As an esteemed sax player Marcus Monteiro receives compliments on a regular basis. But there’s one moment of praise that stands out from all of them – the admiration of NBA mega-star Shaquille O’Neal.
As the calendar turned from 2010 to 2011, Monteiro was playing with New Image at O’Neal’s New Year’s Eve party at the ritzy Strega restaurant in Boston. At the time O’Neal was playing for the Celtics.
“I’d had a ton of solos that night,” the Marion resident recalls. “And then after a set of songs I saw Shaq walking towards me. I was nervous, I didn’t know what he was going to say. Maybe he was going to tell us we were too loud. I was prepared for anything. I thought it was going to be a problem.”
But it was anything but a problem.
“He walked up to me and said, ‘You’re a force to be reckoned with.’ As he shook my hand my hand disappeared into his palm. It was crazy. When he complimented me with his very distinct voice it was just awesome. I was in awe of this guy I’d known all my life.”
Monteiro hasn’t had any further communication with the basketball legend, but the memory hasn’t faded.
“When a celebrity comes up to you it’s a whole different thing. It’s not like taking a picture with someone, it’s a really cool experience.”
The 26-year old singer/songwriter has crafted “Holding Space,” a 13-track album addressing serious themes and challenging experiences that have touched her and those around her. Drawing comparisons to Alanis Morrissette and Phoebe Bridgers, the New Bedford resident will perform the album in its entirety with her four-piece band this Sunday, August 29th at the Heron in Westport. Doors will open for the free outdoor show at 3 p.m. and music will start at 4 p.m. with a performance by Hooly J. Chan. Described as “family friendly,” guests can bring their own food. Rain date for the event is Sunday, September 12th.
“It’s cathartic and empowering to write and perform these songs,” O’Leary says. “It was initially scary to speak about these things but getting over that was a big step. It’s all worth it when you can reach someone whose had a similar experience.”
The experiences on “Holding Space” include O’Leary’s battle with an eating disorder, the addiction of a loved one, and the lives of the socially marginalized. But while the themes may be heavy, O’Leary describes the album as being “positive,” a collection of songs that is ultimately about “healing” and“overcoming.”
“People may feel isolated in what they’re going through and that they’re the only ones going through these emotions,” she says. “But once I started playing them out people were saying that they’d had similar experiences. A light bulb went off that if we talk about these things we can connect and get through it together, which is much better than facing it alone.”
“I was blown away by her vocals,” Mailloux says. “Usually vocal tracks are the last thing recorded on an album, but Molly nailed them on the first take. They were so good that we kept almost all of the original performances. The emotion was there from the start. It’s very unusual for the original vocal tracks to be keepers.
Much of O’Leary’s lyrical inspirations come from the non-musical sides of her life. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, she is a Yoga Instructor at the Heron, and a Student Adjustment Counsellor at the Rodman Elementary School in New Bedford.
The title “Holding Space” is adapted from her yoga meditation.
“I used to push away negative emotions that were difficult,and constantly feeling pressured to put on a happy face,” she says. “Holding space is for emotions that are more difficult such as sadness, anxiety or anger. Instead I’ll let them exist and I’llfeel them out. For me, there have been lessons and songs that have come from that.”
“Holding Space” contains songs about systematic oppression and injustices, including “Our Little School,” a song about some of the students that she works with at Rodman.
“I wrote that song while I was thinking about all of the societal structures and forces that are against them,” she says. “I wanted to write about the system and let them know that our school can be a pocket of change and that we care about them a lot.”
And writing about the addiction of someone close to her,she says that “I wanted to write a song that let them know that I will always be there for them.”
All but one of the songs on “Holding Space” were written during the COVID-19 pandemic. The album was recorded at Bongo Beach Productions in Westport with John Maillouxproducing, engineering, mixing and mastering. Recording began in February of this year.
O’Leary’s studio performance caught Mailloux by surprise.
“I was blown away by her vocals,” Mailloux says. “Usually vocal tracks are the last thing recorded on an album, but Molly nailed them on the first take. They were so good that we kept almost all of the original performances. The emotion was there from the start. It’s very unusual for the original vocal tracks to be keepers.
“The first time Molly played her songs for me I gravitated to them,” Mailloux says. “I recognized her talent and that her writing was pretty deep as well.”
“Holding Space” will be released on CD in mid-September. It was funded entirely through Kickstarter. The album features performances by guitarist John Fernandes, bassist Rob Massoud, drummer Tom O’Leary (Molly’s brother) and Brianne Vieirawho contributes violin, viola, and cello to the record.
