South Coast Farmers’ Markets

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

Sunday was a beautiful day, the kind of day that’s perfect for a quick road trip. It also happened to be the opening day for the Fairhaven Farmer’s Market, which is held every Sunday on the grounds of Fairhaven High School on Huttleston Avenue (Rte. 6), just over the bridge. I parked my car in the lot behind the school and walked over to the grounds where about twenty booths were set up. The various vendors offered produce, plants, meats, cheeses, bakery goods, dried fruits, nuts, and hand-crafted items. All of the folks in the booths were friendly and helpful, and there were plenty of customers wandering about on this beautiful day.

As an added bonus, there was live music! The local band Pumpkin Head Ted was set up under a tent at one end of the grounds and they graced us with their wonderful music all afternoon. I was enticed by the strawberries at the booth of Silverbrook Farm of Dartmouth. I had a hard time selecting a quart because they all looked so perfect. The guys working there helped me pick out the best ones and they were truly delicious.  There’s nothing like locally grown berries in June.

A nearby booth offered an amazing selection of dried fruit and nuts. Ed and Ben at The Original Delancey Street Peanut Company let me sample a few, and eventually I went with a mixture of dried cherries, blueberries and kiwi. Yum. Right in the center of it all was Marilyn Watts with her “Little Jimmy’s Italian Ices” cart. I tried the watermelon and it was awesome; just what the doctor ordered on a hot sunny day.

Fresh veggies at the farmer's market.

There are several farmers’ markets in the New Bedford area including:

  • New Bedford/Brooklawn Park Farmers Market at Brooklawn Park: Mondays from 2:00-7:00 PM
  • New Bedford/Wings Court Farmers Market at Purchase and Union Streets: Thursdays from 2:00-6:00 PM (starts in July).
  • Taunton Farmers Market at Spring and Summer Street: Thursdays from 11:00-4:00PM
  • Dartmouth Farmers Market at 351 Elm St: Fridays from 1:00-6:00 PM
  • Westport Farmers Market at 870 Main Rd: Saturdays 8:30-1:00PM
  • Middleboro Farmers Market at South Main Street & Nickerson Avenue: Saturdays 9:00-1:00PM
  • Fairhaven High School Farmers Market: Sunday 1-4 PM.

In the summer there is nothing better than eating fresh, locally grown produce and meats, and farmers’ markets provide a great place to find everything you’re looking for.  Not only will you find a large selection of ripe, delicious food, you will also be supporting the local growers who produce it. My mouth is watering just thinking about the corn on the cob that comes later in the season, but for now make sure to get out there and enjoy everything your local farmer’s market has to offer.

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Shelley Cardoos

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

This Sunday, local artist and all-around local art enthusiast, Shelley Cardoos, will host an Open Studio at her studio on Sawyer St. from noon to 3PM. Shelley is no stranger to the New Bedford Art Community and is very active in many local organizations including:

  • Member of the New Bedford Cultural Council which gives grant money for local events.

  • Vendor Coordinator for Craft-O-Rama, a local craft fair.

  • Member of the Contemporaries of NBAM which organizes interactive at bases events at the New Bedford Art Museum.

  • Soapbox Social, a new group that organizes storytelling events.

  • Coordinator of New Bedford Open Studios, an event for artists to open up their studios to the public.

shelley cardoos new bedford guide
Shelley Cardoos

Just recently, Shelley added one more jewel to the crown, which she commented on in a recent conversation we had.

Shelley and I both are big supporters of the recent resurgence in the downtown area, so I asked her about that as well.

I wondered when she first got started with Art and what her major influences were that gor her where she is today.

tickets to the moon mccarthy and legge
Shelley did the artwork for McCarthy & Legge's Tickets to the Moon.

Youmay ask how she does all this as well as hold down a full-time position, but all of us who know her are not surprised!

Her studio will be open June 5 from Noon-3PM at 419 Sawyer Street #2 in New Bedford. The entrance is on the left of the building and the studio is on the second floor.

Artists Benares Angeley and Audrey Jerome will also have works for sale. They are moving to new studios so there will be plenty of art supplies, craft materials, furniture, fabric, patterns and frames for sale as well!




Steven Alves of Stevens Home Improvement

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

In 1983, Steven Alves opened Stevens Home Improvement in Fairhaven, a family-run business that has thrived by employing old-fashioned service combined with innovative products and high-quality workmanship.  When I had new windows installed at my house a few years back, I was impressed by the staff and the quality of the work they did.

Part of the Stevens Home Improvement mission statement reads:
“Our employees, working as a team, are our most important resource.  It is only by their performance, dedication and achievements that we will remain a successful company.”

