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Thursday, June 05, 2003

By John Hayes, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

For 22 years, The Decade was a smoky, loud 'Burgh thing, as regionally distinctive as "yinz" and kitchen-chair parking space holders. It was part of a loosely knit rock and blues circuit that showcased prescient acts including The Police and U2 years before they exploded onto the mainstream. Maybe more importantly, The Decade was a vital starting point for a generation of Pittsburgh musicians.

Decade records' first release is a reissue of blues singer Chizmo Charles' "Up All Night." Future releases are planned from Jim Daugherty, Warren King and Allison Flynn. Chizmo Charles and the Decade Records Revue WHERE: 7:30 p.m. tonight at Club Café, South Side; 9 p.m. June 12 at Moondog's, Blawnox TICKETS: $5. Club Café, 412-431-4950; Moondog's, 412-828-2040. Contact Decade records at 412-306-1420.

After folding The Decade in 1995, owner Dom DiSilvio dabbled in real estate and briefly ran Chaz's Market Street Tavern, Downtown.

"It was too mundane," he says. "It was OK, but too slow for me. I've been itchy to get back in the business. We really want to do something that pertains to The Decade, work with people who were associated with the scene, as well as some younger new artists."

Now, nearly a decade after the once-legendary Oakland showcase room closed, DiSilvio, blues guitarist Jim Daugherty and investor Paul Brennsteiner have started a new rock 'n' blues label, Decade Records. With help from Los Angeles publicist and radio promoter Joe Estrada, they've finagled national distribution by piggy-backing onto a Cincinnati indie's deal with Memphis distributor Select-O-Hits.

First up on the Decade Records roster is "Up All Night," the reissue of a recent album by bluesman Chizmo Charles. The CD and label will be launched at two release parties, tonight at Club Cafe in the South Side and June 12 at Moondog's in Blawnox. Estrada says widespread distribution will kick in later this summer, and that Charles is booked on a Northeast tour to promote the release.

Charles was part of The Decade's stable of local blues singers. Also signed to Decade Records are two of the bar's former stalwarts, guitarists Jim Daugherty and Warren King. Daugherty's 2001 album "The Inconsiderate Few" will be reissued by the imprint, and King is recording new music. Singer Allison Flynn, who was too young to play The Decade, is recording her debut album for Decade Records.

Tonight at Club Cafe and next week at Moondog's, Charles plans to play a full set backed by Daugherty and his band. Daugherty and Flynn will offer guest performances. Some of the wall-hanging guitars, drum heads, photos, posters and T-shirts that gave The Decade the irreverent solemnity of a rock 'n' roll shrine are likely to show up, too.

"If you closed your eyes," quips DiSilvio, "and there was no toilet paper in the bathroom, you'd think you were at The Decade."

John Hayes can be reached at jhayes@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1991.