Erie Music History Podcast · Chip Schell

055: Bob Nelson

·1 hr 7 min·5 clips

Bob Nelson describes the night a fire broke out at Dock Sider, forcing everyone to flee as smoke engulfed the bar.

This episode features Chip Schell interviewing Bob Nelson, the former owner of Erie's Dock Sider bar from 1983 to 2006. Nelson, a non-musician, significantly shaped the local music scene by booking diverse acts at his venue. He is a lifelong Erie native and Strong Vincent High School graduate who previously co-founded Oliver's bar on French Street. Nelson purchased the Dock Sider in 1983, taking over the rough State Street location previously known as the Wonder Bar. He recalls his father, a WWII veteran, questioning the decision after facing hostility from the bar's existing clientele. Nelson quietly renovated the space, raised prices, introduced imported beers, and deliberately waited weeks before reopening to discourage the old crowd. Early advertising positioned the Dock Sider as the "new party place on State," playing off rival Sherlock's slogan. The first band to play was the Garage Band, featuring musicians like Marty O'Connor and Dave Blates. The Zipper City Blues Band from Meadville became the venue's house band, playing twice a month for years. Nelson regularly booked acts like John Hyatt, Blind Dog, Plato's Cave, and Big Dave and the Ultrasonics. He claims to have been the first in Erie to bring reggae to town and fostered a scene for blues, jam bands, and Grateful Dead music. National and regional acts like Derek Trucks, Brian Auger, Commander Cody, and Ike Willis also performed, often booked through agents calling the bar's payphone. Nelson describes a memorable night when Susan Tedeschi, dating Derek Trucks at the time, helped deliver a plate of tacos to a customer. Booking was a hands-on process involving mailed cassettes, press kits, and a specific trick to make free calls from the payphone. Payment for bands was typically a flat fee guarantee, with Nelson taking the door cover after covering costs. He admits to losing money on some shows, like God Street Wine's first performance on St. Patrick's Day weekend, which only drew 17 paid customers. The physical bar was small, with a legal occupancy under 100, though it was often packed tighter. Residents in upstairs apartments were sometimes paid monthly to not complain about the noise to the Liquor Control Board. A famous incident involved a major water leak during a Dogs performance, where overhead fans sprayed water across the entire bar. The episode is conversational and nostalgic, driven by personal anecdotes and specific memories. Listeners interested in Erie's 1980s and '90s bar culture, local music history, and entrepreneurial stories will enjoy this. Those seeking a tightly structured narrative or deep musical analysis might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

Bob Nelson lays out the business sense and local instinct that kept Erie music moving.

Bob Nelson's account puts the Dock Sider at the center of Erie music history, with the unglamorous work of keeping shows moving. He makes clear he was not a musician, yet his reach was wide as the club's owner from 1983 to 2006.

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