Not only does local musician Tom Terry believe in miracles: he’s related to one.
At the tender age of nine, Terry’s niece, Mya Terry, is a three-time cancer survivor.
“She’s living proof that perseverance and believing can make the impossible a reality,” Uncle Tom says, beaming. “Her motto is ‘Fight till you can’t fight anymore’… and she was recently featured on CBS Manhattan, where they refer to her as ‘Miracle Mya.'”
On Sunday, Jan. 29, Tom and his band the GT Project will join forces with Choice and the Sara Ashleigh Band to deliver an evening equal parts altruistic and entertaining. The multi-band affair will take place at Wales Irish Pub on Holland Road in Wales from 1 to 6 p.m.
Tickets are $10 and available at the door—and according to Terry, the funds are earmarked for both a special cause and some well-deserved smiles.
“First, we hope to fulfil a wish for Mya and raise enough money for her to go to a Cirque du Soleil show she has always wanted to see,” Terry says. “And of course, all additional funds will go to her cancer charity.”
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In other news, singer-songwriter Heather Maloney was so nervous during her first public appearance at a Noho coffeeshop in September of 2009 that she nearly needed prodding to take the stage. Less than two years later, she found herself in front of—and swiftly winning over—a crowd of nearly 1,500 when she opened for Jonny Lang at the Calvin.
This Saturday, Jan. 28, Maloney performs at the Arts Block in Greenfield—gaining some sonic support from a few high-profile friends.
Bassist Paul Kochanski, drummer J.J. O’Connell and guitarist Jim Henry (fresh off a nationwide trek with Mary Chapin Carpenter) help transform the celebrated solo artist into the Heather Maloney Band Jan. 28.
Vermont-based performer Chris Dorman gets the opening nod.
Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door and available now at http://theartsblock.com.
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Meanwhile, the region’s premiere “mood-pop” practictioners, The Winterpills, appear to be in some sort of holiday hollow daze. The group’s fifth studio effort, All My Lovely Goners, is slated to drop on Valentine’s Day, yet they seem to have MLK on their minds.
“We have a dream,” the Pills revealed on their online home at winterpills.com. “[We want] to release our upcoming album on luscious, high-grade vinyl.”
They go on to cite strong support from their label, Signature Sounds, but they realize that literally making records these days is not exactly a sound business practice.
As a means to their end, the Winterpills have pooled resources with one of the world’s largest fundraising platforms, Kickstarter.
Depending on the amount pledged toward the project, supporters can receive anything from autographed schwag to a live house concert or an executive producer credit. They could even have chief songwriter Philip Price pen a song just for them.
A goal of $7,000 was established to bring the record to fruition, and as of press time, the band was almost halfway there. For more information or to pledge, go to kickstarter.com and search “winterpills.” The deadline to contribute is Wednesday, Feb. 8.
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Last but not least, a Rest In Peace to longtime NRBQ drummer Tommy Ardolino. The impassioned percussionist passed away just days before what would have been his 57th birthday (Jan. 12). He leaves three decades of live performances, some 15 studio recordings, and countless smile-inducing moments (particularly when he would exit the drum kit for the microphone) and musical memories.
On a personal note: Ardolino was a Springfield native who lived half a street away from my grandmother and was always gracious with his time throughout my career—he was my go-to guy when I needed some star power as a budding journalist.
He would go on to record a solo album after the “Q” went on hiatus in 2004. It was titled Unknown Brain, and the disclaimer emblazoned across its cover was vintage Ardolino: “Warning: If out-of-tuneness bothers you, don’t bother listening.”
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email: garycarra@aol.com.
