Sessions

We’ve got another great line-up of music for your listening pleasure. As always, it’s BYOB. And bring a pot luck dish to share as well, if you’d like.

Here’s the full line-up:

6:30 – George John

George John is a guitarist/vocalist who plays a wide variety of well-known classic pop/rock/country songs from the 60s–90s – songs from artists such as The Eagles, America, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, The Beatles, Bob Seger, The Beach Boys and many more. George John also has a handful of original songs of his own.

7:00 – Dust Devil Heart

Dust Devil Heart is an acoustic duo featuring singer-songwriters Holley Anderson (guitar, vocals) and Elise Morrison (bass, vocals). Their big hearted originals are filled with close harmonies and poetic lyrics. They mix in beloved covers by artists such as Lucinda Williams, Leonard Cohen, Dar Williams, and the Indigo Girls. Formed in 2018, Dust Devil Heart has played regular gigs at The Stand in Branford as well as in Corvallis and Eugene, Oregon in June 2019 and were featured at the Short Beach Music Festival in July 2019. 

7:30 – Joe Stein

Joe Stein is a singer who accompanies himself on the keys, often creating his own arrangements of a wide range of rock, pop, folk, jazz, and R&B songs and infusing both older and more con-temporary music with his own unique spin. He also plays the trumpet, often sitting in with variety of local bands in the Shoreline music scene, and he plays 1st trumpet in the Yale Medical Symphony Orchestra. Joe lives with his wife and daughter in Branford, where he teaches in the public school system.

8:00 – Trio of Wah-Wahs

This trio from the newly formed Flock of Wah-Wahs Joe Walsh Project is honored to make an appearance at Crescendo’s Sessions. This Joe Walsh project is a long held desire to honor the guy that inspired Ralph to pick up the guitar. Over the years, Ralph bounced the idea off Dave Geisler, but it never took for a variety of reasons. Fast forward a year after Ralph’s shoulder surgery, and the idea was revived as an aide to his rehab. Ironically, the Beatles Tribute at the Guilford Country Tavern in 2018 was the spark that brought in a fellow fan of Ringo’s brother-in-law, John Jackson (formerly of Shade and Jam Chowder), well known in the area and a classically trained and extraordinary bass player. Ralph and Dave hit it off immediately and agreed to form the nucleus that is now A Flock of Wah-Wahs. The name is an insider Joe Walsh reference that appears to be a love it or WTF? proposition at this time, based on friends and family response. Carl Iaccarone of Durham CT and our resident energizer bunny, joined the (James) gang after a killer closet installation at Ralph’s house revealed that Carl knew Dave, played drums, and was interested in playing. The rest, as they say, is history.

An offshoot of the swirling musical vortex that is David Geisler and friends, Bronx native and Meriden ex-pat Ralph Riello has been playing and performing on and off for years around an Emmy award-winning media career, and now teaches Digital Media and Marketing. At this session, the flock will perform without Mr. Geisler, who will be donning his George costume with Ticket To Ride at Cheney Hall. For those staying local, our performance will feature a set of acoustic-electric songs from Joe Walsh’s collaborations with the late, great, and sorely missed Dan Fogelberg, among other Joe gems. We look forward to seeing you all on the 14th. Until then, remember these words of wisdom from Joe; “Two fingers man, you can make a lot of money.”

8:30 – Break

9:00 – TBA

9:30 – Living With Robots

Sandy Connolly (vocals, guitar) and Ted Ervin (bass, vocals) play a blend of blues, rock, and Americana. Tony Cafiero (not a robot keyboard player) will be sitting in with us this night! They cover The Wood Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Rickie Lee Jones, Gretchen Wilson, Fiona Apple, and Tom Waits.

10:00 – Repeat Offenders

Based on the Connecticut Shoreline, the Repeat Offenders deliver a gritty blend of roots music – vintage blues, country, and rock – all in their own inimitable style. Core Offenders Barry Felson (guitar and lead vocals); Ken Hickmott (lead guitar & vocals); Justin Paglino (keyboards & vocals); Peter Menta (harp, washboard & vocals) and Pete Magnotti (drums) are joined by a cast of friends on bass and other instruments.