WHO ARE THESE BANDS?
The Wonderland Music Series concentrates on promoting hiddens gems in New England, bands who often go unnoticed outside of the club scene.
We will showcase Worcester area bands and original music favorites from
all over New England.
Wonderland II "Urban Roots"
The Alchemystics
Intricate wordplay, soulful roots, memorable hooks, old-school vocal harmonies, and intense passion are but a few of the elements which combine to form the powerful and unmistakable sound of the Alchemystics.
Fueled by the belief that music could expand beyond the boundaries of style and categories, the Alchemystics first formed as a trio in 2003. They worked to create a sound that reflected their love of heavy rhythms, reggae, hip hop, soul and dub, while also infusing earthy vocal harmonies to create truly original music. True to their name, The Alchemystics have transformed into their current lineup of diverse and talented musicians, including the vocal stylings of Ras Jahn and Ian-I, the intricate lyrics of emcee Force, and the deep groove of drummer Demse Zullo, world-traveled bassist Garrett Sawyer, and keyboardist Jay Metcalf.
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The Alchemystics have shared stages with such international music luminaries as Stephen Marley, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Clipse, Damian Marley, Sister Carol, The Coup, Dennis Brown, Inner circle, Busta Rhymes, Yellow Man, Burning Spear, Gil Scott Heron, Culture, ShineHead, Angelique Kidjo, Mighty Sparrow, The Brazilian Girls, Israel Vibrations, English Beat, Bonnie Raitt, King Sunny Ade, and Taj Mahal.
Performing live, the Alchemystics specialize in high-energy, captivating performances which get crowds jumping and dancing to what they like to call their "new roots music" combining elements both traditional and fresh. Venues to date include a wide array of settings from festivals (including Vermont Reggae Festival, Strange Creek, Wormtown Music Festival, Charlemont Reggae Fest), clubs and dancehalls (including Pearl Street Ballroom, Iron Horse Music Hall, Paradise Rock Club, Middle East, Harpers Ferry, Toads Place), colleges and universities (including University of Massachusetts, Trinity College, Colby Sawyer College), and ski areas such as Ascutney, Whale Back, and Mount Wachusett.
The Alchemystics firmly embrace the notion of music and art as vital tools to bring about social change in our communities. Individually and collectively, the members of the Alchemystics have made it a priority to give back to their local community, working closely with the community youth and lending their musical talents to raise funds for causes such as the Massachusetts Red Ribbon Ride, and the Northampton Survival Center, Victims of Hurricane Katrina, Darfur Relief, AIDS awareness, and domestic abuse awareness. Members have also guest lectured and performed at a number of schools in the Northeast.
Spiritual Rez
Spiritual Rez, the Reggae Horn Funk Party is a 6 piece band who has tirelessly toured the country promoting positive music and attitude. Having released two independent records, the band has played with international acts like Jimmy Buffett, Culture, Israel Vibration and Buju Banton as well as have founding Parliament Funkadelic member Bernie Worrell sit in on their live shows.
Recently winning the 2007 Boston Music Award for Best World Music Act, the band provides a unique blend of Reggae, Funk and Afrobeat to give one of the most energetic live shows around.
The Change Up
Though the projects in the past are far too numerous to name, the members of The Change Up have once again joined to bring back the roots. All though it has been almost a decade from then till now, they have made a broad spectrum of stylistic shape-shifting songs culminating in their latest work "All Together". In a nutshell it took many separate incarnations and projects to build the perfect combination. So in early 2006 they returned with "The Change Up".
After working together in the past, Ash Berman and Eddie Romano decided it would be best to endeavor towards different styles of music. In the past they have played hundreds of shows that featured Eddie on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Ash fielding the drums, playing from their home base of Lawrence Mass to as far as San Francisco, Ca. Where the duo ventured on a "make it or break it" expedition, only to return a year later.
When they returned to Boston, they had gone their separate ways. On their own they learned it would require a full knowledge of all instruments, and a comprehensive approach towards songwriting in order to accomplish their goals.
