Mayor Jon Mitchell today announced the details for New Bedford’s July 4th, 2012 fireworks display. Through the generous support and co-sponsorship of Hawthorn Medical Associates, LLC and DeMoulas Market Basket, the fireworks will be launched at 9:05pm on Wednesday, July 4th from a barge located in New Bedford Harbor just off of City Pier # 3.
“New Bedford is grateful to both Hawthorn Medical Associates and Market Basket for their co-sponsorship of New Bedford’s July 4th fireworks display,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. In addition, Conrad Roy from Tucker-Roy Marine Towing & Salvage will supply the barge from which the fireworks will be launched.
“It’s on occasions like this that New Bedford really shines,” said Mayor Mitchell. He added, “With Independence Day, Summer Fest, and Cape Verdean Recognition Week all happening within days of each other, we are reminded of what a lively and vibrant place our city is.”
The public will have a clear view of the fireworks presentation from almost every point around New Bedford Harbor. The rain date is set for Saturday, July 7 at 9:00pm.
Prior to the fireworks display, the New Bedford Whaling Museum will host a free public concert in celebration of Independence Day at 6:30 pm on the Whaling Museum Plaza. For more information, visit www.whalingmuseum.org.
It’s that time of year where spring transitions to summer and local farmers offer their harvest to the public. South Coast Massachusetts residents are fortunate to have 12 farmers markets in New Bedford, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Westport, Acushnet, Rochester, Mattapoisett and Fall River. Supporting local farmers not only supports the local economy, but it’s also the healthier way to bring produce to your table. I detailed the benefits of buying local produce in my Silverbrook Farm CSA article.
Below is a list of the local farmers markets. This data was pulled from the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets website where you can find a farmers market anywhere in Massachsuetts. If you have details on any of these farmers markets please post a comment and I’ll add it to the article. Buy fresh, buy local!
New Bedford Farmers Markets
Clasky Common Farmers Market
New Bedford/Downtown Farmers Market
New Bedford Public Library front steps
Thursdays, July 12 to October 25, 2012 2:00pm to 6:00PM
New Bedford/Clasky Common Farmers Market
Pleasant Street, between Pope and Pearl Streets
Saturdays, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, July 7 – October 27, 2012 EBT Accepted
New Bedford/Brooklawn Park Farmers Market
Brooklawn Park, Ashley Blvd Entrance east of Carlisle Street
Mondays, 2:00 pm – 6:00pm, July 9 – Oct 29, 2012
Main Street and Route 6, Fairhaven, MA
Sundays, 1:00pm-4:00pm, June 19 – October 2011
Dartmouth Farmers Market
Dartmouth Farmers Market
351 Elm Street, St Peters Church Parking Lot
Fridays, 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, June 1 – Sept 28, 2012
Westport Farmers Market
931 Main Road, Westport Grange
Saturdays, 8:30 am – 1:00, July 2 – October 1, 2011
Acushnet Farmers Market
186 Leonard Street, Acushnet, MA
Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm, June 30th through October
Fall River Farmers Markets
Fall River/Kennedy Park Farmers Market
Kennedy Park
Saturdays, 7:00 am – 1:00 pm, May 12 – November 24, 2012
Fall River/Lou Sevin Square Farmers Market
Lou Sevin Square, Old 2nd Street
Thursdays, July 7 to September 30, 2011 11:00am – 6:00pm
Fall River/Ruggles Park Farmers Market
Ruggles Park
Wednesdays, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, June 6 – November 28. 2012
EBT available
Rochester/Mattapoisett Farmers Market
Old Rochester Junior High School, 135 Marion Rd.
Tuesdays, April 26 – October 18, 2011, 3 – 6 pm
Taunton Farmers Market
Parking lot behind City Hall, Spring Street
Thursdays, 11:00am-4:00 pm, July 7 – Oct 27, 2011
Historic Park Walking Tours, 7 Days a Week
Tours start July 9th and run daily through August, 2012.
New Bedford has a long and fascinating history, filled with stories of whalemen going to sea for years a time, wives left to run businesses, escaped slaves seeking freedom, and a connection to the sea that spans centuries. The public is invited to explore this history through free guided tours, offered seven days a week in July and August, at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM. Most tours leave from New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s visitor center, with Working Waterfront tours starting out from the Wharfinger Building at Fisherman’s Wharf. Daily tours start on Monday, July 9. The park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford.
