In 2006, three veterans (OK, old guys) of the New England Bluegrass and acoustic music scene got together to form The Bristol Boys to play country and bluegrass music from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s. The songs may be old, but when The Bristol Boys sing them, they sound as fresh as the day they were written.
With their musical pedigrees and penchant for cutting up and having fun along with the audience, The Bristol Boys are ready to entertain at concerts, festivals, fairs, pie suppers, barn raisings, garage sales, etc.
Their shows are guaranteed good.
Says a satisfied audience member: "I like 'em."
Matt Nozzolio 1954 - 2008
Matthew Anthony Nozzolio, of
Middletown, died unexpectedly Saturday in New Haven. He was 53. He was
the husband of Jean A. Wertz.
Matt, who was the official spokesman for the MDC, in Hartford, had a
career in newspapers as a reporter and editor. He was also a noted
musician, performing bluegrass, blues and folk music.
Matt played the Dobro, or resophonic guitar, performing solo as well as
with a variety of bluegrass and folk bands. He also performed his own
compositions.
In the 1990s, Matt toured Europe as a member of Amy Gallatin and
Stillwaters. He also performed with Allan Harris and the Cross That
River Band, of New York City, the New England bands Charter Oak
Bluegrass and The Bristol Boys, and was a frequent guest musician with
The Remnants and Horizon Blue.
He was a member of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Music Under New
York program, for subway musicians, and performed in Connecticut for
entertainment programs at Derby Hospital and Meriden’s MidState Medical
Center.
In 2007, Matt took 3rd place in the 21st annual Blues Challenge, in Greensboro, N.C.
As a journalist, Nozzolio was a bureau chief for the New Haven
Register, city editor for The Evening Press, in Binghamton, N.Y., and
bureau chief for the Finger Lakes Times, in New York. He also worked in
communications for United Technologies.
"If at any point during any of our songs you fail to detect a music-like sound, you will be reimbursed for the full cost of the aforementioned missing sound. That's our promise."
Quotes:
"A slice of musical Americana. Our audience loved your
performance!"
Sandy Lafleur
Acoustic Cafe Organizer, Milford, NH
"Thank you so much...We all want you back." First Night Westport/Weston
"We want to thank you for being a significant part of our 2007 Hamburg Fair. I have had many requests for you to return in 2008."
Hamburg (Conn). Fair
"You were spectacular." An audience member.
"We don't feel your music is the right fit for our place.... It seems like you're a bit too country for us."
(Is that possible?) This establishment will remain unidentified.