The Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band

Past Appearances

Thursday July 10, 2008, 5-9pm

Nights on the Neck
Rocky Neck Art Colony, Gloucester MA

Part of an ongoing Summer series, from June to October, celebrating Nights on the Neck on the first Thursday of every month from 5 to 9 pm. Many galleries host receptions with refreshments, and musicians, dancers, other entertainers, and art and maritime historians give performances and lectures.

Monday May 19, 2008

12th Annual Bike Party and Benefit

We play this event every year, not just because it's a worthy cause, not just because they valet park our bikes, not just because Redbones is best friend in Davis Square, and not just because the food is so, so good. But those are reason enough, don't you think?

Saturday May 3, 2008

30th Annual Wake Up The Earth Parade

Despite the drizzle, everyone came out to our favorite JP parade. Emperor Norton was there too, and just about anyone else into making fun in the streets.

Sunday April 27, 2008

5th Annual Save Our Homes Walk

Once again, we'll be leading the way on the Somerville Homeless Coalition's annual walk in the 'hood to raise money for the cause. We begin the 5K walk from Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave.) at 2 pm (register anytime after 1:30). Fingers crossed it doesn't rain this year!

April 11, 2008

Silent Spring Fundraiser

At Spontaneous Celebrations in Jamaica Plain, we helped Alison Criscitiello reach her goal of raising $5K for her climb of Alaska's Denali Peak, the highest mountain in North America, to raise funds for Silent Spring Institute.

March 30, 2008

HONK! Festival Fundraiser

Members of the the HONK! Committee put on a great show for everyone Sunday night. Of course, we began the festivities outside, in front of the Dante Club, then watched the new film, "Honk You Very Much," by Olivier Asselin, heard the news from Jimmy Tingle's run for president, and finished the evening with a long-awaited set from our friends, Debo Band. Best of all, we helped raise more than $4000 for this year's festival. Take a look. If you couldn't be there, don't worry, it's never too late to donate,

February 4-10, 2008

Bread & Puppet Theater return to the Cyclorama

Another very successful run at the BCA for Bread & Puppet Theater, with the first Boston performances of The Divine Reality Comedy. featuring the venerable Schumann in fine form as a malevolent Santa Clause, and an impressive cast of company performers and local volunteers. And of course, the energetic and inspiring sounds of the Social Aid & Pleasure Society to get the show going. Read the review here.

Friday, Feb 1, 2008

15th Annual Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball at Ryles

Our usual Mardi Gras extravaganza, with the other usual suspects, but for the first time, we all made hay and mayhem at a Ryle's Jazz Club in Inman Square, where they know how to throw a good party and make a mean Hurricane.

Friday, Jan 25, 2008

People's Music Network Winter Concert

PMN presented"Generations of Change," a concert featuring political music and spoken word from folk to hip hop, Friday January 25 at the Tower Auditorium, Mass. College of Art, 621 Huntington Avenue, Boston. The concert begins at 8 PM and admission is $20-$5, sliding scale. Tickets will be available at the door, no reservations necessary. The concert kicks off the People's Music Network's winter gathering, featuring workshops and song swaps of political music, Saturday-Sunday January 26-27 at the Edward Devotion School, 345 Harvard Street, Brookline. The People's Music Network is an organization of musicians and activists who want to further the use of music as a tool for liberation and social change.

Monday Dec 31, 2007

Boston First Night

But of course, where else would we be? Not too gold this year, and the world premier of the Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Kazoo Band. Sweet.

Saturday Dec 1, 2007, 3-5 pm

BCA Holiday Tree Lighting

Once again, we played the annual Holiday Tree lighting at the BCA in the South End. Lots of kids choirs and festive cheer (even more fun, a kick-ass impromptu jam of carols and klezmer in the basement of the BCA).

Saturday Oct 13, 2007

Cambridge City Sprouts at King School

One of our favorite gigs, the semi-annual City Sprouts Harvest Festival. This time, it was a the King School, 100 Putnam Ave. The best part was the parade we did around the block, with a big trail of kids of all ages following us around.

