Jason Roush is a professor at the U. of Massachussetts (Boston) and teaches a course in Lyricism, focusing on contemporary singer-songwriters. 

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This Nov. 3, 2024 review is from his blog "Movies and Music in Maine."

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The Biddeford Beat

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I moved to Biddeford near the coast of Maine this past month, after 31 years of living in Boston, and my first post for my new blog about movies & music in Maine is about a local musical quartet right here in town, the wonderful singer/songwriter & guitarist John Redman’s superb band The Biddeford Beat.

 

Redman worked in public service for years with his wife Marianne Clarke in Washington, DC, before retiring here to Biddeford, where Marianne had spent many summers since childhood.

 

One of John’s pursuits in retirement has been writing a fantastic set of folk & jazz-inspired songs that’s available to listen to for free on the band's website, thebiddefordbeat.com, along with performing his songs live with vocalist & keyboardist Mesa Schubeck (who teaches music at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine), lead guitarist Patrick Sylvia, and percussionist Joe Beninati.

 

I had the pleasure of hearing The Biddeford Beat play live at the excellent art gallery & tea room called Flourish at 140 Main Street in downtown Biddeford (flourishme.life), which is owned and run by the concert’s hosts, Maribeth Amber & John Bryson.

 

I was totally impressed by the intelligence of the songwriting, the quality of the musicianship, and the intimacy of the surrounding art space.

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It’s the perfect venue for the mood that’s spun by John Redman’s relaxed and engaging songs, including an awesome re-working of Patti Page’s classic “Old Cape Cod” that John has revised lyrically as “Old Fortunes Rocks,” which any locals who attend the show will surely appreciate. Sonically, Redman’s songs range from gently swaying cowboy ballads (“In My Dreams,” in which a “hawk on a thermal owns the sky / ’til the moonrise lullaby”), to rockabilly-flavored numbers like “Down the Panamericana” and “Time Was on My Side,” to a waltzing torch song (“Rollercoaster Rules”), to a movingly contemplative pandemic-themed tearjerker titled “Only Going Home.”

 

Redman’s distinctive vocals warmly recall those of country icon Johnny Cash with a slightly more playful edge, while his lyrics have the range and subtle humor of the late, great folksinger John Prine, plus the observant, poetic imagery of a legendary lyricist like Joni Mitchell.

 

I’m excited to hear The Biddeford Beat perform together again and I hope that everybody who lives nearby won’t miss out on the opportunity to hear these accomplished musicians collaborate in a way that the entire community of Biddeford truly excels at doing. Please stop by to have some tea and enjoy the music with some friends on a chilly autumn night!