Boston Bands Play To Save Rock Club

More than 15 Boston bands will participate next month in a benefit to save the local rock club T.T. The Bear's Place, which needs to raise $10,000 within the next month in order to stay open.

The benefit performance will take place on May 1 and 2 at the Paradise rock club, located at 969 Commonwealth Ave. In Boston. Tickets will be $10.

Since going bankrupt in 1985, T.T.'s had been paying off its debts in small increments. Last week, one of T.T.'s creditors unexpectedly requested the owners to pay the remaining $10,000 owed within 30 days.

The bands scheduled to appear over the two nights include, among others: The Heretix. Bim-Skala-Bim, Steady Earnest, O-Positive, Buffalo Tom, Letters to Cleo, Talking to Animals, Orangatang, Green Magnet School, Chuck, The Blood Oranges, The Swinging Steaks and Come.

The Paradise, which is larger than T.T.'s and uses the same booking agency, is hosting the benefit free of charge, said Tuesday Thomas, promotions director for T.T.'s.

Attendance at T.T.'s located at 10 Brookline St. in Cambridge, has been high and shows no signs of tapering off, Thomas said.

Tim Shea, guitarist for Green Magnet School, said the local music community has come together to save T.T.'s.

"There is a solidarity in the local rock community," Shea said in a press release.

"We want to show our support for an important local club which provides a jumping-off point for headliners and national acts as well as giving new bands a chance to be seen," Shea said in the release.

Members of the local bands scheduled to perform said they think that small clubs such as T.T.'s are essential to the rock community.

"There are not that many clubs in Boston and we've been playing at T.T.'s for years," said Daniel J. Vitale, vocalist for Bim-Skala-Bim and Steady Earnest. "It's an important club and we don't want to loose it. I think it's great how many people are supporting the club."

"Lots of bands would not be able to play Boston if it were not for T.T.'s Vitale added.

"We've played at T.T.'s and had great shows in the past," said Raymond P. Lemieuz, vocalist for the The Heretix. "There's no thinking twice about helping to keep them around I think everyone should support avenues that allow small bands to play."

Originally a restaurant, T.T.'s transformed itself into a rock club after filing for bankruptcy in 1985, according to the press release.

T.T.'s is owned by Bonny Bouley and Miles Cares. Among those acts which have graced T.T.'s state are Jane's Addiction, The Indigo Girls, Robin Hitchcock and Paul Westerberg according to the press release.

T.T.'s borrowed its unusual name from Bouley's pet hamster.