By Dave Hoffenberg

Mountain Times

Killington, Vermont-

Rick Redington is back doing what he does best, spreading The Luv in Killington and Rutland. Redington has played in Killington for 25 years. He now calls Slopeside Bar & Grille his Killington home. Redington played there many years ago too, when it was called Bleachers. Every Thursday night he’ll be rocking out and will alternate his line-up every other week. One week he’ll be solo doing his Multi-Instrumental, Looping & Experimental Music show with guitars, mandolin and ukulele. The other week will be with his band The Luv. He’ll also be there on Sunday as part of the “Cigar Box Brunch.”

I had the pleasure of attending this Brunch last Sunday and it is truly something special. While you enjoy the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, Rick and his bassist Heather Lynne play guitars made out of cigar boxes. Heather also plays the Thunderbox which is a cigar box drum. You get the great music you’ve always heard from Redington but now through instruments you’ve never seen. They play originals and also classic covers. I got to hear one of my favorite songs, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Ballad of Curtis Lowe,” played on a cigar box slide guitar!

Last summer Redington and The Luv boarded The Luv Bus and toured the country promoting their new album “Circus.” The Luv consists of Redington, Lynne, Drummer Blake Gowan and Frank, the dog, who is actually the brains behind the band.

Gowan also plays the Cajon, VT Mojo Stompbox, percussion and basically anything drummable. They logged 15,000 miles from Maine to California and had the honor of playing the Cigar Box Museum.

5,000 of those miles were toured with the Luv Kids, Maya Redington, Ben Redington, and Zoe McFadden who all appear on the album. Nearly three years in the making during one of the most challenging economic times has produced an album of some considerable listening weight. It was recorded at Mount Hollywood Studio in the Heart of Vermont. This is the first studio effort by Lynne and Gowan and it shows them at the top of their game with sweet bass and drum rhythms that take listeners from one end of the globe to the other. Redington, the circus ringleader, has released six albums but his newest could very well be the big show we’ve all been waiting for.

Rick started playing guitar at age 12 when he traded a hockey stick for a Sear’s electric guitar. He played around on that while listening to his idols Jerry Garcia, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix and Django Reinhardt. He then met Cecil Ducharme, who ran a music store out of a retired Train Station in Castleton Vermont. Ducharme inspired Redington and educated him on strings. His first real guitar was a Gibson “The Paul” that was bought for him by his family as a High School Graduation present. Redington played it for many years until long after Ducharme passed away. Redington got his first paying gig at age 19, down at the Silver Club in Rutland which is now Chasers. Redington quit his job as a dishwasher at Sal’s to pursue a music career. He was attending Castleton State, studying piano and voice. That all ended after he got a call from Frank Chase who asked him to play Saturday happy hour at the Chase Lounge inside the Mountain Inn in Killington. He also started playing Friday and Saturday nights at Cascades. That is when he started bringing the Luv to Killington. It has not ended since.

Redington has met a lot of great people along the way and one of those is his good friend Chip Greeno, who was head of security at Outback Pizza. Redington had a Sunday night residency there for 15 years because of that friendship. Greeno just opened The Local which is formerly Paco’s and Jilly’s in Rutland. Redington says “I had the pleasure of playing both clubs and look forward to hosting a weekly Sunday Night residency at The Local… He definitely understands what it entails to run an amazing place. When you step into the room you will see and hear the difference! Mr. Greeno is just stepping into his first entrepreneurial experience and I am honored as a friend and artist to bring my Sunday Local’s Night Show to his Club.”

I’ve met a lot of musicians along the way and I highly recommend going to see Rick play. Whether you see him in Killington, Rutland or California, he will entertain you every time. He is a good friend and a great musician. Who else could I do an interview with at 4 a.m. and enjoy it as much as I did?

I’ll leave you with a quote from Don Hirsh, Director of the Paramount Theatre in Rutland. “A giant of a performer, Rick Redington sings with nuance and passion. His powerful voice soars above the valleys of the Green Mountains, and his virtuoso guitar playing is as smooth and velvety as the hillsides themselves.”

My good friend Chip Greeno has opened his own Nightclub in Rutland Vermont. Twenty Four Merchants Row has been host to a couple of historic Bars.  It was called Paco’s many years ago and in recent years  as Jilly’s. I had the pleasure of playing both clubs and look forward to hosting a weekly Sunday Night residency at “The Local” . Chip & i have worked together for too many years to mention on Killington and also in Rutland and He definitely understands what it entails to run an amazing place. When you step into the room you will see and hear the difference! Mr. Greeno is just steeping into his first entrepreneurial experience and i am honored as a Friend & Artist to bring my Sunday Local’s Night Show to his Club! Please Come Join Me Starting THIS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13th. for An Evening of Multi-Instrumental, Looping & Experimental Music! PEACE & THANKS

Tuesday October 25th The Bees Knees Morrisville,Vt.7:30p.m.