In addition to playing with the full band she also performs her songs solo and in a duo with Fernandes.
“Molly has a beautiful voice, it draws you in right away,” Fernandes says. “Her lyrics are personal and a listener can sense the honesty. She uses dynamics very well – there are influences but the way she sings with her inflections and guitar playing isher own style, she’s her own musician for sure.”
In addition to Morrissette and Bridgers, O’Leary cites the influences of Alicia Keyes, Claud, Billie Eilish, Laura Jane Grace, and Natalia Lafourcade.
O’Leary began guitar lessons at the age of 11, studying with Rochester native Rebecca Corriea. Now a singer/songwriter living in Nashville, Correia is not entirely surprised by the positive reactions O’Leary is receiving for her music.
“I knew she was a natural from the beginning,” Correia says. “I would give her something to work on and she would return for the next lesson having it down times ten.
“The things she’s singing about are touching to hear. To see her living her truth and telling her story is awesome. I think she’s going to make a lot of waves and help a lot of people. The combination of being an artist and a teacher gives her the ability to reach a lot of people and affect a lot of lives. Young women can benefit from her messages and the stories she’s telling.”
“I think we captured the emotions Molly was expressing,” Mailloux says. “She has a lot to say, she’s very empathetic and that comes out in her writing. There’s some beautiful, ambient-sounding stuff, but there’s also some rock-and-roll and some aggression on some of the tracks.”
O’Leary has spared no expense in creating “Holding Space.” In addition to printing the entire set of lyrics, the album is accompanied by illustrations for each of the 13 songs, designed by her friend Frida Garcia, who she met while studying Spanish in Puebla, Mexico in 2017. The cover is a photo image of an embroidered design created by Garcia.
“The process of writing this album has fueled a fire in me,” O’Leary says. “I’ve realized that I love being a counsellor for the students I work with, but at the same time I also love being a songwriter and I want to tour more playing my original songs.”
The Heron concert will include Chan playing songs from her latest album, “Make Believe.”
Directions to the Heron include setting a GPS for 333 Sanford Rd. in Westport, and taking Legacy Lane between houses 333 and 337, taking a dirt path and following event signs for “Parking.”
O’Leary will also be performing with Fernandes on Saturday, September 11th as part of the Stoveboat Concertsseries. Sharing the bill with North Carolina’s Juliana Finch, the concert will take place at the New Bedford home of nationally-celebrated songwriter Sarah Donner, at 63 Thomas St. Starting at 7 p.m., there is a $10 suggested donation.
If you enjoy intense and aggressive guitar rock the new release from Wire Lines should appeal to you. “Harvest Verses” is the New Bedford band’s third album, their first full-length, to be released digitally and on vinyl this Friday, August 20th. The collection of songs features the unmistakable voice and delivery of Kevin Grant, a Fairhaven resident who has been a formidable frontman in the South Coast music scene for more than two decades.
But Grant doesn’t have the album’s only notable performances – bandmates Jeremy Medeiros (guitar), Ryan Parker (bass), and Ted Ilsley (drums) combine for a vociferous and unrelenting barrage of sound that is skilled and inspired.
“I think for some people heavy music is an outlet for adolescent nervous energy or something, it isn’t that for me,” says Grant, 45. “We live in an intense and aggressive world. I like heavy music the same way I like snowstorms, or swimming in big waves at the ocean, or looking out at a huge mountain. It’s elemental, and it’s a great feeling to be in contact with and contributing to something with a lot of power. It reminds you that you are part of the world’s fabric. It’s exhilarating.”
And “Harvest Verses” is exhilarating. The record will be available directly from the band’s label at blindragerecords.limitedrun.com, or in record stores worldwide through Revelation distribution at revhq.com/collections/new-releases. It is also available at wirelines1.bandcamp.com.
The band has a video available for the song “Lines In Sand.”
“I don’t go into writing sessions for an album with an idea or concept about what I want it to be about, but typically a theme will arise organically,” Grant says. “An album is written over the course of a year, and wherever I’m at mentally during that year will sort of guide where its headed. There are references to nationalism, xenophobia, mortality and loss of self-meaning on this one. Streets in every city were burning and alt-right/White Nationalist groups felt they had carte blanche there for a bit. And we are facing a virus which is still far from done with the human race. It would be dishonest for me to write lyrics that didn’t acknowledge what was happening.”
And Wire Lines is happening largely because of the band’s personal chemistry.
