If you look carefully, you can see that the thin strings (higher) are at the top in this picture. That’s upside down from the norm.
But why? Well, this question has generated much speculation over the years and Fly clears it up in an excellent interview on Aurelia Nelson’s Curtain Up show this past Sunday on 104.9
It’s another excellent week of music on Cape Ann leading up to a weekend of two sold out Tom Rush shows at Shalin Liu. See the full live music lineup here.
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Look for the GMG booth at the Waterfront Festival on Saturday and get your Killer Mason Jar Iced Teas. While you’re there, be sure to enter to win 2 more iced tea jars, plus 2 tickets to the once-in-a-lifetime concert at North Shore Music Theatre on August 31 starring Gloucester legend, Fly Amero‘s touring band ORLEANS featuring the band’s founding songwriter/guitarist John Hall with John Cafferty (of the Beaver Brown band and cult film classic, Eddie & the Cruisers). Award-winning Gloucester singer/songwriter Allen Estes opens the show.
GMG Iced Tea Jars by Sista Felicia and The Mrs at the Sidewalk Bazaar ~ photo by Donna Ardizzoni
Speaking of Allen Estes, he’s also opening the Harbor Loop concert tonight and has a great new song that needs a name (click here if you want to try to name it). He’ll most likely play it tonight. Dan King follows and then Safety rocks the night away. And that’s just the tip of the entertainment iceberg tonight. See the full live music lineup here.
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You’re gonna have to choose because they’re all going on at the same time. See the detailed live music line up here. If you go see Fly with his sister Linda & special guest Jack Senier on piano at the Rhumb Line tonight, you might want to see if Fly will play Mall Cop. No reason. Just cuz.
And don’t forget the premiere of Local Music Seen with Allen Estes tonight at 6:30pm, with guest John Rockwell and the TV premiere of Allen’s new song, which you can name if you like — see yesterday’s post about that here.
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As many of you know, ORLEANS’ founding member, John Hall will re-join the band for their 40th Anniversary Tour — and their first east-coast concert is at North Shore Music Theatre on Fri, Aug 31 (get tickets here).
You probably also know that Gloucester’s extraordinarily talented musician, Fly Amero is a longtime member of ORLEANS, which means he’ll be with the band on Aug 31.
What you may not know is that Fly is also very talented with Photoshop — and he created a new photo for us to use for the top of the new poster, which will be showing up around town starting today.
Looking at the poster, you’ll also notice that award-winning Gloucester songwriter Allen Estes is opening.
And that 10% of profits will benefit summer camp programs at the YMCA of the North Shore (where 1 in 4 kids attend only because of your generosity).
This will be one of those shows that you talk about for years!
Allen will make a special appearance tonight at 6:30 to open the Harbor Loop concert with one of his signature songs about Gloucester as part of Harbor Walk Weekend, which starts NOW!
It’s such a great weekend that I can only think of one tiny bit of bad news: you just can’t see all the live music, so you’re gonna have to choose.
You saw it on GMG FIRST. Just like you heard about the sudden, tragic death of Fly’s longtime friend and band-mate Larry Hoppen last week (see post here).
The next day, Fly demonstrated the healing power of music (see that story here) and on August 31, the healing continues as the show goes on (see details here).
All of us who know Fly are celebrating the band’s commitment to music in honor of their friend and brother by inviting John Hall, who wrote the multi-platinum #1 hits Dance With Me and Still the One to join them for this very special 40th anniversary concert (get tickets here). Here’s a video of John making a special appearance with the band last year.
Now I hope you’re reading this on your phone because that means you’ve taken the day off and are out at the Sidewalk Bazaar and planning to visit the Farmers Market and take in some music this evening. See today’s AMAZING live music lineup here.
(There may even be tickets left to see Fly and Allen Estes on The Lannon at 6:30 — and, finally, the weather looks good. Call 978-281-6634 to find out).
