WAILING CITY: May 2014

Anne's Show Picks of the Week (May 29)

By Anne Castellano

The upcoming weekend looks to be as busy as last weekend was slow. There are multiple good shows all weekend, beginning on Thursday night. Vince Thompson and friends will be playing their semi-regular fifth Thursday of the month show at Sneekers Cafe in Groton. Vince will have Bob Metzger on guitar, Bill Morrison on bass, and Steve Peck on the drums. The Thompson family is quite talented, and there are a few of them in the area, so you might see brother Curtiss (from the Village Jammers), daughter Anna, or sister Cecile join him for a song or two as well. The band will play from 7:30-11 pm, and there is no cover.

Pics/Video from 33 & Oasis Sat May 17

Mobile pics by Meghan Killimade & Kim Zajehowski Case

Video by Meghan Killimade

Wolfghost @ Oasis Pub

By Anne Castellano

It's going to be a great weekend of music in New London. Most of the action takes place in a tiny section of downtown, which is always nice because people can wander between the clubs and catch even more music in one night. Saturday is the busiest night, but that's no reason to stay home on Friday night (unless you have to work late Friday and be in early on Saturday, like I do...). 33 Golden Street in New London will have a show with King Sickabilly, the Providence psychobilly legend who formerly fronted Sasquatch & the Sick-a-Billys, and the Slaughter Daughters, who are making their first visit to the Whaling City from their home base in Oregon. The Slaughter Daughters is a banjo, guitar, upright bass trio fronted by Ariana Celestine and Cecilia Raheb. They play dark roots/gothic Americana, influenced by Slim Cessna and Munly, Cab Calloway, and Hank Williams. It's going to be good. Cover is $5 and the show starts at 9:30 pm.

Congrats to New London's own Daphne Lee Martin (Singer/Songwriter), Bedroom Rehab Corporation (Metal), Chum Zilla (DJ) & The Hempsteadys (Reggae) for their nominations in the Connecticut Music Awards!

Winners will be announced at the 3rd Annual Connecticut Music Awards on June 10 at The Bushnell. Tickets to the Music Awards are available to the public and can be purchased through the Bushnell Box Office by calling (860) 987-5900.

Go here to view the entire list of nominees:

http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/music/ct-music-awards/

Anne's Show Picks of the Week (May 1)

By Anne Castellano

It's going to be a quiet weekend, but I do have a couple of show recommendations. On Friday night, The Village Jammers will be playing at Steak Loft in Mystic. If you aren't familiar with the band, the Village Jammers have been around for more than thirty years. They got their start as the house band at the Village Pub in Stonington Borough (don't look for it, it's not there anymore). The Village Jammers play a mix of bluegrass, country, and folk, with Curtiss Thompson on mandolin and vocals, Dan Ravenelle on guitar and vocals, and Geoff Corkhill on guitar and vocals. The last couple of times I saw them they did not have a permanent bass player, but they usually do have someone on bass. Curtiss Thompson (brother of local roots/country artist Vince Thompson and uncle of singer/pianist Anna Thompson) is the main songwriter, and the songs are wonderfully melodic with a dark feel at times. These guys are great players, and definitely not your typical bluegrass band. You're bound to hear some good stories too. The band released their first and only album, 'Til It Happens To You, in 2013. They have said in recent conversations that they were recording a follow-up, but it's been in the works for such a long time that I am getting skeptical. Time to start bugging them about it again! Since Steak Loft is a restaurant, all ages are welcome. There is no cover. The band plays from 7-10 pm.