I
remember meeting up with Mark Nosowicz at his house in the freezing cold and
snow, and him leading me through the woods of his yard. We were there to gather
up as many tree parts and branches as we could fit into our vehicles. We were
hosting our first Harvest Sum Xmas Party at Mohawk Place with a bunch of our
friends and we had the run of the place. By the time folks started to arrive,
we had taken over the bar and littered it and the stage with trees, lights,
decorations and cookies. Mike Doktor opened up early so we had enough time to
dress everything. It wasn't unlike hosting a party at your own home. That's how
that place was. All the time. With Pete at the door (picking up the
conversation from the last time you'd talked) and the well known and relied
upon band of bartenders (who'd become your friends), it was always a home for
not only the local and traveling bands but to it's patrons too. And that's how I came to know the Hawk.
It
was the small stage. I was usually going to shows alone then, I remember.
Buying Camels I could barely afford from the cigarette machine. Burning through
the pack to stay occupied as I was much younger than everybody and didn't
hardly know anyone. I was there to see Girlpope or Bobo probably. Or Doombuggy.
It could have been all three of them. It's impossible to know really. There was
a pool table and a large window a few steps up where the bathrooms now exist.
People were sat in the dim alcove where bands now sell merch. Behind the stage
curtain was a decrepit kitchen clogged with band gear. Where the sound booth is
now was the girls bathroom. Another curtain stretched from it to the boys
room. Beyond there was where the bands
hung out. Various others would sneak in and out. It seemed so mysterious and cool.
To me, at that age, it was like the Star Wars Cantina and OZ.
The Buffalo bands I saw there were idols to me. There was this impression of
history between them all among the jokes and expressions I'd catch while I
maneuvered between them at the bar. It was like when you were a kid watching an
older sibling and their friends, waiting to grow up. And I did grow up at
Mohawk Place.
Slowly,
thankfully.
Over
the past 14 years, most of the best parts of my life were spent there. And
though being in a band for this long certainly dissolves most of the mystery I
once felt, I've been inspired by bands on that stage countless times. I was
lucky to meet my best friends there and joined a band with them. More than
once. I have laughed so hard and had
reckless, epic, ridiculous nights there. At a Vera show almost 8 years ago, I
had a smoke upstairs with a girl. We got married this year.
It's
incredible that one place could have such an impact. Through that door are
experiences and friendships that completely altered my life. So, though it is a
great loss, I find it difficult to be sad about a place that's given so much.
Just that when we remember it now, we'll be somewhere else.
~Roger Bryan
photo by Eric Jensen
