After a year-and-a-half closure, Toad has reopened its doors, becoming a rare beacon of hope within the Greater Boston music landscape.
Owned by Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello, this venue stands out in a city that has seen many beloved small stages fade away in recent years.
Venues such as Thunder Road, Bull McCabe’s, Johnny D’s Uptown Restaurant and Music Club, Great Scott, Atwood’s Tavern, and Bella Luna & Milky Way Lounge have all shuttered, leaving many musicians searching for places to play.
Gregg Perry, a 42-year-old guitarist from Arlington who plays in multiple bands, expressed the struggles of securing gigs in the area.
“A Berklee College of Music dropout, Perry currently juggles being a delivery driver with his passion for music.
He commented on the challenges he faces, saying, ‘I don’t know, man, the Boston music scene is really tough. Just trying to get a gig, dude is like, [expletive].’
McCarthy and Costello are experienced in the bar and music scene, having opened several establishments, including their flagship bar, The Burren, in Somerville’s Davis Square.
They financed their first venture through the sale of a family farm in County Galway, Ireland, and found success despite their initial lack of knowledge about bar management.
“We just thought if you could create the music, the rest will follow,” McCarthy stated during a recent discussion about Toad’s reopening.
Toad has created a unique musical experience by connecting with a larger pub, now called McCarthy’s, providing dual spaces for music lovers.
The layout allows Toad to host live music later at night featuring genres like blues, rock, and acoustic singer-songwriter acts, while McCarthy’s offers traditional Irish sessions every evening starting at 7 p.m.
Similar to Toad’s setup, The Burren also accommodates various performance types throughout its venues.
Jonathan Bricker, a Berklee professor specializing in live music, touring, and concerts, highlighted the crucial role small venues like Toad play in nurturing local artists.
“Rooms like that are essential for developing, for trying out, and growing as an artist, as a band, wherever you find yourself on the musical spectrum,” he noted.
The pandemic has posed immense challenges to independent venues, with many closing permanently. Data on closure rates are scarce, but the National Independent Venue Association indicates a significant financial struggle, with 64 percent of venues operating at a loss last year.
The reopening of Toad has reignited optimism among local musicians.
Johnny Trama, a guitarist who has performed at Toad many times, shared that the venue serves as a networking hub for artists.
He met his bandmate Tim Gearan at Toad, where Gearan used to hold a weekly residency.
Recognizing the difficulties that artists face in Greater Boston, Trama declared, “All of these smaller places are a lifeline to the culture of art in the whole Boston area. More of them, the better.”
Soul singer Ali McGuirk, who has shifted her life to Vermont but continues to perform in the Boston area a few times yearly, echoed Trama’s sentiments about Toad’s resurgence.
“It’s a victory, definitely,” she remarked on the reopening, emphasizing the importance of venues like Toad where musicians of all skill levels can showcase their talents.
Jim Haggerty, a full-time musician who has played bass for around 50 years, expressed concern over the shrinking pool of small venues.
Having performed at Toad more than a hundred times, he reflected on the significance of spaces where professional musicians could earn a living, especially in an era when it has become increasingly challenging to pursue artistic dreams in the city.
Haggerty moved to Boston from upstate New York in the 1980s when the artistic landscape allowed for adaptable work-life balances.
His success in securing affordable housing is etched into the backdrop of soaring costs today.
“I got extremely lucky,” he admitted, highlighting that current musicians face a much steeper financial climb to establish a foothold in the local scene.
As Toad buzzes with excitement before another live performance, Carraha, the band’s bassist and singer, articulates the straightforward metrics he uses to gauge a successful set: whether the musicians are in sync and if the crowd is responding positively.
With 25 years of experience in local gigs and co-owning a catering company, Carraha acknowledged that every venue is vital for artists.
His bandmate Perry is also optimistic about their upcoming performance, anticipating a payout of $120 from the evening’s gig.
In contrast to earlier days when performance fees were lower, Perry reminisces about times when the band would earn $150 collectively, along with tips and complimentary food and drinks.
“It’s medicine for the soul,” he said of his musical pursuits.
As the atmosphere at Toad builds, Perry adds with a grin, “I need this.”
With Toad’s reopening, the heartbeat of the Greater Boston music scene beats a little stronger, as artists and enthusiasts alike rally behind the revival of this cherished venue.
image source from：bostonglobe
