. Our used bookstore is 193 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: a wonderful way to get to the heart of a 194 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: town's artistic and writerly scene, and in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 195 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: that places booken bar. It's a good listening room, but 196 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:28,839 Speaker 1: it's not the listening room. Jimmy's Jazz and Blues Club 197 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: is so classic. It has a thick purple velvet curtain 198 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 1: that the band sets up in front of It's got 199 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: round tables and thick comfy chairs that patrons can move 200 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: around closer to the stage and further away, crowded by 201 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 1: a table full of friends are off on their own 202 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: for a night of close solo listening. It's got the flexibility, 203 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: the improvisational feel that the best jazz clubs should have. 204 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 1: And of course, on Sundays, it's got jazz Brunch. If 205 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: you're so inclined, you can get a full dinner service 206 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: or your listen into jazz and blues at Jimmy's, and 207 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: the kitchen stays open all the way through the second 208 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: show of the night. Your show ticket works as your reservation, 209 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: but it's not a requirement, just an option. Set in 210 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: a nineteen oh five building that was originally erected by 211 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: the YMCA, the current owners of Jimmy's, brother Michael and 212 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: Peter LaBrie, have put over twenty million dollars into renovating 213 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 1: and preserving the architecture of the club. It is a 214 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: listening room in the truest sense of the word, with 215 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: five years of planning in redesign and construction behind the 216 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 1: current iteration. Many historic features were kept intact, like original 217 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: stained glass windows, and though they no longer existed. Two 218 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: large bay windows were recreated from old photographs. That plus 219 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: an acoustical ceiling that floats on springs, makes this place 220 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: a favorite of musicians who can immediately hear the difference 221 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: and don't let the full bar fool you into thinking 222 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: this isn't a serious place for music fans. In fact, 223 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: this bar being in one of the two separate lounges, 224 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: is a testament to the fact that patrons can enjoy 225 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 1: a casual conversation or head into the venue when it's 226 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,079 Speaker 1: time to focus on the show. Named for their father, 227 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 1: James la Brie, a separate VIP club upstairs is named 228 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,319 Speaker 1: after their mother, Ellen, and though the venue is clearly 229 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: outfitted to the nines and millions of dollars of renovations, 230 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: it is still family owned by locals who desperately want 231 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: to bring a world class venue to the town they 232 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: know has a hungry audience of live music lovers. But 233 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: Jimmy's is a pretty spiffy affair. It's really nice in there. 234 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: When you need a face melt, we have a club 235 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 1: for that. If you've been listening to this show for 236 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: a minute, then you've already heard me tell a story 237 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: like the one I'm about to tell about the press 238 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: room Somewhere in a past episode. It's the one where 239 00:14:55,480 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: the emerging musician attired Troubadour from the Road accidentally created 240 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: it's a working circuit in a badly wired room. By 241 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: becoming the conduit and touching his lips to a microphone 242 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: and his fingers to an electric guitar. All hell breaks 243 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: loose inside your body. In defense of the press room, 244 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: I was electrocuted at the old one. Though this venue 245 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: has been newly renovated, with over a year spent repairing, renovating, 246 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: and making improvements while staying true to the spirit of 247 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: the place. That's all according to their website. When you 248 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: are a venue where people regularly go to get their 249 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: face melted, to participate in the grandiose, loud and epic 250 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: practice of loving the huge wall of sound that live 251 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: music can and will provide, well, repairs are a necessary routine. 252 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: Back in my book Some Bar Days, the press room 253 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: was the dream stage this place. It's been a staple 254 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: in Portsmouth for more than four decades for a reason. 255 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: It's the spot to get a live music fixed. Even 256 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: the venue itself notes that as much as they're proud 257 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: of the building in the physical space, particularly with all 258 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: the updates. It's the community that makes this place special. 259 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: People turn out for shows at the Pressroom. It's where 260 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: they want to see old favorites in new emerging players. 261 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: It's where they want to go. Whether it's a rainy 262 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: Tuesday or a crisp Saturday full of excitement and potential. 263 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: You will see the coolest music kids and artists from 264 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: the scene attending shows here. So for those of you 265 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: who love to be on the in spot, this is it, 266 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: and with good reason. It's got the history to go 267 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: toe to toe with any venue in town. As the 268 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: longest running bar, restaurant, and live entertainment venue in downtown Portsmouth, 269 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: the press Room takes the crown. Opened in nineteen seventy 270 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: six by journalist, musician, and folk music lover Jay Smith, 271 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: who the venue's website also describes as a quiet philanthropist. 