Rescue Me's Michael Lombardi and His Band, The Black Hand Play the Rock House

A newer rock venue has opened up in the Coventry area. The Rock House is not your typical venue for it has a full kitchen and was previously home to a Chinese Buffet. The Rock House offers the best of the best in pub food, and everything is local and made fresh. The french fries are recommended and will remind someone of Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace fries. 

Another thing that makes the Rock House is amazing is their memorial wall to the Station Fire, commemorating everyone who was involved. This wall is emotionally moving and will bring a tear to anyone’s eye.  

Rock posters and guitars line the walls and tables are available so one can enjoy a delicious meal while watching the show. The Rock House brings in well known musicians, such as Alder’s Appetite, featuring Guns N Roses’ drummer, Steven Alder and 80s hair metal classic, Lizzy Borden. They have also hosted an evening with the comedian, Gallagher. 

The Rock House brought in another well known band on Thursday night. Granted, you may have not heard of the band, because they have recently changed their name from Apache Stone to the Black Hand. If the Apache Stone rings a bell, say a fire bell, the band was a part of the FX show, Rescue Me. Michael Lombardi, who played fireman Michael Silletti, in the series, fronts the band. The Rescue Me series ended last week, afer a seven year run on FX.

Like other actors, Lombardi started out playing music first. A common question that he gets asks often is which one do you prefer? Lombardi told Patch that he loves both of them and was happy when the two mediums got to cross paths on the show.

“But I love being on that stage!” Lombardi said while being dragged away by adoring fans.

The five-piece band that hails from New York City released an album in 2009. When asked why the band changed its name, bassist Stan explained, “We are progressing and developing. We are growing as a band.”

Apache Stone will always be associated with Rescue Me, and a new page has turned. Compared to the music from their first album, a stronger and more of a harder rock band has surfaced.

Opening for the Black Hand was the local band, Hearsay. Hearsay, fronted by Kevin Herchen warmed the crowd up with covers of Pearl Jam and their own material. Herchen played solo at George’s of Galilee all summer, and playing with a band was quite the treat for folks who are acquainted with his solo performance. He brings forth more energy and totally rocks out. Hearsay plays on occasion, so check local listings to get a chance to check out this high energy band.

Women in Rescue Me shirts lined the stage, waiting in anticipation for “Mikey Silletti” to come out. The Fire and Iron motorcycle club was present, and so were the young bleach blonde ladies hoping to get a wink from the heartthrob actor. 

Around 10:30 p.m., the band took the stage and began to warm up for Lombardi’s entrance. As theatrical as his television performances, Mike presented quite the stage performance. 

The Black Hand performed mostly their own material with a few covers mixed in. Lombardi channeled Scott Weiland for the band’s version of “Sex Type Thing.” Like Mr. Weiland, Lombardi stumbled on a lyric to quickly pull it together and produce a knockout version of the Stone Temple Pilots song. 

The band played with grace and was flawless and tight while playing their older songs along with some material. If you get a chance, The Black Hand is definitely worth seeing, and the "dude from Rescue Me" as the lead singer is a neat experience in itself. 

As for the Rock House, it is a wonderful new venue dedicated to the local music scene, with fabulous french fries. If you not interested the music, at least check them out for food and drink. The Rock House is located in West Greenwich, overlooking Coventry at 731 Centre of New England Blvd. They are open for lunch and close at 1 a.m. 

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