The Energy of Young Men Made Old People Smile

Last night once again the Rendezvous in Turners Falls called to us, the siren of their always delicious salads and what new brews they had on tap. Oh, and my cousin Paul was blowing his sax with a musical family who Mary has known for decades. Where else do you get a spinach salad with walnuts, perfectly juicy chicken strips and tender parsnips and a dressing that tastes so good?

So we had a plan, and the plan was good—rendezvous at the Voo with old pal Joe O’Rourke who I never see enough, and the musical family, the Lapierres. We’d combine our old friends, some of hers, some of mine.

First up it was the oldsters—Kate Marion Lapierre on fiddle and husband Roland on guitar singing twangy songs about Amarillo and Houston and other familiar country chestnuts. In the back a stand-up bass, and on drums their son Noah, who studies music at UMass Dartmouth and really knows how to play drums.

The musical line up was called Frere and Pere LaPierre, since after the parents’ band was through with their set, we’d be treated to their four sons playing an altogether different set of tunes. After a few relaxing and enjoyable  country sets, on came the boys.

Front man Zachary, with a gravity defying mop of black hair jutting ahead on a bass that he strummed like a lead guitar.  Adam,  older and not as rambunctious, on steady eddy lead guitar, Noah on the drums and the youngest brother Isiah on a peculiar tiny keyboard.

Their  music was frenetic, it was a mini wall of sound, it had that undeniable thrust and lift off of passionate, energetic young men, talented with a sure-footed backbeat and singing intelligible lyrics that were funny and poignant.

My friend Joe said he wished his mate Susan was there, “she would love this!”  Intending to stay just a few songs, we all became riveted to these young guys, cheering as they pounded away–marveling as old as we all were at how young and vibrant they were.  Glad we came!