Middle East Downstairs 03/17/12

Fiddlehead
Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA.
March 17th, 2012

The electric light show is blasting laser light beams all around the room. The dance floor is jam packed with canoodling onlookers. The locals are all painted shades of green. Pat Nelson is singing about nicotine…or is it a hippopotamus, maybe it was both I guess? Most of it’s a blurry mess of space cream and cigarettes. Its like a joyride in your Dad’s mint condition 1974 Dodge Challenger. Pure adrenaline.

The sound of the bass thumping could alone frighten off even the most savage of animals and tame the wicked beast. In fact at one point the Blorg itself made an appearance and was stricken temporarily deaf and beaten abundantly by the mindless rabble of Fiddleheads. Waves of terrifying sound continued to pour from the stage for what could have been hours or even days…but was probably just about ninety minutes.

Beads of sweat pour off the entertainers as their fingers seem to have minds of their own. Thunder and lightning come crackling out of their amplifiers with every powerful lick. The drums crash like hippos stampeding across the stage. Funk in its purest form can be seen oozing from their ears at this point. Every last inhibition has been cut loose and the only thing left is to just go with it, you’re in over your head.

The tribe of painted worshipers pack closer and closer to the stage as Fiddlehead begins to channel the most ancient of funk. Endless chants of “Fiddlehead!” can be heard even from the back of the crowd. The lights flicker in and out, brighter, dimmer, spinning around and around. Complete chaos ensues on the dance floor, a literal pandemonium of air humping and skirt dipping.

Standing near the front of the stage, feeling the air being displaced by the subwoofers and getting the occasional odd brush from behind is an experience like no other. If your head isn’t instantly turned to jelly by the vibrations, you will experience the feeling of flying, followed by temporary paralysis and a small chance of coma. Children under eight years of age should only attempt this under parent’s supervision. Consult a doctor before ingesting Fiddlehead.

Its just then you realize you locked your dad’s keys in the car and now you won’t get away with taking it. Also, Wanda, the hot blonde you were making out with in the bathroom has the handsomest knuckle hair you’ve ever seen and the crazy funk band you thought you were watching is actually a polka tribute to David Bowie. Welcome to the land of chemicals and leisure suits.

Fiddlehead: Coming to an Arena Near You...

This is hopefully being published in The Noise magazine next month but for the people who actually know about the blog, you get a sneak peek. I will try to update this more often now that winter is upon us!

Fiddlehead: Coming to an Arena Near You…
By: Patrick Fitzpatrick

Fiddlehead is a rock band out of Lynn, Massachusetts that has been achieving a lot of success lately. After coming off of several sold out shows including the famous Wobble Wednesday at The Wonder Bar in Allston, MA on October 30th 2011; the band is rumored to be in the studio. If these rumors are in fact correct, Fiddlehead will most likely be poised to release an album around the first of the year. Due to their recent success, I decided it would be prudent to inform the faithful Noise readers as to what they are all about.

The band is made up of Michael Strakus on guitar and bass, Kevin Maestranzi on guitar, bass and vocals, Patrick Nelson on vocals and guitar and Tim Johnson on drums. The four have been playing together for a couple years now in different configurations. Patrick and Michael have pretty much been through thick and thin, playing together since they picked up guitars as youngsters. The natural energy this band seems to cultivate is based on their deep connections to each other. It definitely comes through in their music, which along with their light show, can cause anything from spiritual transcendence to sensory overload.

Did I mention they have a light show? Yea, a real trippy-hippy, psychadelic, laser light show. Controlled by none other than Felipe Araya. How many bands do you know that have a light show and a lighting crew traveling around with them in this economy? That’s how you know its good. Seriously though, these guys have purchased some very expensive equipment to do something different than the norm and I think that shows serious dedication to the whole experience. How many bands just travel around and play the same boring old set over and over with the same guitars, same amps and dim bar lighting?

Not only does Fiddlehead bring the light show, but they also often have things like artwork and jewelry for sale at their shows. They were definitely the first band I saw selling this kind of merchandise at bars. It definitely fits in well with the hippy vibe and brings some sophistication to the table. At pretty much every show there is a painting auctioned off by the talented Desirae Hudson, who also does all the artwork for the band’s posters, logos and probably their album cover. The surrealistic art along with the lights and crazy music all blend together to create a great atmosphere.

Fiddlehead is a funky rock band, with blues, soul and jazz influences. They tend to avoid cover songs and stick to originals, though their version of “Deep Elm Blues” is excellent. Some of their original song titles include, “Nicotine”, “The Blorg”, “Space Cream” and “House of Groove”. Their song catalog is fairly extensive but they often like to jam out on individual songs for quite a long time. Long periods of instrumentals and lots of dramatic solos almost brings me back to the 1970’s. Don’t take my word for it though, you can check them out yourself online on fiddleheadband.com and several other websites. You can even become one of their over 900 fans on Facebook.

(Photo by Cherie Mann)

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.

Bruins Breakdown Shakedown

Ahh, The Farm. One of the coolest venues I have ever been to. There's a volleyball court outside for crying out loud, who doesn't love that? Located in historic Essex, The Farm is a bar and grille where sports and live music collide. While a majority of the bar is watching the Bruins in overtime, Fiddlehead begins their set in a foggy, light-speed haze. Even though the beginning of their set is slowed by the game, they still bring it and start to build a crowd.

