Hartford

A Little Rain Can’t Ruin A Great Surprise

by Jamil Ragland | Aug 28, 2023 8:00 am

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Posted to: Music

At last, the summer heat seemed to have broken. That influenced my decision to take the bus to my latest review instead of an Uber. The heat had been so unbearable most of the summer that I forwent even the shortest walks, choosing instead the air-conditioned comfort of someone else’s car. It was a cool 79 degrees outside though, so I decided to save myself $15. I’m glad that I did. When I stepped off the bus in Downtown Hartford, I saw a stage off to the right, towering over the courtyard. I knew I had to hurry to the event I was supposed to cover, but curiosity got the best of me. I approached the island of safety and saw a colorful sign welcoming me.

I quickly Googled and learned that Hartford Live is a series of concerts held at the Old State House in Downtown Hartford. Every Thursday night through September and October, a stage, a beer garden, and food trucks are set up to offer the crowd good food and drink while they rock out to an eclectic mix of acts from the region. I decided that I would go cover the original event, the one I had intended to see, some other time. Hartford Live was calling to me.

The evening opened with Erica Tracey and Tom Sullivan, a singer and guitar duo. Tracey’s soulful singing eased the crowd into the early evening as darkness began to fall just a few minutes earlier than it had for the rest of the summer. Sullivan delicately strummed his acoustic guitar, each pluck dragging a raindrop down from the sky to splash on the red brick beneath our feet. 

I heard the cheers before I saw the second band run out onto the stage. They immediately caught my attention, not just because of their exuberant trot, but also for the clear poncho that the lead singer was wearing. It stood atop her head like the tall hats princesses wear in fairytale books. The band playfully invited the crowd to warm up our voices with them before transitioning into their first song of the set.

Afterward they introduced themselves as Rubblebucket. Another Google search revealed that the band hails from Brooklyn and plays indie pop and rock. The music was upbeat and energetic, but what I enjoyed the most about the performance was the physicality. Rubblebucket worked physical comedy into almost all of their songs, leading me to laugh while I danced on more than one occasion.

The festivities continued with an afterparty held at Infinity Hall Music Theater that was also free. This event featured members from Mihali Live Band, West End Blend, Nikita, and Jelly. Although the party was enticing, your humble reviewer was wet and tired. I walked back home, accompanied by the cool breeze and nodding my head to the surprising sounds I’d just enjoyed.

NEXT: Hartford Live is off next week, but returns September 7 with West End Blend and One Time Weekend.