PEACE AT LAST? An artist’s sketch of the Station Memorial Park.

The passing time is pulling us further and further away from the Station fire. Those who’d like never to forget must hold on tightly to those difficult memories as the days, weeks, and months roll past. Others want dearly to move on; even those whose lives were irreparably altered on that night want to get past it, and begin another day. We vow never to forget what happened that night, but we want desperately to forge a new start.
 
Five years ago this week, life changed in Rhode Island. As a people, a culture, Rhode Islanders often hope for the best but fear the worst, and the Station fire confirmed our worst nightmare. See!? Awful things can happen. Awful things did happen. Now we have proof — thoroughly documented, foul-tasting, memory-searing proof.
 
Five years ago this week, the music landscape in Rhode Island also changed dramatically. Frankly, it’s never recovered. At the time of the fire, the local music scene was already reeling from a series of venue closures. The fire provided another crushing blow. Little by little the scene has strived to return to its senses. Bands are resilient and plentiful; they’ve found new sounds and new places to play. But I can’t help but feel that, even today, five years along, the live music scene is still lodged behind the looming specter of that damn fire, stalled in a blinding cloud of suffocating smoke. How vivid is the recollection that stays with us for this long? Vivid enough to never, ever leave us.
 
The concert planned for this week at the Dunk is, finally, of the import and stature the tragedy deserves. Past events, though well-meaning, didn’t measure up to the size and scope of that day. Thanks to the efforts of Dee Snider and Tesla’s Troy Luccketta, the artists are finally showing up. It only took five years, and the compassion of a few incredible people.
 
There was talk this week about the approval of a memorial garden on the site of the fire. There was considerable excitement about the plan — how a garden, rather than a statue or some other visible object, would capture and convey the right depth of feeling a memorial needs. Because the fire is still tied up in litigation and the money hasn’t been raised, the garden is still a long way off. But when we finally get it, perhaps then, as we pad through the park, enjoy the sculptures, and hear the humming bridge with wind-driven Aeolian strings, the searing images of that night will at last soften around the edges.

Record round-up
Here are a few discs that might pique your interest. The Rhode Island Songwriters Association’s Round 3, Volume 1 is culled from RISA’s Sunday night showcases at AS220, featuring Eric Fontana, RyanFitzsimmons, John Fuzek, Heather Rose, and Chrises Rosenquest and Monti. The performances and the recordings are top-notch, and therein lies the reason for the long-running series. Another AS220 product is Rhodeshow, an awesome hip-hop project with an immense positive-vibe ensemble that’s been issuing witty and wise rhymes since 2002. Their second album, Rhodeshow, boasts a rotating ensemble of young talent adept at creating and producing hip-hop with wit, wisdom, and empathy.
 
Al Basile is set to release his long-awaited new album, The Tinge. He mashes up his gifts — sweet playing, sharp lyrics, and swingin’, jazz-flecked R&B — and pushes them out with passion and style. Keep an eye ’n’ ear out for the Tim Taylor Blues Band’s new Too Long Gone, coming out next month. Taylor has that Montgomery harp thing goin’ on, with an old school slant on Chicago blues (and guitarists Duke Robillard and Marlie Wanseth guest starring). They will perform at the News Cafe in Pawtucket on Friday (the 22nd). Chris Monti’s ready to release his new EP, Providence, which shows him resembling a cross between Bill Morrissey and Paul Geremia. And 75 or Less is kicking out a few more gems, including the new Von Doom, The Universe, which is an emphatically exciting romp through what the band called “pure power pop for aging effete moderns.” The sound is both fresh and familiar. The Fashion Failures’ new disc, Don’t Make Me Kiss You Motherfucker, is a mega-blast of good-time garage noise with a punk edge and arena rock attitude.

Wandering eye
On Saturday at Cats it’s SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT, ESCAPE FROM SAMARA, AURA OF AQUILA, and SIN OF ANGELS. Call 401.722.0150. On Saturday at Jerky’s it’s THIS IS US, BACKWOODS, SOMA CITY, PAYBACK, and TESTER. Call 401.621.2244. On Saturday at the Blackstone, it’s the Dino Club and the ’Mericans. Call 401.726.2181. On Saturday at Firehouse 13 it’s KILLING PABLO, THE CHUMPS, CREED DEW, and SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE; it’s only $5. Call 401.270.1801. On Saturday at Jake’s, THE HOPE ANCHOR is on the bill. Call 401.453.5253. Whew! That’s some serious rock on Saturday. Finally, at Stone Soup on Saturday, it’s HEATHER ROSE and LOW ANTHEM in a big double bill at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 50 Park Place in Pawtucket. Doors open at 7:30. Call 401.921.5115.
 
At the Living Room on Tuesday, February 26, it’s COPPER POCKET, FORMAL ACTION, and THE CLASS all opening for EARL GREYHOUND. Copper Pocket, a trio out of URI, is using this opportunity to say goodbye to friends and folks, as they head out to the greener grooves of Austin, Texas. They have tight, neo-hippie, Traffic ideals with Beatles’ melodies at heart. It’s a good combination and worth your time. Call 401.521.5200.