NEWS ARTICLE
Downtown Pittsfield gets a dose of big-time entertainment
by Seth Rogovoy(PITTSFIELD, Mass., Oct. 28, 1996) -- Seldom was heard a discouraging word from the crowd at The Studio, downtown Pittsfield's newest nightspot, located in the former England Bros. building on North Street, on Saturday night, when about 700 people came to check out Irish-American, rock 'n' rap group Black 47 and Mort Cooperman's latest experiment in turning empty spaces into palaces of entertainment.
"It was like the first night following a barn-raising -- everyone got involved and pitched in -- and it went phenomenally well," said Cooperman, who pronounced himself satisfied with the turnout and the way the event came off.
Except for a brief scare when a portable pizza oven caught fire about an hour-and-a-half before showtime -- setting off alarms and attracting a crew from the Pittsfield Fire Department -- the evening seemed to go off without a hitch.
The opening act, Carl Bowlby, began playing about 8:15, only a few minutes later than the announced starting time. Likewise, Black 47 kicked off their set only minutes later than originally planned. In the rock 'n' roll world, that is considered "on time."
Officer Del Keyes, a member of the two-man, on-site force from the Pittsfield Police Department, hailed the efforts of the security crew charged with crowd control. He said the crowd was very well mannered, except for one "small incident" which resulted in one concertgoer being escorted from the building "per the organizer's request."
"It's wild-looking, great. Mort can sure pick 'em," said Larry Kirwan, the leader of Black 47, who is familiar with Cooperman's other venues, having performed at the Night Shift Cafe in North Adams twice in the past year and numerous times at Cooperman's famed New York City nightclub, the now defunct Lone Star Cafe.
To a person, everyone seemed excited about the place, what it represents, and the music.
"The place has a good feeling to it," said Thomas McHugh, an ardent Black 47 fan who drove down from Williamstown.
"I think it's very rough now, but with some work it will be really cool," said Casey Brandow, who works in the area but drove from Albany to be at The Studio's opening night affair. "There's a lot of potential to attract business to Pittsfield, which Pittsfield definitely needs."
The crowd seemingly ranged in age from six to 60, and many people remarked on the unique opportunity it afforded for the generations to mix.
"There's a really good mix of age groups, young and old," said Scott Allen of Albany.
"I thought I'd come here and feel old, but I don't," said Lisa Yetz, 30-something, of Pittsfield. "I like the idea of middle-aged people mixing with younger people."
In addition to the music, which was undoubtedly the main attraction, concertgoers were also presented with a variety of other attractions in the multi-level venue, including food, drink and retail concessions. Ringing the far side of the main floor were kiosks manned by Pittsfield stores including Strawberries Music, The Brewery, Potala, Stanley's Famous Lunch and Brighter Daze.
Paul Barbeau of Stanley's was selling coffee and cookies. "We're planning on adding an espresso machine and more desserts," he said, already thinking ahead to next time.
Randy Cormier, who owns Brighter Daze, said he is glad for the chance to bring his business, normally located at the Berkshire Mall, to downtown Pittsfield. "I'd like to get a storefront on North Street if things pick up," he said. "I'd love to be downtown. This is an awesome idea. I think it's going to be the place to be."
A central staircase led downstairs to a beer, wine and soft-drink concession, as well as an open area where patrons could mingle away from the crowd and the noise upstairs. Cooperman said that in the future there will probably be other vendors downstairs, in an area that may also function as a more intimate performance space.
Chuck White, who used to book acts in Boston nightclubs and who now lives in Pittsfield, said The Studio has "endless potential."
"Opening night is harrowing," said White, "but they pulled it all together. They did an awesome job."
Suzanne Beliveau, of Cheshire, had been to the building on Friday, when workers were still laboring frantically to ready the venue for Saturday night's opening. "They've done so much since then, fixed it up with the art," she said, referring to an art installation in the south window fronting on North Street. "I hope they make a go of it, not just for the young people, but for all ages, with all different kinds of music so we don't have to to Albany, Hartford and Worcester. I think there's a lot offered in this area. We need people who can believe it will happen."
There were several contingents of students from Williams College in attendance. "It's a nice setup, really open," said Jordana Schuster, a Williams junior. "It's not crowded and crazy, and you can be really close to the band. Williams students will definitely come." Schuster added that she had been to the Night Shift Cafe, but that The Studio "is brighter, more spacious and less dingy."
Michaela O'Brien, a 30-something Pittsfield native who lives in Northampton, where she works as a music publicist, returned to her hometown to see what all the excitement was about. Like many others familiar with the space's previous incarnation as a department store, she was reminiscing about which departments were located where. "The stage is in leather goods," she said, "and we're standing in the candy department." Noting how many familiar faces she was spotting, the Pittsfield High alumna said, "I feel like I'm at a high school reunion."
Daniel O'Connell, the cultural commissioner of Pittsfield, said, "I always felt that tearing down England Brothers would have been tearing out the heart of the community. That's not going to happen now. Mort has a great vision, and together with the city it's all going to happen again."
[This article originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on Oct. 28, 1996. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 1996. All rights reserved.]
Seth Rogovoy
rogovoy@berkshire.net
music news, interviews, reviews, et al.
Next Article
Copyright © 1996 Zenn New Media, LLC
