Author: Vickie & Peter

Vickie grew up in Iowa. Lived in Silicon Valley & NYC. Peter has lived all over (NJ, NY, CH, IN, CA, MA, etc.) We chose to live and raise our family in Gloucester. Owners of gimmesound.com & Van Ness Group. Producers of gimmeLIVE concerts.

Café Shalom Coffeehouse Spring Concert on May 4th

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Cafe Shalom

Sunday, May 4th at 7 pm (Doors open at 6:45 pm)
Tickests $10/per person at the door

With Julie Dougherty, Bob Kramer, and special guests Gay Shelton and Al Foucault

Café Shalom Coffeehouse, Temple Ahavat Achim, 86 Middle St., Gloucester, presents a special coffeehouse performance from well-known Salem recording artist, Julie Dougherty, Sunday evening, May 4.  Julie has been performing regularly in the Boston area and beyond for many years, since the 1970’s playing her style of folk and country rock covers and originals.

Opening for Julie is the local recording artist group the Bob Kramer Trio playing a mix ranging from Delta and Piedmont blues to classic traditional songs along with their own tasty originals.  The Bob Kramer Trio performs at festivals and clubs throughout the Boston area.

Doors open at 6:45 PM and the music starts at 7:00 PM.  Make your own $2 ice-cream sundaes, as well as other refreshments for sale.   Bring your family and friends! Everyone is welcome!

Questions about the event can be directed to Natalia at TAA, 978-281-0739

What to you get when you mix Jon Butcher, 3rian King and Aurelia Nelson?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

HOT RADIO, that’s  what!  I don’t know what got into her, but Aurelia Nelson decided to host them both at the same time on the same Curtain Up show that will air tomorrow SUN at 9am on Northshore 104.9 FM.  3rian & Jon talk about their upcoming shows next week (3rian with The Number Nines a Fresh Take on The Beatles benefit for the UU Church Meetinghouse on Friday (4/25) and Jon at the Larcom Theatre on Saturday (4/26) with his Boston area debut of The Jon Butcher Axis: Celebrating the Music of Jimi Hendrix.

Hendrix and The Beatles were sensations at the same time, but in different genres.  Jon & 3rian talk about this period and their experience bringing the music to a new level in the 21st Century.

Sgt. Pepper and Are You Experienced were both released in 1967.  As a kid, I played both albums until they wore out.

Those were the days when your friends would come over, you’d put on a record, sit on the floor and listen to a whole side without talking.  Nobody does that any more …

Help Needed at Larcom Theatre in Beverly

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

We are looking for people who would like to help at the Larcom Theater for our 2014 Season.  See current shows here.  More will be announced soon.

Ushers get to see the show for free and help others enjoy their show experience!  Ushers assist our patrons in finding their assigned seats and provide playbills to patrons.  The ushers then take a seat in the theatre during the show in order to address any needs that audience members may have.

If you are interested please call Peter or Vickie at 978-525-9093. Larcom

More fun with Radio Ads & Adobe Premiere

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Some of you may remember the last time I added visuals to a radio ad and made a video.  Well I’ve done it again for our UU Meetinghouse benefit next Friday, April 25 featuring local stars 3rian King, Chelsea Berry, Renee Dupuis, Joe Cardoza and Dennis Monagle with Boston-based Meff and Brendan Burns, all of whom “come together” as The Number Nines for a fresh take on The Beatles.  

CREDITS: Music by The Number Nines; radio ad produced by Jay Foss of Northshore 104.9;  most of the photos by Louise Welch & Philip Doyle;  the Number Nines logo by 3rian King.  Poster design by Vickie Van Ness.

Vickie wants me to choose between Hendrix & The Beatles, but I won’t do it!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this year, you already know that 2014 is the 5oth anniversary of The Beatles’ appearance on Ed Sullivan.  I begged my parents to let me stay up and watch the show — and they agreed.  (Kids went to bed earlier in those days.)