Tours will include Risks and Rewards of Whaling, Unknown Heroes and Their Secrets: New Bedford’s Underground Railroad, New Bedford’s Working Waterfront: Then and Now, and Sharing The Same Seas: The Uneasy Relationship between Humans and Whales.
Jen Nersesian, superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, said, “Our national park is proud to offer these tours to our public. The stories of whaling are connected to so many people around the world—they are everyone’s stories. Our walking tours are just one way we connect visitors to this amazing history. We especially look forward to seeing folks from New Bedford and surrounding towns drop by.”
Play in the Park & Summer Food Program
by Michael Silvia
New Bedford Parks, Recreation and Beaches is offering a Play in the Park & Summer Food Program for families to enjoy activities outside and enjoy free nutritious meals this summer. New Bedford recently received $35,000 from the Walmart Foundation to fund this program. This is a great way for kids to put down the XBox 360 game controller, enjoy activities outside, and eat a healthy meal at no cost. The program starts July 2nd and ends August 24th. There will be a kick-off event with Mayor Mitchell and Grammy Nominated Performer Mr. G on June 28th at 11 am at Riverside Park. All activities and events are FREE of charge. In the event of rain all events will be moved to the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center. All events have been added to our event calendar.
Play in the Park Special Events
World Class Frisbee Show, Todd Brodeur
Buttonwood Park, Tuesday, August 14th 1pm
Riverside Park, Monday, August 20th 1pm
Ed the Wizard, interactive performance
Ruth St. Playground, Thursday, August 16th 1pm
Drumming About You, Bob Bloom
Satellite Housing, Thursday, August 9th 1pm
Mad Science, Rocket Building Workshop
Dottin Place Housing, Friday, July 13th 1pm
Blue Meadows Housing, Friday, July 20th 1pm
Nashmont/Eddie James Park, Friday, August 3rd, 1pm
Magnett Park, Wednesday, August 22nd 1pm
Bubbleology, Keith Michael Johnson
Andrea McCoy Recreation Center, Tuesday, July 10th 10am
*In the event of rain all events will be moved to the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center
Fitness in the Parks presented by Personal Trainers from Howland Place Fitness
(starting July 2nd)
Mondays, 11am-12pm Ashley Park
Wednesdays, 11am-12pm Magnett Park
Thursdays, 11am-12pm Brooklawn Park
Here is a list of parks here families can get a meal, play games, participate in physical fitness programs and special events:
Interview with Ethan Weiss of The Slow Burning Nuggets
by Eric Baylies
The Slow Burning Nuggets are a young rock band from New Bedford. I exchanged insults with mastermind Ethan Weiss.
Eric: Who is in the band and what do they play?
Ethan: Kristin Dupre sings. Jude Kingston plays keyboards and sings as do I. Jeff Washburn plays drums.
Eric: Where did the name come from?
Ethan: During the gold rush the quality of the gold was judged by how long it took to schmelt it down. The longer it took to schmelt, the higher the quality gold. Thus The Slow Burning Nuggets were the best stuff available… I made that up and I don’t think schmelt is a word…
Eric: Why you little…how did the band start?
Ethan: Jeff was living at Jude’s house at the time and he wanted to work on his drummin’ feet. His drummin’ hands were top notch as he spent years competing in marching bands but his drummin’ feet needed some work. I needed work on everything so we started playing together about once a week. Jude, being home with child, would have to listen to our racket all the time. One day he says he was hearing some bass lines he’d like to throw down if that would be alright with us. We did not mind at all because Jude is good. Like real good. Great even. I started inviting all sorts of singers over to sing and through people being too busy or not really seeming like a great fit, they were weeded out and we were left with Kristin. We like Kristin.
Eric: That’s so nice. I do too. Any future plans?
Ethan: All I can think of is recording and writing. I’m not in love with playing out right now, but I do it often.
Eric: Any recordings in your future?
Ethan: Funny you should ask. We are currently working on our first and second album. The first being a collection of songs that are vocal driven and the second being an outer space concept album that is instrumentally driven. Hopefully we’ll have the first one out by the end of the year.
Eric: What does the band sound like and what are the influences?
Ethan: The band has an electronic, psychedelic-pop sound. Everyone brings their own influences to the group. Kristin and I are really into The Fiery Furnaces, Jeff is more into hip-hop, and Jude is into a little bit of everything from Sun Ra to Oscar Peterson to Tool to Rick Wakeman. The sound, like with any band that is moving in the right direction is morphing into its own self-referential thing. Which is groovy, man.
