There aren't many shows this weekend as New London rests up for next weekend's Sailfest, but there are a couple of outdoor events that you'll definitely want to see. On Saturday night, the Hygienic Art Park is the place to be, for the first Can Kickers show in a very long time. To make the evening even better, The Paul Brockett Roadshow and The MacLean Sisters will also be playing. The Can Kickers released their first album of punk-influenced old-time music thirteen years ago, while the members were still students at Conn College. Since then they have toured all over the United States, even doing tours of Mexico and Ireland. These guys are masters of DIY, releasing four self-produced CDs in addition to booking all their local shows and tours. In the process, they also brought a lot of great bands to town...
(continued from above) Due to geographic challenges, mainly the fact that drummer/washboard player Doug Schaefer has been living in San Antonio, Texas for years, gigs have been fewer and farther between. This may change, since Doug and his wife recently moved to Maine. It's still a bit of a drive to New London, but it's definitely an improvement. Fiddle player Dan Thompson is a wonderful mostly self-taught player who found a lot of time to practice while working aboard boats. Danny Spurr sings and plays guitar, banjo, and fiddle. He and his wife Liz Larson perform as the duo Dan & Liz, and he also plays bass in the punk band Modern Primates. The Art Park is a bigger venue than they have been booked in for their last couple of New London shows, so that's good news for the many fans who are sure to be coming out to see them on Saturday. There is always a crowded dance floor when these guys play, and there's plenty of room for dancing at this venue. The Paul Brockett Roadshow formed in 2005, after an impromptu jam between friends at a house party. They just released a new EP called Up All Night, which was recorded and mixed by Jason Banta. You can stream and/or purchase it on the band's website or here: https://paulbrockettroadshowband.bandcamp.com/album/up-all-night-ep-2014 and I'm sure they will have copies for sale at the show. The members of this trio are all mainstays of the local music scene, with Paul's music career dating back to his years with Paisley Jungle in the 1980s and continuing with Brockett, God's Green Teeth, Vera From Alice, and more. Meghan Killimade has been playing drums in local bands since the 1990s, including $3 Depth Charge and April in Nevada, and she's currently quite busy with her doom-heavy bass/drums duo Bedroom Rehab Corporation. In addition to his bass duties in PBR, Dave Anderson is a member of Wolfghost, one of the hottest new bands in town, and he also plays with classic country outfit Full Moon Jamboree. Openers the MacLean Sisters recently won a Whalie Award for Best Americana Performance, and they wowed the crowd at the show, many of whom had not seen or heard them before. Joining twin sisters Rachel Sargent and Sarah MacLean are the amazingly talented Jim Carpenter (who produced their album) on guitar and Corina Malbaurn on bass. This is going to be one of those shows people will talk about for a long, long time. Tickets are $5, and all ages are welcome. Beer and wine will be available for those of legal drinking age. The show starts at 7 and I'm strongly recommending you get their early to catch all three of these great bands.
On Sunday afternoon, head out to Captain Scott's Lobster Dock in New London to see The Rivergods play a free show from 2-5 pm. People in the area always look forward to these shows at Captain Scott's as highlights of the all-too-short summer season. This relaxing waterfront location is a perfect place to enjoy live music. I'm a vegetarian, but my friends tell me Captain Scott's seafood is the best in the area, so you might want to arrive hungry. I can vouch for the fact that the ice cream is delicious. Getting back to the music, the Rivergods are Ben Parent (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Nancy Parent (pedal steel, guitar, and vocals), Dana Takaki (fiddle), Craig Johnson (bass), Chris DeBiasi (drums), and Bil Groth (keyboards). They have been playing what I can only describe as Americana/folk/country/rock since 1997, and this most recent lineup has really begun to click, from what I have heard. I saw one of their early shows, in the late nineties at Pool Hand Luke's, and liked them immediately. Since then I go see them whenever I can, although I have not had a chance to catch this new lineup yet. That will hopefully happen soon. The show is appropriate for all ages, and bands play rain or shine since there is a pavilion overhead. BYOB if you wish. Music starts at 2 pm.