The Balkun Brothers at Infinity Music Hall Hartford

Headed to Infinity Music Hall Hartford for a Balkun Brothers CD release party and get ready for Memphis concert.  The Club helps bring life to the Capital City.   First time took me a little while to arrive.  It is in Hartford’s growing entertainment area.

I walked in to find the merchandise table and past the table is a dining area.

And Nick was going over the items.

Then upstairs to the Green Room.  Down stairs through the concert area and then up.  This too was like Norfolk with a lot of space and some good food.

The opening act West End Blend was in the room too.

Vocalist Erica Bryan

Blues fan Ken Brody was visiting too.

 

Caleb

 

I went to the Hall to get set up and see how the cameras would work.

 

Showtime

First up was West End Blend, a hip-hop, soul-funk 13 member group.  They are fronted by vocalist Erica Bryan and rapper/breakdancer “Tangsauce.”  The band plays classic throwback sounds while adding their own distinct sound and flair.  They also illustrated the cross-over ability of the Balkun Brothers to reach a very varied audience.

The Balkens were up.  Nick greeted some friends before the show started,

The lighting was a little funky, so Caleb had red hair for most of the night.

Half the seats were removed to allow for dancing and most of the young crowd stood through the show.

 

Modern technology at work.

 

The energy level from the band went right into the audience.

The light show and the outfit that only Nick could carry off gave a little 60s Flashback.

The One & Only

The warmth and friendliness of Infinity was added to by the crowd and people enjoying an evening. Of note was the large crowd of younger people catching the show.

Questions/comments, I can be reached through the Blog comments or at twblus@aol.com.  BluesBeatNews is written, produced, directed and photographed by Domenic Forcella.  My weekly Blues Beat column appears in the New Britain Herald, Bristol Press, Middletown Press and Torrington Register-Citizen.

About bluesbeatnews52

Blues columnist writing a weekly column dedicated to the Blues. The only column of its kind in a commercial (paid subscription) newspaper. Column appears in the Middletown Press, Bristol Press, Torrington Register-Citizen, and the New Britain Herald. Forcella has served on the Board of Directors of the Blues Foundation representing the Journalism constituency. Served on the Board of Directors Connecticut Blues Society as Past President and Past Editor of newsletter. Recipient: Keeping the Blues Alive award in Journalism from the Blues Foundation. Has contributed both writing and photos to nationnal blues publications.

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