Eric: I know you play and coach basketball, and the playoffs just wrapped up. If you had a choice (and you do) would you rather be a rock star or play with the Celtics?
Ethan: Am I scrub like Sasha Pavlovic or am I The Truth? Can I do both? I feel like Greg Stiemsma could put out a pretty dope prog album but I’m probably wrong.
Members of CARE Southcoast Center for Animal Rescue and Education will hold a Gala Auction and Party called “Art for Animals” to help raise money for the center. The event will be held on Friday, June 29, at 6:30pm at The Wamsutta Club on 427 County St., New Bedford.
CARE, located at 596 Hathaway Rd., New Bedford, is “an all-volunteer organization dedicated to ending the needless suffering and abandonment of animals in the Massachusetts Southcoast region,” according to their flyer.
Helen Lesly, who is a volunteer at the shelter, said that they have already collected donations from a variety of artists, and all of the art will be auctioned off with all of the proceeds going to the shelter. “We really want people to come and check it out,” she said. “I have a lot of friends who are artists, and I reached out and they really came through.”
She said that there are a variety of items for bid, including artwork, jewelry, ceramics, hand painted silk scarves from Hawaii, and more. Items will range anywhere from $15 to about $1,000. Everyone who enters to be a bidder will receive a free cocktail, and it is free to bid.
CARE offers a variety of services to animals in need. They work to provide assistance to families who can’t afford to spay or neuter their pets, as well as providing sheltering and re-homing assistance to homeless animals and animals formerly in high-kill shelters around the country. CARE is a no-kill shelter, meaning that no animals that stay there are put down.
CARE also aims to educate people on the many factors that contribute to animal overpopulation, abuse, and neglect. Currently, they have over 60 dogs and over 100 cats at the shelter, and they are always looking for homes or foster homes for the animals. There are also 35 kittens in foster care right now, and four new litters that they don’t have a plan for, as of now.
They also take in animals for people who are become homeless or who are temporarily displaced from their homes. “We try to be a resource to the community,” said Lesly. She also added that they have a Veterinarian who comes in once a week, and they also work with a variety of Veterinarians in the area.
Because they are non-profit, they are constantly in search of donations and volunteers. “We’re growing as a shelter, and it creates a lot more work, which is why we need help,” said Lesly. Hopefully for them, they raise a lot of money at this event.
Don’t Wear Your Tipsy Seagull Hat to the Tipsy Seagull
by Michael Silvia
This article could haven easily been titled, “How to Lose 100s of Customers in 1 day,” or “How Not To Run A Facebook Page.”
The Tipsy Seagull in Fall River recently announced some new rules/policies on their Facebook page. Here is what The Tipsy Seagull posted:
Besides the rules, one of the first things that will jump out at you is the 182 comments in three days. What is almost as bad as the new policies is that NONE of the 182 comments are from the Tipsy Seagull. With 182 mostly negative comments, they didn’t respond to any of the criticism for THREE days and counting. A clear no-no in the business customer service world.
Jean Claude Partying at the Tipsy Seagull with proper shorts.
The rule that received the most criticism was the “no hats of any kind” rule. The Tipsy Seagull is a floating outdoor bar that has most of their patrons sitting in direct sunlight. Bald patrons will be the most upset about this rule and so will those that purchased a Tipsy Seagull hat for $18 that they sell on their online store.
Not sure if it’s new or a modification to the existing rule, but the second rule that will upset the college crowd is “25+ age restriction after 7 pm Monday-Thursday.” This means they will be turning away most college students, and under 25 year-old police officers, military, firemen, EMS or anyone else that is under the age of 25. Can you imagine serving three tours in Iraq, or fighting crime in Fall River all day, only to be told that you are not old enough to enjoy a drink or meal at their bar?
Third, is the “no baggy shorts” rule. This is the most broad rule you can come up with. Webster dictionary defines baggy as loose, puffed out, or hanging like a bag. Besides spandex, are there shorts that aren’t loose?
Here is a nice gallery off images of patrons and musicians wearing hats on the Tipsy Seagull’s website.
