New England boasts some iconic imagery. The mountains of New Hampshire, the historic Boston, Massachusetts, and the beaches of Newport, Rhode Island are a few examples of the great things this region has to offer. Something about owning a log cabin in Northern NH is a dream in the eyes of suburban Bostonians. One step closer to this fantasy is the music of Mountain Weekend, a band from Middleboro, MA. Their blend of folk and country create an acoustic soundscape great for snuggling up with a cup of hot chocolate and a fleece blanket.
Originated in 2015 by Mike Enos and Mike McKenna, this band got their start playing around Middleboro, MA in various bars and restaurants. With an ever-changing lineup, the band settled down with Scott Bradley and Dave O’Neil. Their first album, entitled Autumn, was released on July 4, 2018.
Autumn is a fun-filled journey from beginning to end. Listening to the album, one can hear that the band was clearly having fun recording every song. Mike McKenna lends his voice for the lead, and it fits well with the style. Slightly, country, slightly folk, his voice blends well with the instrumentation.
The instrumentation is pure New England folk. Banjos, mandolins, and acoustic guitars fill the space with unique but recognizable chord progressions.
Their catchiness is also something to be admired, as you feel like you can sing along after one listen. And this translates to their live performances as well.
I had the pleasure to see Mountain Weekend at Buddy’s Pizza Pub in Middleboro on February 15th. Sitting at the bar with a glass of High Limb Hard Cider, the music started. The cramped venue was still big enough for the band, and they utilized every square inch of space they could. Three guitars, bass and drums filled their little nook, and they even fit their own sound equipment.
One stand-out song to hear live is Everything, a folk-rock acoustic song with a drum that just chugs along. Lyrically, it is quite simple, but a quick, one lyric chorus of “I will give you everything in life” drives the song forward with speed and franticness.
Saturn is another acoustic song, this one being a bit slower, but with a rocking chorus of “Saturn you can’t intervene on me. Went to my battle and I fought Galilee.” Slowly the song turns from Saturn to Satan intervening, and this contrast is noted throughout the song as well.
At this setting, the crowd was more than responsive. McKenna made it his mission to talk to every single patron that walked in, even if he did not know them. He developed this trust with the audience from the get-go, allowing the band to really play what they wanted to play. Every song was met with applause and cheers.
This band is something to be reckoned with. Starting out small doesn’t mean that you have to dream small. Autumn is now streaming on Spotify. Stop by one of their shows to listen in. Grab a record of a shirt and support your local musicians. You can also order their shirts and records at www.mtnwknd.com
Facebook: facebook.com/mtnwknd
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