Anne’s Shore & More #47 – July 4 2012

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE WEEK

This weekend is New London’s biggest of the year, and this year it will be even bigger than usual. Not only is it Sailfest weekend (http://www.sailfest.org/), but New London is also hosting OpSail 2012 (http://opsail2012ct.org/), which is a tall ships festival celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812. That means lots of ships and many thousands of people in town for the festivities. The fireworks show is probably the biggest draw, taking place over  the Thames River on Saturday night at 9:00 pm. There will also be food and merchandise vendors, rides, ship tours, and plenty of live music. Check the festival websites for details on parking, road closures, shuttles, and other general information. The bands will play on four main stages: the Hygienic Art Park stage, the Custom House Pier stage, Fort Trumbull Pier stage, and Fort Trumbull lawn stage.

On Friday afternoon, the Custom House Pier is the place to be, beginning at 5:00 pm with the Hoolios. If you’ve read my blog before, then you already know that this is one of my favorite bands. Jim Carpenter (www.locodare.com) is one of the best songwriters around, and the band is made up of some of the area’s most talented players. They play an infectious combination of alt-country, americana and new orleans style tunes with lyrics that tell all kinds of stories, from tragic to humorous to simply strange. There are three lead vocalists, and the entire six-piece band contributes vocals. These guys are enjoyed by all different types of crowds, and they are sure to go over well with the festival-goers.

Following the Hoolios, the Sue Menhart Band (www.suemenhart.com) will be on the Custom House Pier Stage, at 6:00 pm. This is a hard-working, hard-hitting blues/rock band. Sue plays a lot of gigs, both solo acoustic and with her “Million Man Band”. She has also played some recent acoustic shows with Nancy Parent of the Rivergods. Sue has a lot of energy and is a talented, powerful singer. This is another one of these bands that I don’t get a chance to see very often, so I’m looking forward to seeing them on Friday.

Over at the Hygienic Art Park, there’s a big five-band show with the Baseball Project (www.thebaseballproject.net), the Paul Brockett Roadshow (www.paulbrockettroadshow.com), Sidewalk Dave (www.sidewalkdave.com), Fatal Film (www.fatalfilm.com), and Brad Bensko (http://www.myspace.com/bradbensko). Brad will open the show at 5 pm, followed by Fatal Film at 6, Sidewalk Dave at 7, Paul Brockett Roadshow at 8, and finally the Baseball Project at 9:30. Hygienic Art will be accepting a suggested donation at the door, but people are encouraged to give what they can to help cover the cost of events at the Art Park. The Baseball Project (Steve Wynn, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Linda Pitmon) last played in New London in August 2011, when the rained-out Art Park show was held in the Crocker House Ballroom. They sing songs about baseball, and I’m not a baseball fan, but I am a longtime fan of Steve Wynn and look forward to seeing him play again. Peter Buck (ex-REM) was not with them last year due to a back injury, so it will be pretty cool to have him play here also.

On Saturday, there’s an all-day lineup of bands at the Hygienic Art Park beginning at 1 pm with Matzah Cigar (https://www.facebook.com/matzahcigar), followed by Daphne Lee Martin & Raise the Rent (www.raisetherentmusic.com) at 2 pm, the Field Recordings (www.thefieldrecordings.com) at 3:30 pm,  Steve Broderick and Shamrock Eyes (www.stevebroderick.com) at 4:30 pm, Soul Shot (http://www.myspace.com/soulshot) at 6 pm, and Incognito Sofa Love (www.facebook.com/sofalove) at 8:30 pm. ISL will be playing both before and after the fireworks show.

On the Custom House Stage, the Franklin Brothers (www.pwop.com) will be playing at 2 pm on Saturday. I don’t know how big a band they will have for this one, but their CD release show with their 11-piece band at the Garde Theater in May was just amazing. Carl and Jay Franklin are incredibly talented, and there aren’t a lot of opportunities to see them live. This should be a great set.

