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Given that 2017 is pretty much upside down, inside out, and ass-backwards across the board, it makes perfect sense that some of the best evenings to go out are Sunday and Monday nights.
Leaving the usual weekend stuff to the over-booked and over-exposed, Matthew Stubbs & The Antiguas have made a mint out of Monday night residences; their visually-striking and aurally-stimulating weekly Downbeat Mondays series at The Sinclair in Cambridge has been a must-attend since its kickstart back in January (moving over from the Plough), and now the crew’s new music video shines a light on a very cool series developing across the city at State Park in Kendall Square.
In their new clip for “Red Beans & Rice,” a cover of the Booker T and the MG’s classic, Stubbs teams with State Park’s Spacey Presents series and its blossoming new Covert Concert theme, a monthly Sunday night event that — get this — doesn’t advertise who will be playing. You just have to roll up and find out.
Recently, Stubbs showed up to jam at State Park, and “Red Beans and Rice” lives on as its visual testimony.
“I have always been a huge fan of Memphis Soul and Booker T and The MGs,” Stubbs tells Vanyaland. “They are the god fathers of instrumental soul music and one of my biggest influences. I write almost all the music for The Antiguas but like to play a few covers from time to time. This tune has always been one of my favorites.”
As for Stubbs’ residency at The Sinclair, things have been moving along to a frantic beat, with weekly guests and enhanced visuals that keeps the psychedelic series fresh and lively week after week.
“Each week has been completely packed and we have been asking some of our musician friends to come down a sit in with us as special guests,” Stubbs adds. “We had Julie Rhodes sing with us this past week and it was a blast. We are noticing lots of new faces each week and I’m always surprised how diverse the crowd is. It’s really cool seeing all different people show up and enjoy original instrumental music.”
With the residency in full swing and appearances like the State Park gig popping up on any day on the calendar, Stubbs has been staying busy. He and The Antiguas are set to release their debut full-length LP in January, and are playing with Perpetual Groove at the Middle East on September 7 and making an appearance on the first day (September 16) of Festival on the Farm in Canton.
Dig in to “Red Beans & Rice” below, and keep looking for Stubbs in unexpected places and spaces.
Featured Matthew Stubbs photo by Chorale Miles, courtesy of the artist.