The folks over at WUMB Radio kicked off the cookout season with a bang last Sunday when they held their 5th annual Barbeque and Jam here on campus.
Last year’s event was a big success, and this year proved to be no disappointment. Tickets, which cost $50 for station members (with additional tickets available for $25) and $75 for non-members, sold out quickly. Said Pat Montieth, general manager of WUMB, “We actually had to turn away about seventy people in the last weeks-there’s a maximum of 200 that we can have at this location.”
The barbeque was a relaxed, daylong affair, getting started at one and winding down at around five pm. It was a perfect day for a cookout, one of those lazy weekend afternoons just tailor-made for munching on burgers and hanging out with friends. The combination of sun, food, and music brought out a large crowd, all of who seemed to be having a grand old time. Free Boston Harbor cruises were also available to those interested. We asked Montieth if she felt the day was a success: “It’s going great!” she responded with a smile, adding, “The weather gods held off.”
The nice weather was a bonus, but everyone knows a barbeque ain’t nothin’ without the food. Not to worry; the Sit’n Bull Pub, whose motto is “Have Grill, Will Travel”, was on hand, donating their services and providing the hungry crowd with a full array of burgers, dogs, and other barbequed delights. The Sit’n Bull is located in Maynard, MA. In addition to dishing up great barbeque, including “the best ribs you’ll ever find”, the pub also hosts live music events. The food was delicious and more than plentiful. One woman was heard to proclaim, “There’s enough food here for a week!” Still, by the end of the day, it was all gone. Never underestimate the power of good BBQ.
After feasting, the crowd settled down at picnic tables and on the grass to listen to some tunes. The more musically inclined had the opportunity to entertain as well as be entertained: “People bring their instruments and there’s a jam session later,” explained Dave Goldberg, an employee of WUMB.
For those with an interest in more professional melody making, the highlight of the day was a special guest performance by recording artists The Swinging Steaks. A Boston-based five-man ensemble, The Steaks identify themselves with the alt.country music scene, a genre that blends country and roots music with modern rock and pop influences. The band has toured with groups as diverse as John Fogerty, Hank Williams, Jr., The Black Crowes, Paul Westerberg, and The Band. Their music has been called “The best country-rock out of Boston since Harvard student Gram Parsons put together his International Submarine Band” by CREEM Magazine.
“We’ve been together for twelve years,” said Jim Gambino, who plays keyboards for the band. In that time, The Steaks, under the leadership of singer/songwriter duo Jamie Walker and Tim Giovanniello, have released five albums. The latest is titled KickSnareHat.
For those who missed the band perform last Sunday, don’t fret. The Swinging Steaks will be performing in Holliston, MA., on Saturday, July 11. Catch a ride and check them out.
The WUMB barbeque offered much in the way of entertainment and the station, considerate of those who could not attend, even offered a “Stay-At-Home” package that included two BBQ and Jam T-Shirts and a copy of KickSnareHat. I guess sending burgers through the mail would be pretty messy. Still, it’s a sweet deal, and it just goes to show that WUMB knows how to throw a party. After all, throwing parties is part of what they do: from monthly member concerts, to the Summer Acoustic Music Week, and, last but not by any means least, the Boston Folk Festival, which will be coming to the UMass Boston campus in September.
WUMB is also involved in various community outreach activities, and has received many awards for this involvement and for the quality of its radio programs. Individual donations make up more than 50% of WUMB’s revenue base, so listener contributions are essential to the ongoing efforts of the station. The Barbeque and Jam is held yearly to help raise funds. So far it has been a successful enterprise. Hopefully, it will continue to be. If the smiles seen at last Sunday’s celebration indicate anything, WUMB should have no problem bringing in the crowd next year. The Barbeque and Jam not only helps sustain an important component of the cultural life here at UMass Boston, it is also a heaping helping of good old-fashioned fun.