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The Farmer’s Market starts at 3pm at Stage Fort Park — remember it’s ON, regardless of the weather. And the knife guy (forgot his name) will be there this week. I’m bringing my precious Sabatier French knife that I got in 1974 so he can fix the curve, which I have not been able to maintain properly because I only have a stone, not a grinder. More on that later . . .
At 6:30pm Allen Estes and Fly Amero will be on the Schooner Lannon for a gorgeous Sunset Music Sail. Call978-281-6634 for tickets. Seeing these two aboard the Lannon is a must. No mics, no amps, no speakers. You know you’re in the presence to world-class musicians when there’s literally nothing between you and the sound of voices and guitars.
For all of you who won’t fit on the Lannon, check out Nights on the Neck, which starts at 5pm. This week you can see singer/songwriter and Noise founder/editor T Max at 8:45.
And of course there’s the Harbor Loop Concert starting at 6:30 — always a good time –and you can bring your kids and watch them dance. If you video your kids dancing (or other kids) put it up on YouTube and paste the link in a comment to this post. We’ll show it to all of Gloucester.
If that’s not enough, six other venues have music of all kinds.
But let’s not forget about tonight! Fly Amero is back from Larry Hoppen’s memorial service and will host the great Inge Berge at Rhumbline. Marina Evans joins Dennis Monagle at Minglewood. Steve Caraway hosts an open mic at Catch 22 …
L-R: J.B. Amero, Wolf Ginandes (behind J.B), Fly Amero, Dave Brown last night @ the Rhumbline
“How can you be here tonight?” was the question asked of Fly Amero by friends and fans who knew he had lost his dear friend of over 3 decades and band-mate Larry Hoppen, one of the founders of Orleans, who had died less than 24 hours earlier.
“The show must go on,” replied Fly. “It’s not just a slogan, you know. Everyone in the entertainment business takes it very seriously. If Lance [Larry Hoppen’s brother, another Orleans founding member] had a gig tonight, he’d be there too.”
Fly began by delivering the terrible news for those who didn’t already know, followed by 3 Orleans classics. By the time the crowd sang, with Fly, the last chorus of Dance With Me, we had all been lifted through Fly’s personal grief to a higher place only music can take you.
Then Fly’s friends began to share the stage with him: Wolf Ginandes on bass, Allen Estes on harmonica. The energy shifted a little, from memorial to entertainment. Finally J.B. and Dave Brown joined Wolf & Fly to bring the house down!
Fly thanked the crowd for sharing this “living room” with him during a difficult time.
Something special — indeed magical — was at work last night. Everyone felt it.
Thank you, Fly, for using music and your extraordinary rapport with your audience to heal all of us a little bit last night. We hope you were healed a little too.
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July shows are cancelled, but Lance Hoppen intends to finish the rest of this year’s tour in his brother’s honor with the first East Coast show at North Shore Music Theatre on August 31. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fly and all of the band during this dark time.
Official press release from the desks of Lance Hoppen and George T. Gilbert, Esq
Larry Hoppen, one of the founding members of the band Orleans, passed away on July 24th, 2012. Born on Long Island, New York, Hoppen was 61 years old.
Larry Hoppen
Between 1969 and 1971, his Ithaca, NY- based band, Boffalongo, made two LPs for United Artists. The second included the original recording of “Dancin’ in the Moonlight”, later a hit by friends King Harvest. Soon after Boffalongo disbanded in late 1971, Larry got a call from (former US Congressman, D-NY, 19) John Hall, inviting him to come to Woodstock, NY to join with the late Wells Kelly and John to form Orleans which he did in early 1972. Larry’s younger brother, Lance, joined the band the following fall. Tens of millions know Larry’s uplifting tenor from the Orleans hits “Still the One”, “Dance With Me” and “Love Takes Time”.
Larry also performed and/or recorded with Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Livingston Taylor, Lulu, Graham Parker, Blues Traveler, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Michael Franks, Levon Helm, the late great Michael Brecker, the late great Chet Atkins, the late great Artie Traum, John Sebastian, Bela Fleck, Felix Cavaliere, Edgar Winter, Robbie Dupree, Spencer Davis, Rick Derringer, Mark Farner, John Ford Coley, Jimi Jamison, John Cafferty and many more notable artists.
