I Hear Music at the End of the Tunnel
It felt like one of those epic movies where the news reports play in the background while our main characters barely notice. While those news reports grew slightly more ominous, I innocently bought my tickets for upcoming concerts and discussed setlists of upcoming gigs with my little local band. Meanwhile, 2020 was closing in on us, ready to suck up any and all plans like “The Blob.”
As a music fanatic, I always have a plethora of events etched in my calendar. Live music is my lifeblood (you know, along with my family and friends) and suddenly, just about everything music-related was frozen in time. However, as George Harrison might say, “I feel the ice is slowly melting.” I can say, with some trepidation, that there does appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I might even be, gulp, a little excited.
Heading into the 2020, I had these aforementioned plans to see Black Crowes and blue-grass phenom Billy Strings, to make a trip to Texas for Austin City Limits and to catch many local shows at the Fairfield Theatre Company, including a Joe Cocker revival act playing the entirety of Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Of course, none of those shows happened, and no new major tours have been announced yet. However, there is a little life blossoming over at FTC as they begin experimenting with safe show options.
When I was a young lad growing up in Fairfield, there were about two restaurants (and one of them was Duchess). The thought of having a top-notch music venue in the heart of town was as unlikely as Fairfield landing a professional sports team. In the 90s, the only place to see live music was a teen-centric club called The Beanery. The Beanery had all of the best intentions in the world. Now, if you remember the venue, it is probably more of a punchline to a high school joke, than the next Fillmore East. Currently, Fairfield features a venue with two stages that have held the likes of stars both local (e.g. Stephen Kellogg, Mystic Bowie, Tom Petty Project) and national (e.g. Black Pumas, Jason Mraz, Lemonheads, Greensky Bluegrass). I know the folks at FTC are just champing at the bit to get back to some form of normal.
FTC is now at limited capacity with six-foot distancing and a pod model. Many concert-goers have even made their return. I’m close to making the return myself. Let me tell you, when I roll into my first real concert after this year; I’m going to feel like Freddie Mercury returning to Wembley Stadium. For myself and many of my friends, bobbing and swaying with an invested audience to a well-perfected groove played live is one of the pinnacles in life. As Dobie Gray might say, “give me the beat boys and free my soul.”
As a music obsessive, I also tend to dabble in playing a little of my own music. I am decidedly adequate on the guitar and singing a tune, but boy, do I love it. A few friends and I have a band that went by a couple different names (Luke Warm and the Kinda Cools and McGruff and the Crime Dogs most recently). We had no fantasies about going big time. We were happy to jam together in our bassist’s sound-proof basement, hacking away at our bar band covers of Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Grateful Dead, and more. Occasionally, we stole away enough practice time and managed some raucous gigs, our favorite being at Southport’s seminal drinking hole, the Horseshoe. This wasn’t about getting paid or trying to make it. It was about the music. It was about getting together with your friends and playing music. Sadly, 2020 sucked away “getting together with your friends” quite effectively. With jamming and live music on pause, I turned to Spotify and made approximately eight thousand playlists, but at some point, a (perfectly crafted) playlist just isn’t enough.
From left to right: Jason Rose, Chris Hunt, John McGrath, Rufus Ruiney
That brings us to spring 2021 and as Fairfield’s cold winter is now behind us, I feel a little bit of hope in the air. I hope that maybe the light at the end of the tunnel is here, and those are stage lights accompanied by whatever beautiful music you are craving. I can sense the hum of an anxious crowd just as the headliner is about to hit the stage.
Live music is coming back. Fans will be striding into the FTC and other local venues, such as The Cap in Port Chester and College Street in New Haven. With the promise of warm weather, outdoor events are sure to be on the horizon, perhaps at the brand-spanking-new Harbor Yard Amphitheater that was forced to postpone its grand opening. Maybe we can all feel the joy of returning to crowded bars like the Horseshoe, singing along to that spirited cover band playing in the corner. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like something has been missing in their lives without live music and I am optimistic that I’ll be bopping and swaying sooner than later. Music is coming back soon, as Johnny Cash might say, “if the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise.”