Submitted by pezhed540 t3_y00o0f in WorcesterMA
I’m in Worcester for college, anyone know some good punk/rock/diy venues in worcester? I know there’s Ralph’s but the shows are 21+ and I’m not 21.
It seems like the scene has sadly died down a bit in the last few years?
Anyone know if the Firehouse on Eastern Ave is still a thing? Are the local Collectives still doing shows?
Firehouse is still a thing and has social media accounts. Other houses have shows occasionally.
The Raven
Just go and buy something non-alcoholic, like water. B a punk. Have fun.
Lol, that's not the issue - the issue is that for some of these venues they will literally not let you in when they check your ID and see that you're underage. I know Ralph's in particular will not let you in even just to drink water and watch the band if you're underage, there's a reason all the shows are advertised as 21+.
Oh well. I tried.
I think Worcester is more metal oriented
The Palladium does have some all ages shows, of course you just gotta check beforehand. Unless things have changed I thought the Raven also does some all ages shows? I remember back when I was in high school ~10 years ago my friends and I were able to go to one, they just X'd our hands at the door but I haven't been there in a while.
There's a place called the Firehouse that you could check out that might be what you're looking for - firehouseworcester.neocities.org
I know there's also all ages shows that go on at the PNI club (polish naturaliziation club), though it's one of those types of places that like has a rental hall, so I don't think they actually post about the upcoming events, you kinda have to like, be following a band that's going to be playing there and find out about it that way. Necralant is a band that has played there in the past. Could be worth looking them up on IG and at least seeing the other bands they tag to see if you can find other shows/bands you like.
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Thank you! I’m gonna check out all the stuff you mentioned. I was thinking of going to Ralph’s and just seeing if they’ll let me in with an X on my hand but from your other comment it looks like they might not.
Yeah, I mean I get where you're coming from, some bars and stuff do let underage people in, but if a show is being specifically advertised as 21+ (like in the case of stuff at Ralph's, their FB page even says all events are 21+) it's just a no go. But I've definitely been to stuff at the Raven and the Palladium that was all ages, dunno if that's changed recently
Yeah to my understanding Ralph's is pretty strict about all their events being 21+, they have that on their FB page and all the fliers I see will say 21+ on them. But, you could try I guess - worst that happens is you get turned away.
For house shows and stuff I think if you are able to find some bands through social media you can at least get info that way, so you might have to dedicate some time to social media stalking local bands lol.
Is The Raven still open?
Yup. There are still shows there. I really only get my show info off instagram, but they they are active on facebook.
Two-stepping my way over to the band tryouts
Def not going to happen.
they don’t let you i tried letting them do the X on the hands and they said they couldn’t let me in
Check out Codex Obscurum Presents on Facebook. They primarily book shows at Ralph’s but they could be a good starting point for finding bands that put on other shows locally. I know Horrible Earth (Worcester grindcore) does some all ages shows here in Boston, and it might be worth checking out Boston for shows too (for those shows follow Grayskull Booking and especially O’Brien’s in Allston).
you can pay thru the nose to get into Palladium shows, but that's probably it. when you're 21 you can go to the terrible bars where the musicians not good enough for Boston play as white noise to drown out the screams of the homeless population that lives outside the Hotel Vernon. at the end of the day, there's no good local punk scene in this town, no activism capable of making any change. the people who go to these terrible shows to support their friends will tell you it's not true; deep down, though, we all wish that Worcester had more competent rock musicians and fewer people who just want to be praised for owning or renting an instrument.
Most shows at the palladium are all ages?
Raven is 18+ palladium is all ages
They don’t x anyones hands anymore. They simply ask if you’re drinking and if you are show your id and get a wrist band. And I don’t think they ever do 21+ anymore or if they do it’s only a couple times a year
I assume you’re talking about the Raven, yeah?
Most shows at The Palladium are all ages, probably your best bet.
Genuinely I've been dying to find some buddies to start a band with lmao
all the punks got old and started stoner bands.
wow man you're so anxsty and cool, cynical people are the best!
I think the raven is 18+ on certain show nights but aside from that, you’re right the scene has dwindled as of late. DIY in worcester was really strong in the early 2000s but it’s not the same anymore
This is wildly incorrect. Worcester has an awesome punk and hardcore scene and there are a ton of talented bands currently playing.
What do you play if you don't mind my asking
Damn I haven’t been to the firehouse in years. Is the shop still a thing?
Where! I want to get back in’
Distant castle has a real good one coming up next week. While it’s a shame Ralph’s is only 21+, there are awesome shows there all the time. To my knowledge firehouse doesn’t really do hardcore anymore, but as others have said, PNI, the Raven sometimes, Ralph’s all the time, the Vernon will again I’m sure, the palladium for the big stuff.
only real option I can think of would be house shows. A lot of the collective houses used the have to odd punk/hardcore show. the Vernon is the best place I can think of for punk, but if you aren't 21 that kills that idea.
also take all of this with a grain of salt, as my days of going to every show in the city are a couple years behind me so the entire scene could have completely imploded for all I know, but I doubt it
A whole bunch of garbage lmao. I'm learning so it's nothing solid!
Oh I loved Distant Castle back in the day! I’m so glad they’re still doing stuff!
Where do you get info about these venues? Is it still Facebook?
Def not..
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Fools, this is a cop. This is a cop asking about house shows. They are in worcester and under 21 and saying how the scene has "died down in the last couple years"??? Yeah, how would they even know of it has or hasn't if their claims were real.
Also, FOOLS! Stop giving out show spaces names and such on the internet. People LIVE THERE. You are putting folks and their living arrangements at risk.
For fucks sake. There is a reason why flyers say "ask a punk"
I'm ashamed of every one of you.
Officer, you must ask a punk in person.
If anyone is wondering why they can't find punk shows anymore, it's because dumbasses like this have gotten them shut down by sqeaking like a rat about it on the internet. Not cool.
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WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL METAL PLEASE
truth: they all grew up/ moved away and dont hold shows in their basement anymore.
IN WORCESTER
7evenPoint128 t1_irpgeo8 wrote
Your just gonna have to wait or look for house shows. All the venues I can think of are usually 21+ bars. Hotel Vernon, Ralphs, Electric Haze, The Raven, The Palladium,