PULSE MARCH 2023

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Bernie Whitemore, Travis Duda, Jason Savio, Shaun Connolly, Giuliano D’Orazio, Taylor Nunez-Murray, Shannon Jutras, April Goddard, LuAnn Thibodeau, Irena Kaçi, Vincent Pacifico, Nick Sposato, and Jenny Pacillo.Writers

After a brief hiatus in 2020 thanks to Covid-19 lockdown, the Worcester Music Awards came back with a vengeance. Airing on MARCH 8th, the awards have only improved with each of their 2020s iteration. Pulse Magazine’s sponsored Music Awards is truly an event to behold. Nominations and even awards are based on fan votes, making it one of the most hands-on musical awards events around. I had the pleasure of connecting with some of my personal favorites from the lineup and got the scoop from some of our city’s most beloved musical voices.

First up the ever-soulful Blue Honey, I had a chance to chat with Elayne Fikucki, lead vocalist. Fikucki filled me in on how the band got started and how they identify in the great spectrum of musical possibilities.

LOCAL ARTISTS SHINE Irena

“We’ve been together for 10 years! We came together after all working with different bands and meeting each other at different gigs. Some of us had worked together on different projects. We’ve had a couple of changes with players through the years, but the current lineup has been together, I’d say around 8 years. We all get along so well, like a blended family really. We like to describe our sound as Blues on the rocks with a twist of Blue Honey. What I mean by that is that we’re blues oriented, more towards the Blues/R&B sound, stuff with a groove. We do mostly covers, although we do have a few original tunes, but we add our own distinct flavor to the covers. We add our own flair! We have a great time when we perform and take pride in seeing the audience enjoy our show. It’s all about fun, right? We’re working on lots of new material at the moment, and will have some exciting new band news to be disclosed in the near future!”

Of course, part of celebrity responsibility means acknowledging the ways in which others before you have paved the way and opened doors, as well as passing the baton to future musicians.

“I should add that we’ve been fortunate, through the years, to open shows for Luther Guitar Junior Johnson, Coco Montoya, James Montgomery. We love performing at The Stomping Ground in Putnam, CT, The Hitching Post, B-Man’s 140, MCL. We do a lot of private parties and outdoor gigs

in the good weather months. There is so much amazing talent in the Worcester area. I love seeing The Silverbacks when they play. I just got back, a couple of weeks ago, from Memphis where I went with friends to support The Matt Swanton Band, which was competing in the International Blues Challenge. They’re definitely a band to see. So much talent! This past summer we played on Rutland Common during their summer concert series. We were excited for that. Rutland is my hometown. They rebooked us for 2023!”

I had the good luck to catch Ladii Girl on a slow week and ask a few questions. Her single “She Can’t” is in regular rotation on my Spotify. Ladii Girl, whose given name is Johanna Hampton-Dance, has been immersed in music for a long time.

Kaçi

photos by Sam Bishop

“I've been making music most of my life, writing, and singing in the church choir at AME Zion Baptist Church as a young girl, as well as the chorus in school, along with all city choirs during my high school years. It wasn't until 2012 that I became able to pursue music professionally. My sound is definitely R&B/Soul. It has an old school simplicity to it. Reminiscent to some of the greats of the soul genre. I hope to make it to the Grammy stage and become solidified amongst my peers in the Recording Academy.”

Even though Ladii Girl was not one of the award winners, the future looks mighty bright.

“I'm looking forward to gracing the sound stages this coming July at the Fleet Djs Conference in North Carolina. In addition, I really would love to explore more stages throughout New England. I feel like my music is most popular elsewhere and I want to captivate home too. I would have to give a short list of Elion V, Jordan Richardson, Nicholas Black, and Abbie Cotto. All very talented and community oriented.”

Winning in the ‘Best Tribute Band’ Category, Petty Larceny has already had a pretty impressive year. I was delighted to hear more about their journey.

“Petty Larceny consists of musicians from towns in Worcester and around Worcester, Shrewsbury, Westborough, all over Central Massachusetts, and we’ve been around a little over 10 years. It’s a great achievement to win our first one, after being nominated multiple years. We put a lot of effort to make it to various places after New England, and it felt like it paid off to put in the time with our fans. The 2020 shutdown was really rough. All of our savings were exhausted by the expenses of continuing to practice as a band without income. It was tough on our fans too since music was such an integral part of everyone’s lives. We got lucky with some weather and could play outdoors. People were incredibly dangerous, they understood how much this was ‘bands had ‘taken one on the chin’.”

Invigorated by the win, the band has big plans for the future. “Our goal is to continue to play different venues, a lot of favorite venues, more often, we love playing Greendale’s (they won too) we did the Revere Beach Sand Sculpture Festival, Madison Beach Hotel, and Bentley’s in Maine. We’re gonna be playing Starline Brewing in Hopkinton. So many great venues and lots of places that we like to play. We love listening to Boom Box; they know how to bring a party. Worcester area has so many good musicians, it’s not gonna be hard to find something.”

Worcester has no shortage of fantastic tribute bands; another notable band in that same vein, but more focused on Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks is Gold Dust Refugee. Ron Stacy, their Petty analog, was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about their origin story as well as their future plans.

“Gold Dust Refugee has been together for 4 -5 years; It began as a Tom Petty tribute band but it turned into a Fleetwood Mac because of the collaboration of Steve Nicks as well as Tom Petty. Our style is to really try hard to nail it as a tribute band, we really have to nail it. So much of what you’re getting with one of our performances is a theatrical production. We go all out. We’ve performed at Mohegan Sun and Twin River Casino before. One of our favorite local performers is ‘She’s Busy.’ That’s a band we like to follow.”

Winning in the up-&-comer category, Evelynroze had a lot to say.

my rock music. My biggest inspirations are the Eagles, Carrie Underwood, Bailey Zimmerman, Fleetwood Mac, State Champs, and Rush.”

“I’d like to teach kids to keep faith in themselves despite the negativity and hate that resounds in this world. Unfortunately, my passion for music alienated me from my peers and as a result I dealt with bullying in all my years of school. However, I found myself releasing emotions by writing songs. My album titled “this one’s for u, all of u” will come out sometime in early to mid 2024.”

When I asked Evelynroze about any local influences or collaborations, she was quick to offer up a few updates and names. “I love Zigmont! They are so kind and we may be considering collaborating soon! My goal this year is for my band “Evelynroze + The Thornz”, my band, to play at Polar Park /WooSox Game on Fourth of July. The Members of my band “The Thornz” are Reid Plonsky: Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals, Ella Thayer: Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals, Tyler Crowley: Drums, Zac Brennan: Rhythm Guitar, BeccaStarr: Keyboards/Synth/Backing Vocals. I’ve been singing God Bless America at the Fourth of July games for two years now and would love to play a few songs pre fireworks!”

Taking home the ‘Best Jazz Act’ trophy was Moshi, whose smooth jazz ‘Weak Days’ gave me some great background tunes while I wrote this piece. They were able to put into words that which I never could, with regards to their sound.

“I was born with a passion for music in my heart. I grew up exposed to the Country Music & Classic Rock that my parents listened to, & around 5 yrs old began doing musical theater with Vanilla Box Productions. I’m a sophomore studying performing arts management at the Hartt School of Music at University of Hartford. My sound is reminiscent of Western Pop-Punk, Country-Rock and Southern-Rock, I also add a bit of rap into

“Our sound is RnB focused with heavy influence from jazz, funk, reggae. Anything with groove we can get down with. We just finished recording our 10 track album 'Marathon' and aim to release it in March. This summer we'll be playing up & down the east coast spreading our sound and promoting our debut release. We're also working on a tiny desk submission so you'll be able to catch Moshi on the big screen if you miss the upcoming

tour. Moshi has been together and playing for about 4 years. Akiba Davis was playing a solo gig and caught the ear of guitarist Aaron Leger. They exchanged contact and began working out ideas, bringing in drummer Alex Monaco & bassist Matthew Alvarado-Ross shortly after.”

Moshi is thrilled to get back into live performances, not only as performers but as an audience. “Very excited to get back to our local favorite, Electric Haze. Also excited to play at the commonwealth campout in May which takes place at Camp Timber Trails. It's a sweet lil getaway in the woods with a ton of vendors and musicians from all over Massachusetts. We love Zigmont. They fuse styles and bend the rules of genre similar to how Moshi operates. An enigma of sorts. They're more rock based and the power trio brings a ton of passion to every performance. It's a cathartic sound experience. Highly recommend seeing them live. I believe their singer Jacob Leevai was nominated for best male vocalist and the group nominated for best jam/groove act along with Moshi.”