Sometimes the words of a mission statement exist to convince people that a company will behave a certain way, even if it isn’t true.  With Stevens Home Improvement, I know for a fact that the mission statement is a guideline for the work they do.  Let’s hear from owner Steven Alves to find out more:

Tell me how it all started!

Steven: Starting at a very young age, I always liked money. When I got my allowance ($5 per week), I would save it and then if I needed something I would ask my mom so she would pay for it. I would put my money away in my Fairhaven Savings Bank coin bank. Then when the bank got full, I would put it in the bank account. I enjoyed going to the bank to see them post the interest I had earned. At first it was only 2-3 cents a month, but then it grew and compounded. That’s when I started loaning my money to my brothers.

My first job was watering the lawn at a newly constructed house near where I grew up on Spring Street in Fairhaven.  I would go do errands for elderly neighbors and they would give me 15-25 cents. Then I got into cutting lawns at age 13, 5 lawns a week…$11.25 per week….or shoveling snow in winter. I remember getting paid $1.25 for one lawn, and when I asked for a raise to $1.50, she said “No” and fired me! I learned a great lesson that day: Ask for what you feel you are worth. She ended up hiring me back because she couldn’t find another guy cheap enough. Her new fee was $2.00 per week.

Then one hot summer day when I was 14, I was sitting in my back yard when my neighbor Mike asked me to go for a ride with him. He was a contractor doing home improvements. He asked me if I wanted to do some work for him that summer. This was great because I would go to his house in the morning and get a ride to work. I started as an apprentice carpenter to this old-timer called “Smitty”….I was being paid $2.00 per hour cash, when minimum wage was $1.65.

I did this type of work for three summers until I got my license. Then I got a promotion; truck driver, cleaning up jobs, making deliveries, etc. I had to learn to drive a big red dump truck my first day of work that summer. I remember stalling the truck many times and bucking across Rte. 6, but it was another learning experience. I was now making $8.00 per hour, 50 hours a week in 1973.  So, each summer after that I would work for Mike, cut grass in the neighborhood, etc.

Where did you go to school?

smart house stevens home improvement
The 'smart house' from Stevens Home Improvement website.

Steven: I graduated from Fairhaven High School in 1975 and enrolled at BCC for the fall semester 1975. My dad was a financial controller, my mom a bookkeeper, my brother Jack an accountant, my brother Jim a CPA, and my brother David was also working for the same home improvement company as I was. My only choice in college, I guess, was to major in accounting. After two years at BCC and two years at SMU in Dartmouth, I received my Bachelors Degree in Accounting in 1979.

In 1981, several salespeople left the company so I started to learn the art of selling….and really enjoyed it.  I was only 24, and I was enjoying what I was doing, but I found out that Mike was feeling threatened by my new power that I had acquired with the workers/installers and the remaining salespeople.

Mike decided to try to remove some of my authority, and I made a choice at that time to never let another person control my life. Another learning experience.

In January 1983 Mike went on vacation and asked me to run things while he was gone for 2 weeks. Because we were now bucking heads for control, I made him an offer. If I could sell $75,000 in business with the salespeople then he would let me run things my way and he would take a step back.

I exceeded my goal and reached $125,000. I was feeling really good. Mike came back from vacation and never acknowledged what I had accomplished. I asked him to go to lunch so we can discuss it. At lunch I talked and he listened and then I asked if he was going to live up to our agreement. He said what he wanted to do was open up another home improvement company and let me run it my way and he would pay me a salary and 25% of the profits….I responded to him, “Why should I give you 75% of my profits?” He looked at me and smiled and that is when I gave him 30 days notice that I would be leaving.

Working for Mike was a tremendous learning experience: I learned what to do, what not to do, as well as all his connections in business. So, on February 14, 1983 I opened my company at the same location that Mike had started many years earlier. My first employees were Tom O’Leary, my brother David Alves, and Richard Medas. All three are still with me 28 years later. My father, John Alves (soon to be 88 years old), joined the company in 1988, my brother Jack joined in 1998. I love everybody that works for me because they are all good people. I recently hired a high school friend, Max Newman, to head up production, and Kevin Costa to administer sales development.

Tell me about some of your favorite projects.

Steven: I have historically restored two homes that I personally own. The house on 591 County Street in New Bedford is an old whaling house, built in 1863 by Oliver P. Brightman. When I bought it in 1985 it was a four family home, but I’ve converted it to a single family residence. My current home was built in 1775 and is listed in the Rochester Historical Journal as the “Wheel of Fortune Tavern.”  I’ve restored it over the twenty years I have lived there with my son, Steven, daughter, Kimberly, and wife Cheryl.

