music | moonieandme

The Killdevils at Oak Hill Tavern

Posted on May 19, 2015 by annierhodeisland

Oh boy! The Killdevils played on Sunday at Oak Hill Tavern. These guys haven’t gotten together to play in so long that Moonie and I just had to trek down to North Kingstown for this show.

First we giggled at the sign. The space in “Killdevils” made it look more like a directive than a band name.

Then Moonie checked out the Killdevils’ instruments – you know, to make sure they were safe for musicians Chris Monti and Jake Haller, not because he liked to stand on them and pretend he was surfing.
He’s a giver like that.

Moonie and MDB, Part Deux

Posted on May 19, 2015 by annierhodeisland

Moonie and I didn’t get any photos of Marc Douglas Berardo when we saw him at Tupelo Music Hall, so after Waterfire on Saturday night we headed down to MDB’s favorite haunt, Perks & Corks in Westerly, to catch his hometown show. He and his pals Ken Serio, John White and Sandy Allen were rocking by the time we walked in, and even people outside the building caught some of the joy from their noise.

Sandy Allen provided great slide action next to us. Moonie was fascinated.

When MDB and friends stopped for a break, we asked Ken Serio if it was OK for Moonie to take a photo with his percussion instruments. Ken gave us the green light, and Moonie hopped right up.

Folk Song Sing-Along

Posted on May 14, 2015 by annierhodeisland

Remember that “Don’t Stop the Music” initiative I posted about the other day? Tonight they were having a folk song sing-along led by Chris Monti, so we stopped in the Providence Public Library to join that (although Moonie didn’t know many words and mostly just hummed along). It was a small but interesting group of people, and when it was ending, a nice lady from the library informed us that in a couple of weeks Chris will be back to host a free harmonica lesson.

Which Moonie is SO ready for.

Moonie’s Mail: Whetherman’s “Seeds for Harvest”

Posted on May 13, 2015 by annierhodeisland

Boy, does Moonie love getting mail! Especially when it’s the latest album by Nicholas Williams, who records his soulfoul folk songs under the name Whetherman. We’ve been looking forward to his sixth album!

I was particularly happy to see the CD as I’ve been looking for something to distract Moonie from one of Whetherman’s older albums. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great stuff, but Moonie calls records “whees” because he can climb onto the record player and ride them like a merry-go-round while shouting “Whee!”

A compact disc should be a lot safer.

Quahog Quorale

Posted on May 12, 2015 by annierhodeisland

Moonie and I stopped into The Parlour last night to check out “Quahog Quorale,” a group my friend Jennifer participates in that advertised their latest gathering as “a quorum of quadlibetic quoristers questing a quantuplicity of tunes.” We didn’t know what to expect, but we found a circle of women and men of all ages happily belting out all kinds of ditties. They seemed to be having a ball, and their joy in singing was infectious. If I’d been familiar with any of the songs, I’d have joined them.

An unusually quiescent Moonie studied the group of strangers and Jennifer. “Can I hug them?” he queried.

“Maybe next time,” I responded, trying not to quell his enthusiasm.

The Rank Strangers

Posted on May 11, 2015 by annierhodeisland

There’s a fair amount of bluegrass bands around Rhode Island, but Moonie’s favorite is The Rank Strangers.

Here he is enjoying their set last night at Wood River Inn. (Not pictured: his stomping little feet.)

“Don’t Stop the Music”

Posted on May 10, 2015 by annierhodeisland

What a wonderful concept: the Providence Public Library is just about halfway through its three-month hosting of “Don’t Stop the Music”, a celebration of music and music making. The library is hosting a mixture of exhibits, workshops, films, and live music (curated by my friend Chris Daltry) in its gorgeous 193-year-old halls. Last night Moonie and I caught three amazing acts of live music among its marbled halls: Chris Daltry and Mark Howard from The ‘Mericans; Allysen Callery; and John Faraone joined by his very tall but very lovely-voiced friend Thomas Woulfe. Moonie was in heaven during the performance, and of course he had to pop up on stage when it was over to absorb the last few notes of music still echoing in the library’s hallowed halls. Apparently the music is easier to hear if you pull some surfing moves on the music stand.

Moonie & Allysen Callery

Posted on May 10, 2015 by annierhodeisland

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.

Moonie & MDB & Moonie’s Celebrity Sighting

Posted on May 9, 2015 by annierhodeisland

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.

Tupelo Music Hall

Posted on May 9, 2015 by annierhodeisland

Last night we headed up to NH to the famed Tupelo Music Hall for a fantastic double-header by Marc Douglas Berardo and the The Pousette-Dart Band. Both were fantastic, as was the location, but an announcement was made in the very beginning that photography of the artists during the show wouldn’t be permitted. “It’s OK,” I told the amused couple beside me as I snapped a couple pre-show pics of a proudly posing Moonie. “I got the important shots.”