Friday was certainly a big event day for Sound Session, there were tons of shows going on throughout Providence, but I settled on the Lupo’s Block Party. Featuring seven local music acts, The Cobra-Matics, Baylock, Senior Discount, Someday Providence, The Agents, Scotty Don’t and BadFish, it was one stop with the most to see. The whole night started at 6pm, so I made a mad dash after finishing work right at 6pm to get down to Lupo’s and get ready for some tunes.
Amazingly, I found parking right on Washington Street and made my way towards Lupo’s. As soon as I exited my car, I could hear The Cobra-Matics performing on the outdoor stage. This was the first time I’d seen Lupo’s close the neighboring street and build an additional stage for an event, and came to find out it was done regularly each year during the Providence Sound Session festival. Making my way through the foyer I contemplated grabbing a drink, but thought best to head to the stage to check out the band first, and thank goodness I did as when I arrived, The Cobra-Matics broke into their final number of the evening, what I would guess to be called “One of These Days:”
07.10.09 The Cobramatics performing “One of these Days”
Baylock at Lupo's
Captain Al De Ville led the helm playing acoustic guitar and providing the vocals. To his left, The Colonel graced the electric six string, providing mostly lead riffs. To his right, Backwards Bob Mac bounced up and down the neck of his upright bass. Seated in the rear of the stage was Rimshot Russ on the kit providing the back beat. The song had a great gospel and rockabilly feel, inspiring fans to burst into dance. It was good a beer drinkin’, ball bustin’, bar brawlin’ tune that had me jiving along the first time I’d gotten to hear them perform live. I quickly made my way towards the back of the outdoor area for a drink and noticed New England Frozen Lemonade and had a stroke a brilliance. While not Del’s any frozen lemonade would do, I quickly grabbed one, asking for room at the top, and made way to the bar for a shot of vodka. After a quick stir and a sip, I was transported back to high school summer days, and concerts at Rocky Point, ah. As I heard the familiar opening riffs to Baylock’s “Blue Amberol” I realized I had reminisced too long and bound through the crowd down to the inside stage. Trying to map out the best logistics for the back and forth that would become my evening, I made a bee line for the bar alcove at stage right. It made for a pretty close experience while watching performers inside, and was the still on the same side of the building as the doors to the outside stage. I was primed and ready when Baylock broke into “Naked Again:”
07.10.092 Baylock performing “Naked Again”
For this relatively newer song, Tim Crowley at stage left sang lead and played electric rhythm and lead guitar. John Mclaughlin was center stage springing to and fro slapping his bass, making Flea look docile. Chris Parry was stage right playing matching electric rhythm and backing vocals. Matt Kirby sat rear stage rocking out the drums. It was a great high energy version of a song I anticipate will be included on their forthcoming debut album “One Good to Be Told.” Chris switched from electric to acoustic guitar, while John took to the microphone to shout out for the next few bands playing and give thanks for a chance to play the bill before playing an older song, “Rise:”
07.10.09 Baylock performing “Rise”
Strumming acoustic rhythm, Chris sang the first verse practically unaccompanied before the rest of the band jumped in rocking. Tim playing electric matching rhythm and lead between verses with an impressive, crowd rallying solo after the third verse using the speaker stack as a platform. Following the solid version of “Rise,” Chris switched back to his electric as John introduced a new song “Never Enough:”
07.10.09 Baylock performing “Never Enough”
Chris took lead vocals for the first few verses starting the tempo slowly. During the beginning of the song John used some slow but interesting bass riffs, while Kirby did an excellent job of building anticipation with the drums. Tim took over lead vocals for the fourth verse and showed showcased his most melodic solos of the evening. Kirby nailed a low key drum solo before rocking out the rest of the song with some really tight fills. One of the few Baylock songs to feature both vocal styles of Chris and Tim. They played another one of their older songs “Gone for Good,” further establishing the “something old, something new” cycle they had been playing all night:
07.10.09 Baylock performing “Gone for Good”
Tim sang lead on the first verse with Chris providing the backing vocals, Chris followed with the second verse, John on backing vocals, during the choruses Tim and Chris would sing in harmonies. It was a hard rocking version, that had the crowd banging their heads in unison. Tim stood along on lead vocals for the next track, another of their newer songs, “Kind of Strange:”
07.10.09 Baylock performing “Kind of Strange”
The song started with a great intro guitar riff from Tim and some killer fill work from Kirby. I noticed that Chris had shelved his string instruments for this number and was slapping the skins of his bongos and congas helping to create a dueling percussion feel. John’s bass playing mimicked his stage personality this song, full of energy, up and down, and back and forth. Winding down their set they played the acoustically driven “Conscience:”
07.10.09 Baylock performing “Conscience”
Chris played acoustic rhythm while singing lead, Tim had some technical difficulties with his guitar for the first half of the song, John and Kriby stepped up the game to fill the song a bit more in the guitar’s absence. Once the guitar issues were straightened out they rebounded to play a catchy and exciting version to wrap up their night. A great showing from Baylock as usual, despite the technical gremlins that plagued their final song. As the mass exodus to the outside stage began for Senior Discount, I made my way to the bar to grab a beer. Unfortunately for me, everyone over 21 had the same idea and the bars were flooded. By the time the frazzled barkeep had time to take my order for a brew, I thought I’d make it two.
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