About
The popular New England-based Americana band, Amy Black and The Red Clay Rascals may be located in Massachusetts but their influences are clearly from below the Mason-Dixon line. The group’s well-blended mix of blues, folk rock, soul, gospel and bluegrass covers the traditional themes of American roots music: loving, lying, drinking, dying and going to heaven – not necessarily that order.
Amy Black and The Red Clay Rascals (ABRCR) cover many of the greats including Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams and Bonnie Raitt– breathing new life into songs from past generations. ABRCR also weave their own high-quality originals into the mix.
Music writer James Reed of the Boston Globe had this to say in a recent review, “Don’t be fooled by the fact that their set list is mostly covers. Black and her band put their own rootsy Americana stamp on everything from country (Emmylou Harris’s “Red Dirt Girl’’) to soul (Bill Withers’s “Ain’t No Sunshine’’) to rock ’n…’ roll (Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog’’) all highlights from their new self-titled debut.”
Black’s bluesy alto voice is full of texture, depth and soul. She is a versatile singer, able to deliver a moving ballad while also right at home rocking the house. She is backed by a talented and seasoned band of musicians who never fail to impress even the toughest music critics in the crowd.
The band is at home in all types of venues from bars, to listening rooms, to private parties – and never ceases to please audiences. As one concert-goer wrote, “This is one act you won’t want to miss. Amy Black and the RCRs deliver a foot-stompin’, hand-clappin’ performance that will send you home singing.”
The Rascals Are:
Bob Sevigny |acoustic guitar
Dan Kellar | fiddle
Fred Bement | blues harp
Andy Sicard | upright bass
Eric Pohl | percussion
The Players
Amy Black has been performing since she was a kid, but only in recent years did she start to pursue her passion of singing American roots music. It was a long time in coming. She fell hard for Bonnie Raitt’s music at 16 and came to love all types of American roots music in the years since. Amy credits her southern roots (Alabama) for the reason she’s drawn to music with themes and instrumentation that hail from the south. Her motto is “sing it like you mean it” and she certainly does that. Amy’s soulful voice, passion for music and dedication to having a good ole’ time come through loud and clear in every performance. When Amy’s not singing, she’s hanging with her husband of 10 years and their black dog.
Bob Sevigny is a Massachusetts native that has been playing guitar in numerous stringbands in the Northeast region over the past decade. A self taught musician that has played music for more than half of his life, he has become proficient at bluegrass, oldtime and swing rhythm guitar. Bob has played at many of New England’s notable music festivals and has shared the stage with the area’s finest musicians.
Dan Kellar
Andy Sicard is a multi-instrumentalist who has been performing with regional roots music and bluegrass bands for the past ten years. His most recent musical projects have included the critically acclaimed Amy Black & the Red Clay Rascals, The Goodtime Charlies and Hard Times bands. Andy is a regionally respected upright/slap bassist and was the recipient of a 2007 New Hampshire State Council on the Arts grant for traditional arts studies in bluegrass music. He has a black belt (tho not the karate kind), and is a lover of domestic light beers.
Fred Bement
Eric Pohl is a top-notch drummer with more than 20 years of experience. He has played for a variety of rock, blues, jazz and reggae ensembles in the greater Boston area and southern New Hampshire.
