There are tribute shows and then there are SPECTACULARS. Given the constant barrage of tribute concerts and throwback dance parties that a person can catch around Wilmington, with subject matter ranging from Led Zeppelin to “Sad and Boujee,” one could be excused from, at first, assuming Shine A Light is just another tribute show at The Queen.
Anyone who has attended a past Shine A Light can tell you that assuming it is “just another” anything would be totally off base. It is a labor of love for all involved, a collective quest for musical greatness to counteract faltering arts education programming for 21st century kids.
As Shine A Light On 1969 approaches its eighth annual extravaganza, on Saturday, March 2nd, it has become obvious that Wilmington is just one big family, literally and figuratively.
Shine A Light is “so Delaware”: the makeup of the 66-member supergroup includes a fairly large number of related musicians.
Mike and Cole Petrillo and Kevin and Ian Walsh are father/son duos. Keith and Laura Moss are married.
Mike, known to Shine A Light performers as “Pops,” plays guitar, baritone guitar and lap steel guitar and is known for his bands 330 Hemi and Rockett 88.
Of his son, he says, “Like any proud parent, you want to see your children succeed in all they do, including their hobbies and interests such as music. As a performer, Cole has evolved into an incredible guitarist and through hard work has taken his craft much farther than his dad. He has partnered with Pat Kane, Dalton Gills and Kevin McCabe to form Bones Brigade which has quickly become one of the areas hottest bands…a must see.”
Pops adds, “Playing with Cole on that stage, at The Queen, in front of 1,500 people with the rock-star light and sound production is just an incredible, yet humbling, experience. He’s such a talented, reliable player; the musicians can all count on him.”
Although Pops and Cole do not have any formal projects together, they both rave about their family jam sessions. Another Petrillo son, Daniel, is a drummer in the Boston band, Heavy Hands.
“When [Daniel] is in town and the three of us jam in the basement, there is this organic connection that’s just hard to describe, but you hear and feel it in the music. There’s my dream band!!!!”
Of his dad, Cole says, “Pops taught me guitar at a young age and it’s a great experience to share the stage with him at Shine A Light. He’s one of those guitarists that puts feeling into his playing and pairs it with authentic vintage tone. That’s what sets him apart as a musician, but it’s also his personality and charm at rehearsals and backstage that we all admire.”
Cole adds, “We have sat in with each other’s bands but have yet to establish a full-on project together. We’ve been talking about it for years though and it will happen eventually! That being said, our favorite time to play together is when my brother is home from Boston and can hop on the drums, or when my uncle (my dad’s brother, who is also a great guitarist) brings his acoustic over for a family jam and we’ll all just riff on some blues or 3-chord tunes over a nice whiskey.”
Cole is glad he grew up in a musical household, recalling the first time he heard the Allman Brothers Band on a road trip with his dad (their final studio album, Hittin’ The Note), calling the cranked up sound a “revelation” that inspired them to bond over music and guitars ever since.
Kevin Walsh plays guitar, with son Ian playing guitar and bass. Ian continues his commitment to the Shine A Light project by mixing the performances after the show for CD release and to sync with event promo videos.
Kevin’s bands are the Stone Shakers, Vinyl Shockley and longtime Delaware favorites, The Snap. Ian’s band is Bel Heir, which is soon to be on tour with Smallpools.
Kevin says, “I’m very proud and amazed that my son is such an accomplished musician. He is also a songwriter and wrote [the Stone Shakers’] single ‘All My Best Years.’” He adds, “This will be the best show yet. Each year the performances get better and better and this year is simply over the top.”
Laura Moss is a former Miss Delaware who is a Shine A Light singer. She has sung with many bands over the years but the best known was the pop/punk/New Wave-style original band, “This Year’s Girl,” in which she recorded three original albums with her husband, Keith. They won Best Pop Demo at the 1997 SXSW Music Festival as well as Big Shout’s Delaware Music Festival, playing from Boston to Richmond and in top NYC rock clubs like CBGBs and The Bitter End. They opened for Train, the Smithereens, The Black Crowes, Better than Ezra and others, and played WSTW’s Summer Jam and WRDX Fest.
These days she performs in occasional musical theater shows (most recently Rock of Ages at Milburn Stone Theater) but her main musical “projects” are their three musical kids, all Cab Calloway students or alumni. Perhaps we can expect to see their eldest singing at a future Shine A Light once he graduates from West Virginia University, their middle on keys, or their youngest on the mic.
