Backstage at the Tent

Going to see live music can be a spiritual experience.  Some of my favorite nights out have been in smaller venues seeing an artist that I’ve never seen live before or never even heard of until that night.  Every now and then I come across a person who goes out to see music all the time but they only go to see the “Headliner” for the night.  They won’t bother to go check out an opening act.  They claim to be huge music fans but they won’t take that risk.  Spend the extra hour of their life on the chance of catching some new, something they’ve never heard before.  It’ll surprise me every time I come across these people.

I guess today it’s so easy to find new music with the proliferation of streaming music like Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, and others.  But until you see a band live in concert, you haven’t really experienced them.  I remember years ago talking to a friend who was one of these people who won’t go see the opening act.  He was a big reggae music fan and also liked rock and jamband stuff.  He was going to see the band moe. And I told him to check out the opening act, John Brown’s Body because they were an awesome reggae band that I thought he’d really enjoy.  He was already going to the show; all he had to do was show up a little early and check out some of their set.  Of course he didn’t see them that night.  Years later, John Brown’s Body was headlining a show somewhere and he went to go see them. He loved the show and was really bummed that he missed out on two years of getting to experience the band live.

One of my earlier, memories of going to see an unknown band was a show at this little bar in upstate NY called the Rhinecliff Hotel with a buddy of mine to just see whoever was playing that night.  We didn’t know the name of the band, where they were from, what they sounded like.  We just went because.  The Rhinecliff was an old hotel (only a couple of rooms) that kind of became a boarding house of sorts.  There was a bar on the ground floor, a room with a pool table in it and a back room that had a concrete floor, one brick wall and three other concrete walls.  There was no stage, no pa, and lighting for the room consisted of a single light bulb in the center of the ceiling.

The band that night was a band from NYC called Marmalade.  It was something like an 8 or 9 piece funk band with a rippin’ female lead guitarist (who later went on to play lead guitar for Natalie Merchant).  They played some of the funkiest, sweatiest, nastiest funk I’ve ever heard.  It was unbelievable.  I grooved for hours.  We took a complete risk, driving out to the bar and paying the cover for a band we knew nothing about and it turned out to be one of the best musical nights I had ever experienced.

Since coming to Boston (approximately 20 years ago now) I’ve had countless nights of seeing great new music.  Every time a new (to me) band blows me away, it takes me back to that night at the Rhinecliff, getting down to the funk of Marmalade.  So go see some live music.  Take a chance and see someone you’ve never heard of, get there early and check out the opener, you never know when you might come across your new favorite band.

Darius Rucker thrilled a sold out crowd on Saturday with a mix of his new country hits, some Hootie & the Blowfish classics and a few well-chosen covers. Read more about the show in this review by The Boston Globe!

And if you want to relive the fun, take a look at this video and the other clips on our Music Circus TV page!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsAvi9UKlLo

There’s also a clip of opener Mallory Hope, who was great! Keep an eye on her, she might just be the next big thing in country music!

- JS

Cohasset has its fair share of great little shops and restaurants that are featured in the Boston Globe fairly frequently (Constantine’s and French Memories Bakery were recently in the spotlight).

This time around new-ish wine shop Local Vines and Gourmet (just off Rt. 3A in the new plaza with the gym) gets the highlight. Stephen Meuse stopped in because a local vintor told him it’s the best place to get a New England wine.

I made the trip to get a peek at what Truro Vineyards owner Dave Roberts assured me was one of the best selections of New England wine he knew of.

Stephen and Local Vines owner Debbie Hardey share a passion for New England-made wines and are doing their best to spread the word. Stephen will be running a column on the concept in the Globe next Wednesday (more details in the article) and Debbie regularly hosts wine tastings, many of which feature local wineries (sign up for the Local Vines newsletter to stay up-to-date on the tasting schedule)!

- JS

French Memories, an amazing little cafe and pastry shop in Cohasset not too far from the Music Circus, got a great write up in the Boston Globe on Sunday.

Joan Wilder does an awesome job of making your mouth water as she describes the shop’s “light as air” croissants (in a variety of flavors), baked (not fried) doughnuts, and crazy array of pastries, plus their great sandwiches. Check out the review then head down to French Memories, because it’s going to make you hungry!

French Memories is located at 64 South Main St in Cohasset. They’re open 7am-6pm Monday through Saturday and 7 am – 5 pm Sunday.

- JS

Boston Music Spotlight sent a reviewer down the to the Aretha Franklin show on August 1, and she liked what she saw!

Check out Dayna Brown’s review for a recap of the show, a newcomer’s perspective on the Music Circus in general, and a great description of the night’s sounds, sights and feelings!

To watch Aretha Franklin sing is a gift. … Both captivating and enchanting, Franklin proved she is one of the most legendary performers of all time and rightfully titled the one and only Queen of Soul.

Music has the power to magically roll back the years and make you feel young again.

