Fall Feels

 Went to Treehouse Brewing Company to see Dinosaur JR this week. They brought their pre-Grunge Power Trio noise, along with a whole lot of Marshall products. I could have heard them from our house, but seeing them was the plan all along. The show was postponed a week, but the band still rocks with an energy more fitting for much younger musicians. They defy age, and any other limitations one might imagine a band of 40 years having.

It has been a wonderful summer of shows, and now that Fall is here, new memories are being created.

The Savage Brothers Band brought the 9th Annual Tom Savage Quarter Note Foindation Fundraiser to South Windsor where we made some noise of our own.

Rain has washed out my show for this evening, but there's always another show. October is filled with Weddings, clubs and Private Parties, but I also try and take the time to let the sights of the Valley sink in and sooth my soul whenever I feel the need to slow down.

 

Big Shots

Last week I returned to play at the Eastern States Exposition (otherwise known as The Big E). I've lost track of how many times I've played it now. Several times at least.

I had a few hours before I was to play, so I got some food at one of the nearby, not too crowded vendors. Everything seems to be deep fried, over overloaded in saturated fat. I'm all set with that. So I go for healthier options, wherever I can find them. I also ran into some good friends and musicians I've played with in the past. Always a joy!

In between sets, I went upstais in the Connecticut Building and took a picture through the large windows. Another beautiful sunny day with lots of people enjoying the sights, sounds... and smells of The Big E.

 

Bringing It All Back Home

My band played a show in West Hartford for the first time in several years. Much has happened in between performances. The house I grew up in got sold, for one thing. 

I drove by it, and it looks much the same as it did when I lived there decades ago.

My show was at the Noah Webster House Museum, and I had not seen the place since I was in Grade School. It looks much the same as well.

We were set up outside for a craft beer festival. It was blazing hot out, but we were covered, and kept refreshed with an assortment of Lagers, Pilsners and Ales.

Shortly after or set was over, the rain started coming down. We managed to load out and hit the road before it started to really come down. Another successful event! I managed to talk to a few people who went to the same High School, and we chatted about various teachers. It was a grounding experience, and reminded me, I had it pretty good growing up. It's a little over an hour away, and everything looks about the same in my old former neighborhood, which I find comforting,

 

Shipping Up To Boston (and Cambridge)

 Twice in one week, I made a visit to Boston, which I haven't done in probably 30 years.

The first visit was to see Duran Duran at the Garden. My girlfriend was/is a big fan, and we both performed a short set of their greatest hits a few years back for a benefit show, so I was already reaquainted with the music. I was very impressed with the band. Simon LeBon sounded great on vocals and the bass of John Taylor was way up in the mix! The light and stage show was beyond vivid. It was a trip back to the '80s. Back when I first started coming here.

We stayed overnight at the Porter Square Hotel in nearby Cambridge. Right next door to a club I played dozens of times in the '90s.

Had dinner at Asmara in Central Square. A place I had not been to in about 30 years, and right across the street from another club I played at dozens of times.

A few days later, I was in nearby Newton to sing and play the Blues with some old friends I used to play with at The Cantab Lounge (and other small venues)

Having lived in these areas long ago, it is always fun to come back, but I don't miss the traffic, or the roads. The nearly 2 hour drive is one I've become accustomed to, and leaves me alone with my thoughts of years gone by. Here I still am in Massachusetts (although now in the western part of the State) playing music for a living just like I did over 30 years ago.