Larry released 2 solo albums: “HandMade” and “Looking for the Light”, the latter being a flagship fundraising vehicle for his 501(c)3 nonprofit Sunshine for HIV Kids.
Larry was still touring with Orleans, including brother Lance and youngest brother Lane, and was scheduled to appear on Fox TV’s nationwide “Fox & Friends’ All-American Concert Series” show this coming Friday, July 27th.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Smith Hoppen and his daughters, Claire and Maeve, as well as his bothers, Lance and Lane and his sister, Lynda.
The Family asks that since Larry’s passion was feeding hungry people, his friends and fans can honor his memory by making a contribution to their local food bank in his name.
Patricia Smith Hoppen and her daughters ask the media to please respect their privacy at this difficult time.
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The show starts at 6am. Orleans will be interviewed at about 7:30am. Then you’ll hear portions of 4 to 5 tunes for lead-ins and lead-outs of the show.
At around 8:50, Orleans will perform and entire song for live broadcast. The show ends at 9am, but immediately following there’s an on-line segment called After the Show Show, where Orleans will perform another 2 or 3 songs and be interviewed again. Not sure if that will stream live or be posted later. Here’s a link to it (Craig Morgan, featured guest on Friday 7/13, is at that link now).
If you’re not up that early, just tape it and watch at your leisure. It’s always fun to see local talent on the National stage. Way to go, Fly!
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Just in case you’ve been under a rock for the past couple of weeks and don’t know that Gloucester’s biggest block party ever starts at 6 tonight, you can click here to read some posts about it. Okay, now you know.
Celebrating Gloucester’s extraordinary music scene has become a Block Party tradition — and we do it by putting musicians and dancers on the street, right in front of our celebrated shops and restaurants. (see schedule here)
Fly Amero ~ oil on canvas by Laureen Maher
In this spirit, Laureen Maher will be putting her series of oils on canvas, entitled “Rock Stars of Gloucester” on display at Fred Bodin’s Historic Photo Gallery at 82 Main Street, right next to the Sargent Stage (see map here) where one of the rock stars in her collection, Allen Estes, will be performing with his son Dylan.
Other Rock Stars of Gloucester on display tonight (in oil) will be JB Amero, Dave Sag, Inge Berge, Willie Alexander featured with Greg Tower and Ed Savage, Rik Razdan featured with Lisa Marie — and Fly Amero (who may appear in the flesh with his sister, Linda, at the Franklin Stage).
So dine, dance and shop under the stars tonight in Gloucester. You’ll have more fun than you think you deserve.
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I just spoke with Rick Doucett, whom you all know and love from the YMCA. Rick reminded me that he and his wife, Loren, will be running Kids Town at the Block Party on Saturday (just like last year). Kid’s Town is between Pleasant St. & Hancock St. near the Sovereign Stage (see map here).
Balloons, face painting, giant chess and more. Every year kids connect with friends at the Block Party that they haven’t seen in a while (just like adults do). How many things can you do that are just as much fun for your kids as they are for you?
Speaking of kids, don’t forget Y summer camp is in full swing (see here).
Don’t forget that the Orleans concert on Aug 31 — featuring Gloucester’s own Fly Amero along with Rhode Island’s John Cafferty of the Beaver Brown band and Eddie and the Cruisers movie will help raise money for the North Shore YMCA Summer Camp program.
And just in case you missed Monday’s announcement (click here if you did) Allen Estes will open the show. You won’t want to miss this!
You and your kids can see Allen Estes at the Block Party on Saturday at the Sargent Stage.
And if we’re lucky, we may also get to hear Fly sing with his sister at the Franklin Stage.
Today’s Daily Item of Lynn story about Chris Isaak’s concert tomorrow at North Shore Music Theatre includes an interview with Chelsea Berry (see Lynn Item Story Here). Now, for some reason she told the reporter how old she is (I thought women never did that — she never told me). More importantly, read the story and find out how she’s taking her music in a new direction, which you can experience for yourself tomorrow night when Chelsea and her new band open for Chris Isaak (whose birthday is today). VIP is sold out, but seats are still left — and all seats at the Music Theatre are good seats. Get tickets here.
