The Roots Report: Who’s Your Favorite Beatle?

Okee dokee folks… I am going to commit Beatle’s heresy. At least I think that I am. Often, folks will list their favorite Beatles starting with John Lennon and ending with Ringo Starr. Paul McCartney comes in second and George Harrison, third. That is not the way I see it. My list starts with George then it’s Ringo, followed by Paul. John comes in a distant last. I think that George was the underappreciated Beatle. Ringo was and still is entertaining and fun, and is the only Beatle that I have seen perform live. I like McCartney, but sometimes his music can be annoying. I think some of the best music he did was with Wings. Then there is John. I like a couple of his songs, but I am just not much of a Lennon fan. And of course he gave us Yoko Ono, and that is enough of a reason to put him last. Hey, we are all entitled to our opinions and that is mine! Anyway, why am I even talking about this? On Saturday, October 14 at the Seaport Inn & Marina in Fairhaven, Harrisfest 2017 will be taking place. Harrisfest is billed as “A Tribute to George Harrison and musical concert event.” Scheduled to perform are Greg Hawkes (of The Cars), Tom and Trish Kelly, Walrus Gumboot, The Oh Nos, Crash Land Band, Studio Two Beatles Tribute, Thatcher Harrison, and David Tessier with His All Star Band of All Stars. In addition to the music, Cha Chi Loprete of Breakfast with The Beatles and Beatles experts Eric Taros and Richard Buskin will be appearing. There will also be Beatles merchandise, musical merchandise and art. The host venue, the Seaport Inn and Marina, is located at 110 Middle Street in Fairhaven. It all starts at 2pm and runs until midnight. It sounds like a fun day for any Beatles fan. I can’t speak about the other bands, but David Tessier and His All Star Band of All Stars is one of my favorite bands! For more, go “Within You Without You” to ohnosband.com

If you want to hear Beatles music on an island, then “sail away on the Block Island Ferry” Sunday, October 8 for the Block Island BeatleFest III. This is a fundraiser for the Harbor Church’s Common Ground Coffeehouse. The Harbor Church hosts this coffeehouse every Friday night and provides free meals and music for folks on the island. Scheduled to appear at BI BeatleFest III are: Mark Cutler, Ed McGuirl, Kala Farnham, Ava Callery, Vaux Finnemore, Maya Veldman-Wilson, Jake Douglas, Mac Brown, Andre Mille, Virginia Dare, and The Ukeladies: Jayme Hennessy, Lisa Sprague, Beth Rousseau and Maureen Flaherty. For more about this one, “Get Back” to hearinrhodeisland.com

“It’s getting to the point where I’m no fun anymore…” People could say that is a line I wrote about myself, but it is actually a line from Stephen Stills’ (Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills & Nash) song, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” Most people assume that the name of that song is SWEET Judy Blue Eyes, but they are wrong. It is a suite of music, a set of musical compositions. Stills wrote the song about the relationship/breakup with then girlfriend, singer-songwriter Judy Collins (“Both Sides Now,” “Send In The Clowns”). It has been almost 50 years since that relationship ended and that song was born. Stephen Stills and Judy Collins are now out on tour together for the first time. The two music legends will pull from their rich catalogs, debut songs from a new album that they have recorded together and share stories from their journeys, 1960s folk and the Laurel Canyon scenes they helped build. The Stills-Collins show is making a stop at the Park Theatre in Cranston on Saturday, October 7. I had a brief phone conversation with Judy Collins the other day (motifri.com/judycollins). This is a rare chance to see these two music icons perform together, don’t miss it! For more, “lacy lilting lyric” to parktheatreri.com or stephenstillsjudycollins.com

OK, it is SERIOUSLY time that the US catches up to the rest of the developed nations and provides universal health care for all because these types of events are becoming far too common. On Thursday, October 19, the Rally for Ryan will take place at the Newport Blues Cafe. Newport resident Ryan Belmore recently received a serious and life changing cancer diagnosis and is receiving ongoing treatments that have run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. A group of local musicians is banding together to “Rally For Ryan” and raise funds to help with some of these bills. Belmore has done a lot to support music and the arts in Newport and serves on many boards for various organizations. Performing at the fundraiser will be The Johnny Winter Allstar Band, featuring Grammy Award winner and guitarist for the Johnny Winter Band, Paul Nelson. Joining Nelson will be bluesman and Newport native James Montgomery. Also on the bill are Bill and Gabi of Silverteeth, Matt Bruneau and Leslie Grimes, Steve Cerilli, John Monllos and Joanne Rodino, The Playboys: Mark Gorman and Jack Casey, Justin Pomfret, Randy Robbins, Brian Scott, Michelle Siegal and Zan Ricky-Zan Lord, and Rick Cretarola. It’s about time we strip all the politicians of their healthcare and let them hold a bake sale if they get sick! For more, ring up 401-575-8761 or 401-835-7209.

Peacedale’s Music at Lily Pads returns for a pair of concerts in October, with Genticorum and the Julie Rhodes Band on October 7 and the Providence Mandolin Orchestra on Sunday, October 15 at 3pm. The October 7 show has become a benefit for hurricane relief. It features Lily Pads favorites, the traditional trio Genticorum from Quebec and Julie Rhodes with her band. It was decided by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, the host of Lily Pads concerts and the organizers, to donate all profits from the October 7 show to organizations serving poor areas hardest hit by the recent storms. In addition, an anonymous donor has also made available a very old Gibson guitar, a 1922 Gibson L1, to be raffled off, with all proceeds going to hurricane relief. Only 45 raffle tickets will be sold. On October 15 at 3pm, Lily Pads will also present a special afternoon concert with the Providence Mandolin Orchestra, under the direction of Mark M. Davis. For more, “Tout Le Long Du Voyage”  lilypadsmusic@gmail.com, musicatlilypads.org

Are you all out of love? If so then get to Twin River on Friday, October 13 for Air Supply. Their albums Lost in Love, The One That You Love, Now & Forever, and The Greatest Hits sold in excess of 20 million copies. “Lost in Love” was named Song of the Year in 1980, and, with the other singles, sold more than 10 million copies. If you are a little cold on October 6 ,then perhaps you need a Three Dog Night. The legendary “Joy To The World” band will also be appearing at Twin River. For more, “Shambala” to twinriver.com

On October 7, North Sea Gas will make their 13th appearance at Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland as they tour behind their newest CD, When We Go Rolling Home. North Sea Gas is a folk band from Scotland who have been performing their blend of poignant and rousing songs and high-energy instrumentals for three decades. With a combination of fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bodhran and bouzouki, complementing strong three-part vocal harmonies and a keen sense of humor, an entertaining evening is always guaranteed. On October 8, it’s Skipper’s Alley, on October 14 is Patrick Ball and on October 21 is Bohemian Quartet. For more, “Tak A Dram Afore Ye Go” to riverfolk.org

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. JohnFuzek.com