Saturday, September 30th, 2007:
It's hard to believe it is almost October already. It seems like just yesterday when the weather was finally warm enough for many of us to finally stow away the winter garb, open the windows, and enjoy the warm and green smell of spring. Many people I know mourn the passing of summer as if it were an old and dear friend that they were having difficulty coming to grips with their loss. They still pine for the days where they can brazenly sport tropical shorts and flip flops, without fear of a cold spell that could very well chase them back into hibernation. Personally, I believe the brightly colored landscapes and cool evenings make the fall my favorite time of the year. Having said that, I believe it would be the perfect opportunity to enjoy this change of season by making the short drive to Oneonta to enjoy great local restaurants, shopping, and to enjoy Oneonta's newest cultural icon...the Foothills Performing Arts Center.

I was made aware of the Foothills just about this same time last year, when Tina Costa contacted mutual friends about Fetish Lane performing at the recently erected facility. Ken (who was doing most of our booking at the time) was good friends with Tina and her husband, and agreed to set up a date for the weekend of the Pit Run. Up until this point, I can honestly say that I had never heard of the Foothills Performing Arts Center. I thought to myself, where is it...what is it? After he briefly explained the origins of the Foothills, I had a revelation. Why didn't someone think of this before?

Playing in a local band for over the past decade, I have found it increasingly difficult to find new, "music and arts" oriented venues to play within a hundred mile radius of our home base (located in Gilbertsville). Most music venues seem to be located in bars, and many of the special events tend to be loosely organized or without a sense of purpose. Not to say that there is something wrong with playing in bars. It is an absolute necessity (for us musicians) to have bars (and small gatherings) to perform at in the immediate area. Without these small venues, musicians would have to constantly travel tremendous distances each weekend to play music for an evening (with the alternative of having no place to play at all). Some of these bars are well established music venues that provide excellent entertainment (such as Oneonta's own Autumn Cafe), but many musicians would also attest that others are not always the ideal setting to be creative in. There are also a few well established, "non-bar" venues such as the Night Eagle Cafe and the Earlville Opera House that feature the finest in musical acts from around the globe, but these are few and far between.

The creation of the Foothills Performing Arts Center provides local musicians, artists, and anyone interested in supporting the performing arts a chance to get in on the ground floor and become part of something. The Foothills is a local facility that will serve as a concert hall, events center, and community hub for cultural education. It offers the city of Oneonta (as well as communities in the surrounding Chenango and Delaware counties) a new and exciting opportunity to put their cultural "foot print" on upstate New York. It is a unique opportunity to help transform the "City of the Hills" into a must see destination in our geographic region.

I couldn't help but to feel a certain sense of pride when reading the mission statement on their website. "The Center will help to improve the quality of life for residents throughout the tri-county region and will help to strengthen the economy in diverse ways." In a time when manufacturing jobs are rapidly fleeing upstate New York, this type of facility could represent a step in the right direction. Once the main structure of the facility is completed, large concerts and special events could prove to be a boom for local eateries, hotels, and shops in the downtown Oneonta area, as they cater to attendees who pour into town. Increased traffic flow could secure the success of many of these local businesses for years to come, and in turn...strengthening our local economy.

The idea of this facility helping to improve "the quality of life for residents" is something we all should stand up and support. Not only is this designed to attract people to our area, it is also designed to benefit our community. In a sense, the Foothills Performing Arts Center belongs to everybody. It is a place to see a concert, hold an auction benefiting a local charity organization, take your daughter to her dance recital, for husband and wife to learn how to fox-trot, to see the ballet for the first time, to attend a traveling theater company's production of a play you've always wanted to see. The possibilities are endless. It could mean any number of things to countless people. It is an attempt to bring something new and meaningful to people's lives. It is an opportunity for our area's residents to step beyond the forty-hour work week, and experience new things. And most importantly, it is a chance for people to become more actively involved, and in a sense, build a stronger community. The first time Fetish Lane performed at the Foothills, no sooner did we roll into the parking lot...people were there waiting to help. It was a group of dedicated employees and volunteers just chomping at the bit to help make the night a success. When they proudly showed us the facility, I knew (just by the sound of their voices) that this would not fail. One could tell that they believed so badly in this project, that nothing was going to stand in the way of the Foothills taking off, and becoming something special.

I sincerely believe that it is just not a new career that brings a person to live in a community. It's not merely their means of support that causes them to take up roots in a particular place, and start a family. There are jobs all over the country. There are countless places one could settle down, and pursue the same types of careers we have available to us in this area. There has to be more. In addition to our area's rich historical tradition, fine educational establishments, and central location...the Foothills Performing Arts Center could very well be another important piece of the puzzle that distinguishes our area as a cultural, economical, and logical place to reside.

Fetish Lane is an American Roots Music Band. Members include Ken Held, Israel Lorimer, Ed Gliha, John Edick, Darrin Trass and Brian O'Connell.

Photography featured on this website was done in large part by friends, fans and family of the band including, but not limited to the following folks: Nikki Bisaha, Sarah Lewis, Aliscia Gaucher, Stacie Edick, Noelle Dasilva, and Johann Cash.

Website design and construction by: Thirsty Fish Graphic Design and Fetish Lane.