THE KNICKERBOCKER MUSIC CENTER
35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891 (Misquamicut) | (401) 315-5070
Open Today: Open
The club thrived as one of the leading entertainment centers in southern New England, hosting regional and national bands with an emphasis on the blues. Some of the greats that played on the Knickerbocker stage included, Big Joe Turner, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, Johnny Nicholas, Leon Russell, Eric Burdon and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In 1967, Roomful of Blues was born in Westerly, when guitarist Duke Robillard and pianist Al Copley started a band that played tough, no-holds barred Chicago blues. Making the Knickerbocker Café their home club, it did not take long before they started exploring swinging, jumping blues and added a horn section. Roomful would pack the house every Sunday and still plays their great brand of blues today.
Fast forward and the Café has become the Knickerbocker Music Center, a non-profit organization formed in partnership with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School. The mission of the Knickerbocker Music Center is to preserve, cultivate and grow the “Knick’s” unique brand of blues, as well as expanding access to music of all genres, by transforming the Knick into both an exciting performance venue and an exceptional center for music education.
Say Darling & The Carleans
8pm
Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 8:00pm
The Knickerbocker Music Center. 35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891
Live Music
About Say Darling:
Sometimes, what you were looking for comes right when you're not looking at all.
You might say that's how Say Darling was formed.
In 2016,old friends Celia Woodsmith and Chris Hersch found themselves taking a step back from their international touring projects.
Grammy-Nominated singer and songwriter Celia Woodsmith – of the acclaimed bluegrass band Della Mae – and critically lauded guitarist Chris Hersch of the alt. country rock band Girls Guns & Glory, had each independently decided to relax their rigorous schedules, both ending up back home in New England with time on their hands.
These two road warriors and workaholics didn't last long before delving into a new and exciting project: Say Darling.
“I don’t think we had much pressure on ourselves to create something, but we had so much fun ... we just knew we had to follow it up”, says Woodsmith.
Blending distinctive original songs with classic tunes that pay homage to a shared musical heritage, Say Darling evokes the funky drive of Little Feat, the moving vocals of Bonnie Raitt and the instrumental prowess of the Tedeschi-Trucks Band.
Hersch, who was voted amongst the best roots guitar players nationwide by The Alternate Root, leads the band with melodic support and blistering solos, while Scott Coulter is virtuosic on the Hammond B3. Paul Chase on bass and Jared Seabrook on drums round out the rhythm section, making Say Darling a 'lethal combination of all-star musicians'(Manchester Ink) from the New England roots rock scene.
The quintet can go from pin-drop silence to a cascading roar in the span of one song, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
In their first year, Woodsmith, whom the Boston Globe describes as “Unvarnished and intimate (…) but then sounds like she's about to part the Dead Sea,” penned 5 of the six songs on their debut EP “Say Darling” (the sixth being a co-write with Hersch).
Red Line Roots describes their first foray into recording as a “Badass force of bluesy goodness”, while Maine Today calls the album a “home to a half dozen smoky, sizzling roots rock tunes”.
Say Darling will get you off your chair and dancing, or keep you spellbound with evocative vocals and performances. No one else can so effortlessly combine their influences in one electric and contemporary package.
About The CarLeans:
The CarLeans are a musical collaboration between Connecticut based musicians Jim Carpenter (guitar, vocals), Sarah MacLean (guitar, vocals) and Corina Malbaurn (bass, vocals). The blending of their diverse musical backgrounds creates a captivating musical experience. Steeped in passion for story telling and navigating the human experience, their original songs are raw and powerful - paired with a delivery and live performance that's honest and marked by well-placed musicianship and vocal presence. There's a versatile sound that comes from the three piece rooted in Americana/folk music, but extends through Country/Pop/Blues/Cajun.
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
Tickets: $10 advance / $12 door
($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
