Keith McCurdy of Vudu Sister
former Aquidneck National Bank has hosted live bands and national acts since 1995 , when entrepreneur Brian Foley took it over . The two-level live music and restaurant venue covers genres from classic , progressive and indie rock to rhythm and blues , jazz , funk and hip-hop . The iconic spot has hosted acts like Jackson Browne , the Neville Brothers , Dicky Betts , Joe Bonnamassa , Johnny and Edgar Winter , Roomful of Blues , the Cowsills , Deer Tick and more .
PUMP HOUSE MUSIC WORKS
1464 Kingstown Rd ., Wakefield , pumphousemusicworks . com Right on the border of the villages of Wakefield and Peace Dale is Pump House Music Works , a gorgeous venue with stone walls and an abundance of music . It hosts a variety of genres and styles along with weekly events . “ Jazz , rock , reggae , jam bands , funk and classical with all of the bands that you ’ ve come to know and love , some new local and regional acts as well as a number of touring bands that have never played here before are coming through ,” says audio engineer and booking agent Brendon Bjorness- Murano . A new electric jam ses-
sion happens every Tuesday with a weekly acoustic open mic on Wednesdays . There are also monthly comedy nights with Poppy Champlin , a first Sunday jazz run with Dan Moretti and “ PotLuck ” open mics on the last Sunday of the month .
OCEAN MIST
895 Matunuck Beach Rd ., Wakefield , 782-3740 , oceanmist . net There really isn ’ t anywhere else in New England where you can see top-tier talent perform with a view of the ocean under your feet . The Ocean Mist has plenty happening for late summer . “ Our calendar is chock full with weekly scheduled programming and one-off large-scale events ,” says owner Kevin Finnegan . Sundays start with the Ocean Mist brunch followed by Sunday Fundays featuring local bands . Mondays , Thursdays , Fridays and Saturdays feature a suite of live music : national sell-out ticketed bands , local walk-up groups , smaller musician groups and everything in between . On Tuesdays , there ’ s a dance party for the late-night crowd . The Pub offers a late-night menu until midnight , as well as sunset solo sessions on the top deck Thursday evenings .
Q & A :
Keith McCurdy of Vudu Sister
Research assistance provided by Jamie Coelho .
The frontman for the gothic folk band — and sometimes solo acoustic act — reflects on thirteen years in the music scene . BY JAMIE COELHO
How did you first get into the local music scene ? I have been performing my own material on stage in front of audiences at clubs for over twenty years . I ’ ve been in and out of bands . I started like anyone else . My father was a bass player . I was into alternative music and post-punk . I was listening to Nirvana and Soundgarden at an early age . I didn ’ t start playing in bands until I was in my mid-teens . Vudu Sister has been a thing for thirteen years . It was during the late 2000s , early 2010s , when there was a revival of Americana music . I used to go to Tazza Cafe . There was a great open mic night , and that was the first time I started to connect with other musicians . I had been writing seriously for ten or eleven years at the time . It took that long for me to record my album .
Do you most identify with gothic folk ? That ’ s how we describe it currently because it ’ s acoustic . I grew up on heavy , aggressive music . But this is what happens : You form a band . You write some songs with a band collaboratively , you fall in love with the music , and then the band breaks up . Then you have to start from scratch . I finally decided I needed to start a project where I can be self-reliant . The idea is to always try to have a band , but I can always play alone . I grew up with “ MTV Unplugged .” I love seeing heavy bands be able to strip down and still rock with acoustic instruments . I like the gothic aspect , and I like exploring macabre themes . I like exploring things that are dark but also whimsical in nature , like a Tim Burton kind of thing , or Edgar Allan Poe or Lovecraft .
PHOTOGRAPH : COURTESY OF PUMP HOUSE MUSIC WORKS / GIANGUZZI PHOTOGRAPHY .
Live music at Pump House Music Works .
And what better city than Providence , because there are so many references to Lovecraft . When I was overseas and people asked me where I was from , a lot of people knew who Lovecraft is . I don ’ t think we take advantage of how weird and gothic Providence can be . NecronomiCon , the Lovecraft festival [ which usually happens in August ] was always a thing for me . I was so happy Niels [ Hobbs ] asked us to play it , because I was proven right .
How did your European tour come about ? You went to Spain , Italy and France ? I did fifteen shows in eleven different cities and towns . I have been dreaming of going to Europe my whole life , but I didn ’ t start going until my father passed . Last year , I played one show in Paris . I met a girl in Paris after my show who had found my music online , singer / songwriter Lisa Hartmann . She booked our shows together for this tour . It was a very DIY tour , but thanks to friends
94 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l AUGUST 2023