Fast forward three years.
The pair combine their strengths to produce a new project called "The Change Up" which would now highlight them both on guitar and vocals, streaming together a seamless blend of traditional folk and rock, getting a solid pop sound and bringing a positive message to the scene. After almost a decade of working together "The Change Up" represents the full potential of what these two can do: a hot, racy approach to a new modern style and meticulous attention to artistic craftsmanship.
They have opened up for many national acts such as Bret Michaels, Rehab, The Ryan Montblue band, Max Creek and Strangefolk, that along with regular rotation on W.A.A.F. and W.B.C.N's local shows they have garnered quite a following.
Mass Elite
The magic multi-minded music making machine, keeping your head in the clouds and the ground at your feet. Interwoven sounds surrounding complex beats, lyrical landscapes in valleys and peaks. Many elements blended over a hip-hop base; Mass Elite is bound to satiate your musical taste.
Mass Elite has been pumping sound from the heart of Massachusetts (Worcester; pronounced “Woostah”) since the early 2000’s when MC’s Nemesis (Tim Caban) and Be Easy (Tim Burden) began crafting musical magic in basements and attics. The project evolved gradually over the next few years, going from two guys writing beats and rhymes to a fully fledged 7 piece hip-hop juggernaut.
Influenced by a wide range of musical genres, our favorite acts include 311, The Roots, Flobots, Sublime, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Gruvis Malt, Wu-Tang, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, The Grateful Dead, Dave Brubeck… (We like a lot of music).
A staple in the Worcester's local music scene, Mass Elite has played with many local bands as well as National Hip-Hop Acts such as Keith Murray(Def Squad) and Joe Budden. Using music as a tool they have had the opportunity to play many benefit shows to raise money for charities and raise awareness for important organizations. Including Waaf's Walk and Rock for Change in 2008. Mass Elite has been honored on two separate occasions to be introduced on stage to an electric crowd by Waaf's Greg Hill and Kevin Barbare of the Hillman Morning Show.
The Members: Tim Caban (Vocals), Mr. Curci (Vocals), T- Be Easy (Vocals/ Guitar), Kenny “Machete” Michaud (Lead Guitar/ Vocals), Josiah Burden (Keys/ Organs), Mike Allain (Bass/Vocals), Nate Haviland (Drums ).
The Method: Blending funk, soul, rock and jazz over hip-hop influenced beats.
The Mission: Musical depictions of life, from the familiar to the fantastic.
Zac Galen
A student of jazz, Zac blends its language with the inflection of soul music, the immediacy of folk music, and the vernacular-purpose of rap music. Having shared the stage with artists as diverse as KRS-One, Roomful of Blues, Steve Lacy, RJD2 and the Benevento/Russo Duo, Zac has felt most at home performing, thriving on the relationship with audiences around the world and utilizing the connection between fellow musicians within bands like Peoples Republic of Monsters, Old Man Benjamin, The Lorax, The Plurals, Men Without Class, The Mumbles, and many more. As a solo performer he has captivated thousands with personal tales of love, melancholy, and affirmation, including deeply retrospective interpretations of past masters and heroes such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, and Nick Drake. The live show incorporates elements of folk, jazz, blues, funk, hip-hop, and many other genres to combine for a performance which is as genuine as it is full of surprises. Accomplished singer, guitarist, song-writer, improviser... Zac Galen emerges as a force to be reckoned with on the contemporary music scene and will be making meaningful expression for years to come...
Previous Events
Wonderland Music Series I "Local Flavor" July 10, 2009
Sam James - Singer/Songwriter/Pop
Sam James is a singer-songwriter rising to prominence in the alternative folk-rock scene. Fresh off an extended tour, he
has already amassed a sizable fan base. James writes and performs his own songs on guitar and piano.
His touching lyrics and creative style find their way into your heart and soul. And his powerful stage presence and energetic shows guarantee that live audiences will sit up and take notice.
