Week 5 - A Whimsical Blend of Funk, Rock and Jazz at the Henniker Bandstand
Be sure to arrive early and get a great seat to enjoy Andrew North and the Rangers at the Angela Robinson Bandstand, Tuesday, July 11th starting at 6:30 PM. According to HIPPO staff writer Michael Witthaus: “It's Steely Dan meets Frank Zappa at a 1969 Chicago Transit Authority listening party.”
Andrew North and the Rangers are small-town friends brought together by an adventurous approach to music. This piano-rock quartet has been delighting crowds with their upbeat energy and offbeat sense of fun. The group spans different ages, hometowns, and musical backgrounds, but they hit it off quickly at local open-mic nights. Over nearly 5 years together they have honed their craft, drawing from the technical fireworks of classic rock, the spontaneity of jazz, the light-hearted fun of the jam scene, and even the intricate passages of classical composition. Their debut album, Phosphorescent Snack, showcases their genre-bending style and whimsical sense of humor. It’s a reminder that amazing things can come from unlikely places.
Band members include Andrew North, songwriter, composer, piano player, and singer living in Concord, NH. He loves improvisation and he wears the same shoes to every gig. He’s played in numerous bands, released 4 solo albums, and performed on stages large and small. He has opened for 3 Dog Night, shredded keys with Dizzy Reed (Gun n’ Roses), and even bluegrass jammed with Mike Gordon (Phish). He needed a band, and one-by-one they appeared to join in on the fun. Dale Grant, drummer, with roots in drum lines, jazz, classic rock, new wave and metal, has played and sung in a number of bands over a 49-year career including musicians from Yes, Survivor, Cheap Trick and Charlie Daniels. He does not wear the same shoes to every gig.
Chip Spangler, bass guitar, is originally from Maryland. Having played with several different bands throughout the years, including as far away as Alaska, and making a habit of dropping by open mic nights to jam with whoever was around, he's learned many useful things along the way. Chip wears ordinary shoes at gigs because his feet are too big for cool shoes. The last member of the quartet is Rob “the Mysterious Stranger” O'Brien, an amazingly talented sax player who shows up to gigs with a Roland Aerophone that can sound like just about anything. He arrives dressed in whatever style strikes his fancy that day and... Shoes? What are shoes?
The Henniker Summer Music Series is presented by the town of Henniker and sponsored in part by Ciardelli’s Fuel Company, a local and family-owned fuel oil and HVAC provider servicing Southern New Hampshire since 1957. Their 24/7 emergency service is offered 365 days a year and has earned them the reputation as “the birds to call.” All concerts are free (although donations are welcome), and take place at the Angela Robinson Bandstand at Community Park, Main Street. Should there be inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to the adjacent Community Center. Stake out a space, bring a chair, spread a blanket, visit a local restaurant, have a picnic supper on the lawn or try some of the fare from the night’s featured Food Vendor: the award-winning Taco Beyondo, and join your neighbors and friends in this community-building event at our bandstand. The complete summer schedule and weekly weather updates are available on the town's website: www.henniker.org or our Facebook page: https://facebook.com/HennikerConcert.