Windsor music inspired by industrial background

By Aaron Lombardi

Local music promoters say Windsor’s blue collar nature shapes the city’s art.

Tom Lucier, 36, is the owner of Windsor’s Phog Lounge. Lucier is constantly at work with other

local venues in bringing people out to shows to support local and out of town acts. While some say

the city lacks culture and any signs of a thriving music scene, Lucier believes Windsor’s general

population of blue collar workers helps to produce exceptional and unique art.

“Most blue collar and industrial cities create the best art. Someone can pile a list of all these

cities and the ones that have the most blue collar workers were producing the best art,” said Lucier.

“It’s hard to believe that in a city that rains a lot and has you stuck at your job makes really good art.”

Lucier has been the owner of the Phog Longue on University Avenue for 12 years and has

established relationships with other live music venues and restaurants around the city with intentions of

keeping people coming back to support local bands.

Rock band Area 51 is a local group that has consistently been in the Windsor music scene. The

bands guitarist, Brett Humber, is known for his work in the group but also as the owner of Sound

Foundry Studios in Kingsville. He has recorded the majority of material for local musicians. Humber said

he sees Windsor’s industrial side such as the automotive sector as an influence on all the musicians

around the city.

“Art is born and bred out of the many influences in one’s surroundings,” said Humber. “It’s not

impossible to have art come from the inhabitants of an industrial city… That industry will impact the

art.”

According to one Windsorite, Windsor’s best known genres consist of heavy metal and punk

rock music, which deters some interested in other genres from attending shows. The city’s lifestyle

influences the dark and loud sounds which come directly from the factories where many local musicians

work during the day. These genres are primarily underground, which gives Windsorites the impression

there is no music scene.

“There’s less of anything else (heavy metal and punk) in Windsor at this moment. But Windsor in

particular caters to the louder music scene, but I’ve booked a lot of folk music, jazz, a lot of wider stuff

and people will come,” said Lucier. “I think about the audience knowing it exists and breaking that fear

barrier of ‘Oh I don’t know anyone there, I don’t know that bar, I don’t know that culture’ just get out of

your house, take a chance and go see a show and be a part of something.”

Lucier also works with out-of-town show promoters to exchange headlining bands from outside

the city. One of his biggest partners in promotion is The Crofoot in Pontiac, Mich. The Crofoot helps the

Phog by bringing in acts for the annual Phogfest and by trading acts.

“They are masters. I don’t know anybody who books more shows or successfully executes more

shows than them anywhere. They compete with major show promoters,” said Lucier.

Lucier will continue to promote shows through the Phog Lounge and keep close ties with local

musicians and venues. Lucier welcomes any bands that differ in genres to Phog with hopes to see

Windsor’s musical diversity thriving.

 

Tom Lucier stands backstage at Venue Nightclub promoting the Glorious Sons Contender tour Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 // Photo by Aaron Lombardi