One of the largest projects we completed was Fairhaven Funeral Home. Most of our work is residential remodeling. Like the old expression BASF corporation used: “We don’t make the products you use, we just make them better.” I look at my company the same way. Home improvements to make your life easier and better. Sunsetter Awnings, handicap accessibility, railings, sunrooms, siding, roofing, energy products that save money/heat/cooling costs. We are an Energy Star partner, which is a commitment we take seriously…..as serious as customer satisfaction and our A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

How many people do you employ right now?

Steven: 23 employees

What are your plans/hopes for the future of Steven’s Home Improvements?

The Alves family.

Steven: Since I truly love what I do and I do not consider it a job or work, I can see myself doing this for another 40 years. My father, John Alves is 88 years old and still works every day for me in the accounting/consulting area. My son, Steven, is an AVP banker in NYC for HSBC and has no plans on coming back to this area any time soon. My daughter Kim, who runs an e-bay/online store (www.dogloverstore.com) shows no interest in home improvements. My wife Cheryl is a MDS Registered Nurse.

My plan for the company is to continue to grow it slowly.  I recently hired a new production manager, Max Newman and a Sales Manager, Kevin Costa. These two highly qualified individuals came to me and were victims of the economy, but ended up being perfect fits for my company.  We have also been able to hire very experienced installers- good installers are very hard to find.

We continue to tweak the company by bringing in new products, ideas, approaches etc. A lot of people think that if you are a contractor all you do is fix up houses, but there are many other areas you have consider, especially when you employ the number of people that I have. This is a 24/7, 365 business. I also want to mix in teaching to people about the correct way of getting estimates and dealing with contractors, maybe with a radio talk show about home improvements.  Plus there are already a few projects I am currently working on that will be released within the coming year, so keep your eyes open for Steven’s Home Improvement.




Musician Spotlight: Brooks Williams

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

Brooks Williams is a world-class musician who recently made a list of the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists. He grew up in Statesboro, Georgia, the same town referred to in the famous song “Statesboro Blues,” a blues classic by Blind Willie McTell.  Later, Brooks moved north and lived in Northampton, MA, for many years.  He now resides in Cambridge, England.

Brooks mostly works as a solo act, but he sometimes takes bands on the road, usually on European tours. Thanks to YouTube, I got to watch quite a few live performances by Brooks and I was impressed by his incredible smooth technique, and the way he makes complicated figures look easy.

I recently had the chance to interview Brooks. Here’s what went down:

brooks williams new bedford guideI think you’ll like the On-Stage Folk Cafe format. The Zeiterion is an old city theater that has been restored- the audience is on the big stage with you. It’s really cool.

Brooks: It sounds like a lovely gig!

How did you get started on your solo music career?

Brooks: I played backing guitar in a folk band when I was in my late teens – just strummy chords on an acoustic. One night, the lead singer of the band was late to a gig, and the promoter asked if anyone could play or sing anything to the audience while we waited for the lead singer to show up. I stepped up to center stage with my acoustic guitar and proceeded to play and sing a few songs – bluesy, acoustic rock kind of tunes – on my own until the lead singer/band leader arrived. I didn’t think much of it until the promoter rang me up and asked if I’d like to do a night on my own the next month. I said yes – and have continued saying yes ever since!

What kind of guitars do you use in live performances?

Brooks: A Collings acoustic and a National resonator guitar.

What is your latest project? Any new CDs?

Brooks: My latest CD is called Baby O! I recorded it in England with my “band” over there. It’s acoustic – with a distinctive “blues roots/Americana” feel.  It has some traditional blues tunes, from the likes of Muddy Waters and Son House, as well as my own songs like, “Frank Delandry” and “Walk You Off My Mind.”  You can hear samples on my website by clicking on the “Listen” tab.

Which musicians have influenced you?

Brooks: Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole. Although most people speak of me first and foremost as a guitarist, what jazzes me more than anything else is the song. I love roots music, blues, slide guitar – all that – but it doesn’t mean a thing if the song doesn’t go anywhere.

Good guitar playing needs a good song to make sense. Ry Cooder is an expert song archivist who has brought old songs to my attention. Bonnie Raitt has brought not only good songs, but old blues songs as well. Mark Knopfler and James Taylor write great story songs, with amazing hooks and melodies that hang with you. Ray Charles and Nat King Cole know how to deliver a song – how to sing it with soul – like nobody’s business!

What do you think of the current music scene?

