In the last few weeks, renovations of the most secret kind have been brewing underground at The Station on St. John Street. The management and booking of the club has fallen into the hands of Jason Legassie, manager of Legacy Maine, a record label and booking agency.
Over the years many USM students have tolerated the small, cramped performance space; really more of a pool hall than a music venue. But according to Legassie, The Station is about to look very different.
“Renovations just started. A new restaurant is going in, and we’ve just started tearing out old wallpaper and painting new walls. We’re going to keep 9 pool tables but sell the rest to make room for a bigger stage, so that bigger national [bands] come through.”
The Station is slowly becoming the much needed venue to make Portland a routine stop for national acts. This is a much needed upgrade if Portland wants to be seen as the epicenter of music and culture in Maine.
The bar and lounge area will also be receiving new and improved gadgets for patrons’ visual pleasure. “We’re going to try and get a much bigger and nicer T.V. down there too, for watching sports games.” said Legassie.
Legacy Maine, Legassie’s label, has been getting some attention with notable local bands, like Cambiata, headlining packed houses and opening for other nationals.
Along with the shift in management comes promises of a brighter future. In the next few days hip-hop group Jedi Mind Tricks and pop-rock outfit Plain White T’s make stops at The Station, while November will bring the Ying-Yang Twins and Sondre Lerche; and Legassie promises more. “We’re going to keep doing two to four concerts a week and we’ve got tons of big nationals coming through. There’s a lot in the works.”
Ever since the State Theater closed in early ’07, Portland has lost its premier venue for middle-of-the-road national acts, but a “save the scene” movement has been brewing. In the forefront of this venue revolution has been the Station, which has attempted to fill the void in the Portland music scene, especially on the all-ages front. The State Theater, which could accommodate 2,058, closed its doors after management and owner woes.
In the next month or so, be on the lookout for rumblings in the small Portland music scene. If Legassie and company succeed in their mission of transformation, then be prepared to see some of your favorite bands in the comfort of your own city.
Visit www.myspace.com/thestationlive for details on the upcoming onslaught of awesome.