Melissa Morgan
Attention all musicians and music fans. You have got to know about this jam and venue in southern, New Hampshire. Last night’s Thirsty Thursday Open Mic and Jam at Auburn Pitts in beautiful Auburn, New Hampshire was a fun time for all. Musicians and singers who came from several miles in all directions got a chance to get up and do their thing, offering a variety of genres, blues, country, and modern rock.
I arrived in time to find some familiar faces playing and singing, David Papa on guitar, Paul Dickinson on guitar, Angelo Mullen on bass, and Rick King on drums. The four strong players pumped out solid blues riffs and grooves in a room where the sound carries well. Their take on Willie Dixon’s “Back Door Man” packed a wallop. Although Dickenson is way more suited to singing rock songs, he was emphatic, which was what this song needed. Papa pressed out a lean, mean guitar phrase with that grinding melodic crust of the original.
Hostess Diane Pettipas managed to get everyone in the room up to play by the end of the night, and these enthusiastic folks don’t really like to end at the end of the night, so she had a lot of work to do.
The next line up featured keyboardist Dave Spaulding and guitarist Rick Campbell. As front man, Spaulding sang with a raspy, soulful voice well suited to the bluesy material he and his jam mates tackled. “Feel So Bad” was one number that they whipped out with aplomb. Bluesy organ swirls were like gravy over mashed potatoes. Campbell took the microphone when his line up delivered down tempo, slow boil blues, displaying a Jack Daniels smooth vocal that fit the vibe here. Campbell also showcased his hot, tasteful slide guitar licks, conjuring up a demon sound, a wiry phrase drenched in plenty of greasy high notes.
Wally Nichols, Mike Gallant
Local band Three Years To Live came up next. Featuring a fierce lead singer named Melissa Morgan, they first went into “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes. Morgan went up tempo with a fury, while holding it all together through its dynamics and changes. Rhythm guitarist Jared Youngblood took over lead vocal duties for a spirited cover of The Ramones classic “Sedated.” The band did a fine job, playing this song with a gripping rhythm and wild abandonment.
With her flamboyant stage presence and bluesy, considerate vocal phrasing, powerhouse singer Melissa Morgan came back up to belt out “Me And Bobby Magee.” The rest of band sounded more like 1990s rock than late 60s, and that was all right too. It worked. Their drummer sang lead vocal with power on Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” while slamming the point home on the skins. Melissa Morgan resumed her chores at the microphone to deliver Radohead’s “Creep,” which she enunciated with a breathy, sexy vocal approach, which, by the way, turned out to be a neat twist and it didn’t distract from the song’s intended vibe. The players around her kept the sound rich, thick, and hard hitting within that Radiohead moody, mid-tempo haze. Bass player Dan Danger also sang lead vocal, having fun with a playful story song.
Another lineup from last night’s jam featured bass player Mike Berkowitz, a low end man who played some hefty blues, which got people dancing. One singer-acoustic guitar player, known as “Crazy Steve,” played some oldies material in which he brought out the personality of the song. Junie Vaillancourt had fun with her usual mash up of country blues, rockabilly. “Kansas City,” “Shake, Baby, Shake,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Money Honey” were the hits she set on fire last night. Guitarist-singer Brian Ducharme got a turn to sing some of his personal favorites too. With a tight ensemble behind him, Ducharme kept it steady, solid, and down and dirty. “Big Boss Man” is one Ducharme has honed to perfection after years of jamming on it.
June Vaillancourt
Later in the evening, drummer Wally Nichols showed up at the jam. His presence always seems to draw attention once he walks into a room. Last night was no exception. He soon got behind the drum kit to accompany Mike Berkowitz and guitarist Mike Gallant on some outstanding hard rocking blues, like “Killing Floor.”
A youthful guitarist named Tim displayed a forceful blues personality at the microphone. He was especially deep, soulful, meaningful during his delivery of Bill Withers’ “Use Me.” He also knew what he was doing on guitar, making his axe express the attitude of the number. It didn’t hurt to have Mike Berkowitz play a monster bass solo.
Guitarist Tom Ballerini, former host of this jam, took to the stage to play his perfected old timey notes on “Natural Ball” and “Further On The Road” and “Caledonia.” Auburn Pitts owner and music supporter, Mr. Carmen Giampetrozzi, went up to hum and sing a few bars.
Dave Spaulding, Rick Campbell
Just when one though the night would come to a close, Melissa Morgan got back up there to join jam host Diane Pettipas for a sultry version of “Mercedes Benz.” I eventually had to leave, as I was starting to think the remaining few participants might keep playing and singing until 3:00 a.m, and I had to get up early to write this live review.
It was the variety of genres and the large individual talents of all involved that made last night jam so much fun. The Thirsty Thursday Open Mic And Jam will likely continue for a long time, as last night’s draw was solid for a drizzly evening during a prime vacation week. Auburn Pitts is located at 167 Rockingham Road Auburn, New Hampshire. 603-622-6564.
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