“We get along well as people,” Grant says. “We all have similar thoughts about the band, and we value our collective freedom to embrace different styles within what we do. And I think our individual skills complement each other well. I like lobster, and I like peanut butter, but I don’t want to eat a lobster and peanut butter sandwich. If your interactions are no good you can be great players but your band is still going to be a peanut butter and lobster sandwich.”
And Wire Lines is taking part in the vinyl renaissance.According to Grant the experience of a 12-inch album is something unique.
“With digital stuff being constantly available 24/7 on our phones, computers and TVs I feel like your physical album should be something you want to hold in your hands and take care of, it should look and feel nice,” he says. “We had intended on self-releasing the album on vinyl, but we were contacted by James at Blind Rage Records out of Dayton Ohio who really wanted to put it out and has been great to work with. We couldn’t ask for a better situation than we have in my opinion. We are in with a great roster of bands over there and he’d already been picking up a bunch of our sister bands out of the New Bedford hardcore scene.”
Grant says that Wire Lines’ sound has its influences but isn’t derivative.
“You could pick individual songs and hear influences, but the next song might be way off course, as might be the one after that. We just want to make music that sounds good to us, and I wouldn’t be interested in sounding like anyone else or anything else. That would sound terrible to me, no matter how well it was executed. I want to do new things; I don’t even want to sound like me if I can help it.
“If I ever ‘mellow out’ musically it will be because my voice or body have given out, not because I had aged out of it.”
Neal Weiss knows excellence when he hears it. And for more than two decades he’s been happy to share it.
Despite humble beginnings and economic setbacks, Weiss has defied the skeptics by becoming the founder and president of one of America’s foremost jazz record labels. Twenty-two years after its debut release, Whaling City Sound (WCS) is continually finding itself at the top of the national jazz radio charts, amassing a resume of world-class talent and fulfilling Weiss’s goal of being on a par with the giant labels of the jazz world.
It’s a beautiful summer afternoon in downtown New Bedford and Weiss sits in the cozy, air-conditioned loft of the Fiber Optic Center, a high-tech company he started in 1992. In his hand he holds a sheet of paper with the rankings of the most popular albums on the national jazz radio charts. With his easy but sturdy demeanor he points to the Number One position on the paper – the album “Magic Dance: The Music of Kenny Barron,” by Greg Abate on Weiss’s WSC label. And while it is certainly impressive that one of his artists is in the top ranking, it becomes even more incredible that the album has been at Number One for seven consecutive weeks, followed by two weeks at Number Two.
But Abate’s success with “Magic Dance…” is only one more jewel in the WCS crown. It is the seventh record from the label to reach Number One, while numerous others have madethe Top 10.
When Weiss began WCS in 1999, he did so with the mission of bringing the large amount of unrecognized jazz talent in the region to a larger and more deserving audience, hence the name Whaling City Sound. With confidence in the artists of the area, he told those around him that his sights were focused on matching or surpassing the success of the “Big three” jazz labels – Sony, Verve, and Blue Note. To many it seemed like a long shot, but Weiss’s vision would be realized and his legacy secured, all the while building a reputation as an uncommonly benevolent steward of his stable of artists.
“Neal has had success because he has a great love of music, he feels it with a passion,” says Westport’s Marcelle Gauvin, who was the vocalist on WCS’s first release, “Faces of Love.” “He has supported the work of people who would have been successful locally and given them the opportunity to have a national or international audience.”
“Neal trusts the vision of the artist,” says John Harrison, a highly-regarded pianist and Dartmouth resident who has appeared on eight WCS recordings, including Gauvin’s debut and with his own trio for the album “Roman Sun.” “Artists really like that Neal is going to give them the opportunity to do what they want with their project.”
Dino Govoni is a Dartmouth resident and has been a professor at the Berklee School of Music in Boston for 25 years. The saxophone player has appeared on numerous WCS albums and will be releasing his third record for Weiss, “Hiding In Plain Sight,” this fall.
“Neal is very generous with his artists, both in his time and finances,” Govoni says. “He has good public relations, and can get your music played on radio around the country. From a financial perspective he helps artists get their projects off the ground and out there to an audience that would’ve probably never heard them otherwise. He gives musicians an avenue to new audiences beyond the people who like us locally.”
“Neal has advanced the careers of many musicians in this demographic,” Harrison says. “Now artists of very high caliber are coming to him with the hope of gaining greater recognition.”
“The aim was always to be national,” Weiss says. “But it was to take local artists like John Harrison and make them known. Eventually word got around and people started coming to me, and artists on the label want to continue with the label.”
