Spirit Family Reunion @the Brunch Session - Boston Mass

The Boston area + greater Massachusetts area is a hot bed for out of the box live music opportunities.  Entities such as Billsville, Sleepover Shows, and Kitchen Sessions have been helping bands that I adore for quite some time.

A few weeks ago, I was planning out a trip to Boston to catch my first Fenway Park game.  It was going to be me, the wife, my brosef, his g-friend and NO KIDDO!  It was also an afternoon game for the Red Sox, so I started stalking the net to see what else might be available that weekend.   


Cherubs started strumming their harps and a choir of angels starting singing, as I found the Brunch Session!   Not only did I find a Boston house concert, but it was Sunday, for Brunch, and Spirit Family Reunion was the feature band!


Unlike Newport Folk Festival last year where I had to leave before getting to see The Head and the Heart, and The Civil Wars, I would be able to do this full event and make it back to Jersey to pick up the child!  It was going to be perfect.  For those of you who didn't peep the session page.  $12 included craft beer, from scratch waffles and two bands!  I know I was thinking, where the heck could I get breakfast in Boston for $12, but to get to see one of the BREAK OUT BANDS of 2012 in a living room included with that sweet breakfast was heaven.

Spirit Family Reunion - On That Day


According to the Brunch session flyer, "This event has been a long time coming.  It all began last year after the Dawes/Blitzen Trapper show at Royale, the Brewery Sessions crew and the Music Savage crew were talking about how awesome it would be if we had a daytime session, specifically one with waffles."

The Brunch Session was at NewMusicCo  writer Jessica's apt.  None of my entourage had any idea what to expect, but were impressed when we arrived.  The sun was shining beautifully through a two story window of Jessica's apartment and the smell of waffles took us immediately.  The apartment was incredibly well laid out to pull of this brazen idea.  90ish people fit into the apartment with the help of an excellent floor plan.  New friends in the main room and close friends in the loft bedroom above.

The chillaxed atmosphere was exactly what I needed for a Sunday morning.  The room was filled with hip young adults eager for the acoustic sets enjoying the fantastic from scratch brunch with yummy beverages.  Even the event friends and bands were chill.  There was no chaotic running around  There were no frantic sounds of a sound check.  The bands filtered in, ate, and met their friends.  Clearly, Jessica must have sacrificed her favorite vinyl to the music gods, for this to have worked out so well!

Most people grabbed a spot on floor, which might not have ever been considered for an evening set.  But it totally fit the mood.  Even better, it totally fit the sound of Summer Cult's sleepy Sunday acoustic set.  

Summer Cult's Dylan, Marissa, Alex, and Steven fresh from a show the night before played 8 songs for the attentive crowd including 'Black River Driving', the harmonious 'Ship To Sail, and new 'Touch Me'!






Spirit Family Reunion went on a short while later.  Dressed for bluegrass success, the Brooklyn based band was intent on getting everyone moving.  Little fan fare surrounds them, but the unassuming band, it seems, would rather win fans over one song at a time rather than a talking about themselves. 

With no set list planned Spirit Family Reunion was represented by Nick Panken on vocals and Maggie Carlson on banjo, Ken Woodward on upright bass, Mat Davidson on fiddle, and I believe Stephen Weinheimer taking the drums.

For about half of the set, the crowd stayed on the couches and floor resisting the urge to get up and party to Spirit Family's uplifting revival feel.  You would think Mat's killer vocals on 'Green Rocky Road' and the uproarious 'Leave Your Troubles at the Gate' would make anyone move around, but it's hard to blame them with such lovely peaceful beauties as 'On That Day' and 'Gazebo Song'.

Dancing finally broke out and took over during 'I want to be Relieved'.  The band rewarded the now-afternoon crowd with 'When My Name is Spoken' and true sing-along 'I'll Find A Way'

Spirit Family Reunion is working to release their new album No Separation sometime in the next month or so. 

To learn more about the band, here's some of the best I found on the net:
http://usedfurniturereview.com/  or http://www.980wcap.com/

If you've got some time, watch the feed from the show (the show starts @11:10)



Spirit Family Reunion "Green Green Rocky Road"


Special thanks to the Brewery Sessions crew for pulling off the inaugural Brunch Session!  Thanks to the bands for being awesome and Jessica for being a great host!