Though only very briefly, I was determined to get a little connection with Crocodile River Music, as they are one of my very favorite local institutions. I was fortunate to connect with someone on their Facebook page who were able to hand out some very welcome good news: “ Crocodile River Music just was designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This new tax-exempt status will help us raise more funds to expand the impact of our African arts programming in our community. We're looking to increase our impact to see all of the youth in Worcester schools in the next coming years.” I know I am not alone in anticipating with a lot of joy a future in which this impact is felt.

Regardless of your preferred style of music, the Worcester Music Awards demonstrates that our city has something for everyone. It is hard to quell my sense of civic pride when I am confronted with so much talent and hustle; I encourage all of my readers to head over to Greendale’s, and Ralph’s and whatever other emerging venue in Worcester and allow yourself to be swept up in our boundless musical Worcesteria.

Best Blues/R&B

WMAs RESULTS:

CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS AND NOMINEES

Cara Brindisi, Chloe Belsito, Jodee Frawlee, Ash L'Esperance

Best Hardcore/Metal Act

Best Live Venue

Baby Safe Haven Stage, Rascals, Halligans, Ralph’s Rock Diner

Best Up and Comers

Best Rap/Hip Hop Act

Tony Soul Project, Ladii Girl, Big Jon Short, Blue Honey

Best Club DJ

Grey Curtain, High Command, Foxfires, Bad Marriage

Best Jam/Groove Act

Big League Collective, Evelyn Roze, Ladii Girl, Zigmont

Best Pop Act

Kid Kash, Jack Frawst, Chuck Chillen, Dj Tiny

Best Country Act

Clam Digger, Zigmont, Ripple Effect, Moshi

Best Jazz Act Russo Brothers, Moshi, Carlos Odria Trio, Worcester Jazz Collective

Stomp and Holler, Mychael David, Tequila Bonfire, Big League Collective

Best Tribute/Cover Band

Blue Light Bandits, My Silent Bravery, Verge

Best Electronica Act

Lil Rennie, GG Tha Snowman, D Roache,

Best Rock Act

Best Live Act

Great Escape, Petty Larceny, Love Sexy, Gold Dust Refugee

Best Female Vocalist

Great Escape, Family First, No Alibi, BoomBox

The Oracle, Sunshine at Night, Sapling, Grey Curtain

Best Punk Act

Hard Target, Sink, Superjerk, Scare City

Great Escape, Super Chargers, Not Bad Not Well, Star Faithful

Best Male Vocalist

Jason Paulino, Matthew Wade, JJ Dale, Jacob Leevi

Best Solo Act Ladii Girl, Jason Paulino, Giuliano, Ryleigh Modig

Best New Music Video

The Oracle, Jason Paulion, Ash & Eric, Veana Marie

Best Small Venue

Baby Safe Haven Stage, Greendale's Pub, Ralph’s Rock Diner, Electric Haze

World Music

Ed Melikian, Carlos Odrai Trio, Crocodile River Music, Daniel Gay

CROCODILE RIVER MUSIC

Crocodile River Music co-founders Zach Combs and Issa Coulibaly have a long history together, beginning with Coulibaly’s first day in the United States from his home country of Mali. Combs and Coulibaly were working on a construction job together, “I said to him, ‘Hey, can he drum some or something?’ They're like, yeah, he can do a little kind of joking with me,” Combs laughs, “I didn't know what to expect but he was really a master drummer.” Coulibaly adds, “It was freezing cold that day, we were roofing and I told him I think we should do music for a living. So then that's how the first idea came and that was 12 years ago.”

A Djembe Master Drummer, Coulibaly is the Musical Director and enjoys spending his time sharing his talents in workshops, schools and to people of all ages and skill levels. “My favorite is when I see when I put a smile on the face of a child at school,” Coulibaly smiles, “Everytime the kids run and give me a hug. (When the kids say) ‘that was the best day of the year. That's the best thing I ever did.’ That makes me happy.”

Crocodile River Music, which was awarded nonprofit status in December 2022, now has over ten paid employees who travel throughout Central Massachusetts sharing the gift of African art, music and dance. From senior centers to public schools, the Crocodile River Music team provides hands-on education for everyone. “Those settings benefit from working with people like Issa, Antoinette, Thierno, Yacouba, Abou we have this team that represents I think, six or seven different countries of the continent of Africa plus several people like me who represent sections of the continent of North America,” Combs says.

WICN 90.5FM just launched an African music radio show collaboration with Crocodile River on Saturday nights from 9pm to 11pm called Crocodile River Radio: Heart of Africa. “It's not like playing our songs,” Combs explains, “It's playing African music from all over whether it's from Egypt or South Africa or Morocco or Central African Republic or anything like that.” The show will feature a monthly guest DJ from African Community Education (ACE). “So they will want them to come with 10 of their own recommendations. This is what we like, the young people. But their pre job will be to go to the elders in their community and get recommendations of what did they like when they were young? So that we're promoting intergenerational connections and then we're giving a voice to folks in Worcester, that this radio station WICN is really a home for them too and there's not only room for them, but there's like intentional room for them. We're making space on purpose,” Combs tells me.

Coulibaly and Combs have a calm, cheerful energy as they share stories about the Crocodile River musicians and experiences they’ve had with students throughout the years. Their commitment to supporting African artists and sharing their culture in an accessible way is more than performing for audiences. Combs explains, “We do it all but a big part of our service in our day to day work is working directly hands on in a setting where students can learn directly from Issa and Antoinette and the rest of our team, whether they're learning to drum, they're learning the dance moves, they're doing science projects.”

Learn more and stay connected with Crocodile River Music at www.crocodilerivermusic.com.

123 FRONT ST WORCESTER, MA 01608

70 MA-146 MILLBURY, MA 01527

ARTS & CULTURE LISTINGS

American Heritage Museum

(978) 562-9182

568 Main St., Hudson

https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/

Arts Worcester

(508) 755-5142

44 Portland St., Worcseter

https://artsworcester.org/

March 3 - Opening Reception: Impact

March 11 - Art On The Line

MARCH 1 through 10 - Black Dolls Matter: Resistance and Representation in African American History

MARCH 17 - Square Loop Album Release Show

Mechanics Hall

(508) 752-5608

321 Main St., Worcester

https://www.mechanicshall.org/

March 8 - Brown Bag Concert featuring Steven Kirby

March 9 - R.H. White 100th Anniversary Celebration

March 11 - Worcester Symphony Orchestra presents Masterworks Concert

March 15 - Brown Bag Concert featuring Matt Savage

March 16 - Club 321 featuring Session Americana

March 17 - College of the Holy Cross presents 100 Day Ball

March 19 - International Competition of High School A Cappella

March 22 - Brown Bag Concert featuring Pamela Hines

Boulder Art Gallery

(978) 354-7000

960 Main St., Fitchburg

http://theboulderartgallery.com/

Gallery open Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Brick Box Theater

(508) 413-5622

20B Franklin St., Worcester

March 18 - Greater Worcester Opera presents

20th Anniversary Alumni Concert

March 29 through April 2 - Experimental Staged

Reading of the Crucible by Arthur Miller

Fitchburg Art Museum

(978) 345-4207

185 Elm St., Fitchburg

https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/ Free First Thursdays

Hanover Theatre

(877) 571-7469

2 Southbridge St., Worcester

https://thehanovertheatre.org/

March 4 - Elvis Costello & the Imposters

March 5 - The Stories of Hansel & Gretel and Peter & the Wolf

March 7 - Il Divo

March 10 - Paddington Gets in a Jam

March 23 - Music Worcester presents Chineke! Orchestra

March 26 - Worcester Youth Orchestra presents 5th Annual Four Orchestras Festival

March 27 - High School Choral Invitational

March 29 - Brown Bag Concert featuring Rory Stuart

March 30 - The United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants

New England Botanical Garden

(508) 869-6111

11 French St., Boylston

https://www.nebg.org/

Tuesdays - Chair Yoga

Wednesdays - Qigong & Tai Chi Movement

Thursdays - Yoga in the Garden

Fridays - Chill Yoga Flow

March 1, 8 & 15 - Orchids of the Exhibition Walk & Talk

March 2 - The Seasons of Japan

March 3, 10 & 17 - Orchids After Dark

March 4 - Neurographic Sketching

March 10 - Bookbinding

March 11 - Birth of a New Perennial Garden

March 16 - How to Garden Organically

March 18 - Needle Felted Orchids

March 25 - Forest Bathing in the Conservatory

Old Sturbridge Village

(800) 733-1830

1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge

https://www.osv.org/

March 3 & 10 - Evening of Illumination

March 18 - Celtic Celebration

Preservation Worcster

(508) 754-8760

10 Cedar St., Worcester

March 11 - The Red Hot Chili Pipers

March 13 - Judith

March 15 - Disney’s Aladdin

March 28 through April 2 - Hadestown

JMAC Popup

(508) 561-0173

20B Franklin St., Worcester www.jmacworcester.org

https://www.preservationworcester.org/

Samuel Slater Experience

(508) 461-2955

31 Ray St., Webster

https://samuelslaterexperience.org/

Tuckerman Hall

(508) 754-1234

10 Tuckerman St., Worcester

http://www.tuckermanhall.org/

The Village Worcester

thevillageworcester@gmail.com

4 King St., Worcester

Worcester Art Museum

(508) 799-4406

55 Salisbury St., Worcester

https://www.worcesterart.org/ Free First Sundays

March 2 through 5 - Flora in Winter

March 3 - Opening Party: Flora Euphoria

March 11 - Zip Tour: A Circular, Domed ChurchCanaletto

March 12, 19 & 26 - Arms and Armor Program: Secrets of Swordplay

March 19 - Spotlight Series: The Experimental Impressionism of John Henry Twachtman

