The fun merchants have landed
by Will Gottlieb
Coastal Journal staff
Jug bands are by definition instrumental ensembles built around the sound of someone blowing across the neck of a jug. On Half Moon Jug Band’s new “Get the Show on the Road” CD, the jug sound itself is implied rather than included or featured, or perhaps a jug or two (or six or twelve) of Pemaquid Ale were emptied in the process of making this thing — we don’t know. Perhaps no one associated with HMJB has ever even seen an alcoholic beverage, but in any event, they do not appear to be hobbled by sobriety.
Basically, what we’ve got here is Fun with a capital “F,” a party album that is true to the region and the times, that reminds me a lot of Brave Combo: a multi-instrumental rock ’n roll casserole topped with mandolins, slide guitars and a dash of folkie musicality. (Not “Cum By Ya,” exactly, but sufficiently acoustic and rootsy to justify the appellation.)
The HMJB lineup includes Troy R. Bennett (vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and various other instruments & objects); Mike Petruk (vocals, drums, congas); and Stephen Brewer (vocals, bass, sax, kazoo); Glen Bolduc on vocals, trumpet and mandolin, and Carter Ruff on vocals and slide guitar.
These guys are tight; these guys are noisy; these guys are entertaining. “Get the Show on the Road” is big, hairy, punchy fun, and you’re going to love it.
A few of the tunes on this CD represent topical explorations of Things Musical, particularly “Get the Show on the Road” (a high-energy rave ala Brave Combo), and “Jug Band Music” (self explanatory, declarative, definitive). Then there’s “Kill Your Television,” which is sort of a public service soundbyte that includes some thoughtful and very catchy lyrics (“The boob tube must die, die-d-d-die, d-d-die-d-die-d-die”). It’s even got a ballad, Troy R. Bennett’s own “The Fryeburg Fair,” a romantic rocker with just enough multi-instrumental eccentricity to make it on this album.
The other theme on this CD is, ah, romance…as in, boy meets girl (“Eventually,” “The Fryeburg Fair”), boy loses girl (“Firecracker”), boy gets girl but then realizes she’s got a fish’s butt (“The Mermaid”), and so on. It’s even got a few traditional tunes on it, including an over-the-top jug band/polka version of “This Land is Your Land” (listed on the liner notes as having been written “by Woody friggin’ Guthrie!”).
In short, this is The Stuff.
We taped a Christmas segment for WCSH’s 207 show a week or two back to promote our big show at the Waldo Theatre on the 19th. They say it’s going to air on Dec. 11th. That might change, though. We’ll keep you posted and we’ll post it here if you miss it on the tube.
Oh yeah. We're on TV.
Pick apples, drink cider and get smarter just by listening to jug band music.
Sunday September 27 at Doles Orchard from 1-4 p.m. in Limington, Maine.
It even rained at the motel.
Well, Burlington was wet and there were some bothersome characters about, but we managed to have a swell time anyway. Some folks drove hours from places like Saratoga Springs to come and see us — so we did our best to put on a high-energy, if moist, show for the, umm, masses. We ate at a Japanese steakhouse and had a hibachi dude flip food into our mouths. Back at the motel, Troy won most of the chips with his baffling poker face. The morning came early.
Surfin' the U-Haul
The weather was nice on the way home. Well, maybe not nice, but it didn’t rain the whole time, and that was a massive improvement.
Beverly's Lynch Park was a beautiful spot.
Lynch Park in Beverly was a gorgeous spot to play. They had a huge bandshell that dwarfed our tiny, sidewalk show. Then we watched the moon rise over the Atlantic.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the fabulous (as always) welcome we got at Hidden Valley summer camp on July 2nd. It’s a private show we’ve been doing for a few years now and we really look forward to it. The kids, the councillors and the whole camp are first rate. Thanks again guys.
The Stratham shows has been cancelled due to the continuing crappy weather. Sorry folks. There’s no rain location. We’re trying to find an alternate date the band and the Recreation Department can agree on. Keep ‘er tuned here.
We’ll be on the idiot box this Thursday night. Please tune in! We’ll do our best to rot your brain and keep your thumb off the clicker for a few minutes while we flog our new CD on WCSH’s (channel 6) “207″ talk show.
Channel 6 @ 7 p.m. Thursday July 9th
As some of you already know, the band got some on-air action from DJ Sarah Willis over at Maine Public Broadcasting on her show “In Tune By Ten” this past Sunday. Snuggled between Richard and Linda Thmpson’s “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” and the Portland’s dearly departed (though still cuddly) Piners’ “Reckless Heart” was our song “You Could Do Better” from our new disc “Get the Show on the Road.”
Check out the playlist (number 17) for yourself HERE.
Take a minute and EMAIL SARAH and tell her how much you loved hearing us on the radio and implore here to play some more.