272 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: The fifty year history of the press Room is a 273 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: testament to his initial commitment. With only four owners over 274 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: the course of decades, and all of them independent parties 275 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: who have run it without the backing of a major 276 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: music industry company, this is one of the few rock 277 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: clubs in the country. That's really for the community, by 278 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: the community. So imagine if you've seen a show or 279 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: two already, or you're just wandering around the city, you're 280 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: maybe overdue for a snack. And I have to mention 281 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: that in an episode about Portsmouth, because this city's got eats. 282 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: This is a seafood town, and like any good sailor town, 283 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: it also has a lot of beer. It also has 284 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 1: a killer bakery, which doesn't have to be linked to 285 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: the working class of the Sea Coast. I guess it 286 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 1: just exists in all its four am fresh bred glory. 287 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 1: But for a seafood fix, stop by the Franklin, known 288 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: for its raw bar with two dollars oysters and usually 289 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: eight to ten varietals on at a time. But obviously 290 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,199 Speaker 1: it's oysters, so these types are subject has changed at 291 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 1: any time. They are the freshest in town and it 292 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: comes with great views. What's not the love And if 293 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: you can't get over the whole raw oyster texture thing, 294 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: come here and pick up some of their grilled oyster offerings. 295 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: The farm is served with bacon jam and corn bread 296 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: crumble and it'll help almost anyone get over their shellfish sensitivity. 297 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: Can we have a music town if it doesn't have 298 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: a long running festival. Portsmouth has one, but it's not 299 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: what you think. Now entering its forty fifth year, the 300 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: Prescott Park Arts Festival is decidedly not like the mainstream 301 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: music festivals you've seen popularized over the last two decades 302 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: that packs a bunch of Billboard chart one hit wonders 303 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: into a thirty minute set at stages that trample and 304 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: defile whatever grounds they're hurriedly erected upon, leaving heaps of 305 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: trash behind that will one day end up in our ocean. 306 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:14,400 Speaker 1: That's another podcast, I'm sorry. Prescott Park is a move 307 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 1: that has decidedly against the getellification of live music. The 308 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: Arts festival actually includes over eighty events spread throughout the 309 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: course of the summer every summer. Instead of VIP wristbands 310 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: going for thousands of dollars or traded behind the scenes 311 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: by corrupt industry locals or vapid influencers, the festival includes 312 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 1: family in need passes, it runs on suggested donation models, 313 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: and has programming that's devoted exclusively to children. It's the 314 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: festival that's truly built to serve its community and is 315 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 1: passionate about getting kids out to live music in hopes 316 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,159 Speaker 1: of showing them that this is something worth pursuing and 317 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: supporting in their own life. When we say it's not 318 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: like other music festivals, that's what we mean. Hosted annually 319 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,199 Speaker 1: at Prescott Park, a waterfront area that includes ten acres 320 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 1: of flower gardens, walkways, seating, grassy areas, all designed for 321 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: public use and recreation. If you're in town for the summer, 322 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: definitely make it out to one of their concerts or 323 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: film screenings or other musical events. However, if you're not 324 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: visiting Portsmouth during the summer, there's another place you can 325 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:23,719 Speaker 1: go similarly focused on community and art of all kinds, 326 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: and that's Three S Art Space, which play hosts to 327 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,160 Speaker 1: both visual art and live music. Though it is located 328 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 1: in downtown Portsmouth, the Three S Art Space feels a 329 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: little bit outside the jam packed venue region. It makes 330 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: a great stop because it's the kind of place that 331 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: embraces both music and visual art, so you've got multiple 332 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: mediums to get swept away. In. The music hall itself 333 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: is smaller than most music halls, but in Portsmouth it's 334 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: gigantic and anchors the whole city. Tucked right into the 335 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: heart of the downtown corridor. We've already made you pace 336 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: through and where most of the venues worth visiting are located. 337 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 1: It's the big fish in this little pond. It's the 338 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: best game in town. It's the reason the rest of 339 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: the Sea Coast will happily drive an hour or more 340 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: to see Elvis Costello, Band of Horses or Nico case 341 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: Grace at stage. I've been around meaning when it comes 342 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:32,679 Speaker 1: to Portsmouth, and I've played there twice, once in a 343 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: festival where I played from the floor up to the audience, 344 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: a trip in and of itself, and once during the 345 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: pandemic to about thirty people. That show is supposed to 346 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: be outside for safety reasons, everyone's spread out, but it 347 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: rained hard enough that it all moved inside with the 348 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: trust that everyone would sit separately from one another in 349 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,360 Speaker 1: the building. It was one of the strangest ways I've 350 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 1: ever had to face an audience in recent memories, but 351 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: it was magical, and still even with the restrictions and 352 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 1: last minute changes, just being in there was magical. It's 353 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: an eight hundred and ninety five seat theater clocking in 354 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: at just under a thousand or so. It originally opened 355 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: in eighteen seventy eight as a vaudeville theater, and even 356 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: throughout renovations, the spirit of its Victorian beginning lives on 357 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: these days. It's a thriving local nonprofit incorporated as the 358 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 1: Friends of the Music Hall into a five oh one 359 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: C three in nineteen eighty seven. More communities could and 360 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 1: should save their best historic venues by operating them this way. 361 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 1: There's a secondary venue back through the archways and across 362 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: the street. It is known as the Music Hall Lounge. 