Akron 200 "Akron Sound" Event a Huge Success
Last night’s “History of the Akron Sound” event, part of the Akron 200 Bicentennial’s Forgotten History Forum Series, brought the city’s musical legacy to life in a powerful and engaging way.
Hosted at the Akron-Summit County Public Library and presented by the FirstEnergy Foundation, the evening was moderated by Brad Savage of The Summit FM and featured a panel of musicians and local historians who helped define and document Akron’s punk and new wave explosion of the late 1970s and early 1980s:
Tracey Thomas - Unit 5, Author of "Little Miss Akron"
Bob Lewis - Founding Member of Devo
Nick Nicholis - The Bizarros, Founder of Clone Records
Jimi Imij - Akron Sound Archivist
Chris Butler - The Waitresses, Tin Huey
Calvin Rydbom - Author of "The Akron Sound"
While bands like Devo and The Pretenders may be the most widely recognized exports of the Akron Sound, the event also spotlighted influential but lesser-known acts such as Tin Huey, The Bizarros, Rachel Sweet, Unit 5, Hammer Damage, and many more. Through lively anecdotes and reflective commentary, the panelists explored the gritty, industrial roots of the scene, and how Akron’s working-class backdrop inspired a DIY music movement unlike any other.
Attendees were taken on a journey through iconic venues like The Crypt and The Bank, where raw creativity and experimentation thrived. The discussion emphasized how local musicians built a scene from the ground up—pressing their own records, booking shows, and cultivating a strong sense of community and independence.
A spirited Q&A session followed, with the audience eager to learn about the cultural and artistic impact of the Akron Sound. The conversation served as a reminder of how local movements can leave a lasting mark on national and even global music history.
In all, the event succeeded in preserving a crucial chapter of Akron’s artistic identity. As the city celebrates its bicentennial, events like this reaffirm the value of remembering the voices, sounds, and spaces that shaped its cultural fabric.
