Karen Ponzio Photos
Fiction.
As New Haven businesses slowly reopen and try to accommodate those looking to re-enter the world under less restricted Covid-19 guidelines, some of its more revered traditions, like nightly local live music, are still mostly on hold and searching for alternate ways to return. The Sunday Buzz at Cafe Nine, presented by Cygnus Radio and typically featuring a wide variety of local acts from all genres as well as a tight-knit group of regular patrons, came back the only way it could yesterday, via live stream on social media.
Frank Critelli — singer/songwriter, cohost of the Local Band Show on Cygnus Radio, and regular host of the Buzz — once again hosted Sunday’s event, which often presents up to three or four acts. On this day it included just one, local band Fiction. Critelli enticed potential viewers on Facebook with photos and videos of the pre-show antics at the Nine, including one of Mike Voyce, who worked sound for the event, doing a little dance. It set the tone for a fun, distanced afternoon of entertainment.
Though Cafe Nine is not yet open to the public, its workers continue to be supported by many via a virtual tip jar GoFundMe page. Recently the venue, along with many other local venues, has been posting on social media about the Save Our Stages initiative, part of the National Independent Venues Association’s effort to inform legislators to save independent music venues around the country.
Frank Critelli.
Flanked by the framed rock ‘n’ roll photos taken by Tom Hearn and the large red and black nines on the wall behind him, Critelli opened the livestreamed show by welcoming viewers and thanking people for “throwing money in the tip jar” and “sticking with us,” as well as “watching our videos” and “thinking about us.”
“We’re thinking about you too,” he said.
After mentioning the Local Bands Show, which is broadcast on WPLR at 9 p.m. on Sunday nights and rebroadcast on CygnusRadio.com the following Monday at noonish, he added that you can hear local bands “like Fiction” there, and soon after turned the camera on to the four members — Ethan James on vocals and guitar, Brad Griffith on guitar, Joao Joaquim on bass, and Chris Siena on drums.
The band immediately launched into “Wake Up, Stand Up,” a song from the band’s 2018 EP The Other F Word as the star lights on Cafe Nine’s stage twinkled behind them. A tune that entices you to move along to its sweet reggae beat in between its bursts of jam-out jocularity, it was the perfect way to begin the afternoon and introduce those who are not familiar with the band to its unique brilliance. Critelli himself was heard quite often during the set shouting his trademark “yep!” and singing along himself. If we had all been there live we might have seen him, as well as many others, dancing along.
Viewers chatted throughout the set, some of whom had been regular attendees of the Buzz. They offered their comments on the sound, the songs, and simply seeing the inside of the club for the first time in months.
“It’s really great to see the room again, though,” said Anne Castellano.
Maria Medina responded “I know. I miss my peeps BAD.”
The band made its way through a seven-song set that also included songs from the band’s most recent EP, Slow and Strange, as well as a cover of the The Strumbellas’ “Shovels and Dirt,” with the lyrics “well it ain’t worth living if you don’t get hurt,” which elicited another “yep” from Critelli.
Before the band’s final song — the rowdy yet reflective “Night Owl” — James thanked everyone and then talked about supporting local venues that are “struggling right now.”
“Save the Acoustic,” James said; the band had played a virtual open mic there the night before. “Save Cafe Nine. Save everybody, everybody. Just save them all.”
Critelli closed the event with his own words: “Peace be with you. Stay out of trouble. Fight the power. Be kind to one another.” He flashed the camera a peace sign, a smile, and one more glimpse of Cafe Nine to tide us all over.