Karen Ponzio Photos
Psychedelic Don Ho Down Orchestra
On any given night you can walk past Christopher Martin’s, the restaurant and bar at 860 State St., and hear the clinking of glass and animated conversations from inside, or from one of the many outdoor tables that line its sidewalks. On Tuesday evenings, however, you can hear live music, and on this Tuesday, it was the music of the Psychedelic Don Ho Down Orchestra, a band comprised of seven stalwart and seasoned musicians from the New Haven scene.
DW Ditty
“We got together during the pandemic and when it was over, we had a band,” said DW Ditty, who sings and plays guitar. The orchestra also includes Fred Bova on steel guitar, Jon Truelson on keyboards/vocals, Kenny Mack on sax, flute, and vocals, Ron Ciaburri on bass, Robert “Mitch” Mitchell on drums, and Travis Moody (who was absent on this night) on electric guitar.
“These guys are all talented, deep musicians,” said Ditty, who noted that many of them are still playing in other bands, but were “having a great time” in this one, which had started playing every second and fourth Tuesday night in the bar area of the restaurant back in June, choosing from a selection of “deep cuts” that changes often.
“You’ll be surprised” at what you hear, he said with a smile. “it’s all designed to make you tap your foot.”
The band took the stage a little after 8 p.m. with Ditty mentioning it was “nice to have everybody come out of the house” to see them. They launched right into “I Want Everyone To Like Me,” the first of a couple of Randy Newman songs that suited Ditty’s low bluesy vocal tone. The sax, steel, and rhythm section added melancholy to a mix balanced by the brightness of the keys, both giving the song new life. They followed it up with the classic “Why Don’t You Try Me Tonight,” which they made a bit more upbeat.
“I always ask, I never get an answer,” Ditty said afterward.
The audience did answer with the band’s version of the Rolling Stones’ “Sweet Virginia,” which saw a couple people come forth and sing along as the musicians gave their version a more twangy feel than the original.
“If you remember that song, remember it’s 53 years old,” said Ditty afterward. The band made many jokes about being old, but age was, as they say, just a number when it came to the vibrancy and enthusiasm of the musicians and their music.
“Medicine Man,” a song by Keb’ Mo’ that came out in 2020, prompted Truelson to ask Ditty “this song has been endorsed by Anthony Fauci, right?”
“Think back a couple of years and we were all in this position,” he answered. Truelson and Mack took over vocals for that one, which included the lyrics “everybody’s doin’ the best they can, we’re all just waiting on the medicine man.”
Things got funkier with the final song of the first set, “Dixie Chicken,” which saw Truelson and Bova get down and in sync with one another, much to the delight of the crowd.
Well, can you?
The break felt like a reunion, with many friends congregating both outside and at the bar to reconnect. While this reporter did not partake of the many options offered on Christopher Martin’s menu, she did partake of a delightful and crisp Pinot Grigio while coveting the platters of nachos that made their way by.
The second set saw more patrons fill the bar area as the band launched into a mash up of “One” by Three Dog Night and “Happy Together” by The Turtles. Mack encouraged the crowd to sing along to the song’s ba ba bas, though many of us had already been singing along throughout the song.
Two Tom Waits songs made it into the set — “Chocolate Jesus” and “Downtown Train” — both suiting Ditty’s voice well and both bringing smiles to the crowd.
But it was the band’s version of Leon Russell’s “Tightrope” that encompassed the vibe. The sax, steel, and keys created a circus-like melody while the rhythm section stayed more grounded and bluesy, creating the perfect musical balance of joy and melancholy between the two, so apropos of those lyrics “I’m up on the tight wire, flanked by the fire and the funeral pyre, putting on a show for you to see.” Every night of the week someone somewhere in New Haven is putting on a show for you. It may take place somewhere you don’t expect, so if you happen to hear live music as you walk by, stop in and have a great time.
For more information about events at Christopher Martin’s including the Tuesday night music schedule check out their Facebook page.