FRANKIE
DOES DAFFODILS
(a review of the 2002 Meriden Daffodil Festival)
by Frank Critelli
Coffee in hand (Dunkin Donuts french vanilla, light and sweet), wife in
tow (Linda, the web-maintenance mistress) and already excited about the day's events, I
rolled into Hubbard Park at 9am on Saturday and paced from empty stage to empty stage for
the next two hours.
As busses filled with families arrived and daffodil enthusiasts were greeted under
colorful balloon arches by festival volunteers, a crowd began to gather in front of the
Welcome Stage for CHICO & FRIENDS. Carlos "Chico" Gonzalez
led his six-piece band of friends through an energetic set of covers and originals. The
band (tight, semi-Latin flavored, almost jamband-esque) benefited greatly from Nicky Pinto
on bass and a guest appearance by the young Joey Gonzalez on percussion.
Meanwhile, KAT ROBERTS, backed by an acoustic trio (comprised of members
of the Gonkus Brothers and County Line) played several sweet selections from her CD,
Longest Day. Despite having reeled in only a tender amount of years, Kat's songs songs
show a country-tinged voice of experience.
We were off to a pretty good start...
HIGH LONESOME PLAINS began their set right on time as
the Daffodil Parade marched in behind the bandshell. Chris Buskey's writing has been
labeled everything from folk to alt.country to plain ol' rock n' roll. HLP fits neatly
into any of these categories while simultaneously defying them all...he's strong and
eclectic, better than Ryan Adams and almost as good as Alex Chilton. Some of his songs are
so simple and beautiful ("Apple Red") that it makes the listener wish they were
four times as long. This set was an early musical highlight of the Daffodil Festival.
The GONKUS BROTHERS held the sweet spot in the Food
Tent Stage (12:30=lunchtime!). These guys have been around long enough to qualify as a
Connecticut institution, and their set proved that experience counts for a lot. Even
still, it was hard to stay in the Food Tent knowing that THE FURORS were
about to begin on the Welcome Stage. But the Gonks were personable and fun, and as
shit-kicking as it gets.
The quirky, Almighty FURORS have been a Connecticut band for going on 30
years. Cool and wildly respected, they drew longtime New Haven musicians and scenesters
like Hank Hoffman, Shellye Valauskas, Matt Reale, Kathleen Cei (and her sister, a newly
converted Furors Fan), Chris Arnott, Kathleen Rooney, Dave Gouge, and Chris Buskey...not
to mention CT
Congressman Jim Maloney who enjoyed a song or two before heading off to schmooze
somewhere. The Furors unique style of pop songs delights many, confuses some and leaves
others twisting in the wind. Passers-by clapped or smiled in bewilderment; one young
marching band drummer from the parade even offered his percussive additions while tagging
along behind his parents. Always intriguing performers, The Furors are the subject of an
upcoming local tribute record (called GET FURIOUS! on the ThinManMusic label), a two
CD set of local artists covering Furors songs. A bigger testament to the appeal and
greatness of this band I cannot imagine. Derrick danced like a young Pete Townsend and Tom
shook himself loose through a strange and superb hour-long set. More! More, I say!!
THE TROLLOPS!? Late...in true young, sloppy rebellious rock n' roller
fashion. Duo for the first song, trio for the next few with drummer Pasquale D'Albis (of
Mark Mulcahy), and finally, all members present, the Trollops broke into loud, charmingly
out-of-tune, annoy-your-parents swagger. Move over Frank Sinatra!
"These guys are good," Linda said as we sat in the cool grass in front of THE
MANCHURIANS. Matt and Roger Reale and Mike Roth have enough industry credits
(written songs for Buddy Guy, BB King) and rock n' blues balls to headline a festival like
this. The green hill by the Band Shell Stage filled with music fans as Bob Orsi breathed a
hurricane into his harmonica, Mike Roth manically strangled his lime-sherbet colored
Stratocaster, Roger Reale selflessly gave his fat-bottomed bass and gravel voice and Matt
Reale pounded a heavy heartbeat with gloved hands. Heads bobbed like apples in a bucket,
children danced and the sun shined during this afternoon highlight.
**Special Observation on Mark Mulcahy..by Chris Buskey:
The Furors and MARK MULCAHY woke up on the Mayflower together to perform
a stirring version of the song
replete with "Ba-Da-Das" provided by Dans, Holcomb and the rest. In this version
"Mister Ray" became "fat Old Ray." And this time, Ray really had
gotten himself outta here. My favorite new Mulcahy hit is a sort of swinging bluesy take
on the "ABC Song." Syncopated and with background vocals by some kids in the
crowd, the song took on a whole new feel. Although, I'm not sure if anyone else was
laughing as much as I.
***
Just after Mulcahy, the grass in front of the Band Shell Stage began to thicken with
people salivating for ROGER McGUINN. Armed with a 12-string acoustic and
his familiar Rickenbacker, McGuinn played a mix of old folk songs and favorites by Bob
Dylan and the Byrds. Was it 8000? 9000? 10,000 people that sang along? I have no idea...I
just know that every person on that hill was dumbfounded when McGuinn sang or spoke,
exploded into applause and cheers as he raked the final chords to each classic tune and
was silent again as they waited for his next song or story. In front of me, two long-lost
friends reunited to the songs they remembered from their youth. They hugged while
remembering...remembering...but they were so much older then--they're younger than that
now.
Sunday: Rain, rain, go away!
The Shellye Valauskas Experience braved the Sunday storm and played in
full five-piece splendor under the shelter of the food tent. Semi-shy and somewhat
waterlogged, Shellye and bassist Kris Santala harmonized in the drizzle. Dean Falcone, red
guitar in hand, warmed his fingers on his coffee cup (courtesy of the Lion's Club). In his
over-sized leather coat and floppy hat, he almost resembled the Elephant Man, and believe
me, he played just as big! Undistracted by the cameraman on stage, the band expertly
played selections from The Stupid Truth, their debut CD due out in June. Despite having
learned several of the songs within the previous 48 hours, Maya Rossi's violin was a
beautiful addition, and Bruce Crowder held everybody together with his steady hands.
THE NIELDS finished off the festival in delicious two-part harmony and
songs about stuffed animals. I'd write all about their performance if I thought they
needed the press, but the truth is that everything positive to be said about them has
already been said a thousand times. I like them very much, but they sound so much like
people from MunchkinLand that I have a difficult time figuring out what they are singing!
(Incidently, Frank Critelli played a fine set sandwiched between Shellye
Valauskas and the Neilds. Somebody needs to look more closely at this unassuming, yet
extremely competent songwriter. Please!?)
Final Thoughts:
1. Next year is the 25th Daffodil Festival Anniversary.
BE THERE.
2. Rob DeRosa, my friend, we all thank you from the bottom of our
local-music-loving hearts. You are, in deed, the MAN. |
