26. MAURA & THE BRIGHT LIGHTS: "Maybe Someday"
It was around 1978, and Maura Boudreau was something like 15 years old, give or take. Maura grew up in North Syracuse, one of seven children in a happy suburban home. One day, Maura's older brother Joe was horsing around with the younger siblings, chasing the little ones around with a plastic bat, singing The Ramones: Beat on the brat! Beat on the brat! Beat on the brat with a baseball bat, oh yeah! The kids squealed with delight. Observing it all, Maura was both amused and intrigued. This was her second-hand introduction to punk rock. In later years, she would cite that moment as the spark that ignited her interest in pop music, in rock 'n' roll, setting her on the brightly-lit path to a life-long calling. It all started right there.
So I take partial credit for this part in the origin of Maura's music career. Why? Because I'm the guy who hooked my friend Joe Boudreau on The Ramones. You're welcome, pop fans.
I didn't really know Maura then; she was just Joe's kid sister. I do remember one evening, when I was among a small group of rock 'n' roll pals stopping by stately Boudreau Manor to grab Joe en route to see The Flashcubes. Some of us (me included) were dressed flamboyantly, eager for a good ol' rock 'n' roll road show, gotta go! Mrs. Boudreau asked what in the world we were all done up for. Young Maura rolled her eyes, and declared, They're punks, Mom!
Maura saw her first rock show on July 6th, 1979, when her underage status did not prevent her from waltzing into Uncle Sam's in Syracuse to see The Flashcubes and The Ramones (and The Ramones' new movie Rock 'n' Roll High School, screened right there in the nightclub). Joe and I were already there, and big brother nodded to acknowledge little sis as she made her way into the club, wide-eyed, set to experience...everything.
Joe Boudreau's kid sister would become an active, enthusiastic participant in the Syracuse new wave scene. I first saw Maura play in the early '80s, when she was bassist for The Antics. I didn't see her again until I returned to Syracuse in the late '80s, when she was co-lead (with Craig Marshall) in a very cool roots-country band called The Delta Rays. Some guy named Dana Bonn took the photo used for the picture sleeve of The Delta Rays' "Fancy Dreams" 45. Maura's taste and vision encompassed rock, pop, folk, country...hell, just about all music, really. Maura's journey included a stint in Nanci Griffith's band. It was there that she met a brilliant, brilliant guitarist named Pete Kennedy.
Pete and Maura. Things clicked, just like in a pop song.
Pete and Maura's first date was a pilgrimage to Buddy Holly's grave in Lubbock, Texas. Their debut CD, River Of Fallen Stars in 1995, was billed as Pete and Maura Kennedy; they were married right around the time of its release. They've been known simply as The Kennedys ever since then.
For over 20 years, The Kennedys have produced a nonpareil body of work, loaded with shiny gems to entrance and engage. Pete and Maura remain two of the nicest people I've ever met. They were nice enough to allow us the use of their cover of The Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing" on 2004's This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 1. They're always fun to talk with, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, witty, and charming.
When Dana and I were putting together the first BRIGHT LIGHTS! Syracuse New Wave Rock 'n' Roll Reunion live show in 2014, we knew we wanted Maura involved. We briefly discussed the idea of reuniting The Antics. Instead, we came up with what I will unblushingly insist was a brilliant idea: let's have Maura play with a selection of Syracuse musicians, singin' songs by a few of the late '70s/early '80s local bands that we couldn't reunite. Y'know, Maura and her band o' renown could play stuff by The Ohms, The Poptarts, Dress Code, maybe Maura's own sweet "Summer Coulda Lasted Forever," and close with The Tearjerkers' anthem "Syracuse Summer." It was a brilliant idea, and it became the plan.
Gary Frenay and Arty Lenin, respective bassist and guitarist with both The Flashcubes and Screen Test, were obvious choices to join Maura. Veteran local drummer Cathy LaManna would keep time on them Pagan skins. To fill out the band, Maura asked us if it would be okay if Pete joined in; he wasn't from Syracuse, sure, but she considered him an honorary local. Our response was, wait--you're asking us if it's okay for Pete Kennedy--one of the most accomplished guitarists we've ever seen--to take part in our little rock 'n' roll circus...?! Yeah. Yeah, we were fine with that idea. Like Frankenstein creating his monster, or like Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider creating The Monkees, Dana and I had midwifed the birth of Maura & the Bright Lights.
One of the songs Maura wanted to do with her Bright Lights was a tune called "Manifest Destiny." "Manifest Destiny" was originally performed in the '80s by a 'Cuse band called My Sin, written by My Sin frontguy B.D. Love. Maura wanted to make sure she had all the lyrics right, so she was put in touch with B.D. hisself. That communication led to collaboration, as Maura and B.D. started writing together (notably on Maura's 2015 release Villanelle: The Songs Of Maura Kennedy & B.D. Love). They've continued to combine their talents, and further results will be heard in a forthcoming album by Maura & the Bright Lights.
Meanwhile, the Kennedy/Love tune "Maybe Someday" made its live debut during Maura & the Bright Lights' set at the 2016 BRIGHT LIGHTS! show. The studio version features Screen Test--Gary, Arty, and 'Cubes/Screen Test drummer Tommy Allen--with backing vocals by B.D., plus John Wicks of The Records; it will be on the Maura & the Bright Lights album, but it's on TIRnRR # 4 first.
Joe Boudreau is now a genius physicist, involved with the discovery of the subatomic Higgs boson. I have no idea of what anything in that sentence means, beyond the fact that Joe is, like, smart. But his impressive resume is further enhanced by the inspiration he provided for his sister, and the gift that ultimately meant to the world of pop music. Thanks, Joe. And you're welcome, world.
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