March 25 - Arms and Armor Program: Roman Legion

Worcester Center for Crafts

(508) 753-8103

25 Sagamore Rd., Worcester

https://www.worcestercraftcenter.org/

March 4 - Pasta Dinner

March 8 - Origami: The Art of Paper Folding

Worcester Chamber Music Society

(508) 926-8624

323 Main St, Worcester

https://worcesterchambermusic.org/

Worcester Historical Museum (508) 753-8278

30 Elm St., Worcester

https://www.worcesterhistory.org/

ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS

If you’d like to be included in future listings, please email JPacillo@ pagioinc.com.

BirchTree Bread Company

744-243-6944

138 Green St., Worcester Birchtreebreadcompany.com

March 1 - John Trudeau

March 3 - Daniel Gay and Kyd Syd

March 8 - Sean Magwire

March 9 - Josh Briggs

March 12 - Big Jon Short

March 15 - Giuliano

March 17 - The Biscuit Bandits

March 22 - Colt & the Coyotes

March 24 - John Demers

March 29 - Anna May

Black and White Grille

508-885-5018

206 North Spencer Rd., Spencer Blackandwhitegrille.com

Black Sheep Tavern

978-422-0255

261 Leominster Rd, Sterling Meetmeatthesheep.com

Blueprint New American Bar & Grille

978-668-5580

10 Village Sq., Westminster

Boland's Bar and Patio

508-459-2207

81 Water St, Worcester

Cafe Neo

774-253-6139

97 Millbury St., Worcester Nightly Karaoke

Chuck’s Steakhouse

508-832-2553

10 Prospect Street, Auburn

March 2 - Jason Beaulieu

March 3 - Tequila Bonfire

March 4, 6 & 30 - Mark Manzella

March 9 - Kyle Quintadamo

March 10 - Marshall Morris

March 17 - Bad Tickers

March 23 - Old Tom

March 24 - Gerrits & Ryder

March 25 - Fender Road

March 31 - Drunkin’ Uncles

Classic’s Pub

978-227-5258

285 Central St., Leominster

Chashu Ramen + Izakaya

508-304-7183

38 Franklin St., Worcester

Draught House Bar & Grill

508-835-4722

42 West Boylston St., West Boylston

Electric Haze

26 Millbury St., Worcester

March 1 - The Space Jam

March 24 - Steve Spector & Friends - Acoustic

March 25 - Petty Larceny

March 31 - Rack Em Up

Flying Rhino

508-757-1450

278 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

Indian Ranch

508-943-3871

200 Gore Rd., Webster Indianranch.com

March 11 - Crossfire

March 17 - St. Paddy’s Day

O’Stravaganza: Comedy Night at Slater's

March 4 - Underground Grind Tour featuring Young Zee

March 11 - Pretty Lights Music with Michal Menert, Atlas. B, Father

Figure

March 16 - 6th Annual Lucky’s St.

Patrick’s Day Crawl

March 18 - Mono Means One: featuring John from Consider the Source, Squeaky Feet, Desmond Jones

March 25 - Bella’s Bartok with Dr. Bacon

March 31 - Schism: Tool Tribute Band

Elm Draught House

508-865-2850

35 Elm St., Millbury

Fidder’s Green Pub

508-792-3700

19 Temple St., Worcester

March 4 - Annual Irish Festival

March 10 - The Young Wolfetones

March 11 - The Druids: Irish Folk Band

March 12 - Post Parade Party

March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day at the AOH

March 26 - Traditional Irish Seisiun

Firefly’s BBQ

508-357-8883

350 E. Main St., Marlborough

Dante’s at Firefly BBQ: Indoors

March 3 - Z Company

March 4 - Disco Lemonade

March 10 - Tom Abbott

March 11 - Freeballin'

March 17 - Billy & the Jets

March 18 - Tequila Bonfire

Gardner Ale House

978- 669-0122

74 Parker St., Gardner

Greater Good Imperial Brewing

508-926-8736

55 Millbrook St., Worcester

Greendale’s Pub

508-853-1350

404 W Boylston St. North, Worcestr

Sundays - Night Jam

Wednesdays - Wacky Blues Jam

Halligan’s

508-832-6739

889 Southbridge St., Auburn

Husky’s Pub

508-425-9614

413 Park Ave., Worcester

Mondays - Movie Night

Wednesdays - Acoustic Open Mic

Thursdays - Karaoke

March 3 - Pops Birthday Bash

March 4 - Opening Night

March 11 - Grade A Fancy Pop Up

March 12 - Saint Patrick's Day Party

March 16 - Dog House Comedy

March 17 - Saint Patrick's day

college Night

March 18 - Saint Patty's Jam

March 25 - Music with Nobodies

March 31 - Joanna the Psychic Medium

Legends Bar and Grille

978- 342-6500

68 Airport Rd, Fitchburg

MB Lounge

508-799-4521

40 Grafton St., Worcester

Wednesdays - Karaoke

Thursdays - Trivia

Friday & Saturdays - Dance Party

Sundays - Game Night

March 11 - Glow in the Dark Party

March 26 - Drag Bingo

MCL Club

508-797-0141

181 Lake Ave., Worcester Worcestermcl.org

Thursdays - Karaoke

March 4 - Bone City

March 5 - Mikey Hutchinson

March 11 - Drive South

March 12 - St. Patrick’s Day Parade After Party with Jediah Cole

March 18 - The Super Chargers

March 25 - Trak Down

March 26 - The Mighty King Snakes

Michael’s Cigar Bar

508-459-9035

1 Exchange St, Worcester

Movie Mondays

Sunday - Video Game Night

March 1, 15 & 29 - Frank Foot

March 2 - Chris Reddy

March 3 - Neon Alley

March 4 - On The Loose

March 8 & 22 - Mechanical Rat

March 10 - Zeke Martin

March 11 - Hit The Bus

March 16 & 24 - Dezi Garcia

March 18 - Melendez Mac Duo

March 25 - T.M.I.

March 31 - Los Sugar Kings

Mint Kitchen + Bar

508-459-1532

79 Maywood St., Worcester

Fridays - Karaoke Night

Off the Rails

508-304-6411

90 Commercial St., Worcester

Music Venue

March 3 - Deb Talan

cial guest Nick Casey

March 31 - Whiskey Boulevard

Restaurant Stage

March 2, 3 & 26 - Jacob Hunsinger

March 4 - Tyler Fauxbel

March 5 & 12 - David Rak

March 9 , 16, 23 & 30- Jared Reinert

March 10 - Scott Magill

March 11 - AJ Ottino

March 17 - Jared Fiske

March 18 - Anthony Bisceglia

March 19 & 24 - Jesse Desorcy

March 31 - Joe Macy

One Eyed Jack’s

Tiki Bar & Grill

508-459-0089

433 Park Ave., Worcester

Partner’s Pub

978-345-5051

970 South St., Fitchburg

Patsie Ducass

508 755-4155

49 Millbury St, Worcester Nightly Entertainment

Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern

508-752-7711

455 Park Ave., Worcester

Purgatory Beer Co.

508-596-2194

670 Linwood Ave. Building C, Whitinsville

Ralph’s Diner

508-753-9543

148 Grove St., Worcester

Monday - The Dirty Gerund

Poetry Open Mic

River Styx

978-696-5176

166 Boulder Dr., Fitchburg

Thursdays - World Tavern Poker/ Trivia

Southside Grille

978-632-1057

242 West Broadway, Gardner

Tuesdays - Slingo

Thursdays - Trivia with Kevin

Stakes Pub

508-755-2955

1281 Pleasant St., Worcester

Steel and Wire Cocktail Lounge

508-373-2225

124 Millbury St., Worcester

Tuesdays - Trivia with Lexi Loo

Wednesday Night Mix Tape

Thursdays - Karaoke with DJ Matt R

The Bull Run

978-425-4311

215 Great Road, Shirley

March 1 - Scotch Dinner

March 3 - Neal & the Vipers

March 4 - Don White’s Annual

Birthday Show

March 10 - The Robin Lane Band

March 11 - Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters

March 12 - Gloria Steinem

March 16 Adam Ezra Group

March 25 - James McMurty

March 31 - DC’s Reflecting Fools

The GazBar

978- 534-6600

1045 Central St, Leominster

March 12 - Rich the Kid

March 17 - Thouxaban

March 18 - Bury Your Dead

March 19 - Steel Panther

March 23 - Pop Evil

March 4- Lee Greenwood with spe-

cial Guest Mychael David

March 8 - Wild Game & Bourbon

Dinner with music by Tony Garcia

March 11 - Tequila Bonfire with

Disco Lemonade

March 17 - Rodeo Rave

Wednesday - Karaoke with Dj Matt R!

