Time for fun with the Beatles. Bird Mancini and T Max (with special guest Karen Ristuben) do their Beatles show tonight at Rocky Neck Cultural Center, East Gloucester “Help!” since we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the single.
Did you get your tickets at Diamond Cove Music (57 Washington St, Gloucester) or did you pick them up online athttp://culturalcenterbenefit.bpt.me
Either way, we’ll see you tonight–get there on time, please (doors at 7:30) and we’re expecting a crowd–you know, the way fans would go to the airport to greet The Beatles. Please don’t throw jelly beans at us.
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Every month, when the new issue of The Noise comes out, I’m grateful for the forces that brought T-Max to Gloucester and for his perspective on local Music. This month, he chose to feature a Massachusetts band with a unique sound, so we can all enjoy watching their star rise together: Darlingside. See the article here … and check out this video!
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What a gift it is to live in a community full of tremendously talented musicians, who can bring world-class music to one of Gloucester’s most treasured spaces.
All the performers were at the top of their game last night and, based on their level of talent, they could have brought giant egos with them.
But they chose to leave their egos at the door and collaborate at the highest level of professionalism in order to lift a packed house at Gloucester’s UU Church to a level of musical joy that many said they hadn’t felt in years.
Bravo!
Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers and Cape Ann TV crew who helped to bring The Cape Ann Winter Solstice Concert to life.
Thanks, most of all, to everyone who came out to support our local music treasures and help restore the Meetinghouse so it can become a premier listening venue for dozens of major musical events every year.
Based on last night’s success, it’s safe to say we’ll be doing this again and again and again. Stay tuned …
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You can’t get advanced tickets online any more, but you can still go the Gloucester UU Church and get tickets at the door ($25 for all ages). Box office opens at 4pm. Doors open at 7. Concert starts at 7:30. There’s plenty of free parking at the Church and nearby (Trinity Church parking lot and Library lot off School St. are both plowed) so come on down and celebrate the longest night of the year with some of Cape Ann’s finest musicians while you help to restore one of Gloucester’s most treasured buildings!
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Reserved Pews (no hassle): $225 Seats 12 or $195 Seats 10 (less than $20/person)
or General Admission $20 in advance $15 Child/Senior (under 12/over 65)
$25 At the Door (all ages) – Cash only, please, at the door.
Tickets are available online, at the church and liquor locker. They will also be available on Saturday morning at Solstice Farmers Market.
Plenty of free parking available:
both sides of Pine Street and Proctor Street (Pine becomes Proctor after it crosses Church Street)
in a small parking lot on Proctor Street (free parking)
portions of both sides of Middle Street (and any place on Middle where there is a parking meter – no fee on Sunday)
one side of Church Street (please be mindful not to block the driveway of residents)
Parking also available at Trinity Congregational Church 70 Middle Street & Saint John’s Church at 48 Middle Street
The Line-Up:
Allen Estes with Matt Leavenworth, Wolf Ginandes & Dave Mattacks
Willie Loco Alexander & the Raztones
Fly Amero
Gordon Baird
Inge Berge & Julie Cleveland
Charlee Bianchini
Ken Bonfield
Lenny Campanello – Gloucester Police Chief
Will Hunt & Alexandra Stella D’Maris
Dan King
T Max
Michael O’Leary
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L-R: Matt Leavenworth, Dave Mattacks, Allen Estes, Wolf Ginandes ~ photo: Renata Greene
Cape Ann’s top musicians come together this holiday season to celebrate the Winter Solstice and help raise money for Gloucester’s historic UU Meetinghouse Restoration Project. Local legend, Allen Estes, is back with Matt Leavenworth on guitar and fiddle, Wolf Ginandes on bass and Fairport Convention founder Dave Mattacks on drums — all of whom brought us a magical night at the Larcom Theatre in October.
Sharing the stage with Allen and his band are some of Cape Ann’s top performers, from have a dozen genres, who come to celebrate the power of music to bring people together and lift our spirits.
Yesterday we were treated to one of our new monthly pleasures: T Max dropped off a few copies of the September issue of The Noise Magazine. It’s one of the perks of living in Magnolia, which, since T Max moved to Gloucester, happens to be right on his delivery route as he takes The Noise to Beverly, Salem, and on down to Boston.
This is an especially good issue, the highlight of which is Eric Baylies’ wonderful interview with Grammy-winner and Rockport native Paula Cole. Paula invites us into her creative process and shares her profound wisdom on the music business in one of the most insightful artist interviews since John Lennon’s 1980 Playboy interview. Paula gives us too many wonderful quotes to list here. You’ll just have to read the article. Kudos to Eric for asking all the right questions, to T Max for printing the whole thing and especially to Paula for allowing herself to be honest, personal and profound in print, without so much as a care in the world for the usual hype and meticulous grooming that usually attends a new CD release from a major star, such as her.
