“Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart”
It was a Violent Femmes show at the Tower Theatre, I was 19 and up to that point my concert going experience had consisted of huge shows in outdoor fields or large arenas like the old Spectrum, pretty much bland, uninteresting venues. Upon entering the Tower I was immediately floored by the gothic architecture, the lavish lobby, and the wide marble steps leading up to the second floor. At some point during that show I remember stopping and finally soaking in my surroundings, the huge overhanging second level that looked as if it would spill everyone over the rail at any moment, the arched doorways along the side, the classical looking stage curtains pulled back tight on the sides of the stage. I stopped for a second and thought to myself, “Wow, they play music in places that look like this?” And by this I meant places that had character, history and a vibe that seemed to permeate into the crowd. The Theatre seemed to be as much a part of the show as the band was that night. I left that night after the show, running over the setlist in my head, all the classic Femmes songs I came to hear, “American Music,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” “Blister in the Sun,” but the next day when telling friends about the show I found myself talking about the venue itself just as much as the music. Describing to them the warm personality of the place and how it had welcomed me in for the show.
The Tower Theatre, on the corner of 69th and Ludlow in Upper Darby, PA just outside Philadelphia began life in 1927. Built in record time, the then 3500 seats were installed in just five days, a fact the manufacturer, The Stone Company, took great pride in. Taking its name from the large blue tower like structure that sits atop the building, that at one time was capped with a large lighted rotating ball used to attract patrons. To this day it still sports its classic wrap-around marquee announcing upcoming shows, that is topped with tall red illuminated letters spelling out “Tower.”
The Tower served as a vaudeville showplace for the first part of its career, but during the late 1930’s and early 1940’s with vaudeville on the decline, it began to show movies in addition to its live acts. It would still host the occasional live show, but movies became its primary attraction in the 50’s and 60’s. In the early 70’s it was sold and converted into a live music locale. Despite the shift in entertainment, the Tower retained its classic charm and style, and with its roots as a vaudeville stage, it was soon discovered by touring bands of the time that it possessed great acoustics as well.
These great acoustics have served well, as many bands have taken advantage of them to record live albums there. David Bowie recorded his July 10, 1974 show at the Tower and released it as David Live. The FM radio show, The King Biscuit Flower Hour made an art form out of broadcasting live concerts over the airwaves and many of these masterpieces were recorded at the Tower. They broadcast Kansas’ comeback show on Valentines Day 1989 at the Tower and eventually released it on CD. David Crosby recorded his return to the stage after his many troubles in the mid 1980’s at the Tower April 8, 1989, with The King Biscuit Flower Hour on hand to broadcast it and later to release it as a live recording. Jethro Tull’s show there November 25, 1987, was originally broadcast live on Philadelphia radio station WMMR. It was later edited down for the King Biscuit Power Hour. Many of the songs from that night ended up on the Essential Tull Live CD, which was part of their Box Set. Some bands have taken advantage of both the great acoustics and great visuals of the theatre. Rusted Root filmed their two-night stand there, December 12-13, 1996, and released it as video that came with a live CD from the show. This video showcased not only the band, but the theatre as well, giving a glimpse into many of the unseen backstage areas.
With a seating capacity of 3119, the Tower serves as great spot for young bands on the rise and for much larger bands looking to play an intimate show. The Rolling Stones stopped by on their Forty Licks tour in 2002, as part of their three-night stand in Philadelphia (the other two nights being at the much larger Wachovia Center and Veterans Stadium), and by all accounts tore the roof off the place. As one person put it, they were so close to the stage they, “could smell the smoke on Keith Richards breath.” With the general admission area in front of the stage going the way of grunge and flannel shirts, the venues capacity is down slightly, owing to the permanent addition of seats (they used to be removed for certain shows). With its roots as a vaudeville and movie house, the floor was built slightly sloped from the front up to the back, providing excellent sight lines from any seat on the floor. If one happens to secure a seat in the balcony, they will get a very unique view of the band. It feels and appears that if you lean to far forward you will topple over onto the stage.
Despite the sign posted over the door upon entering stating “Air Conditioned,” this fact is up for some debate. Shows at the Tower have been known to become notoriously hot and stuffy, even in the dead of winter. This and a staff that can be called a bit overzealous at times are the most common complaints about the place, but a roster of strong bands that continue to visit the old Theatre is an easy remedy for both of them.
The Tower Theatre has seen many things cross its stage in the thirty years it has been serving as one of Philadelphia’s premiere live music venues. Perry Farrell storming off stage after being hit by a drink thrown from the crowd during a Jane’s Addiction show in November 1990. This brought the show to a screeching halt only two songs into their set, setting off a mini riot of sorts. It has been turned into the Enchanted Forest for a moe. Halloween show (10/31/00) that came complete with Pink Floyd style screens above the stage that had the Wizard of Oz projected on them as the band barreled through the classic Pink Floyd album
Dark Side of the Moon in sync with the movie. It has seen a diverse roster of comedians and musicians grace the stage, leaving their own mark on the historic place. And it even saw a 19 year old, have his world shaken up by not only the sounds he heard, but also by the sights he saw.
Stones photo originally appeared on www.iorr.org - The Blues Traveler poster originally appeared on bluestraveler.net
