Porch concert protests utility pole placement

When Neil Young sang “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World,” he probably meant freedom in the broad political sense. When Irvington resident Adam Stein sang it from the porch of his home at 25 North Eckar Street before an audience of neighbors and supporters on May 17, he meant something far more local — freedom from the utility pole Con Edison erected without notice outside his front door.

“Purge the pole!” a neighbor shouted from across the street after Stein thanked the crowd for their support.

Stein closed the set with Young’s anthem after performing mostly Pearl Jam covers with his band Evil Eckar, which transforms that porch into a stage every Halloween. Evil Eckar is among the bands that participate in the annual “Porchella” concerts throughout downtown Irvington on Oct. 31.