Samantha Levin is an archivist documenting the teen nightclub, Images that was located in Brewster, NY in the late 80s. It was the place to hear new wave, goth and industrial music. It wasn’t uncommon for a New Order song to play followed by Ministry where the crowd cleared and a pit was formed. Temporarily of course until a danceable Blondie track come on. That was a generation before my time when it was turned into Boardwalk. I’ll be sharing Samantha’s interviews from time to time in ...
22 Feb 2023
Mike Weiland - Dr. Javas
In high school we spent our evenings and late nights drinking coffee at diners because there was no where else to go and we thought it made us look cool. How hilarious that is when I think about it now. Early on in my Junior year at Bethel High School a new business popped up in Downtown Bethel. We always noticed when something new opened. Change was rare and slow in Bethel. I believe it was Mike Dobsevage and I who walked into Dr Java’s together for the first time. Maybe Mark Straiton ...
17 Nov 2022
24 Buttonball Dr
This episode is about 24 Buttonball drive in Newtown CT, The home of Jim and Joe Roberto back in the day. It’s in that basement where amps were blown, distortion pedals were engaged and many bands were formed. I chatted with Ernest Latanzio and Joe Roberto as they reminisced and shared that deep history and all the music and collaborations that came out of it. One quick note. As you’ve probably noticed, these episodes come out pretty sporadically. Life gets in the way life and there’s too man...
28 Sept 2022
Litmus
Litmus is an ever expanding and contracting improv band who started in 1996. There’s a core group of 6 musicians but they’ve had as many as 12 musicians on stage at one time. Each show is a totally unique experience. There’s no songs, no plan and no one knows what to expect. Neither the musicians or the audience. I got to chat with 4 of the members. Justin Emerson - Keys, Samples, Effects Edward Murphy - Drums, Percussion Andrew Kraemer - Guitar, Effects Jared Koehl - Visual Manipulations Two...
23 Aug 2022
Morgan Williams
Morgan Williams was a DJ in the early days of WXCI. It was a platform for him to play alternative and new music that wasn't being played on commercial stations. He worked with Darryl Ort during WXCI's transition into a platform for new music. He went on to host New Music Wednesday at City Limits in Danbury. He also mentored Jeff McKay and Anne who DJ'ed at Images, the all ages club in Brewster, NY that attracted the freaks, geeks, goth, punk and new wave crowd. A place for kids coming from tr...
6 Jul 2022
Steve Lonergan - Sgt. Scagnetti
I didn’t get to attend as many ska shows as would have liked, but the one band I would try to catch was Sgt. Scagnetti. Front man Steve Lonergan and I got to connect recently as he shared his own Danbury stories. A hip hop kid out of Seymour, CT who somehow found his way to WXCI one night long before Google maps were a thing as his parents were suddenly cool about a 2am curfew to hang out at a college radio station at the age of 16. Steve realized early on that he wanted to be involved in liv...
27 Apr 2022
Greg Vegas - Monsterland
In this episode I had the honor of speaking with Greg Vegas. A pioneer in the early days of WXCI with his show Large With Everything where he played pretty much anything as long as it was new and cool. Greg was also singer, songwriter and guitarist for local legends Monsterland. The only band at the time who got signed and even had a music video on MTV, which at that point was a huge deal. This ones packed with tons of history and stories so let’s jump right in. Enjoy this conversation with G...
13 Apr 2022
Craig Colorusso
This is episode 5 where I talked with Craig Colorusso from the band China Pig that performed in Danbury in the mid 90’s and toured throughout the country. He ran the indie label Mudd Industries and produced albums for G’nu Fuz, Hed and Monsterland. After catching a live show from G’nu Fuz he wanted to find a way to contribute to the band but wasn’t sure how. He decided he’d help them put out a record. He didn’t know where to start though. While working at Trash American Style, Malcolm T...
30 Mar 2022
Malcolm Tent - Trash American Style
This is episode four where I talked with Malcolm Tent to learn about the history of Trash American Style, an indie record shop and used clothing store, or a psycho thrift shop as he describes it. Trash had a physical location in Danbury from 1986-2007 and now continues it’s legacy online. Trash was all things punk rock, goth and new wave. A place to dig through cassettes, CDs and vinyl from only indie labels while shopping used clothing long before thrift shops were cool. It was the loc...
16 Mar 2022
Wendy Cahill - Sans Cherubs
This is episode three where I talked with Wendy Cahill. A singer from the band Sans Cherubs that was around in the mid 90s and the owner of Molten Java, a small coffee shop in Bethel, CT. Wendy talked about the importance of coffee shops, specifically Seattle Espresso and the role they played at the time. There was always support for local artists and musicians as well as being a place for community to gather and just hang out. An experience that in many ways led her to where she is today. We...
2 Mar 2022
Dan Bishop - Journey to Gasball Part 2
This is episode two, part two of my conversation with Dan Bishop about his journey to Gasball. A free outdoor music and art festival that went on for about 10 years. In this second half of the conversation Dan talks about meeting Chris Durante and the inception of Gallery 13 as well as the importance of Seattle Espresso and the role it played in bringing the community together. There was a sense that Danbury would be the next Seattle and it started to attract outside musicians to see what the...
27 Feb 2022
Dan Bishop - Journey to Gasball Part 1
This is episode 1 of Hat City Stories where I had the chance to talk with with Dan Bishop about his journey to Gasball. A free outdoor music and art festival that went on for about 10 years. From building forts in the woods as a kid to his first show at the Danbury Music Center and Gallery 13. It was huge pleasure to catch up with Dan and learn how it all went down. We talked for almost 2 hours so this is part one. Enjoy this first part of the conversation and be sure to come back for p...
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