Restaurant live music

I LOVE discovering something new in my own back yard. In this case, it’s something old, and not quite in my own back yard– but almost. A few weeks ago, I found myself sitting at the coolest little venue out in historic Shirley, Mass, a hidden gem that’s actually been around as a tavern– since 1740!!! THE NEW BULL RUN! It has now reinvented itself as a restaurant/pub and concert venue, with down home fresh food and world class artists!! When I saw the lineup I nearly flipped: LARRY CORYELL,  J. GEILS,  JOHN OATES,  MARIA MULDAUR,  LUTHER “GUITAR” JOHNSON, PATTY LARKIN, TOM RUSH . It goes on . This  Saturday night it’s JIMMY WEBB!!!! You remember “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” “Up, Up and Away,” and “Witchita Lineman” (click on the Jimmy Webb link and that’s him singing!) Webb wrote ’em.

The night I was there, my husband and I kicked back over wine and perfect prime rib in the old tavern part of the venue. We were hosted by  owners Alison Guercio Tocci  and her husband George Tocci. The Guercio family has run the place since 1946. But its history goes all the way back to 1740 when it was called “Obadiah Sawtell’s Tavern.” During the civil war  a brawl broke out in the taproom, and a customer opened the door and asked “What news of the battle?” Legend has it, the bartender said, “We just fought the Battle of Bull Run right here!” –and the name stuck!  The old part of the venue is all timbered wood, old murals, fireplace, and even older stories. It may be haunted (just right for Hallowe’en weekend!) and there’s a strange creature’s head mounted above the fireplace–ever heard of an”Egopanthis”??Check it out.

But most of all check out the music!!! There’s a larger, newer room off the pub which needs an infusion of charm, but is host to some amazing artists. The night we were there, we were mesmerized by legendary jazz guitarist LARRY CORYELL who pioneered the fusion of jazz guitar with rock, blues, bop — and married it to brilliant technique, acoustic and electric. Sharing the bill with Coryell that night was Bob Wolfman who studied with Coryell and is a force to be reckoned with in his own right. Hot on the heels of a new CD The HOWL, Wolfman has blistering technique and plays with an intensity and refinement that speaks to his deep musicality.  I think I achieved nirvana when they both launched into one of my all time favorite grooves, the native American chant Witchi-Tai-To.

See you out at THE BULL RUN ! 215 The Great Road (RTE 2A) Shirley MA.