thePULSEIrena Kaci
Last month Pulse Magazine hosted one of its annual events, the Worcester Music Awards, honoring many performers and artists who are creating music right here in our community. The WMAs are rapidly becoming a traditional staple in the Worcester tapestry of events. Many local greats performed at the event, held on March 29th in the music venue at Off The Rails in Downtown Worcester.
As is the longstanding tradition, the event opened with 11-year old powerhouse Angelo Gray, whose career continues to climb toward impressive heights. I spoke with his mother Jamie. “Angelo sang Teddy Swim’s “Lose Control” this year and Michael Jackson’s “I’ll Be There”.” Gray is famous for borrowing from Michael Jackson’s discography in his performances, but he’s got his sights on releasing his own original music in the future. But that’s not all. Gray’s mom elaborates, “He was asked to open up the show and he was pretty excited about that. He just wrapped up filming his first movie ‘The Running Man’ with Glenn Powell and Daniel Ezra, which will be in theaters November 7th. Angelo wants to continue performing, and possibly get into more movies in the coming years.” A real star in the making, Gray booked the big Hollywood production on only his second audition, and then came home to give another fantastic performance at the WMA’s.
Riverside Riot took the stage too on the 29th, and delivered a spirited performance. Nominated for Best Punk Act as well as Best Up & Comers, Riverside Riot is a band with deep roots. I spoke with Dionne Ryder from the band who gave me some background, “Drummer Norah and I have been playing music together for about 8 years now but we started Riverside Riot around 3 years ago. In 2019, Noah started a band, called Coffee Room, and asked if I wanted to be the singer. That’s where it all started for us. Our sound combines elements of skate punk, pop punk and Midwest emo. We’re hoping to release our first EP or album later this year and possibly go on tour if given the opportunity.” You can catch Riverside Riot at Hollis Hills this summer, and other local venues. “We would also love to be back at Off The Rails,” Ryder says. Riverside Riot’s recommendation for local music lists the band Phantom Fears, as something for which to lookout.
Winner in the Best Up & Comer Category, Aly West gave her own performance at the event, really showing off her musical chops. West’s musical inclinations started 8 years ago in her early teens, “I picked up the guitar eight years ago and picked up piano 4 years ago. I started out singing covers of my favorite artists like Florence + The Machine and Lana Del Rey and many other artists within that similar indie pop/alternative rock genre,” she explains, “I started songwriting and discovered that I could transform heart-wrenching experiences into musical forms of beauty, and it became my favorite way to connect with others.”
It didn’t take long for West to define her voice toeing the line between leaning into her influences as well as developing her own style. “I would describe my sound as a mix between indie pop and alternative rock with orchestral elements. I like to focus on lyricism, strong melodies, and I love adding in strings and powerful drums. My hope for the future is to have huge live performances with many talented musicians playing all the different instruments,” she says. You can catch West performing at the Rose Room in Webster, and other local indie spots. When pressed to pass on the baton as a fan, she names Wildfeuer & Tasteless Jack as her favorite local acts. “Wildfeuer (@wildfeuer.music) is another amazing female artist and songwriter. Her band’s live performances are incredible! Tasteless Jack (@tastelessjack) is also a favorite, they’ve got a great, unique sound!”
Nominated for Best Up & Comer, and winning for both Best Rock Act and Best Album Cover, Young Man Winter has had a great year! The five-year old, four-person band started off as a New Year’s resolution. I spoke with Sergio Marcucci to get the scoop. “Myself (guitar & bass), PJ McQuade (guitar & vocals), and James Dunseith (keys & vocals) were at a New Year’s Eve party and agreed to start playing music once a week together and see what happens. We would jam in our living rooms and basements, which eventually led us to finding a rehearsal space. We were playing shows within a year. We have been playing with Chris Costello (drums) for nearly two years and most recently, Isabelo Cruz (bass) has been playing bass guitar in live settings with us.”
