Mohawk Place Memories

             It is sad, but maybe not too surprising with the way things in the Buffalo bar, club and music industries go, that after a long run (20-25 years for me, as far as I can remember), that the legendary Mohawk Place, 47 East Mohawk Street in Buffalo, will be closing later this month.

            It has been interesting and bittersweet to read all of the recollections of shows, events, people and other occurrences that have been written and posted online, in print and so on, and because I don’t want to repeat too much, I have waited to write about some of my strongest memories of Mohawk Place.

            There is no question that there have been tons of great local and national bands and acts featured at Mohawk Place, anywhere from the likes of Scott Carpenter and the Real McCoys, girlpope, Dollywatchers, the Irving Klaws. Bobo, Oui73 and the Steam Donkeys, as well as reunions of the Jumpers, Ramrods and several of the above bands, to Rosie Flores, Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3. the Fleshtones, Two-Cow Garage, Lords of the Highway and the Cowslingers. The annual Joe Strummer tributes were also memorable events.

            But I want to focus on two events that are more unique or at least personal for me. The first was a simple, fun and momentarily horrifying event; one New Year’s Eve in the 1990s, Scott Carpenter and the Real McCoys were tearing things up. When midnight approached, Scott called Val Dunne and me onstage to sing “Auld Lang Syne;” at this point, Val and I were only good friends and years away from dating. We staggered up on stage (I was still drinking at this point) and warbled out the song as best we could; having been known for, um, honest, full-contact reviews of live acts, I wondered if anyone would notice my lack of singing skills, but it seems the Real McCoys drowned out my attempts.

            The Americanarama music festival found its eventual home at Mohawk Place, after starting at the Pierce Arrow (I think that is where the first one was held). The 2000 Americanarama, at Mohawk Place, was where Val and I went from being good friends to romantically involved; in particular, due to the music, the atmosphere and efforts of two friends, Alexandra Lynne (Arnold, Manias) and Toby Sachsenmaier. While most of the music was performed on the outdoor stage, the last couple of bands were moved inside Mohawk Place, and as the Irving Klaws ended the night, Val and I kissed, um, a lot. To continue the tradition, I proposed to Val exactly one year later (at home), during the then-two-day Americanarama, and announced it to all there. One year to the date after that, we were married June 23, 2002, in Las Vegas.

            So, as you can see, along with the music, Val and I will always have a rather warm, special place in our hearts for Mohawk Place. We also value the friendship of so many people working or formerly working there, such as Pete Perrone, the owner through most of the club’s glory days whose health we wish for improvement, as well as Marty Boratin, Renee Roberts, Mikel Doktor, Tim Saracki, Bill Nehill, Chris Malachowski and Robyn Conniff (sorry to anyone I missed). Man, will Mohawk Place be missed.