Western Massachusetts,

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if you didn't exist? I don't mean in a sense of killing yourself, or running away, but just never had been born. I think about it probably more than I should, not because I don't want to exist, but because I wonder how I affect people in my life. I often wonder if I do make a difference to others, whether it's good or bad. Sometimes, I like to think I do make a positive impact on people, and sometimes I know I affect people badly, but I wonder what life would be like without me. Do I honestly make a difference in the Universe?

Even if I don't make a difference in the Universe, I'd like to make a difference in my part of the state. Western Mass used to be so full of life, as far as the local music scene goes. There were always shows somewhere on the weekends, or during the week, always new bands and old bands coming together and just having fun. Ever since The Shed in Palmer closed, it just seemed to die out. Even though I was never one to go there much, it did affect the rest of the Pioneer Valley. It wasn't for a couple of years after until the Flywheel in Easthampton shut down (originally to move, but they didn't end up having enough money to re-open), and that's when everything really started going to shit. Bands started breaking up, partially because they were getting old, but they also didn't have many places to play. People often ask me why there aren't many bands from Western Mass (don't get me wrong, there are still quite a few, but definitely not as many) and in all honesty, I think it's because they have no place to play. There are no basements, no punk houses, no venues (well, venues that don't suck huge dick), nothing.

For awhile, MercyHouse (which was a church in UMass Amherst) was having quite a few shows, but most of them consisted of hardcore bands. To be honest, I like some hardcore music, but the WMHC scene really fucking sucks. It's a cult, consisting of straight edge, violent, ignorant assholes, who usually aren't actually straight edge, but still call people out on not being edge. It's not a scene at all. It's so phoney, it makes me kind of sick. I have no problems at all with straight edge people, but when they give me shit because I'M not, that's not okay. And not only that, but they're fucking violent. Not in the "getting rowdy at shows", but actually fucking VIOLENT. There so much unneccesary scene hatred, I can't even stand it. Anyways, back to the point, hardcore shows are the reason MercyHouse is now shut down. The Specials couldn't have said it better in "Ghost Town", even though, it's more like many towns.

My favorite place to have shows for a while was this bar called Thirsty John's in Palmer, and it kind of was what The Shed used to be, but I guess the bar wasn't very successful, and now that's shut down too.

We still have some VFWs and American Legions (and Pearl Street, but what a fucking joke that place is) that still allow shows, though most of them don't even allow them on weekends, and they're always way too expensive, and find your own PA, be out by 11, no getting rowdy, and frankly, it's pointless.

So my mission (along with my friend Aaron, and a few others who feel the same way) is to rebuild what was so amazing, so fucking sweet, and revive Western Mass, because I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. As much as I love parts of Central and Eastern Mass, down to some parts of CT and RI, and even up to Southern NH and VT, I love Western Mass (even if it doesn't show). I want my local music scene back, and I plan on trying my fucking hardest to make it happen.