The New England Music Hall of Fame shines at the Regent Theatre on Saturday, 30 September 2023.

A magical night of music, memorials, and marathon-length speechifying.

What is the New England Music Hall of Fame?

Don’t “click here” to meet the team – the link at the NEMHOF site leads to a 404 error.

Hey, websites are hard. Loving music is easy. Everyone can get behind a night dedicated to honoring music excellence in our lovely local region that is New England.

And we’re not just talking about paying a $15 cover to hear a few bands for a few hours.

We’re talking about formally declaring that this or that artist has entered the upper ethereal strata of musical eclat and needs a shelf tchotchke to prove it.

Ever since the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame became a first-class tourist trap in Cleveland during the 90s, babyboomers around the country have looked on, asking, Why not us?

The New England Music Hall of Fame is not quite ready for hallowed brick & mortar digs. But the organization packs a lot of goodwill and enthusiasm into the relatively slim number of years it’s been in existence.

Think you or someone you love has what it takes to get into the (New England) Music Hall of Fame? Parse your credentials according to the parameters below.

The individual must have lived in New England for approximately ten years or more.

Landmarks: can be a venue or outside location. There are two categories.

(i) Historical landmark that is an entertainment landmark that is over 20 years old.

(ii) Or cultural landmark. A performance venue that is under 20 years old but has made a significant impact on the music scene. When that venue is inducted to NEMHOF either as a cultural or historical landmark it will be used as a satellite location to have NEMHOF sponsored events.

If the individual is not from New England they must have made a significant contribution to New England. Examples can be either touring or recording.

Cover or tribute bands will not be considered for nomination.

Individuals will have an instant lifetime ban if they support any type of racism, sexism, homophobia or antisemitism.

Pioneer Nomination: An individual is not judged based on how famous or how many awards they have. They are based on the impact and inspiration they made.

Posthumous Nomination: If an individual fits any of the credentials above and has passed away they will posthumously be inducted in.

Cover artists, denied!

Awards shows in every walk of life struggle as entertainment products. Too many awards, too many speeches, too many presenters. Did the NEMHOF awards show crack the code?

Yes and no. The roughly 5-hour long ceremony committed all the usual excesses of the typical awards show, but was redeemed by at least three factors…

First, plenty of live music. Naturally! Nearly half the running time was given over to performances, which looked and sounded great from the historic proscenium of the Regent Theatre. And the musical numbers weren’t just 5-minute ditties (though Rick Berlin gave us a fine five minutes of dittying on the keys) with as much setup time as playing time. Musicians Robin Lane, Mach Bell, Lizzie Borden & The Axes, the Hirsh Gardner Band, Carole Sylvan, Goldie & The Gingerbreads, and Girl With a Hawk laced up for 10-, 15-, 20-minute sets, which established the kind of performance arc you might find at a standalone evening in a club or concert hall.

Second, the bar was kept busy. The beer and wine was flowing. It was a party, and time flies at a party.

Third, no one got the side eye for slipping out the door for a smoke, some fresh air, or a taco across the street. Hey, party or not, five hours is a long time to post up anywhere you’re not getting paid to. Guests caught the acts they came for, a few they didn’t, and mingled the rest of the night.

Shout out to the memorial tribute moments to Justine Covault, musician and Red On Red Records founder, and Windle Davis, member of the New Wave pop-rockers Human Sexual Response. Two great contributors to the New England music scene who we lost in 2023.

Extra points for recruiting the former American Gladiator Storm as a presenter on the night. Storm, people.

Extra points for giving Des & Kathy (of Sound Museum) a platform to talk about the dangers of gentrification swallowing up spaces for artists to live, practice, and perform.

Extra points for D-Tension shouting out the hip hop, RnB, and more void in the list of honorees at NEMHOF. Where, he asked, is New Edition?

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