It was a busy fall, trad jazz wise, in New England. Friends, I have now seen the Soggy Po’ Boys four times (FOUR TIMES!) in four months, which I think officially makes me a groupie.
Or a stalker. (No bunnies were boiled during the writing of this article.)
After seeing the band on August 1st at The Press Room in Portsmouth, NH, I was able to see them (without the mister) at The Strand Theater in Rockland, ME, on August 12th. This was their first time playing in the area, and I think they were testing out the audience’s receptiveness to their music, because their playing during the first couple of numbers felt restrained. The audience was restrained as well. Then the band let loose with the third number and so did the audience. For the rest of the show, people were clapping, hooting, bopping in their seats and having a great time. A couple of women got up to dance in the aisles and tried to get others to join in, but this is New England; we don’t dance in the aisles, thank you very much. I’ve been to concerts by They Might Be Giants and Barenaked Ladies who play infectiously feel-good music that one can sing along to easily; the audience at each show was over-the-moon enthusiastic for the band’s playing and yet remained firmly seated throughout the show. We just don’t get up and dance here (usually—keep reading… this assertion shortly to be challenged).
Before the sh
