Road Trippin, Chris Monti Band at Blackstone River Theatre (1/25), Devilfish at EP Yacht Club (1/19) and Parlour (1/24)

Dr Churchmont and I had a delightful road trip to North Carolina and back over 10 days around holidays. We ate, drank, visited much family, and for the first time ever, celebrated the feast of seven fishes (our only contribution to that being the delivery of a fancy can of imported scungilli* secured from Ocean Pride Seafood on Atwood ave in Cranston). On the way back home we spent a really delightful day on the Mall in Washington DC, acutely aware of the beauty and the horror of the world, walking amongst the stone edifices of our federal government, simultaneously stately and slimy, on our way in and out of the National Gallery, The American Indian Museum, and The Sackler and Freer Gallerys. 

After 3 hours in the National Gallery (a museum time-record for Dr Churchmont) we we were birthed into a wet and shining sunny world after a morning of rain. We walked the length of the Mall over 8 hours, peed in 8 different federally-cleaned toilets and lay upon a park bench gazing up into a now clear and blue sky, sometimes waving to formidable men in uniform and the occasional mob of tourists rolling by on segways. We walked through a large flocks of pigeons and seagulls massed about our countrymen and visitors from all over the world devouring crispy fried birds from a line of delicious and terrible smelling food trucks. 

It was an emotional day. I cried quietly but freely in the art museums, strolling toward the Lincoln monument, and walking along the simple and elegant Vietnam War Memorial: black marble and nearly sixty thousand neatly engraved names. 

Ostensibly, I am still on vacation, but the music heats up towards the end of the month. The Devilfish play the East Providence Yacht Club for the first time on 1/19, we play our first early-friday show at The Parlour on on 1/24...

And on Saturday 1/25 The Chris Monti Band splits a bill at the lovely Blackstone River Theater with our friend Yacouba Diabate for a night of music from and inspired by West Africa.

I've never bought the idea of music being an escape from anything. Here's to being engaged.

Thanks for reading.
-chris

The Devilfish at The East Providence Yacht Club, Sunday, 1/19, early show 3-7
9 Pier Rd, East Providence, RI


The Devilfish at The Parlour, Friday 1/24, early show 6-9pm
1119 North Main St, Providence, RI

The Chris Monti Band at The Blackstone River Theatre, Saturday 1/25, 8-10pm (doors at 7:30) a split bill with Yacouba Diabate
549 Broad St, Cumberland, RI 02864.       Call BRT for Tickets:  401-725-9272      $15