Rascal’s

508-459-0862

70 James St., Worcester

Rascalsworcester.com

March 4 - Shot of Poison

March 9 - Lenny Clarke

March 11 - Draw the Line: Aerosmith

Tribute

March 12 - Midgets with Attitude

Spring Wrestling Tour

March 18 - The Deloreans

March 25 - Boombox: the 70s and 80s Experience

Reunion Tap & Table

774-293-5501

198 Worcester St., North Grafton

Mondays - Musical Bingo

The Mill at 185

774-261-8585

185 W Boylston St., West Boylston

Live entertainment Thursday through Saturday

The Muse

508-796-5900

536 Main St., Worcester

The Palladium

508-797-9696

261 Main St., Worcester

March 3 - Fleshgod Apocalypse & Obscura

March 4 - Eluveitie

March 11 - Fit For A King

March 24 - Our Last Night

March 25 - The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night

March 29 - Bodysnatcher

March 31 - The Warped Tour Band

Thirsty Robot

265 Summer St., Fitchburg

Thursdays - Trivia Night Rob Boss

Tryst Lounge

978-400-7906

320 Main St, Fitchburg

Vincent’s Worcester

508-752-9439

49 Suffolk St., Worcester

Wachusett Brew Yard

978-874-9965

175 State Rd. E, Westminster

Worcester Brew Yard

152 Green St., Worcester

Thursdays - Dan O Bingo

MARCH 23 - Irish Music Bingo

Whiskey on Water

774-578-8829

97 Water St., Worcester

White Eagle

508-753-9612

116-120 Green St., Worcester

Whiteeagleworcester.com

Thursday & Friday - Dj Nights

Woo Bar & Grill

774-243-6130

358 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

March 22 - Open Mic Night hosted by Kamryn

March 23 - FREE Line Dancing

March 24 - Scarlett Drive with spe-

Wednesdays - Trivia with Nate

Briggs

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THE 2023 PEOPLE TO WATCH PARTY El Basha on Elm Street - Worcester

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THE WORCESTER MUSIC AWARDS Off the Rails - Worcester

And what does he do?

JASON SAVIO

JERRY ONLY ANTI-HERO PARAMORE THIS IS WHY

After decades of being The Misfits’ bass player and torch bearer, Jerry Only has released Anti-hero, his first solo album. The Misfits’ work in the studio over the past decade or so has featured Only on lead vocals as well as bass, so those were also kind of Jerry Only solo projects in a way. But here he has gone without The Misfits moniker, freeing himself up to do whatever he wants.

He sings about rotting flesh, zombies, devil dealings, death and terror, making it another day at the office for Mr. Only. However, if you listen closely enough, he does spread his bat wings, pushing the traditional Misfits sound.

“One Cell from You” breathes more than you would expect while still keeping that familiar Misfits tempo and, as with “Fear the Walking Dead,” room is given for a guitar solo, making these more rock than punk songs. The opening to “Fear the Walking Dead”—a creepy, slinking piano melody-- gives instant Halloween feels and deserves a mention. “Taboo” is a fun retro bop and “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care” is another that has shades of that oldschool 50’s vibe the Misfits are known for. Joining Only is Dave Lombardo on drums (Slayer) and Rob Caggiano on guitar (Anthrax, Volbeat). Only can hold his own for the most part when it comes to vocals, although he doesn’t necessarily elevate the songs like former Misfits singers could.

At the end of “Snake Eyes” Only warns: “Don’t gamble with the devil, my son. He might just take your soul.” Given the Misfits complicated past, Anti-hero seems to confuse it just a little bit more. It has been stated on the Misfits website that this release will not get in the way of any future Misfits shows, but only time will tell. It shouldn’t. Hearing more music from Only and any incarnation of the Misfits is always welcome, and while many might balk at Only putting his own name on the album cover, I say just let him play. As far as we know, Danzig isn’t making an attempt to contribute.

For more, visit: misfits.com

Paramore is back with This is Why, a showcase of sorts for the group from Tennessee that continues to write relatable and catchy music. Singer Hayley Williams is on-point with her lyrics, and the duo of guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro is as strong as ever with their stopand-go melodies and penchant for detail.

The single “This is Why” is classic Paramore with an upbeat, ear-worm twist and raucous chorus. It’s also—as with many other songs on this album—something you’ll probably agree with. While Hayley sings about her reasoning for not wanting to leave her house in “This is Why” and the unwanted opinions from others, she also tackles the daily disgust of what we see in the news in “The News.” The focus of her lyrics becomes more personal with the neo-disco rock of “Big Man, Little Dignity,” in which Williams doesn’t hold back her disgust toward a particular someone. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t critical of herself, either. Take “You First,” when she admits to feeding her demons and bad habits even though she knows she shouldn’t, and “Running Out of Time,” where she wonders if the reason why she doesn’t follow through on any of her plans for others is because she’s “just a selfish prick/No regard.” The ballad “Liar” is the best of all the songs here and carries the most emotion to it as Williams comes to accept a love she had been denying when she sings, “Love is not any easy thing to admit/But I’m not ashamed of it/Love is not a weakening if you feel it rushing in/Don’t be ashamed of it.”

Because of the honesty and sincerity in Williams’ lyrics—and the creativity of the music itself that perfectly complements them—This is Why is a must-listen and one of the strongest releases to hit shelves (and streaming services) in recent memory.

For more, visit: Paramore.net

TAKE A SELFIE, “SAY CHEESE”

We’ve come a long way in the history of selfies, from classic mirror pics to selfie sticks; the selfie has certainly evolved. In the era of perfect Instagram photos capturing the perfect moment is everything.

Capture the Moments Selfie Room is owned by the couple Juan and Carmen Rodriguez. They have been together for 18 years, married for 12 years, with 4 beautiful children. Juan was raised in Great Brook Valley and they are successful business owners, owning a slew of cosmetology businesses including, Headliners Barbershop, Ladies of Headliners, Gossip Girl nail salon and more.

With already being in the business of giving people self confidence the selfie room is right on track for their type of business. Making people feel good, giving them a reason to smile, celebrating each other and more importantly Capture the Moment. The space can be used for birthday parties, creative planning for brands or just a day out with friends and family.

The official ribbon cutting was on Monday, February 6th and the couple had the pleasure of being visited by the Mayors of Auburn and Worcester amongst their many other special guests.

Most selfie rooms have been seen in Boston and other major cities, but Carmen had the idea to bring that joy closer to the residents in Worcester County. “It feels like it happened overnight,” says husband Juan, but in reality it took around three months to execute her vision.

There are five designated rooms and a seasonal area which is currently set up for the lovers of Valentine’s Day. There’s a graffiti room, Celtics room, a Barbie room and more to please visitors' creative senses. The paintings were done by William Santiago known on Instagram as @destroyinglife. Each room comes ready with a ring light for the best possible lighting and props in certain rooms to increase the realness of your picture.

The selfie room is located at 65 Southbridge St, Auburn,Ma. Admission is $20 per adult, $15 per child and free for children two and under. Carmen has plans to change the backdrops as the seasons change, keeping the selfie room fun and exciting.

Carmen’s next project is working on collecting prom dresses for 10 girls for prom season. Two girls will get a chance at winning a full glam for prom including the dress, hair, makeup and nails. This is an exciting project for the couple giving young girls the chance to be princesses for a night.

DINING REVIEW ELLER'S RESTAURANT

(508) 892-3925

WWW.ELLERSRESTAURANT.COM

Just past the Cherry Valley line on Route 9, Eller’s sign lights up the night making the place difficult to miss. Take a step through the door and you get the scent of popcorn popping, a rock anthem playing and multiple flatscreens are variously tuned to local ads, keno and sports. It’s a vista of booths and tables, open space and plenty of families. All brought to you with friendly greetings and prompt service.

My first impression of Eller’s was of an excellent place to serve the Leicester community. It’s certainly large enough; the main dining area feels spacious with gray wood-tiled floors and walls of horizontal planking stained multiple colors.

