EDITOR’S NOTE: This story and art was provided by Rob Stroul.
MANSFIELD — The rain trimmed the crowd significantly at Friday night’s Final Friday concert in The Brickyard.
Still, those with umbrellas were treated with live music and a bevy of food trucks that stuck around to the end.
Special thanks to Dave and Jeremie from Red Ball Jets (light and sound) for allowing me to use their trailer (sanctuary) to store my gear and give me a break from the wetness! That, and the lighting/sound was very good, especially considering the conditions.
The sets by Frank Boyd Jr. and Conne were shortened due to the conditions and the limited audience.
The Gracie Miller Trio was also very good. This set conjured up some Linda Ronstadt vocals with great musicianship. They provided a jazz-blues mix with all three members showing no effect from the elements.
Seek them out, find some wine, relax, enjoy, smile.
Frank Boyd Jr. and the Bonafide Truth unleashed some stellar blues, too. I asked Frank if the song, “It wasn’t Mansfield” was in his set. No, it wasn’t, but he’d play it for me.
It’s an introspective story song. He wasn’t born in Mansfield. But grew up here (as a Brownsville, Tenn. native). This is a “couldn’t blame where he grew up for who he was, took control of his life as he matured” song. Beautiful. I was moved.
Frank’s lead guitar solos were smoking hot, and harmonica player, Aaron Durgin, was soulful (as usual). The other band members, mostly from Mansfield, backed Frank and his songs with flavor.
To me, hearing his music, seeing them play just fills the soul. So good you can taste it.
Conne, pronounced Connie, made the best of the weather, shortened set and little energy from the crowd to feed off. She has a sweet and powerful voice full of soul, with an infectious smile.
Conne is a regular in lede parts for musical productions at The Renaissance Theatre, and this was yet another opportunity to hear those pipes.
The small crowd came closer to the stage to better enjoy the R&B show.
The food vendors stayed throughout, and if you brought an umbrella, it wasn’t so bad.