With a line that extended all the way down
Commonwealth Avenue, the energy once the
fans were allowed into the venue was palpable.
Although the show was sold out and the venue‒
which has an official capacity of 933 people‒was
packed, the performance was electrifyingly
intimate. I could see the beads of sweat on his face.
During the opening performance, Chicago-based
rapper Towkio walked on the hands of the crowd
and we all knew how easily he could fall, but it
wasn’t scary; it was exhilarating. Everyone was so
close together that, if he fell, there was no doubt
that he would be held up.
For the current general manager, venue veteran
Lee Zazofsky, this is one of the distinguishing
characteristics of a Paradise concert. He recalled
his first night working at the venue, and explained
that its unique energy is inherent to its setup: “My
first night as general manager was quite a bit
different than at the other venues that I had worked
previously. The club is much smaller than the
other places, so the level of intensity in the crowd
was heightened. The proximity of the artist to the
crowd intensified the relationship and response.”
This was certainly true in my experience; when
Aminé began to perform an acapella rendition of
his breakout single “Caroline” and the audience
li t up their phones, it was like someone had turned
flipped the light switch on. Never before had I seen
a crowd illuminate every corner of a concert venue
together.
monumental renovation of 2010. Since the
fact that the venue has held a space on
club’s opening, a pole had been annoyingly
Commonwealth Avenue for over 40 years,
in the way of performers, typically blocking
he said that the club distinguishes itself
the lead singer from a portion of the crowd.
from others because all of its affiliates
After over three decades, it was finally
and employees have “tried to maintain
time to solve this issue, but how was
the highest standards in terms of customer
another question. While the pole was was
satisfaction and public safety through
structurally integral to the building, the stage a veteran show and support staff that is
was integral to its history. So, instead of just
unparalleled in the Boston scene.” When
building a new stage, co-owners Joe Dunne
I asked him about what has remained
and Declan Mehigan decided to move the
the same‒even after all the changes in
existing stage 15 feet
ownership, capacity,
over.
"The club is much smaller performers, and floor plan‒
answer about the club’s
than the other places, so his
Over the course of
integrity did not come as a
the level of intensity in the surprise at all: “Certainly
a three-month long
crowd was heightened. its core mission has been
remodelling process,
the venue received a
The proximity of the artist maintained: to bring top
long overdue facelift:
to the crowd intensified rate performers before they
the box office was
the relationship and
become big names.”
moved, a bar close
response.”
to the entrance was
I can’t help but smile when
destroyed, as were
I think of this mission‒one
mezzanines on either side of the stage,
that is so important to young music fans
and the dressing room was moved to the
who crave a space that they can share with
second floor. The result was a much more
their favorite performers. I think of taking
open floor space and, for the first time ever
photos under the box office sign, holding
in ‘Dise history, an unobstructed view for
up Towkio with the palms of my hands,
all. In the new setup, the iconic stage and
the feeling of being pressed up against a
center of performance is directly in between
barricade, meeting one of my favorite artists
two support pillars (and yes, one of them is
outside of the venue after the show. As the
the historically hated pole.) When I asked
venue prepares to change hands again with
Zazofsky about the renovation, he approved
Zazofsky’s coming retirement, I am left
of it completely, telling me that “nobody
hopeful about future experiences to be had
misses that pole.” In his opinion, the newest
there. His closing remarks about the future
version of the venue “is more wide open
of the ‘Dise were confident and concise,
overall with better crowd flow.”
ensuring that no matter what “the venue
will continue to attract first rate performers,
Zazofsky, who is retiring from the venue
who will continue the legacy which is the
in the near future, has high hopes for the
Paradise.” BY LILLY MILMAN
future of Paradise Rock Club. Besides the
Like I said earlier, attending a concert at the
Paradise Rock Club integrates you into a history
of sorts. As one of Boston’s oldest venues, the
club‒which opened in 1977‒has hosted everyone
from U2 to Mitski, the Police to R.E.M., Elvis
Costello to Rage Against the Machine. Its
reputation is ingrained in the footsteps that sit on
the stage. Zazofsky remarked on some of his most
memorable nights at the club, telling me that his
favorite performance was by alt-rock legends The
Pixies, who “did not disappoint even though the
performers are quite a bit older” and that “seeing
Joe Strummer of the Clash in the intimacy of the
club” prior to becoming general manager was truly
“special.” Stories like these are one of the main
reasons that the stage was maintained during the
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