Brooks: As much as people are in a bit of a panic about the health of the current music scene regarding radio stations, airplay and CD sales, what I’m finding is that people still crave live music; that coming together with others to hear someone do that thing they do.  Maybe the venues aren’t as big as in years past, but the magic of live music has yet to be replaced by downloads, DVDs and the like. Something pretty amazing happens when a community gathers around a gig. It comes as no surprise to me since that’s been my bread and butter for almost 25 years, but it is interesting to see people in North America, the UK, Europe, and Africa coming to the same conclusions!

I have to agree with you on that. There’s nothing like a live performance- it’s a singular, temporary work of art that is never repeated exactly the same way.

Brooks Williams will be performing at the Zeiterion Theater’s “Z On-Stage Folk Cafe,” on Thursday, April 14th, at 7: 30 P.M. The stage will be set up like an intimate night club, with table, chairs and couches- and you’ll be able to get up-close and personal with Brooks Williams.




Jam for Jim

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

A few months ago Jim Tavares, guitarist extraordinaire and much-beloved guitar teacher, suffered a stroke.  A group of friends and fellow-musicians, led by Glen Nunes and Rick “Rubin” Pacheco, have organized a fund-raising concert which will be held from 2-10 P.M. on Sunday, April 10th, at The Seaport Inn and Marina in Fairhaven. Fourteen local bands will be performing on two stages in two separate rooms throughout the day. All proceeds from this event will go towards helping with Jim’s medical costs.

The bands performing at this concert include Wood and Wire, Blues Train Band, The Relics, Batteries Not Included, Walk the Line, Pearly Baker Acoustic, Boneshaker, Mostly Mikes, J. Kelley, Slingshot, Girl Friday, Blu Lobsta, Revolving Circle and The McCarthy-Richards & Legge All Star Band.

jam for jim new bedford guideAlong with the music, Pizan’s will be serving pizza. There will be face-painting for the kids, as well as over 200 silent auction items including several guitars, Red Sox v. Yankees tickets, and musical equipment. Dozens of local businesses have offered their sponsorship, and you can view a list of who is involved and what is available for auction here.

Jim’s music career began in the ’70s, with such bands as Static, Wine, Paradox, Minx, The Otis Campbell Band, Jezebel, Butch McCarthy Band, Ava, Alibi, The Mudcats, Slick Willy, and Slap. Most recently Jim has been performing in the acoustic band Wood n’ Wire, with partners Bill Santos and Mike Lavoie.  Although Jim is great performer, his true claim to fame is his ability as guitar teacher.

Hundreds of local musicians got their start under Jim’s tutelage. Glen Nunes told me his son Zack adores Jim, and that he Zack is a rocker now thanks to Jim.  Jim is also regarded as one of the nicest, most genuine players in the local music scene- a true friend and stand-up guy.  There are many stories about Jim turning around problem kids with his gentle, persuasive teaching methods.

“Rubin” told me that Jim is still in rehab, but making good progress.  He is very much aware of the benefit concert, and is very thankful to everyone. It should be a great day of music, and it’s for a great cause.  I hope to see you there!

Tickets are available at Top Music, Symphony Music Shop and The Music Center. For more information, email: info@jimtavaresfund.com.  There is also a Facebook group for the event, in addition to the website.




Fridgecouch

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

“It’s kind of like losing a child”, he said.

Adrian Johnson had just shipped his “baby” off to Vancouver, British Columbia.

His baby was the Fridgecouch 325e Frost-Clear, a veritable work of art designed by A.J. and fashioned from items gleaned from a junkyard in Freetown: A cherry-red leather back seat from a BMW 325e, and a 1980 Gibson Frost Clear Deluxe Refrigerator in Avocado Green.

adrian johnson fridgecouch
Adrian in the beginning stages of Fridgecouch creation.

Adrian Johnson is a Canadian artist and design professional with a unique background in professional sports and design. He holds an Associates Degree in Computer Integrated Design from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary Canada, which he earned shortly after completing a ten-year career in alpine snowboard racing, where he represented Canada on the National Team for five years. He now makes his home in Massachusetts, splitting his time working between Martha’s Vineyard and New Bedford as an design associate with Sullivan O’Connor Architects.

Fridgecouch began as an attempt to assemble some affordable outdoor seating for his wedding. Adrian noticed that all the high-end cars in the junkyard, the BMW and Mercedes Benz wrecks, all had near pristine back seats. Who sits in the backseat anymore? He grabbed some of this seating and then tried to figure out how to frame the seat.  What could he use? How about a refrigerator?  Would that work? The fridge was the ticket and amazingly, after a few attempts, he found one that was a perfect fit for the seats.

What started as a whim became a project that Adrian really got into.  He used spare parts from the fridge, like the freezer door, to make a shelf on the right side.  He then added a wooden shelf on the left. Little details, like the BWM “325e” lettering on the back, rounded out the couch and made it perfect. He finished in time for the wedding, and the first Fridgecouch ever was born.  Needless to say, it was a big hit.

