Hardcore fans of live music don't ever let the local inclemency keep them housebound. Slogging through the mush and over mountains of snow is a small price to pay for good live music in clubs throughout Rochester.
Most people, however, only venture out of their foxholes when weather is balmy. And even though the indoor music is blasting through re-opened windows and doors, you don't have to go inside to dig the vibe.
The biggest thing for me is the "come hither" music gives as it spills out nightclub doors to shake up the mosquitoes and moths circling streetlights. It's like the chase being better than the catch.
I can remember nights in the mid-'80s hanging out in front of Snake Sister's Café (now Lux Lounge) on South Avenue and hearing The Colorblind James Experience or The Fadeaways or even The Blasters provide a soundtrack to whatever angle I was working or come-on I was pitching curbside, hanging out amongst the parked cars.
You could tell The Red Creek on Jefferson Road was jumpin' as soon as you pulled into the lot, dug the cool rides and bikes, and heard Roomful of Blues or The Crickets or The Tailgators rockin' the joint from the inside out.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm gonna go inside... eventually. I just want to enjoy the outside vibe, hearing the music grow louder as I approach.
The Clarissa Room is perfect for this activity. And though there probably won't be a fleet of vintage Fleetwoods lined up along the curb, hanging out in the Corn Hill evening heat with Joe Beard's blues or Vince Ercolamento's jazz slithering out the door oughta be cool.
Same with the trek between Richmond's, Spot Coffee, Milestones, and on over to The Montage Grille. All sorts of music are bouncing off downtown's walls.
Checking out the choppers and bikes while any number of blues outfits blast away at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is almost a ritual. In fact, the Dinosaur crew encourages this activity with mounted PA speakers outside.
Hanging outside before heading in to Daily Perks Coffee on Gregory Street amplifies the Beat/folk feel of the joint and gooses my joe jones tenfold. Musicians on open mic night warm up outside in the alley, turning it into a musical bullpen.
And so on. Just get out of the house.
The summer weather brings the musicians out, too. Places like Starry Nites Café frequently have artists performing outdoors. And throughout the season bands will play outdoors on The Park Avenue Green (corner of Park and Berkeley). So in some instances you don't have to go inside at all.
So while the skies will be blasted by big shows at Darien Lake, Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center, and The High Falls Festival Site, it's nice to know live music will be boiling over and spilling out of clubs all over town.