Among many other gems in this issue are two exceedingly entertaining reviews by T Max of live music at Beverly’s Block parties and the Big Shot of Inge Berge by Sheila Roberts Orlando, which proves that Inge is one of Gloucester’s most creative artists!
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Memory Layne (L) and Joe Thomas on the Local Music Seen set photo Sheila Roberts Orlando
Giuseppe’s gets it. They know how to blend food and music into an entertaining evening out for all ages.
Earlier this year they partnered with T Max, editor of The Noise Magazine to feature local singers and songwriters in what became a very popular Singer – Songwriter Shuffle.
Beginning tonight at 6:30pm, Giuseppe’s owners, Joe Thomas and Memory Layne are Allen’s guests on his Cape Ann TV show Local Music Seen with Allen Estes on cable channel 12. The show airs again on Friday at 1pm, and Sunday at 6pm. For all of you FOBs, who don’t live in Gloucester, you can now watch Local Music Seen and other shows on Cape Ann TV’s wicked cool on-line streaming service here.
If you do live here, bop on down to Giuseppe’s after the show and see rising stars Renee & Joe perform live at 7pm. Then you can head over to the Rhumb Line and catch Allen with special guests, The Backwoods Ramblers later in the evening.
All of us are looking forward to a few weeks from now when Giuseppe’s fires up their Singer/Songwriter Shuffle for an exciting new season. Stay tuned . . .
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Here’s a new feature for tomorrow’s (SAT) Downtown Block Party: Win Cool Prizes! The Block Party’s new Marketplace at the Cape Ann Savings Bank Plaza between Hancock and Porter Streets (see map) has a new game called Glosta-opoly played on a brand new Monopoly-style board created by members of Art Haven.
Revised Entertainment Schedule There have been a couple of minor changes to the entertainment — click here for all entertainment by stage. Click here for all musical entertainment by time.
Don’t sweat the parking. I’m always surprised when I hear people complain about parking in Gloucester. Honestly, I’ve never had trouble finding a parking space — not even during Fiesta. Last night I went to the Harbor Loop Concert. I got there after it started on a beautiful summer night in the height of the tourist season when every local hotel is full and what do you know? I found a parking space on Rogers Street at Harbor Loop! In fact I had my choice of at least half a dozen free (after 6) spots on Rogers within earshot of the music. Plus there were plenty of spaces at I4-C2. So don’t worry about the few Main Street parking spots that are not available during the Block Party. Trust me. You won’t have a problem finding a space within a couple minutes walk.
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Ok, so the weatherman says it is not going to be a beach weekend (I think he is wrong) but there is a lot of great music happening, and it starts tonight. See the Full List Here
More than likely you know someone who was at the Marathon. Here’s a small-world example: Vickie’s brother-in-law works for a medical device company in Cedar Falls, Iowa and his boss is the father of the eight-year-old boy who died. Even if you don’t know someone who was there, you’re probably reeling from the shock that terrorism has struck so close to home. I know I am.
Music has a way of healing wounds of all kinds. And musicians have known this since humans began making music (when ever that was).
I was Speaking with T Max today about this and he gave me a quote perfect for this week from Leonard Bernstein, one of my musical heroes — I watched his Young People’s Concerts on TV as a kid (see them on YouTube here). He says,
“This will be our reply to violence:
to make music more intensely,
more beautifully,
more devotedly than ever before.”
Maestro Bernstein’s healing words ring true as local musicians carry his reply to over a dozen venues in Gloucester and Cape Ann this week. See the complete live music schedule here.
Tomorrow there’s another Singer/Songwriter Shuffle at Giuseppe’s with top local stars, including Inge Berge, Satch Kerans, Steve Caraway, Will Hunt, Randy Black, Brian O’Connor & Jake Pardee. And just like last week you will still have time to catch rising star Brad Byrd at The Dog Bar after the Shuffle. Currently I’m under an intense deadline that is forcing me to work late, but one way or the other, we’ll try to get to at least one local live music show over the next week or so. And I’m sure it will help us heal.
Here’s a video that may seem a bit idealistic and hippy-dippy-trippy, but I find wisdom appropriate for our time in it’s simple, haunting lyrics especially this stanza:
Nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
It’s easy.
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T Max, founder/editor of The Noise, New England’s longest running music magazine, is all over Gloucester this month. You can see him on Local Music Seen with Allen Estes, which airs on Cape Ann TV tomorrow (WED) at 6:30pm, Friday at 1:30pm and Sunday at 6pm. For all you Noise readers who don’t live on Cape Ann, catch the show on-line here.
Then on Thursday, you can see him live at Giuseppe’s in Gloucester with the Singer Songwriter Shuffle. On April 17 he’s Fly Amero’s guest at The Rhumb Line. Speaking of Fly, he’s on the cover of The Noise this month and guess who wrote the cover story? (Read it here). Tomorrow, Fly welcomes his family as special guests at The Rhumb Line for a very special surprise birthday party for his sister Joyce.
