| DATE | Saturday, February 22, 2020
We cannot offer refunds under any circumstances.
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| TIME | 8:00PM (Doors Open 7:00PM) |
| VENUE |
9 Wallis
(see map & parking)
9 Wallis Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Venue Details
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| TICKETS | RESERVED SEATS (ALL AGES) $20.00, $25.00 |
Critically acclaimed Pianist, Hammond organist and composer Anthony Geraci welcomes virtuoso guitarist "Monster" Mike Welch and Boston's legendary singer/harmonica player Dennis Brennan for an extraordinary night of music with Michael Mudcat Ward on bass/vocals and Jeff Armstrong on drums/vocals.
Don't miss your chance to catch all this talent on the same stage at the most intimate, elegant listening room north of Boston.
Pianist/Hammond Organist Anthony Geraci has a long History in the American Blues Community. He is an original member of Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, and Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters-he has recorded with both Artists extensively. Anthony has been nominated for the Prestigious Pinetop Perkins Piano Award for the last three years-2016/2017/2018, and his recording Fifty Shades Of Blues (Delta Groove) was nominated in 2016 for Album, Traditional Album, and Song of the Year for the title track by the Blues Foundation/Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN. 2018 has Anthony receiving nominations from both Living Blues Magazine: Outstanding Musician-Keyboard, and Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll: Blues Artist or Group.
Touring with Anthony in support of his latest recording Why Did You Have To Go (Shining Stone) will be the Boston Blues All-Stars: Dennis Brennan-vocals/harmonica/guitar, Troy Gonyea-guitar/vocals, Michael Mudcat Ward-bass/vocals and Jeff Armstrong-drums/vocals.
Anthony has been featured on over 50 recordings with some of the biggest names in Blues Music. He has recorded with Blues Pioneers Big Walter Horton, Carey Bell, Odetta, Big Jack Johnson, Charlie Musselwhite, Lazy Lester, Snooky Pryor and John Brim. As well as contemporary Artists Kenny Neal, Sugaray Rayford, Debbie Davies, Otis Grand, Welch/Ledbetter, Zora Young and Duke Robillard.
Monster Mike Welch is one of the East Coast's best-loved blues guitarists and, at 36 years old, already a 25-year veteran of the international blues scene. As frontman, as the guitarist for New England blues legends Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, or as a respected sideman, Mike has toured North America and Europe, and made several acclaimed recordings. In 2016, he was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the category of Instrumentalist-Guitar.
As a precocious 11-year-old he was invited to join local blues jams, working alongside Ronnie Earl, Luther "Guitar Jr" Johnson, Matt Murphy and Johnny Copeland.
At 13, Mike Welch opened the bill at the Cambridge House of Blues, sharing a stage with Junior Wells, Joe Walsh and actor Dan Aykroyd. It was the latter who gave him his nickname, "Monster Mike."
By the time he released his first CD three years later (These Blues Are Mine / Tone-Cool), he had already played with blues legends like Junior Wells, James Cotton, and Johnny Copeland, and won the 1995 Boston Music Award for Best Blues Act.
The rest of the 90's found Mike touring North America and Europe, and featured in USA Today, People, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and NPR.
In 2001, Mike joined his longtime heroes Sugar Ray & The Bluetones, establishing a deep creative partnership in the blues that continues to this day. Their 2013 recording Living Tear to Tear garnered seven Blues Music Award nominations, including Album of the Year and Blues Band of the Year. They are again nominated for Blues Band of the Year in 2016.
Mike's varied career has seen him lauded as a teen virtuoso, valued as a supportive sideman, and respected as a maturing blues artist. Recent years have found Mike dividing his time between Sugar Ray & The Bluetones, guest stints (Duke Robillard, Nick Moss, Johnny Winter, Darrell Nulisch and more) and his own work in the international blues scene.
Boston's own Dennis Brennan has a musical legacy that needs no introduction. Think of the J. Geils Band, Morphine, and Willie Alexander for starters. At the heart of the scene, though, is an artist like Dennis Brennan. He's a cagey veteran who hasn't won similar fame but can electrify audiences with his ability to cross brilliantly from rock to soul, blues, country, and jazz, while breathing fresh life into each. On several nights a week, Brennan bops around New England clubs with a passion that is all too rare in today's homogenized music climate. Longtime friend Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band, offers this praise of his comrade: "The biggest challenge for any artist is to sustain and keep growing. Many musicians who stick with it can fall into a trap of becoming parodies of themselves. Dennis has always kept maturing, which is one of the hardest challenges, and that's why I always enjoy checking him out."
2018 Blues Music Award Winner Michael "Mudcat" Ward has been a key player in the New England blues scene for nearly forty years. His signature traditionally-grounded approach and tone, both on the acoustic upright bass and on Fender bass, have gracefully supported many a roots artist over the years, whether in the recording studio, in clubs, theaters, outdoor venues, or on television broadcasts or film.
Ward was an integral component of the debut LP of Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters (entitled Smokin'-along with Geraci) and of Earl's subsequent six recordings. Among Ward's many recordings, his bass lines can be heard backing such blues musical giants as Big Walter Horton (on Little Boy Blue and Live At the Bocce Club-with Geraci); Jimmy Rogers (with Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters Live in Germany); Kim Wilson and guitarists Jimmy Vaughan, Wayne Bennett and Ronnie Earl on pianist/vocalist Ron Levy's initial Wild Kingdom; Robert "Junior" Lockwood on Earl's Surrounded By Love CD; the 2001 Grammy-nominated CD Superharps I featuring James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Branch and Sugar Ray Norcia; the 2002 follow-up Superharps II, with blues harmonica greats Lazy Lester, Snooky Pryor, Carey Bell and Raful Neal-with Geraci; and the late pianist Pinetop Perkins (On Top and Back On Top.)
About 17 miles north of Boston, award-winning 9 Wallis is a gorgeous, fully restored, historic location conveniently situated in the heart of Downtown Beverly's Arts District at 9 Wallis Street, right next to the Larcom Theatre -- less than half a mile from the Beverly Depot rail station and 3 miles from Route 128, with plenty of nearby parking (see map).
In April 2017, after 4 years of presenting over a hundred shows at Beverly's Larcom Theatre (featuring Grammy-winners, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and platinum recording artist), gimmeLIVE's owners Peter and Vickie Van Ness, transformed 9 Wallis into the most intimate, elegant listening room north of Boston with comfortable seating at tables, plus food & beverage service offering fine wines, local craft beers, specialty cocktails (featuring local distilleries and all-natural juices) and top-shelf spirits.
In August 2018, Peter and Vickie were presented with the Boston Blues Society's Keeping the Blues Alive Award for their work at 9 Wallis.
Because of its beautifully restored, tremendously flexible space with the best dance floor on Boston's North Shore, 9 Wallis has become a favorite venue for fundraisers, private parties and corporate events. Local charities have raised thousands of dollars at 9 Wallis (see examples). With world-class entertainment, an event can begin as a cocktail party or fully seated dinner...then transform into a nightclub-style dance party with concert quality sound and stage lighting.
CLICK HERE if you'd like someone to contact you about raising money for your charity. CLICK HERE if you want to book a party or corporate event.
Many new shows will be announced soon. Click here to join gimmeLIVE's FREE Concert Club and email list. You'll get special deals and prime seats before tickets go on sale to the public.
There is plenty of nearby parking at 7 lots from 150 feet away to 3 blocks away. Lots are 25 Cents/Hour (see map). Street parking is more. All parking is FREE after 8pm and on Sundays.