My friend and I were seated at a booth that was illuminated overhead by a pendant light fashioned from a shiny box grater. First impressions aside, the real test of any restaurant is, of course, its food. So we dove into the menu to make our decisions. It was no surprise to find the dominant focus was on American Comfort cuisine.

Though Eller’s entire appetizer list was worthy of consideration, we both gravitated to their chicken wings, but that’s as far as our agreement went. I was drawn to their Peanut Butter & Jelly Wings. My friend was repelled by the very concept. Heather, our waiter, suggested half an order each. Perfect!

On this we could agree: Eller’s wings were superb. Their crispy exteriors were loaded with sticky

spicy-sweet flavor and plenty of tender meat clinging to the bone. My PB&J wings were coated with Thai peanut sauce that looked crumbly but had a smooth texture barely hinting of peanut flavor. They were served over a thin pool of grape vodka jelly sauce. What a unique flavor-textural combo! It’s no wonder they’re becoming so popular.

My friend’s Buffalo wings were also an instant hit with a level of spicy heat that cleared his sinuses, even after a dunking in soothing blue cheese dressing. As much as we tried to eat them with a fork and knife, Eller’s wings are ultimately a hands-on experience. We both needed showers when finished.

If asked to describe American cuisine I’d list at least half the items in Eller’s menu. What I’d never think to mention, though, is Osso Bucco. Yet there it was in Eller’s list of specials. Always a favorite, my friend found it irresistible.

Eller’s version of Osso Bucco braises pork shanks in wine with onions, peppers, carrots, and tomato. The braising process must take hours; the meat was so tender its bones fell away effortlessly. It was served over a deep bed of mashed potatoes awash with the braising vegetables and broth.

I kept my selection All-American with their Pulled Pork and Cornbread entrée. Eller’s execution of this simple-sounding dish went far beyond what I’ve come to expect.

Heather delivered a huge cake of cornbread topped with meaty-thick shreds of pulled pork dripping with BBQ sauce. But no kidding, this hunk of cornbread dominated the plate; four-inches square, two inches thick! My immediate reaction was of worried concern, for if Eller’s cornbread was dry and tasteless my meal would be a resounding dud.

Relief swept over me with my first bites of this combo. The cornbread was fluffy and moist and sweet with a sticky-sweet surface. The pulled pork wasn’t drenched in cloying sauce; Eller’s BBQ sauce had a balance of sweet, tart, and smoky flavors. A monkey dish of creamy coleslaw provided cool crunchy contrast.

The topping of pork had been dwarfed by all that cornbread, but I soon realized how generous the meat portion was; there was no way I was going to finish my meal. Half went home for lunch the next day.

As we were finishing our meals a DJ was wandering table to table distributing Singo cards, an adaptation of bingo set to music. People were firing up Shazam on their phones, readying to play. We paid up and took off, more than comforted by the cuisine at Eller’s and narrowly escaping the musical talents of Cherry Valley.

BERNIE WHITMORE

what’s happening in the restaurant scene PAUL GIORGIO

IT’S THAT TIME. Worcester Restaurant Week is underway. Over 40 restaurants in the area are offering a special 3-course menu for $28.23 . Check out the restaurants on Wotcesterrestweek.com or on Facebook. Sponsors include Greater Good Brewery, Pepsi & Discover Central Mass. Media Partners include Pulse Magazine, Radio Worcester, WXLO, & Nash. WRW runs through March 11th.

NEARBY. La Belena Ristorante recently opened in Lunnenburg, which is just a short ride up I 190. The owner is Joshua Champagne. He is the brother*of Niche Hospitality’s Steve Champagne. Good food runs in the family.

ITS NOT THE UNIVERSITY .The iconic Oxford Casual Dining formerly owned by Paul Daddah, which is Haddad spelled backwards was recently purchased by the Velius Family. The husband was the former chef at the manor, before it was sold.

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. Brilla Coffee Roasters located in Northboro has opened its long-awaited new location on Main Street in Holden. More smelling coffee Acoustic Java announced recently announced that it sols its original shop located at 932 Main St. to Zaida Melendez. The new shop, Belen’s Casa de Pan, will continue to carry Acoustic Java’s coffee and teas, but will offer Salvadoran baked goods, including quesadillas and semitas.

HE LOOKS A LOT OLDER THAN 20. Piccolo’s Restaurant on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street Recently celebrated its 20th year in business. The Italian restaurant featured meals for $20 as a reward to loyal customers. The restaurant is owned by John Piccolo.

A DIFFERENT WILLYS. Willy’s Latin Cuisine recently opened at 226 Chandler Street in Worccester. The restaurant is owned by William Argumedo and features food from his native el Salvador.

IN MORE DOWNTOWN NEWS. Pleasant Streets Noamesco has added a full kitchen and will be serving West and East African food.

WHAT WILL NORTH BROOKFIELD DO ? Statz Restaurant & Lounge on Main St in North Brookfield has closed. It billed itself as the best bar in town. Maybe the only one?

FORK IT OVER. This annual Girl scout cookie competition will be held May 10th at Worcester’s Polar Park. Chefs compete for the best meal using cookies as their main ingredient.

ISN’T IT ROMANTIC. Bocado Tapas and wine bar on Worcester’s Winter Street, was recently named thew most romantic restaurant in Massachusetts by Yelp. They must put something in the Paella.

AS WE REPORTED EARLIER. Park Ave’s Sake Bomb closed its doors the day after Valentine’s Day. We hear that gift cards will be honored at their other restaurants-Wan Wang and Kenichi. We also hear that the space will be taken over by a restaurant that features Spanish food.

THIS IS JUST WILD. Marlboro’s Wildwood Steakhouse which opened in 1924 is turning off the stoves. Owner Gerry Seymour is hanging up his apron. This place has been a mainstayon the Martlboro dinning cene for 99 years.

IN SOME GOOD NEWS. 1885 will be opening soon on Worcester’s Green Street directly opposite the Plunkett Plaza entrance to Polar Park. They are taking over oneof the former storefront of Westerman Restaurant supply. 1885 you ask? That’s the year the building was built.

Dear Drinkers,

PULSEBREW

SHANNON JUTRAS

March is most famous in New England for being a) terrible and b) full of Saint Patrick’s day festivities. We've covered my feelings on artificially dyed green beer in previous columns and my position remains unchanged: Don’t do it. You are better than this. Get yourself a Dry Irish Stout or Red Ale like a proper adult.

March is also Women’s History Month, and of particular interest to this columnist, it is PINK BOOTS BREW SEASON. Over the next several weeks, thousands of people around the world will craft various magical elixirs, and a portion of each beverage’s proceeds will be donated towards scholarships to further education for women and non binary people in the fermented beverage industry. As a woman, a brewer, and a passionate advocate for diverse people in beer, Pink Boots Brew Days are my Super Bowl.

One of my favorite elements of Pink Boots brew days is getting a first hand look at other brewery’s equipment and processes. I wish I could throw the brewery bay doors wide open and invite every member of the public to participate in the kind of hands-on learning experience these days provide. I can, at least, pull the curtain back a little on the anatomy of a real life brew day.

Cleaning - There’s a misconception that brewers spend a lot of time wandering around in overalls, leisurely sipping beer and twirling their mustaches. The only part of that I can personally relate to is the walking (so much walking), and the overalls, which are truly a superior pant. Before brew day, during brew day, and after brew day there is an almost limitless amount of cleaning and equipment maintenance that needs to be done to keep the brewing environment clean and sanitary.

Recipe design - You can’t bake cookies or brew beer without a plan. Without a recipe you would just have some weird pile of mush. (Pssst this this is many brewers favorite parts of the process).

Brew Day Prep - Water is heated, grains are milled, brewing salts and hops are weighed out. The start of a brew is a HUSTLE because the length of the day is determined by how quickly we can get the beer mashed in, and the average brew day is already 8-12 hours.

Mash In - This is the “brewiest” part of the brew day, where crushed grains are mixed with hot water to pull fermentable sugars and produce “wort”. This is the part of the brew day that gets the most glory and is usually the most hands-on.

Vorlauf/Lauter/Boil - Each of these are separate steps, but they mostly amount to moving fresh wort around to maximize fermentable sugars, volume, and to “sanitize” the wort for fermentation. Things get exciting again when it’s time to add hops or botanicals like coriander or citrus zest, which can happen at any stage of the boil to impart different varieties of flavor, aroma, and bitterness.

Transfer to Fermentors/Pitching Yeast - Beer spends comparatively few hours being “brewed.” It spends most of its time in fermentation vessels aka “the cellar.” Wort is chilled in line and sent to these fermentors, where yeast is “pitched” (literally thrown in the fermentor). Steps like dry hopping and lagering happen days to weeks later. At the end of an actual brew day you don’t yet have anything that really approximates beer. The magic is still to come.