It was a thrill!  Most everybody on my block was already a Beatles fan and the next day, we were utterly devoted.  We all started saving up for the next record.  Being the 5oth anniversary of what CBS billed as “The Night That Changed America”, you’ve also probably seen lots of Beatles tribute bands playing around.  Next Friday (April 25), Top area musicians come together (yes, pun intended) to help raise money for Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse as The Number Nines — but this is no tribute band.  Rather, it’s three top Gloucester singer/songwriters: 3rian King, Chelsea Berry and Renée Dupuis, joined by Boston‐based multi‐instrumentalist Meff and guitarist Brendan Burns with Gloucester’s favorite rhythm section: Dennis Monagle and Joe Cardoza.  They’ll perform their own originals plus fresh takes on The Beatles, like this soulful interpretation of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” featuring Chelsea Berry on vocals:

So, we can all agree that The Beatles are the greatest rock band ever, right?  “Not so fast,” quips Vickie.  “What about Jimi Hendrix?”
“What about him?” I reply.
“You’re always saying he’s the greatest rock guitar player, who ever lived.”
“Well, of course he is.” [Here’s one of my Hendrix favorites]

“So how can The Beatles be the best rock band ever?”
“Oh come on.  I can’t choose between The Beatles and Hendrix!”

So the next night, April 26, our friend Jon Butcher is bringing his powerful new show, The Jon Butcher Axis: Celebrating the Music of Jimi Hendrix to the Larcom Theatre for their Boston area debut.  Check out Jon’s version of another one of my favorite Hendrix tunes:

I’ll be at both.  You can be too.  You don’t have to choose.

Get The Number Nines tickets here.  Get Axis tickets here.

Crazy Moon @ 8:30, Blood Moon at 2am

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

As GMG Weather man Peter Lovasco points out in his very informative post (with great pix) there’s a Blood Moon tonight.  This just in from Lisa Smith about how Cape Ann TV plans to celebrate:

Blood MoonBlood Moon/Lunar Eclipse tonight! Is it a prophecy of doom? or a rare celestial event? We here at Cape Ann TV are not sure of what to make of this heavenly sideshow. But to celebrate this rare phenomenon, we will be airing Gordon Bairds’ “Crazy Moon” a musical odyssey.

“Crazy Moon” airs tonight on Channel 8:30 p.m., with repeats at the wee hours of Tuesday morning at: 12:00 am, 1:30 am, 3:00 am and 4:30 am.

Crazy MoonThe Blood Moon goes live in the night sky at 12:53 a.m. through 6:37 a.m., and peaks between 3:07 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. on the East Coast, according to NASA.

Pictured is a NASA photo of a Blood Moon and a Gloucester Daily Times photo of Gordon Baird, note the red aura emanating from both orbs.

 

 

Still a few tickets left to see Jon Anderson – The Voice of YES at Shalin Liu on Thursday, April 17

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Jon Anderson

The former lead singer and creative force behind the group YES, Jon Anderson stands as one of the most recognizable voices in progressive rock. His distinctive high tenor remained a fixture on mainstream rock radio for decades, fronting the band’s biggest hits throughout the 70’s and 80’s including “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Roundabout,” and “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” He was also primarily responsible for many of the band’s epic pieces like “Close to the Edge,” “Awaken” and “The Gates of Delirium.” Since parting ways with YES, Anderson has continued his idiosyncratic musical path, touring and releasing solo records while delving into folk and world music.  Get TICKETS

Single Concert Tickets for June – August Concerts go on Sale Wednesday, April 16th. Great summer music is happen at Shalin Liu – Don’t miss out.  See schedule here

Gloucester UU Church has space for rent and needs volunteers for benefit concerts

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

 Space for Rent

The Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church is seeking proposals for tenants for its ground floor space for a Monday through Friday use.  More than 4500 square feet, or parts thereof are available.   Nursery schools, artists spaces, social service agencies or other compatible uses are potential lessees.  Four accessible bathrooms, accessible entrances.  Two to three year lease at competitive rates.   Interested parties please call Karen Rembert at 978/283-3410 to set up an appointment to view the space, before the end of April.

Concert Volunteers Wanted

April 25, 2014
Come Together with the Number Nines a Fresh take on The Beatles featuring 3rian King, Chelsea Berry and Renee Dupuis.


May 10, 2014
ENTRAIN “Epic in sound and kaleidoscopic in vision, this eclectic Martha’s Vinyard 6-piece band has been thrilling critics and fans alike.”

VOLUNTEERS are needed to help with various tasks before, during and after the concert. “Positions” available:
Concessions – 4 people
Ushers/Ticket Takers: 4 people
Load-in: 4 people
Load-Out/Put Church stuff back: 6 people
Hospitality: 2-4 people
Contact: dprouty@pa.org or chasnaz@gmail.com

Music Throw-Back Thursday! MTBT

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
Who remembers Welcome Back Kotter?