Laura says, “Keith and I met at a gig thirty years ago and have been playing music together ever since! Since this is pretty much the only time Keith and I share the stage these days, we both really look forward to it! This will be our fourth Shine A Light.”
Speaking for herself and Keith, Laura says they prefer being assigned the same songs because they can rehearse together at home, and there’s a good connection and familiarity on stage.
She adds, “I love looking over and seeing him next to me on guitar.”
This wife is unsurprisingly complimentary of her guitarist husband, saying that Keith lives to play music and that really shows on stage.
“He doesn’t hold back. He takes it seriously and does his homework, but once he’s on stage, he’s totally in the moment and makes it fun for everyone. He also makes the best guitar faces. They’re actually kind of legendary. Be sure to watch for those!”
The family’s mark on the arts community doesn’t stop at these two lovebirds and their offspring. Keith and his brother Marc ran Target Recording Studios in Newark, recording and producing many local and regional artists. And Keith’s dad is the late Joe Moss, whose sculpture work is currently featured on the Wilmington Riverfront and at the Delaware Art Museum.
Keith, a vice president of engineering for a technology company in Pennsylvania, can recite a large list of bands he’s been in, including Honour Among Thieves, Wrecking Ball, Marc Moss and the Art Farm, Hell Bomber, Porch Chops and The Nik Everett Group.
Equally complimentary of his wife, Keith says, “Laura is an incredible talent and I love to see her perform. This Year’s Girl…was the best band I have had the opportunity to play in. She always inspired me to try harder to be a better player.”
Of his Shine A Light experience, Keith adds, “It is awesome to reconnect with so many musicians I have known or worked with over the last 30 years.”
(Additional married couples performing in Shine A Light are Nancy Curry and her husband Mike, who plays with Love Seed Mama Jump, and Kerry Kristine McElrone and Joe Trainor, of The Rock Orchestra and City Theater Company.)
Shine A Light Chair Tony Cappella had nothing but praise for each of the families performing together.
Of Mike and Cole Petrillo: “Cole is one hell of a guitar player and he was brought in a few years ago. He has been one of our best add-on musicians since this thing began. Michael and Cole are fantastic people and so easy to work with.”
Of Kevin and Ian Walsh: “Kevin has co-written several songs and currently plays with Stone Shakers. Ian is an incredible talent who is in Los Angeles working as a powerful songwriter and producer. He is a great guitar and bass player.”
Of Keith and Laura Moss: “They have been part of Shine A Light since the beginning, eight years ago. They are wonderful people and pros to work with. Always prepared and ready to give 100%.”
Tony adds, “When you put 50+ musicians together, one of the key elements will be how well you work with others. We leave our egos at the door when we get together. There is a fine line between experience and ego those who don’t understand that just don’t make the cut.”
Knowing that these musicians donate their time, one cannot forget that Shine A Light was created for a greater purpose. All proceeds of the event support the Light Up The Queen Foundation (LUQ), a non-profit dedicated to preserving arts education for children and young adults in our community.
Tony concludes by saying, “The Light Up The Queen Foundation has helped fund so many great programs. I’m so proud to be a part of this foundation and what it has done for the arts in our community.”
LUQ’s major programs include the Boysie Lowery Jazz Residency program, the young beneficiaries of which will deliver an intimate pre-show concert. Read more about LUQ’s free and accessible music and arts education, delivered to thousands of youths in underfunded schools throughout Wilmington, on their website.
You can see all these artists at The Queen on March 2nd, but be sure to watch your social media feed for various preview events all around the city.
Tickets are available for purchase until two hours before show time at lightupthequeen.org/shinealight/ and at The Queen’s box office (assuming they don’t sell out in advance, which is a distinct possibility). General Admission $60, VIP $250.
Foodies should consider a VIP ticket in order to enjoy eats provided by the students from The CROP Foundation, led by chefs Robert Lhulier, Michele Mitchell, Tom Hannum, Antimo DiMeo and Kenneth Curry-Keith. Other benefits for VIP ticket holders include early entry to the venue (be prepared for increased security scans over past years), pit access to watch the show at the front of the stage, balcony access and an open bar.
Doors open at 7pm, show at 8pm.