BEL AIR, Md. — Guitarist Jimi Russell showcases his impressive skills, channeling legendary musicians like Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix, even sharing a similar name. His cover band, ‘Not Those Guys,’ recently formed just a few months ago. The group had ambitions of performing at the Main Street Tower in Bel Air on New Year’s Eve, with plans for the paid gig to help cover his rent.
“As I was hauling my equipment upstairs, I noticed it was unusually dark. The moment I stepped into the room, I realized that everything was out,” Russell recounted.
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Unfortunately, the performance was delayed due to a fire that erupted in a utility pole in downtown Bel Air, leading to widespread power outages right on New Year’s Eve. This event disrupted what was supposed to be a major night for local businesses.
On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, this fire caused outages affecting several nearby buildings and traffic signals. Authorities from the Bel Air police department also investigated reports of a possible natural gas leak, which resulted in the temporary closure of part of Main Street until it was deemed safe and repairs were made.
The following day, work continued on the power lines located on Pennsylvania Avenue, necessitating road closures in that area. Reports indicated that some localized power disruptions persisted into Thursday.
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Amie Bradfield, a manager at Magerk’s Bel Air, described the chaos that ensued when they had to close around 6:30 PM on Wednesday and cancel all reservations. Fortunately, they were back in service by Thursday.
“Financially, it certainly impacts the business, as you can imagine. Our servers and bartenders depend heavily on tips, especially during holiday evenings,” Bradfield explained.
She noted that patrons were quite understanding of the situation, and they managed to redirect customers to another local pub, Looney’s, which still had power during the outage.
Power outage disrupts New Year’s Eve in downtown Bel Air
Power outage disrupts New Year’s Eve in downtown Bel Air
Bradfield expressed her appreciation for the positive feedback from customers, saying, “It was uplifting to see how supportive our guests and locals were.” She emphasized the strong sense of community in Bel Air during trying times.
RELATED: BGE has restored power to nearly every customer impacted by Bel Air outage
Thankfully, the good news is that the management at the Tower is rescheduling “Not Those Guys” for a performance this Saturday.
All traffic lights in the vicinity have resumed normal operation, as residents of downtown Bel Air are hopeful for a fresh start, leaving the chaos of 2025 behind.
