Peter Neri and I grew up in North Haven and played Little League together for Olsen Plumbers and Candid Cleaners. Later, we played in two bands that helped establish Connecticut’s rock ‘n roll scene in the late ’60s: the Bram Rigg Set, which has several tracks on the 2008 Sundazed Records compilation Don’t Press Your Luck; and Pulse, which released a self-titled album on a Buddah Records subsidiary, Poison Ring. It’s re-released every couple of years on a new label.
Both bands were managed and produced by Doc Cavalier out of Syncron Studios, later Trod Nossel. He also produced the Wildweeds and Fancy, one of Christine Olhman’s first bands, among many others.
Beau Segal, who later ran the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, was the drummer in both groups. Bob Schlosser, now Bob Lacey, a successful radio talk show host in North Carolina, was the singer in the Bram Rigg Set, and Rich Bednarczk played keyboards in both lineups. Jeff Potter, later in Clean Living and now with his own highly successful touring band out of Northhampton, Mass., played harp and percussion with Pulse. And Carl Augusto, then Carl Donnell the lead singer with Pulse, is now president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind.
OK, enough name-dropping. What I meant to say is:
Peter Neri has two outstanding acoustic guitar CDs he’s recorded in the past few years that you can check out at his web site: Night Visions, an eclectic mix of blues, folk, Americana, fingerstyle playing and other influences and Dreaming Of Home, an expressionistic take on parenting through his guitar playing, a dazzling mix of fireworks and feeling. On the second title he conveys so many emotions about raising kids just through his music, no words, an amazing achievement. They are available on CD or download with proceeds from Dreaming Of Home going to relief organizations and charities.
I”ll admit it, I’m biased, but it’s still beautiful music.
While I’m at it, Christine, who has sung with the Saturday Night Live band for years, has just released a retrospective, Re-Hive, with her band Rebel Montez, which is still very active on the Connecticut circuit.
Hi Paul–I think you may remember me from back when. I bumped into this blog while surfing for something on Jeff Beck, always one of my favorites…I live in Arizona (been here for a long time), where I have been inflicting old-school journalism at an alt-weekly named Phoenix New Times for about a quarter-century. Got deeply into jazz and other musics, playing piano, doing a radio show and co-authoring a book called “Jazz Spoken Here.” Also played professional fastpitch softball for years, and actually still compete as a 58-year-old has been. Reading this stuff really brought back some memories, such as that gig with the Spoonful in Boston (I was barely 16 and lifting those amps hither and yon was a bear), Paul Revere and the Raiders up there, and so on….almost surreal in thinking about it. I actually remember the song you referred to, “As A Rule”–great riff. Lyrics something like “And she’s cool–and she loves me as a rule,” Great harp riff as I recall. I think the last person I communicated with from the Bram Rigg crew was Richie B, back in 1970, which is almost 40 years ago. He came up to Hartford, where I was going to college, and we had a fairly amazing experience involving a psychotic gentleman. I don’t know whatever became of him. My mother still lives in Hamden in the house I grew up in, and I visit her when I can. Whatever happened to Archer (I think last name was Rowbottom or close to it)? I remember her fondly. Anyway, what a crazy find….You gotta love those Internets, as George W. said one time. All the best, Paul Rubin, Scottsdale AZ
Paul,
It is so good to hear from you. The last time the Bram Rigg Set had a partial get-together — Bob, Peter, Mike and I — we talked about those days and you were mentioned frequently. We all wanted to hear where you were and what you were doing. I’m so glad you left a note here.
As A Rule was definitely a fun song with a great riff that Beau wrote. Thinking about those days does bring back a flood of memories and it is quite surreal.
Will be in touch.
Paul
Maureen,
It was quite incredible wasn’t it? That they were actually playing there and we were able to sit so close. I remember it all quite well. An amazing night.
Thanks for stopping by.
Paul