There’s more cleaning in the middle of all this, including disposing of all that “spent” grain,” samples to be taken and tested, data to be entered, and even emails to be handled. For all craft beer’s splendor, making it is a very humble process. There’s no reason to gatekeep brewing or question someone’s ability to participate based on their gender, race or any other external quality. There’s a pair of overalls for every body and plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of hard work to go around. No mustache required.

Local breweries currently registered to participate include: Redemption Rock, Altruist, Timberyard, River Styx, Thirsty Robot, Lost Shoe, Rushford & Sons, and Amory’s Tomb. You should try them all. Seriously.

EVERGREEN ROOM, HUDSON’S NEW DATE SPOT THE MIDSHIFTERS (ELISABETH MORGAN & JOIE GERHARDT )

Stepping into Crose Nest Apothecary’s newly opened tea lounge- Evergreen Room, I felt the buzz of a kid in a candy store. The intimate space seemed to whisk my friend and I out of Hudson, MA and into the lo-fi beat videos that have dominated Youtube’s study-music niche: a vintage anime world with an aesthetic that’s eclectic, yet cozy and balanced. This is not the musing of a millennial on psychedelics—if you lost me at “lo-fi”, just picture a trendy, big little business with authority in its realm.

While Evergreen Room’s tea selection is intimidating for an apothecary novice, the staff is accommodating in helping you discover your new favorite herbs. The cocktail program is an extension of that, with description of the key herbs used in each beverage and their intended effects. I ordered the ‘Stay Gold’, a cocktail with a turmeric & spice infused rum, featuring birch beer, maple, lime, and mint, finished with a lemongrass stirrer. Stay Gold’s intentions are listed as: “soothe, cool, ground”. You will not find a better reading from an oracle, so don’t even try.

Prior to opening, their instagram profile seduced us with images of poached pear desserts, sourdough loaves from heaven, and graze boards with accoutrements that put other boards to shame. My friend demanded we go together for an all-out feast, but we couldn’t make it past the Evergreen Board. The board’s description cautions a serving for 2-4 people, but hubris told us to accept that challenge, and it was so worth the defeat. For those chasing the “perfect bite” in a meal, this board offered us many: mushroom pâté, pickled kumquat, sugared blood orange, artisanal cheeses, jams, pistachio and swiss chard pesto (and more)- all served with fresh bread and crisps. It was an indulgent observance of exquisite flavor. We sat there, on the best friend date ever, stuffed past capacity.

I impulsively marched to the counter to purchase two prix fixe tickets for their 4 course Lovebirds offering the same night, as if I hadn’t already lived like a king for the day. I was love drunk off of my wholesome meal and I wanted my partner to experience this. Budget be damned, I returned to Worcester to spread the gospel to my valentine. I barely digested the first meal before being ushered out of our house to return. The second drive to Hudson didn’t even matter.

The prix fixe was an amusement park for the senses. We cozied up on the couch with four courses of tea, merriment, and even a surprise aphrodisiac-herbed cotton candy stick served with a parsnip puree. Then, I reveled in my second (considerably smaller) Evergreen Board of the day. Our main dish selections were braised short rib, or a mountain of mushrooms, both rosemary scented- including beet parsnip puree, artichokes, and a pomegranate/schisandra reduction. We spooned a wall of lavender meringue out of their Mai Tai, aptly named, “Put a Spell on You”. My partner was in awe, from the bartender's presentation to his flawless execution.

Owner Kinsey Rosene is the ‘head witch in charge’ (sorry, Kinsey) of this sorcery. She’s been sharing her style and holistic expertise through Crose Nest for seven years. Despite all of her team’s creativity, she’s crafted a humble space for anyone to expand their knowledge on herbs and cuisine. While the apothecary itself is worth a trip to Hudson, Evergreen Room deserves celebration. You may not have the same cult-like reaction as I did, but I assure you that the tea lounge is a fantastic date spot for friends, self, and lovers alike. It’s Kinsey’s gift to us all (but mostly me)!

DAD’S KETO KITCHEN

LUANN THIBODEAU

I have to admit that when I received the assignment to write about Dad’s Keto Kitchen, I was equal parts intrigued and leery. The most I knew about Keto was mostly that sugar and gluten were not a part of it. And that, in and of itself, was scary to me, because I love both. Plus any time I’ve had food that didn’t contain at least one of those ingredients, it tasted like cardboard.

I put my hesitations aside and reached out to Christian Leatham, owner of Dad’s Keto, and had the opportunity to talk to him on the phone. Leatham gave me the background on his business, which he started in May 2019. He told me that his motivation was his personal health, he was overweight and suffered from sleep apnea. Leatham did his research into the Keto lifestyle, and not only became someone who follows, but he also became a certified Keto and Carnivore coach. The Keto diet usually does not include meat, but a Keto-vore diet does.

The concept behind Keto is really pretty simple: cut out carbs, forcing your body to use fats as its fuel. This had many beneficial effects, weight loss, lowering of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and higher energy levels, just to name a few. And Christian is the perfect success story, he has indeed lost a lot of weight, no longer has sleep apnea, and he even has the energy to run half marathons!!

Well, all of that sounded great to me, but being somewhat of a skeptical person, I still wasn’t convinced that the food wouldn’t taste like cardboard. That notion changed when I visited Dad’s Keto Kitchen and Bakery, located at 119 Shrewsbury Street in Worcester. Leatham opened this store in October of 2022, and the place is beautiful. It showcases some of the foods offered and the dessert presentation looked amazing, so I decided to give the red velvet cake a try. I waited until I got home, and I have to say- it’s great! No cardboard taste and I didn’t even realize that there was no sugar in it. So kudos to Christia!

The store is not the only part of the business. Leatham has a menu that changes every week. Folks can check out the new menu online, and place orders to be picked up or delivered every Thursday to enjoy the whole week long. Dad’s delivers to 49 area cities and towns, up from only 3 when he started the business in 2019.

My final thoughts? Get healthy with Dad’s Keto Kitchen. They have a menu of items to choose from, which means no grocery shopping for ingredients and then spending hours cooking. Great tasting food without a sinkful of dishes sounds like a win/win situation. If you want to learn even more, check out the website at www.dadsketo.com, where you can place your order, or stop into the store, which is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. Christian is always there to discuss the world of Keto with you, and to answer any questions.

STYLE Savvy

APRIL GODDARD

Hello Pulse readers and happy Spring! We are deep in the middle of the season at this point, and are getting to witness all of the beautiful things that come along with it; The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and the joyful moods and colors of spring are in the air. I love this time of year, because by this point it is safe to say that we can all officially come out of our winter hibernation and step into the sun (literally). That means it’s time to pack away the coats, hats, and sweaters of winter in favor of some lighter pieces to match the season. This season will see fashion trends massively influenced by the late 90’s and the Y2K era. As a millennial, I must say I am totally here for it. So if you want to learn my prediction for the top 5 trends that will be here to stay this spring, keep on reading!

French Manicure: This was out for so long in favor of nudes, neutrals, and solid nail colors. Now we are seeing the french manicure making a comeback in a major way this spring. There are many modern variations of this nail trend; You can do a thin, thick, or medium mani, or maybe a glossed or donut-glazed one. One thing that is totally here to stay in the sleek almond shaped nail, which can be paired perfectly with this style. Another option for the die-hard Y2K fans-a short and square manicure.

Loose Jeans: I can one hundred percent say that I do not foresee skinny jeans coming back into fashion any time soon. Largely influenced by the comfort athletic sweatpants that we were all sporting during the pandemic, the loose fitting jean is also a brushed up and modern play on the styles that we saw back in the 90’s, combined with the low-rise relaxed fit of the Y2K.

Claw Clips: Claw clip hair accessories are hardly a new thing, but have become a big trend over the last year. The claw clip can enable you to style long or short hair in a variety of ways, and there are plenty of variations for different hair lengths and colors. Once a trend left back in the 90’s is now a great (and easy) way to look polished and keep your hair out of your face as the weather warms.

Uggs and Other Shearling Footwear: Now I know that I just finished saying that we were putting away winter attire. But hear me out-there are so many different styles and colors of this shearling favorite that many are choosing to carry this footwear into the spring and even summer months paired with skirts, shorts, or distressed denim. Not to mention, they are super comfy.

Track Suits: I really really cannot believe my own eyes as I am typing this, but here it goes-the track suit is back. I know you're probably thinking Yup, it's been back. But no-I mean the every shade of the rainbow-colored, velour, matching top and bottoms, low-rise, Y2K everyone had one tracksuit. Now, if velour is not your cup of tea, I get it. Stick with cotton-based sports tracksuits and pair with a cute pair of sneakers.

