TOUR DETAILS
The MIghty Mighty Bus Tour
Starts: Outside the Boston Common Visitor Center 139 Tremont St Boston, MA
Ends: McCarthy’s & Toad 1920 Massachusetts Ave / Cambridge, MA
Duration: 2 hours & about 6 miles including one stop halfway in Central Square
HIGHLIGHTS
The Boston Common: America’s oldest park and setting for numerous performances including the pioneering concert series affectionally known as “Summer Thing”.
The Theatre District/Wang: Home to many still active venues built during the early 20th century including the Wang Theatre which is home to the recently established Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame.
The Boston Tea Party: Original location of the house of house of worship-turned psychedelic music venue that featured the most impactful acts of its day including Led Zeppelin, the Who, Van Morrison, and the Velvet Underground.
Storyville, Jazz club owned by pianist George Wein where legends such as Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, and Errol Garner played.
Newbury St Bustling Back Bay commercial stretch flanked by 19th century brownstones. Original home of Newbury Comics, WBCN, Berklee College of Music, and Intermedia Studios/Synchro Sound where Aerosmith, Cars and many others recorded.
Kenmore Square Nexus of Boston’s underground and punk scene in the latter part of the 20th century. Location of the Rat where numerous bands emerged out of in the 70s and 80s. Venue where Pixies first shared the same bill as the Throwing Muses.
Central Square/The Middle East Upstairs Vibrant Cambridge hub for musicians featuring an array of venues including The Middle East, a key stepping stone for many post punk and alternative bands in the 80/90s including Morphine, Dinosaur Jr. Buffalo Tom, Throwing Muses, Come, Julianna Hatfield, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Harvard Square Center of Folk Revival in New England and home to several venues including the Sinclair and legendary Club Passim where artists from Joan Baez to Tracy Chapman got their start.
McCarthy’s/Toad Restaurant and treasured live music venue. Host to daily musical events from Irish Seisuns to Rock bands.
Walkin’ Bout a Rock ‘N’ Roll Revolution
Starts: In the Lobby of the Verb Hotel at 1271 Boylston Street Boston, 02215.
Ends: In the Lobby of the Verb Hotel at 1271 Boylston Street Boston, 02215.
Duration: 1.5 Hours & Distance: 2 Miles
HIGHLIGHTS
Verb Hotel: This former Howard Johnson is a 2 time host of the Boston Music Awards and currently houses a collection of Boston rock memorabilia from the David Beiber Archives. We’ll stop at this hotel to view the collection.
The Fens: Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Fens is a treasured greenspace in Boston and features Americas oldest WW II, Victory Gardens. On the Modern Lovers EP, Jonathan Richman sings, “I walk through the 'Fenway with my heart in my hand.
Nuggets: The last remaining record store in Kenmore Square, Nugget’s harkens back to a golden age of Boston’s music scene.
Rat, cavernous, Kenmore dive where numerous garage, punk, and new wave bands emerged out of in the 70s and 80s. The Police played here 4 times on their first US tour in 1979. Venue where Pixies first shared the same bill as the Throwing Muses.
Storyville, Jazz club owned by pianist George Wein where legends such as Duke Ellington, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, and Errol Garner played. Charlie Parker was scheduled to play here the night of his death in 1955.
Boston University: From Barry and Remains, Jonathan Richman, and Joan Baez, numerous musicians attended Boston University
Olivers: Club where Bruce Springsteen played 3 multi-night residencies in 1973
Fenway Park/Lansdowne Street: Location of numerous clubs including the Boston Tea Party, Venus De Milo, Avalon/Axis, and currently the House of Blues.
