Kennedys don’t let April showers stop them from coming to Montclair.
Married couple Pete and Maura Kennedy make up the 20-year-old duo The Kennedys, who will bring their hard-to-classify music to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair on Fri., April 12.
Some categorize their sound as folk-rock or pop, but their influence is so eclectic and diverse, from country-folk to Middle Eastern elements, that it is almost impossible to place them in any single genre. The Kennedys tend to experiment so much that they even have put out a children’s pop and rock album in 2007 as The Snacks.
That same year, under the name The Strongbusters, they released an album that showcased elements more reminiscent of swing and jazz. Their most recent effort was last year’s Closer than You Know, which was inspired by a journey to France.
Some other things they are known for are performing at both of Bill Clinton’s Presidential inaugurations and performing at least one Beatles cover at almost every show. Aside from the Beatles, The Kennedys also cite Bob Dylan and The Byrds among their greatest influences.
Some of their numbers include “River of Fallen Stars,” “Midnight Ghost” and a cover of Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.”
Edward Rogers is a British-born singer-songwriter whose early stages in his music career began as a drummer when the British Invasion came to the United States. A fully severed right arm and a partially severed right leg from a subway accident in 1985 inspired him to focus more on singing and songwriting, thus abandoning drumming altogether.
He has released two albums with the Bedsit Poets, whose sound gravitates less toward rock-and-roll and more towards a lounge jazz-esque atmosphere. Whether solo or with a band, much of his music is inspired by spending all of his pre-adolescent years living in the UK. Through and through, his music is so reminiscent of a mixture of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who, that it will make listeners, new and veteran, feel as if the British Invasion never really left or ended, but just took a rather lengthy hiatus.
Rogers noted that he is excited to perform with The Kennedys. Pete Kennedy has even performed as a guest keyboardist at some of Rogers’ past solo shows. With Bedsit Poets, be sure to give the following a listen: “The Summer that Changed,” “She’s a Mystery” and “Daze for Love.” Some of his solo numbers include “Porcelain,” “You Haven’t Been Where I’ve Been” and “Link to the Chain.”
Another one of Rogers’ solo songs is entitled “Separate Walls,” but that does not mean walls should be put up when it comes to giving back to the community. The organizers and volunteers of Outpost in the Burbs work hard to set up these shows and work even harder to set up donation collections in order to help those in need. They will collect donations of toiletries and cosmetics, as well as paper grocery bags.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair is located on 67 Church Street in Montclair, NJ. If you wish to grab a bite to eat before doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. There is a Starbucks Coffee just around the corner. Or, if you are more adventurous, please be sure to consider the array of eateries on Bloomfield Avenue that are as diverse as the music that will be performed that night.
To purchase tickets, visit Keil’s Pharmacy on 732 Valley Road (cash or check only) or Studio042 Super Business Printer on 423 Bloomfield Avenue (cash or check only). Additionally, you can purchase tickets online at ticketweb. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door on the night of the show.
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