That proved true for both the performers and audience at “Bowzer’s Original Doo Wop Party” Sunday at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. Rock and roll original Little Joe Cook needed assistance to get onto the circular stage. But the minute the band cranked up the intro to his 1957 classic “Lady from the Beauty Shop,” Cook, 88, of Framingham, showed he can still cook as he swayed to the rockin’ beat.

Cook set the bar for the four other oldies acts that followed. Some of the artists use canes and walkers and have snow on the roof, but their voices and spirit are still intact.

Fans of doo wop and early rock and roll got their money’s worth during the three and a half-hour long nostalgia show hosted by Jon “Bowzer” Bauman of Sha Na Na fame. Most of the acts featured at least one original member. Bauman makes a point of that in his concerts since he’s chairman of the Truth in Music Committee for the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. He’s helped promote the passage of a bill in 34 states including Massachusetts, preventing “imposter groups” from duping the public by using the names of the original artists.

Sporting slicked-back hair and greaser duds (black jeans, black top sneakers and a black T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up), Bowzer was a personable and engaging emcee. Standing in his signature pose flexing his no longer bulging biceps he cracked: “Can you believe I’ve been making a living for 40 years doing this?”

Bowzer got the audience revved up for every performer and rocked with his own group, the Stingrays, a crack five-piece band which he formed in 1987 fronted by three young male vocalists. A child prodigy on the piano, Bauman attended the Julliard School at age 12. He loaned his greaser alter ego his classically trained chops by playing two dazzling Chopin pieces.

What was amazing is how good some of the golden oldies groups still sound, particularly Jay Siegel, lead singer of The Tokens, whose voice can still reach those high falsetto notes in the group’s mega hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The feat earned him a standing ovation. Siegel, the lead on all of the group’s recordings, was equally impressive on “Portrait of My Love” and “Tonight I Fell in Love.”

The Crystals, one of the most popular girls groups of the ‘60s and featuring original member Dee Dee Kennibrew, delivered their sweet melodic hits including “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Then He Kissed Me.” Melissa Antoinette showed off her strong pipes in “He’s a Rebel.”

Danny and the Juniors served up two of the greatest anthems of rock and roll: “Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay” and “At the Hop.”

The interactive show had its hokey moments including a hula hoop and dance contest. Bowzer showed his ability to handle embarrassing moments when a 71-year-old woman forced her way onstage and clung to him. But a pleasant surprise came from a star in the house: K.C. Jones. The basketball great came onstage and delivered a surprisingly pleasant rendition of the standard “Bye Bye Blackbird.”

Bowzer saved the best for last: a set featuring Charlie Thomas’ Drifters. Flanked by three wonderful back-up singers with smooth dance moves, Thomas rolled out the iconic group’s hit parade including “Up on the Roof,” “This Magic Moment,” “There Goes My Baby,” “On Broadway,” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.”

Bowzer’s co-star from Sha Na Na, Lennie Baker, who lives on Martha’s Vineyard, did justice to “Sixteen Candles” and delivered a silky smooth “Blue Moon.” Bowzer and Baker teamed up for a satisfying duet of the Righteous Brothers’ “Soul and Inspiration.”

Bowzer led the audience in the “Hand Jive” from the movie “Grease” and coaxed the audience to get up at their seats and dance to “Twisting the Night Away.” The show wrapped up with Sha Na Na’s sign off song, “Good-night Sweetheart, Good Night.” And it was a good night.

-Johanna Crosby, freelance reporter

The Counting Crows are keeping fans on their toes this touring season with the Counting Crows Traveling Circus and Medicine Show with Augustana and Notar (and other special guests depending on which concert you catch). The long tour name isn’t the only unusual thing about this show … the Counting Crows have changed the whole format of a concert.

They are traveling with supporting/opening acts, but don’t expect the Crows to wait to take the stage. Instead, all three groups revolve on and off stage, sing on each others songs, and collorboate on a few unusual covers. Check out the Patroit Ledger’s review of the Counting Crows’ July 30 show at the Music Circus for more details!

The first indication this was going to be a unique evening came when all the performers came out at once, opening with a rocking gallop through “Caravan.”

And here’s a video of that rocking gallop!

Frankie Valli played to a packed house at the Music Circus on Saturday night and fans didn’t walk away dissappointed. According to the Boston Herald, Valli’s performance was a nice mix of his ’60s and ’80s hits with a few lesser-known but equally as well done songs tossed in. Overall, the Herald seemed impressed that Valli is still touring live and give him kudos for his energy, but the real shining review comes from this Herald commentor…

Your semi-positive review doesn’t reflect what I saw Sat. night. He mentioned Jersey Boys twice and deserves to mention it. His voice was fantastic. He moved around all night, sat down exactly once. Never once did he complain about the heat. And, to top it off, he still has women trying to crash the stage for a kiss (one was sucessful)! And, he’s 76! Everyone was on their feet singing. Frankie is still one of the best.

Leave a comment here and let us know what you think!

Also, check out our Facebook page to see some photos from the show!