Thursday October 27th The Three Bean Cafe Randolph,Vt.7p.m.
Rigel Instruments Presents
Rick Redington, Heather Lynne &  Surprise Guests showcasing some of Local Luthier Pete Langdell’s fine Instruments made right here in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
www.rigelinstruments.com

Great Artists will join forces to play and honor and also PREMIERE the exciting new ABG Acoustic Bass Guitar that Pete has just built his first run of and sent Miss Lynne on tour with The Luv this summer with!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnRpI5HHl6k&NR=1

If we play our cards right we will have a couple of World Class Mandolin Players on some of Rigel’s already Legendary Mandolins! Stay tuned for more details as they are confirmed.
Rick Redington & The Luv have have Toured over 14,000 miles this summer alone to promote their new album called “The Circus” . This will be a special night of straight acoustic unplugged music in a fine listening environment surrounded by great Art & Amazing Food!

Please come join Rick, Heather, Pete, and a couple of Wicked Pickers for a night you won’t forget!

Tonight Friday October 7th. we are at one of our Favorite places in Vermont. The Perfect Wife is a great place for a nice dinner follwed by a big Rock Show with R.R. & The Luv! People actually get up and DANCE at this place and have a GOOD TIME! Remember those days? We will whoop it up throughout the night and get home in time to decorate my house for MAYAS FOURTEENTH BIRTHDAY PARTY! Saturday October 8th at 10 A.M. we are doing a very special Acoustic Show at The Rutland Farmers Market and its gonna be a bright SUNSHINEY DAY! Gather with Family & Friends to Celebrate my Incredible Daughter Maya’s 14th Birthday! She performed with me there starting around age 10 months….as soon as she could stand she was banging on the DRUM and she hasnt skipped a BEAT YET! We will form a giant CONGA LINE throughout the city at the end of the show and CONTINUE our PARTY throughout the night! Please COME JOIN US! on a Sidenote…

Heather has barely been off Stonybrook Island Since Irene The Bitch Came and Tore up The Terrain. Word on The Street is Shes Ready To Beat The Snot Outta Her Bass! ..and as she herself might say…”Peace & Parrot Grease!

My Monday Night Residency @ Red Square In Burlington….

CHURCH STREET 8p.m.

Continues through September and Ive been having a Great time getting back to the solo looping type shows as the dust settles here in Vermont and roads are reopened.  I tend toward the experimental & enjoy the opportunity to play many of my favorite instruments in this context. Start Time is 8p.m. and things wind up around 11 so it makes for a nice simple early Monday Night. I LOVE THIS ROOM and Erick the Soundguy is TOP NOTCH…so COME JOIN US AND HELP KEEP MY MONDAY NIGHTS ROCKIN’!

For The Love OF VERMONT

I was recently asked to play for a Prayer Vigil and simple way of giving THANKS in Main Street Park In Rutland Wednesday Night September 14th at 7p.m.

I decided it would be a great night to have an outdoor show for THE LOVE OF VERMONT and all its AMAZING PEOPLE!

With the devastation we have seen this past month we have also seen something rather “MIRACULOUS” happen… PEOPLE ARE BEING VERY NICE TO ONE ANOTHER! HOLY SHIT THATS AMAZING!!! )

I am HUMBLED, THANKFUL and HONORED TO BE PLAYING A SHOW FOR ALL OF YOU WHO LOVE VERMONT AS I HAVE FOR MORE THAN FORTY YEARS NOW!

The ONLY DENOMINATION YOU NEED TO PRACTICE HERE IS …..L O V E ! and from what I’VE SEEN THESE PAST FEW WEEKS YOU ALL HAVE PLENTY TO GIVE )

THATS FREAKIN’ AWESOME MY FRIENDS!

So..Not EVERYONE CAN HAVE PHISH TOMORROW NIGHT! SOME OF YA WILL NEED SOME ” RED MEAT”

I don’t even know where to begin..

My Heart & Thoughts are with all who have suffered the Devastation of Irene this past week.

I DO KNOW that MUSIC MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.  ALWAYS HAS and i CAN’T IMAGINE it ALWAYS WONT )

As a Musician, Friend, Song-Writer, Band Leader, Father and Person… ALL i HAVE to GIVE is THIS.