Over at Fort Trumbull, the Rivergods (http://therivergods.wordpress.com/) will be doing two shows. The first will be from 3:30-5 pm on the lawn stage, and they will also play after the fireworks from 9:30-10:30 (according to the band, or 10:30-11:30, if you believe the OpSail website) on the pier stage. Fort Trumbull is where most of the OpSail 2012 events will be taking place during the weekend (historical information, war re-enactments, museum presentations, etc.). I’m slightly embarassed to admit that even though I am a New London resident, I have not spent any time at Fort Trumbull State Park, so I’m looking forward to changing that on Saturday. The weather is supposed to be nice, and it should be a fabulous weekend of music on the waterfront. Oh yeah,  there are fireworks too…

Here is a clip of the Baseball Project from the David Letterman show:

And here are the Hoolios performing “Chosen One” at a recent Steak Loft show:

CONCERT CALENDAR     

Wed 7/4/12     – Thor Jensen at Perks & Corks in Westerly

- The Lost Riots, Malcolm Tent, Casting Ships, Eric Hartlett, Kari Bunn, Sean Conlan & friends at Cafe Nine in New Haven (Punk Rock BBQ) 7-11 pm

Thur 7/5/12    – Jim Carpenter and friends at Sneekers Cafe in Groton 7-10 pm NO COVER

- The Moving Company, the New Dirty, Belly Fire at Cafe Nine in New Haven 9 pm

- Wye Oak at the Space in Hamden 7:30 pm

- John Pioli, the Shoutbacks at Two Boots in Bridgeport 8:30 pm NO COVER

Fri 7/6/12

- Sailfest in New London

- Will Houlihan at the Telegraph in New London 7-8 pm

- Brad Bensko (5 pm), Fatal Film (6 pm), Sidewalk Dave (7 pm), the Paul Brockett Roadshow (8 pm),  The Baseball Project (9:30pm) at the Hygienic Art Park in New London

- The Hoolios at the Custom House Pier in New London 5 pm

- Sue Menhart Band at the Custom House Pier in New London 6 pm

- John Fries and the Heat at the Commoner in New London 9 pm

- The Suicide Dolls, the Weird Beards, Burnouts from Outer Space at the Oasis Pub in New London

- Sixth Annual Acoustic Music Festival at All Souls Unity Hall in New London (19 Jay Street) with:

6:30-6:50pm – Bruce McDermott

7:00-7:20 – Pat Daddona

7:30-7:50 – Celtic Ceol

8:00-8:20 – Karen Ethier-Waring

8:30-8:50 – Friday Night Folk

9:00-9:20 – Willoughby Gap

9:30-10:00 – Bubblin’ Crude

- Vince Thompson and friends at Priam Vineyards in Colchester 6-8:30pm

- Vince Tuckwood, Trevor Giles at the Songird Cafe in Old Lyme 7-9 pm

- Too Blue, Caroline Doctorow and the Steamrollers, Hot Mustard at Cafe  Nine in New Haven 9 pm

Sat 7/7/12       

- Sailfest in New London

- Sailfest Saturday at Hygienic Art Park in New London with:

1pm: MatzahCigar

2pm: Daphne Lee Martin & Raise the Rent

3:30: The Field Recordings

4:30: Steve Broderick and Shamrock Eyes

6pm: Soul Shot

8:30: Incognito Sofa Love (two sets: before & after fireworks)

- Carl Suiter Jr. (12:30), Kala Farnham (1 :15), Jake Brisson (2:00), Pat Daddona and Mike Bailey (2:45) at the New London Antiques Center (123 Bank Street) in New London

- The Franklin Brothers at the Custom House Pier in New London 2 pm

- The Rivergods at Fort Trumbull State Park in New London 3:30-5 pm (lawn stage) and 9:30-10:30 (pier stage)

- John Fries and the Heat at the Custom House Pier in New London 7 pm

- Stark Raving Lulu, the Peacock Flounders, the Sawtelles at Cafe Nine in New Haven 8 pm

- Reptilian Race at Elm Bar in New Haven

- Willy Mason, Frank Critelli at the Outer Space in Hamden 8 pm

Sun 7/8/12     

- Sailfest in New London

-  Sixth Annual Acoustic Music Festival at the Hygienic Art Park in New London with:

