A gray afternoon hung in the sky, fading into the granite geometry of Portland City Hall.

As I walked toward the entrance, a stampede of blue hair, rugged denim, and Doc Martens bit the pavement ahead of me, crushing cigarette butts underfoot.

The troops were rallying!

“Downstairs for the open forum,” chirped the greeter, directing traffic…

Traffic… that’s what we were here to discuss.

As we funneled into the basement corridor, I stumbled into a throng of people crowding the entrance of the meeting room.

I saw ties, ascots, beanies, skirts, and tattoos poking above collars and sleeves…

The crowd was packed with local rockstars, like Rigometrics and Weakened Friends; promoters (shoutout Contemn Light); the entire staff from Portland House of Music, and more — all here to stand up for Maine’s grassroots music scene.

A bearded security guard spoke in a commanding baritone, informing us that so many people had shown up, access to the meeting room was limited and overflow rooms needed to be opened.

So we waited, hugging the stucco wall and groping fruit snacks from the vending machine.

A staff member who looked like Ms. Frizzle saved us, herding the stragglers to the second floor. After circling the marble stairs, the group was halved and placed in overflow rooms.

Many sat, few stood, and even more waited outside, eager to glimpse the mind-numbing events about to unfold…

Streamed on a 60-inch monitor, the city planning board that appeared featured starched shirts, a Billy Mays clone, and a guy who looked like he would have traded his kids for a shot at one of Michael Rubin’s white t-shirt yacht parties…

Kicking off around 5 pm, the meeting began with an opening monologue from the councilman, sucking the life out of our entire operation:

Only comments about trafficking and building permits — today’s agenda — would be considered in support or denial of the requested permits.

In other words, SHUT UP — no emotional testimonies about beloved venues, business competition, and the rest…

So, with our mouths shut, ears perked, and fists clenched, we tuned in.

The suits began discussing their investment history in Portland, their pride in the project, and how much real estate they’d developed before…

The CV, ya’ know.

You could feel the crowd bristle…

Then more suits piped up, this time, Don Law — president of Live Nation: New England —

He began rambling about his first concert, stadium shows, statistics about the Boston music scene, and — aren’t we discussing Portland, Maine?

Law’s words became a quick eulogy for logic and reason as he bemoaned how “the lack of a 3,000+ capacity venue in Portland prevents hometown artists from getting their big break.”

The entire room burst into bitter laughter!

I don’t yet know the results of the board meeting, but what an incredible display of community and passion…

Keep fighting to support independent, one-of-a-kind venues that make Maine’s superlative music scene what it is today!