It seems the only star Valley singer/songwriter Michael Silverstone (michaelsilverstone.net) may not be connected to is Kevin Bacon. In the past few years, the Amherst second grade teacher has appeared on the Today Show and Ellen and performed with everyone from John Lennon’s drummer and Tom Petty’s keyboard player to Bob Dylan’s guitarist.
For all his high-profile appearances and collaborations, however, it was actually an observation made by one of his idols—Jackson Browne, to be specific—that to this day elicits outbreaks of goosebumps any time he thinks about it.
“[Jackson] didn’t know me, but when I mentioned we had a mutual friend in common and I had contributed to that friend’s album, he said, ‘You wrote, ‘Maybe life was curious to see what you would do about the gift of being left alive?'” Silverstone says, beaming. “He said that was one of his favorite lines on the whole album.”
The album in question is of course Grammy-winner Marc Cohen‘s Join The Parade. As chronicled in this column a year ago, and cited by whoever wrote the current Wikipedia entry on the subject, Silverstone co-wrote the track “Live Out the String” for the project.
This Friday, Dec. 30, Silverstone returns to Noho’s Yellow Sofa Cafe, where he hosts a popular open mic series, this time with the help of some fellow “sonic scholars.” “I’ll be joined by local rock star teachers David Waldfogel, Denny Wolf and Rob Douglas,” he revealed. “We are making Beatles, Warner Brothers/Atlantic Records-style music without authorization from the national media or retailing chains.”
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On to First Night festivities on Dec. 31 proper. The area’s largest event—First Night Northampton—rings in the New Year with more than 60 entertainment acts at no fewer than 17 venues from noon to midnight.
“As always, I don’t like to play favorites because I am involved with putting all the performances together,” says Penny Burke, executive director of the Northampton Center for the Arts. “But I am pleased to see Zoe Darrow & The Fiddleheads back, a reunited Trailer Park, as well as acts new to the event like Rusty Belle, Jamie Kent and Occidental Gypsy. And who knew Seth Glier would be returning as a Grammy nominee?”
For a complete entertainment itinerary as well as information on admission buttons and more, kindly point your browser to firstnightnorthampton.org.
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While the Dec. 31 audio offerings by local juggernaut/multi-venue entity Iron Horse Entertainment Group (iheg.com) may seem like formidable First Night competition, IHEG publicist Jim Neill revealed that, to his way of thinking, there is plenty of New Year’s cheer to go around for everyone.
“First Night does a great job of filling a whole day with all-ages entertainment,” he explains. “We’re definitely focused on the after-dark scene, and we simply strive to build the best event we can for each of our clubs.”
Answering the musical call to arms are Boston-based genre bashers Rubblebucket (Pearl Street Ballroom), Toronto Celt-faves Enter The Haggis (Iron Horse), Noho family act Lux Deluxe (Pearl Street Clubroom), Trailer Park plus Wildcat O’Halloran (The Basement) and Josh Ritter (The Calvin). “There’s no way we’re going to cover all the bases,” says Neill, “but we think it’s pretty eclectic and there’s something for everyone… except this one guy named Ned?”
I heard about him… wonder what his deal is?
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Last but not least, Springfield’s crowning jewel of blues and barbecue, Theodore’s (theobbq.com), hits the Mutherload New Year’s Eve, securing one of the area’s most coveted party/jam bands with roots stemming back to the former Electric Blue and Kozmik Truth. The Sharades will headline the New England Doo Wop Society’s (newenglanddoowopsociety.org) sixth annual New Year’s shindig at the Holiday in Enfield Dec. 31. And Pat & Tex LaMountain celebrate the release of their latest labor of love, a 13-track disc titled Sweet Chabago, at the Greenfield Grille Dec. 28.
Happy New Year, and remember, the key to health and happiness in 2012 may be relinquishing your keys when appropriate this weekend!”
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, PO Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