His office/workshop is located in downtown New Bedford, above No Problemo.  Despite the wonderful aromas distracting me from below, I managed to talk to him about the process he uses for making these beauties, as well as how much time is involved with each.

“That first one I figured took about 40-50 hours,  just to build it. I couldn’t tell you how much time I spent thinking about it and designing it.”

fridgecouch new bedford guideEach Fridgecouch he builds is a unique item, which makes them numbered, single-issue designs.  If you like a current design you can commission a similar Fridgecouch to be made, and one-off commissions start at $3,500.  Pricing can be viewed here.  Eventually, A.J. wants to streamline the operation with techniques that will cut down on the man-hours involved.

You really have to see a Fridgecouch to believe it. As we spoke, I was seated on the Fridgecouch 735i Dual-Temp, which is an Art-Deco wonder: a navy blue seat sunk into an electric orange Admiral Dual-Temp Fridge and pecan oak shelves trimmed with aluminum strips.  Besides it being a work of art, these couches are very comfortable to sit on. There was also a coffee table in front of me, made from a refrigerator door mounted on a washing machine drum.

“Where do you see yourself in a year?” I asked him.

“A year from now I’d like to be in a place where Fridgecouch would be my job. I’d like to make recycled furniture and have enough sales to do it full-time. I’m excited about this, and things have been going well thus far, so if I could keep selling my pieces, I could justify doing this more.  That is my dream.”

“Three years and three Fridgecouch designs since I started, I still find myself completely absorbed in the energy that people bring me when they experience something new and unexpected.  Life is a funny thing.  You just never know where it will take you, or what you will find.  Fridgecouch has become a purpose for me, a chance to bring recycling to people in a way they never imagined. But it’s only the beginning:  Design never stops, and where there’s a will, there is always a way.”

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Ella’s Woodburning Oven Restaurant Review

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

Ella’s Wood Burning Oven is the kind of restaurant about which one may be reluctant to rave. Too much praise may make the place so popular that the wait time for a table may go up…but I’ll take my chances.

Last Friday night my wife, Ann, and I had a dinner date with another couple, Kenny and Joanne.  Joanne suggested Ella’s, which is in East Wareham, which Ann and I rapidly agreed to: were psyched to try something new.  Joanne had already cased the joint, as she had been there once before with friend, so a reservation was made for 7:30 P.M.  After a glass of wine at their house we headed for Wareham, which is about a 20-minute drive from New Bedford.

After arriving on time we were seated immediately! Finally-a place where a reservation actually worked! We were shown to our table in the rear of the dining room, near the bar.  The decor was tasteful and unpretentious, which made it easy for us to get comfortable before our meal.

Our waitress was punctual and very knowledgeable.  She listed the wine and food specials before happily answering our questions- which were many. We ordered a couple of bottles of Rodney Strong Merlot, a favorite of Kenny’s. It was silky- a hearty, gulping wine.

For an appetizer we split the fried calamari with hot cherry peppers and marinara sauce, which was fried to perfection.  It was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, not overdone and rubbery. The plate was cleared within minutes.

For dinner I ordered the grilled shrimp with chourizo, chick peas, spinach and smoked paprika aioli. I added a side of (Are you kidding me?) Parmesan & truffle french fries.  Ann had the risotto with Florida rock shrimp, asparagus, mascarpone, and lemon. Kenny had the braised beef short ribs with horseradish & bacon mashed potatoes. Joanne had the pan-roasted salmon with fingerling potatoes, cauliflower sprouts, pancetta and caper mustard cream.

My dish was superb: the chorizo, spinach and chick peas complimented the grilled shrimp perfectly, and it was gone in a few minutes. I placed the fries in the middle of the table and we all shared- they were crazy good. I tried a little food from each person’s dish, and we all agreed that the food was incredible.  The risotto was especially delicious.

Dessert? Why not? Apple fritters and slices of cheesecake were brought over to join the coffees and espressos already on our table. The fritters were remarkable- I’d go to Ella’s again just to have them!

Ella’s executive chef, Marc Swierkowski, is also the owner.  He was formerly executive chef at the Crane Brook Restaurant & Tea Room in Carver, MA.  This guy creates beautiful dishes, which is why I highly recommend Ella’s.  Not including the wine, the check came to about $90, which is pretty reasonable for a such an outstanding meal.

Ella’s Woodburning Oven Restaurant is located at 3136 Cranberry Highway, in East Wareham, Massachusetts.  You can view their menu online, and visit them on Facebook.




