The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Mike Zito, Gina Sicilia playing Bridge Street
American blues artist Mike Zito and his band return to the Bridge Street Live stage on Friday. Blues diva Gina Sicilia will open the show.
Zito will get you to step away from the daily bombardment of news and turn on some blues. For him, that will make the world a beautiful place. He looks at music as a cure for all ailments. You can expect an engaging performer, energetic and full of blues with lots of guitar playing.
Zito was with the mighty Royal Southern Brotherhood before going off on his own. He grew up in a hardgrafting blue-collar home in St. Louis, where an early job at a downtown guitar shop exposed him to the blues old and new.
He enjoys the music, it makes him happy and reminds him why he wanted to play guitar and play the blues. Zito strives to be free and honest, loud and proud. His persona works hard to pass that to his audience. Zito believes that the blues should make you feel good, and does his best to make sure you do.
Gina Sicilia has been performing as a vocalist with her own personal challenges adding to her growth. After a painful and dramatic event in her life and a need to start over, she moved to Nashville, where she didn’t know anyone, and went into a period of really challenging herself as a songwriter. Being surrounded by some of the best songwriters and musicians in the world inspired her. Sicilia took that inspiration to heart and her talent grew.
She pushed herself to be more open, personal and vulnerable in her writing; something that now comes through in her performance. Blues is her starting point and letting you learn about her life is part of her music.
Saturday, Albert Cummings returns to Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk. The guitarist has plenty of sound and talent. With a wealth of experience on the road, it is nice when the Massachusetts’ native gets to visit Connecticut.
Saturday also has one of the state’s favorite guitarists at The Hungry Tiger. Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood will pay a visit with its audience pleasing performance.
Down at the FTC Warehouse on Friday, Melvin Seals and JGB appear with support from Creamery Station. Seals is best known for his long friendship and musical partnership with cultural icon and guitarist Jerry Garcia and his smile that lights up the room. He spun magic with his B-3 the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years. From blues to funk to rock to bluegrass, he serves up a little R&B with gospel thrown in to spice things up. The music is guaranteed to get into your soul, raise your spirits and get you groovin’. Add in Creamery Station and you have a full evening of musical enjoyment. Creamery Station is also part of the Backyard Music Series Saturday at Infinity Music Hall Hartford.
Tuesday, Anders Osborne & Jackie Greene bring their “Tourgether 2017” to the Warehouse.
Over at FTC Stage One on Tuesday, United Nations Day, Save The Children’s Fairfield Leadership Council, Band Together, and FTC join to present a night of Latin pop/rock music to raise relief funds for Puerto Rico
Saturday, Black-Eyed Sally’s has the John D’Amato Blues Band; Hartford. He was born and raised in New Haven but moved south 16 years ago. He brings a soulful vocal style, joined with some hot guitar playing. This promises to be an evening to give you one soulful, high energy, blues show.
Sunday, D'Amato will be part of Café 9’s The Sunday Buzz Matinee at 4 p.m.
Smokin' With Chris has Grayson Hugh and Polly Messer on Friday and then Thursday, it is Scott Rosen.
Brews and blues arre still going strong: Friday, Orb Mellon has a 5:30 p.m. performance at Still Hill Brewery. The Hanging Hills Brewing Company has Jake Kulak & The Lowdown with the Achiote Food Truck on Friday.
Saturday, Griffith Academy in Old Wethersfield will host a Zydeco Dance with Otis and the Hurricanes. This is the longest running Cajun/Zydeco dance series in New England. You can get dance lessons at 6:15 p.m. with music at 7 p.m.
Last week, seven acts competed in the Connecticut Blues Society’s Solo/ Duo Challenge. With a large crowd of supporters, the participants provided a full day of entertainment. People who attended the event were treated to a variety of Blues styles. The acts are judged on criteria set by the Blues Foundation. The categories are blues content, vocals, talent, originality and stage presence.
The winner this year, representing Connecticut at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis is Frank Breen. Most of his songs were covers of traditional Delta Blues, performed in a way that made them his own. Besides his skill with the guitar Breen is a blues historian, giving a little history of each song.
He was awarded $600 to represent the Connecticut Blues Society in the IBC. The winner in Memphis get festival gigs, recording time, and important exposure, to record labels and recording agents.