Submitted by Elvistra
I haven’t had a chance to do a review in a few weeks, so this article was a special treat and covers two acts that are dear friends and literally cover two generations both in age and music style.
Black Rose played two engrossing sets for the evening, as Grandpa Eddies is a family restaurant/bar and closes early.
Black Rose is: Jean Labelle: vocals, guitar and harmonica
Andre Labelle: percussion
Stevie Gentile: bass
The band originally formed in the same elementary school I actually attended. Their bass player and good friend, Bruce Henn, was taken from us in a fatal car crash early on, and the future of Black Rose seemed uncertain. As time passed they added Stevie G to play bass, knowing Bruce would’ve lovingly approved. Black Rose was now reincarnated, rejuvenated and ready to play again.
This time around, however, the sound would be acoustic, but don’t kid yourself, the power is still there thanks to the relentless Andre Labelle pounding on those drums like he did in the 80’s and 90’s with all the hair metal bands he played with, (some actually famous, like Vinnie Vincent).
The show Saturday was filled with much loved classic rock including some obscure songs you would not expect to hear. Some standard covers are Tom Petty, Bob Segar, The Beatles, Peter Frampton, David Bowie, and my personal favorite, Alice Cooper. Those are the tamer songs of the set, other songs by artists like The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, really wake you up and get you out on the dance floor thanks yet again to the powerful drums of Andre and Jean and Stevie’s amped energy..
The material is nostalgic and performed with passion and class. Black Rose may have started out at my middle school’s Battle of the Band talent show, but they have matured into a very talented trio that aims to please and leaves you with great memories of songs you probably did naughty things to if you are at least over 35. And if you’re under 35, you really missed out and I have the pictures to prove it!! I guess the bottom line is Black Rose is for everyone because the music is timeless and crosses the age barrier.
That brings me to our second act of the evening, Brittany O’Neil.
Brittany is a fresh new 17 year old singer/songwriter who is nudging her way into the music field one show at a time. It doesn’t hurt that her mom is the beautiful and talented Elana of King Edward and the BD’s and formally of Steppinstone. Naturally trained vocal chords obviously run in the family and Brittany sings with a richness that is well beyond her years.
Brittany was the guest performer with Black Rose and did covers such as Jewel’s “Save Your Soul”, Ben Harper’s “Walk Away”, Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee”, and Led Zeppelin’s “Thank You”.
Britanny also did her own original songs on acoustic guitar with such titles as “From the Balcony”, which mom Elana helped with harmonies, “An Easy Way Out”, which spoke well beyond her youth, “The Homeless Man”, and a duet with Grace DeValk called “I’ve Learned”.
Brittany’s lyrics are solid and truthful and tell a very realistic story of a girl turning quickly into a woman with a beautiful and shining future ahead of her and many, many more gigs to perform.
The support Brittany was shown by her family and friends was obvious when you looked around the room and the majority of people were 18 and under, and sang along with every word. Now that’s impressive, for a musician of any age. Congrats, kiddo, you done good.
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