I Get My Thrill...On Ole Haverhill!

The Chit Chat Lounge was a happening spot again tonight as Absylum and Fiddlehead again brought their ole fashioned medicine show. Tonight the biggest factor I feel was the absence of the lights. I guess Felipe ran lights at another spot tonight, diversifying the portfolio. The mix sounds pretty good tonight and luckily there is a sound guy. Another highlight of the evening is checking out the upstairs where some kind of acoustic act is playing simultaneously. Haverhill is becoming a more and more happening spot and I really like the area.

Absylum sounds solid tonight, with MJ Sands setting the pace of the roller coaster. Sean McCormick is as energetic as ever on the bass and as a partial front man. Justin Lopes is a key-monster as always, but not only that, he gets up and sings. Overall their set is pretty tight and I really like the guitar parts as well. Overall the band has great timing and their stops are impeccable. Justin takes us all to church tonight with his intense organ playing. Their "Cool Whip" is awesome tonight. I can't wait to see what this band becomes in the future!

Fiddlehead is right on point with a well balanced start. Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay for the entire night, but they play an excellent "Baby Monster". Kevin's bass seems a little more reserved tonight but very tight. Tim Johnson's drumming is spot on and very snappy. Pat and Mike's solos weave the whole thing together in a spectacular sonic soup. These guys are gearing up for a huge summer complete with festivals and jibrolicky. I think that really soon it is all going to come together and its going to be absolutely huge.

I'm not sure if anyone even reads this stuff but just in case, I am going to drop some shameless self-promotion for the sake of feeding the hungry. I am having a show on May, 20th at the Walnut Street Cafe in Lynn including some different acoustic performers, poetry and more. Apparently some people think that the biblical rapture will be on May 21st, so this is a Pre-Biblical Apocalypse Party. Its also going to be a food drive in case we survive. The food will be going to the Cape Ann Food Pantry and split with Lynn if they have some kind of a local food charity. If you can't make it out, please at least donate a can of food to your local food charity.

Fiddlehead will be returning to the Chit Chat on May 27th, they also have some festivals coming up. check back on their Facebook page to get more information. I will try to post what I can when I get more info. Its definitely going to be an excellent summer for the jam band scene and the local music scenes in general. Please support local music and local musicians, don't let live local music become a thing of the past and be replaced by DJ's and karaoke!

Here is a picture from Dodge Street on April 3rd:

Brownchickens and Absylums and Underwear, OH MY!

The Spotlight Tavern is an excellent venue with a great setup, outdoor enclosed patio, excellent staff and strong drinks. It also sports a cozy atmosphere and friendly crowd. On this evening, Brownchicken Browncow, Fiddlehead and Absylum take the stage in that order. This is a split bill I've seen at Dodge Street in Salem and the Chit-Chat Lounge in Haverhill as well, but in different order. Either way, its always a good night when these three bands come out to play.

BCBC is up first and the Bruins play during their entire set. Sports games can be a big factor in how a night goes at a music event. The band still sounds awesome, especially Eric Houde and his monster solos. His brother Brian is also an excellent bass player in his own right, its a wonder two such players came from the same family. Mike O'Toole also does an excellent job on drums, his timing is impeccable. Their song "Japanese Fighting Mule" stood out especially. Another thing I must say about BCBC is they are a very friendly and nice bunch of guys and very community oriented.

Fiddlehead plays a very tight set as always. It is however, a tighty-whitey set. Well not quite, but the fellas disrobe down to skivvy attire to show they are "comfortable" playing the middle set. Mike Strakus has some sort of Fred Flintstone looking shirt on. Kevin Maestranzi is just up there in his underwear and a smile. Pat Nelson has some shorts and crazy socks on. At one point I am invited up on stage to be "Mr. A" opposite "Mr. F" in a sort of skit. Tim Johnson played especially well, the sound of him on MJ Sands' drum kit is interesting. Great solos from Pat and Mike tonight as well. Kevin sounds great as always, singing and playing bass seems so tough to me. Overall the set is good and everyone has a wonderful time!

Absylum...where to begin. They have gotten leaps and bounds better since I heard them last and they were already damn good before! I think the most epic part of this evenings performance is hearing Justin Lopes sing. Sean McCormick also sings a bit and manages to hit the bass at the same time. MJ Sands sounds brilliant as always, perfect rhythm and a wicked cool hat. By the time they get rolling, quite a few pretty ladies are dancing in front of the stage. Justin is an absolute monster on the keys, he definitely tears the house down. I can't believe how good Absylum sounds for being together for such a short period of time to be honest. Expect more of them in the future as well.

Great night, great lights. Felipe Araya as always puts on a spectacular light show. I am really glad the Spotlight Tavern has sprung up as one of the premier venues in Beverly. So many venues have sold out to having nothing but DJs and Karaoke, its good to have an old fashioned live music bar. They have an open jam on Tuesdays that is a great time as well, starts at 9 PM I believe. I would definitely recommend you check this place out if you haven't already, its a great time. Also check out these great bands as they hit venues near you! Look them up on Facebook for more info.