Local Eats + Local Beats

“We’re a little bit kitchen, we’re a little bit rock ’n’ roll,” says Cuisine en Locale founder JJ Gonson.

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“Sean O’Brien, the lead in my kitchen, was talking with Bob Dubrow [Pipeline! host from 1993 to 2003] when he was first imagining this wide-ranging anniversary event,” Gonson recalls. The idea immediately resonated with her team. “Aside from the fact that we all believe strongly in food and community, it also happens that some of us have very, very deep roots in music.” That’s almost an understatement. Gonson spent years photographing punk and hardcore acts and ran her own indie label, and the staff also includes local luminaries such as veteran producer Ken Cmar and celebrated singer/guitarist Thalia Zedek of Live Skull, Come and her own eponymous band.“We’re a little bit kitchen, we’re a little bit rock ’n’ roll,” says Cuisine en Locale founder JJ Gonson. Less than a year ago, her locavore catering and meal delivery service moved into a new HQ in the old Anthony’s space on Highland Avenue in Somerville. But with a capacity of 400, the funky function hall isn’t just home to Cuisine en Locale’s prep kitchen and Monday night taco suppers; recently, it’s also been making noise as a live music venue. Case in point: the Pipeline! at 25 concert series, which continues through Oct. 12 at five venues, Cuisine en Locale included, and marks the 25th anniversary of the legendary WMBR-FM (88.1) showcase for live local music.

There’s still time to catch a Pipeline! show—Cuisine en Locale is hosting closing concerts on Oct. 10 and 11. (If you go, be sure to scope out Boston Rock Flashbacks, an exhibit of photos by Improper contributing music editor Paul Robicheau, from portraits of Mark Sandman and Dropkick Murphys to live shots of Throwing Muses and Evan Dando.) And there’s more music to come, including November’s Boston Hassle Fest, headlined by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Bill Nace. In the meantime, we tapped Gonson to find out what keeps her crew moving in the kitchen.

  • “We listen to a lot of Clash,” Gonson says. “I love that the Clash understood you could be political and get something done with music.”
  • Another punk favorite? “‘Adult Books’ by X makes me jump up and down and pogo while I cook!”
  • As for newer music, Gonson says that Alt-J’s music has a “great groove to it, especially ‘Breezeblocks.’ ”
  • “And I love Colour Me Wednesday,” Gonson adds. “They played here, and they’re cute and heavy and girls, and one was wearing a Blake Babies shirt that she made!”

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