Music matters A revelation at Rhythm & Roots BY BOB GULLA

It struck me this weekend, while I was basking in the end-of-summer breeze whispering through Ninigret Park during the Rhythm & Roots Festival, that music really does matter. OK, yeah, pretty simplistic. I should preface that by saying that in this industry, the opposite conclusion is true more often than not. That is, sometimes music really blows and its importance seems about as relevant and exciting as a new episode of friggin’ Fear Factor. Sometimes the business of music and all its attendant misery sucks the enjoyment out of the sheer pleasure of listening to it. At best, the business is a distraction. At worst, it chases you away screaming.

Not so at Rhythm & Roots. Somehow the festival organizers, led by Chuck Wentworth, have managed to retain the joy of hearing great music. OK, so the friendly blue sky and gentle rays of the sun sure don’t hurt. But what happens at R&R every year is extraordinary. The thousands of people that attend will vouch for me, I’m sure.

The fact is there is joy at Ninigret. The performers play exultant music, even when its bluesy. The audience dances blissfully. The kids run around in bare feet on cool green grass. The gumbo smells great and the sound of roots music comes at you from every possible angle; the button-squawk of the accordion, the twangy tones of western-style guitar, or the laughing cry of a fiddle. Sometimes, as it was with Donna the Buffalo and NRBQ, for example, it’s the sound of a chorus of fans singing along. Whatever it is, it makes people happy and loose and friendly and silly. And at R&R everyone appears to be happy.

Now, I know you don’t have to be happy to enjoy music. You can be pissed. Or completely phased out. Hell, go hear Bob and the anarchos in Drop Dead or the dark rock-rap of SOC or the sleaze-a-billy of Sasquatch to see that happiness sure ain’t a prerequisite to having a great time listening to music. It boils down to the fact that music has to make you feel something — anything — but numbness and boredom. It’s critical to your success as a band and as a fan seeking out worthwhile shows. If you’re in a band, do you play music that makes people feel something? If you’re a fan, do you go to shows that help you feel something? If the answer is no, well, start rethinking your approach to what you play or listen to. If the answer is yes, then you’re on the right track. And, thankfully, I, and thousands of others, found the right track at Ninigret.

POLI-BENEFIT. Details are firm for this Sunday’s political awareness gig at the Fleet Skating Rink. Rock On for MoveOn has turned into a huge show, with 17 bands from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and NYC volunteering their time and talent to raise money and awareness for the political action group intent on ousting W. in the upcoming election.

The concert was organized by Chris Daltry, along with Josh Miller, who is hosting the event as part of his annual Hot Club Waterfront Festival, which is making its debut in Kennedy Plaza due to the relocation of Route 195. It runs from 2 to 11 p.m. and will include a minimum $5 donation. Here’s the order (subject to change, natch): the Blind King, Ida, Lucky 57, Anders Parker (Varnaline) & Kendall Meade (Mascott), the ’Mericans, Sleepyhead, Spouse, the Chilblains, the Bob Kendall Band, Su Casa, the Blizzard of ’78, Charlie Chesterman and the Motorbikes, International Pen Pal, Sibling Rivalry, Mudboy, and finishing up with the sonic chaos of Mahi Mahi and Lightning Bolt.

The Hot Club fest kicks off on Friday (the 10th) at 4 p.m. with Max Creek, Black 47, Rizzz, and the Last Minute Blues Band; on Saturday, Roomful of Blues, Skatalites, Big Nazo, Dub Squad, and ZOX will entertain. Admission is $5; the shows will take place rain or shine, as the "Hot Club Big Top" will be securely in place above the revelers. Call 861-9007 for details.

BLONDE AMBITION. The Department of Defense Armed Forces Entertainment Office (AFEO) recently chose locals Beyond Blonde to become one of the acts to entertain US troops abroad.

Bassist Joyce Sampson notes: "I have done three Department of Defense overseas tours, and I knew about them prior to those because I was in the Air Force and I had seen a few shows then." To be considered, the band submitted a press kit with CD and video of a live performance to the AFEO in Washington, DC. The AFEO hires all forms of entertainment, including cheerleading teams and comedy acts. "I knew bands went overseas to perform for the troops but never knew how it came about," said Lisa Firda, the band’s frontwoman. "For me, doing a DOD tour is a dream come true. Performing our music for the troops is also a big part of the reason I wanted to apply." Joyce remembers her DOD tour experiences with pride. "These men and women are so far away from home, and being able to bring some joy into their lives is a great honor."

FAREWELL, BOBBY. The local and national rock worlds mourn the loss of Bobby Cotoia, longtime member of the Beaver Brown Band and North Providence native, who died on Friday at the too-young age of 51. Bobby played keyboards for the BBB for more than three decades, getting co-write credits with John Cafferty on their platinum-selling Eddie and the Cruisers soundtrack and its anthem "On the Dark Side." Bobby was a terrific musician, a real professional, and will truly be missed.

WANDERING EYE. Acid Rain Revival’s next show is this Friday at the Call with Without Andy. Also on Friday, Mastamindz rock the Knights of Columbus house in Pascoag with A Blind Prophecy (9:30 p.m.) and Rich Polseno (10:30). The headliners take the stage at 11:30. The show is all ages and the bar will be open, but the venue only fits 300, so get there early.

Rebecca Nurse just entered into pre-production for their second disc, tentatively titled Bedtime Stories. It’ll contain five new songs, and the band hopes to push it out before Christmas. You can catch them on Friday at the Century Lounge. The 18-plus show starts at 10 p.m., and admission is $4.

Stone Soup opens its 24th season on Saturday (the 11th). Two of the space’s near and dear friends, Joyce Katzberg and John Fuzek, and some fresh faces, Late Bloomers and Corinne Wahlberg, will get the ball rollin’ for ’04-’05. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket Arts Center (210 Main Street); admission is $10. Here’s to a watershed season this time around.

Smokestack Lightnin’ plays Lupo’s At the Strand on Saturday in a huge opening slot for blues icon Buddy Guy. Perhaps Josh and the band might salt their set with some heavy stingers to appease guitar-hungry blues fans. Doors at 7 p.m., show’s at 8.

The "Songwriters In the Round" series continues at AS220 this Sunday with Eric Fontana, Art Toegemann, Jimmy Atto, and Ryan Fitzsimmons. The show starts at 7 p.m. and costs just $5. Each installment finds host Fitzsimmons tracking down a few Rhode Island Songwriters Association members to share their work and write a new song on a theme exclusively for the event. The theme for September is cool: "Jealousy."

The Goners play the Living Room on Monday (the 13th) with Next To Nothing, California Smile, and Kill Tomorrow. The Goners are Roger Hall (guitar/vocals), Link Poison (guitar), Dan Rodrigues (bass), and Tony Jones (drums).

Who are you? E-mail me with that info at big.daddy@cox.net and let me in on all your music secrets.