SOUNDSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL – SEASIDE PARK – BRIDGEPORT CT

By Ralph Beauchamp

Feature Photo Anna Downs

The Soundside Music Festival held it’s third chapter the weekend of Sept. 28th-29th at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Ct. It was formally the Sound On Sound Music Festival but got a moniker change due to the fact the original promoters, Founders Entertainment joined forces with C3 Presents which is the festival arm of Live Nation. The two days were filled with glorious music and fun times and artists like Noah Kahan, Jack White, Greta Van Fleet and Bleachers performed audacious sets. Other acts including Norah Jones, Teddy Swims, Boyz II Men and Thee Sacred Souls, also delivered the heat.

Let me start off by saying AMP has covered all three editions of this festival and no matter how hard the promoters try to make it easy, there always seems to be one obstacle or another that slowly creeps up. The initial year, the music was spectacular but the festival was mishandled and there was a lot of discoordination. Food lines were extremely long and there was a ton of confusion. The second day was by far better but the crowd was also smaller.

Last year’s Sound On Sound was hampered by a torrential rainstorm the evening before the start which left the grounds muddy and wet. The promoters did an excellent job trying to create an enjoyable environment but it was still hard to maneuver. I made sure my kids brought extra clothes and shoes as I envisioned soggy pants and bespattered footwear. They weren’t getting into my car like that. Again, this was no fault of the promoters. They actually handled the difficulties with much grace and I do believe most people had a good time. Mother Nature just gave them the finger.

Now, let’s get to this year. Soundside had an impressive lineup. Saturday’s headliner, Noah Kahan, had a terrific underbill. Goo Goo Doll, Fleet Foxes and Boyz II Men are an interesting blend of genres. In addition, Grace Potter, Thee Sacred Souls, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Lisa Loeb made Saturday a must see. Add newcomers, Madi Diaz and Rijah (who we had the pleasure of interviewing for a later feature) and you have a recipe for a musical feast.

Photos Ralph Beauchamp

Sunday is more interesting. Queens Of The Stone Age were slated to play but had to cancel due to medical reasons. Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers were QOTSA’s replacement and even though a different genre, definity a wash. Now to the crazy. Headliners, Foo Fighters, pulled out at the last moment creating a huge hole. Many (and I mean many) people brought their tickets just to see the Foo Fighters. The band gave no concrete reason for their abrupt departure but there were many rumors that surfaced.

In their place, we got two co-headliners. Jack White and Greta Van Fleet were added on. To me, not too bad but many ticket holders were pissed off. Again, all this was out of the control of Soundside and they pivoted the best they could. You can’t make this shit up. Sunday also had an array of excellent talent. Artists I truly wanted to experience. Gregory Alan Isakov, Norah Jones, Teddy Swims and the before mentioned Bleachers all command respect. Lower on the bill were Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, The War And The Treaty, Hurray For The Riff Raff and Darren Kiely.

Just one last note on the weather. the forecast days before the event called for sunny skies and in the 70s. Perfect but Mother Nature threw Soundside another curveball. Saturday was drizzly with an occasional bout of constant rain, all day. It was also windy and since Seaside Park is right off the Long Island Sound, downright cold. By far, not what I was expecting and prepared for. By the end of the night, I was not feeling that well.

Due the the amount of artists involved, I will only give a brief synopsis of each act.

Saturday started with Rijah and Madi Diaz. Both acts brought their A game and fostered lively sets. The crowd seemed to enjoy their sound. Lisa Loeb held the audience attention and her big hit “Stay (I Miss You) was definitely a fan favorite. Guitar virtuoso, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram transported the throng back to the Mississippi delta with songs that flashed with blues magic. Thee Sacred Souls, one of the artists I was truly looking forward to see, were killer. Fronted by Josh Lane, the band’s set was exhilarating and full of organic soul and R&B flavors. Lane is a consummate showman and easily drew in the Soundside patrons.

