Photo: Rafi Sofer
poster by: Jon Sulkow PROD DESIGN Berlin out front photo: Savannah Marshall
REVIEW of the upcoming show in THE ARTS FUSE by Ed Symkus
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WITH THESE INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS/ARTISTS/FRIENDS opening up the night:
SHEBOOM (post-menopausal women who drum n rap) We loved being a part of it, rick. I know you’ll have a million photos of you but I did love this one. Kind of Pierrot/black swan. Your band!!! Wow. What a great night. What were those big honking cameras about? Keep us in mind for 90. ❤️ - Lesley Bannatyne
BRIAN KING (What Time Is It Mr. Fox?, Jinxland)
MATT YORK (author, songwriter)
BRIAN & DAVID CHARLES (The Sheila Divine, Rare Signals Studio, produced WTF!?) Thanks for having us Rick…the energy in that place was incredible. I hope your face is feeling ok…not an ideal thing to happen (especially on your birthday)….but you rocked right on through…consistently inspiring!!! - Brian
MERRIE AMSTERBERG (sang the National anthem countless times at Fenway Park)
THE FRANC GRAHAM BAND Oh man. Epic. You were on fire and so was the room. Well that was a madhouse healer of great proportions. Rick Berlin is a rock n roll romance and we are all in on it. Grateful. - Franc
DAVID CHAMPAGNE (Treat Her Right, Agnostic Gospel, new record ADULT FICTION) You're the best! I don't know why the rest of us even try 😮💨 after the show I was kicking myself for not doing Loretta. we didn't do it because we rehearsed it with piano and it didn't sound good and I didn't want to have elizabeth standing up there twiddling her thumbs. next time I'll be selfish! - David
THALIA ZEDEK
DANA COLLEY (Morphine, Vapors of Morphine) & LAURIE SARGENT (Face To Face, Vapors of Morphine, The Billy Conway Artist Fund That was amazing and inspiring. You remind me what love feels like. - Laurie
SAM DUDLEY (my nephew, 11 years in the Nickel & Dime Band, now playing trombone with Dispatch)
ROBIN LANE Had to leave. What a wonderful performer you are… I adore you so much. Everyone loves you and for you that’s ok…your head and heart never made you too big for the common man. No resentment for not getting the due you are so worthy of … just love for everyone. How does that happen. Some people bemoan what they didn’t get, their big fat dream… not you and if you do rightfully so, it doesn’t show. Your just a beauty through and through. - Robin
& ADAM SHERMAN Rick. What a great night! - Adam
ELIZA JONES (Buried Beds,War On Drugs) It was such a wonderful weekend! A good excuse to spend lots of time with Beav and Jeff and family. Your set was wonderful!!! I hope you felt all the love in the room! Xoxoxo That shiner looks epic! - Eliza, BRANDON BEAVER (Buried Beds, Me Without You) Rick, the show was a fucking INSPIRATION. Legit moved by how fucking incredible it was. Your band is the most talented bunch of folks..the joy was so infectious. I can't tell you the last time I was so moved by a rock show. Not blowing smoke here. It was such an honor for me and Eliza. We would've just come for the hang, thanks for letting us up there to sing another sad song to folks. So much more I could say but I'm sure you're rolling your eyes with the trademark Berlin grin right now...suffice to say my love is infinite for ya you talented spoonful of sugar. ❤️beav & JEFF CHASSE (poet/songwriter)
RYAN H WALSH (author, Hallelujah The Hills)
WILLIE ‘LOCO’ ALEXANDER
MIKE MANGINI (RBTMovie, Rome Is Burning, Dream Theater) My pleasure to be a part of the night and to see you etc. Great new band with the usual crowd-friendly songs! Ttyl : ) - Mike, JANE MANGINI (Berlin Airlift, RBTMovie, The Cha Cha Club, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra), TOM SHEPHERD (RBTMovie) Saturday was awesome! I told Paul,. Producer? The program went like clockwork. - Tom, DARREN RAY (The Bluer Man Group)
Guest MC’s:
CHACHI LOPRETE I was so honored to be with you on Saturday night and to have the opportunity to introduce you and the band… it’s something I will never forget. Though we hardly see each other, I have such admiration for you Rick, I’m so happy to be your friend! Stephanie loved the show! We plan on coming to one of your shows soon Be well, Love You! - ChaChi It was an extravaganza - Bradley J
VICE V’ERSATILE I’m ssssimply ssssalivating, it’s the sssssocial event of the sssseason - Vice