OK, where do you think the Zip Line Kid will be tonight? It’s wrist band night at Fiesta. That means your kids (and you too if you can handle it) get unlimited rides for one price. So our family will be at Fiesta — rain or shine. And we will save $5 with a coupon. You can get one too here.
Just in case you’d rather be inside tonight (see full live music lineup here), check out Fly Amero with guitar virtuoso Jake Pardee at Rhumb Line. Here’s part of Jake’s appearance on Local Music Seen with Allen Estes, where he talks about guitar playing, lessons, listening, neighbors, Berklee and says, “Jimi Hendrix and John Coltrane to me are very similar.” Then he proves my point about his virtuosity!
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You probably already know about our Summer Concert Series. Since this weekend is Summer’s kick-off, we’re running a special ticket give-away for GMG readers (FOBs). Text GMG to 72727 and you’ll be entered to Win 2 FREE Tickets to the concert of your choice. The winner will be contacted on Tuesday.
And it gets better. If you reply to the text with your email address or sign up for the gimmeLIVE Concert Club (click here, it’s free) you’ll also be entered to win 2 FREE VIP UPGRADES to the concert of your choice. (You will have to buy or win 2 regular tickets in order to use the upgrade.)
VIP packages offer exclusive access to VIP Pre-Parties, 3 Course Dinner at Backstage Bistro, Meet & Greet, Gifts & more (see VIP details here).
You know it’s the Summer season on Cape Ann by the weather (trust me, it will be very nice tomorrow) and by the fact that tonight you have a dozen choices for live music. See full music lineup here. And it gets even better going into the long holiday weekend.
Whether or not you supported the wars, let’s honor those who “gave the last full measure of devotion” to preserve our freedom by supporting those who express that freedom through their music.
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You may remember that Peter and I are presenting a concert series at North Shore Music Theatre this summer (see post & videos here) and we’ve got some great VIP packages that offer exclusive access to VIP Pre-Parties, 3 Course Dinner at Backstage Bistro, Meet & Greet, Gifts & more (see VIP details here).
Maybe you want to take your sweetheart (Joey might even recommend that sort of thing in his advice column, who knows?). Now, when you’re a couple, VIP is the best way to go. But maybe you don’t want to spring for VIP Tickets. Here’s your chance to win a luxurious VIP experience for the evening. Just sign up for the gimmeLIVE Concert Club (click here, it’s free) and you’ll automatically be entered into a drawing to win 2 FREE VIP UPGRADES to the concert of your choice. All you need is 2 regular tickets and you and your honey can go as VIPs!
Lot’s happening in Gloucester tonight. Will Hunt is Allen’s guest on the premiere of a new Local Music Seen show tonight at 6:30 on Cape Ann TV Channel 12. Then, you can see Allen Estes in the flesh at the Rhumb Line with one of the area’s best blues men, Bill Gleason (who has also been Allen’s guest on Local Music Seen).
Allen’s special guests on Local Music Seen are his good friends JB and Fly Amero, featuring love songs from all three, plus a very funny story by JB and an Fly’s exciting announcement about Memorial Day at Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport.
The Valentine Special was shot before a live audience at the Cape Ann TV studio. Special air times are listed below:
Wed. Feb. 9 at 6:30 pm
Fri., Feb. 11 at 1:30 pm
Sun., Feb. 13 at 6:00 pm
Mon., Feb. 14 at 1:00 pm
Mon. Feb. 14 at 8:00 pm
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Just to bring anyone up to speed- on GIMMESOUND.COM you can download any of these artists songs which are hosted at the site for free and they will get paid through advertisements. It’s a win for the artist, a win for the consumer(you) and their music gets heard by a wider audience. Good Stuff!
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No, Fly’s not upside down. The guitar is.
Good Morning Gloucester 