It’s been over a year since longtime local promoter Dan Millen of Rock On! Concerts and Charlie Abel, managing owner of the former Harpers Ferry, announced they’d be opening Thunder Road, a new music venue in the shuttered Radio space in Somerville. After some fits and starts—the opening has been pushed back several times—the club enjoyed a grand opening on Sept. 8 that kicks off a billing of already-slated shows including Jesse Malin on Oct. 8 and the Stone Foxes on Nov. 5. We tapped Millen for some deets about the new venue—as well as some insight into Boston’s ever-changing music scene.

What inspired you to open Thunder Road?

My partner, Charlie Abel, who was the managing owner of Harpers Ferry for 18 years, and I were looking to form a live music club together. We’d worked closely for five years at Harpers prior to him selling his half of the club in 2004 and we really developed a shared bond for presenting live music. Charlie was and still is a mentor to me, so working with him now as a partner is a joy. Owning a club had been a personal dream of mine. I’ve worked in the Boston scene as a promoter for over 15 years and packed other people’s clubs full of thirsty revelers, I figured it was time to pack my own club, so I’ve saved up every nickel I’ve made for years to make it happen.

What do you hope it will bring to the city’s music scene?

We have always intended Thunder Road to be a great space for fans of live music to enjoy, and bands to “strut their stuff” in a clean, friendly and fun environment. And, of course, now that there are so many other live music clubs closing [T.T the Bear’s Place, Johnny D’s, the recently announced closing of Church’s music venue], as much as we are saddened about that, we are just glad that we are opening to fill some of the void left in the scene.

Do those recent losses make Thunder Road seem even more vital to you?

Absolutely. We didn’t plan it that way, we thought we would be a great addition to a thriving music community, but now more than ever it seems like we will be needed.  Our philosophy has always been one of the “rising tide lifts all boats” and that the more places in town that feature live music, the more bands can develop and build fan bases. We don’t want to look at this as a good thing, though it will wind up being good for us and the bands that are losing places to play, to fill that void and, for want of a better phrase, to “carry the torch.”

What’s one of your favorite memories from your time working the Boston scene?

I think the best one, off the top of my head, is presenting a relatively unknown band called Maroon 5 in the middle of a snowstorm in February of 2003, I think. About half the people who bought advance tickets wound up showing up for the show, it wound up being a relatively packed house, and the band just blew us all away.  Shortly thereafter they wound up on the radio, playing humungous domes, and the rest is history for them, but we get to say “we knew them when.”

Best show you ever saw?

Spiritual Rez on a boat this past summer.  No BS —I’ve never seen a band with more of a command of the audience, so many great songs, and people going crazy!  They’re another band from Boston that it’s been a joy to help grow.

Dream band or artist to book for Thunder Road?

Aerosmith or the Joe Perry Project. I got my start in the business booking Aerosmith’s old club Mama Kin on Lansdowne Street and have been fortunate enough to produce several smaller club “sneak a shows” with them. They’re my all-time favorite rock band. Gents, if you’re reading this, come play!