The Middle East (nightclub)
Address | 472 Massachusetts Avenue |
---|---|
Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Capacity | 1,279
|
Opened | 1970 |
Website | |
mideastoffers |
The Middle East is an entertainment complex consisting of five adjacent dining and live music venues in the
The establishment was founded as a Lebanese restaurant which was purchased by the Sater family in the 1970s. Incentivized by a local music promoter's birthday party, The Middle East began to book more local rock groups starting in 1987. It gradually expanded into a full-fledged entertainment complex as the owners purchased nearby properties and incorporated them into The Middle East brand, most recently turning T.T. the Bear's Place into The Middle East's Sonia in 2017.
History
The Middle East opened as a
Later that year a birthday party was thrown by local music promoter Billy Ruane at T.T. the Bear's Place, a small rock club next door. Having overbooked T.T.'s, Ruane worked with the Sater brothers to have some of his party spill over to The Middle East and allow bands to play at their establishment. Ruane was quoted in 2007 by the Boston Phoenix saying to a 20th anniversary reunion crowd: "You remember what happened — I threw a fuckin' party that got too fuckin’ big".[3][4]
In 1988, there were several other expansions of The Middle East. First the Sater brothers converted the Vouros bakery at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Brookline Street into a bar/restaurant. This section known as The Corner or the Bakery, has a small stage against the window to Mass. Avenue, where local small bands and DJs play. In 1993, in order to create a space for more popular musical acts to perform, the basement of the building, that was formerly a bowling alley, was converted into a music venue. This is now known as The Middle East Downstairs.[4] The Corner acts as an entrance, waiting area and ticket section to the Downstairs.
In 2001 the Sater brothers took over the lease of the last remaining portion of the current Middle East complex positioned between the Front and the Corner which was an Indian restaurant at the time. It became ZuZu, named after the childhood nickname of one of the Sater brothers,[5] and is a separate restaurant serving upscale cuisine. In 2002 this venue was further updated by Lilli Dennison to have a night club type style. ZuZu features live music and DJs several times a week.[4] In March 2017, the Sater brothers opened the fifth Middle East venue called Sonia, a nightclub in the former location of T.T. the Bear's Place, adjacent to the existing Middle East complex.[6][7] Sonia opened as an all-ages space until a new liquor license is approved, as the license transfer from T.T. was unsuccessful.
Joseph Sater stepped down from his position as manager of the club in August 2018, following sexual misconduct allegations made against him.
Reputation
According to the Steve Albini of Shellac and former member of Big Black commented in the Boston Phoenix: We enjoy playing Boston, we always have good shows there, although it's hard to do a show there. The Middle East is pretty much the only friendly venue for us -- meaning not corporate-controlled and that doesn’t have a bunch of insane curtailment policies in place that prevent you from behaving like a normal band.[11]
The Middle East is also a venue for artists in other genres including "
Massachusetts bands that played at The Middle East include Aerosmith in 1995, Dick Dale in '95, Guster in '96, Powerman 5000 in '97, Staind in '97, Godsmack in '97 Dropkick Murphys in '98, American Hi-Fi in '09, and Ice Nine Kills in 2017.
Mural
In 1992, the Oakland artist Daniel Galvez painted a large-scale mural on the outer wall of the Middle East, which celebrates the cultural diversity of Cambridge, Massachusetts.[15] Galvez returned in 2017 to restore the mural, which had become an icon in the area.[16]
Venue
Begun in 1974 as a Lebanese restaurant owned and operated by the Sater family, The Middle East has since expanded into adjacent storefronts and is now a complex of five different areas each with its own entrance. They are (from left to right):
- Upstairs at The Middle East, a 194-person-capacity concert space
- ZuZu, a restaurant and bar with sophisticated decor and menu that features live music several nights a week with small occasional cover charge
- The Corner, a 70-person-capacity restaurant and bar that features live music several nights a week and open mic comedy on Tuesday nights with no cover charge; often has Lebanese musicians to complement the Lebanese cuisine
- Downstairs at The Middle East, a 575-person-capacity concert space that has hosted many better-known, national artists.
- Sonia, a 350-person capacity concert space
Recordings
There have been several live recordings at The Middle East Downstairs, including
Collaborations
From 1995 until 2006, The Middle East was host to the
Awards
- 2004-2007 Boston Phoenix (Best Club for Rock)
- 2005-2008 Weekly Dig (Best Mid-Sized Music Venue)
- 2008 Improper Bostonian Awards (Boston's Best Rock Club)
- 2008 Citysearch (Best Music Venue)
- 2008 Citysearch (Best Live Music Venue)
- 2009 Boston Phoenix (Best Tattooed Bouncers)
- 2009 City Voter (Best Live Music Venue)
- 2009 Weekly Dig Awards (Best Middle Eastern Restaurant)
- 2010 Boston Phoenix Best (Best Hip-Hop Venue)
- 2010 WBZ's A list (Best Live Music Venue)
See also
References
- ^ Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ a b c Middle East club website, "About Us" page. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ^ a b c "The Middle East Podcast", Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ^ "Sonia, newest Central Square nightclub, opens March 31 with night of four bands". 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Home". mideastoffers.com.
- ^ a b Stephanie, Ebbert (2018-08-29). "Co-owner of Middle East nightclub stepping down amid misconduct claims". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- Boston Globe. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ^ Layne, Anni (1999) "The Amazing Crowns Get Their Royal Revenge", Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ Brockman, Daniel (2010) Boston Phoenix interview with Steve Albini, Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ Perry N. Finley Foundation Ltd.
- ^ Simches, Joel (2009) "Crossing Genreless Territory" Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ^ (2009) "Boston Phoenix 2009 Middle East Restaurant Award". Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ Sullivan, Denise (27 January 2019). "Oakland muralist committed to painting people and their places". Current SF. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ Cassel, Emily (8 September 2016). "Daniel Galvez Brings Middle East Mural Back to Life". Scout Cambridge. Scout Magazines. Retrieved 24 March 2019.