By the end of this summer the WCS catalog will boastmore than 130 releases. Weiss estimates that the budget for each WCS release usually tops off at over $20,000. As he currentlyexperiences a swell of recognition it is unfortunate for those who strive to be a part of his roster – Weiss’s itinerary is back logged well into next year, with one record released per month. Weiss is particularly excited about the upcoming Gerry Gibbs’ recording, “Songs From My Father,” an album that includes the last known recording by jazz giant Chick Corea. Gibbs has already landed four Number One albums on the national jazz radio charts with WCS. In addition to Gerry Gibbs and Abate, WCS also had radio chart-toppers with pianist Greg Murphy, and vibraphonist Terry Gibbs, Gerry Gibbs’s father. Abate was born in Fall River and was raised in Woonsocket, RI. Guitarist John Stein of Tiverton, Rhode Island notched a Number Two album on the jazz radio charts in 2010 with “Raising The Roof.”
This season WCS is scheduled to release records by Dave Zinno Unisphere (“Fettish”), Shawnn Monteiro (“You Are There”) and Eric Wyatt (“A Song of Hope”).
“Neal has a great respect for musicians,” Gauvin says. “He takes the time to get to know his artists and researches them. He produces the people he loves and that shines through.”
Weiss recalls his interest in music beginning around the age of 11, listening to 78 RPM records with his older brother Fred in their hometown of Elmont, New York on Long Island, 20 miles outside of downtown Manhattan. He initially enjoyed doo wop, Elvis, and Little Richard, but eventually was introduced to jazz listening to late night New York dee jay Symphony Sid. While he was captured by the album “Moanin’” by Art Blakey, he was riveted by the music of Ray Charles.
“Ray Charles was my Michael Jackson,” Weiss recalls. “I was a fanatic. He was mixing gospel music with blues, making pop music out of sacred music. By my early teens I had become a jazz nut.”
Weiss was particularly inspired by the Charles’ album “Genius After Hours,” which would lead him to explore the genre more deeply and discover “purer, non-commercial” jazz such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Horace Silver.
“It was very bluesy and rhythmic,” he says. “There was a love of life, an elation.”
And Weiss’s personal elation would continue to grow. When he had found success with the Fiber Optic Center he became comfortable with launching the label. Over the years the economy would ebb and flow and there were periods where the people around him were advising him to forgo the label. He would have to cut back on the amount of records he was releasing but he would never relinquish his passion forproviding great music.
Today the WCS catalog runs the stylistic gamut of the jazz genre, including swing, be-bop, post-bop, free jazz, blues, and something Weiss refers to as “fractured funk.” The label has alsoforayed into folk, rock, and classical. Weiss expanded his roster to nationally-known artists in 2004 with the Joe Beck Quartet’s “Live in Biel, Switzerland.” Eventually WCS would boast recordings that included jazz mammoths such as Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Dave Liebman, Jerry Bergonzi, and George Garzone. Among Weiss’s most treasured WCS releases are those which feature his “musical heroes,” Clark Terry, Phil Woods, and Terry Gibbs.
“I’ll release anything that I think is of high quality,” Weiss says. “I have four requirements for everything I put out – virtuosic performances, excellent compositions, a great recording, and great packaging.”
And while Weiss has been a champion for music being made in the South Coast, he says that the area isn’t entirely unique.
“I believe that every area has every kind of music,” he says. “Depending on the ethnicity of the population some areas will have more than others. You just have to look for it.”
As Weiss eases into his retirement years he estimates that he will begin curtailing his output of records. But he has confidence in what he has contributed to both the region and the national jazz community.
“Something that’s always stuck with me is someone very knowledgeable saying to me early on ‘Neal, you’re going to have a lot of fun doing this but don’t ever expect anyone to play your stuff on the radio.’”
“Neal’s always in your corner,” Govoni says. “If he feels strongly about you and has faith in what you do he’ll stay behind you, and that’s great.”
New Bedford remains a musical mosaic as live summer concerts proliferate in a variety of genres – free outdoor events that will include reggae, jazz, and classical, featuring top-notch performers on beaches, parks and streets throughout the city.
If your idea of enjoying a summer Sunday is relaxing on a beach, enjoying food and grooving to righteous musical vibes, the Reggae/Music On West Beach events will probably be to your liking.
Described as “fun and family-friendly,” these free events at 239 West Rodney French Blvd. are being held throughout the summer. The series kicked off on Sunday, July 11th and the second installment is this Sunday, July 25th with a live band and two reggae DJ’s. Food trucks will be available and picnicking and dancing are encouraged. All events are held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“For many parents, they can’t often go to see bands with their kids, so this is a nice opportunity to pack a picnic and enjoy the music,” says Brooke Baptiste, founder and organizer of the events. “People are hungry for events like these, I’ve seen a lot of friendships being made. People like the diversity of ages and races, and I love that everyone is happy and having a good time.”
