LAURIE’S PLACE

 

The music industry is comprised of many different layers with the artist being the foundation. Pile on radio, record labels, venues, etc. and the tiers begin to multiply. But the very top layer belongs to the fan.

There are fans and then there are FANS. I just wrote about one such person, Kate Carroll, the administrator of the Facebook group Rock ‘n Rhode. On a more personal note, one friend has gone above and beyond to cater to the local music community in Connecticut.

Laurie lives in my town of Wallingford and with her boyfriend Geo Filippides of the Beatles tribute band #9, she opens her abode for magical jam sessions. She is a consummate music lover with a strong hankering for a good “Dead” song. One of her children raises chickens in the backyard (we benefit with some amazing eggs) and has a pig. Another child works on cancer research.

In the past I have written reviews about SOFAR (Songs From A Room) shows. Well, Laurie does the same from her home. Several times a year Laurie opens her house to jams with musicians from the four corners of the state.

Mindful of her neighbors, the jams start in the early afternoon and continue into the early evening. The line up is constantly changing as some musicians leave for gigs but new players show up. The cast is always in flux. Several songs can have Geo on vocals, Bob on rhythm guitar, Bill on keyboards, Chris on horns doing the Beatles and the Stones and then the next set is a new group belting out Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith tunes.

Not only is the music top notch but the whole atmosphere is nourishing. There is food aplenty and wine a flowing. The whole scene is like minded musicians talking music, life and more music. No attitudes and no hassles. Everyone who wants to play, plays.

The world would be better if everyone could chill like Laurie and Geo. It’s all positive energy and real good music. Like I previously said, there are fans and then there are FANS. I am glad Laurie is the later. Bless her soul.

 

 

 

 

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