Self- describing as ‘alternative rock/indie rock’, Young Man Winter has undeniable influences from 90s grunge music. “We have evolved within the spaces where we play, doing our best to capture the no-nonsense, blue collar city that is Worcester.” You can catch any of their shows at Ralph’s, Hotel Vernon, Husky’s & The Raven but aim to expand to venues like Electric Haze, Off The Rails, and one day even the Palladium. When asked about their favorite local musicians, Marcucci spoke on behalf of the band: “Between 3 & 4 is a favorite of the band, as well as Zigmont. We also really admire Berm and Daniel Gay. There are so many artists I could list here! I would just encourage everyone in the city to continue to support the arts and the music scene.”
Best R& B Act Winner Fanta Vibez also delivered a fantastic performance. Fanta Vibez has been perfecting her act for over eight years, using it as an outlet for coping with the challenges of life. Vibez remembers her beginnings: “I began by rapping over drill and hip-hop instrumentals, but through many studio sessions, I discovered my vocal range and experimented with my sound. This exploration ultimately guided me to the genres of neo-soul and R&B.” As her skills developed, Vibez’ s sound also changed into something more complex. “I would describe my sound as unique, sensual, and soothing. My intention is to create music that nourishes the soul and uplifts the mind.”
Vibez’s refreshing outlook on her future is bright and full of hope. “Looking to the future, I hope to expand my fan base and reach different cities, connecting with individuals who can help elevate my career to new heights. I’m particularly excited about the prospect of performing in Hollywood. I know it’s a cliché, but who wouldn’t dream of it? I aspire to kick off a tour that takes me to major cities like Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, and Florida. As for the Worcester Music Awards, I was genuinely grateful to perform with my music and band this year. It felt amazing to be on a big stage with excellent sound and vibrant energy in the room. I truly enjoyed the experience and can’t wait for the next one.” What she listens to when she’s looking for her own local fix? “Currently, one of my favorite Worcester musicians is Kevin Kevin. He’s an incredible solo artist and a wonderful person to be around. As well as many of the musicians at Crocodile River Music are phenomenal; they’ve honed their craft for over 20 years, and it’s truly an honor to see them perform every time.”
Jason Paulino won this year for the category of Best Male Vocalist. He’s been making music since 1990. A dreamer at heart, Paulino’s dreams are slowly coming true. “My hopes are to have my music heard all over the world on every platform in every genre but my goal is to take over the world with my music. I would like to be playing all over the country in the coming year. After winning, I received a phone call, flew out to Mississippi the next morning and was offered a contract with a management company in Mississippi the next day. I will be flying to Nashville within a few weeks to start recording.”
Nominee for Best Music Video, and winner for Best Jam/Groove Act, Miss Fairchild began in the early aughts. Travis Richard, along with Schyuler Dunlap, and Sammy Bananas began playing around with studio-quality music. “In total, the three of us have been playing music together for 30 years! Sammy’s involvement in the band has lessened in the last decade, but Schuyler and I still write music every week.”
When asked to describe his sound and genre, Richard said, “I’ve accepted that Miss Fairchild in a live performance setting and Miss Fairchild on record are different enough from one another that they can be described separately. Our songwriting and recording takes inspiration from the late 70s and early 80s Funk; Prince, Michael Jackson, and their contemporaries provide that template for us. Live, however, we have the luxury of stretching the songs out and extending a groove. As bandleader, I provide real-time arrangements and cues à la James Brown and the performance really becomes a show.”
Miss Fairchild is hoping to parlay their WMA win into more gigs, more opportunities to play in front of new audiences, and breaking into venues like Off The Rails, Electric Haze, and Ralph’s Diner. Asked to name his favorite local musician, Richard named Dan Burke as a hidden gem. “I love so many performers here. But easily, my favorite local musician is Dan Burke. He sings with such soulful authenticity; I knew I had to find a way to collaborate with him. We were proud to have him as a guest singer on the single we released last year, “Body Right pt. I&II,” which is available on streaming services. We’re looking forward to collaborating with him again, both on record and the performance stage!”