Grace Potter followed and, for me, she was the hit of the night. Her forceful music is full of delightful rock intonations and her voice is both fiery and melodic. In addition, her energy was through the roof. Her aggressive sound is monstrous and the crowd really came to life. Songs like “Medicine” and “Good Time” totally resonated. Potter closed out with a dynamic rendition of “Paris (Ooh La La)” from her self titled 2010 album with her band the Nocturnals. Potter simply slayed.

The surprise of the night was Boyz II Men. They truly energized the crowd with their huge R&B hits. Practically everyone sang along to most of their set and they even threw in some curious choice of tunes. Playing covers from Lenny Kravitz (“Are You Gonna Go My Way”) and The Guess Who (“American Woman”), Boyz II Men were brazen and entertaining. They were also fun and engaging. Fleet Foxes came next and their style of folk tinged indie rock enthralled the Soundside congregation. Their music wove layers of additive textures that captivated everyone.

Closing out Saturday were the Goo Goo Dolls and Noah Kahan. The Goo Goo Dolls received a warm welcome but Noah was the true star shining brightly in the Soundside sky. Every person held tightly to every word in every song. He controlled the audience with his emotive delivery and relatable lyrics. Kahan was the perfect ending to a shimmery evening of stellar music.

Photos Ralph Beauchamp

On to Sunday. Like I previously said, I came home under the weather because of the weather. I wouldn’t even have gone if it wasn’t that the card was stacked. I had to be smart and intentionally missed the four openers. Sleep was needed and I used the time to bounce back. I came in at the beginning of Gregory Alan Isakov’s set. His music is beautiful. He released a palette of exotic grooves that were incandescent. The crowd ate it up. Norah Jones is a favorite of mine. I’ve seen her several times with her eclectic ensemble, Puss N Boots. She floored the audience with her imposing vocals and dexterous piano playing.

So what can I say about Teddy Swims. I was completely blown away. The man is a force. His voice is rapturous and his music soul-searching. He was hitting on all cylinders. Soundside was entirely in awe. His music and personality thoroughly saturated Seaside Park. Swims’ arrangements were bold and funky. His aura was cinematic in nature. Swims just ruled the stage. He even stopped his performance when he witnessed someone in distress and apologized that he didn’t see it earlier. Swims’ was utterly divine.

Okay, next up was Bleachers. Jack Antonoff and crew were fabulous. His raucous style of Jersey flavored rock reminds one of Springsteen and Southside Johnny. The band was tight and the two sax players (Evan Smith and Zem Audu) practically stole the show. Antonoff was a delight. His vibrant stage demeanor just added to his gnarly vocals and inspired songs. The crowd went wild and you felt the electricity in the air. Bleachers’ huge hits, “I Wanna Get Better”, “Rollercoaster” and “Modern Girl” were sing along fests. Bleachers were practically incendiary.

Greta Van Fleet and Jack White closed out the night. I’m not a big Greta fan but I found them stimulating. The band knows how to captivate a show. The brothers Kiszka (Joshua, Jake, Sam) are pulverizing on stage. They are constantly attacking all areas of the dias. Lead singer, Joshua, has a great voice and his classic rock poise bring back memories of Plant. Plus, they are a blast to photograph. Jack White is a musical genius and this performance just solidified the fact. His guitar was crushing and his vocals were fierce. He was a rampaging beast and the perfect act to say goodnight to Soundside.

An editor’s aside.

On Thursday, when I went to pick up our credentials, I stumbled onto an wonderful italian restaurant named Ralph ‘n’ Rich’s. It is directly across the highway from the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport – just a five minute walk. I found the food amazing and the service excellent. Also, their pricing was quite reasonable. It is truly a hidden gem and a neighborhood hot spot. The place was packed as the locals know of its delightful fare. When they overheard we were attending Soundside and needed parking, they offered to allow us to park in their lot.

Now, who does that. We didn’t need it as we parked on the street but I was floored with their generosity. If you are hitting a show at the AMP next year, definitely come early and enjoy their old school charm. The address is 815 Main Street, Bridgeport. Their phone number is 203-366-3597.

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