A Musically ‘Spooky’ Halloween Night at Chester St. Tavern

Halloween night is generally SCARY enough but when you resurrect American “Punk” Pioneers, circa 1970s and beyond, “The Ramones” in front of an already frightening Chester Street Tavern audience, all bets for event normalcy are off the table.

In fact, as a fright-night musical counterbalance the Tavern hosted two contemporary musical acts, locally based River Driven and regionally popular, with local and national connections No Big Deal. The latter featured two members, singer/guitarist “Smiggy” Smith and drummer Drew Smith (no relation) with several local connections, including drummer Drew recounting that he and Front Royal based bass player Shae Parker rode Warren County Public Schools bus number 39 together many years ago; AND Smiggy playing locally with a number of well-known local musicians including guitarist Ralph Fortune, who later sat in with both “The Ramones” and River Driven; as well as the Vaughan brothers Dewey and James — and God bless the recently departed James for his lifetime of musical contributions to this community.

No Big Deal launched the evening’s music around 7 p.m., with ‘Smiggy’ Smith and Miranda Hope sharing lead vocal and guitar duties. No Big Deal was followed by a resurrected Ramones, displaying their 1970s Punk attitude. Is that a snarling Joey Ramone about to have a Punk flashback? Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

Also taking a central role in No Big Deal was singer/songwriter/guitarist Miranda Hope, whom as we understand carries her own national connection being the granddaughter of the nationally-known, late U.S. comedian/actor Bob Hope. And while she may have “comic” genes we will note that her performance was not funny, except when she wanted it to be introducing songs either she or friends have written about the complexity of relationships in the modern world, or heck, ANY world for that matter.

And speaking of worlds, some online research of Robert “Smiggy” Smith indicated a musical world including work as a live sound engineer with Robin Trower, and as a recording engineer with musicians including Jerry Garcia, Journey, Joan Baez, Buffy St. Marie, and others, as well as session guitar work with Juice Newton on the album ‘Come to Me’.

River Driven hit the Tavern stage following The Ramones — Why do some those musicians, including from left, Stacey Horton, Ralph Fortune, Shae Parker, and Tim Grant look familiar somehow? Uh oh, was there a musical demonic possession earlier?!!?

The musical entertainment was so good throughout the evening that even some of the local goblins in attendance appeared to lighten up a bit, well, maybe not all of them. Our information is that the evening’s costume winners selected by a patrons vote were the Mona Lisa, the white gentleman ghost, and the witch lady in black, all three of whom caught our camera’s attention at various points as indicated in the first 3 photos below.

It appears the Mona Lisa has left the gallery wall in good spirits. Below in succession are a cheerful White Gentleman Ghost and a pal caught up in a web; a VERY spooky “Lady in Black” witch and skeletal couple — We know she’s a witch because her forehead has been carved up a bit to ID her as such; and another witch who appears to be ticked off about something coming from the direction of the Tavern’s indoor stage.

Also to counterbalance the frightening aura surrounding the outstanding musical trio of bands, there was a birthday cake along with a huge variety of snacks available for the asking. As we understand, the birthday celebration was for Pat Devaney. So, Tavern staff and owner Jim Justice, thanks for the piece of birthday cake among the other treats available to goblins and non-goblins alike.

And on that happy eating note we will conclude our accounting of Halloween night at the Chester Street Tavern with a few more photos of the bands and their somewhat ghoulish fans, at least for Trick or Treat night.

It may be no big deal, but No Big Deal’s Miranda Hope was feeling it onstage, as bass player Shae Parker lays down a melodic rhythm with Miranda’s husband, drummer Drew Smith. And don’t forget to give ‘Smiggy’ some too, in what was technically No Big Deal’s debut gig. And speaking of feeling it, The Ramones’ Shae, I mean Joey, Ramone appears to be attracting some concern from his band mates as he searches the ceiling for clues to the next song. We think it was ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’.

What appears to be a Revolutionary War ghost seems a bit confused about what he has walked, or floated, into. Whatever it was, Mona Lisa appeared to get a kick out of it.