This Sunday’s event will feature the band Danny Tucker & The Vibe Tribe playing a brand of “authentic roots reggae.” Tucker is a Jamaica native based in Boston. Following the performance the rest of the day’s entertainment will be provided by DJ Silent Assassin and DJ Baby Matt.
“What I like about having DJs is that they spin a variety of reggae styles,” Baptiste says.
Parking is free to all New Bedford residents and non-residents with seasonal stickers. Free parking will be available at Hazelwood Park on 553 Brock Ave., and across from Kilburn Mill at the DTA Lot on 160 West Rodney French Blvd. Limited parking will be available in residential areas.
In its fourth season, Baptiste has seen the events evolve and expand. With a background in marketing and experience in the arts community, the South Coast native started the series in 2016 with some deejays playing reggae with the intention of providing a good time for her reggae-loving friends. The event was a surprising success, drawing hundreds of people.
“In the first year 70 percent of the people who turned out I didn’t even know.” Baptiste recalls. “I started it to use the beauty of the area to create a new attraction and bring new acts to the area. It’s turned out to be a great event for families with kids.”
Estimates are that the series drew upwards of a thousand people for the first event of this summer.
A seasonal beach parking sticker is necessary to park on West Rodney French Blvd. Check the New Bedford Parks, Recreation and Beaches website for pricing and where to purchase.
This year will be the first time that the series incorporates both reggae and non-reggae sounds with the aim of appealing to a wider demographic. The first Sunday in this summer’s series included the Latin jazz of Jesus Andujar & Groupo Sazon. What made the event particularly special were the free dance lessons provided before the concert, teaching people how to dance appropriately for the style of the music, such as salsa and marengue.
There will be two more events on West Beach in August. August 15th will feature the band The Cool & Deadly from New York City, with their blend of punk, dub and surf rock, along with a performance from the Cape Verdean-flavored Hip-Hop of Chachi Carvalho & The International Players. August 29th will include the band Natural Element playing reggae with hip-hop, jazz, funk, and Afro-beat influences, to be followed by the band of Mighty Mystic, a Boston-based Jamaican native.
Downtown delights
Depending how spicy you like your jazz, the city offers a trio of live outdoor shows. On Thursday, the jazz/funk of the Monteirobots will take to the Custom House Square in downtown as another installment of the Summer Sound Series. The music will begin at 4 p.m. and guests are invited to bring their own chairs. A Beer Garden will be available and the music will continue until 7 p.m. On the following Thursday the Custom House Square will host nationally-acclaimed blues guitarist Mark T. Small, also free from 4 to 7 p.m.
Friday night the South Coast Brass Band will take to the stage at the Airport Grille at the New Bedford Municipal Airport for a performance that will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The band’s itinerary features the joyful, soulful, and energetic sounds of New Orleans jazz and funk. The band will take to Cisco Brewers Kitchen & Bar in the south end of New Bedford on Saturday, July 31’st for a show beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing until 8.
The Big Band swing of the South Coast Jazz Orchestra will invigorate Wings Court in downtown New Bedford on Saturday, July 24th. The music will begin at 2 p.m. with a set from the New Bedford High Jazz Band playing jazz standards. The performance by the High School Band will include an original composition written by 16-year old sax player Jayden Santos. A 17-piece band comprised of many of the area’s most outstanding musicians, the South Coast Jazz Orchestra will do multiple sets.
Symphonic sounds
The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra will bring classical music performances to a variety of local settings in the coming days.
The Sonata Saturdays concert series will make its monthly appearance on 36 No. Water Street, on the “Front Porch” of The Drawing Room. Described as “a little touch of Europe in New Bedford,” the event will include performances by the violin duo of Raluca Dumitrache and Antoaneta Anguelova, from 4 to 6 p.m. Seating is provided but limited, guests are advised to bring their own chairs to guarantee a space to enjoy the music. The event will also feature wine tastings, and locally-grown flowers in a boutique bar. The art gallery at The Drawing Room will also be available for browsing. The next door establishment Tia Maria’s offers outdoor dining opportunities for guests. The event invites audiences to “experience something beautiful this Summer in the Seaport.”
That same Saturday the Southeastern Mass Youth Orchestra will perform a free show at Brooklawn Park from 10 to 11 a.m. As part of the “Music In the Parks” series, the event will offer a stringed instrument “try-out” area, along with percussion instruments and a Plumbing Band.