Saturday Oct 13, 2007

R.E.S.I.S.T. 40th Anniversary Party at Arlington Town Hall

The good folks at R.E.S.I.S.T. asked us to come help them celebrate 40 years of fighting the power and supporting the community.

Friday Oct 5 - Sunday Oct 7, 2007

Return of HONK!

Last year's HONK! Festival was such an unqualified blast, we didn't know how we'd ever live up to our expectations. But Return of HONK! was better than ever, with more bands, more venues, more discussions and lots more collective jammin on the street and in the house. Read all about it at honkfest.org.

Press play button below to watch members of EE dance along to the SLSAPS at this year's Return of HONK! Festival in Davis Square... click here to see more videos from this year's Festival

Monday, August 6, 2007

Redbones "Pig Pickin' Party" in Davis Square

Redbones' 6th annual fundraiser for the Somerville Homeless Coalition was a huge success, again, we were there to play our hearts out, and then pig out, bigtime.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

"Start The Music, Stop the War" in Arlington

The local AFSC and UJP hosted "an evening of culture and protest" at the Regent Theatre in Arlington. We kicked off the festivities about 6:30 pm with a parade from Arlington town square a few blocks away, right into the theater and up on stage.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

"Night On The Neck" in Gloucester

The Second Liners were on hand to help kick-off the new season of "Nights On The Neck" at Rocky Neck Art Colony ("America's oldest working art colony") in beautiful Gloucester, MA. Our honking kept the rain at bay, and everyone got into the spirit. Check us out:

Sunday, June 3, 2007

20th Annual Bikes-Not-Bombs Bike-A-Thon in Jamaica Plain

OUr honking kept the rain away for the beginning of BMB's annual fundraiser in JP. Take a look:

Monday, May 14, 2007

Redbones' 11th Annual Bike Party & Benefit in Davis Square

It was their best turnout yet for this annual spring party outside our beloved Redbones and we played our heart out for all those nice bike folk. Special thanks to the cycle valets who also valeted our instrument cases during out show.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

29th Annual "Wake Up The Earth" Parade, Jamaica Plain, MA

Hard to believe this was our first time participating in the venerable Jamaica Plain springtime celebration. Fortunately the weather cooperated and it turned out be a nearly perfect day for a parade. Some of us stuck around to hear the return of Stick & Rag and the debut of Somerville's newest honk band, Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band, with members of The Madcap Rumpus Society. Fun, fun, fun.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Big Moves' "The Big Easy" at the Cambridge YMCA

We were delighted to play in Central Square again, this time for the opening of "The Big Easy" show by the Big Moves Dance Company, the world's only "plus-sized dance troupe." This first of three evening shows was a benefit for displaced NOLA residents. It was a predictably small turnout for a pretty Cambridge evening between semesters, but those Big Movers were a terrific second line, and we hope to do business with them again real soon. Meantime, about $250 was raised for the Southern Artists charity.

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007

Central Square Theater Groundbreaking Ceremony

This event was a blast. After the mayor and others said some pretty words about the new permanent home for The Nora Theatre Company and the Underground Railway Theater, we led a parade of local arts enthusiasts from the Central Square Theater groundbreaking, up to our old stomping grounds in front of Durrell Hall at the YMCA. Of course, we took our sweet time (two songs) getting there, just as it should be for any self-respecting second-liners, and it brought back a lot of memories of honks past (Bread & Puppet at the Y, Molly Ivins at the YW, the first gay marriage across the street at City Hall). We ended up at the CanTab (where else?) where we played a couple of tunes in exchange for wetting our whistle (Jim's treat). It was spring honking at its best. Check us out in Tech Talk.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

4th Annual "Save Our Homes" Walk, Somerville, MA

To chase away the rain, we played at the beginning of the 4th annual "Save Our Homes” walk-a-thon, hosted by the Somerville Community Corporation. It was a real hometown treat, and we were happy to oblige the long and enthusiastic parade of hearty Somerville second liners, walking to help some of our most vulnerable residents.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Musketaquid Earth Day Parade, Concord, MA

The sun came out just in time for this fun parade through downtown Concord at their annual Musketaquid Earth Day celebration. Joining us in the parade were lots of parents and kids, Ron Kelly's boys in some wild pinstripes, and a couple of mammoth marching rocks ("Best rocks I've ever seen in a parade" - says Jim, who also admits they are the only rocks he's ever seen in a parade).

