Inner Groove
Connecticut Old State House
Hartford
June 12, 2026
The first ten days of the month are so stressful. Worrying about rent; phone, internet and other bills; and whether food stamps will arrive on time can really take it out of you. When the 10th hits and you’ve survived, there’s nothing like a little getaway to recharge.
So that’s what I did. I took a little trip to the beach, by way of the Connecticut Old State House.
The Summer Concert Series at Connecticut’s Old State House Farmer’s Market continued on a blistering Friday afternoon. Although the crowd of music enjoyers was as large as always, we were all huddled under the tent graciously provided by the event organizers. The heat was too much for dancing along.
Inner Groove, hailing from Meriden, didn’t let the heat beat them, as they performed an hour-long set of classic songs from across genres and decades. The band was formed in 2010 by Denise Jones and Tom Sekscenski, who perform vocals/guitar and bass respectively. Ten years ago, Caron Wegener joined on vocals/percussion, and later the group added Peter Krol on lead guitar and Nick Longo on drums.
The heat matched the mood that Inner Groove was setting. Denise Jones is a powerful singer; don’t let her bright smile and friendly demeanor fool you. Her voice carried across the courtyard and over the poorly-timed construction work happening only a few hundred feet away.
Despite the distractions, she and the rest of the band managed to transport me far away from worrying about bills with their rendition of “Under the Boardwalk”. The duo of Denise and Caron helped power their vocals over the din, and their two-note hit on the word “sea” was delightful. Peter’s guitar was excellent as well, as he transformed the instrument’s sound into something you’d hear at a luau instead of a rock concert.
For a moment, I could hear waves crashing against the shore. I could smell the saltiness of the ocean. I haven’t been to the beach in years, but the music reminded me of the times I’ve been. Hanging out with friends at the beach in high school. Taking my son to Mystic. Seeing the clear blue water in Puerto Rico. The stress melted away as the memories returned.
Of course, Inner Groove didn’t just have easy-going beach music in their repertoire. I am a Janis Joplin fan, and they finished their set with a spirited version of “Me and Bobby McGee.” As I said, Denise is a powerful singer–you have to be to even attempt Joplin, much less nail it with the heat index approaching 100 degrees. The rest of the band matched her tempo, delivering a rousing finale. I mean, why not a little Joplin at the beach?
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Jamil goes to check out the madness of Sweeney Todd.