John Sebastian who wrote and sang the theme song for “Welcome Back Kotter” is coming to The Larcom Theater on Thursday, May 8th.  Join Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee and writer of some of popular music’s most enduring #1 hits, including “Do You Believe In Magic?”, “Daydream”, “Summer In The City” and “Welcome Back” the theme song from Welcome Back Kotter, for an intimate evening at The Larcom Theatre.

John will perform two sets and offer a question/answer period during which you can ask him about Woodstock, The Lovin’ Spoonful, his Film & TV career or anything else you like. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the music that defined a generation up close and personal.

80sWho remembers Jon Butcher from the ’80s??

Jon Butcher Axis: Celebrating the Music of Jimi Hendrix is coming to The Larcom Theater on Saturday, April 26th.

Jon’s dynamic new show is selling out theatres across the country.  Don’t miss this rare chance to experience a ROCK ICON up close in the best ROCK listening venue north of Boston!

 

Jon Butcher on Local Music Seen with Allen Estes tonight at 6:30

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
Photo by Sheila Roberts Orlando
Photo by Sheila Roberts Orlando


Jon Butcher will be featured on “Local Music Seen with Allen Estes” today at 6:30 pm, Channel 12 Cape Ann T.V. and will be aired over the next 2 weeks! You don’t want to miss the show Jon has a BIG announcement.  

Local fingerstyle guitar master, Ken Bonfield, brings his Artistry of the Guitar to Rocky Neck

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Perhaps you saw him at the UU Meetinghouse Solstice concert in December.  If you did, you already know he’s one of Gloucester’s finest musicians.  If you’ve never seen Ken Bonfield, this is the weekend to do so.  And the Rocky Neck Cultural Center is a perfect venue for his Artistry of the Guitar.

ken bonfield poster

Want to save money on concert tickets?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

gimmeLivesqOf course you do.  Last week you saved $10 on tickets to The Toasters Concert Cruise because you were part of the gimmeLIVE pre-sale, right?

Well, just in case you missed that, here’s a BIG HINT: We’ll be announcing another pre-sale to our Concert Club members tomorrow that will save you money.  Click here to join and you’ll get the email.  Just make sure vickie at gimmesound dot com and gimmeLIVE get through your spam filter.

 

GREASE comes to Gloucester

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Beeman Elementary School 4th & 5th Graders present GREASE directed by Heidi Dallin this Thursday & Friday, April 10 & 11 at 7pm.  Check out this preview by Cape Ann TV:

Big City Concert Sound just down the road in Beverly

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
John Coretto (right) tuning the new system from Orchestra Center, Row F, seat 5. See the Meyer Arrays on either side of the stage
John Coretto (right) tuning the new system from Orchestra Center, Row F, seat 5. See the Meyer Arrays on either side of the stage
Meyer M'elodie curvilinear array up close
Meyer M’elodie curvilinear array up close
John Coretto from WHB Concert Production tuning the new system. He took that laptop all over the orchestra and balcony to make sure the sound is perfect in every seat!
John Coretto from WHB Concert Production tuning the new system. He took that laptop all over the orchestra and balcony to make sure the sound is perfect in every seat at The Larcom Theatre!
Our new digidesign SC-48 console
Our new digidesign SC-48 console
See how the Meyer 600-HP sub-woofers disappear next to the stairs. Still good seats left in the Balcony where this picture was taken.
See how the Meyer 600-HP sub-woofers disappear next to the stairs. Still good seats left in the Balcony where this picture was taken.  Get them here!

Since we discovered the Larcom Theatre and produced our first concert there a year ago this weekend, Gloucester’s singer/ songwriter / multi-instrumentalist and ace sound man, Will Hunt has brought in his gear and, together with Bradley Royds, they’ve mixed our shows to wide acclaim (see a review here).

But Will’s kinda busy and needs his gear for other concerts, like The Nines @ Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse and The Toasters Concert Cruise.  So we realized it was time to get new gear appropriate for the 550 seat theatre that we don’t have to keep moving in and out.

And we figured, if we’re going do it, we might as well do it right.

On Wednesday, Jon Coretto and his crew from WHB Concert Production (the people who revamped the sound at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom) installed the top of the line: Meyer M’elodie curvilinear array loudspeakers with 600-HP sub-woofers and Galileo system processor, Digidesign SC-48 console and 6 JBL VP 7212 MDP stage monitors.

