Normally, this is the spot where your friendly neighborhood Nightcrawler looks for something—a unique angle, a flashy quote—to pique readers' interest in the event that follows.
In the case of journeyman musician Roger Salloom and his impending performance at the Academy of Music this Saturday, Aug. 23, however, the sheer regularity of it all suddenly seems as refreshing as any manufactured hype or pre-show bravado.
At a time when other such annual events are either affixing more sponsors or signage and exponentially upping ticket prices, and some are pulling the plug, Salloom—whose credits include collaborations with The Band, Jonathan Edwards and The BoDeans—will strap on his six-string for his 25th annual summer Noho show this weekend. And, as has been the case with each performance in that same quarter century, this year's attendees won't need a thin dime or red cent to enter. The event is totally free, somehow immune to even a fuel surcharge.
In fact, as the now Florence-based singer/songwriter revealed, the largest obstacle to keeping his cents-less streak of local summer shows alive is often himself.
"[Sometimes] I'm a comfortable recluse," he explains. "My guitar looks as if it were noisy furniture, and I would grab it and force my fingers into a song. I always found the courage to muster this one show a year, though. Although for some of those 24, it was a painful rebirth."
In turn, Salloom's dogged pursuit of both his craft and the spirit of 1967 San Francisco (the impetus for the free shows) seems to have led to a career rebirth of late. In 2006, the film So Glad I Made It, the Saga of Roger Salloom, America's Best Unknown Songwriter garnered both critical praise and numerous awards. And humorous artwork created by Salloom and his son, Salem, on the tray card of his new studio release, La Te Da, "came about two inches from being a TV show executively produced by Mike Scully of The Simpsons," he says.
Joining Salloom in this weekend's festivities are Charles Neville, Jimmy Weider, Eric Olsen and Unit 7, among a host of others. For more information, call (413) 584-8435.
In other annual, altruistic audio news, Sean O'Connor, bassist for Wrinkly Old Nuts, checked in to inform that the fifth annual NickoDemos (www.nickodemos.com) Memorial Music Festival will occur this Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Millers Falls Rod and Gun Club in Montague.
The event was originally inspired by the tragic death of music fan Nick Demo and its proceeds were earmarked specifically for Demo's wife and two children.
Just as the size and scope of the concert itself has grown with each installment, O'Connor says that he and his fellow organizers have similarly expanded NickoDemos' circle of benefactors, donating to various children's music and arts endeavors in Franklin County.
"Last year, we were able to underwrite the Teen Art Exhibit at Artspace in Greenfield and generously support the Avenue A Music Project at The Brick House in Turner's Falls, for example," O'Connor says. "So we feel this is a win-win, as it supports a good cause and still carries on Nick's name through music."
Rounding out the bill with O'Connor and his Nut-jobs for this year's night for Nick are celebrated singer/songwriter John Sheldon, Allston-based indie rockers The New Dumb, and Greenfield's own Exit Reason, among many others.
Last up, the 18th annual installment of Transperformance—where local notables send up national personalities under the guise of a yearly theme—also raises thousands for area arts programs each year. This year's "Letters & Numbers" lineup includes Spouse as U2, Aloha Steamtrain as T Rex, and many more such examples at Look Park in Florence on Tuesday, Aug. 26. For a complete list of performers, times, admission prices and more, kindly point your browser to: www.northamptonartscouncil.org.
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
