As less than subtly implied by its title, West Side’s Taste of The Valley was created to showcase West Springfield in all its culinary splendor. And, while the current incarnation of the annual event is certainly in keeping with that mission statement, Stella Kalamarakis is quick to add that the 2010 Taste is in fact a multi-sensory experience.
“In addition to being able to try a variety of foods from a variety of vendors, it truly is a great place to hear some fantastic music for free,” the West Springfield Rotary Club president says of the four-day affair that will feature the sounds of Orange Crush, Aquanett, Jimmy Mazz and many more amongst the savories for sale on the Park Street Town Common June 3 through 6.
According to Kalamarakis (say that five times fast), more than 100 area entertainers threw their respective hats into the ring for possible inclusion on the bill. Sorting through packets and selecting the final dozen is equal parts daunting and painstaking, she admits. But there are least three signposts that help guide her along the sonic journey.
“Obviously, we strive for a variety that please all ages,” she explains, “and we try not to bring back the same acts two years in a row. The only time we will do that, in fact, is when they also agree to perform for free or a reduced rate—both of which are greatly appreciated as, at the end of the day, the Taste is also a fundraiser.”
For full performance schedules and other info, kindly point your browser to westsidetaste.com.
*
Piggybacking on the audio/edibles theme, we find two other upcoming events of note that pit some of area’s finest rock practitioners with lots of pork and a couple of very worthwhile purposes.
The first finds 2009 Grand Band Slam winners Tailor Made and the Kick Back party band at the sixth annual Alzheimer Benefit Pig Roast, hosted by the Westfield Sons of Erin (sonsoferin.com) on Saturday, May 29, followed the very next week, June 5, by the Tri Poker Run/Pig Roast for Autism at the Knights of Columbus in Indian Orchard (call 413-543-3472), featuring classic rockers Visions and the newly formed Bexhell. Tickets for the former are $15 for adults (children 12 and under, free); admission is $10 for the latter.
*
In other news, longtime Advocate contributor Dan Perkins (aka Tom Tomorrow) was recognized about a week ago, mid-show, during Pearl Jam‘s recent XL Center play. Best known for creating the political cartoon This Modern World, Perkins was tapped by pal Eddie Vedder to produce the cover art for Pearl Jam’s latest studio offering, Backspacer.
“We’ve got a little bit of a local connection we want to point out,” Vedder explained to the capacity Hartford crowd before asking current New Haven resident Perkins to join him on stage for a well-deserved bow.
Despite sucking down several cigarettes onstage between swigs of wine, Vedder remains in fine voice as he enters his third decade at the helm of one of America’s most reliable rock outfits—his reedy baritone soaring over assorted PJ hits and chestnuts including “Just Breathe” and “Crazy Mary” and howling through FM staples “Porch” and “Evolution.”
“The energy is really good in here tonight,” the flannel-clad frontman declared at one point in the blistering 24-song set. “I’ll tell you what… you guys try to keep it up out there and we’ll do our best up here, ‘kay?”
Not exactly a dicey proposition, as all in attendance easily held up their end of the bargain while the band throttled through arena-ready anthems like “Alive,” “Jeremy” and “Porch.”
“Indifference,” the moody closer from the band’s sophomore effort Vs, proved particularly poignant, with bassist Jeff Ament nestling into an upright to achieve the tune’s jazzy bottom end. And watching the normally understated guitarist Mike McCready finger-tap hotshot guitar licks over an impromptu cover of Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” had a goodly number of fans smiling almost as widely as he was—your friendly neighborhood Nightcrawler included.
Catch the Nightcrawler every Wednesday at 8:50 a.m. on the Steve Cantara Show on WRNX 100.9 FM. Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email garycarra@aol.com.
