New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Vomitorium, Deep Banana Blackout head list of holiday music events
NEW HAVEN — Mention the word “Thanksgiving” and many people immediately think about gathering around the dinner table with relatives or friends, eating way too much turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pie, then falling asleep in front of the TV.
But around here, there’s a subgroup for whom “Thanksgiving” — or more precisely, “Thanksgiving Eve” — means it’s time for Dean Falcone’s annual Thanksgiving Vomitorium musical variety show — unfolding this year for the 22nd time on Wednesday night at Cafe Nine.
Yet another subgroup will be found on Thanksgiving Eve over at Deep Banana Blackout’s mostly annual Thanksgiving Eve funkfest, which returns to Toad’s Place on Wednesday night.
This year, the Funky Dawgz Brass Band will be along for the ride to open the DBB show.
Both shows start at 9 p.m., with doors opening at 8.
Vomitorium tickets are $10, available in advance at cafenine.com, or at the door. Cafe Nine is at 250 State St. in New Haven.
Deep Banana Blackout tickets are $20 in advance, available at toadsplace.com, or $25 day of. The show is for all ages. Toad’s Place is at 300 York St. in New Haven.
Here’s what else you need to know about each:
The Vomitorium: Attendees get to “overcook perfectly good songs and violate them!” as Falcone describes it — at this point it’s sort of the granddaddy of Greater New Haven holiday celebrations.
This year’s Vomitorium will “celebrate” Cheap Trick, the Pretenders and the songs of 1979 and will feature Ed Valauskas, Jim Balga and Rick Mealey along with Falcone as the core band.
“Come hear your favorite songs from Cheap Trick, Pretenders & 1979 slaughtered and massacred the way they deserve in this festive American holiday tradition where friend and foe come together and then attack each other with blows of unrehearsed tunes,” Falcone said in an email.
“You never know who is going to show up or what they’re going to play, and often we don’t either, until it happens,” he said.
Among the participants this year besides the core band will be Brian Stevens, Rich Dart, Shellye Valauskas, Jen D’Angora, Tommy Oberon, Jay Russell, Brendan Toller, Val McKee, Cristina Harris, Magen Tracy, Kara Kenney, Rebecca Scotka, Dave Sieser, Kierstin Sieser, Bruce Crowder, Loralee Geil, Dave Schneider, Eileen Ziontz and Tom Hughes.
Oh, and yours truly, making my Vomitorium debut on harmonica for a few tunes.
The Vomitorium, Falcone said in an email, is where you can “watch friends and enemies battle their way through songs they don’t know!” and where you can “watch in amazement as audience members are unwillingly dragged to the stage to sing!”
Deep Banana Blackout: If your taste veers more toward high-energy, shakeyour-bones, New Orleansstyle funk, Toad’s Place may be where you want to be, as Deep Banana Blackout, one of the biggest things ever to come out of Bridgeport, makes its annual appearance.
DBB was formed in the summer of 1995 when members of two bands, Tongue & Groove from Connecticut and Pack of Matches from Long Island, hooked up to create something bigger than them both. The band went hot and heavy for a number of years, becoming a major force in the jam band scene, but has come together only occasionally in recent years.
With a full horn section, and fronted as always by hard-working vocalist Jen Durkin, they’re an impressive — and always fun — act to behold.
Other good stuff: As always, Thanksgiving week is a busy time, with lots of other good stuff happening. Here are a few ideas if you’re looking to get out:
1 Shakedown at Space Ballroom, also on Wednesday night, presented by Premier Concerts and Manic Presents. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, available at spaceballroom. com, or $15 at the door. (All ages show.) The Space Ballroom is at 295 Treadwell St. in Hamden.
1 The Felice Brothers at Space Ballroom on Friday night with Not My Sister opening, presented by Premier Concerts and Manic Presents. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, available at spaceballroom. com, or $25 at the door.
1 Cafe Nine Jazz Jam Session featuring the George Baker Band on Saturday. Showtime is 4 p.m. Admission is free.
1 The Birdmen and Eric Nassau at Cafe Nine’s “The Sunday Buzz” Matinee from Cygnus Radio on Nov. 25. Showtime is 4 p.m. Admission is free.
1 Cafe Nine Blues Jam hosted by the George Lesiw Band. Cafe Nine’s blues jam returns for a “Home For The Holidays” edition at 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 25, featuring a house band that includes Lesiw on guitar and vocals, yours truly on harmonica and vocals, Mike Nunno on bass and Tom Nagy on drums. Signups begin at 8 p.m. Admission is free. Cafe Nine is at 250 State St.