11:00-11:20am – Meadows Brothers

11:30-11:50 – Jonah Tolchin

Noon-12:20 – WilsonKane

12:30-12:50 – Sue Mead

1:00-1:20 – Jim Lampos

1:30-1:50 – Roger Viens

2:00-2:20 – Dean Denis

2:30-2:50 – John “Woody” Wood

3:00-3:20 – Silver Hammer

3:30-3:50 – Golden Ratio

4:00-4:20 – Maggie’s Guitar

4:30-4:50 – Peter Magrane

5:00-5:20 – ArleneWow!

5:30-5:50 – the Crew

- Llama Tsunami at the Custom House Pier in New London 12 noon

- The Clams at the Canoe Club in Middletown 6 pm

Tues 7/10/12   – Nightmare Boyzzz, Defcon 5 at Cafe Nine in New Haven 9 pm

Wed 7/11/12    – John Fries & the Heat at Mohegan Sun “Rooftop Rock-Off” 7 pm

Thur 7/12/12  – Village Jammers at Sneekers Cafe in Groton 7-10 pm NO COVER

- Vince Tuckwood at the Leif Nilsson Gallery in Chester 7-9 PM (BYOB)

- Guantanamo Baywatch, the Royal Swindle, Jacques LeCoque at the Outer Space in Hamden 8 pm

- Ports of Spain, Ovlov, Pools are Nice at Cafe Nine in New Haven 8 pm

- John Fries and the Heat at the Narragansett Cafe in Jamestown RI 8 pm

Fri 7/13/12      - Good People, Dirt Road Radio,  Michael James Anderson at the High Noon Saloon in Norwich 8 pm

- Sue Menhart Band at Burke’s Tavern in Niantic 8 pm

- Lake Street Dive, Daphne Lee Martin & Raise the Rent at Cafe Nine in New Haven 9 pm

- The Clams at the Outer Space in Hamden 7 pm

- Cheeky, Cometa, Teen Destroyer at Two Boots in Bridgeport 8:30 pm NO COVER

Sat 7/14/12      – Jack Grace Band, Pocket Vinyl, Elison Jackson at the Hygienic Art Park in New London 7 pm

- He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Sean Rowe, Plume Giant at Cafe Nine in New Haven 9 pm

- NRBQ at the Met in Pawtucket

- The Midnightmares, the Defcon 5 at Elm Bar in New Haven

Sun 7/15/12    – The Rivergods, Dirt Road Radio at the North Stonington Agricultural Fair 1-4 pm

- Murder By Death, Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Ha Ha Tonka at Cafe Nine in New Haven 7 pm *NEW VENUE*

Anne Castellano is a New London songwriter and musician who has played in several bands over the years (the Uninformed, the Skin Walkers, and the Cavities). She has been performing as a solo artist since 2007 but is currently rehearsing with her new band  Anne Castellano and the Smoke.

In 2010 she released a full-length self-produced CD entitled “What’s Been Going On” on the New London-based Cosmodemonic Telegraph label. She is a 30-year veteran of college radio, and is currently doing the Deranged Radio Show on alternate Tuesday evenings from 6-9pm at WCNI 90.9 FM in New London.

She grew up in New Fairfield, CT in a musical family, with a father who played guitar and listened to country artists such as Hank Williams and Patsy Cline, and a mother who loved Elvis Presley. Involvement in band and chorus in high school led to membership in the UCONN Marching Band and a two-week tour of Europe performing with the band in the early 1980s.

Anne moved to New London in 1987 because of the vibrant local music scene there. In 2005 she began putting together a concert calendar to get the word out about all the local band shows that were taking place in the area. She enjoys books, animals, hiking, and the beach, and sees as much live original music as her “day job” schedule permits.

Subscribe to Anne’s Weekly Concert updates via email by contacting her at morbidprincessmusic@yahoo.com

Listen to her music at http://www.reverbnation.com/annecastellano

Anne on LBR: http://www.localbandreview.com/author/anne-c/