Talk about a pleasant surprise… two top-tier valley guitar greats, plus Fat’s original line-up (pretty much).
With Peter J Newland fronting, of course, James (Jim K) Kaminski playing guitar, Guy Devito on bass, and William “Benji” Benjamin at the drum kit, these ol’ boys take the stage at the Iron Horse with all the calm, cool confidence and panache that comes with the couple centuries’ experience they all have between ’em.
Bonus tonight: Mitch Chakour, legendary Valley singer/slinger of similar standing (certainly no less so) as our local heroes, joins the band, filling in for their usual, current long-time stalwart second, Mark Pappas. Midway thru the first set, after playing about half of that eponymous 1970 RCA album and another early tune or two, Peter J plays humble host and starts calling up guests to take their turns at the mics and amps. Mitch pulls his keyboard up in front and delivers some gritty white-soul before switching back to his beautiful red gee-tar, and co-feature June Millington delivers another generous share of soulful grit. Northampton singer-songwriter Sam Plotkin joins in, along with tonight’s opener (another area name), Ray Mason, and then all the others for a local-legend version of Dylan’s old Rolling Thunder Revue; and they all put a spiritual-seeming spin on “Like a Rolling Stone.” Pete always put a gospel application to the song, anthemizing it with the love and respect that can only come from The Real Deal, one who was there.
These are things he does, this Newland feller- singing classic material with both ease and authority, and making a real celebration of every FAT show. When it’s ‘just’ the five guys (as if), they bring an energy to the house, as though they are as excited to play and grateful for the opportunity as the audients are to be part of the happ’nin’ – kinda like every gig is their first reunion in who-knows-how long. At plenty of other times, though, Pete will arrange a whole special event for a date, inviting area stars to step up and kick it in.
The old Stearns Square series in Springfield seems on the verge of becoming an entirely new entity, having moved to Court Square and featuring FAT as the city champions that they have evolved into. Last time around, summer 2015, they had all the members of the original AND current bands, which means Mark is in the mix and the stage is big enough for Chet Pasek to join Benji on double-drums, rather than switching it up as they also like to do. It is with no small measure of regret, and a certain sense of embarrassment, that one (ahem) might admit to having been elsewise occupied on that particular evening. It turned out to have been a smoker, with appearances by Tommy Whalen, Janet Ryan, and various & whatnot local faves, as well as tonight’s special guest, the aforementioned Mitch Chakour.
Waaay later on, after a catalog review from across decades, Mr Newland welcomes up a former member, from an eighties incarnation of the band lovingly referred to as the Mel’s House Band, and Peter Frisell, up from Florida, borrows Guy’s five-string while the gentlemanly bassist percusses away behind him. Momentum carries the activity a good hour beyond the planned curtain-time before they almost end it with that old single, “Livin’ Like an Outlaw.” With a bit of provocation, though, they whip out an encore, Van Morrison’s “Brown-Eyed Girl” – thus presenting a fitting reprise for the whole affair, as pretty much anyone who graced the stage at any point crowded back on up for the rousing finale. Pardon the use of a phrase as trite as “rousing finale,” but there are no better words for it. A finale it is, of course, but rousing? Yep, resoundingly so, but even so, only slightly more so than the rest of this event-of-an-evening, now called by the house, “FAT & Friends.”
Later and more laterer afterwards, while the band is breaking down (ever think about that? Job sucks then, don’t it!)… in the afterglow, the atmospheric resonance that lingers after a moment of much moment, one more thought comes to mind: That ol’ Peter J, the Big Guy, Meestah Newland… he has really come to be quite the gracious and humble host, has he not? He handles with calm, cool, competent confidence the roles of bandeader, emcee, and (of course) front-man. All that, assuredly, but even more so, the “humble host” persona seems a suitable slot for him. And yes- this is that same Peter Newland of whom legends have been created, recorded and reported; but not in any kind of recent memory… Take it from one with a story or two under-belt as well: it’s an inspiration (and a demonstration) to see the old heroes grow up and do it graciously. Same goes for the rest of ’em too, really. Jim K wails like a wildman, as always, but we don’t see ANY of ’em engaged in any of the rock-&-roll antics that coulda killed ’em before now. They’re coming up on 50, didja know that? How many bands are there, who have been around since the 60’s (ok, later 60’s) and always had a line-up ready to take a gig (well, pretty much)… and every single one of ’em’s still alive, right down to all original members and any one who’s ever been on the FAT bus… That’s gotta be some kind o’ record, man!
And then there’s Ray Mason, who ain’t no spring chicken hissef … and he ain’t died yet, neither!
Added afterthought: Talk about ebullience! There was joy all around the stage, and enjoyment all ’round the joint! So much so, in fact, that I noticed it on Guy in particular- finally, after observing it all along but this time really, I asked: what’s up with that? He told me that he has been called ‘Smiley’ once or twice in his life, made me promise not to tell (or write), and then explained that there were indeed a whole lotta good vibes this time out. Pete also added that the band had prepared and anticipated, but not overly much, so what we got was indeed genuine and spontaneous. My own assessment is that we were fortunate to have been there for one of those moments when the Muse descends and uplifts. I’m pretty sure it only happens once in a while, and it takes a level of musicianship and a sense of that thing I can only call ‘community,’ such that all involved are both up to the level and simultaneously able to relax in the moment. I think musicians call it ‘energy.’
Jimm O’D ~ The Dusty Turntable
The Dusty Turntable 