Band Info

Here is a list of bands that have appeared on Caught in the Act. Click on a name to jump to the description for that episode.

ROCK: THE SIGHS / THE RAY MASON BAND

WRSI's Johnny Memphis hosts the pilot program for the series, which caught THE SIGHS performing their original high energy pop-rock songs at Pearl Street in Northampton, MA., and longtime Pioneer Valley musician RAY MASON and his band rocking Sheehan's Cafe, also in Northampton, MA., with his original tunes. (August, 1991)

JAZZ: MONTENIA / TOM MCCLUNG QUARTET

Tom Reney, host of "Jazz Ala Mode" on WFCR, introduces the second segment of CAUGHT IN THE ACT . MONTENIA sings standards from the likes of Duke Ellington and Count Basie at The Zone Art Center in Springfield, MA., while pianist TOM MCCLUNG & his quartet perform original modern jazz compositions at Dave's Other Place in Chicopee, MA. (March, 1992)

FOLK: CRAIG EASTMAN & PURLY GATES / JUSTINA & JOYCE

Renowned fiddler CRAIG EASTMAN and singer/songwriter PURLY GATES entertain at the Full Moon Coffeehouse in Wendall, MA., with their humorous folk songs, then JUSTINA & JOYCE thrill the audience at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA., with their beautiful vocal harmonies. Rob Weir, music critic at The Valley Advocate, is host. (August, 1992)

COUNTRY: WAY OUT WEST WITH DEBBIE WEYL / THE YANKEE RHYTHM BAND

Justin Case of WPKX hosts the country music version of CAUGHT IN THE ACT . First up, WAY OUT WEST WITH DEBBIE WEYL gets the dance floor hopping at the Swift River Inn in Cummington., MA, then THE YANKEE RHYTHM BAND play their original "rockin' country" tunes at The Hot L Warren in South Deerfield, MA. (September, 1994)

JAZZ: THE RICK ECKSTEIN TRIO / JOE SALLINS BAND

In this showcase of jazz music in western Massachusetts, drummer RICK ECKSTEIN & his trio perform classics at The Zone Art Center in Springfield, MA., while the multi-talented instrumentalist JOE SALLINS and his band get the groove going with their funky jazz sounds at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. WTCC's Rick Grant hosts. (July, 1995)

WORLD MUSIC: TSIDII LE LOKA with TONY VACCA & TIM MORAN

South African singer TSIDII LE LOKA wows the audience at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA., with her dynamic performance and offers a glimpse of her homeland through her songs. TONY VACCA & TIM MORAN mix the West African balafon with traditional jazz instruments to create their original sound. WFCR's Kari Njiiri hosts. (August, 1995)

WORLD MUSIC: QUETZAL

WGBY's cameras captured QUETZAL in concert at Pearl Street in Northampton, MA., electrifying the audience with their unique blend of music from South and North America. The incredible mix of rhythms & instruments from both continents makes dancing unavoidable. WTCC's Raquel Obregon hosts. (October, 1996)

BLUES: ED VADAS & THE FABULOUS HEAVYWEIGHTS / ART STEELE BLUES BAND

Katie Wright of WMUA introduces the blues version of CAUGHT IN THE ACT, as ED VADAS & THE FABULOUS HEAVYWEIGHTS hold down the fort for "Blues Monday" at the Baystate Hotel in Northampton, MA., while the Art Steele Blues Band gets people up off their feet at Theodore's in Springfield, MA., with their rocking blues style. (May, 1997)

FOLK: ERICA WHEELER / JIM HENRY

Singer/songwriter Erica Wheeler warms the audience at The Bookmill in Montague, MA., with her humor and poignant tales of life on the road and at home, then Jim Henry offers his poetry with some "mean" guitar playing at Susan's in Granby, CT. WFCR's Susan Forbes Hansen is host. (January, 1998)

TRAILER PARK / BIG BAD BOLLOCKS

WGBY's cameras caught 2 uniquely entertaining bands in this segment of CAUGHT IN THE ACT. First, TRAILER PARK takes the stage at the Hu Ke Lau in Chicopee, MA., playing their self-described "barbecue music"; a sizzling mix of rhythm and blues, then the BIG BAD BOLLOCKS perform what they call "pub rock" at The People's Pint in Greenfield, MA. (You have to see it to believe it!) Johnny Memphis of WRSI/WVAY is host. (July, 1998)

