Never too old to play in a garage band

By Lorcan Otway

Photographs Lorcan Otway 

It was a rather perfect weekend in Stamford for the arts, even with a bit of rain on Saturday. In going to our Saturday event, it was what in Ireland we'd call soft weather. You could walk through the rain with an arm over your camera and not get it or you very wet. Sure, timing is everything, there may have been a tornado in Hancock, but we got from the SUV to the gallery, and from the gallery to the SUV without getting soaked.

It might have been the Beatles who caused the craze, but a lot of us were there. We played in small bands, practicing in barns, garages, and a lucky few of us, on stage in the family theater. And there I was again last night, not playing this time, watching two of my friends and their friends in the spotlight as rock stars in a gallery in Stamford.

In the early sixties, the bands I played in sang about unrequited love.The songs last night were about being old, hip old folks, but yes, somehow it even happened to us.

I got there in time for the sound check. It was a modern art gallery, with a lot of natural light and track lighting. I knew two members of the band, all local folks from near to Stamford.

Victor Mullin, is the "leader and inspiration of the band," according to Mary van Valkenburg. He wrote the "Old Man Blues." It should be a classic, now that we, who as kids, watched the Beatles that first night on the Ed Sullivan Show. Victor and Mary were both in Chair Yoga, in Hobart Tuesday Mornings. One day he and Mary were talking after Yoga. He was reminiscing about how much he loved music and having a band. He said he'd put a band together again, but he could never find a singer. Mary told him that she had sung opera. But from the time she was a little girl she had a fantasy of singing rock. A week later, in August, a garage band was born. Quite literally a garage band, "Karl's Garage Band", and yes, they rehearse in Karl's garage in Jefferson. Karl not only owns the garage, he plays the organ - now. Karl is the baby of the group, he's in his fifties. The rest of the band is in their seventies. However, like many of us past half way to one hundred, Karl is the walking wounded.

He was the lead guitarist. However, he injured his shoulder, so he plays the organ with his left hand, for the most part now. All of us who are senior musicians are nodding, the more mileage the more dings and fewer functions. Karl's right arm has gone the way of my old SUV's cruise control and my feet and back. Karl was the only one with professional music background, and he does the arrangements for the band.

This is Ralph the lead guitarist's first band. Mary asked him how many hours he practiced. "Twenty seven hours," he replied. "Twenty seven hours a week!" She said, impressed beyond measure. "Twenty seven hours a day!" he assured her. Three members of the band had the same guitar teacher. The teacher turned them onto the drummer.

Mike the drummer is in the classical chorale in Roxbury, Gary Hara, who plays bass, came to the band through Mary's brother, who also plays bass. Gary and Mary's brother knew each other through being music therapists. Gary is "a joy to work with, he's so reliable and steady." I nod, I know this about Gary. He's a man of few words, but always the fellow who will step up.

Victor goes to Puerto Rico for six months of every year. This year, he came back with a new song, "Who Says I Can't Sing the Blues." Having been away from December to May, he could not share the new song with the band until three weeks ago. He did share it, the band loved it, and the audience loved what they did with the new song. Victor taught art in high school in Walton. Mary describes him as "very pure." Besides writing songs, Victor is a prolific painter. About now, I assume you are wondering what Mary van Valkenburg did, besides singing opera? She has a Harvard MBA, was a Wall Street analyst , then many years the Director of Finance at the newspaper, The Nation.

The venue was Timothy Touhey's Gallery. He founded this one, next to the Chinese Restaurant across from "Tops" and the one in the house which lost its roof to fire this winter, next to the liquor store on Main Street. Timothy's family has kept the gallery open, showing only his paintings, and having events, such as the open mic and this concert.

They are not the most polished band in town, yet. But, their spirit infused the crowded room, and the room was filled with applause, smiles and good will. They started with a packed room, and kept them there until the end of the set. The polish will come, with the firm leadership of Karl, and the energy and dedication of all. They were a bright spot on a rainy day.