Sam has performed alongside such hit bands as THIRD EYE BLIND, ROBERT RANDOLPH, INGRAM HILL, COLLECTIVE SOUL, JOHN POPPER, RUSTED ROOT and CHUCK BERRY.
Here’s Just a few Events Sam James has performed at/for: ROCK THE GRIDIRON(at last years Superbowl - Miami,FL) Dick Chaney’s INAUGURAL BALL (Washington, DC) The AT CHILDRENS PROJECT(with Ben Afleck) USO TOURw/Ingram Hill (Cuba, Honduras, Curacao)
Skullfunked - Funk/Jazz/Fusion
With roots are firmly planted in the small towns of central Massachusetts, where the cow population 
exceeds that of humans. However, Skullfunked's dynamic music reaches far beyond the rolling fields, drawing from an eclectic array of Funk, Rock, Jazz, and Soul, with the heart of the music lying in high-energy improvisation. The melody is pure and the rhythm is straight up funky. This band wants you to dance, but they also want to bring you on a journey potent with musical mastery and catchy melodies.
exceeds that of humans. However, Skullfunked's dynamic music reaches far beyond the rolling fields, drawing from an eclectic array of Funk, Rock, Jazz, and Soul, with the heart of the music lying in high-energy improvisation. The melody is pure and the rhythm is straight up funky. This band wants you to dance, but they also want to bring you on a journey potent with musical mastery and catchy melodies. With a driven focus on their songwriting craft, Skullfunked also possesses strong technical capabilities that they display in their tastefully expansive improvisational reaches.
Black River Sound - Reggae/Hip-Hop/Soul
The five siblings making up the core of Black River Sound have been playing their whole lives together. Having traveled the world while growing up, they were uniquely affected and influenced in their writing style. The backing band are seasoned professionals and Berklee graduates capable of making the live hip hop sound not many bands can do live. This is the undeniable future direction of popular music and Black River Sound is on the forefront with the talent, looks, live show and catchy songwriting.
Gary Backstrom Band - Progressive/Rock/Jam
The Gary Backstrom Band is a high energy, innovative original act featuring the infectious licks and songwriting of nationally recognized guitarist Gary Backstrom, the mesmerizing grooves of award winning keyboardist Dave Osoff and the dynamic and soulful rhythm section of bassist Brian O'Connell and drummer Dave Scandura. The band's music features clever, hook filled songwriting and arrangements with intense interaction among the musicians. Their unique sound is interwoven with exciting, unpredictable improvisation that can only be heard in the best live acts on the scene today.
Uncle Billy's Smokehouse - Rock n' Roll/Classic/Indie
The brother duo of guitarist Sean Ryan and keyboard ticklin brother Jody has revived what, to many, is a lost sound in bands today. Armed with the incomparable Janky Bones on bass and the untamable Brad Simmons on the kit, Uncle Billy's Smokehouse is roaring through the New England music scene and beyond.
Hailing from Worcester, MA this four piece rock outfit has seen their fair of the road in the past few years. Playing shows from Burlington Vermont to New York City and down to New Orleans, the band seems to have found the path to the everlasting temple of Rock'n'Roll. The key, it seems, to their success has been in their songwriting formula - mixing the substance and ideals of the 60's/70's with the aggression and intensity of modern times to create music that will grab you by the throat and pull you into the speaker so you can learn the damn words.
Wonderland Music Series is located at Mechanics Hall 321 Main St Worcester MA 508-752-0888
Enter through Waldo St or Main St. Entrances
Like Alice going down the rabbit hole, when you walk into Mechanics Hall you will feel like you have entered into a secret land. The ornate features and elaborate design of Mechanics Hall's classic setting is unlike any other venue experience for local music. The backdrop provides an element of the
theaterical, with a sound that brings every note out with extreme precision. Mechanics Hall's history is one which supports the arts of all kinds, let's add local music to that great tradition.
Welcome to Wonderland.