Musician Spotlight: Natalia Zukerman

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

As part of the On Stage Folk Cafe series at the Zeiterion Theater, Natalia Zuckerman will be performing in New Bedford on Thursday, March 24th at 7:30PM.  I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Natalia.  I started out telling her about the way ‘The Z’ sets up the stage, with the audience right there with the performer, and the intimacy of it:

Butch: Although the theater is pretty big, the artist and the audience are confined to the stage; I think there is seating for about 150 people.  I am bummed that I have a gig that night and cannot make your show. I would love to hear you live!

Natalia: Shoot! Sorry you can’t make it to the show, but hooray on your gig!  Have a good one. Thanks for describing the theater, it sounds amazing. I played somewhere like that once, at a huge theater in Ohio. It was great.

natalia zukerman zeiterion new bedford guideHow did you get involved with music?

Natalia: I grew up playing music. My parents are both musicians, so music was required in my household. I started out on violin and learned a little guitar at a young age. I studied some classical guitar in high school and college, but it wasn’t until after college that I really started writing songs and discovering my own sound.

What do you parents think of your music career?

Natalia: My parents are my biggest supporters. They love that I’ve found a form of expression that feels like a genuine part of who I am.

What is your latest project?

Natalia: My new record, my FIFTH solo record, just came out on March 8th on Weasel Records. It’s called Gas Station Roses. It’s the second record I’ve made with Willy Porter, and it’s filled with incredibly performances from Bryan Mir, Dave Schoepke, Meghan Toohey, Garrison Starr, Adrianne Gonzalez, Ray Bonneville, Willy Porter, Patty Larkin, Todd Sickafoose and Aaron Gardner. I’m really proud of this record and can’t wait to share it with the world!

How is the tour going? Do you work solo all the time?

Natalia: For the most part I travel as a solo performer or as a duo, but more and more I am co-billing or opening for folks who have collaborative natures. I think music is best when it’s a conversation between people; there’s so much more to discover that way.  I’m thrilled to be joined by the great Mona Tavakoli for my show in New Bedford. She’s an incredible percussionist and vocalist, and adds so much to my music. She makes me hear and play differently. It’s a joy!

I’m also on tour with Garrison Starr for almost all my CD release shows, and she’s an amazing collaborator. I get to play and sing on her songs too, so the show just feels organic and fun. I have a side project called Winterbloom that includes myself, Antje Duvekot, Anne Heaton and Meg Hutchinson. We tour in the winter, singing traditional and original holiday songs. It’s a total joy. I’ll be on tour this spring with Janis Ian and Tom Paxton. I’ll get to open the shows and then sit in with them both on their sets. I’ve been playing a lot with Janis this last year and she’s the epitome of what I’m talking about- such a collaborative musician! It’s a real honor to work with someone with her experience.

Who are your musical influences?

Natalia: Wow. Well, I have so many. Right now I’m back on a Shawn Colvin kick because I just got to open for her in Maryland. She’s such an incredible writer- her economy of language, her sense of melody, of the macabre and the transcendent! Not to mention her guitar skills, which are varied and always serve what she’s singing. I’m enamored. I’m also listening to the new Radiohead record, which is so layered, so nuanced and deep. I definitely like some variety in my musical diet and am always looking for something that sparks my creativity too. Luckily, I still think there’s amazing music being made out there.

One of my favorite slide guitarists is Bonnie Raitt- any influences there? Your slide guitar playing is terrific, by the way.

Natalia: Bonnie Raitt has one of the smoothest sounds that I’ve ever heard. It’s undeniably her every time, such a signature sound. I definitely try to emulate at least her nuanced approach and also how sparsely and perfectly she plays. Another artist that I’m a huge fan of is David Lindley, for some of those same reasons- his perfectly placed notes and his economy- he never overplays!

I just saw Lucinda Williams in Boston and was completely in awe (I think I fell in love too).  Are you a fan of hers?

Natalia: Oh man. We’ve gotta hang out!  Bonnie? Lucinda? Two of my favorites for sure.  I’ve seen Bonnie live twice, but I’ve never seen Lucinda, although I’ve been dying to.

natalia zukerman new bedford zeiterionWhat kind of gear do you use?

Natalia: I play a James Goodall guitar and a 1937 Rickenbacker lap steel guitar. I also play a Guild guitar and a Phil Leadbetter Dobro. I use D’Addario strings and Shure microphones and Fender amps.

Where are you headed after your appearance in New Bedford?

Natalia: The morning after the show we’re driving up to Boston to meet Garrison Starr, who I’ve been on tour with for the last few months. We’ll all pile into WERS for a radio show, and then we play at Club Passim in Cambridge that night. Then it’s off to New York and Philly, and after that I head to Florida to play with Janis Ian again. I do some more shows with her in April, and also with Susan Werner out on the West Coast before meeting up with Garrison and Mona again in Ann Arbor, Buffalo and Toronto. The train just keeps moving!

