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Metal 101: The best places to catch a show in CT
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The Webster Theater
Hartford’s The Webster has long been the biggest club in CT to host big name metal bands when they are looking for an alternative to Worcester/Springfield/Providence or an additional show to go along with Boston and/or NYC. A former theater converted to concert hall, The Webster was notorious at one point for its poor sound quality. However over the last 3-5 years the folks running the venue have taken extraordinary strides to improve what was their biggest liability. Now a marquee venue that has hosted such metal heavyweights as Rob Halford, Opeth, Immortal, Amon Amarth, Obituary and Napalm Death over the last few years The Webster is finally the type of venue that can help create a staunch metal scene in CT. Although they host a very wide array of shows, their calendar is always dotted with bigger metal acts that are too small to play venues such as The Oakdale or The Meadows (yeah I know they both have corporate sponsor names now, so what). Current owner Mass Concerts (who also own The Palladium in Worcester, MA) are more than willing to keep the metal flowing to the Nutmeg State. Upcoming metal shows include Clutch with Wino opening (Sept. 12), Down, with The Melvins and Weedeater (Sept. 15), and Sonata Arctica (Oct. 12).
The Webster Underground
The ying to the Webster Theater’s yang, The Webster Underground is the small bar attached to the main theater. Another room that the staff at The Webster has put a lot of time and effort into upgrading over the years, it’s gone from the stage for locals who paid to play, “opening” for the touring bands in the big room to a room with a formidable line-up of its own. Much like its big brother next door, there is no re-entry here which sucks, especially in the heat of the summer months, however with recent sets by bands like Goatwhore, Abigail Williams, and Deicide; The Underground is developing its own reputation as a haven for metal bands of all sizes. New owners Mass Concerts seem content to utilize this room for actual tours as opposed to simply a ‘pay to play’ stage for local bands to help cover costs for larger tours. It’s refreshing to say the least. Upcoming metal shows at The Underground include Between The Buried And Me (Sept. 5), the legendary Doro (Sept. 6), Holland’s God Dethroned (Oct. 15) and Poland’s Vader with Decrepit Birth, S.W.W.A.A.T.S. and others (Nov. 6).
Cherry Street Station
Every scene should have its prerequisite favorite dive bar. For the CT metal scene that’s Wallingford’s Cherry Street Station. It’s a small room with absolutely no frills whatsoever, but the owner freely allows independent promoters to bring in touring bands from all over the world and the amount of local and regional talent that makes frequent appearances hear make Cherry Street a monthly stop at least. It’s a plug-in-and-play venue with no stage at all, but all of that adds to the atmosphere and the feeling like you’re part of a select group of people witnessing music history. O.k. that might be a bit over the top, but with underground favorites like Impaled, Jucifer, Kylesa, Rosetta, and Cable having all played here in recent memory it really is a great place to catch a show.
Toad’s Place
Arguably the most famous club in all of New England, this New Haven landmark has hosted everyone from The Doors to The Rolling Stones to Slayer and everyone in between. Although they don’t do nearly as many metal, punk or hardcore shows as they did even a decade ago Toad's Place is still good for the occasional outing hosting such “bigger” acts as Bruce Dickinson, The Misfits, Rollins Band, and Hatebreed gracing the stage over the years. Much like its main competition in Hartford – The Webster – Toad’s doesn’t allow re-entry plus the bathrooms are buried under the club in the same hallway that the dressing rooms are located making them hard to access when the club is packed. However with three different bars and sound that has never disappointed this is still one of the best places to catch a show anywhere in the state. Upcoming metal/rock shows at Toad’s include Emmure with Evergreen Terrace (Sept. 15), the mighty Dinosaur Jr. (Oct. 7) and a return of The Misfits (Oct. 18).
Daniel St.
Not known as a metal venue at all Daniel St. in Milford might seem like an odd addition to this list for some scenesters and hipsters in CT. However thanks to an open mind by the owners and a willingness by local promoters to take heavier shows there Daniel St. has actually hosted some excellent shows in the recent past including High On Fire, A Life Once Lost, local black metal masters Ipsissimus, and an ill-fated attempt at hosting Wolves In the Throne Room (the band’s van broke down on their way to the show). It’s a big, clean room with a booming sound well worth the drive down to the shore. Upcoming heavy shows include atmospheric sludge gods Sea Of Bones (Sept. 9) and psychedelic sludge masters Dead Meadow (Sept. 16)
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