MCB at Wadsworth Mansion 8/11/10
Posted on August 12, 2010 with 3 commentsAs they say, it's all about the location. It certainly was about the location last Wednesday evening at the beautiful Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, Ct. What a gorgeous place to hold a musical event or any event for that matter. Though I had heard previous testimony as to the size of the crowds at the Summer Music Series, held here annually in the month of July for the last several years, I was still thoroughly overwhelmed with the hundreds of people that showed up. With many MCB fans in attendance, whom I saw and spoke with,
they helped make for the largest crowd at any music event held there, this Summer, according to members of the Board of Directors.
With the weather in our favor this time, it was a glorious night, the band received a very nice introduction from, the Head of the Board of Directors at the Wadsworth Mansion, the charming Ann Cassidy.
The band kicked off their set with a nice slow reggae groove, with Lee Sylvestre on lead vocal, to warm things up. Mike went through a few of their originals,"Mind Made Up, Free James Brown, Barfly" to great reception with the crowd still growing larger.
The sentiment of the night could be summed up in line from the Jamie Cullum song, "Mind Trick",
"...if there's music in the night and it's really, really right, it's the only thing I need."
After recovering from the excitement at our last gig, Vin DeLaria was back on keys and the band rocked through the always likeable Santana Medley plus Vin's own original, Away-O , that features a bright, latin-flavored guitar solo by Mike at the end. Vin delivered some great organ fills on the medley and a brilliant piano solo on "When You Get Back" that drew a round of applause from the audience.
The audience was filled with many familiar faces and even a few people that were at our recent gig in Stafford Springs. Two of whom are a couple, Pete and Audrey, who are enthusiastic supporters of the local Connecticut music scene, which I truly appreciate. Linda, whom I mentioned in a previous blog, now a new fan of the band was in attendance. Linda was one of the few women who began to dance to the right of the band just outside a roped off area, led by an unlikely leader, at the age of 82, named Antonia.With the inspiration of Antonia this group of dancers soon grew quite large.
After the break, when the dancers were getting their groove on during our funk set,
Vin ran over to where they were dancing and held up the rope that separated the band from the audience
allowing them to get in front of the band. From that point on it was a giant MCB lovefest !
Edmund working the crowd with the microphone during "Sex Machine" and "We Got the Funk". Mike and Lee jamming back to back against each other at one point. The band hit full stride firing on all cylinders
delivering a solid performance of "When All Else Fails " to an audience that truly was of all ages.
In my estimation I would have to say that our recent gig at the Wadsworth Mansion was one of the best events that MCB has played to date. It was definitely a highlight to an already memorable Summer.
You know, I could write a lot more about this gig, but words can only do it so much justice. You just had to be there, it was that nice.
First we'd like to thank all the people at the Wadsworth Mansion for everything , including Joe Monthei, their soundman who did a great job and all of our fans who showed up to make this a special night.
Now for a few shout outs..... A longtime friend and fan of the band, Sandy, along with her daughter who had never seen us before. Great seeing you Sandy. The ever-loveable Mike Clark! my neighbors Tom and Terry,
Paul Bongiorno thanks for your help, Butch thanks for a recording of the band from 1991. Jonathan Cohen,
you dance machine, good to see ya back out bud. Wendy and Tom , yay ! Dave and Lori, Mrs. Kolias,
my friend Robin. Denise, I haven't forgot your Rhubarb !
and...... If you are already a fan of the band and haven't "friended" us on Facebook please find us at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Cleary-Band/47712268434
stay tuned............ Jonny Gates
