You will have two hours to rest between the outdoor show madness and the concert at the UU Church. This is your only warning. Plan ahead. The galleries should be open, so if you’re really on a tear, feel free to move through town at your discretion. Just make sure you are in front of the church before 7 p.m., as that is when Animal Hospital will launch for the second year in a row.
Last June, you might remember wandering around the UU as Kevin Micka directed a dozen or more guitarists and drummers as they navigated some gorgeous Glenn Branca type phrases and treatments, turning the intimate venue into a gallery of sound. This year they’re kicking the evening off from the grounds in front of the church, so be prepared for anything.
Once we throw open the doors that night, Metal Mountains will get things going inside. Haunting melodies accompanied by ghostly reverberated guitars, and also including the mad mastermind Pat Gubler (of PG Six), this will set right anything shaken free during Animal Hospital’s amplified fanfare.
Burlington’s Paper Castles take over from there, bringing a decidedly Wilco-y vibe to things. This quartet cooks with a little bit of darkness and doubt just under the surface. I’ve seen them half a dozen or more times at this point, and every time they blow my mind, and I catch myself thinking, “Were they this good before? Or was I just not paying enough attention?” Do that long enough, and it’s clear that their depth and tightness are ever-evolving qualities that few bands ever develop at such a level.
Headlining this night is Huntress and the Holder of Hands, the new group from Brown Bird’’ Morganeve Swain. We were all brokenhearted when her husband Dave Lamb, also her partner in Brown Bird, passed away two years ago. Her new work is as much informed by this tragedy as it is informed by all of the other myriad aspects of life that she and Dave drew on for the tunes they wrote as Brown Bird.
Huntress is a much larger ensemble, featuring strings as well as electric instruments, and drums. Plus everyone sings! Should fill up the UU Church, resonating in the warm early summer night, like lilacs on the breeze.
We’ve got another free night happening at Harlow’s after this, and it’s going to be great. Starting off is Donny Dinero, guitarist and singer of the venerable Mail the Horse. Donny, along with Andy Weaver, who’s playing earlier in the day under the tent, will be rolling up straight from MtH’s set at Bonnaroo, so they should be pretty well ready to shred. Donny is at times, an iteration of a country sort of Bob Dylan, but with a lot more Gram Parsons.
Rick Rude will close out the pub that night with their infectious and joyful reading of American indie rock. A Rick Rude set is such a celebration, you will not be able to sit still. I mean, I don’t dance, generally, and I’m not saying that you will, but you will move. You’ll fidget, you’ll pace, you’ll want to see who’s doing what and from where the harmonies are emerging.
The quartet of Ben Troy, Noah Lefevbre, Ryan Harrison, and Jordan Holtz are all so in love on stage that it is quite contagious. Add a few beers, and we’re looking at a lot of happy people walking out into that long cool evening after a rugged day of serious music and art.
Couple of quick housekeeping items! Coke Weed had to drop this year, but Lilith will be filling in. Hannah Liuzzo’s trio slays; heavy lyrics and densely poppy guitar; man, it’s hook after hook. This is a good thing.
Sit tight folks, only a few more weeks of Thing in the Spring related correspondence, and then I’m off to the ocean to start cooking up our next season, which incidentally, will be our 10-year anniversary of bringing strange and wonderful music and art to Peterborough. If you’re interested in what we’re doing and want to donate, or get your business involved in future editions, please get in touch.
Next time I’ll be talking about the final day of this year’s installment. Thanks so much for your time and consideration.
Eric Gagne is CEO of the Glass Museum and co-founder of the Thing in the Spring.