I hope you have a great time in New Bedford. The Zeiterion Theater Manager in my musical partner and her name is Dori Legge- she’ll take good care of you!

Natalia: Thanks!

You can visit Natalia’s website here, and also check out her video for “Gas Station Roses.”.

http://www.localoracle.com/events/location/zeiterion-theater-/




Dueling Strats at the Blues for the Blue Concert

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

Saturday night at the Blues For The Blue Concert, I witnessed an incredible performance.  Held at The Tifereth Israel Congregation (an incredible venue, by the way), this concert was for the benefit of The Ocean Explorium in downtown New Bedford.  Dozens of merchants donated products and services for the silent auction, and a good time was had by all.

The Neal McCarthy Problem opened with their usual top-notch performance. I hadn’t heard Neal play electric guitar for quite some time, and I’d forgotten what a virtuoso he was on the Fender Stratocaster. There were screaming solos laced with bluesy notes, bending all over the place.  Backing him were the understated and sublime Kyle Spark on bass, and the solid Chris Costa on drums.  Add in Colin Bradley on the organ and Dan Schwartz on percussion, and I didn’t know where to focus my attention.

neal mccarthy problem blues for the blue
Neal McCarthy plays with band members Kyle Spark, Chris Costa, Colin Bradley, and Dan Schwartz.

Spark and Costa were standouts: they laid down incredible rhythms that only a front man could appreciate (which I did).  Mr. Bradley did a great job comping and filling the gaps, and he a couple of really sweet solos. Mr. Schwartz was in fine form as well, working well with Costa and funking it up like only Dan can do- he’s got your back. They played some blues standards and some original songs as well.

Towards the end of the set Neal introduced Quinn Sullivan, a 12-year-old guitar sensation.  Sullivan calmly walked out on stage with a beautiful Stratocaster and plugged in as the band dove into a slow, bluesy tune. After a few verses Sullivan ripped into some tasty solos, concentrating on the area above the twelfth fret- high and sweet. At that point, McCarthy started trading licks with Sullivan.  I don’t know if it was rehearsed, but they began to harmonize their solos a-la Derek and the Dominoes (Clapton & Allman), and the effect was mesmerizing.  The crowd loved it, going wild and applauding after every solo.

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12-year-old Quinn Sullivan performs at the Blues for the Blue concert.

The next tune was an up-tempo song, and that’s when things really got crazy. I must say that going into this concert, I was skeptical of the Sullivan’s guitar prowess, but as I soon found out, this kid rocks out with the best of them.  He can really play. So can Neal. I’m not sure if the audience realized what they were witnessing, but it was truly sublime. At one point, Quinn and Neal were soloing at the same time and somehow it worked.  Dueling Strats, with no clear winner…except for the audience.

I didn’t stay for the end of the concert, but I did catch the first four songs of Santa Mamba.  They grabbed the audience from the beginning with their Latin beats as the dance floor became more crowded with each song.

As I headed for the door I caught a glimpse of young Mr. Sullivan dancing to Santa Mamba with his friends and family.  A great night was had by all.




Musician Spotlight: Mike Mahoney of Pearly Baker

Butch McCarthy
by Butch McCarthy

As one of the founding members of the Pearly Baker band, Mike Mahoney is considered one the godfathers of New Bedford music. Recently I interviewed Mike, and here’s what we talked about:

Butch: Tell me about the line-up for Pearly Baker Band.

Mike: Ken Richards, Tim Richmond, Terry Sullivan, Jim Novick, and Eric Costa.  Terry broke a bone in his shoulder, so Geoff Fortin has been called up to fill in while Terry is on injured reserve.  My longtime friend Art Tebbetts has also performed with us, and is a founding member of the Pearly Baker Acoustic Trio, along with Ken and myself. We play a few times a year.

pearly baker new bedford guide
Pearly is (L to r) Ken Richards, Jim Novick (hiding behind drums), Mike Mahoney, Terry Sullivan (drums), Tim Richmond, and Eric Costa.

How did you get involved with music?

Mike: The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. 1964. I was ten-years-old. It sparked something in me that was powerful; I wanted to look like them, sound like them, and run around like they did in A Hard Day’s Night. Still do really. My friends and I recreated their stage set in a basement where we performed Beatles songs long before we had instruments. We even turned a coffee table into a drum riser to mimic Ringo.

