Project Kali
Paying it forward seems to be the theme of the millennial generation. The Sixth Annual Ramble came to Salisbury Beach last Saturday afternoon and evening and, hosted by the Adam Ezra, raised money to go towards building a handicap accessible home for a veteran. Aside from the good cause, great feeling vibe, it was also a day of an amazing variety of music coming from the bands that played the 12 hour long event.
Ben Knight opened the event on the beach stage. I arrived in time to catch Project Kali playing at The Ramble Town stage. Kali Stoddard-Imari lead a few acoustic musicians, a bass player, and a stomp box to deliver his deeply meaningful original music. His soulful vocal over the acoustic guitars got a lot of groove and melody out of “Road To Glory.” His “Keep On Movin’” had a strutting groove supporting Kali’s ruggedly handsome, neo-hippie vocal approach. Belting out his chorus, he sounded like a man on a mission, his vocal melody turning into something as strong as an anthem. “Souls,” Kali’s newest love song, was a weave of acoustic notes and a chorus declaration of what he gets out of his relationship.
Gretchen & The Pickpockets
Gretchen & The Pickpockets came up next onto the beach stage. This band and singer always make me say aloud: “Is there an agent in the room? Somebody needs to sign these kids. They could easily fill the void left by Amy Whinehouse and, Duffy, wherever she went.” That’s not an exaggeration. This New Hampshire R&B/soul band could make it big. Listening to Gretchen Klempa finessing the lyrics to their original should convince anybody. From gentle coos to roaring belts, this girl fleshes out the songs like nobody’s business. Cool delivery is the specialty of this singer and her band mates. Churning guitars and vibrant trumpet lines. Again, I ask, “is there an A&R person present?” Ms. Klempa sung the hell out of Blondie’s “Heart Of Glass,” her band mates moved through with an easeful grace. Ryan O’Connell got more out of the melody with his trumpet than other version of this tune. At other times, O’Connell put a swaying trumpet line beneath Klempa’s voice to offer an extra slice of cool.
Bella’s Bartok
Dressed for a 19th century German beer festival, Bella’s Bartok were a wild concoction of rock and roll and Hungarian folk music. Their wiry lead singer, Asher Putnam, belted like an inpatient as notes flew out of accordion, trumpet, and trombone. This band swiftly got their audience into a handclapping mood with their high energy, stomping, old world influenced music. Their stage personality must be taken into account as well. Their frenetic delivery, musically as well as physically, of their song “So Calm, Relaxed” proved them to be genuine loons. But that is part of their charm. Their tune “Mother” offered a more frenetic electric guitar and a more rock and roll structure with a speedy groove and an eerily catchy chorus. A mandolin line spanked out each of its tiny, spine-tingling notes. Look for this band to go places, scary places.
Cold Engines
My favorite new local hard rock band Cold Engines came on strong, playing their unique brand of driving, gripping music. Large guitar sounds were augmented by bassist Amelia Gormley’s gigantic, hefty grooves. Vocalist-lead guitarist David Drouin sang out over the rock garden beneath his voice like there was no tomorrow. Having a percussionist as well as a drummer makes their sound more complex, more driving, more nuanced. Flavorful skin smacking was the order of the day for Cold Engines. This band has already released two albums in less than a year and they were already playing songs from an upcoming third CD last Saturday afternoon. Drouin’s voice kept a heartfelt cool inside his cocoon of driving guitar, bass, drums, and percussion. He even, at one point, unleashed a Syd Barrett like howl.
Singer-songwriter Jason Spooner came up and did his impressive song “Simple Life.” Marked by a layer of smoky organ swirls and flinty electric guitar notes. Spooner showcased his nice high smooth vocal timbre. He also had fun, extending “Hey Poky Way” by The Meters into something jam-ish. Next, the Chad Hollister Band, from Vermont, grooved their way into the vibe of The Ramble event. Their lively folk-rock, comprised of thin, perky guitar lines, thumpy grooves, and exotic hand percussion weaved a wide, upbeat sound. Hollister’s new song, “Eyes,” was inspired by his concern that people don’t make eye contact as much in the age of the smart phone. It was a catchy, hummable tune that fit the CHB’s penchant for amicable music that people can connect with on a personal level.
Adam Ezra Group
Headliner and Ramble hosts the Adam Ezra Group took to the beach stage for the grand finale. Ezra got to his rap-speech portion earlier in the show than usual, as “Burn Brightly,” the song that launches it, came sooner than usual in the set list, indicating Ezra was eager to express his thanks to everyone who came out to The Ramble and everyone who worked hard to make it happen. It was good to see percussionist Turtle back at his post after missing many shows of late. Turtle had suffered kidney failure several weeks ago, and he’s been wrapping his gig availability around his dialysis schedule. “Hippie Girl” pranced in with Erzra’s cool vocal style and Josh Gold’s bluesy-jazzy sprawl. “Miss Hallelujah” was enhanced by fiddler Corrina Smith’s moody melodic line arcing over the tune’s rhythmic underpinnings. Their harsh language number, “The Devil Went Up To Boston,” was censored by Turtle’s whistle each time Ezra sang out one of his favorite curse words. During this AEG show highlight, Smith, as usual, delivered a foot stomping fiddle rampage, an enflamed melodic line that sent Satan back to hell. Adam Ezra Group rocked right out on their bombastic roots number “14 Days,” a song whose words are as ominous as its haunting harmonica and chilling fiddle. That number always ends with Josh Gold’s heavy, funky, rocking organ swirls and churns, and Gold gave it his all last Saturday night. AEG’s drummer Alex Martin put the pulse into “Steal Your Daughter,” his steady pound augmented by Turtle’s trash can lids pushed the song into one’s consciousness and wouldn’t let go of one’s ears. Meanwhile, here, Ezra’s handsome, sandpapery vocal got a lot of support from his own banjo work.
Whiskey Treat Road Show
An after party at Uncle Eddie’s featured the roots rock band Whiskey Treaty Road Show. Their combo of roots instruments like banjo and mandolin with electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums caught the ear of all in attendance. Earthy notes from the banjo, dobro, and acoustic guitar kept the band sounding soulful, real. Grant Smith’s guitar phrase was a haunting piece of yesteryear. He had listeners feeling the history of the roots element within his melodic phrase. Billy King’s raw, natural emotive vocal was another standout quality.
Thus ended another Ramble. The generous spirit of all who attended and or supported The Ramble made the vibe event of the summer. It was low key and friendly on the interpersonal level while the level of talent made it a spectacle to see and hear.
https://www.facebook.com/benknightlife?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/kali.stoddardimari
https://www.facebook.com/GretchenandthePickpockets?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellas-Bartok/26862461226?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/coldengines?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/JasonSpoonerBand?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/chadhollisterband?fref=ts
