The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
More live entertainment coming your way
This week the blues scene has a varied sampling of music, from straight blues to bands influenced by the blues, all leading to more entertainment available as the pandemic recovery continues. Note that many venues have protocols aimed at protecting their patrons. Check and see what is required, i.e. vaccination proof, masks.
The Jamie McLean Band has a Friday stop at FTC StageOne. Jamie McLean is a triple threat. As a guitarist for New Orleans royalty like Aaron Neville and Dirty Dozen Brass Band, he’s toured the globe playing his fiery guitar everywhere, from Madison Square Garden to Japan’s Fuji Rock. His blueeyed southern soul vocals ooze raw emotion and his songwriting chops tie everything together. With hundreds of original compositions to his name, McLean creates a musical gumbo that incorporates New Orleans soul, Delta blues, middle America roots and New York City swagger.
Saturday, Infinity Hall Hartford has Peter Wolf and the Midnight Travelers. Wolf has been known for decades as the dynamic lead singer and song writer of the J. Geils Band. His musical roots precede rock ‘n’ roll and are inspired by his friendships and performances with such distinguished artists as Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Together with his band, “The Midnight Travelers,”
Wolf is known for his ability to create an intimate and personal connection with his audience.
A vibrant passion for music has motivated Wolf for most of his life. Growing up in an artistic, politically engaged family in the Bronx, he became an early convert after attending an Alan Freed rock ‘n’ roll revue. His thirst for new and old sounds drove him to exploring blues, soul, country, folk and jazz, inspiring weekly visits to Harlem’s Apollo Theatre and making acquaintances with many of the music’s surviving originators.
While a student at the Boston Museum School of
Fine Arts, he experienced a life-changing epiphany after jumping on stage to sing with a blues band at a loft party. He soon talked himself into membership in that band, The Hallucinations. Wolf’s natural loquaciousness won him a job as an all-night DJ on the fledgling FM rock station WBCN. His encyclopedic musical knowledge came in handy with the J. Geils Band, much of whose early repertoire was drawn from Wolf’s vast record collection.
After going solo in 1984, Wolf continued to stake out new musical territory. His solo work has seen him collaborate with the likes of Aretha Franklin, John Lee
Hooker, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Little Milton and Wilson Pickett.
The Palace in Stamford has Rumours, A Fleetwood Mac Tribute, on Friday. From blues roots to pop icons, Fleetwood Mac has been a mainstay. Thursday, Rumours (Night One, more to come) is at Daryl’s House.
Sunday, the Northeaast Guitar Expo will take place at the Hartford Marriot North starting at 11 a.m. Stop in and say hello to the Connecticut Blues Society.
Dan Stevens is out on the weekend with a Friday show at Witchdoctor Brewing Company and Sunday at the High Nine Brewing at 3 p.m.
Also Friday Tony Ferrigno Band plays the Station House Wine Bar and the Good Luck Blues Band returns to Walrus Alley.
Saturday is the Milford Porch Fest from 1-6 p.m. This annual music event, held across the country on front porches, started in Ithaca, N.Y., in 2007, to bring local musicians and neighborhoods together to celebrate and create a sense of community. Some familiar names include the Tony Ferrigno Band, Lee-Ann Lovelace and George Lesiw Duo, and Parker’s Tangent. For more information check out our digital map: https://discover milfordct.com/wp-content/ uploads/2021/08/PorchfestMap-Print.pdf
Saturday, Old Greenwich Social has Ace & Friends and the Rich Badowski Blues Band is at the South Windsor
Apple Festival at noon.
Also Saturday, Cassandra And The Knighthawks are at TCB Bar and Billiards, and Thursday Cassandra has a solo show at the Station House Wine Bar & Grill. Six Pack of Blues is at Four Seasons By The Lake at Sun Valley Resort, Saturday.
Sunday at 3 p.m., the F & Blues Band will host an open jam at the American Legion Post 112 in Montville, while the Mike Crandall Band plays the Brass Horse Café. Dave Robbins, aka the Kosher Kid, is at the Roadhouse Blues Jam 4bpm in Baltic. Also Sunday, Elle Sera plays The Market Place in Danbury at 1 p.m.
The Chicken Shack jam at the Farm at Carter Hill on First Thursdays of the month continues with a different band every month. October’s featured act is The Mike Crandall Band. Join the action at 6 p.m.
Sassos Pizza continues its Thursday night entertainment, and the house will be rockin’ with The Incredible Amplifires at 6 p.m.
Around the region, a number of shows caught Blues Beat’s attention. The Knickerbocker Music Center has Jeff Pitchell and Texas Flood with special guest James Montgomery on Friday. Let’s Dance Wednesdays is hosted by Ed Peabody and the Big Blue Thang.
James Montgomery fans can catch him at the Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus, Mass., for an outdoor show on Saturday at 1 p.m. to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band.
This show is part of the series, Home Grown Rock for Boston’s Homeless Vets.
The Berkshire Blues & Brews Fest at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on Saturday. The fest features Misty Blues, Waterloo Clyde and Robin O’Herin with headliner Roomful Of Blues.
Roomful of Blues has effectively became a franchise unto themselves. More than 45 musicians have been part of Roomful of Blues. Misty Blues pays homage to the older blues made popular by the bold and brassy women of its time. Waterloo Clyde is a dynamic, bluesy power trio. Robin O’Herin is a touring blues and gospel musician, specializing in historically rich concerts American music.
Theodores’ Blues, Booze, & BBQ shows include Friday, Sean Chambers and Saturday, Neal Vitullo and the Vipers.
Across the border in New York, Friday, Professor Louie & The Crowmatix play The Towne Crier and Melvin Seals and JGB are at The Capitol Theatre Saturday.
The Falcon Main Stage on Friday welcomes Dylan Doyle Band for an album release show. Sunday, Popa Chubby has his All Star Stones Tribute.