The Rockwell, Somerville, MA
2/26/25
Due to other obligations, I only make the second half of the show, but as I walk in during intermission, I can immediately tell I have walked in on something special tonight at The Rockwell. The band hosting the night, The Velvet Dirtmunchers, or as I call them, my favorite new band, take the stage and they 100% slay. From funeral marches with edgy lyrics and accordion arpeggios to ballads in funky time signatures, this band is as eclectic and eccentric as they come and that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what makes The Velvet Dirtmunchers so damn special. The band has a horn section, which I believe were nicknamed “The Worm Gang” that at times lay flat down flat on the ground as they played or at other times were out in the crowd choreographing a new dance with the audience in ⅞ time. Bandleader, Camille, was gracious and talented; her songs were captivating, dark and beautiful, brought to life with lovely arrangements and talented players.
As if the music of The Velvet Dirtmunchers wasn’t enough, with its odd time signatures, wild tales and irreverent and whimsical performance, part of the festival also included some highly creative puppetry by Basically Good Puppet Theatre. A twenty-four inch Dracula came down from his castle and attacked a puppeteer, while Belinda the Witch either offered advice and bits of wisdom to the crowd, while she wasnt hexing them. It was a quirky night and the heavily interactive performance of the band and the puppetry was fun and engaging. Sign me up for the Dead of Winter 4! (Kier Byrnes)