Beginning next week the NBSO will present the “Music In the Streets” concert series. Beginning on Monday, July 26thviolinist Emmy Holmes-Hicks and viola player Anna Griffiswill perform from 11 a.m. to noon at Ashley Park. The following day the duo will perform from 11 a.m. to noon at Riverside Park. On Wednesday, July 28th Buttonwood Park will be the site of a performance from noon to 1 p.m. by Bonnie Harlow on cello, Tim Macri on flute, and Jenny Mimoli on violin.
Sarah Donner found a pretty cool way to celebrate the world of post-Covid performances – a mini tour of the Pacific northwest.
With her guitar, ukulele and partner Michael McLean, Donner enjoyed herself by doing concerts in fields and backyards in Oregon and Washington, gigs she booked thanks to the Internet and her national reputation as a songwriter that includes 10 albums.
“After being at home for a year and a half it was nice to wake up not knowing what city I’m in and not knowing what day it is, but knowing that I’m going to be connecting with friends I haven’t seen in a while,” Donner says. “Being out of my house is great.”
The 10-day trip in early July included four outdoor performances – two in Portland, OR, one in Alsea, OR, and one in Seattle, WA. It was her sixth time playing in the region, including three cross-country tours. This voyage included songs from her latest release, “The Mess We Make,” and songs from her upcoming album, “She Makes Waves,” scheduled for release in November.
“I like it out here a lot,” Donner said via phone. “It’s a gorgeous location and there’s a softness to the people. The vibe is open and welcoming. Coming from New England you might wonder what they’re drinking and smoking.”
Donner’s return to SouthCoast will include a pair of performances – Saturday, July 31’st at Play Arcade on Union St. in downtown New Bedford, and Thursday, August 12’th at AHA! Night, also in downtown.
A resident of New Bedford, Donner has learned the practice of networking. When her musician friends from the West Coast travel to the northeast, she and McLean will provide them with a place to stay while they’re in the area.
“People have opened their houses and yards to us, and these little get togethers with music are really special. We’re having a good time making music and meeting folks. When they come to play in the northeast we’ll be there to help them and support them. Be kind and good things will happen.”
And Donner and McLean have been kind to friends and fans throughout the pandemic. Known as Kittens Slay Dragons, the synth-pop duo hosted virtual variety shows from their home every Saturday night, billed as “Quarantinapalooza.” Lasting three to four hours a night, the shows focused on art, science and mental health/well being, among other topics. The duo has performed more than 60 installments of the show, archived online.
Donner and McLean are planning to have Quarantinapalooza make a return in the fall on a monthly basis.
Sarah Donner will be playing two gigs in New Bedford this summer. Saturday, July 31’st at Play Arcade on Union St. in downtown New Bedford, and Thursday, August 12’th at AHA! Night, also in downtown.
Rejuvenating for bands and fans alike, the return of live music to the South Coast was about diversity, ushering in the era of post-Covid performances and reminding us all that the area offers a wide range of artistry and expression.
From ska to acoustic, punk to classical, jazz to pop, the summer of 2021 got rolling in the parks, nightclubs and restaurants, promising a busy time for musicians and a smorgasbord of opportunity for audiences.
One of the most celebrated events of the season has been the opening of Cisco Brewery and Kitchen in the south end of New Bedford, the renovated location of Davy’s Locker on East Rodney French Blvd. The establishment is featuring live music by some of the area’s most respected acts in an atmosphere conducive to dining, drinking and dancing. The inaugural performances were by the South Coast Brass Band trading sets with Neal McCarthy on Thursday, July 2’nd, followed by a Fourth of July celebration with the ska sounds of the NB Rude Boys.
The remainder of the week would see McCarthy team with Felix Rentschler at the Custom House Square in downtown on Thursday, July 8th, The South Coast Brass Band celebrating the life of Gilda Pieregalla Downey at The Nightstage Performance Center at Kilburn Mill in New Bedford on Friday, July 9th, and the NB Rude Boys at the Airport Grille at New Bedford Airport on Saturday, July 10th.
“It was frolicky and jubilant,” says NB Rude Boys’ frontman Sean FitzGerald of the Fourrh of July party at Cisco. The 10-piece band that features a four-piece horn section, delved into a catalog of dance-inducive tunes that includes Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, the Specials, Sublime, the Police, the Clash, and Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The band is also delivering original songs from an upcoming EP being recorded with Ron Poitras at Feedback Studio in Freetown. The band can also be enjoyed at the Seaport Inn in Fairhaven on Saturday, July 17th.