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Summer Vacation Ideas for Kids
by Amanda Lawrence
Summer is here Moms and Dads! And if you’re like me that means flip-flops, sunscreen and the age-old question: how am I going to pry that xbox controller away from my kid for the next two months?! While most children spend their last few weeks of school anxiously awaiting summer vacation, the novelty of free time quickly wears off, leaving them bored and you clueless. But don’t fret, folks, I’ve scoured the city of New Bedford looking for fun and exciting ways for kids to alleviate those mind-numbing days. By utilizing all of the city’s fantastic resources, you and your children can find plenty of ways to keep busy AND happy during summer vacation.
And since my son and I absolutely love the library, it was our first stop in an attempt to curb the adverse effects of summer boredom.
Summer reading programs
Every library has them, and they’re usually accompanied by special events, craft projects, and exciting presentations. You’ll need a library card to participate, so if you and/or your child haven’t signed up for one already, now is the time! Remember parents, today a reader, tomorrow a leader. Get to it!
Recreation programs
The City of New Bedford has really outdone themselves this year as far as summer programs go. They’ve completely revamped their Play in the Park and Summer Food Program, which kicks off tomorrow at 11am on June 28th at Riverside Park. And there is so much going on all over the city it’s almost outrageous! Some events are free, others require a fee to participate; pre-registration is required either way. Your youngsters can try their hand at everything from community rowing to piano lessons! There’s also crafting and sports clinics and yoga… oh, my! Seriously, I am so impressed by the vast array of activities available that I could go on and on, but I won’t. I will, however, urge you to take a second and download their brochure for yourself. You won’t be sorry!
If that isn’t enough for you, New Bedford’s Boys & Girls Club is hosting its summer fun program for children ages 7-13 beginning on July 2nd and running until August 31st. For more information and a list of specific activities available, check out their site, or contact them at 508-992.8011.
In early July, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School will be hosting an art camp for area students entering 3rd through 7th grade, as well as a computer camp for students entering 4th through 8th grade. Pricing and additional information can be found right here!
Starting July 9th, Bluebird Studios, located inside the Hendricks Insurance Building at 375 Rockdale Ave is hosting a Creative Craft-tacular Summer Extravaganza for children ages 4-10. For children ages 0-4, Bluebird studios is offering Art in Motion. For more information contact Benares Angeley at decemberbluebird@gmail.com or by phone at 508-951-5737.
Kids Rule is the theme July 12’s AHA! Night, and it just so happens to be my favorite AHA of them all. So grab the family and join me downtown for a magical night filled with art, music, and laughter!
And don’t forget about The Toe Jam Puppet Band! Those wacky guys can be found hanging out at the Buttonwood Park Zoo every Monday at 10:30 and 12:30! $5 per family plus the price of zoo admission!
Day Camps
The YMCA offers week-long day camps at various locations in New Bedford, Dartmouth, Mattapoisett, Fall River, and Wareham. Each camp location offers different activities, so to find out more about the camp that interests your family, I suggest heading right on over to their website!
Camp Cathedral in East Freetown also offers a day camp filled with awesome activities such as swimming instruction, boating, archery, field sports, athletics, arts and crafts, and so much more!
In addition to all of the wonderful activities offered within the city of New Bedford, its surrounding areas are also packed with fulfilled ways to spend the day. My son and I just love gallivanting around New England looking for adventures! So, check back with us soon for more fun and exciting summer fun ideas!
5 Greater New Bedford Area Beaches
We’re definitely starting to feel the summer heat as schools have closed their doors and AC units are being put to the test all throughout the Greater New Bedford area. Summer brings many favorite pastimes to mind; cookouts, vacations, outdoor concerts, festivals… and of course, the beach. Living in the South Coast makes us all a bit privileged in that we are never too far from the water. We are just a short drive from two of the east coast’s premiere beach destinations; Newport and Cape Cod. However, you don’t even have to journey thirty minutes or brave the treacherous summer traffic to cool off since we have a number of fine waterfront options right in the region.
If you grew up in Greater New Bedford then you are probably plenty familiar with the many beaches scattered along the shores. However, if you are a transplant to the area like myself, you may still be seeking new places to soak up the sun on your day off. Or perhaps you are planning on visiting New Bedford this summer and hoping to get in a swim during your trip. For New Bedford beach lovers new and old, I have put together a list of 5 beaches that are in the area that you might consider checking out.