363 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,479 Speaker 1: It's much smaller, about a tenth of the size, with 364 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: only one hundred and twenty seats, and it used to 365 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 1: be a black box theater over the pandemic. Like a 366 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 1: lot of venues in Portsmouth, they did a high class 367 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: or renovation, turning it into another of the city's best 368 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: pure listening rooms. It feels brand new but also classic, 369 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: with seating that's elevated, going for from one side of 370 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: the stage and wrapping around a beautiful wine bar. There's 371 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: an electric fireplace. Some people sit on couches as well 372 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: as tables, and you kind of feel like there should 373 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: be a cigarette smoke cloud in your vision, and thank 374 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,119 Speaker 1: god it isn't. If you ever get a chance to 375 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: see a show at the Lounge or the hall itself 376 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 1: during your trip, drop everything else and go. And in fact, 377 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: my last show at the Lounge, people did just that. 378 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 1: They'd flown into town and looked up what was happening 379 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 1: and came in. These are the kind of rooms that 380 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 1: carry the spirit of American music with them. The care 381 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: with which Portsmouth has embraced preserving this historic place, this 382 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: temple of live music is something every city with a 383 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: live music scene should emulate. And since we've now covered 384 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: all the best stages in the city, the only place 385 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 1: to send you now is for a brief walk about 386 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: in the country. Have you ever seen a show in 387 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:57,639 Speaker 1: a seventeenth century barn. Since most of this episode has 388 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: been directing you to wander around a few blocks idios 389 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: smack dab in downtown Portsmouth, which is honestly a fairly 390 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 1: obvious plan, it makes sense that we take you somewhere 391 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: else for that hidden gem. And by somewhere else, this 392 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: time I'm going to suggest somewhere that's not even in Portsmouth. Radical, 393 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: I know, but the goal of this show in many 394 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 1: ways is to stay radical. Plus. As we mentioned a 395 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: couple times throughout the episode. Portsmouth is part of the 396 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 1: larger Sea Coast scene. In one of the cities that 397 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,920 Speaker 1: is an intrinsic part of that realm is Exeter. In 398 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: a venue an Exeter that anyone in the world would 399 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 1: recommend you check out if they've heard of it yet 400 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,640 Speaker 1: is the word Barn in Meadow, which is pretty much 401 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: as close to exactly what the name says as almost 402 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: any venue could be. But here's a tagline just in case. 403 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: A gathering place for language and song now with everything 404 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: from live music to workshops, to poetry and fiction reading, 405 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: to wildlife and wellness demonstrations, to theater to food events. 406 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:58,239 Speaker 1: The word Barn is a true artistic community hub in 407 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: every sense. Founded by Ben and Sarah Anderson about eight 408 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: years ago. The Andersons, who are self proclaimed music fanatics 409 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: and promoters and poets and teachers, transformed in an original 410 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 1: horse table from sixteen to ninety five into a live 411 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 1: music venue. They also make my favorite chicken soup for 412 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: the artists in the green room, or maybe they just 413 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 1: did that for me. I hope all the other artists 414 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: get the chicken soup and I'll let them describe it 415 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: because it's perfect. The way they put it. With impeccable acoustics, 416 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: inspiring setting, unique interaction with performers, and a combination of seats, stools, 417 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:38,639 Speaker 1: and balcony, it provides a superb community gathering space centered 418 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: around quality events. Even better, closing their indoor stage along 419 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: with everyone else during the twenty twenty shutdowns led Ben 420 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 1: and Sarah to get creative. They transformed another portion of 421 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: the farm into the Meadow, an outdoor venue that's now 422 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: become just as popular as the original barn during the summer. 423 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 1: It makes a great alternative or addition to Barn. There's 424 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: only one thing you need to prep for your trip 425 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 1: to Portsmouth. Though other materials may exist, they are rated moot. 426 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: Once you've watched this documentary In Danger of being discovered, 427 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: it's a two thy and an eleventh film about the 428 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: Portsmouth music scene in the nineteen nineties. Perhaps you've heard 429 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:28,719 Speaker 1: of a couple of the bands mentioned in Our musician 430 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: listened to the top of the episode. Perhaps not, but 431 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: once you watch In Danger, their stories will live on 432 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: in your mind. Obviously, we've established throughout this episode that 433 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: Portsmouth has a vibrant and thriving music scene now, but 434 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: in the nineties, it was so strong that some people 435 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: were comparing it to the grunge explosion going on in 436 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: Seattle around the time, though the scene never quite hit 437 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: the national zenith the way grunge did. In Danger of 438 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: being Discovered is a retrospective look into what was going 439 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 1: on with local bands in the area, what was happening 440 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 1: in the local music scene venues, and why musicians we've 441 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 1: never heard of We're selling sixty thousand copies of third 442 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,679 Speaker 1: demo CDs, with one in every ten of the local 443 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 1: bands being courted by a major label and sold out shows. 