OUT & ABOUT

WHY DRAG STORY TIME MATTERS

GIULIANO D’ORAZIO

Greetings Queer Worcester [and beyond] - I want to talk about something that shouldn't even be up for debate: drag story time events. As you’ve probably heard, such events feature drag performers reading inclusive, affirming children's books to kids. It's a fun and positive way to introduce children to diversity, inclusivity, and acceptance. But unfortunately, right-wing attacks on these events have been increasing. While these events certainly deliver laughs and lighthearted fun, they’re also important opportunities for fostering feelings of belonging amongst queer youth and families. Full disclosure - I serve on the board of the queer-youth-serving organization, Love Your Labels, and we run a popular drag story time event here in Worcester in partnership with Redemption Rock Brewing Co.

Let me be frank: drag story time events are totally harmless to children. In fact, they're beneficial. According to research, exposing children to diverse identities from an early age can have a positive impact on their attitudes towards different groups, and can even reduce prejudice later in life. Drag story time events help to normalize diverse identities, and make it clear that it's okay to be one’s authentic self. Plus, they're just fun! Who doesn't love a cute story and a few sparkles? Every single drag story time I’ve attended has been filled with nothing but pure joy and family fun.

Unsurprisingly, some right-wing politicians and groups have taken issue with drag story time events. Legislation to ban or restrict them has been introduced in at least eight states, with more bills being drafted in other states (2). These attacks are super harmful because they perpetuate the bigoted belief that exposing kids to LGBTQ+ identities is inappropriate. They send the message that queer identity is something to be ashamed of, hidden away, and kept from children. What message does this send to the young queer kid facing bullying at school? Or a child of gay parents? Attacks on these story times only increase shame and embolden bullies.

These attacks have a direct impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ youth. Queer kids already face higher rates of bullying, harassment, and discrimination, and these attacks on drag story time events only add to that. They create a hostile environment that can make queer youth feel unsafe and unwelcome. According to the Trevor Project, a national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth, laws like these can increase feelings of isolation and decrease a young person's sense of self-worth.

The fact is, drag story time events are an exercise of artistic and creative expression that should be free from government suppression. They are not sexualized, nor are they meant to be. The performers are simply reading books and having fun with the kids. As New York drag performer Lady Bunny pointed out, parents of schoolchildren who don't like it don't have to attend them.

The recent scourge of attacks on drag story time events are not only misguided, but they are also harmful. They perpetuate bigoted beliefs, create a hostile environment for queer youth, and attempt to erase queer identity. Locally, we need to decide what kind of a community we want to be - one that celebrates and uplifts people of all identities, or one that seeks to shame and marginalize those who may not ascribe to “traditional” forms of gender expression. Let's continue to promote events like drag story time, stand up against hateful rhetoric wherever we see it, and encourage our local politicians to do the same. Let’s help create a world where everyone can be themselves without fear of discrimination or hatred.

The idea for this month’s column came to me while at a dispensary here in the city. I overheard a fellow customer talking about how Twitter will soon let cannabis advertising on their site. The budtender then retorted that they were aware of their company's role as a major sponsor of another prominent neighborhood business. I feel like I’m not at liberty to mention the specifics of said sponsorship in this forum, but I will say it’s the first of its kind in our area. However, this raises the questions of how much sponsorship is appropriate and how well-prepared should we be for the onslaught of advertisements that are about to bombard our eyeballs?

It took Massachusetts less than a year to get from $3B to $4B in cannabis sales. The state had over 70 cannabis stores openings and the start of 3 courier services and 4 marijuana delivery businesses in 2022, resulting in over $1.4B sales. All this money and competition means that these organizations need to advertise and promote everywhere they can. I get it. And truthfully, I’m cool with billboards and I’m definitely a fan of the advertisements in wonderful magazines like the one you’re reading. The industry has long battled the restrictions put on them on where and what they can spend their money on. Even on the new, cash-hungry version of Twitter, cannabis companies can basically just announce that they exist. They can’t include any specific strains or available items, and there can’t be anything that could be misconstrued by an underage audience. With ad targeting becoming stronger and stronger, we should expect more of the social media blast. The permeation of the spaces and places where we go to escape being sold to, but instead are accosted by flashy lights and gotcha attention grabbers.

What I find especially interesting is that sales data from last year also showed that the state is generating more tax revenue from cannabis than alcohol for the first time. The biggest advertising day of the year was a week ago at the time of writing this. We saw ads from Budweiser, Crown Royal, Heineken and a bunch of other alcohol-based brands. And though we were not allowed to see the ad that Snoop Dogg wanted to air, I feel like it’s really only a matter of time before the Super Bowl is inundated with advertising littered with weed brands. It will also probably be one of those weird subversions of expectation ads where at first glance it looks like it’s a furniture commercial, but it ends up being about weed. Maybe Twitter can lead in this space as well and lift some of the restrictions for their advertisers.

Ultimately, what I’d really like to see happen is more investing in the community from these companies. I get excited about creative companies that are finding ways of supporting music, arts, and culture. Whether it’s as simple as being a presenting sponsor for a cultural event or continuing to spend money with local media companies, every bit helps maintain what we have while destigmatizing the industry.

I'm not suggesting that every venue should have a presenting sponsor, but if they could identify cannabis funding sources, they could end up with a lot of money to enhance their budgets, the stage setup, the lighting, and whatever else could be improved. The same defense may be made for any group of artists, craftspeople, or anybody else working in the community on projects that aren't just for kids. These companies have money, and they want to support the community. Make it happen.

Be well and happy trails.

-Travis (@hunchbacktravis)

UNION STATION’S PAST AND PRESENT VINCENT PACIFICO

The two iconic towers that stand in Washington Square are well known by most and can be seen from many locations in the city. Perhaps one of the best views is driving on interstate 290 West and looking down at them from a bird eye view. Worcester’s famous Union Station has been a prized piece of architecture for a century and will continue to be for many years to come.

What we know as Union Station today, the place where we jump on the commuter rail to head to Boston for the day was not always how it was, or even where it was. The train station that stands today is more than a century old but is not in fact the original station that served the city in the 19th century. The original Union Station was built in 1875 featuring a Gothic Revival style and was located just east of today’s station where Interstate 290 is currently situated. The building featured a large train shed which covered the tracks and rail cars along with a single clock tower which rose over the city 212 feet. The station served the city with various lines up until the early 20th century when it was demolished to make way for a new station with elevated rail lines that would cause much less traffic on the street level.

In 1911 the new Union Station was built. It featured a beautiful terra cotta faced facade designed in the French-Renaissance style along with two towers, each 175 feet tall clad with marble. The building was tastefully accented with ornamentation, arches and ionic style columns. During Worcester’s heyday the station was busy and had up to 140 passenger trains going in and out daily. Due to the materials used to build the two towers, the vibrations of all of the trains coming and going led to structural weakening of the towers, therefore they had to be removed in 1926 taking away much of the building’s charm.

Common of many railroad stations around the country, after World War II, there was a decline in the use of Union Station and the building was left abandoned in 1974. The station sat empty until 1995 when the Worcester Redevelopment Authority acquired the building and completely renovated it. The two towers were rebuilt with new innovative materials that could better withstand the vibrations from the rail lines along with the interior being restored to what it had originally looked like. New windows and interior finish work was completed to give the building the same beautiful look it once had. The grandhall space today is still one of the most stunning rooms in the city and it is commonly used for events due to its elaborate aesthetic and its ability to hold large crowds.

The train station today does not get nearly as much traffic as it once did in the 20th century. Your destinations are definitely limited but you can still easily take the commuter rail towards Boston for an enjoyable commute. Even if you’re not taking the train, it’s still worth walking through the front doors and admiring the space inside. Besides the waiting platform, there is a restaurant on the ground floor and a convenient parking garage located in the rear. Over the years Union Station has risen and fallen a few times, it’s changed locations and has been left completely abandoned, however the beauty we all love from the original design has definitely been recreated and better developed for the city's new fleet of incoming trains.

AL PETTWAY

TAYLOR NUNEZ-MURRAY

Al Pettway’s charisma and positivity radiates when he walks into a room, combine this natural leadership with his long history with the game, it is unsurprising to see Pettway’s coaching and leadership lead North High towards a championship. A Bridgeport, Connecticut native, Pettway gravitated towards basketball around age 12, inspired after seeing a close relative play in a YMCA league. “I said, ‘Wow, this looks pretty interesting. I want to play this game.’ [My cousin] is the reason I picked up the basketball.”

Fast forward a few years, Pettway played under Coach Moore at WSU, becoming an all time leading scorer with 2,200+ points and eventually inducted into WSU’s Hall of Fame in 2000. Prior to graduating with an undergraduate degree from WSU, Coach Moore connected Pettway with former Worcester Academy basketball coach Tom Blackburn, and Pettway’s coaching career began. In addition to Worcester Academy, Pettway would eventually coach at his alma mater WSU and Assumption college before arriving at North High School in the 2002-2003 academic year.

