The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Live concerts fill the clubs this weekend
Bridge Street Live has a great selection of blues shows this week. Friday, Mud Morganfield comes to town. Saturday, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez return, bringing with them Lovelace, Stoltz and Ralph Rosen. Then Thursday, Anthony Gomes and his amazing guitar skills take the stage.
Morganfield is an awardwinning blues player and son of the legendary Muddy Waters. He is making his Connecticut debut at Bridge Street live.
An award-winning artist Morganfield is an established star in the world of blues music. Brought up surrounded by many of the finest musicians in the blues, Morganfield’s singing is firmly in best of traditions of Chicago blues. He is also a writer of great new songs, and is acclaimed by both critics and artists, such as Buddy Guy and Jools Holland, for his own musical ability.
Bridge Street favorite Christine Ohlman returns with her band Rebel Montez, and openers Lovelace/ Stoltz, on Saturday.
The queen of blue-eyed rock n’ soul grew up loving both the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff. Putting her teased her hair into a beehive, she never looked back. She picked up a guitar and forged a career as a songwriter in the process.
Ohlman tours relentlessly, with her hip shakin’ brand of music. With her band Rebel Montez, Michael Colbath on bass, Cliff Goodwin on guitar, and Larry Donahue on drums audiences can never get enough.
Opening the show is Americana duo Lee-Ann Lovelace and Dave Stoltz. Joining them is Ralph Rosen.
Anthony Gomes has been creating virtuosic, burning blues since his recorded debut in 1998. He continues with a return to Bridge Street on Thursday. Twelve releases and numerous awards and ecstatic accolades later, Gomes shows no signs of slowing down with his latest musical offering being his most successful to date.
The Toronto singer/songwriter/guitarist is propelling blues rock into the contemporary music culture with his unapologetic approach to reinventing the genre in relevant and fresh ways. This, along with his high-energy shows and dynamic stage presence, make him one of the top draws on the Rock/Blues circuit today.
Friday, Infinity Music Hall Hartford has Tab Benoit, a Cajun man who’s definitely got the blues. He grew up in Houma, Louisiana. A guitar player since his teenage years, he hung out at the Blues Box, a ramshackle music club and cultural center in nearby Baton Rouge run by guitarist Tabby Thomas. Playing guitar alongside Thomas, Raful Neal, Henry Gray and other high-profile regulars at the club, Benoit learned the blues first-hand from a faculty of living blues legends.
Despite his success, Benoit has done his best over the years to maintain a commitment to his Cajun roots. His understanding of the environment can be seen in his creation of “Voice of the Wetlands.”
Infinity Hall Norfolk brings in The James Hunter Six on Friday. Hunter, over the span of 30 years, he’s worked on the railway, busked in the streets of London, provided backup vocals and guitar for Van Morrison, played clubs and theatres all over the world, written scores of original songs, and recorded some of the most original and honest rhythm & soul albums of the last two decades. By 2006, Hunter was recognized with nominations for a Grammy® Award, “Best Traditional Blues Album” and an American Music Award (“Best New/Emerging Artist”).
Grace Kelly joins the James Montgomery Band at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Friday. James Montgomery has fronted his hot band of 30 years. He carries on in the tradition of his mentors such as James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells.
Over the years, he has shared the stage with many stars and future stars. Now he has Grace Kelly will taking the stage with the band. Kelly has a charm that is easy to see and a talent easy to appreciate. A singer, saxophonist, and composer she plays with the heart and passion of an old soul yet with the genrebending zest and energy of a 25 year old.
Gil Parris is an American Grammy-nominated rock, blues, jazz and pop guitarist. His talents will be on display at The Bijou Theatre Saturday while he picks the guitar hits of Hendrix, Santana, Beck, Blues and Beyond. He briefly attended the Berklee School of Music, but left to tour Europe as part of a musical troupe performing “Jesus Christ Superstar” before becoming a recording artist.
Parris is known for his blending of blues, jazz, rock and smooth jazz in his work. He has recorded and toured both as a solo artist and as a sideman with major artists including Dr. John, Blood, Sweat & Tears and more.
Kinky Friedman continues his Circus of Life Summer Tour at 4 p.m. at Café 9 on Sunday. The Acoustic Café has a Friday show with Finders Keepers, a Jerry Garcia Band Tribute.