Blues Icon James Montgomery Sentimental Over Eastern CT Benefit Show

NORTH WINDHAM, CT — Blue icon James Montgomery isn't shy about saying he relishes a chance to play in eastern Connecticut and on Dec. 9, he'll get just that at a show that also happens to be for a good cause.

He, David "Lefty" Foster and the rest of the Shaboo All-Stars will be putting on a benefit concert that day for the Willimantic-based Covenant Soup Kitchen at Klaus Larsen Roofing, 29 Northridge Drive in North Windham.

For Montgomery, the show will also be a chance to reminisce about the Shaboo Inn, the legendary music hall on the Mansfield-Willimantic line that hosted him and some of the biggest names in music from 1971 until it was ravaged by a fire 11 years later.

He was one of those big names and forged a close relationship with the gurus of the venue — Foster and Bruce John.

"Spent a lot of time there ... wow," Montgomery said in an interview with Patch this week. "It's been since the seventies."

Montgomery paused for a moment.

"I'll always say this ... It's like coming back to visit family. There are a lot of memories," he said.

Montgomery flashed back to the 1970s and the early days of the Shaboo and the reach playing there had.

"The three biggest bands to watch in Boston (and New England) at the time were Aerosmith, J. Geils and James Montgomery," he said. "And in reality, Willimantic and Amherst were the two towns that catapulted us into the national spotlight."

He said he has fond memories.

"Lefty, Bruce John, the house bands and everyone there were so cool," he said. "We would even spend nights at the Shaboo. I remember many times, we'd pull up and run out of the car before unloading our equipment to claim the rooms that were the most made-up."

He then chuckled.

"Bruce was still living there," he said.

John even chuckled at the thought this week right before going on stage.

"We had our first record deal in 1971 and had already been playing there," Montgomery added. "It was our home base for five, six years. That area — the whole Willimantic area — is near and dear to my heart. I still have my original Shaboo shirt. Not sure if it still fits, but I have it.

"All of us playing this show coming up have all known each other for 45 years (Montgomery is 74). These shows — and I cant stress this enough — I really really look forward to. If we see a lot of each other it means we're not booked, so seeing each other when we can is special. I'm closer to some of these people than family members, so it really is a family event."

Montgomery is also not lost on the cause. The Covenant Soup Kitchen serves the region and is one of the most active in eastern Connecticut.

"Food insecurity is overwhelming," he said. "Many people think it's something that only takes place in a third-world country somewhere, but it's here, close to us. The soup kitchen is an important part of the community."

Added those at Klaus Larsen, "As we gather in the spirit of giving, our mission is clear — to stock the shelves at the Covenant Soup Kitchen, a vital lifeline for our community."

When asked what he will play, Montgomery sort of shrugged.

"They point at me I start playing, then then they point at me and I stop," he laughed.

Then, the sentiment came back.

"Because we get together only few times a year, we're going to play like it's a family reunion," Montgomery said. "We'll be there to support a community we all ended up have a real affinity for."

The Dec. 9 show is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6. Click here for ticket information.