Music Union : Live Your Music

Story and Photos by Alexis Hawkins

There are many things about the small towns and other places we come from that drive us to L.A., but for all of those golden reasons that safely place hundreds, if not thousands, of blessed miles between where you are and where you are coming from, there’s always something about that hometown that just did it better.

Worcester, Massachusetts. A city built on industry and in the cold shadow of its larger, drunker, and more Irish cousin, Boston. Also home to the famous Turtle-Boy Love statue, the great city’s monument to that everlasting love that exists between man and turtle. But most importantly, my hometown.

Photo by Morris Stegosaurus

Having spent a bitter 18 years of existence in Wormtown (a name given to Worcester’s punk scene in the 70s that still lives on today), I’ll often describe the area as a black hole of negative energy, but the epicenter of this particular New England black hole burns bright with a neon sign that reads, “Ralph’s Diner.”

Ralph’s rock n’ roll diner is the epitome of local flavor from the locally brewed Narragansett beers at $2.50/pint to the murals inside created by local artists to the “haw-rible” local accents and of course the Central Mass. born and bred live acts that perform nightly upstairs.

An original diner that used to feed the late night industrial folk of Worcester, Ralph’s now conjoins the original diner with the former factory building it once served. A diner, a dive bar, and a live music venue where $10 can actually get you drunk (take that Edison!), Ralph’s is a glorious beacon of hope for the city’s bored and sober.

On the bottle: “If you’re not drinking Narragansett, you’re not from New England.”

Ralph’s is much more than a watering hole. In fact, Worcester Magazine, which I interned with for one whole week back in the day, presents Turtle Boy Music Awards to local Worcester bands and live music venues every year in honor of the famous statue that resides in front of the Worcester Public Library. Ralph’s has won the best live venue award many times. You might think the diner doesn’t have too much competition, but about 40 live shows of all musical genres are listed every night. Turtle Boy awards are presented in best band categories Metal, Cover, DJ, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Country and any other style you can think of.

I went to Ralph’s on a Saturday having missed out on Punk Rock Tuesdays and Metal Thursdays since I was busy taking advantage of my parent’s well stocked kitchen for four glorious days of free gluttony. Nevertheless Ralph’s delivered a night of rockin’ revelry that resulted in numerous drunken text messages. I apologize. You know who you are.

The band Huck, headlined the night with a gritty rock sound that likened itself to surf rock had it been created in a depressing and freezing cold land-locked city.

These musicians aren’t pretty L.A. boys in skinny jeans. After a lifetime of drinking Worcester tap water, pretty much everyone starts to look like Mickey Rourke.

And now some heartfelt and impassioned reviews of Ralph’s Rock Diner from yelp.com that surpass any L.A. locale in delight and enthusiasm:

“Ralph’s is a goddamn institution of cool hidden away in the grungy bowels of the mill area of Worcester. If it ever goes away my grief would rival that of a dead family member.”

“Ralph’s is one of the most badass venues known to man. Any place where the bartenders are watching C.H.I.P.S. on dvd and shitting on it has my seal of approval.”

“I can’t even begin to describe the things I have seen at Ralphs. Naked People, Funky Knight’s Blow-Outs, Hidden Rooms, Great Music, Great Beers, even better characters.”

“You’ll find some of the most interesting people on the planet here — shockingly loose biker chicks, rockabilly greasers, punks, goths, nerds, jocks, preppy college chicks, and even downright normal business people.”

“This was, without any doubt, my favorite part of Worcester when I lived in the area. When I miss Worcester (and that is VERY rare) I miss Ralph’s.”

“My parents used to go here when they were young and stupid. And now, it’s my turn!”

“The first time I told my father that I had gone to this place called Ralph’s and that they had great cheap beers and awesome shows he replied “You mean that place hasn’t collapsed yet?”

“I’ve thought about moving back to Worcester because I’ve missed this bar so much.”