Thinking Outside the Bread Box

By Ali Kaufman / Photos by Joseph Lemieux Jr.

If you are a music lover and lucky enough to have been of age between October 1971 and 1982, you likely have some incredible, albeit perhaps fuzzy, memories of the magical music venue called The Shaboo. The club was the brainchild of a couple of local kids from Willimantic, David A. Foster and Bruce John, who wanted a place to play. I call them kids because David wasn’t even old enough to have a beer at his own place when the doors opened. These musicians in their own right, found the perfect spot sandwiched between two universities, Eastern State University and UCONN. The business of music was a far different proposition than it is today, The Shaboo was an example of being in the right place at the right time. The 11 years of the club’s existence coincided with the rise of many artists we now call legends. Bonnie Raitt was a regular, and her appearances guaranteed a crowd that made up for the uncertainty of booking “new” acts like The Police, Tom Petty, and Aerosmith. B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, and Muddy Waters all graced the stage as well. James Cotton’s 1976 album Live & On The Move was recorded at The Shaboo and stands as a powerful reminder of what was.

David A. Foster and Bruce John

There have been reunions through the years but the latest, the 50th, held at the end of August this year drew their largest crowd yet. About 3,300 or so gathered at the recently completed Shaboo Stage in Jillson Square, just over the Frog Bridge in Willimantic. 50 years gone by have done nothing to diminish the enthusiasm for live music and community involvement of both artists and audience. The evening was blessed with perfect weather and outstanding talent with proceeds going to support the Covenant Soup Kitchen. Our Governor, Ned Lamont, even stopped by to recognize this anniversary and surprised everyone by playing the piano and singing a few lines of John Lennon’s Imagine. I asked Bruce John if he had a standout moment among the many that night, “Tom Rush” was his answer. He then went on to say, "he was clear as a bell and sharp as a tack. At 80 he still puts on a fantastic show and remains a significant representative of the folk community. He is just a real great guy." Bruce also mentioned James Montgomery or the "King of the Shaboo," as he likes to refer to him. “Consistently from day one, James was one of the very best entertainers we ever had. No one came close to his level of having a crowd in the palm of his hand, and he still has that magnetism.” That was on full display at the reunion when James fronted the Shaboo AllStars to an appreciative audience.

While The Shaboo is no longer, the “bunch of socially aware hippies that wanted to change the world," have made a life of helping to do that. Bruce John had known early on that he had been blessed with an “empathy gene” that only grew as he experienced a taste of community involvement. At 13 he was donating to the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), Martin Luther King Jr. being it’s first president, Bruce has always had an eye on being a social activist.

Fast forward to 2009 when opportunity met inspiration to create The Bread Box. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 220 Valley Street in Willimantic was up for sale which would mean that the Covenant Soup Kitchen would lose its space. Inspired by a church in Massachusetts that Arlo Guthrie repurposed, he asked if he could try something similar at St Paul’s in support of the Covenant Soup Kitchen, thus The Bread Box began to rise.

The old English style Episcopal Church now seats 100 guests, flanked by beautiful stained glass in its long and narrow sanctuary. Above, the wood ceiling feels like the inside of a guitar case, below, wood floors and plaster walls contribute to the incredible acoustics. The stage, sound, and lighting, which are top-notch were gifted by the Lester and Phyllis Foster Foundation and the family of Jim Romanow. Folk music was a natural fit to populate the lineups, but the Bread Box has hosted a plethora of musical styles over the last 12 years and that is a tradition that will continue as they head into their 13th season. Bruce also credits the audience that attends the shows for the wonderful vibe that permeates the intimate space. It is a listening room that tends to draw a “seasoned” demographic, many retired, from all walks of life that truly love the music and the cause it supports. Past artists including, Maria Muldar, Tom Paxton, Kal David, and Al Anderson have helped introduce this unique venue to their fans and conversely, The Bread Box has introduced many acts to Connecticut audiences for the first time. The performances are on Sundays with few exceptions, but always double check the date. Music starts at 4 PM and goes until 6:30, leaving plenty of time to explore the restaurants in town, there are some excellent choices!

Opening day will feature Mad Agnes and Kerri Powers on October 24, the previously scheduled Jonathan Edwards appearance has a new date of Saturday, May 21, 2022. In addition to the weekend series, Bruce hosts and often plays a few songs at the Artist Showcase on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. This year they will return to live performance on October 20th after going virtual last year. Carolyn Brodginski member of the band, Seat Of Our Pants, is by Bruce’s admission, “Our biggest cheerleader!” She stepped in during the shutdown to run the event virtually and continue highlighting handpicked local and regional singer- songwriters. I know Carolyn personally, and it didn’t surprise

me one bit that the woman I met playing for oncology patients in the hospital just keeps helping in any way she can. You can catch Seat Of Our Pants playing the Bread Box Theater on November 21. It is important to note that 100% of the proceeds, less the nominal fee paid for a sound person and band, go directly to the Covenant Soup Kitchen. They have raised over $235,000 since the Bread Box opened their doors; also of note, the kitchen has served over 1.4 million meals since the pandemic began in March of 2020. The generous donations have also allowed them to begin expanding their reach by delivering some meals and groceries to those who are homebound. Kimberly Clark is a champion of those in need and has been with the organization for at least 10 years. “Clothing, diapers, socks, feminine products, you name it, if there is lack, Kim finds a way to fill the need,” Bruce shared with gratitude in his voice.

Bruce John’s passion for social justice is only equaled by his love of the music and his family. Now in his 7th decade, he is hitting a new stride. Having survived cancer 7 years ago, he seems to have the energy and fortitude of a man focused on making every day count. Over the 59 years of playing Bruce has retained hundreds of songs that he plays solo or with his band, Dinosaurs After Dark. With a standing gig at The Main Moose in Columbia and an event list

as long as your arm, catch him when you can! Lucky for us, Bruce has passed along his “empathy gene” to his two beautiful daughters, Mia and Emma. Mia mentors 150 kids a year at her dance school and holds performances that also contribute to feeding the hungry. Most importantly, the children, even the youngest dancers, are cognizant of how and why they are helping. Younger daughter Emma is a Ph.D candidate in Santa Barbara and like her Dad, working on changing the world.

No one chooses to be poor or hungry, but it is a choice to make a difference and step up to the call. My spirit felt buoyed after my conversation with Bruce, he is an antidote for so many societal ills. Therefore, I am grateful to share this story of hope and action, so please check out these links to learn more about attending the performances, getting involved with the Covenant Soup Kitchen, and perhaps spreading the word. I promise it does a body and soul a whole lotta good.

More information: BreadBoxfolk.org - Brucejohnmusic.com Covenantsoupkitchen.org