A celebration of man and music with Rick Berlin at Brighton Music Hall on Thursday, 6 April 2023.

Orchestra Luna and Berlin Airlift fly once more.

Local lovefest draws out legions in support, including The Sheila Divine, Hallelujah the Hills, Nervous Eaters, cupcakes, and more.

Thursday night was a heartbeat that will beat into eternity in the immortal body of the Boston music scene.

One of its own angels Rick Berlin spent about five hours in the starry heavens onstage at Brighton Music Hall, carried aloft on wings powered by friends, fans, and a galaxy of well-wishers.

What to say about a storied icon of the local independent music scene whose career has spanned over five decades?

Who has played midwife to so many other music talents?

A musician who’s had more irons in the fire than the smithy dwarves of Nibelheim?

Song, not words, was the order of the evening. And Boston came out in droves to sing, onstage and off.

The bill included supporting slots from The Sheila Divine, Hallelujah the Hills, and Nervous Eaters. You could hardly turn your head without spotting another recognizable face: Gary Cherone, Sir David Minehan, Jane Mangini, Hilken Mancini, Andy California, Gretchen Shae, Light of Day Records/Muzzins maestro Chris Antonowich, at least one dude from The Chops, and countless more lost in the infinity of the madding throng.

Rick opened the night with a solo keys number, asking the room if he could “have this dance?” The cherry come-on was followed up shortly by the more jocular “Love every last one of you motherfuckers.” And The Nickel & Dime Band opener “I’m A Slut,” sealed the sentiment of the show.

Rick Berlin’s own projects, past, present, and future, played at intervals throughout the night: The Nickel & Dime Band, Orchestra Luna, Berlin Airlift. Musical comrades came from near and far to participate in painting a picture of a Rick Berlin soundscape across the decades, stretching from CBGB-era experimentalism all the way into rock n roll of the steely present.

Shout out to the fog machine. Shout out to the lights. Shout out to Light of Day Records. Shout out to the emcee — who was that guy? Shout out to the custom-made cupcakes. Shout out to the full bill onstage sing-a-long to close out the evening. Shout out to the love that Rick Berlin has showered on the local arts community. Shout out to the love that the community sends right back to one of its own.

Have a very merry Thursday and to all a good night!

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