I got my first guitar when I was in fifth grade. A kid up the street named Tom Delany showed me chords and how to strum and tune it. I formed a couple of bands in junior high, played “Louie, Louie” at the 8th grade dance, and then got into folk music for a stretch in high school.

What is your latest project?

Mike: Pearly Baker celebrated our 25th anniversary last year by booking ourselves into the Zeiterion and donating all the proceeds from the show to charity. We raised $18,000 for the United Way Hunger Commission, which is the outfit that supplies most of the food pantries on the SouthCoast.  The people seemed to enjoy the show, and the band had a ball playing on that stage.  Afterward, the consensus was that it should be an annual event…so our latest project is to do it all again!

The concert will take place on May 7, and, like last year, every nickel we raise will go to the charity, to help feed the hungry people in our community.  Check out “2nd Annual Pearly Baker Bash” on facebook for the details.  Also on facebook, you can access Pearly Baker at “I Love Pearly Baker”.  For the record, a fan started this group, and then shared administrative powers with me.  Had we started the site ourselves, it would have a different name.

Who are your musical influences?

Mike: Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, J.J. Cale, Zappa, CSN, Bob Dylan, Celtic music, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Stravinsky, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Oscar Peterson, Glenn Miller, and a whole host of folk musicians.

i love pearly baker new bedford guide
Pearly Baker Loves You.

What is your favorite movie?

Mike: My favorite movie is Brazil, directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Robert De Niro.

What do you like about the current music scene?

Mike: Assuming you mean the commercial music scene, the Grammys and that, I don’t actually consider most of it music. It’s just product tailored to the lowest common denominators; a collection of hooks and beats. I appreciate Taylor Swift, Pink, and Gwen Stefani. Eminem and Jay-Z amuse me at times.

What kind of guitars and gear are you using?

Mike: I have a custom-made, one-of-a-kind by Carvin guitars. It is a model DC127, koa wood body, ebony fingerboard, tobacco sunburst finish with Sperzel locking tuners and a Wilkinson tremolo system. I’ve owned it for 21 years.

My amp is a Rivera R100-212.  It’s the same amp Vince Gill has used for years. Paul Rivera was an amp designer for Fender for many years until he went off on his own, and he’s known for the high degree of workmanship in even his baseline amps. For instance, point-to-point soldering (instead of stamped circuit boards) and other production values normally associated with boutique amps that cost many times more.

Those are my workhorses. I have a fake Tele and a Strat and a Fender Princeton and some other practice amps. I have some acoustics, and a classical guitar I putz around the house with. I still have the first guitar I ever owned-some Sears monstrosity. It isn’t playable right now, but someday I intend to restore it.

My new favorite toy is a digital recorder “sketch pad,” a Boss Micro BR. It is an amazing device. It’s about the size of two decks of cards, but it contains a full gallery of guitar effects, programmable rhythm tracks, in-board tuner, internal mic, as well as dedicated mic and guitar inputs. It’s a fully functional 4-track recorder, with 8 virtual tracks per track, but it’s best used to capture that fleeting musical thought you might stumble upon.  In under a minute of setup you can be recording a vocal and a guitar part at the same time.

mike mahoney new bedford guide pearly baker
Mike Mahoney(center) playing guitar.

 

Where do you perform usually perform?

Mike: Pearly Baker plays at the New Wave Cafe every Tuesday starting at around ten thirty-ish. Ken, Art and I play a couple of times a year as the Pearly Baker Acoustic Trio at the Kinsale Inn in Mattapoisett, and of course, we are playing the Zeiterion on May 7.

What is the current status of your long-running Tuesday Night Pearly gig?

Mike: Well right now we’re in a bit of a bind. Our latest venue, the New Wave Cafe, where we’ve been playing every Tuesday for the last year, is closed for re-modeling. We were told it was going to be one or two weeks tops, but last night was the third week it was closed, but there’s hope it will be open very, very soon. Recently we teamed up with Pearly’s 7th member, Art Tebbetts, and had a fun night at the Black Watch Pub, playing wooden music and singing fun harmonies.  But the plan is to get back to the New Wave when it’s ready.

mike mahoney pearly baker new bedford guide
Mike with his wife Irene, and their daughter Aubrie.

Do you have a day job?

Mike: I’m a graphic designer at UMass Dartmouth, working in the publications office.

When you go out locally, what bands do you go see?

Mike: I’m mostly a stay-at-home kinda guy these days. I go to see Marcus Monteiro when I can.  I’ve seen McCarthy, Richards and Legge a few times, Neal McCarthy Problem, and of course, Ken and Neal with the JRS at Freestone’s.

The 2nd Annual Pearly Baker Bash to benefit United Way Hunger Commission will be held at the Zeiterion Theater May 7 at 7PM.