Fairfield Theatre Company Weekly Round-up: 5 Shows announced, NYC’s fun 80’s cover band Yatcht Lobsters return in December
This week Fairfield Theatre Company announces Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Yacht Lobsters, The Weight Band, Eric Johanson, and Caravan of Thieves Tickets go on sale Friday, September 13, 2024, at noon via fairieldtheatre.org
Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes
Fairfield Theatre Company • 70 Sanford St, Fairfield, CT 06824
December 6, 2024
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Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes
For Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes – ‘comfortable’ has never been a word associated with their brand of raucous, roots-tinged rock and bluesy reverie. The band has flourished with more than thirty albums, releasing twelve studio albums since 1976. Rolling Stone named their early release “Hearts of Stone” as one of the “top 100 albums of the 70s and 80s.” Thousands of live performances around the globe, a legion of famously dedicated and enthusiastic fans, and a vibrant legacy of classic songs that have become “hits” to their worldwide fan base.
Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes perform in front of audiences nationwide, touring non-stop all year long, along with live shows in the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Japan, The Netherlands, and Denmark on a regular basis.
“With the Jukes, you’re out there every night leading this great rock n’ roll circus, giving it everything you’ve got” says Southside Johnny Lyon, known as The Godfather of “the New Jersey Sound” and who just this past year was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame by close friend Jon Bon Jovi.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes emerged from the New Jersey shore scene in 1974, and though they carried over a significant influence (and some key personnel) from Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, the Jukes evolved as more of a white R&B horn band in the Memphis Stax Records tradition. Organized by singer John Lyon, guitarist/songwriter Steve Van Zandt (who decamped for the E Street Band in 1975 but continued to produce, manage, and write songs for the Jukes) and Richie Rosenberg, the band is well known for their high-energy live shows and no-holds-barred songs, including “I Don’t Wanna Go Home,” “Havin’ a Party,” “The Fever,” “Talk to Me,” “Trapped Again,” and “This Time It’s For Real.”
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ highly acclaimed 2015 album SOULTIME!, which was their first new studio CD of all original material in five years at the time, was extremely well received by critics and fans in the U.S. and abroad. The same year, Billboard Magazine honored the band with a special issue celebrating their 40th Anniversary.
SOULTIME!, released on Leroy Records, celebrates the transformative power of ‘70s soul music and represents a return to – as Southside sings – “just letting the music take us away.” This release encapsulates everything that fans cherish about Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. The pattern of horns plus rhythm – each song painted with catchy choruses, top-notch string arrangements, and gospel-charged vocals – keeps on coming. Music Riot in the UK proclaimed, “The more you listen to it the more you realize it is a work of genius. Johnny’s voice is sublime and would melt a heart of stone.”
While critics in the U.S. also raved, “I’ve been waiting for Southside Johnny to make this album for almost 40 years. It’s the best record of his entire career. If you really have soul, no further explanation necessary,” said Dave Marsh/SiriusXM Radio/E Street Channel Host. And, “Soul music is not a genre, it is a way of life. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes keep the classic R & B clock spinning hot and forward on Soultime!, one of their best records since they first burst out of that New Jersey night,” praised music writer David Fricke.
On their New Jersey home turf, The Aquarian Weekly said Soultime! “brings them to a completely different level and delivers genuine R&B-soaked soul right from the Jersey Shore.” While New Jersey Arts Daily raved, “Soultime! is, indeed, one of the most enjoyable albums of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ long career.”
The CD was written and produced by Jeff Kazee and John Lyon, and was recorded in the Jukes’ hometown of Asbury Park, NJ. SOULTIME! features Southside Johnny on vocals and harmonica, Jeff Kazee on keyboards and vocals, Glenn Alexander on guitar, bassist John Conte, Chris Anderson on trumpet, John Isley on saxophone, Neal Pawley on trombone, and drummer Tom Seguso.
In the spring of 2017, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes surprised fans by releasing their “Live From E Street” vinyl 12-inch EP, which immediately made it onto the Billboard Magazine Blues Album Chart at #10, also on Leroy Records. This new disc featured Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ versions of the Bruce Springsteen tracks “Jack of All Trades,” “Cover Me,” “Murder Incorporated,” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” all recorded live at the Stony Pony. Only 3000 copies of this limited edition vinyl EP were pressed, quickly becoming a collector’s item.
