Thu 8/27 @ 6:30PM
This was slated to be a big year for Kent’s Numbers Band (aka 15-60-75) — their 50th anniversary. Back in 1970, the year the Beatles broke up after ten years together, few people could have wrapped their minds around the idea that a rock & roll band might last that long. In that era, most bands (especially those without that level of success) were ephemeral: they came, gave it their shot and evaporated within two or three years.
But guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Robert Kidney and company have persevered, creating their elusive hybrid rock/blues/jazz that’s not quite like anything else out there, fueled by Kidney’s intense performances. And they’ve done so playing all-original music and not making much of a wave beyond northeast Ohio. Sure, they have fans scattered around the world, including Pere Ubu’s David Thomas, who has championed them and released some of their music. But those folks make up a small band of insiders.
Obviously in that time, many musicians have come and gone, although Robert’s multi-instrumentalist brother Jack and sax player Terry Hynde have been along for most of the ride. Currently, they’re joined by bassist Bill Watson and drummer Clint Alguire.
Unfortunately, the pandemic shut everything down just as the band was to play a major anniversary party at the Beachland Ballroom, and they’ve been sidelined every since. But this week they’re returning virtually to perform for the Akron Art Museum’s online version of its free summer concert series, Downtown@Dusk. The Numbers Band goes back a long way with that too: this will be their 36th year performing for the series.
Log on to listen here.