Pettway, a former adjustment counselor and current Dean of Students at North High, relates and connects to his players on and off the court. Like some of his players, Pettway was raised by a single mother in an inner city, and his family often met financial challenges. “I tell the kids all the time: I grew up without a father figure in my life. My mom struggled to get basic needs to survive. We struggled to get food, clothing, paying rent, etc. etc. So I do see myself in their shoes, and I can relate to some of the stuff [they go through],” Pettway explains.

A parent to two athletes, Pettway more than fulfills a father figure role along with being a coach. Though he has a keen understanding of the trials and challenges students may face off the court, he insists players leave it at the door when it’s time to play basketball. “I do tell them this, and this is probably hard for them, we all have something in our backpack. We all have stuff in our personal lives, including the coaches, but we don’t bring that into the gym.” Pettway urges his players to use the two and a half hours playing basketball in the gym as a way to distance themselves from the outside noise. “After practice, if there is something we need to talk about, we can. If for two hours you can give me your attention and focus on basketball - what you enjoy - and use that as a distraction… anything else, we can talk about it after practice” Pettway affirms.

Though Pettway is known and praised for his coaching abilities, he is quick to note that the current team has been easy as a coach. Most of North High’s boys’ team grew up playing together, coached by the same coaches, and they understand how to play with one another to achieve success. “Throw them on the court… They know each other's strengths and weaknesses. I’m an extension of what they already created,” Pettway insists. Though, it is hard to deny Pettway’s influence on the team, a coach who openly shares with his players that he gladly will step into a parental figure role in their lives when they need it most. “[I tell them] I will treat you like my own child. I will discipline you like my own child. I will love you as my own child… You have somebody that cares about you.”

Now in his 20th season with the North High Polar Bears, Pettway leads the team towards a championship, with high hopes that this is the team that will bring Worcester Public Schools its first Division 1 championship in the district’s history. After an emotionally challenging year for North High, most recently the loss of Al Jenkins, an instructional assistant and beloved basketball coach in the Worcester community, Pettway pushes forward with his team. “We need some smiles. We need some glory, for [all of] 508. We need something to be excited about, to celebrate.”

SPORTS?

SHAUN CONNOLLY

BUCK O'NEILL EXHIBIT Shaun2 KNOWS

The Worcester Public Library is no stranger to sports. This past December you were welcome to go watch any of the World Cup games. There is a whole baseball section presented by the Worcester Red Sox. And don’t forget to use the Dewey Decimal System to find pretty much any book written about athletics. But there is something new at the Main Branch Library over on Franklin St, from now until April 2nd there is an exhibit out on the main floor about Negro Leagues legend, Buck O’Neill.

This is all thanks to Public Services Librarian Tara Jankowski. Back in in 2020, Jankowski created a booklist to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Negro National Leagues. While researching for different films and books for those interested Janksowski said, “I came upon the Negro League Baseball Museum’s website. After learning about their traveling exhibits, I made it a goal of mine to bring one to Worcester.”

With help from the Library’s Executive Director Jason Homer, and sponsorships from the WooSox Foundation, the United Way of Central MA, and the Worcester Public Library Foundation Worcester residents are able to interact, study and learn from this one of a kind exhibit. I was lucky enough to stumble upon it while on a trip with my son days after it was erected. The extraordinary thing about the installation is its attention to detail, the wide range of photographs and anecdotes as well as its real understanding of the subject. “Here at the library, it’s very important for us to make sure that our community is seeing themselves reflected in the programs and services we provide, says Homer.”

I have been lucky enough to visit the Negro Leagues Museum on Kansas City, Missouri. The Buck O’Neill exhibit is a perfect representation for what the rest of the museum is like. It is interactive and dense with photographs, programs, receipts and personal histories. As I walked around the museum I actually grew angry at how little I was taught of this famed league, how their stats and records aren’t counted in the history of baseball, and how names like Satchel Paige and Buck O’Neill aren’t among the pantheon of other great players of the same era.

The Buck O’Neill exhibit at the Worcester Public Library brings all of those frustrations to light, in an awe-inspiring way. Jankowski says, “The Buck O’Neil exhibit was our first choice. He is a great example of how sports history, American history, and Black history intersect. In addition to being a player, the first African American coach in Major League Baseball, and a scout, he also became an ambassador of Negro Leagues history. It’s important for people to know the man responsible for keeping an integral part of American history alive.”

Although this has been up for a few short weeks, Jankowski says they are already getting great feedback, “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the public. Our guestbook is full of gratitude and personal stories from visitors of all ages.”

So I recommend taking a trip out to the Main Library before it goes on April 2nd. Whether you are a baseball fan or not, this fascinating installation is something to behold and a real gem for the city of Worcester. I, for one, am glad Worcester has this. It’s free and a great way to spend an afternoon.

NEW IN THE WOO: BOLAND’S BAR AND PATIO JENNIFER RUSSO

Who doesn’t love an Irish Pub? A casual place to go grab a pint with friends, listen to some live music, and take in the overall welcoming and unpretentious vibe. Even better when the bar is owned by a real Irishman and his Irish partners who all know what an Irish pub should look and feel like.

Starting with the name, Boland’s itself is named after Tobias Boland, an Irish immigrant who came to the United States in 1825 and is credited with building the Blackstone Canal connecting Worcester and Providence, as well as one of the buildings of Holy Cross college, among other landmarks. His portrait profile, maps of the railroad, and news article excerpts about Canal Transportation adorn the wall in a thoughtful mural.

The grand opening event on February 4th packed the bar, which was buzzing with excitement from the moment the doors opened to when they closed for the night. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony took place with Worcester’s Mayor Petty in attendance (who later enjoyed a pint with Dublin-born owner Stephen “Shuggy” Porter and some patrons).

“Our goal here at Boland’s is to connect with the neighborhood in a genuinely nice way. Hopefully a local bar that people would feel comfortable to frequent,” says Porter. “We want to encourage all our patrons to make new friends and enjoy themselves along the way. Of course, being Irish helps us connect with the Irish around here - they have been so supportive. I knew there was some Irish history and Irish Americans here but had no idea how much and how many!”

It seemed the whole of Worcester stopped in to check out the new watering hole. A sunflower bouquet with a “Congratulations” balloon drifted on the edge of the dark wood bar, adding to the warm and cozy atmosphere that was in direct contrast to the cold outside.

“We’ve really gotten to know the owners and it's such a fun, friendly spot – great for music with the patio outside in warmer months,” say Chris and Pam Stone, owners of Vintage Pizza. “These owners just get it. It’s authentic – it has what people want when they go to an Irish pub. Familiar faces, not cliquey, just a relaxing place to be with friends.”

Smiling bartenders kept pace with orders of Guinness from the centerpiece of the bar – a signature harp-shaped tap, among other local brews such as Bay State Brewing and Penny Pinchers, and festive libations like an innovative Negroni made with Dingle award-winning Irish gin. There was even a delicious looking mule cocktail made with West Cork Bourbon Cask.

“This is definitely the new hidden, or not so hidden, gem in Worcester,” says patron Amy Santom. “There is great music and it’s a perfect environment with welcoming staff and happy faces.

The bar will have entertainment most weekends and does plan to have some trivia nights soon enough.

“I went here back when it was Rock Bar and the Blackstone Tap before that, so I am really excited that they put something great here,” says Kristen Hershey, who was there with her husband Mike. “It’s so low-key and comfortable – perfect for someone in their 40s, but excellent for the younger crowd too. We live pretty close and it’s an uphill walk, but totally worth it and so convenient. I expect we will be here quite a bit.”

The acoustics in the space are perfect for both crowds and live music. Even though the bar was packed to the brim, you could enjoy the entertainment and somehow still hear the person next to you. Speaking of entertainment, opening day featured the talented Chris Reddy on the guitar with guests singing along and later in the evening On the Rocks took the stage and inspired people to rock out even more. The bar inspires people to introduce themselves and talk. It will never be a sports bar filled with TVs, which is intentional.

“All I could ever want is a beautiful place like this where people can just come and not be glued to their phone or a screen. Come here to have a great time and great conversation (aka craic) and have fun after a rough day at work. You’ll always be greeted with a smile and be welcomed here. This is why I love my job,” says bartender Mary.

Boland’s is of course looking forward to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th. “We have been warned to do our stretches to get ready for all the Guinness pouring that day – so we promise to be on our marks. Feel free to swing by for some pints and some banter!” says Shuggy.

Boland’s Irish Pub is located at 81 Water Street and is open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. Be sure to stop in and check it out as it promises to be the next hot spot on the hill.