444 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: That seemed like this scene was one hit away from 445 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 1: stardom as a whole, but then it never happened. This 446 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: doc tells the story of those who almost made it, 447 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: and damn if that story doesn't sometimes hit better that way. 448 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,719 Speaker 1: If you're a musichead and you're planning to make your 449 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 1: way to Portsmouth, or even if you're not, this doc 450 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: is required watching. Pop it in before the trip and 451 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: you'll feel like an expert when you pull up to 452 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: the town that doubles as the mother of rivers. Portsmouth, 453 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 1: New Hampshire, a picturesque waterfront town that sits right on 454 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: the border of Maine, is in fact so close to 455 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 1: Maine that you can shoot over the Memorial Bridge and 456 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,719 Speaker 1: leave New Hampshire all together in less than five minutes, 457 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,160 Speaker 1: which is to say Portsmouth is in a city alone, 458 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 1: that it is instead part of a larger hole, Sitting 459 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: at a crossroads between states, between the river and the ocean, 460 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: between land and sea. It is a place of betweens, 461 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 1: which makes it a perfect place for the troubadour or 462 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: the wandering artist, musicians, the ultimate between ers. Portsmouth is 463 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: also a city so small it might not even count 464 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: if it weren't for the music. Whether it's summer, a 465 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: glorious mess of golden sun and long shadows in a 466 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: seaport town such as this one, or winter. But it 467 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: can be pretty biting right off the water. The roiling 468 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 1: crowds of Portsmouth don't know how to stay home. This 469 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 1: river city is always flowing, the biggest little music city 470 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: in the world. Maybe, now that I've stepped into its stream, 471 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: it's impossible not to return. Maybe that's where a bit 472 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: of the magic surrounding this place comes in, rising like 473 00:28:55,680 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: mist off the headwaters. That's what draws artists here, so 474 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: for ages. Maybe it'll draw you here too, maybe it 475 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 1: already has. Well, welcome to New Hampshire. You might not 476 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 1: know it yet, but you're never going to be the 477 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: same again. And one more thing, what is it about 478 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: small towns and their music cultures that keep them so healthy? 479 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 1: Big cities they lose track of their music vibe. Sometimes 480 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:32,479 Speaker 1: they get a little too confident in the history that 481 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: they might have, whether it be Boston or New York 482 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 1: or Chicago, Kansas City or Seattle. They can afford to 483 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 1: let a decade or two go by until they say, 484 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: oh damn, maybe we need to focus on this because 485 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: people don't want to live here. The rest of the 486 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 1: culture is struggling because we don't have a thriving scene. Well, 487 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 1: it's the small towns that know this year in and 488 00:29:56,760 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: year out. Without the arts, I can't even compete, and 489 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: they know it. It's intrinsic, it's obvious, it's right there, 490 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: and I think that is what Portsmith exemplifies. So well, 491 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: well there you go, Episode ten of season two of 492 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: Sound of Our Town, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We did it. 493 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: The Sound of Our Town is a production of Double 494 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 1: Elvis and iHeartRadio. It's executively produced by Brady Sadler. And 495 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 1: Jake Brennan. Production assistants by Matt Bowden. This episode's head 496 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: writer is Kaitlin White. The Sound of Our Town is written, produced, created, 497 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 1: and soundtracked by me Will Daly. You can follow me 498 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:47,080 Speaker 1: anywhere you follow people just spell daily VIAI lu Y. 499 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 1: If you want to hear more of my music like 500 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: you've been hearing in this episode, you can just just 501 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 1: search me. You know how to do this. I'm not 502 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 1: going to tell you where to go, what platform. I 503 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: believe in you and your thumbs in your spell. We're 504 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:04,280 Speaker 1: gonna head off to the next city right now. Two 505 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: more episodes left in this season, and then we got 506 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 1: some special stuff lined up for next year. What I 507 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:13,480 Speaker 1: really appreciate is all your reviews, all your shares, and 508 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: all your kind words. As I'm traveling around, I'll see 509 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: you out there. Thank you for your ears. It's got 510 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: the flexibility the improvise. It's got the flexibility the improvise. 511 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 1: It's got the flexibility the improvisation now, and it'll help 512 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 1: almost anyone get over their shell fish and it'll help 513 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 1: almost anyone get over their shellfish sensitivity.