There sits a gray brick building on Pass Road, just on the Gulfport side of the Biloxi city limits… an unassuming little space that likely wouldn’t catch your attention during regular business hours, but after dark it exists as one of the Gulf Coast’s most storied and intense music locales. Any of the thousands of people who have passed through its doors and experienced the high volume madness that often spills beyond its four walls and into the parking lot will almost certainly have a tale to tell.
At the center of those stories is Kirk Merritt. A Gulfport native, venue proprietor, drummer, motorsport enthusiast and adventurer, Kirk was someone who brought people together. He still does.
Kirk’s House of Rock and Kirk’s Biz’zar formerly served as go to spots in the coast’s underground music scene. My own memories of Kirk’s Biz’zar include deafening metal music, raucous mosh pits in tight crowds, parking lot altercations, red and black everywhere, summer heat and spilled liquids… that delightfully grungy, almost hostile atmosphere that drew out the most hardcore showgoers in the area. But it was all for the love of it. Behind this harshness there was Kirk at the bar, rocking an oversized t-shirt with a cold drink and a friendly word, always glad to see you. Heavy music always had a home there. New bands always had a home there. Kirk made sure of it.
You can say Kirk was a bit of a car guy as well as an entrepreneur. For some time the Kirk’s Biz’zar building became the Kirk’s Auto Sales building, and you’d typically find him rolling up in something fast or stylish. He took his extreme interests to the water as a world champion drag boat racer under the moniker “da Curtis.” When not running a business or something with a big engine, he held stages down with his drum set in a number of bands. Notably, Kirk’s band The Blend built a strong name for themselves across the coast with their playlist of current and classic rock and alternative hits, and landed back to back Covey Awards in recent years. His spirit and passion for playing continued through all of this, even after he began battling medical issues, and he continued to perform as long as he was able to.
That building on Pass Road is a music venue once again. Now called The Hot Spot Bistro and Lounge, and renovated since the Biz’zar days, the venue still stands as a landmark within the music scene. Kirk, Tara and all their staff built and maintain a place that has welcomed musicians and fans from all over the U.S. and beyond, provided great times to countless people, and is beloved by many in the scene. More than any building though, Kirk’s legacy includes the immeasurable experiences and connections made between people he met and enjoyed music with over so many great years, and that will be remembered.
The Hot Spot is hosting a memorial in the best way our music scene knows how to honor one of it’s own hard rockers: with a big, rowdy show right there on Kirk’s stage. The Kirk Merritt Memorial Festival runs from Friday May 22nd to Sunday May 24th with over twenty bands, acts and other festivities.
Mz. Mayhem, aka Amanda Meyers, is one of the festival’s promoters and has been booking dates at the Hot Spot for the last couple of years, helping Kirk and family keep the music playing loud.
“I will forever be thankful that they both had the trust in me to handle that for them during that time,” she said. “Kirk had a way of seeing potential in people who don’t see it in themselves.”
The festival’s lineup is stacked with bands who share similar experiences… friends of Kirk and the Merritt family, musicians with history in the venues, all members of a scene coming together to pay respect in a loud way.
“I and The Hot Spot will continue Kirk’s philosophy on giving new bands a chance, giving touring bands a place to play, and welcoming everyone with no judgement,” Mz. Mayhem added.
Our best wishes to Kirk’s family and friends. Thanks for the music.
scott@coastobserver.com
@ScottiRedd
See “Kirk Merritt Memorial Festival” event on Facebook
*Festival times and lineup subject to change
Photos from multiple sources/ credit to original photographers