The South Coast Brass Band continues to provide the region with a New Orleans-style vibe, playing jazz, funk, soul and blues. A festive seven-piece horn-driven act, they are without peers in this area. The band formed in 2017, and enjoyed a four-year residency at Gilda’s Stone Rooster in Marion.
“We’re fortunate to have some high-quality venues in the area, so you don’t have to travel to Boston to enjoy good music,” says the band’s trombonist Michael Rocha. “There’s a lot of great places to play in the area and Cisco is certainly one of them. We had a fun time. It’s a waterfront location with a chill vibe. There’s nothing like it in the city and we were happy to help open it up.”
The South Coast Brass Band will return to Cisco on July 31’st. McCarthy will be playing his inimitable brand of acoustic rock on July 14th, July 21st, July 25th and July 28th. All shows are from 5 to 8 p.m. For a sampling of the South Coast Brass Bandyou can find them at http://www.southcoastbrassband.com.
Saturday, June 26th was a great day for music in downtown New Bedford, featuring outdoor performances of jazz and classical and an evening of pop rock at the Vault. The following afternoon offered the rootsy tones of the Jethros as a part of the Music & Wine Concert Series at Running Brook Winery in Dartmouth.
As part of the Summer Saturdays concert series at Wings Court in downtown, Destination New Bedford Inc. helped produce an afternoon of jazz music, with the New Bedford High Jazz Band opening for the Dino Govoni Quartet. Govoni is a saxaphonist, a Dartmouth resident, and a professor of 25 years at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston. His band played a style of straight-ahead jazz, featuring numerous selections from the songbook of American jazz standards.
“It was one of the most feel-good performances we’ve ever had. There was a feeling of happiness all around. We were a little rusty but we played with a lot of heart and soul.”
Gaston Jeffro
“It’s great to have such a high-caliber group of musicians playing a free outdoor show on a Saturday afternoon,” says Neal Weiss, founder of the Whaling City Sound record label, devoted primarily to jazz artists. Govoni is expected to release his third album on Weiss’s label this fall, titled “Hidden In Plain Sight.”
“The atmosphere at Wings Court is nice,” Govoni says. “The audience was receptive.”
The NBH Band played American standards by artists such as John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, and Herbie Hancock. Weiss described their performance as “fantastic.” Govoni referred to it as “impressive.”
The seven-piece NBH band featured 16-year old sax player Jayden Santos, who just completed his sophomore year. He picked up the horn in fourth grade while attending the Hathaway Elementary School and his exposure to jazz began with his freshman year at the high school.
“I love jazz because it allows for self-expression, you can improvise during your solos,” Santos says. “When you’re getting into the performance and you’re swinging, you get into the pocket. It’s kind of a flow state, it’s like stream of consciousness. You can express yourself with no boundaries.”
The NBH Jazz Band will open for the South Coast Jazz Orchestra at Wings Court for the next installment in the “Summer Saturdays” concert series on July 24th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Govoni will return to New Bedford for AHA! Night on Thursday, August 12th, sitting in with the Jim Robitaille Group at the Fiber Optics Center on Centre St. in downtown.
Also that Saturday afternoon, The Drawing Room on 36 North Water Street offered an outdoor performance by two members of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, Peter Zayand EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks.
Performing outdoors, the duo treated guests to a free two-hour performance as part of the monthly concert series, “Sonata Saturdays.” The location of the event is held next door to Tia Maria’s restaurant on North Water St., allowing guests to enjoy dinner or a beverage while the concert is taking place. AnthiFrangiatis, owner of The Drawing Room, describes it as “a little touch of Europe in New Bedford.”
Chairs are available outside on the street, but it is recommended that visitors bring their own chairs to guarantee that they will be provided seating. Wine tasting is also provided at the events, courtesy of Westport Rivers.
Zay performed on cello and guitar, while Holmes-Hicks played violin and fiddle. Their repertoire included Mozart and Schulhoff, along with a range of styles such as traditional fiddle tunes and folk music, with arrangements crafted by the performers themselves.
“People can sit along the sidewalk and enjoy the music,” Zay says. “It’s a combination of a concert and a street performance, it’s pretty cool.”
“These concerts are a good opportunity for people who are yet to be introduced to classical music,” Frangiatis says.
The next “Sonata Saturdays” event will take place on July 24’th from 4 to 6 p.m., featuring violinists Raluca Dumitrache and Antoaneta Anguelova. Additional concerts are scheduled for August 28’th and September 25th.
