We love you, mans!
Another gig is in the books! Thanks to all who came out and to those who joined us performing: Nino Ciampa for “Stray Cat Strut” (drums), Fred Bement for “Honkey Tonk Women” (harp), and Rebecca Cazabon for “When Will I Be Loved” (lead vocals). Great crowd, setlist, and experience. We love you, mans!
At the gig, Nancy said that we should have an email list to inform friends and fans about gigs etc. So now we do! We renamed the “Testimonials” page to “Fans” and put the info there (https://www.mcatsband.org/fans). Be sure to subscribe and tell your pals!
Our first gig of the season at The Outlook at Nashoba, in our preferred location: by the mural, not by the fire! Nino joined us on drums for “Just Live Heaven!”
Occasionally, we gig and get no photos, usually – but not always – when I am absent. This was such a gig. Pics or it didn’t happen! Ergo such gigs are known as phantom gigs!
I’ve been playing keys with The MCats Band, a classic rock cover band that raises money for various charities, since 2005. This was our last gig of the season at The Tiki Bar in Westford. A chilly night but a fun gig! Thanks to Dr. Laura for the pics! We love you, mans!
Summer gigs are sometimes challenging due to vacation schedules and the weather. But The MCats Band and Mother Nature pulled it together for an epic summer gig at The Sunset Tiki Bar & Grill at Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford. Guest drummer and local legend Tony Caliendo joined us again, and the rain (in this crazy rain-filled August of 2018) stopped long enough for the gig to go on!
A mellow first set (for listening – how we typically open a gig) was following by a rocking last set (for dancing – how we typically close a gig). Between sets, my 14-year-old stepson, Antonino Salvatore Ciampa (AKA Nino Ciampa) was chatting with Tony about the openings to various classic rock songs (of which Nino is a huge fan). Tony then graciously offered to have Nino open the second set by playing drums on “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure, which wasn’t even on our original setlist. I’ve been looking for an opportunity for Nino to play with the band, but schedules prevented him from practicing with the band. Practice? Who needs practice?! Nino is a talented multi-instrumentalist and rose to the challenge. Thanks to friend of the band Erik Wegweiser for the video!
Fun fact! Nearly every band considers changing their name at some point. (See the Wikipedia page for Goo Goo Dolls for an example.) Our band’s name is a play on The McCarthy-Town School, the elementary school in Acton where all of this started. We’re not really changing the name, but last night, while texting with my daughter about the gig, I told her that I had come up with a new name and asked her to guess. Her guesses: “The MDogs” and “The Fab Five Dads.” My answer: “The YouMans.” Why? Because we end every gig with a group hug and saying our tagline: “We love you, mans!”
Set 1
Set 2
Rained out for the third year in a row!
The MCats Band was honored play for the Pan-Mass Challenge for the third year in a row, this time on the WROR 105.7 FM stage at the finish line at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Despite the rainy weather, the riders were riding on, and the rockers were rockin’ on! For some riders, the MMA was their last stop; for others, their journey completes today in Provincetown. Thanks also to Scorpio Sound Systems for the best mix we’ve ever had!
The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) was founded in 1980 by Billy Starr as an across-Massachusetts, bike-riding, cancer-fighting, fundraising event that today draws thousands of bikers from across the country and the world. The PMC raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country – including more than 50% of annual revenue for The Jimmy Fund – and is the single largest contributor to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Set 1
Set 2
Encore
The night of this gig happened to be the night before I was leaving for my first multi-week vacation in nine years. I originally thought I was going to make it but had to bail at the last minute. My bad, sorry guys! -Erik