Just to get you in the mood, we’ll leave you with Allen Estes’ only protest song (with a reggae beat) that T Max inspired him to sing when he was Allen’s guest on Local Music Seen. You can see Allen tonight with Dave Brown, Dave Mattacks, Wolf Ginandes and J.B. Amero at Jalapenos. Bring the kids and request this song . . .
You know the season is upon us when there are 26 live shows over the weekend and most of the summer-only venues aren’t even open yet. (If you’re a summer business, stop what ever you’re doing, take Paul & RD’s advice and let him know when you open: see here).
And just in case you’ve missed my incessant plugs for taking kids to live music, here we go again … shows start as early as 7pm tonight and tomorrow. Then on Sunday it’s 8 different start-times in 8 1/2 hours: 11am, 2pm, 3, 5, 5:30, 6, 7 and 7:30. See the complete weekend live music schedule here.
One of this weekend’s shows features Noise publisher/editor T Max, who’s got a new CD out soon. And on that CD, is a new song Clickity Clack, which was inspired by a spontaneous burst of creativity from over a year ago, when we filmed his walk through Gloucester’s music scene (see the video series here). Now he’s turned it into a clever romantic tragedy with an edge (see lyrics and chords here).
Here’s the original spontaneous creative burst from February 2012
Here’s the new version a year later performed by T Max with Bird Mancini
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Chelsea Berry with her Parker Fly (Joe Cardoza at left on bass, Michael Thomas Doyle at right on guitar)
A bright red Parker Fly guitar rests comfortably on its wooden stand, like a Siren luring Chelsea Berry to the rocky coast we all know is behind the stage.
Chelsea enters alone and smiles at the audience, gracefully accepting the ovation she receives before singing a note. Then she begins … a capella. No mic, no amp, no guitar, nothing but her gorgeous, powerful, soaring voice carried with perfect clarity to the Shalin Liu’s very last row by the concert hall’s perfect acoustics.
Chelsea’s loving, dramatic, musically brilliant performance of Dave Sudbury’s King of Rome brings the story to life, sending chills up my spine. If the concert had ended right then, I would have felt fulfilled. Then I wonder, when’s she gonna play that red guitar?
Migrating to piano, acoustic guitar and finally, the red Parker Fly, Chelsea Berry sings and plays her hits, accompanied by her young, enthusiastic, well-rehearsed band with grace, humor and an enchanting professionalism that endears her to her audience. This is a show. It has a beginning, middle and end, like a good story — an arc, you might say.
All through this show, the sound remains nearly perfect — even when the band barrels in, full force on her rocker Lonely being Lonely, which she takes just a tad slower than she did at North Shore Music Theatre last summer, giving it even more ironic power and guts.
After a wonderful encore of crowd-pleasing favorites (Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and her own You Me And Mary) Chelsea invites the entire audience upstairs for a party and gathers the band for a Broadway style bow to a standing ovation.
Chelsea Berry & Band bow on Saturday at Shalin Liu ~ photo by LouiseBill Winn
Lots of our friends are at the after-party, including T Max, who spies sound legend, Bill Winn, having seen him only in a tiny picture from this book review T Max published in the February issue of his Noise Magazine. T Max introduces himself to Bill and then introduces me, at which point I’m thinking, what’s Bill Winn doing here? This guy wrote the book, literally, on live concert sound (you can get it here) and has engineered for Whitney Houston, Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock, just to name a few.
Then Chelsea comes over and gives Bill a big hug, “Thank you, Bill. The sound was great!”
We tend to bat the word “pro” around carelessly most of the time, but I don’t use it lightly, here, when I say that choosing Bill Winn as her sound guy was one of a string of highly professional musical and business choices Chelsea Berry has made of late, proving that she has earned the position of Headliner!
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I moved here from Iowa. Maybe all those songwriters should move here. T Max, editor of The Noise Magazine, might be hiring. He has a new song about pets check it out here:
There is an amazing lineup of live music tonight from Christian Men’s Choir to Funbucket — and everything in between. Check out the full lineup here
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I love being right (just like Paul F.) I predicted Gloucester’s music scene would benefit as a result of The Noise Magazine publisher/editor, T Max, moving here. Check this out: The Noise Live Show Picks for this week include not one, but two Gloucester shows, putting us on par with Cambridge for the week’s picks.
So I figured you might enjoy a video series I published in February where T Max walks Gloucester’s music scene, visiting many of our excellent music venues, plus you’ll see chance encounters with some of Gloucester’s finest characters. Here’s the first one:
Yesterday we were treated to one of our new monthly pleasures: T Max dropped off a few copies of the September issue of 
I was Speaking with 
Good Morning Gloucester 