Make Music Day Provides Soundtrack To College Street

On Wednesday, Make Music New Haven sought to fill the air with something other than pollen: sound. In honor of Make Music Day, a worldwide celebration of music, the local branch organized 31 artists to perform at 17 different locations in the greater New Haven area. 

New Haven itself played host to a series of performances encouraging city residents and visitors to open their ears and tap their feet. Four of these performances took place outside College Street Music Hall on College Street. From live bands to singers accompanied by their own tracks, Make Music New Haven provided a free concert, with anyone who walked by as the audience.

The Sandbanks — composed of Ken Sacco on guitar and Thom Smith on bass — played first, performing a collection of classic rock covers such as ​“Out of Limits” by The Marketts and ​“Apache” by The Shadows. Passersby turned their heads to smile at the sound, and some even stopped in their tracks to listen. Crystal Sacco, Ken Sacco’s wife, said that the event offered the novelty of making music available to everyone. ​“I think it’s something new, it brings something fresh,” she said. ​“Being outside lets everyone experience it. It’s fun and reminds people of summer.”

Following The Sandbanks came the funk-rock-reggae mixup of Absofunkinlutely, whose members took advantage of the first band’s performance time to set up their array of instruments. Absofunkinlutely featured Daniel Loyens (vocals), Mike Conklin (guitar and backup vocals), Drew Crossman (bass and backup vocals), and father-son duo Ray Luedee Jr. and Raymond Luedee III (percussion and backing vocals, drums and backing vocals). 

Conklin said that he wanted to participate in Make Music Day for years, but the timing of the event never worked out. When Make Music New Haven reached out to him this year, he agreed to it with enthusiasm. Conklin valued the opportunity to bring Absofunkinlutely to a city that means so much to him and his bandmates.

“We love New Haven,” he said. ​“I could have gone to other cities, but I have roots here.”

Absofunkinlutely performed a cover of ​“Remedy” by The Black Crowes. ​“If I come on like a dream / Ohh, will you let me show you what I mean?” crooned Daniel Loyens. People passing by slowed their walks and smiled at the band. Absofunkinlutely relished the ability to offer free music to the residents of New Haven, making their days just a little bit brighter. ​“The idea of it being free, playing for the people … I love it,” said Conklin.

“Okay, Mike, gotta throw your favorite song in there,” Loyens told Conklin, who laughed. ​“Everybody likes Sublime, right?” A spattering of nods came from the bystanders who stopped to watch. The band played ​“Santeria” by Sublime, and several people walking past sang along to the familiar tune.

“Keep going!” shouted someone on the street when the song finished, and Absofunkinlutely finished its set with a cover of ​“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. The ever-rotating audience clapped along in time with the upbeat lyrics.

Poetikiss, a hip-hop and soul singer-songwriter, performed next. She sang along to three of her original tracks, ​“Earth Goddess,” ​“Sound Off,” and ​“Be Me.” ​“I’m only human B / I cannot determine your future or your destiny / But see, I can just be me / Provide the world with my words,” she sang, and her words reverberated throughout the busy street.

Poetikiss specializes in creating music for TV and film. ​“I enjoy being the soundtrack to a lot of scenes, and the soundtrack to a lot of lives,” she said. As she played in the street, her music became the soundtrack to the lives of everyone walking past. An ordinary Wednesday became something out of a movie.

Make Music Day also provided an opportunity for new artists to connect with other artists. Absofunkinlutely, who hung back to watch Poetikiss perform, met up with her afterward to swap notes on where they worked and express hopes of running into each other again. A new connection emerged outside College Street Music Hall.

Hip-hop, electronic, and avante-garde artist It-Girl Amani closed out the College Street show. A first-time performer at Make Music Day and newcomer to the music scene, she shared her passion with the community. ​“I’m a new artist, so it’s a great chance to perform in the heart of New Haven,” she said. She sang along to her original tracks ​“Rich Boy,” ​“Freedom,” ​“It Girl” and ​“NYC.” She and the other performers at College Street showed how music could bring a city to life. After hearing them, many New Haveners continued with their day with an extra bounce in their step and a fresh beat in their ears.