Musicians Celebrate 20 Year Long Gig

CONCORD, New Hampshire – In September 1997 the world was mourning the passing of Princess Diana, Titanic was number one at the box office, Sienfeld was the number one TV show, and the State Street Combo started performing two nights a month at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana. Twenty years later the group is still entertaining audiences there with an instrumental mix of jazz and pop standards on the second Sunday & Monday of every month. Guitarist BJ Steinberg, bassist Jock Irvine and drummer Edward Raczka were together on that first gig in 1997, and the three continue to play together today. Pianist/trumpeter Tim Wildman joined them in 2008, adding new musical textures to the group.

“We are very grateful to Jane Valliere, the owner of Hermanos.” Says Irvine. “She made a commitment to have live music back in the 1990s and has stuck with it all these years. I don’t know of any other establishment in New Hampshire that has been offering live entertainment six nights a week for that long.” When asked about the secret to keeping a twenty-year long engagement he said, “We always keep in mind that our role is to enhance the dining experience of the customers; This isn’t a concert venue. We also try to play some songs each evening that everyone knows –Songs from groups like Steely Dan and the Beatles – As well as jazz standards by the likes of Cole Porter and Duke Ellington.”

The State Street Combo will hold their 20th anniversary performances at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana on Storrs Street in Concord on Sunday and Monday, September 10 and 11. Shows are from 6:30-7:30 and 8:00-9:00.