Southside Johnny’s first three albums, I Don’t Want To Go Home, This Time It’s for Real, and Hearts of Stone were produced by Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band, The Sopranos) and featured songs written by Van Zandt and Springsteen. “I Don’t Want To Go Home” became Southside Johnny’s signature song, an evocative mixture of horn-based melodic riffs and soul-searching lyrics.
With a decades-long successful career, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes continue to deliver their soul-searing brand of raucous blues and R&B, with material mined from their many albums, featuring hits like “I Don’t Want To Go Home,” “Love On The Wrong Side Of Town,” “The Fever,” “This Time It’s For Real,” “Talk To Me,” and their definitive fun-time cover of “We’re Having A Party.” The Jukes’ legendary high-energy live performances always satisfy with their classic blend of Stax-influenced R&B and gritty, Stonesy rock and roll.
Still tinged with the exuberant rhythm and blues feel that is the Jukes’ trademark, and loaded with the driving sound of the legendary Jukes horn section, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes continue to expound their signature Jersey Shore sound – all for the sheer joy of it.
Yacht Lobsters
Fairfield Theatre Company • 70 Sanford St, Fairfield, CT 06824
December 13, 2024
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Yacht Lobsters
Established 2022 in New York City, the Yacht Lobsters sail the waves of the butteriest Soft Rock of the 70’s and early 80’s. Their big sound recreates – and at times reimagines – the studio mastery of retro-rock icons like Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, Toto, etc.
It’s the breezy Yacht Rock cool vibe you know and love, fused with stellar vocals, a full horn section and unique elements of NOLA funk, classic rock and jazz improvisation to keep things bouncy, set your mood to festive and ensure your boat’s a-rockin’. There’s even a tasteful smattering of original music that sounds like it stepped right out of 1978.
Founded by the visionary team behind Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution, the Lobster roster features NYC’s finest professional musicians who have played together for decades.
Grab your captain’s hat, make that Pina Colada a double and climb aboard!
The Weight Band
Fairfield Theatre Company • 70 Sanford St, Fairfield, CT 06824
December 14, 2024
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The Weight Band
The Weight Band is led by guitarist and vocalist Jim Weider, a Woodstock, NY native who replaced Robbie Robertson in The Band. Weider later joined Band drummer Levon Helm in the Levon Helm Band. The Weight Band originated in 2013 inside the famed Woodstock barn of Levon Helm. Weider was inspired by Helm to carry on the musical legacy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, “The Band”. On their current album, Shines Like Gold, The Weight Band presents a dynamic set of classic Americana that draws upon roadhouse rock, funky swamp pop, blues, country soul, and folk music.
Performances are composed of The Weight Band’s original songs as well as fan favorites from The Band’s catalog. Their sets also include songs from Grateful Dead. Allman Bros, Bob Dylan, and more!
Joining Weider in The Weight Band are keyboard player and vocalist Brian Mitchell, who helped anchor the Levon Helm Band, bassist Albert Rogers (Jim Weider Band, Jimmy Vivino), drummer Michael Bram (Jason Mraz) and keyboardist Matt Zeiner (Dickey Betts). The veteran quintet shares a deep appreciation and knowledge for this music, which Weider describes as the “Woodstock Sound.” The Weight Band continues to serve as its torchbearer, with Shines Like Gold representing a sublime example of these masterful roots musicians at work.
Eric Johanson
Fairfield Theatre Company • 70 Sanford St, Fairfield, CT 06824
December 19, 2024
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Eric Johanson
Eric Johanson stands at the forefront of modern blues music with his groundbreaking album, The Deep and the Dirty. Released in July 2023 on Ruf Records, his album skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard Blues charts, cementing Johanson’s status as a trailblazing force in contemporary blues.
As Johanson embarks on his headlining tour in 2024, following an electrifying run on the Death Wish Blues tour with Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, his innovative approach and unwavering commitment to musical authenticity continue to captivate audiences nationwide. He stands as a beacon of modern blues, redefining the genre’s boundaries while staying true to its soulful essence.
