Betty & The Baby Boomers, the lushly harmonic quintet romantically regarded by many Hudson Valley music aficionados as the voice of the Hudson River, introduces its new album Quite Early Morning in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 22 at the Addy Theatre in Schenectady.
For their sixth recording, ‘The Boomers’ wrap their distinctive four-part harmonies and sparkling guitar and dobro licks around songs from Jackson Browne, Woody Guthrie, Ireland’s ‘Bard of Peace’ Tommy Sands & Pete Seeger, Carlos Varela, Paul Simon, American jazz singer-composer Alberta Hunter, the Boomers’ own Jean McAvoy and more. This collection of songs speaks poignantly to the current climate of unrest in America and beyond.
After decades together and still going strong, the Boomers continue to add songs to their repertoire. It’s been eight years since the last Betty & The Baby Boomers recording, and the new songs – as well as a few performed onstage for a long time – wouldn’t be denied. Quite Early Morning takes its title from one of folk singer Pete Seeger’s most moving songs and is mixed with songs of hope, humor, and sweet romance, messages especially fitting for this uncertain time at home and abroad.
From the Hudson Valley to Galway, Ireland, Steve Stanne (vocals, lead guitar, dobro), Betty Boomer (vocals, mandolin, whistling), Jean Valla McAvoy (vocals), Paul Rubeo (vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bodhran) & Robert Bard (vocals, bass, tambourine) belt out, croon or caress an astonishing array of traditional, contemporary songs and originals. Their seemingly endless repertoire includes songs heard while sailing and working on the Hudson aboard the environmental flagship Clearwater, tunes learned from years of playing with Pete Seeger, McAvoy originals, songs serious and silly, topical and whimsical: swing, folk, a cappella ballads and sea songs. Their close four-part harmonies are simply sublime, the instrumentals rich and varied.
The award-winning group tours regionally and often appeared onstage with Pete Seeger, who regularly performed one of McAvoy’s songs, “Down By The River,” and included it on his Grammy-winning album Tomorrow’s Children. The Boomers appeared annually at Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival (now on hiatus); in January on WAMC-FM’s “Hudson River Sampler,” they perform at venues throughout the Northeast, New England, and beyond. Over the past 15 years, the Boomers have become a familiar sound and sight alongside The Chieftains, Paul Brady, and Christy Moore at Ireland’s enormously popular Clifden Arts Week, Ireland’s longest-running community arts festival.
The group’s numerous Eighth Step numerous performances have included Phil Ochs Song Nights, numerous Pumpkin Sail Concerts with Pete Seeger, Step anniversary galas, Seeger tributes, and many memorable concerts showcasing the Boomers themselves.
Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door, and $35 Gold Circle (priority seating & 6:30 pm Meet & Greet onstage), available at 8thstep.org or Proctors Box Office here.
Doors open at 7 pm; free parking is available; The Addy Theatre is wheelchair accessible. For more information, click here.
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