Plus we have a 56 channel snake splitter for bands that want to make studio quality live recordings or simply MUST have their monitors mixed on stage.

Now if you don’t much care about all that techno-babble, just know this: IT SOUNDS AMAZING!

And you can hear it tomorrow night when Gracie Curran takes the stage with Roomful of Blues Horns and Lydia Warren Band opening.

Seats are still available.  The best ones are in the balcony.  Get them here.

Say “Hi” to Will, who will be working there tomorrow along with Bill Winn (who wrote the book on sound … literally).

Feel free to thank them for the excellent job they do making sure the sound is perfect in every seat!

Megan Burtt @ Old Sloop on Saturday April 5th

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Every year or so, Megan Burtt comes to Gloucester to visit her good friend and Berklee chum, Chelsea Berry — and to treat us to her thoughtful, moving, gorgeous music at local venues.  This time she’s at Old Sloop on Saturday, April 5th with Boston singer/songwriter Danielle Miraglia.  This will be an excellent show!

poster-140405-for-gmg

 

BREAKING NEWS: James Cotton Band w/ guest guitarist Jay Geils @ Larcom Theatre

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

JAMES COTTON BLUES BAND
w/ guest guitarist JAY GEILS

From 54′ when Muddy Waters needed a harmonica player and tapped Cotton for a 12 year run that has become the stuff of legend, “Superharp” continues to showcase his immense talent with his own band that keeps him one of the most sought-after, hard-driving, seminal blues musicians touring the world today. Jay Geils needs no introduction to the legion of music fans that made The J. Geils Band one of the leading acts in the history of rock and roll. Yes, THE Jay Geils, playing the music that was his first love, blues, the lifeblood that runs through the veins of every rocker. Expect Jay’s soul drenched, masterful guitar work to be featured during Cotton’s show on a bagful of classic blues tunes. This is the blues, baby. Hot, fast, down & dirty. Don’t miss it!

Get Your Tickets Now

 

Music venues abound — and a new one is on the way!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Woke up to a dusting of new snow that was gone by noon.  Only a few dirty-gray-white winter leftovers remain as the sun burns a bright spot behind the clouds — too shy to show its full face.  Does this presage one of those jolting seasons when Mother Nature forgets about spring and jumps into summer without warning?

That’s what seems to happen in Gloucester’s music scene.  Before you know it your choices for live music double, but don’t worry.  We’ll continue to help you sort it all out with Cape Ann’s only complete live music listing here.

If you think about it, there really are two kinds of music venues: restaurants/clubs and what musicians call “listening venues”.  (That is, until the weather gets nice enough to add a third: boats with music cruises.)  For now, suffice it to say that we’re extremely lucky to live in an area with an abundance of good restaurants and clubs who offer live music for free because they’re able to make a living on the food and drink they serve.

A good club can make for a great experience (both for artist and fan) but sometimes you end up in a singer vs. crowd competition like the one I wrote about here.

Chelsea Berry wrote an excellent song about this very issue:

And now there’s even a facebook page dedicated to promoting listening venues in MA.  See it here.

Free from the distractions of TV, clanging silver & dishware, people talking, wait staff running around and kitchen noise, the concert milieu connects you with the artist through an intimate, intense bond that’s simply impossible to maintain in a restaurant or bar.  And when you’re on stage you can feel that energy, soak it in and give back something more powerful that seems to arise spontaneously out of the ether.

Luckily, we live in an area with several excellent listening venues.  Good coffee houses: Old Sloop in Rockport.  One World in Essex and Crosswinds in Gloucester.  Cape Ann’s crown jewel, the Shalin Liu performance Center and the Larcom Theatre down the road in Beverly.

ComeTogetherBenefi600With your help, Gloucester’s iconic UU Meetinghouse is working to restore their balcony so it can become another major listening venue and we’re helping them by presenting concerts in the church to raise money for that effort. Cape Ann Winter Solstice started this project off by packing the house on December 21.  We’re doing it again on April 25 with The Number Nines featuring top Cape Ann talent 3rian King, Chelsea Berry, Renee Dupuis and Dennis Monagle together with Boston stars Meff and Brendan Burns.  If you want to be sure to get a seat, you probably shouldn’t wait until the last minute to buy your tickets.  Get them now here: