The marquee did it. “The Rex.” Yellow and black. Strong tones, and I love it.
Sold!
Even on a gray afternoon, the sight of the bold sign bolted to the newly restored building on Amherst Street brings a flutter to my heart. Which could also be the onset of something disastrous. But, let’s stay focused.
An eye booger for sure, that property looked like a crack den for years. The whole block did. Held up on the shoulders of the most delicious Mexican food this side of Tampico, without Consuelo’s Taqueria, that block may have crumbled upon itself years ago. I swear.
Soon, the street will be swept, the sound will be tested, a stage aching to be stomped on will be, and a dozen microphones shall be spit upon by a hundred gorgeous tongues. The place will be immaculate, brand new, stylized and personified, ready to pop in a couple months. Or less.
Whenever the doors do open, The Rex might be a real game changer for our great city.
Twenty miles north in Concord, the people there have been delivered exactly the same as what we’re being gifted by the Palace Theater and city of Manchester, just with a different name and layout.
I went and visited the 300-seat music hall recently — same as The Rex — walking in with one image in my head, then leaving a different man. I could hardly believe how incredible the Bank Of New Hampshire Stage on Main Street felt — felt, looked, sounded. Even smelled. It’s perfect, soup to nuts, already a central addiction of mine.
Going once to see a great local band (Oddfellow Way), then twice (Eli “Paperboy” Reed, a touring R&B singer), then I found myself itching to see another show (a Clash/Ramones cover band), all in one week.
That’s when I knew I had to get off the spoon.
Leaving the first night’s show, I knew immediately that The Rex Theater, which is basically an extension of the Palace Theater, could be a hole-in-one. If organizers even came close to booking a week of shows with the musical diversity the Bank of NH Stage was providing music lovers in that community, then, well, it’s quite possible they could be finally recognized as a real contributor to the Manchester music scene.
Up to this point, not so much. Don’t let the starched collars fool you. Booking, say, a “J. Geils” tribute band and asking people to pay $40 a ticket to see them perform when the real Peter Wolf could be playing down the street at the Tupelo is ludicrous. That trend needs to end. And I’m certain it will.
You see, the design of a venue like The Rex is critical. Got to be cool. And it will be, I’m sure. Still, the layout is just one aspect of success. You need to create a real “feel,” and that can’t be bought, can’t be predicted, can’t be manufactured. It’s got to be genuine. It’s got to have that “thing.”
Without it, well, in short, you’re kind of screwed.
If conscious of all generations and all the different kinds of music lovers in the area, a venue like The Rex could add another layer to an already thriving downtown music scene, lead by the family at The Shaskeen Pub. You see, the place is all about “feel.” Nature born. Can’t bottle that shit.
Of course, once handed a platter of truffles, it’s up to the people to devour it. The people behind The Rex walked-the-walk. It’s now up to us, the music lovers, to talk-the-talk and fill them seats. So, “Eat, son. Eat.” Let’s all take a big bite out of The Rex when it opens. Personally, I can’t wait to slobber and gorge on the venue.
Hell, just look at that sign!
Reach Rob Azevedo at onemanmanch@gmail.com