March 31, 2007

BCA Artists' Ball, Cyclorama

It started out chilly, but we warmed things up outside the Boston Center for the Arts -- on the sidewalk with the South End common folk -- while the local entertainment elite headed in to the $200/plate banquet to raise money for The Arts. We left them wanting more, for sure, but I'm sure they got their money's worth. We sure did.

March 18, 2007

Cambridge Symphony Concert, Vineyard Church

We were delighted to play this benefit to help Katrina victims, opening for the Cambridge Symphony at Cambridge Vineyard Church. The acoustics in the church were quite impressive, as was the inspired symphony repertoire of Berlioz and others.

March 11, 2007

**Live at the Abbey Lounge in Inman Square**

Our third outing at the Abbey, with a surprisingly big and generous crowd (considering the sunny day outside).

February 15-18, 2007

Bread & Puppet Theater at the Boston Center for the Arts

Bread & Puppet Theater returned to Boston for a week of shows, their first time performing at the BCA's unique Cyclorama. And what's a February visit from Vermont's Northeast Kingdom without the sounds of the Crescent City to warm up the crowd before the show? The large, circular, open space was very conducive to the puppetry of Peter Schuman, and the acoustics for our pre-show honk were surprisingly good. By Sunday night, the band was on fire, and the musical embers continued to glow well past the final applause. Can't wait for next year!

February 15-18, 2007

Mardi Gras Party at the Kirkland Cafe

Our annual party with a Crescent City line-up at the Kirklan, together with with Geezer, The Chicken Slackers and The Confederacy of Dumpsters.

November 16, 2006

Great Small Works' The Rapture Project

SLSAPS opened for the world premier of Great Small Works' The Rapture Project, a serio-comic epic spectacle about fundamentalism and American culture and politics. The production was Inspired by rough-and-tumble Sicilian marionettes, current events, popular End Times literature, and day-to-day anxiety, with visual motifs from the Cockettes and 1920s Christian iconography. After a short engagement in Boston, GSW took the project to its native New York City at the HERE Arts Center.

November 10, 2006

Twisted Roots Volume 2 at the Abbey Lounge

SLSAPS performed at the Abbey Lounge (3 Beacon St. near Hampshire St. in Somerville), part of a line-up which also included The Can Kickers, Josh Lederman y Los Diablos, and hosts The Two Man Gentlemen Band.

November 4 & 8, 2006

Paul Zaloom's Beakman In Person & The Mother Of All Enemies

The SLSAPS opened for OBIE-winning puppeteer Paul Zaloom's night-time show at the Boston Center for the Arts, a hotly politicized burlesque queering of traditional Middle Eastern shadow puppetry, as well as his children-of-all-ages show at the same venue, part of The Theater Offensive’s 15th annual OUT On The EDGE Festival of Queer Theater.

October 14, 2006

Cambridge City Sprouts Annual Harvest Festival

CitySprouts Harvest Festival 2006 means fresh fall produce, apple cider straight from a press, kids arts & crafts, tours of the schoolyard garden, and of course, a harvest parade featuring you-know-who. This fall, it was hosted by the Morse School, 40 Granite Street on Saturday, October 14 from 11 am to 4 pm (just a few short blocks from Kemon Lemon's house!).