Another electric performance at the WMAs was that of Serenity Jackson a.k.a. Lil Rennie, who was nominated for Best Live Performance and who won Best Rap/Hip Hop Act, Best Solo Act, as well as The People’s Choice Award. On top of all of these honors Serenity Jackson is also famous for being Worcester’s Youth Poet Laureate. I caught up with Jackson to learn more about her journey to the stage. “I started making music when I was 5 years old before I could even read. I needed a talent for pageants and told my older cousin Slam (who also does music) that I wanted to perform rap songs for them. She then helped me to write and perform my own original raps and soon realized that I had a true talent for it.”
Jackson takes her craft very seriously and is mindful of being a role model. “I would describe myself as someone who strives to introduce a more positive side of female rap artists to the world. I hope to become a well-known rapper who inspires people to put forward their best effort and do what feels right, while also having fun and enjoying themselves.” While her performances are not always planned, following her on socials is the best way to say abreast of her performances. “The WMA wins for the past 3 years has shown me that whatever I put my mind to, I can succeed in it, and that music is definitely my path for the future.” Jackson cites Joyner Lucas as her favorite local musician. “I love his story telling style and am inspired by him and all his accomplishments in the industry. “
Lastly, the night’s big winner was Victor Infante, Winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Infante has been a staple of the music & journalism scenes in Worcester and all over Central Massachusetts. I had the opportunity to chat with Infante and learn more about his humble beginnings. “I don’t actually play music. Famously, I can’t play an instrument or sing a note to save my life. I’m a writer, and music has been pretty much my primary subject most of my career, going back more than 30 years. Currently, I’m employed as the features editor of the Telegram & Gazette and the editor of Worcester Magazine. I’ve been at the Telegram since 2002, where I started on the copy desk and moved soon after to the features department, where I’ve been ever since. Most of that time has been spent as a music journalist, primarily as an old-fashioned music critic. I wrote a music column, ‘Listen Up,’ from March 2009 to the fall of 2024. That column is currently written by Meg Trogolo, but as I edit it, I’m still involved.”
Infante has worked hard to mine his youthful exploits in service of his craft. “I grew up in Southern California, and spent a great deal of my time before arriving in Worcester writing for indie punk rock and poetry ‘zines. When I moved to Worcester the first time, in 1997, I began writing for Worcester Magazine, where editor Walter Crockett had me writing up some of the folk music greats that came out of the Old Vienna Kaffeehaus. I also got to leverage my misspent youth in SoCal into an interview with Dave Alvin, of the bands X, the Blasters and the Knitters. I asked Alvin how he jumped so effortlessly between punk, rock and country music, and he responded, “Well, it’s all the same three chords.” I’ve kept that in mind ever since. I moved back to SoCal for a while in ‘97, and wrote for OC Weekly, which was owned by the Village Voice. I came back to Worcester in 2002, and have been at the Telegram ever since.”
Though not especially musically inclined, Infante has a distinct literary voice which goes beyond journalism. “I write and publish poetry and fiction, including my recent “poetic novella,” ‘Suffer for This: Love, Sex, Marriage & Rock ‘N’ Roll,’ from Moon Tide Press. Music actually figures into a lot of my poetry and fiction, actually, which probably isn’t surprising.” What’s also unsurprising is that when pressed to name a favorite local musician, Infante very diplomatically replies: “As a journalist, I should probably refrain from answering this. So I’ll just say “Bob Moon” and leave it at that.”
Asked to speak about what it meant to win the Lifetime Achievement Award, Infante had a lot to say. “It’s a big honor, and I was really surprised by it. It’s not something I saw coming. I’ve won a lot of awards for journalism before, and have been a finalist for “Music Journalist of the Year” six times at the Boston Music Awards, but there’s no comparable category here in Worcester, so it’s not something I have thought much about. Being promoted a while back has really inhibited my ability to write regularly, so it feels absolutely wonderful to know that the work that I’ve done over the past couple decades has been of value to the community. You always hope that’s true, but you never want to take it for granted. “
Indisputably this has been the finest Worcester Musical Awards yet. Now more than ever, we lean into the power of creation and expression, and thankfully here in Worcester County we have no shortage of talent to enjoy, take comfort in, and celebrate.