Horseneck Beach in Westport
1. Horseneck Beach Location:Route 88 Westport Point, Westport, MA 02790 Parking Cost:$8
I’m starting with the obvious here in saying Horseneck is probably the best beach in the South Coast. Located out on the peninsula of Westport, this beach is in a beautiful location that is well removed from the distractions of commercialism. For those of you who haven’t been there, I will briefly explain what you can expect.
First, the water temperature at Horseneck is rather nice. Unlike some of the beaches you encounter as you move north, Horseneck water is rather warm (I was already swimming there in May.) Additionally, this is the beach to go to if you are a fan of waves. Whether you like body surfing, boogie boarding, or real surfing, Horseneck gets some decent swells that make it a fun place for water lovers. Horseneck Beach also has a bath house which makes it more accommodating than some places, and it has a snack shack for those looking to grab a bite to eat.
Horseneck Beach is fully staffed by lifeguards, so it is definitely a family friendly place. Rip tides aren’t uncommon for Horseneck though, so know your swimming strength before getting too deep. There are only two small drawbacks to Horseneck that you might like to know. First is that on hot days it can and WILL get packed. While there are good sized parking lots to accommodate numerous beach goers, it is highly recommended you get there early and even still you can expect to be closely surrounded by other sunbathers the whole time. The second thing about Horseneck is that it’s rocky. Not the whole thing, but there is usually a fairly hazardous strip of rocks you’ll need to navigate over to get to the water. This isn’t to say you’ll need hiking shoes but it is a little rough on the bottoms of your feet, so be forewarned. Nevertheless, once you pass that obstacle the rest of the beach is quite soft and sandy.
West Island Beach in Fairhaven
2. Beach on West Island Location:36 Bluepoint Road, Fairhaven, MA 02719 Parking Cost:$20 non resident parking, $10 non resident walk in
West Island Beach is a natural beauty. Located adjacent to a state reservation, this small beach is very remote, peaceful and relaxing. Being a calm water beach it isn’t ideal for playing in ocean swells, but it is a great swimming spot. Since the lifeguards offer swim lessons for children here it is safe to say that this beach is a good spot for beginning swimmers of all ages. However, even for the more advanced swimmer there are patches of sand bars that are fun to swim out towards.
West Island is more on the pricey side for parking if you aren’t a Fairhaven resident (it is a town beach) and it doesn’t offer any shower houses or refreshment stands. However, what it lacks in amenities it makes up for in beautiful views, clear waters and stunning surroundings. Furthermore, being located in Fairhaven it is a short drive away from typical beach traffic. This is an ideal beach for packing a picnic, getting in some tanning and doing some leisurely swimming in a location you won’t soon forget.
3. Onset Beach Location:182 Onset Avenue, East Wareham, MA 02538 Parking Cost:Some FREE parking, but a reader (Lynne) states: “Onset Beach has a $2/hour parking fee. Parking on the street is restricted to one hour parking only which is strictly enforced.”
I have never been to Onset Beach during the summer, but it is definitely a place I hope to check out before this one ends. Located in Wareham this beach has pretty much everything you could hope for including restroom facilities, lifeguards, refreshment stands and lots of nearby places to eat. Having been to Onset Beach during the off season I can say that it a very beautiful area and there were a number of enticing looking restaurants that I wouldn’t mind checking out.
Onset is a calm waters beach, so if you are into big waves this isn’t the ideal place. However, calm waters are good for families with small children, or people who are just looking to take a dip without being knocked over. The beach is reported as being very well maintained and clean, which is obviously a plus. One downside I have heard about this beach is that when it becomes busy parking can be difficult to find. You may need to plan on walking a bit if it’s a hot day and you arrive late.
Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven
4. Fort Phoenix Beach Location:100 Green Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719 Parking Cost:FREE
Fort Phoenix is a state reservation that overlooks Buzzards Bay and is right across the harbor from New Bedford. Originally it was built as a defense station for the harbor during the Revolutionary War. Fort Phoenix park still functions as a historical location with landmarks indicating there the fort walls once stood and cannons still in place. In addition to being a nice park complete with tennis courts, a volleyball sand pit and numerous picnic spots, Fort Phoenix has a public swimming area.
Unfortunately, Fort Phoenix is not known for being a top swimming spot. This is partly because many people do not like the quality of the water in New Bedford harbor. Having swam in it myself many times, I do not share this concern (I haven’t gotten any skin diseases or grown extra limbs). However, Fort Phoenix is also a calm water beach since it is on the harbor, and it is very rocky and often gets a lot of red tide. Fortunately, there are bathhouses on site, but no refreshment stands. Occasionally there are food or ice cream trucks that will park at Fort Phoenix. Whichever way you look at it, this is a free swimming spot for a hot day, and the surrounding park is very well maintained. Thus, Fort Phoenix is a great place for bringing some lunch, exploring the scenic views, and even hopping in to cool off afterwards.
