2022 NEW ENGLAND GUITAR SUMMIT @ THE JAMESON PUB
On Sunday, April 24th, The Jameson Pub in Watertown, Ct. hosted the 2022 New England Guitar Summit. The event was produced by Todd Pfeffer, Scott Weaver and BJ Zampa. The Summit showcases some of the area’s top guitar virtuosos. Included was Damiano Christian (Elm City Heartbreakers), Brendan Clark (Alice Loves Alien), Billy DiNapoli (Wild America), Michael Abdow (Fates Warning), Joe Stump (Alcatrazz) and Doc Dooling.
The evening began with an acoustic set by the esteemed Doc Dooling. It was the perfect kickoff to a night of immense talent. Up next was Damiano Christian and his hot new band, Elm City Heartbreakers. Damiano is an up and coming star. His guitar work is absolutely amazing. His sense of feel and dexterity is first class. By far, her was the youngest guitarist playing the affair yet his expertise is par excellence. The Elm City Heartbreakers are John DeMarco (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Damiano Christian (Lead Guitar), Liv Scarfi (Bass) and Zach Hart (Drums).
Their six song set was full of excitement as the band provided instant entertainment. DeMarco was a savvy front man whose vocals were full of innate animation. He knew how to control the moment. The backbeat of Scarfi and Hart carried an astute ambiance. Christian’s guitar playing was illustrious. Elm City Heartbreakers opened with “Hope It’ll Be Alright”, “Sad Excuse” and “R U Ready”. Christian then demonstrated his musical prowess playing an extended solo on “Tooth N Nail”. They closed out with fiery renditions of “Too Good A Loser” and “Balzy”. Elm City Heartbreakers delivered an exceptional show.
Next up was the amazing Brendan Clark. Clark is a prominent figure throughout the Northeast. He performs under several monikers but his group Alice Loves Alien, which features Gina Andia on vocals, is the most notable. This evening he ensembled an all-star band..Clark was joined by the fabulous Shannon Wilk (Mickey Lyxx) on bass and Fran Mynahan (King Kuel) on drums. The three set the room on fire with blistering renditions of rock and roll classics. They opened with “Voodoo Child”, “One Way Out” and a smoking “Mississippi Queen” by Mountain. The crowd was mesmerized by the band’s audacious musicianship. And all this was with no prior rehearsals.
The whole time Clark wailed on his guitar. He created intoxicating waves of spellbinding soundscapes. Wilk’s bass was captivating and her showmanship was just as strong. What can you say about Mynahan. His timing is impeccable and his playing is ferocious. The trio ended with “Little Wing” and a brazen version of “La Grange”. Brendan Clark and company were stellar.
Clark was followed by the always forceful, Wild America. The band is no stranger to AMP as we have featured the band numerous times. Billy DiNapoli is a standout guitarist and Wild America’s music is hard hitting with a contemporary edge. They just released their new album, Old School Cool, on Kivel Records last month. The record is full of driving tunes guaranteed to awaken your musical soul. Besides DiNapoli, the band is comprised of Joe Labbadia on vocals, Steve Wovkanech on bass and Derrick Pontier formerly of Great White on drums.
Wild America played a dynamic 8 song set. “Long Road” was followed by “Rock Star” “Love ‘Em And I’m Gone” and “Inside Outside. The audience was really feeling the band’s imposing vibes. The band always gives a spirited effort. Labbadia was explosive and Wovkanech was a monster on bass. Pontier’s percussions were relentless. The band finished with “Name”, Something Inside” and an emotive “Till We Meet Again” I loved every minute of their set.
Michael Abdow was next. Abdow’s guitar playing is a completely different animal. He constructs layers of addictive riffs to create intricate textures of cascading rhythms. Adbow is a prog mastermind who in addition to playing in Fates Warning has dropped multiple solo full lengths. At the Guitar Summit, Abdow performed with one of his side projects. E.S.O. which is composed of Adbow, Shawn Deneault (Drums) and Steven Lanning-Cafaro (Bass). The three of them spawned groove laden cadences that totally intrigued the crowd.
The setlist was forged off of Abdow’s four solo albums. Each song had a singular and cinematic feel. E.S.O. opened with “Dripstone” followed by “Cherry Blossom Descent”, Innocent Emotion” and Heart Signal”. By this time, the room was reveling in the complex yet lush musical structure the group was laying down. It easily captivated the audience. They finished with “We Live Here”, “Monologue 11:11” and a stimulating “Heavy Drifter”. Michael Abdow and E.S.O. were utterly enticing.
Sorry to say I missed the all star jam featuring the talented Joe Stump. Talking to the other attendees afterwards, he was propulsive. Stump lives in Boston and is an Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music. He is a master shredder and plays in Alcatrazz and other prodicius projects. The man is a beast.
The 2022 New England Guitar Summit was a huge success. Everyone involved did a fantastic job. The venue (The Jameson Pub) offered the perfect setting. Pfeffer, Weaver and Zampa showcased some top notch talent and the musicians all performed admirably. Hopefully, the 2023 New England Guitar Summit is bigger and bolder and full of surprises.
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To learn more about the 2023 Guitar Summit check out Todd Pfeffer’s Facebook Page
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