Sounds Local: Do It Now to perform in Wendell on Feb. 15

Warwick Town Hall

Warwick Town Hall STAFF FILE PHOTO/SHELBY BROCK

Do It Now

Do It Now CONTRIBUTED

By SHERYL HUNTER

For the Recorder

Published: 02-12-2025 8:12 PM

Combine John Sheldon’s extraordinary guitar playing with the powerful words of Beat Poet Laureate Paul Richmond and Tony Vacca’s excellent percussion skills, and you have the makings for a special night of words and music.

That will be the case when these three artists, collectively known as Do It Now, perform at the Wendell Full Moon Coffeehouse on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m.

Each of the three artists is a highly accomplished veteran performer who has played worldwide. NPR’s Ed Ward hailed Sheldon, who lives in Amherst, as “one of the great guitarists of our time.”

Many know Sheldon has the leader of the band Blue Streak and for his autobiographical performance piece “The Red Guitar.”

Vacca of Whately, whose music is greatly influenced by his many trips to North Africa, is an innovative percussionist in jazz and world music. World Rhythms Ensemble and Fusion Nomads are two of his many projects.

Richmond who resides in Wendell is a three-time Beat Poet Laureate and founder of Human Error Publishing. He has released seven books and has been published in various books and journals. He also hosts literary workshops and festivals, both locally and beyond.

The three started working as Do It Now in 2017 and a year later they performed at the Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they received rave reviews. The Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. The group has also performed throughout the valley, including the Great Falls Word Festival that Richmond’s Human Error Publishing hosts each year. (Other musicians have played in Do it Now but these three are the group’s core.)

Richmond said Do It Now’s music “combines poetry, story-telling, political commentary, and musical improvisation to share a vision of hope for our planet.”

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Richmond stands in front of the stage, reading his poetry on topics relevant to what’s happening in the world. Sheldon’s electrifying guitar playing joins forces with Vacca’s wild rhythms played on an array of percussion instruments from around the world. The words are forceful, sometimes humorous, but always true.

The music is improvised and accomplished, like nothing you’ve heard before.

“We are working on all new material addressing present issues and emotions, along with some old favorites,” said Richmond of the show on Saturday night.

With all that is happening in the world these days, they will have plenty to share with their audiences.

With its fusion of music and political commentary, Do It Now hopes to inspire and enlighten its audiences. As their strong name indicates they try to encourage them to take action and to find hope and solutions in situations that may seem hopeless. And in the challenging times we are living, a group like Do It Now is needed now more than ever.

“We, the members of Do It Now have seen a lot of things happen with our country, being older, so we are here to say things change with people coming together and organize,” said Richmond. “Change doesn’t doesn’t happen by hiding under the covers. Being silent doesn’t stop what is going on.”

As with all of the shows at the Wendell Full Moon Coffeehouse this show is a benefit and the recipient will be Friends of Wendell. Door open at 7 p.m. Sliding scale admission $7-$20 (cash only) at the door. Remember to bring extra cash so you can partake in the Dessert-o-rama.

For directions and more information wendellfullmooncoffehouse.org

Psychedelic Farm Girls debut at Flood Water Brewing Company

Last December, when She Said played a show at Hawks and Reed, we let you know that was their final show performing under the moniker She Said and that they were shaking things up a bit and changing their name to Psychedelic Farm Girls.

So now they are ready to debut as Psychedelic Farm Girls and will be playing at the at Flood Water Brewing company on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. This isn’t a drastic change – they say they have tweaked the lineup a bit and are playing some cover tunes as well as material performed as She Said.

“The lineup for PFGs is much the same, with Nina Rossi on bass, myself on guitar and vocals, Eileen Almeida on percussion and Michael Duffey on pedal steel,” said Tanya Bryant of Greenfield. “The big change is Gail Hegeman moving to the front line on guitar and vocals and Peter Moser (from The Riverbenders) joining us on drums.”

We should mention this show also falls on Valentine’s Day, so grab your sweetheart and come out for a night of dancing. There is no cover charge for this show.

Just mentioning Valentine’s Day can make some people cringe, so the Rendezvous in Turners Falls has put together an event for those of you who could do without a holiday that celebrates love and all it’s supposed to be.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. at the ‘Voo DJ Brew Foot will host a night of Honky Tonk Heartbreak, an anti-Valentines Day vinyl listening party that will appeal to those who aren’t in the mood to celebrate Cupid. Expect to hear plenty of cheatin’ songs, drinkin’ songs, break up songs and get out of my life songs. What DJ Brew Foot promises not to play is sappy love songs!

There is no cover charge.

Zydeco Connection at Warwick Town Hall

It’s time again for music at the Warwick Town Hall! The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), the Warwick Arts Council, and Wooden Fender will present a concert/dance with the Greenfield-based Zydeco Connection on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. Zydeco Connection is known for stirring up the dance floor with their spicy brand of music that in addition to Louisiana-born Zydeco includes boogie-woogie, swing, waltzes, blues, and two-steps.

The group features Lil’ Cyn on accordion, Dewitt Thompson on drums, Eileen Almeida on washboard and lead vocals, David LeBlanc on bass and vocals, and Larry LeBlanc plays lead and rhythm guitar.

There will be a pizza dinner at 6 p.m. which is a separate event with separate admission. The music will begin at 7 p.m. with a suggested donation of of $5 to support future programs.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at soundslocal@yahoo.com.