October 7-8, 2006

1^st Annual HONK! Festival in Davis Square

We brought together more than a dozen activist street bands from all over the country to come honk in our hometown on Columbus Day weekend. Our first annual HONK! Festival was a huge success. Audiences, the City of Somerville, and all the participating musicians had the time of their lives, and everyone can't wait to do it again next year. To see what you missed, visit http://honkfest.org

September 21, 2006

3rd Annual Revels River Sing on the Charles River

Revels and the Charles River Conservancy presented the 3rd Annual River Sing, an outdoor sing-along celebrating the Autumnal Equinox and the beauty of the Charles River parklands. From atop the Weeks Footbridge spanning Allston and Cambridge in the glow of the late afternoon sun, Revels music director George Emlen, along with giant puppets Osun and Poseidon (created by Underground Railway Theater and the Puppet Collaborative) led everyone gathered on the banks of the river in song. Featured on the bridge were 5 well-known area choruses, accompanied by yours truly.

August 7, 2006

Redbones' 5th Annual Pig Pickin' Party

Once again, we'll be providing the Crescent City soundtrack to Redbones' annual fundraiser for the Somerville Homeless Coalition. They'll be firing up the portable smokers outside in front of the restaurant and slow roasting a whole hog, loins, butts and bellies. The $20 price also includes corn on the cob, chips, corn bread, watermelon, a cold drink, and more. For reservations, call 617-628-2200. The rain date for this event is Monday, August 14.

July 28, 2006

Plough & Stars

Our first night at the re-opened Plough was such a blast, we can’t wait to play here again. Since 1969, this tiny, eclectic Irish pub has been one of the very coolest places to hang. Located midway between Harvard and Central Squares, 912 Mass. Ave., corner of Hancock. We're on at 10pm, but come early and have some tasty food and a pint to drink.

July 14, 2006

Think PINK, Drink PINK, Shop PINK, in Harvard Square

Wearing a splash of pink along with our summer's best red and white, we will be parading around the Square between 5 and 7pm, part of Harvard Square's Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

June 20, 2006

Sampling The Square, Harvard Square

The Harvard Square Business Association shuttled local concierges around to the finest restaurants in the Square in a London double-decker bus. Meantime, the band followed in our own 1940s London taxi, playing as the group arrived and departed each establishment. Best of all, we got to sample all the best food and drink. Bon Apetit!

June 17, 2006

27th Annual Cambridge River Festival

Sponsored by the Cambridge Arts Council, this festival takes place along a mile-long stretch of Memorial Drive between JFK Street (three blocks from the Harvard Square subway station) and Western Avenue. We paraded from the pit in Harvard Square down to the river, and then led a bicycle parade along the Charles. http://www.cambridgema.gov/deptann.cfm?story_id=1020

June 19, 2006

Redbone's 10^th Annual Bike Party & Benefit

Chester Street in Davis Square, Somerville. Same great party, better weather. Party, raffle, music, food & drink all for $15. Proceeds went to NEMBA & MassBike.

March 31, 2006

Plough & Stars, Cambridge

Our first date at this newly re-opened Cambridge institution, it was our most successful club gig to date. We can't wait to do it all over again on July 28 (come early to get a seat and some great food).

February 24, 2006

Mardi Gras at the Kirkland Cafe, Somerville

What more is there to say?

December 31, 2005

First Night 2006

Marching in the parade along with some large, glittery, red-and-white bird puppets.

Wednesday-Sunday, November 16-20, 2005

Bread and Puppet performances

Playing before and during several Bread and Puppet performances throughout the week. At the Cambridge Family YMCA Theatre, Cambridge.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Brookline 300 Anniversary Event

Playing with the Puppet Showcase Theater, along with Bread and Puppet, at Larz Anderson Park, Brookline.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Anti-Iraq War Rally on Boston Common.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Dorchester Open Studios

The doors to Dorchester's art community open to the public as the neighborhood celebrates the fourth annual Dorchester Open Studios. At the First Parish Church, Dorchester.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

"Live at the Goodwill"

A public performance and informal recording session, at the Goodwill thrift store in Davis Square, Somerville.

Thursday, October 6, 2005

Johnny D's - Benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina
Kicked off an evening of wild dance music in the New Orleans tradition. At Johnny D's Uptown, Davis Square, Somerville. Proceeds went to the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Anti-Iraq War & Rally on Boston Common.

...plus lots and lots of other events, which will be posted as time permits.