(Rick Mersel shares some insights into his new book at Chicho’s Backstage Cafe.)
By Jeff Maisey
As you might imagine, Rick Mersel has lived an exciting life thus far.
Born in Norfolk, Mersel has now spent most of his life in the music business, opening the popular live band Virginia Beach club The Bayou, working as a talent buyer for Cellar Door Productions, and launching what would become know as American’s best mid-size venues — The NorVa.
But in his debut paperback book, available April 28 on Amazon.com and other book-selling outlets, Mersel focuses less on the famous venues he’s well associated with and more on his early experiences that transformed and inspired his life leading up to a career in the industry.
The idea of writing a book came to Mersel during the pandemic. Forced to spend time at home he began writing what would become the first chapter of the book.
Throughout “All Revved Up and Ready to Go,” Mersel demonstrates an engaging, fun-to-read knack for storytelling.
As Rick has shared in advance on social media, “It’s about the power of music to connect us, pull us out of our solitude and throw us into the wild energy of life.”
Without exposing too many details — Rick wants everyone to read for themselves — the 156-pages take us on his journey, growing up in the Ward’s Corner section of Norfolk, attending Norfolk Collegiate, and shopping for albums at Tracks Records.
We learn of his father’s love of jazz and his old brother’s preference for class rockers The Doors, Doobie Brothers, and Grateful Dead.
While seeking his own music to identify, he happened across The Ramones “Leaving Home” album at Tracks. The band’s look and song titles sold him before hearing a note.
Then came the music and there was no going back — it was a life changing moment — reinforced by experiencing The Ramones at The Boathouse in 1985.
The mention of local places and establishments are something all life-long residents can associate with and thus make the reader want to flip to the next page for more.
Places like Milton’s Pizza, 15 Barbers, Mama’s Italian Kitchen, and Mr. Jim’s Subs.
Mersel also gives plenty of attention to his college days at Tulane University in New Orleans — also a significant life shaping experience — where he writes “time bent differently” and “you lived louder, harder, and danced until your feet ached.”
Mersel brings it back to Hampton Roads and at age 24 started working under the guidance of Kathie Moore and Mike Jones at Cellar Door.
More local reference points like Chicho’s, The Edge, and Hammerheads on The Block at the Oceanfront land a reminiscing smile.
Every experience throughout his life led to the creation of The NorVa, Mersel shares in the book, writing “It wasn’t merely a continuation; it was the culmination of everything I’d worked toward — a space where dreams and reality collided.”
Mersel provides details on how The NorVa came together without mentioning his partner’s name.
What is shared is some of the tales of brief encounters with the likes of Willie Nelson, Prince, Stone Temple Pilots, B.B. King, Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, Ringo Starr, and James Brown.
A fun read, especially for anyone who loves music, grew up in Hampton Roads, and enjoys getting lost in a well-crafted story.