By the time Space Cream and Nicotine roll around, the crowd is really bumping. The Farm has to be one of the most hospitable places I have been in a while. Everyone is incredibly nice and friendly. Pat Nelson's SG sings from the soul tonight, and no broken strings! Strakus both dominates the SYB pedal and his Jazz Master in his epic battle against the Blorg. Kevin and Pat both combat the lack of a second mic in style. Tim Johnson rides the snake on a very shiny Gretsch kit! Desirae paints another masterpiece. Felipe's light show is out of this world.

Speaking of WORLDS, lets talk about OUR OWN WORLD for a moment, shall we? They are an incredibly awesome band with very solid licks. I really like how the lead guitar player rips a Les Paul, I haven't seen one of those since Zubru at Dodge street! They play an excellent set filled with great tunes. They are also a very agreeable and friendly bunch of guys. I definitely see Fiddlehead and Our Own World playing together again in the future.

Apparently now Fiddlehead is being played on College radio. Pretty soon that ole Blorg is going to have to make a deal here because the lads are just getting too big for their britches. In fact, the whole jam scene around Beverly, Salem and Lynn is just exploding. Pretty soon I see some of these bands touring the country, playing huge festivals and creating music all over the world. Stay tuned for more Fiddlefun!

Night at the Limelight

As I walk into this cozy, shotgun-style bar on a second story in downtown Haverhill, I am not met with quite what I expected. This seems like a very down to Earth, but hopping venue. The stage is angled and in a pretty good spot over by the windows. I am very impressed by the extremely professional setup of Guitar Center's own Nils Carlson and Chris "Keebler" Wadden. From wireless systems to a Mac book to record the whole evening, these guys cover all the bases.

The first band is a Weezer cover band fronted by Nils and they sound awesome. They put a new spin on all of the Weezer favorites. The whole band is very tight and the sound mix is excellent. The drum kit is mic'd perfectly and between the great band, awesome lights and the fog machine, everyone starts to get down. Who doesn't like Weezer anyway?!

Fiddlehead quickly sets up shop and prepares to unleash chaos on the masses. At this point the bar is starting to fill in a little more. As Fiddlehead progresses through their set, more and more people come pouring in and more and more people get closer to the stage and start dancing. I thought Tim's drumming is particularly good tonight, especially considering he isn't playing his own kit. Kevin hops in and out of the crowd with the aid of a wireless system. Mike masters the SYB pedal tonight and goes the distance. Pat's guitar and vocal mic give him some trouble but he handles it like a champion.

After the set, we head across the street real quick to check out our good friends Brown Chicken Brown Cow. Two Lynn jam bands playing in Haverhill right across the street from each other on the same night? Priceless. They sound awesome tonight especially with the addition of harmonica. They are definitely moving up in the world and making a name for themselves on the jam band scene. They have matching band t-shirts tonight as well, red, white and blue! Check them out at a venue near you.

Sorry to cut it short but sweet, will most likely be writing about Fiddlehead's next show at The Farm in Essex tomorrow night with Our Own World!

BlorGulu w/Cheese, $11.99

(I don't know if you've heard...but there is this band called Fiddlehead and well, they have been playing tons of shows all around the Northshore and beyond. On Thursday, April 7th, they played at the good old Gulu Gulu Cafe. This was a long time coming since their musical roots took hold in the original Gulu in Lynn. Legend says that Steve Feldmann himself once booted them for being too loud. Well, no longer! It appears the lads have been welcomed back to the new Gulu Gulu with open arms.)

As I walk through the door, I witness many of the typical items that come along with a Fiddlehead show. Desirae Hudson is painting a lovely picture to be raffled later on during the show. Cherie Mann is displaying all of her wonderful jewelry for sale. Felipe is running with a minimal light kit this evening but the drums are still lit up quite nicely. Fiddlehead is wailing away on one of their soon-to-be hit songs and wreaking havoc on yet another crowd.

Something feels particularly warm about this show. Maybe its the fact that the Gulu Gulu is just a comfortable place for me, but it just feels awesome. There is a decent crowd for a Thursday night and everyone is definitely entertained. Then suddenly I am summoned to the stage to play during the break. Luckily Dan Kupka happened to be there with his melodica and played along splendidly. After some good time favorites and a botched rendition of "Friend of the Devil" I gladly hop off the stage and let Fiddlehead continue to unleash chaos.

Most of the second set sounds damn good, for reasons which may be obvious if you know Fiddlehead at all...Some people get up and dance for a bit, which is awesome. The original concerns about Fiddlehead maybe being too loud are not a problem at all. Even Tim Johnson, the monster himself, rages just a bit lighter in the Cafe environment. They play right up until the wire and even a little beyond, as the crowd begs for encore after encore.

If you missed your chance to have your face melted off this time, tune in next time, as the Fiddleheads fight the Blorg once again at The Farm in Essex on April 23rd...or perhaps some other exciting locale in the meantime. Until then here is a preview of a little something you should attend next month: