Fusion: 'The Best Venue for Live Music in Foxborough'

Jim McLaughlin has been in the music business for nearly 20 years as a promoter and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

“It’s always been a side project,” he said. “It’s got to the point where it’s almost a full time job.”

McLaughlin said he started organizing music shows at the Norton Legion and said it was the most satisfying experience he’s ever had.

“Just kind of looking back and knowing that you put that together,” he said. “Looking at the packed house and knowing you organized that. It’s something you believe in and actually worked to achieve. There’s satisfaction in there as well as a deep love for music.”

After the first show at the Legion, Mcloughlin moved on to many other venues.

McLaughlin currently works as the promoter and booking agent for the Fusion Club in Foxborough. Since the reorganization of Showcase Live at Patriot Place into a function hall rather than a music venue, McLaughlin said he’s seeing more people come down to Fusion.

“It’s somewhat increased business,” he said.

He said he worked with the business in Foxborough since it was the End Zone, and always booked the local bands. He said during the recent days of Showcase Live, he would book big cover bands like Draw the Line (AC/DC), who would then go on to Showcase Live.

“We brought them to the area and once they started showing how well they did Showcase picked them up,” he said.

McLaughlin said he has booked bands in venues like the Met Café (back when it was above Lupos Heartbreat Hotel) and the Living Room, both venues in Providence. He said he’s worked with the Doug Flutie and The Flutie Brothers Band, Boys Like Girls, Afroman, Joe Perry, LA Guns, Danny Kline from the J. Giles Band and James Montegomery.

“Afroman showed up with an iPod and a guitar and just rocked,” he said. “Everybody loved it.”

McLaughlin said his favorite part of the job is seeing the young up and coming bands, like Boys Like Girls. He said back when they were called Lancaster, he had the opportunity to work with them and instantly saw their potential.

“They’ve done very well for themselves,” he said. “We knew just working with them they were going to make it. It’s awesome to believe in the band and then see them make it.”

McLaughlin said one of the great things about Fusion, and one of the driving factors behind the bands, is the sound system.

“The sound system is amazing,” he said. “We used to be the next best thing to Showcase, but now we’re the best venue for live music in Foxborough.”

But electronics don’t always keep. He added he wouldn’t have such a great time setting up the shows and getting the sound right without the venue’s owner, Vivek Patel.

“He really lets everybody do their job,” he said of Patel. “Zack Keene [the sound technician] does a phenomenal job. He says he needs new boards, Vic says get a quote and let's do it. We tell him it’s going to work and he goes along with. For the most part it works. The bottom line is he lets people do their job and he gives them the resources they need.”

McLaughlin said Fusion is gearing up for some new events in the spring. He said they have teamed up with KISS 108 FM to create a new showcase once a month for a live broadcast from Fusion. He said he’s also booked big tribute bands like Dirty Deeds (AC/DC) and Believer (Ozzy Osborne). He said he’s also started a line dancing event on Wednesday.

McLaughlin said it would be very difficult to pin down his favorite band.

“I grew up a metal head,” he said. “I like my real heavy metal. It definitely broadened my musical taste, being in the business, but I can’t let go of early Metallica.”

Fusion is located at 105 Washington St. on Route 1 in Foxborough.