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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
Somerville used to have a few venues to see live music. Places like Jasper’s, Johnny D’s, and the Jumbo. One of my favorite places was the Blarney Stone where they had Irish music. Jim Plunkett used to get the crowd going pretty much whenever he played.
I used to enjoy seeing the Fabulous Pharaohs at the Embassy Lounge with my own band playing there also. Places like Kevin’s Korner which later became Club 3 were good music spots.
And now, comments and memories from Somerville’s social network.
“J. Geils band played at the high school gym in the late 60’s early 70’s”
“Beatlejuice at D’s, you at the Embassy, the guy who took his teeth out and wig off at brothers/jumbo.”
“You at embassy lounge! Great Pretenders at Jumbo, Amazing Sensations at Johnny D’s.”
“Rockola, The Tools, etc. I just had this conversation last week with someone. Also, The Fools, Balloon, Luna, and so many more.”
“The Phabulous Pharoahs at Studley’s.”
“Mike Repetto late 1977. I’d just turned 18 and the drinking age in Massachusetts was lowered to 18 for a period of time. Stars aligned for me to enjoy my brief but illustrious “Party phase.” I’d go to Studley’s with my paycheck from Somerville Hospital kitchen and return home with my change.”
“And we have a few now, but they are different ones: Sally O’Brien’s, The Burren, the Crystal Ballroom.”
“The only band I remember that played at Pal Joey’s was called the Dream Machine.”
(They were also the house band at Sammy’s Patio at Revere Beach)
“The K Kiely Band played at just about all the places mentioned, and also my cellar!”
“The Neighborhoods, Stompers, The Fools, John Butcher, The Boys, Human Sexual Response, K Kiley Band, Robert Ellis Oral, Extreme, Robin Lane, Scatterbrains, Scared Kids, Zenaphon, Plunkett, Beatlejuice … so many great bands back then! All over Somerville.”
(My former band The Echos opened for Peter Tork and The Grassroots at The Jumbo)
“The Sleddogs played at Johnny D’s and downstairs at Redbones.”
The Rockwell Theatre in Davis Square has up and coming bands like Mallcops. The Burren is also a hopping venue.
Hopefully, live music will prosper around Somerville and live music will prosper.
It’s great looking back on all the fun we had back then.
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Jimmy,
Pal Joey’s at 318 Broadway had some great bands in the 60’s and 70’s. There was Mac’s Mob, Everett and the Screamers, The Better Way(who became The Turning Point, The Paris Brothers, Mad Anthony Wayne, Steve Colt and the 45’s, Spyder Turner, Judy Clay, The Okaysions(I’m a Girl Watcher), Dirty John’s Hot Dog Stand, The Prince and the Paupers,
At Somerville High in the gym the Beacon Street Union played, Paul Peterson from the Donna Reed Show, Arthur Conley(Sweet Soul Music), the Agents 007(with KQ on guitar), and many other great bands.
There was great music in Somerville in those days,
Steve Keenan
Beetlejuice, Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson, and Booty Vortex at Johnny D’s.