Karen Ponzio Photos
Ro Godwynn.
“Boy, does it feel good to jam,” said Carrie Sangiovanni of Caravan of Thieves, one of four acts performing live at The State House Saturday night as part of Homegrown Folk, the CT Folk-produced show broadcast from the State Street venue live on Facebook. Feeling good was the theme of the night as each performance built upon the one before, each act expressing and eliciting great joy at the chance to be back live on a local stage.
The performers each took to The State House stage without a live audience save for those behind the scenes, which included CT Folk director Nicole Heriot Mikula, sound engineer Patrick Dalton, and the crew of MKDevo, live streaming the event via Facebook.
Local legend Frank Critelli hosted the evening, taking time before and after each act to not only extol their virtues, but to encourage those watching to support local bands, local venues, and CT Folk itself.
“I’m silly with excitement,” Critelli said before introducing the first act of the night, Ro Godwynn, who he described as “equally soulful and socially conscious.”
Frank Critelli shares the love.
Godwynn had multiple reasons to celebrate, as it was their 26th birthday on that very night — and they had released their latest EP, The Godwynn Experience, Vol. II, the week before. They expressed gratitude at being back on the stage.
“It’s been a really long time,” they said. “It’s been a really long time for all of us.”
Godwynn began with the song “Convert,” and with the aid of prerecorded background vocals and music from their laptop, they invited the listener to experience a most magical set, moving on to songs like “Choices,” where they sang, “I am so tired all the time” against a slow, funky beat, eventually confirming “but I made a choice I do not regret.” They described the song “Patience” as a “fan favorite,” and it was not difficult to imagine why. The song lifted itself and the listener, building layer upon layer like a gospel, with a heady combination of Godwynn’s vocals and flute from Dylan McDonnell, who they thanked and acknowledged afterwards.
Ro Godwynn.
Godwynn then took out their guitar and said it was time for “the acoustic part of the set.” They played two songs, one called “Wind,” that had them telling the viewers to “feel free to close their eyes” and join them for some “guided breathing.” The next song, which they said was “untitled for now,” had another interactive element to it, as Godwynn asked viewers to “think of something you’re happy to have,” and “when you think of it, sing along with me.” They then sang “everything I need flows like water to me.”
Godwynn ended the set performing the entirety of their new EP. When it was done, they smiled at the rousing applause they received and offered gratitude to all involved. “Thanks for rocking with me, it’s been a lot of fun,” they said. It may have been Godwynn’s birthday, but they were the one that had offered their gifts to others.
The next act to take the stage, introduced by Critelli as “one of my favorite Connecticut acts of all time,” was The Moon Shells, a trio consisting of Maggie Shar on vocals and banjo, Laura Murawski on upright bass fiddle, and guitar, and (in the interest of full disclosure) the Indy’s own Brian Slattery on vocals, fiddle, and guitar. They kicked off their set with a high-octane version of Sally In The Turnip Patch that would have had the crowd swinging and dancing from the get go if there had been a crowd there (and this reporter will admit it was the first of many times she would be dancing in her own home while watching this livestream).
The Moon Shells.
The band’s members playfully ambled through a variety of their own songs, including “Ready” — for which they made a video featuring a variety of friends and family — “House of Air,” the title track from their album released in 2020, and “Sleeping Giant,” named after “that unique and beautiful landform” according to Slattery. Both Slattery and Shar offered stories behind each selection as the musicians traded off and tuned up their instruments between songs, laughing and appearing to have as much fun, if not more, than those of us watching as they fiddled and strummed their way through the kind of modern campfire/traditionally influenced tunes that one might want to hear with a bunch of friends out in the backyard sipping sweet tea and whiskey on a long hot summer night. Since the band met while performing at a variety of friendly gatherings, it is not a far reach to think this is their intent. They ended with “Quarantine Waltz,” about which Murawski noted, “waltzes are for dancing…everybody can waltz… even if you’re home, you won’t regret it.” There were no regrets left anywhere after this set.
The fun continued with Caravan of Thieves, a duo consisting of Fuzz and Carrie Sangiovanni, both offering vocals, guitar, and loads of laughs throughout their effervescent and energetic set. From songs like “I Get Sad,” which Carrie said was “very pandemic appropriate,” to “Monster,” which Fuzz said explored “the darker side of love,” to a mashup of the 70s disco classics “I Will Survive” and “Stayin’ Alive” — which took on new lives in their hands and voices — the couple kept the vibe straight up party-like even through the computer screen.
Caravan of Thieves.
They also told stories and traded comments throughout while showing their appreciation for the audience at home and the ability to play on stage again.
“It feels like we didn’t sell tickets,” joked Fuzz, adding, “are you kidding me? This is the most fun we’ve had in eleven and a half months.” Fun permeated the set as the duo harmonized sweetly and Fuzz offered some serious fingerpicking solos that elicited cheers from those in the room.
“You’re filling the room with your love … with your hooting and hollering,” said Carrie. “Hope you’re doing that home too.” This reporter most certainly was.
Stephen Kellogg.
The final act of the night was CT native Stephen Kellogg, whose career highlights were seen in a brief trailer prior to his performance. An engaging storyteller as well as a spirited performer, Kellogg was joined by friend and fellow musician Eric Donnelly from local band The Alternate Routes for another joyful set of music that made the intimate setting seem even more expansive and welcoming.
“Hello there my friends, we’re gonna have some fun,” Kellogg announced, and then delivered on that promise. His 10-song set plus one encore offered songs such as “Maybelline,” which he dedicated to his uncle and included a searing solo from Donnelly, and “High Highs and Low Lows,” which he said was “AC/DC for middle aged people who like Americana music.”
Kellogg and Eric Donnelly.
He shared and talked about the book he wrote titled Objects in the Mirror, which is also the name of his latest EP — both released last year — right after sharing the song “Hearts and Pain,” noting that it was a “deep cut” and also telling the audience that “it’s going to be OK. There’s a lot of hope. There’s a lot here in Connecticut, I hope there is where you’re tuning in.”
Kellogg and Donnelly ended the night with an encore that saw Caravan Of Thieves invited up to the stage (distanced behind the duo safely) and Kellogg once again talking about hope.
“A lot of us felt hopeless,” he said in reference to the past year. He then reminded everyone that “this isn’t a placeholder. We will be okay” before the foursome jammed out, ending the night in all laughs and smiles and rousing applause from those in person.
Peace out, Frank.
Critelli came back to the stage one last time to thank everyone and encourage viewers to support CT Folk and the acts that performed. He closed with his trademark phrase: “stay out of trouble, fight the power, and be kind to one another.”
“Support your local bands,” he then added, flashing a peace sign. It felt like we were all home once again.