Please COME JOIN ME IN ANOTHER CELEBRATION OF LIFE, HUMAN STRENGTH, LOVE & MUSIC This WEEK right THROUGH MONDAY!

We still have our ADVENTUROUS BASSIST And SOUL MATE Heather Isolated in The Newly Formed ISLAND REGIONS of STOCKBRIDGE ,VT area and are HOPING she WILL be making her BEAUTY and AURA KNOWN At Harvest Moon by Friday or Saturday… I MISS you babe and once again find myself standing in admiration or your AMAZING COURAGE AND MOTHERLINESS in Times of CHANGE!

We Wont KNOW for FOR a BIT…..

So..heres how my Week Unfolds..

Thursday September 1st Lakehouse on Bomosseen at 6p.m.

Friday September 2nd HARVEST MOON FEST MiddleTown Springs Vt. LATE SET 10p.m.ish??

Saturday September 3rd HARVEST MOON FEST “SOLO” set time TBA for early eve or late afternoon??

Monday September 5th Flood Relief Benefit at Lakehouse with Aaron Audet Daytime 12-5p.m. and

MONDAY NIGHT AT 8P.M. BEGINS MY NEW RESIDENCY AT RED SQUARE IN BURLINGTON

” may you have a strong foundation when the winds of change shift”

namaste-r.r.

What an INCREDIBLE SUMMER we have picked to PREMIERE “THE CIRCUS”!!!

We have traveled some 10,000 miles and are heading to Portland Maine This FRIDAY AUGUST 26th to see my ol pal WALLY WENZEL and do a show with his amazing group “The Mallett Brothers  Band” www.mallettbrosthersband.com at THE BIG EASY www.bigeasyportlandmaine.com SWEEEEEEEEET!!!

THURSDAY AUGUST 24th  I am having The Luv out for a Sunset Serenade on The Majestic Bomoseen Dockside of The Lakehouse at 6:30p.m. The Summer is closing fast and we wanna share and evening with you before its over:o)

So come join us at The Lakehouse in Vermont and we can all drive up to Portland Maine together on Friday to See Wally!

oh YEAH…THIS JUST IN….

Live Radio Show In Portsmouth New Hampshire on 106.1 WSCA Friday afternoon at 4p.m.!!  www.stayetunedradio.webs.com

rigel1

This week we have already test driven Pete Langdell’s revolutionary ABG (acoustic bass guitar) and  we are SO HAPPY with how it sounds! We have one clip so far and its right above on the link that says RIGEL 1. CHECK IT OUT and go to www.rigelinstruments.com and order one of the first NOW! )

We have an incredible week ahead of us!

Tuesday August 9th. Live Streaming Radio Show with Taz Michaels in Burlington, Vt. on 105.9 FM The Radiator @ p.m. Log on and tune In http://www.theradiator.org/drupal/ with The Luv )

Thursday August 11th. The Lakehouse on Bomoseen 6:30p.m.

Friday August 12th. Red Square Burlington, Vt. with The Luv ) 6p.m.

Saturday August 13th. AUGUST WEST FESTIVAL in JAY VT. 12p.m. a celebration of all things JERRY!

Sunday August 14th. TWEED RIVER MUSIC FEST Stockbridge, Vt.  10 A.M. the wake and BLAKE set!

Cheers to you and much luv & thanks for what has been an incredible summer thus far!

My page has been shamefully not updated due to our schedule and leaving a laptop somewhere in the Poconos of Pennsylvania )

We have traveled some 2000 + miles and performed everywhere from Martin Guitar &  A Cigar Box Museum To Epic outdoor gatherings of Family & Friends, Beautiful Ceremonies of Love in The Northeast Kingdom and our favorite Park Shows.  When i stop & think about what my kids and Heathers girl Zoe have seen alongside of us it makes me quite proud Besides being musicians in their own right each of our children have taken on the responsibility of touring on the road and have proved to be an invaluable Team that we miss very much when we go without. The Circus has been so much fun and we have been initiating children and grown ups alike to join us and act all the Fool whenever the urge arises )

This week i have 3 great shows lined up for you starting Wednesday July 27th on The Green in Cavendish, Vt. @ 6p.m.      FUN SHOW FOR ALL AGES!

Thursday July 28th i will be doing my LakeHouse gig on Bomoseen at 6:30p.m.

Friday July 29th The Luv & i will be doing a special all “Cigar Box Instrument Show” at Downtown Rutland Partnerships Ethnic Fest/Sidewalk Sales on Center St. Rutland, Vt. @ 6-7:30 p.m.

Sunday July 31st The Luv & I On The Green Rochester, Vt. Park 6:30p.m.