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And the best non-rock concert at the Kirby Center is …

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Longtime patron says Kirby Center ‘like home to me’

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Its shining brass doors and classic theater marquee invite entertainment seekers into an art deco masterpiece, but the F.M. Kirby Center is one of Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s treasures for more than its nod to the times of grand theater architecture in America.</p><p>The house, which seats between 1,808 and 1,832, depending on the availability of pit seating, attracts concert-goers and musicians with reliable acoustics, spacious seating and friendly staff.</p><p>For area musicians, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/features/582041/celtic-thunders-legacy-woos-wilkes-barre-crowd" target="_blank">the Kirby</a> becomes a stage to aspire to. For music lovers, it arguably is the best place to see a show in Northeastern Pennsylvania.</p><p>Dupont songwriter/guitarist Bret Alexander is a thriving solo artist and producer, but in 1997, he took the Kirby stage as a founding member of local roots rock group The Badlees, who had reached national recognition with their 1995 release &#8220;River Songs.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;From the artist&#8217;s standpoint, being from here and being able to come back and play the Kirby, that&#8217;s a pretty big touchstone,&#8221; Alexander said. &#8220;It&#8217;s one of those places where you feel like you&#8217;ve arrived if you can play there.&#8221;</p><p>While Alexander spoke of the significance of standing on the Kirby stage, Rick Orlando, of Harveys Lake, provided the perspective of an avid audience member.</p><p>Orlando said he has seen about 100 live music performances and can compare the Kirby Center to other regional theaters.</p><p>&#8220;In the grand scheme of things, in terms of small venues, the Kirby is way up on top, and I&#8217;m talking about venues down to Reading and Harrisburg and up to Binghamton, New York,&#8221; Orlando said. &#8220;The comfort level is top of the line.&#8221;</p><p>Orlando said the customer service at the theater also makes it stand out among venues of comparable size.</p><p>Other facilities also are familiar to J.P. Biondo. The Scranton resident and mandolin player/vocalist in NEPA bluegrass band Cabinet has visited a multitude of theaters, including the Kirby, as a fan and performer, and said he appreciates the Kirby&#8217;s acoustics.</p><p>&#8220;I think it sounds great in there,&#8221; Biondo said. &#8220;And I feel pretty good about saying that, because I saw John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett there (2015), and it was just the two of them sitting on stage with acoustic guitars. When they were playing, you could hear a pin drop in the place, and the sound was clean, clear and crisp. On the other end, I saw Tedeschi Trucks Band there (2015), and they are considerably louder &#8230; and I could still hear everything really great.&#8221;</p><p>Biondo calls himself a &#8220;big-time vocals guy&#8221; and said he&#8217;s never had a problem hearing them at the Kirby.</p><p>Equally as important on the vocal front are the comedy shows that come through the Wilkes-Barre theater.</p><p>Exeter native Victor Pacchioni lives in Northampton, but he recalls a trip to the Kirby Center to see comedian George Carlin perform in 2005.</p><p>&#8220;Everything&#8217;s a positive there,&#8221; Pacchioni said. &#8220;The atmosphere is great. The old-style seats are comfortable. I saw George Carlin. He was one of the funniest men alive, and seeing him at the Kirby was up close and personal. I wasn&#8217;t sitting up front, but I heard everything.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_CMYKkirby-theatre.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The F.M. Kirby Center seats over 1,800 people on the orchestra and balcony levels, both of which provide a great view of the stage in the intimate theater. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_CMYKkirby-theatre.jpg</photo0><caption0>The F.M. Kirby Center seats over 1,800 people on the orchestra and balcony levels, both of which provide a great view of the stage in the intimate theater. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_cabinet-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Northeastern Pennsylvania bluegrass band Cabinet performs at the Kirby Center often during the Christmas season. Mandolin player J.P. Biondo says he always appreciates the sound in the Kirby, whether he&#8217;s playing or enjoying the show as a fan. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_cabinet-5.jpg</photo1><caption1>Northeastern Pennsylvania bluegrass band Cabinet performs at the Kirby Center often during the Christmas season. Mandolin player J.P. Biondo says he always appreciates the sound in the Kirby, whether he&#8217;s playing or enjoying the show as a fan. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta></subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or Twitter @TLArts</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Whether a musician or patron, F.M. Kirby Center a destination