One of the most accomplished multiple-instrument musicians around, Pete Vendettuoli can play the heck out of the banjo, the guitar, and the mandolin. When he’s not touring with The Rank Strangers and Forever Young, he’s busy being the owner of Ethnic Concepts and one of the nicest guys I know.
Moonie enthusiastically seconds the nice guy comment.
Oh joy! Last night Moonie got to meet Melanie Moore, a fixture on the Rhode Island music scene. A beautiful dancer, Melanie comes out to support various music and move to its rhythm. She paused just long enough to cradle Moonie.
Moonie in turn wanted to be with lovely Melanie forever, and he also wanted a better view of the live bluegrass.
What better seat than on top of his new friend Melanie’s head?
Last night Moonie got to meet Mark Howard, a talented guitarist who plays in both The ‘Mericans and The Brother Kite. Mark also has a great sense of humor, so I figured he’d have Moonie laughing. Instead, Moonie had Mark laughing.
I think he told that banana knock-knock joke again.
Moonie and I love Allysen Callery. Self-proclaimed “quiet music for a loud world,” she consistently features a beautifully lilting voice and soft, melodic fingerpicking that make every performance feel like an intimate gift from her soul to yours. She’s one of my absolute favorites on the Rhode Island folk scene.
Last night, after enjoying Allysen’s otherworldly music, Moonie got a special treat. Allysen fondly gathered him in her lap along with an array of little candles. As she was wearing a long black dress and as she’d mentioned during her set that someone had accused her (in a good way, there’s a story there) of being a witch, I had to ask, “Are you putting a spell on Moonie? What is it?”
Without missing a beat her sweet voice responded, “I’m wishing Moonie joy and a lifetime of finding things to do.”
The spell is already coming true. Thank you, Allysen.
One of the acts Moonie traveled all the way to NH to see actually lives right in Rhode Island: Marc Douglas Berardo. His set at Tupelo Music Hall was amazing last night and well worth the drive. Moonie and I approached him for a photo after, during which Moonie appears to have farted in MDB’s face.
A woman standing nearby suddenly asked, “Is that Moonie?” It was his first recognition, and don’t worry, the fame only swelled his head a little. Given that it was already disproportionately large to his body, it’s all the room it had to swell.
It turned out that Mary had just discovered Moonie’s Facebook Page and was a fan of his antics. Obviously I had to capture his first official fan, so Mary jumped into the next photo with MDB.
Adorableness immediately ensued.
Moonie and I stopped at a restaurant/bar called Whippersnappers in Derry, NH to grab a quick sandwich on our way to a show.
The pianist, whom I noticed slipped some White Stripes and Green Day and Whitesnake songs into his 70s and 80s easy listening repertoire, was pleased to meet Moonie and let him pop onto the piano during his performance. They seemed to get along awfully well, especially during Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” (one of Moonie’s faves).
I love how seriously they’re looking at each other here.
Moonie had a wonderful time popping into Suite Tart, one of the coolest salons in Providence. “Team Tart” members have been amazing at glamming me up with hair and makeup in the past, and today it was Moonie’s turn.
Suite Tart proprietor LuLu Locks set Moonie up in his own little vintage pint-size high chair under a vintage hair dryer. She even found the perfect little book for him to identify with!
That got me thinking: which look does Moonie wear best?
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One of the most fun things about Rhode Island is the Extraordinary Rendition Band. The ERB, an open band with at least 30 members of all ages, can best be described as a guerrilla activist street band, popping up in unexpected places to bring attention to various causes or to cause good-natured fun and mayhem – usually both at the same time – while dressed in their trademark “red, white and shiny.”
Moonie had a blast meeting them and dancing to their tunes today.
Even if his rounded, kind of wobbly feet almost helped him fall into the abyss of ERB’s giant sousaphone.
Uh oh.
Moonie and I ran into the po-po, and it turns out there are several warrants out on him.
We tried to say it was a case of mistaken identity – as hard as this is to believe, he’s not the only naked 3-inch doll with pink hair in Rhode Island – but they weren’t having it.
He was arrested by a no-nonsense officer.
Luckily, his little arms were way too small for the cuffs, and the police agreed to let him go with a warning if he’d promise to behave in the future.
Moonie promised–although I thought I saw him crossing his teeny little fingers behind his back.
And was that a wink in his little amber eye?
(Thanks to the Providence Police Department for being good sports!)
When they’re not busy being an amazing singer/songwriter and an amazing artist, Chris and Jennifer Daltry run Providence’s coolest combination antique and record shop, What Cheer. Moonie and I stopped by their booth at the Providence Rock & Roll Yard Sale (a fantastic event they coordinate a couple times a year in Providence, RI and Somerville, MA). Chris showed off a What Cheer t-shirt while Jennifer was adorable in her Kentucky Derby duds.
And the guy behind Jennifer? That’s a whole different story.
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