Toad’s Place was, indeed, the best place to be in New Haven on Wednesday night. Friends, family, colleagues and politicos formed an unlikely line in front of the nightspot that would usually see a much different crowd on a “school night.”
Most of the regulars ambled in at a later hour, with an air of sophistication and a lack of interest in the opening act. We were all there specifically for the “opener”, the wonderful group, “Don’t Tell Muddy.”
“Muddy,” a rock and blues band, features local favorites Joe Montalto on guitar, Greg Briggs on bass guitar, Mike Bimonte on drums, Jim Richard on sax, and Chris DePino on harmonica. They have been a big Friday night draw at the new Hitching Post Tavern in Durham, where they play with regularity, but since they each have at least one day job, their bookings are limited. They all participate in the vocals and the audience willingly forms a clapping, dancing, smiling chorus whenever they perform.
Notable in the crowd of groupies was Westbrook’s Sid Holbrook, former co-chief of staff in the office of then Governor John Rowland. His wheelchair at the footlights, he was dancing with the the gorgeous DePino daughters and their girlfriends. JoAnn Darren, a psychotherapist from Madison, also crossed the Q with her adult son, a Madison attorney. There were DePino friends from his insurance adjuster life and friends from his life as Republican state chairman and friends from his role as lobbyist . There were probably some of his music students there too. The crowd was really filling in. Chris is the Sara Lee of politics; nobody doesn’t like him.
The real story of the night, however, was the Toad’s debut of Alexa Ray Joel, from the other side of the Long Island Sound. Although the advertisement touted her as the daughter of Billy Joel (and Christie Brinkley) , her music spoke for itself. The most notable daughter of a musician to take the national music scene by storm is, of course, Norah Jones (daughter of Ravi Shankar) . I can assure you that this charming young NYU student, accompanying herself on the keyboards with her band, is a similar bundle of talent. She composes and delivers great music and shares the circumstances, both happy and sad (“dark places”) of her inspiration.
“Muddy” and Alexa Ray Joel will all be back at Toad’s next Wednesday night. The folks who may have come this week, in hopes of seeing the famous father, were not disappointed when he failed to appear. They will be back next week to hear more from Alex Ray. You should go too — ¬¶.I know that I will!