Concert Review: 2 Nights of Neighbor at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, MA

Joanna Gleason
4 hours ago
2 min read

For two consecutive nights Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, Massachusetts, welcomed Neighbor, the dynamic quartet that blends ambitious compositions, soulful balladry, and

fearless improvisations to create a unique musical experience. Featuring Richard James

(vocals, keys), Rob Compa (guitar), Dan Kelly (bass) and Dean Johnston (drums), the group performed a terrific night of music in the South Shore.

The first night of the sold-out show was phenomenal. Beyond the band’s core four musicians, Neighbor was joined by a group of guest artists including Matt Wayne on saxophone, Rob Krahn on trombone, James Cronin on trumpet, and backup vocalists Renee Dupuis and Joanne Cassidy.

The ambiance was exceptional. Fans were singing, dancing, and drinking. Some were wearing T-shirts with the logo of the band while others wore colorful costumes special for that occasion. The venue was full of energy. The performances feature extended musical improvisation, over rhythmic grooves and chord patterns, and long sets of music that cross genre boundaries. This was a celebration of joy and an acknowledgement to all those musicians from different jam bands, who worked so hard to impose the psychedelic genre: The Grateful Dead - Allman Brothers Band - Phish – Dave Matthews Band etc.

The second night of Neighbor performances was as exceptional as the first one. Several hundreds of fans again attended the concert that began with a short horn intro before the

rest of the band came on stage. Neighbor played a list of different songs during the 80- minute first set that concluded with “Take Me Alive.”

The second set started with “Magic Marble Crew”, another tune from Planet Silver with a brief drum solo by Dean Johnston and continued with Garbage Man - The Unknown -One for the Hoop - Mary and Martha – Stranger Part of Town....

With a diverse catalog of hundreds of songs, Neighbor has become one of the most exciting and unpredictable live bands on the music scene today. Their songwriting brings elements of Americana, Funk, Rock, Jazz, Soul and more.

Created in early 2019 by a group of four childhood friends who create ambitious, soulful, and improvisational music, Neighbor fan base has expanded across the country. The group has become one of the most exciting and unpredictable live bands on the music scene today.