Maes strikes right chord to open summer series
Published in the July 13, 2016 edition
SINGING their hearts out, the husband and wife duo of MaryBeth and Brian Maes perform “Piece of My Heart,” the iconic song made famous by the late Janis Joplin at last week’s concert on the common. The Brian Maes Band opened the Rotary Club’s annual concert series before a sizable crowd. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
LYNNFIELD — The Brian Maes Band kicked off the Lynnfield Rotary Club’s 2016 Summer Concert Series on the town common in rocking style last Wednesday night.
MENTORED by musician Brian Maes, the band 43 Church Street impressed their audience at last week’s Rotary concert. From left: keyboardist Erik D’Orlands, vocalist Rachele DiFava and bass guitar player Ben Lyon were accompanied by the Brian Maes Band on rock classics like “Jailhouse Rock.” (Maureen Doherty Photo)
Maes and company performed the contemporary and classic pop rock and original music for which they are best known. The concert featured Brian Maes on lead vocals and keyboard; his wife MaryBeth Maes on vocals and guitar; Lynnfield resident and guitarist Kook Lawry; drummer Tony DePietro, bass guitarist Tim Archibald and guest saxophonist Klem Klimek who was standing in for saxophonist Mike Antunes.
Brian Maes told the Villager that he has been collaborating with Lawry since 1982, Archibald for nearly 30 years, DePietro for 20 years and Klimek for 10 to 15 years.
He said his band’s latest CD is scheduled for release near Thanksgiving. Maes is also a co-writer with George Simpson on the rock opera, The Devil and Billy Shake. Maes stars as Billy Shake in the rock opera. The cast also features band members MaryBeth Maes, Lawry, Archibald and DePietro. Performances are held at the Lynn Auditorium and he hopes it will be picked up by Broadway one day.
HITTING the right notes is guest saxophonist Klem Klimek, performing with the Brian Maes Band, in his solo during the band’s performance of “Tender Years” at the opening summer concert series on the common sponsored by Lynnfield Rotary. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
Maes also coaches young, aspiring singers, musicians and bands. Last Wednesday’s second set featured several of his students accompanied by members of the band. Among them were members of the band 43 Church St. which included Ben Lyon of Lynnfield on bass guitar, vocalist Rachele DiFava and keyboardist Erik D’Orlands. Another Maes’ student, flutist Joe Winslow, wowed the crowd with his talents as both a soloist and collaborative performer with the band.
“Although the temperatures were a bit steamy, the event went off seamlessly and a great time was had by the hundreds of guests in attendance,” commented Rotarian Bob Priestley, who serves as the Concerts Committee Chairman for Lynnfield Rotary.
Priestley added, “The Lynnfield High School Interact Club was there providing refreshments and raising funds. Several concert-goers won prizes donated by local businesses with the weekly raffle and children were entertained by the Lynnfield Recreation staff.”
Up next: Katrina Gustafson
The 2016 Summer Concert Series continues tonight (Wednesday, July 13) from 6–8 p.m. featuring Lynnfield resident Katrina Gustafson and her band. The 2016 graduate of Lynnfield High School is a veteran performer at just 18 years old. She will entertain fans with “her spin on country pop tunes mixed in with a blend of her own compositions,” Priestley said. The rain date is July 14.
The Rotary Club is also looking forward to welcoming Wildfire on Wednesday, July 20 and wrapping up the annual series with Funbucket on Wednesday, July 27, he added.
All concerts are held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesdays with a rain date of Thursday. To view the schedule or learn more about the Lynnfield Rotary Club, visit the club’s website (www.lynnfieldrotary.org).
THROWBACK rock. Flutist Joe Winslow demonstrated his talents as both a soloist and collaborative performer with the Brian Maes Band at last week’s Rotary Club concert on the common. He is a student of Brian Maes. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
“Come enjoy music and catch up with friends and family on the common. Bring your dinner or plan to support the Lynnfield High School Interact Club by purchasing Kayem hotdogs and other snacks for sale,” Priestley added.
Members of the Lynnfield Recreation Commission provide free activities to entertain the children each week and Rotary Club members will be selling tickets for a host of raffle prizes.
Event sponsors
Event sponsors announced last Wednesday are Platinum Sponsors:The First Financial Trust and The Savings Bank; Gold Sponsors:ReMax Leading Edge, Schumacher Dental, Torigian Family YMCA and Wakefield Co-Op Bank; and Silver Sponsors: Rotarian Dave Drislane, Kayem Hot Dogs, Kelly’s Roast Beef, Lynnfield Recreation, Rotarian Tes Mercedat and Tube Ice (Ed Pascucci).
Refer all questions, ideas, comments or inquiries for sponsorship opportunities to Bob Priestley at 781-334-0001.
