Rattleboxx

One night the Rattleboxx boys – already “perennial faves,” according to the midcoast Maine press – met Mary Bergey at a jam session. There have been similarly auspicious encounters that just seem to happen like that… not to overstate it, but there was probably that one moment with John and Paul, or Pete and Roger, or Mick and Keith when it seemed to just … click.

There was no doubt that when Mary took the stage that night with the killer rhythm, blues and rock combo already in progress behind her, magic occurred. That’s what we’re here to talk about. Rattleboxx is a power to be reckoned with.

Rattleboxx started just like a lot of other bands: A few guys who wanted to capture the sound and soul of rock and blues and, somehow, make it their own. That was a bunch of years ago. There’s no question that many personnel changes, ebbs and flows, high points and devastating lows have occurred since, and carved notches into this tough, determined and feisty little combo.

Through it all -- the many North Atlantic Blues Festivals, the Rockland Summer Solstice street gigs, countless weddings and parties -- Rattleboxx has endured. And that means something. It means that the members are committed—make that dedicated -- to creating a unique mix of rock, blues and R&B that hasn’t been heard in this area in a long time. It means that the music matters. A lot.

It’s hard to single out the individual contributions, but here’s an attempt:

Chris Plumstead. Guitar and vocals and heart and soul of the band: There’s just a single word: Wow! That dude is master of every musical style that ever walked. It doesn’t matter if it’s a funky Little Feat riff, or a Pete Townsend windmill… there’s nuthin’ this guy can’t do. Show me a better guitar player in Maine and I’ll kiss your ass.

Harley Cowell. Bass. Voice. Rock-solid bottom, with a flawless musical knowledge. It’s rare for a “local” band to have such a skilled and kickin’ bass player, but damn…Rattleboxx does. Harley keeps the band in line with perfect arrangements, inventive breaks and just plain fun. Can’t picture the band without him. None of us would, that’s for sure.

Steve Neil. Now try to imagine Steve Winwood and Billy Preston in the same person. Just try, because you can’t…until you’ve seen Steve Neil. Steve handles keyboard, guitar and vocals with grace and power that you won’t see in your basic bar band…that’s for sure. He’s one of a kind.

Andy Moore. There are plenty drummers who play R&B in midcoast Maine. There aren’t very many who kill it. Andy does. He’s been through the wringer of punk, reggae, indie and everything else. It might take a village to raise a child, but it takes a lifetime of groove to be a steadfast and reliable drummer. Andy’s got that down.

And then there’s…

Mary Bergey. Oh my. It’s hard to describe the power and might that is within Mary Bergey. When Janis’s soul departed, it’s pretty likely it ended up here. Three parts gospel intensity, two more parts soulful grit, Mary is the absolute star every time she walks onto the stage. Dare you to take your eyes off of her. Dare you.

This is a mature group, no doubt. It has lived and breathed every rock and blues format that ever walked. And it shows. If confidence could be put in a bottle, they’d have to call it Rattleboxx.