Ever since the summer I’d been hearing rumors that The Root Cellar in Greenfield was turning into an arts venue/bar called 10Forward, and it’s finally a reality: as of last month, the basement space is now owned by Greenfield residents Sarah Lanzillotta and Paul LaBrecque, who have a clear vision of its future.
10Forward’s cohesive art design is an early indication of that rejuvenation — their calendars and flyers are space-age mind-blasts of color and shapes and promise, and the new website offers copious and helpful information about every performer at each upcoming show.
“We’re effectively a brand-new bar with different goals and outlook than the past owners,” LaBrecque told me via email, so two Sundays ago I made the 25-minute drive north to experience the space.
10Forward exists at 10 Fiske Ave., and the venue is named after Ten Forward, the crew lounge of the USS Enterprise on the beloved late-‘80s/early-’90s show “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
“We’ve always been fans of the message conveyed by the crew of the Enterprise: exploration into the unknown, and overcoming problems through teamwork,” Lanzillotta said. “Their deep and diverse crew of fallible creatures all meet at 10F to relax, think deeply and mingle with guests from around the galaxy. Who wouldn’t want to drink and hang out at that bar?”
10Forward isn’t a sci-fi-themed establishment, but the night I was there, the bar chalkboard had some cleverly-named drink specials in that vein, like Soylent Greenfield (gin, tonic, lime, chartreuse) and The Black Hole.
The Sunday show was a triple-bill headlined by Palberta, a quirky rock trio from Brooklyn. When I walked in from the frigid alley, DJ Quils (aka Valley crate-digger Pete McQuillan) was spinning vinyl for the early birds — funky Nina Simone, bubbling afrobeat jams, groovy Bobbie Gentry — while people played board games in the back booths, chatted at the bar and sprawled out on the kitty corner couches over by the mixing board perch. That’s LaBrecque’s spot while he runs the sound; above his left shoulder, a portrait of Bowie’s Aladdin Sane hangs on the wall like a guardian alien.
The concert began with one-man-band Human Host, the sound world of Poconos-based Mike Apichella. He created vibey instrumentals with a plastic keyboard saturated with delay, which gave each song a pulsing rhythm. During the first tune, Apichella karate chopped the keyboard with both hands; for other compositions, he played harmonica along with the synth tones, and the juxtaposition of timbres gave both instruments an otherworldly aura. Filmmakers looking for possible soundtrack music should look him up.
Brattleboro artist Chris Weisman followed with a short set. He’s a Jedi master of songcraft who’s released countless collections of tunes over the past two decades (including three 30-song albums just in this year alone), but for this show he performed instrumental jazz on solo electric guitar. One piece seemed pre-written, others improvised, but either way, kaleidoscopic chords and melodies tumbled forth from his fingers; the room of 30-odd onlookers was quiet and rapt.
By the time Palberta took the stage, the place seemed pretty sparse, and bemused band member Lily Konigsberg looked around and asked, “Are people smoking outside?” A concertgoer pushed open the door to the cold snowy patio beyond and laid down the law — “Hey man, they want you guys in here!”
With the full audience now indoors and gathering close to the stage, the Brooklyn trio played its first song and was immediately derailed by fritzing equipment and confusion — is the amp busted? Or the guitar? Is the cable bad? Why am I getting shocked by the microphone?
The average band might not have been able to shake off such a start, but Palberta is not an average band in any way. Their short sharp blasts of off-kilter pop are bracing and playful (one attempt at description: Kleenex teaming up with Beefheart’s Magic Band). Each of the musicians (Ani Ivry-Block, Nina Ryser, and Konigsberg) plays every instrument, so there’s a lot of switching around and time for stories and banter. One memorable remark from late in the set: “Excuse our failing equipment, but our minds are top-notch.”
Lanzillotta said in a post-show interview that “Our goal is to have an open, accepting space that offers artists and musicians a chance to work in a professional setting that strives to make them feel comfortable. We’ve opened the space to a more community-centered feeling, nurturing artists and musicians who we feel are showing the way towards new paradigms and forms of communication.”
This weekend is a good example of 10Forward’s diverse booking. First there’s Lisa/Liza (the lo-fi, psych-folk recording project of Maine-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Liza Victoria) on Thursday, December 19, at 8 p.m.
Then a night of dance featuring choreographer/composer Tatyana Tenenbaum, dancer/choreographer Barbie Diewald, choreographer Lailye Weidman, and musician Jazer Giles on Friday, December 20, at 8 p.m.
“Astrology Rave in Capricorn” finishes up the weekend with “a celebration of all people, places, and things born under the sign of Capricorn!” There’ll be tarot and astrology readings, poetry, dancing, drink specials and more, on Saturday, December 21, at 8:30 p.m. Showgoers are invited to dress up as Capricorn or their own sign, or as part of the tarot.
For more information and the latest schedule of upcoming events, visit
10forwardartsvenue.org.
Ken Maiuri can be reached at clublandcolumn@gazettenet.com.