5. East Beach Location:East Rodney French Blvd. New Bedford, MA 02744 Parking Cost:FREE
East Beach in New Bedford is located right across the harbor from Fort Phoenix. It is right down the road from Fort Taber, a 47 acre park that has a military history as it was designed for harbor defense. East Beach and West Beach are both municipal beaches in New Bedford that are located on opposite sides of the peninsula. Sadly they both often get a bad reputation for being dirty due to litter, but East Beach doesn’t deserve such a bad rep in my opinion, and it has many perks as well.
East Beach is mostly calm waters, and it is sandy which makes it more accessible than its counterpart across the water. Also, it is only just south of Downtown New Bedford, which makes it very accessible for an after work swim for Downtown NB employees. In the past I would sometimes even bring my lunch over to the beach with co workers to eat in the sun since it is so close by. East Beach is staffed by lifeguards during the day and also features a volleyball court in the sand, restrooms and outdoor showers.
East Beach is very close to Fort Taber which is a great place to go for a walk and for taking in the views. Most of the military batteries, such as Fort Rodman, are not accessible, but there is a standing museum where you can learn more about these structures which hopefully await renovations. There is also a playground, bike paths and a nice pier that goes out into the water.
Interview With Maritime Pilot’s Mike Brunetto
by Eric Baylies
I had a conversation with Mike Brunetto from the New Bedford instrumental band Maritime Pilot about the band’s recent activities.
Eric: Who Is in the band and what do they do?
Mike: Michael Brunetto: guitar, Mark Arruda: guitar, Michael Connor: guitar, Nick Vuona: bass, and Henri Chandanais: drums.
Eric: How did the band form?
Mike: Maritime Pilot came to be following the end of Wood For Fire in July 2011, which Henri, Nick and myself were members of. Henri and I wanted our next band to be more along the lines of the post-rock/instrumental music that we loved and were influenced by, without being just a rehash of what we had done in Nature/Nurture. Nick texted me and asked if we had a bass player yet, and having played for the prior year in Wood For Fire with him and knowing what a good bass player he was it was a no-brainer. We played for a few weeks as a trio, and decided we needed something else to add to the music, and asked Mark if he was interested in playing. Even with two guitars we didn’t feel like the picture was complete. Connor joined up about month before our first show. Henri and I had been planning on asking him to be part of Nature/Nurture just before that band ended, and we were really into the idea of having a third guitarist. As luck would have it, he was available and interested in playing. We played our first show in November 2011 with this line-up.
Eric: Where did the name of the band come from?
Mike: It was Henri’s, though you should see the epic band-naming email we had while we were trying to come up with it. It’s equally massive and ridiculous.
Eric: How are the songs written? If they are not “about” something as instrumentals, do you try to convey different feeilings for different songs?
Mike: Sometimes they come out of jams, but normally someone has a riff and build off of that. Other times one of us has the bones of a full song demoed out and we start by learning that, and then forming it into a final piece. I don’t know if they are particularly “about” anything, but we consider them to be more like a soundtrack to an imaginary film. Since they have no vocals, I think anyone can apply their own feelings or moods or imaginary visuals to them. Maybe that adds to their enjoyment of them. Vocal-less bands can sometimes be tedious to listen to, but maybe leaving things open to your individual interpreation helps you connect with it more.
Eric: What are some of the main influences on the band?
Mike: We all love lots of different things. This band seems to be bringing out our love of Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, Mono, etc. Less angry riffs, more collective sounds and ensemble playing.
Eric: Why is it instrumental and will you add vocals at some point? If you do, will it be a new person or will one of you sing?
Mike: I think we all just like instrumental music a lot. I probably listen to more post-rock/instrumental stuff than anything else these days. Not being much of a singer or lyricist myself, I find I relate to it more than other types of music. I don’t see us adding vocals but who knows…it would most likely come from one of us than from adding another person. With three guitars, things are already pretty dense.
Eric: Thanks Mike. Maritime Pilot will be playing a free show at the Blackwatch Pub on Saturday, July 21st. You can follow them on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MaritimePilot.