His musical journey began at an early age when he received his first guitar at five, quickly becoming a self-taught prodigy. Embracing blues legends like Freddie King and Robert Johnson, he honed his craft on regional blues stages, sharing space with seasoned musicians from New Orleans to Memphis’ Beale Street. Yet, his musical influences extended beyond traditional blues, drawing inspiration from diverse genres such as rock acts like Tool, Soundgarden, and Nine Inch Nails.
Time living abroad further broadened Eric’s musical horizons, shaping his eclectic approach. Settling back in New Orleans, he fused his myriad influences into a distinctive musical style that defied conventional genre boundaries. His solo albums, notably 2017’s Burn It Down, introduced audiences to this unique amalgamation of blues, rock, and funk elements while his work as a sideman for acts like Cyril Neville kept his guitar skills razor-sharp.
The Deep and the Dirty, produced by Jesse Dayton, exemplifies Johanson’s musical evolution. This album showcases sharp songwriting and incendiary guitar work, earning critical acclaim for its boundary-pushing style. Guitar Player lauded his “electric whiz” persona, praising his prowess on both acoustic and electric fronts, while American Songwriter drew parallels between Johanson and Hendrix, acknowledging his ability to push the blues/rock boundaries with compelling melodies and lyrics.
The album’s tracks offer a diverse sonic landscape, from the fuzz-laden energy of “Don’t Hold Back” to the raw, Delta blues-infused sounds of “Just Like New.” It seamlessly weaves together roadhouse roots-rock in “Undertow” and introspective, bluesy Americana in “Familiar Sound.” Each song resonates with Johanson’s commitment to authenticity and self-expression, a testament to his refusal to be confined by musical norms.
Eric Johanson’s philosophy reflects his dedication to genuine musical expression: “Music is a way for me to try and make sense of my world and myself.” His latest release, “The Deep and the Dirty,” encapsulates this ethos, representing a dynamic fusion of his myriad influences. It’s an album that embraces the rawness and humanity of blues while fearlessly venturing into new sonic territories.
Caravan of Thieves
Fairfield Theatre Company • 70 Sanford St, Fairfield, CT 06824
December 21, 2024
Click here to purchase tickets
Caravan of Thieves
Fuzz and Carrie Sangiovanni, the fervent musical couple who front their band, Caravan of Thieves, have traveled a fruitful yet challenging road since they met in late 2003. Soon after, they began blending their voices, writing music, traveling and performing together as the acoustic guitar-toting duo they simply called “Fuzz and Carrie”. Using the musical spirit to guide them, they found themselves in different corners of the globe, and with a little trial, error and adventure behind them, they arrived at a concept the two of them would soon call “Caravan of Thieves”.
Inspired by the big band swing era, the Quintette du Hot Club de France, and early American folk music, Caravan of Thieves quickly took shape in the hearts and minds of Fuzz and Carrie. In early 2008, they wrote a handful of songs in this new style and began to fill out their sound with upright bass, violin, an occasional accordion and any other willing participant they could recruit along the way. By the end of their first year, the Caravan began to gain recognition for their distinctive musical vision, released their debut full-length album, Bouquet (2009), and the couple took their show and growing cast of characters on the road, sharing stages with a variety of artists such as Emmylou Harris, Dan Hicks, The Decemberists, Keb Mo, Tom Tom Club, Punch Brothers, and many others. They successfully connected with audiences on each of these diverse bills.
Fuzz and Carrie eventually reached a comfortable stride embracing their roles as show and album producers, songwriters and arrangers, released Mischief Night (2010), The Funhouse (2012) and Kiss Kiss (2015), and continued building on the concept with each tour to follow. As a result, the live performance now covers a wide dynamic range and appeal with each show flowing seamlessly from intimate acoustic duets to entertaining and exciting junk percussion jams to big audience stomp, clap and sing-alongs.
According to Fuzz and Carrie, “We’re driven to consistently entertain our audience, in concert and on our studio recordings, which lends to building a community of listeners who can be involved in our show and our creative process in some way, as well as a variety of artists who we can share our vision with. These elements allow our band and our music to be alive, have a soul.”
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