The Historic Palisades
The historic Palisades in McKeesport, PA is alive and kicking again and now features 'The Blues.' The Palisades has been around almost a century. It had featured boxing, wrestling, skating, dancing and some great national acts. Lawrence Welk and Guy Lombardo played there in the 30’s. Ray Charles and Savoy Brown played there in the early 70's. One of the area’s best record stores was there in the 70's - Zambos.
In 2002, the city of McKeesport remodeled the place. They spent over a million dollars, mostly through federal and state grants, to restore it. It is now known as Palisades Center for the Performing Arts. Later, Jeff Ingersoll, of Bonedog Records, helped with the acoustics, adding stage curtains and acoustic baffling along with a surround sound system.
I have attended two shows there and hope to attend more. Many of the local blues bands are playing there now. Billy Price, Gary Belloma, Mystic Knights, Miss Freddye and Blue Faze, Jimmy Adler and more. The place is spacious and the sound is great.
So blues lovers, keep it in mind when looking for places to see live shows next year.
~ Don Vecchio