One of the area’s more popular acts is the J Kelley Band, a quartet that has built a solid reputation for their brand of pop rock. They took to the stage of the Vault on Purchase St. downtown on June 26th.
The band’s hour-and-a-half set included their latest single, “Brutal Youth,” and a pair of tracks released during the pandemic shutdown, “Fight” and “Cold Tile.” The band is preparing to release a new single in September, “Strings and Bells,” and they will be returning to the recording studio in December to record an additional song. For the last month Kelley has been taking to the cyber world every Tuesday night with single-song acoustic performances of selections from his catalog of material. The songs are filmed in the basement of his Dartmouth home, a space nicknamed “The Kelley Cave.”
The J Kelley Band will next perform at Patriot Place in Foxboro, MA, on July, 24’th from 6 to 9 p.m.
Molly O’Leary’s 40-minute set at the Vault included material from her album, “Holding Space,” set to be released on August 29’th. She was joined for the performance by John Fernandes, the lead guitarist with the J Kelley Band. O’Leary was also part of a three-act show at Boneheads Live in Fall River on Friday, July 9’th, along with The Blood Moons and the ska punk trio, Sweet Babylon.
“What I really like about Boneheads Live is that it has great sound and people are there for the music,” O’Leary says. “They listen and they really pay attention to what you’re playing.”
The Jethros made their first post-Covid appearance with a three-set performance at Running Brook Winery on 335 Old Fall River Road in Dartmouth. Playing almost exclusively original material, the quintet’s brand of “danceable Americana eclectic” was enjoyed by an audience upwards of 100 people.
“It was one of the most feel-good performances we’ve ever had,” says bassist Gaston Jethro. “There was a feeling of happiness all around. We were a little rusty but we played with a lot of heart and soul. The location is lovely. It’s outdoors and spacious with picnic tables and you can bring your own blanket and food or snacks. You can’t bring alcohol but there’s wine for sale at the events.”
“This gig filled a hole in my soul,” said guitarist/vocalist Homer Jethro.”
On Saturday, July 10th, Chris Evil resumed his concert series at the Pour Farm Tavern on Purchase St. in downtown New Bedford with a bill that included three solo acoustic performers – Evil, David Conlon, and Mike Heffernan. Evil’s set included songs from his bands The Taints and Blood Moons in addition to a handful of covers including Lou Reed and Cheap Trick. Evil has another show booked for Saturday, August 14th atthe Pour Farm, including himself, the band Discordance, and Nick Sundman.
After a two-year residency at The Vault in downtown New Bedford, the Pearly Baker Band has had an amicable split with the venue. For those who have missed the Grateful Dead tribute band during the days of COVID-19, a four-piece version of the group will be playing a free, open-air show at the Custom House Square in downtown on Thursday, July 15th. The music will start at 4 p.m. and conclude at 7 p.m. A Beer Garden will be available. Chairs and food can be brought to the event.
But while the stage will differ the mission is the same – the Pearly Baker Band is renown for their dancing audiences and their free-style jams that make each song a unique and different rendition.
“Our fans don’t show up to have fun, they bring the fun with them,” says guitarist/vocalist Mike Mahoney.
For 36 years the Pearly Baker Band has performed regularly in the South Coast, most often on their trademark Tuesday nights. Mahoney says the band has “some irons in the fire” regarding a new local venue, but that it’s too early to announce anything, noting that the band is eager to provide for fans as soon as possible.
The Pearly Baker Band show is another installment in the Summer Sound Series, free Thursday night concerts in Custom House Square from 4 to 7 p.m. The shows are produced by the City of New Bedford and the Zeiterion Theatre. Upcoming shows include the jazz funk of the Monteirobots on July 22nd and nationally-lauded blues guitarist Mark T. Small on July 29th.Shows will be held throughout August and September.
The Pearly Baker Band lineup will include Mahoney, guitarist/vocalist Ken Richards, bassist Tim Richmond, and keyboardist Eric Costa. When the band plays electric shows they are teamed with drummers Geoff Fortin and Rob Coyne. Fans can follow the band and its members on the Facebook page, I Love Pearly Baker.
Acoustic music is not foreign to the Grateful Dead experience. The iconic jamband released the album, “Reckoning,” that included a live, stripped-down performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City in the early 1980’s.
Pearly Baker Band derives its name from the chocolate coffee martini drink referenced in the Grateful Dead song, “Wharf Rat.”
“Performing any song is essentially like solving a puzzle and we solve the puzzle in a different way each time,” Mahoney says. “If you like to dance and like good music, we have a lot of fun.”
Sonic SouthCoast 