Shameless
Connecticut Pizza & Brew Fest
Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Bridgeport
Aug. 11, 2024
Believe it or not, my trip down to the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater was my first time in the city of Bridgeport. I’d driven through before, usually on my way to New York, so I was excited to check out a new city and a new band with my son during the 2nd Annual Connecticut Pizza and Brew Fest.
Connecticut is considered by many to be the pizza capital of the nation, so a festival to celebrate the many styles and toppings that can be found in the Constitution state is a no-brainer. The train ride from Hartford helped me build up an appetite, so I went straight for the pizza trucks. I chose the “Grandma slice” from Alphonse’s Italian Street Food, a food truck specializing in interesting pizza. The Grandma slice had Alla Vodka sauce, bacon, basil and mozzarella. My son went with plain cheese, and we both enjoyed our slices.
With a full belly, it was time to rock out. I arrived just as Shameless was taking the stage and working out the last technical kinks. As soon as the sound was figured out the band launched into a loud, endearing mix of cover band and dad rock, starting with one of my all time favorites.
Now when I say “Dad rock”, I don’t mean that as a pejorative at all. What I mean is that Shameless lives up to their name by unabashedly diving into the music that our kids groan at when we adults start gyrating as best as our aging joints will allow. My son all but confirmed my ancient status when he said, “The band is good, but this isn’t my kind of music.” Which makes sense, as all of it was released before he was even born.
Shameless performed in a themed medley style, working through song after song in a seamless transition until they reached the end of the theme. One of their most popular medleys was a Backstreet Boys mashup that featured some of the band’s most famous hits, from “I Want it That Way” to “Everybody.” I was so caught up in the groove that I actually forgot to record the performance.
Ultimately though, the true measure of a cover band is not how great the vocals are or how talented the musicians are, although Shameless had that covered as well. It’s how much they love what they do, and energy and enthusiasm radiated from the stage. There are only a handful of vocalists on the entire planet who can do justice to Micahel Jackson, especially his earlier work when he was in his prime. Shameless, undeterred, let rip a mashup of “Don’t Stop til You Get Enough” and “Funkytown” by Lipps, Inc. that had us old fogies dancing with our cell phones in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other.
While hearing the classics performed live is always fun, one of the aspects I enjoy most about cover bands is hearing older songs that are new to me. So as an avowed Hall and Oates fan, I’m embarrassed to say that I had never heard “Rich Girl” until Sunday, but it’s definitely going on the playlist.
Good food and great music made the Pizza & Beer Fest a success, and an awesome way to introduce the city of Bridgeport to me and my son. I’m looking forward to the next event to bring me back.
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