PAUL BUCKLEY (The Sheila Divine, Orbit, LUNCH RECORDS - also stage manager) some of the evenings highlights for me were hunger strikes with you and Lori Sergeant over the top awesome. Also, rock ‘n’ roll Romance with the backing vocals in just saxophone very dramatic very very cool. And then nickel and dim band coming in behind you and all the lights coming on the stage and just turning into a major production could not have been better. Love, love, love the tutus, and that song brought the rock. Lastly, singing happy birthday at the end of the night was so special as well. Really really really great night all around you should be proud Rick. Lastly, you guys didn’t just play a list of songs, you put on a show! - Paul
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Closing the night: The Nickel & Dime Band:
Savannah Marshall (kit, percussion, back up vox) - Matt Bailin (guitar, sax, backup vox) - Ricky McLean (guitar, backup vox, lead vocal - WALKIN’ MY DOG) - David Goodchild (bass) - Jane Mangini (all keys) - Rick Berlin (lead vocals, songwriter)
who will perform WTF!? in full with these tremendous additional players:
The Four Quarters: Jay Souweine (trumpet) Man, I had an absolute blast. Thank you for having me for the show, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming down the road.! - Jay - Jack Panora (tuba) thank YOU so much!! it was such an honor and joy to play w u and the band and i had a blast!! - Matt Bailin (sax, horn arrangements) - Andy Collins (trombone) - Lucas Paquette (sax)
Back up vocals: THE THREE PENNIES
Zoe-Rose DePaz (Troll2 & many other art outlets) I had SO MUCH fun playing with you all! You were FANTASTIC! I was so honored to be part of such a special night. Please let me know if you’re doing anything else in the future, I’d love to take part. Love the photos!! Love your songs! YOU were on fire!! , Steve McNulty What a night…. - Steve and Brian King (3 Pennies)
BNN Jamaica Plain is going to 3-camera video the night for posterity and will post the link after 4/19
Great show! Your energy was "bigger" than I'd ever seen it, more even than the relatively larger venues (JP music fest, MGM music hall). I also continue to enjoy the new nickel and dime band line up. Of the opening bands my favorite were Laurie Sargent, and I forget the name of the folk band. - Zach Elwood
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THE IDEA (as introduced by Paul Buckley - LUNCH RECORDS):
There are not many people who say they love making and playing music more than Rick Berlin. Sure you may like playing music in your teens and 20s - but something special has to be there once you’re still playing in your 30s, 40s and (gulp) 50’s!
Well, I got news for you. Rick’s got you beat. Berlin has been playing music for 50+ years!
Born in the Silent Generation – Rick has been far from it Starting with the 70’s art/punk scene with Orchestra Luna and Luna, to his 80s rock bands Berlin Airlift and Rick Berlin: THE MOVIE, on to 90’s projects Rome is Burning and The Shelly Winters Project and along long-standing residency playing solo cabaret at Jacques, to ultimately creating his longest musical venture with The Nickel & Dime Band (14 years).
He has tirelessly written songs, assembled musicians, formed bands, ran recordings sessions, booked shows, promoted events, lugged amps and poured his heart out on stage every night. He’s been the captain, the creator, the confidant and the cheerleader in all of his endeavors.
So what’s up with Rick today?
Glad you asked. Mr. Berlin is turning 80 years old in 2025 - and shows no signs of slowing down. The Nickel & Dime Band will be releasing their best work to date - recorded at Rare Signals with Brian Charles (producer/engineer - alongside Annie Hoffman).
So we’re going to soak up some of his music longevity vibes and on his actual birthday - April 19th, 2025 - and celebrate the band’s new album, WTF!? (which I’m releasing on Lunch Records).
A night of guest performers representing various moments/decades throughout his career – either through song, story, or presence at the show.
BERLIN@80 (A Rock n Roll Romance)
Rick Berlin’s 80th Birthday Bonanza
The Nickel & Dime Band CD Release of WTF!?
plus special guests (see above)
Brighton Music Hall
Sat, April 19, 2025
Will you come celebrate Berlin’s 80th with us?
- Paul Buckley - Lunch Records
“My feeling is that Rick is the definition of a true artist-- someone who lives and breathes for what he creates and puts everything he's learned and felt into his songwriting. The sheer range of styles he's worked in and personalized attests to everything good about the Boston scene.” - Brett Milano