NEW FOLK: SALAMANDER CROSSING/CORDELIA'S DAD

Jim Olsen, of Signature Sounds Recording Studio in Palmer, MA., introduces two groups that fuse traditional American roots music with more contemporary sounds - with very different results. SALAMANDER CROSSING performs their mix of folk, bluegrass, old time & contemporary tunes at Cheney Hall in Manchester, CT., while CORDELIA'S DAD takes the stage at Northampton's Iron Horse with their repertoire of songs and hymns from 19th century American folk music. (January 1999)

FOLK ROCK: THE NIELDS

The Pioneer Valley's premiere folk-rock band, THE NIELDS entertain a sold out crowd at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA., with their clever, intelligent songs and humorous stories. Deerfield, MA., musician Ben Demerath hosts. (July 1999)

DANCE: THE O-TONES/HOT HOUSE ZYDECO

The CAUGHT IN THE ACT crew put their dancing shoes on for this engaging show. First, the Valley's hottest swing band, THE O-TONES get the crowd jitterbugging at the Northampton Center for the Arts: then HOT HOUSE ZYDECO brings a taste of Louisiana to Greenfield's (MA) Guiding Star Grange Hall - rubboard, accordian and all! Ed McKeon of WWUH (University of Hartford, CT) hosts. (August, 1999)

ACOUSTIC SOUL: MICHAEL GREGORY

WGBY invited the public into our studio for a slightly different twist on this CAUGHT IN THE ACT, featuring the Valley's renowned singer-songwriter-guitarist Michael Gregory. Gregory entertains the enthusiastic crowd with songs from his CD "RED". Joining Michael onstage during the concert are bassist Rudy Weeks, vocalist Cara Connolly and pianist Peter Fink. (May, 2000)

ROCK: BARRY KINGSTON & THE SCREAMING SOULS

The Pioneer Valley's premiere showman, Barry Kingston and his band, The Screaming Souls, rock the Hu Ke Lau in Chicopee, MA., in this installment of the series. Kingston's soulful vocals leads the band through an energetic set ranging from rock n roll to funk and r & b. Donnie Moorhouse of WRNX, hosts. (November 2000)

JAZZ: BILLY ARNOLD & UNITY

Veteran Springfield drummer Billy Arnold brings together an amazing array of local talent to perform an evening of jazz before a capacity crowd at the WGBY studio (which Arnold affectionately refers to as "Club 57") in this hour long CAUGHT IN THE ACT. (December, 2000)

"SKIFFLE-BOP": BROOKS WILLIAMS

Singer/songwriter/guitar virtuoso Brooks Williams enthralls a capacity crowd at the WGBY studio with his unique blend of musical styles he terms "skiffle-bop". John Daniel on bass and Scott Kessel on percussion (including an old suitcase and tin cans) provide the groove on which Brooks "can dance a little more!" (July 2001)

JAZZ : JAC VERONESI

Jac Veronesi has been a fixture in local music for more than 30 years. From his folk inspired performances in the early 1970s, to the R & B sounds of Blue Zone & the Chrome Bones in the 1980s, to his more recent forays into jazz standards, Jac has constantly honed his craft as a singer/songwriter. In this edition of CAUGHT IN THE ACT, taped at the WGBY studio, Jac performs a little bit of everything with other Valley music veterans Steve Moser, Keith Levreault, Mike Curran and Jon Weeks. Roger Salloom, of Eastern Entertainment, hosts.
(March 2002)

THE LONESOME BROTHERS

The Lonesome Brothers bring a twang to this edition of CAUGHT IN THE ACT, taped at the WGBY studio. A Pioneer Valley institution since 1986, The Lonesome Brothers delight the capacity crowd with their easy, joyful playing in a concert of original songs, including selections from their forthcoming CD, "Pony Tales". Host Joe O'Rourke, of WRNX, calls their music "straight and true". www.lonesomebrothers.com
(August 2002)