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Thursday, June 6, 2024
The Sinclair
Over $39K fundraised

Overall Winner and Judges’ Choice Award: Almost the Cure, rocking for Epilepsy Foundation of New England: Joseph's HOPE Scholarship Fund
Hustle & Heart Award: CellarSonic, rocking for Camp Casco, featuring legal talent from ReNAgade Therapeutics; AIP Capital
Music Matters Recipient: Boston Children’s Chorus

It’s been over a decade since we last rocked a stage in Boston, but it felt just like the day before yesterday with the energy from last night’s crowd at The Sinclair. The Return of Law Rocks Boston brought a mixed-genre bill to life with four bands whose musicianship showed the best of the blues, Americana, rock and pop. It was a successful night of fundraising for local nonprofits and excellent foreshadowing of things to come for Law Rock in Boston, a city with an incredibly underrated music scene.

The evening kicked off with The Murphy & King Blues Machine, who got right down to it serving a piping hot set of blues greats. Soulful raspy vocals were matched with a trumpet, two saxophones, and an abundance of sizzling guitar solos. Their electrifying sound seized the crowd from the first riff, radiating a love for music that was infectious. The perfect start for the night.

Up next, Tuesday Woodshed brought a refreshing change of pace - a tender start that blossomed into a symphony of strings, featuring upright bass, viola, violin, and mandolin. Pristine vocals and keys added a mesmerizing layer to the performance. Remarkably, their Law Rocks debut marked their first time performing on stage together, yet their chemistry was so seamless and you'd never guess it was their inaugural concert appearance.

CellarSonic took the stage next, putting the “rock” in Law Rocks with high-energy hits like “Shoot to Thrill” by AC/DC. Comprised of veteran Law Rocks friends who have played over 20 Law Rocks concerts over the years, the band’s camaraderie was evident as they seamlessly moved through their set of crowd-pleasing covers. Memorable moments included an unexpected rendition of “Black Eyes” by Bradley Cooper, and a thunderous drum outro on “Cherub Rock” by The Smashing Pumpkins that exhilarated the crowd.

The final band of the night was “supercharged Rock and Roll band”, Almost the Cure. Starting with “Atomic City” by U2, a mic issue could have derailed the whole set, but the vocalist brilliantly recovered picking right up with the chorus as the band stayed steady. The rest of the set was powerful and showed impeccable musicianship, but the true highlight was a cover of Hysteria by Muse. Opening with arguably one of the best bass riffs ever written while the guitars rocked out in counter melody. The crowd was rocking and singing along as the band impressively matched the tone and intensity of the original song.

We are incredibly grateful for the participating bands and those who helped us get The Return of Law Rocks Boston off the ground! Sincere thanks to the stellar team at The Sinclair; the Rock Panel of Judges: Jeff Baker; Kenneth Griffith; Jonathan Plaut; Jeff Prystowsky; and Victoria Wasylak; our host Doug Wolf; and our nonprofit guests. This long-awaited evening was made possible thanks to our tour sponsor Secretariat and additional sponsors Wolf Greenfield; Duane Morris; Janitronics Building Services; LCI Global; and Nelson Mullins. We are thankful for each and every one of you!

We can’t wait to come back to Boston again soon. In the meantime, we would love for you to please consider making a contribution to support Law Rocks World Tour and ensure we keep rocking the globe for years to come!

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Featured

Almost the Cure

Rocking for Epilepsy Foundation of New England: Joseph's HOPE Scholarship Fund

Almost The Cure (ATC), is a supercharged Rock and Roll band born in January of 2018 from the biotechnology industry in Cambridge, MA. The six members of ATC share deep roots in both biotechnology as well as music. All working at different companies, members of ATC are as passionate about their music as they are of their quest towards scientific breakthroughs and the discovery of new medicines.

From the beginning, ATC has embarked on a mission to provide high energy, edgy and, most of all, fun rock and roll music, along with fostering a strong sense of community and great citizenship. Through their music, they have bridged their pharmaceutical “day job” experiences with the broader community of charitable organizations and foundations in the Boston area, most specifically the Epilepsy Foundation of New England, Joseph’s HOPE Fund. ATC has raised over 250K. Most recent performances include The Boston Royale Theatre (Cambridge Battle of the Bands 2018, 2019 and 2022), The Bull Run (June 2019 and 2021), Cambridge Crossing Summer Nights (September 2019), AudioArt (streaming concert for Joseph’s HOPE, June 2020), the JamSpot (streaming concert for Joseph’s HOPE, December 2020) and The Sanctuary (Joseph’s HOPE event July 2021), Slaters, (2023) and the Middle East (Cambridge, MA, Dec 2021).

Francesco (rhythm guitar), Giovanni (lead guitar), John (bass), Mathieu (drums), Blair (vocals), and Sheilah (vocals) are Almost The Cure… because music is only half the battle.

Almost the Cure on YouTube.

CellarSonic

Featuring talent from ReNAgade Therapeutics; AIP Capital
Rocking for Camp Casco

CellarSonic is thrilled to support the amazing team at Camp Casco at this year’s Return to Boston Law Rocks benefit concert on June 6th at the Sinclair Theatre to help children and families faced with childhood cancer. The amazing all-volunteer team at Camp Casco "provide fun, adventure, and friendship to help children and families thrive during, and after, childhood cancer." Camp Casco is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose volunteers care deeply about their kid campers. Through their efforts the team strives to build a camp experience that provides community, encourages independence, builds camaraderie, raises self-esteem, and overall just supports kids who are dealing with cancer in their lives. Camp Casco greatly depends on generous financial support from the community to help these children and families thrive. In exchange for your kind support (donations, sponsorships, and/or buying a ticket!), the band promises to bring ‘da noise to the Sinclair stage! The band is comprised of veteran Law Rocks friends who have played over 20 Law Rocks concerts in New York and Los Angeles over the years raising nearly $500,000 for various non-profits since 2014. The band includes Gabe McCool (VP of Legal/IP at ReNAgade), Greg Kahn (General Counsel of AIP Capital), and long time Law Rocks veterans Brian Lothson and Ted Bednarczyk. Prepare to rock with CellarSonic!!!

The Murphy & King Blues Machine

Featuring legal talent from Murphy & King
Rocking for Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Unfortunately, too many people have had a loved one taken from them by pancreatic cancer. While no type of cancer is a good thing, often times pancreatic cancer is so aggressive, that the time between diagnosis and death is numbing. Murphy & King PC selected the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research as its charity because of the great work it does fueling a pioneering effort to address the many challenges in pancreatic cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The band includes, Dan Rabinovitz on vocals and trumpet, David Evans on guitar, Chris Brown on guitar, Bob Vabulas on bass, Bob Dallas on drums and Chuck Langford on sax.

TUESDAY WOODSHED

Featuring talent Goulston & Storrs
Rocking for Spark Hope Scar Revision Project

Tuesday Woodshed is proud to take the stage for Spark Hope Scar Revision Project. Spark Hope aids those struggling with scars from self-injury and other trauma by connecting them with free scar revisions services. Born from the founders' own experience in helping loved ones move beyond the suffering and stigma associated with self-injury scars, Spark Hope offers participants a chance to reduce the physical scars of self-injury for a fresh start on the outside and an opportunity to heal invisible wounds carried within.

Debuting at Law Rocks Boston, Tuesday Woodshed features five friends with long and short histories of making music together, appearing for the first time in concert—but certainly not the last:

Allyn McCourt - vocals, viola, guitar
Jason Frangos - bass, vocals
Joseph Penny - drums
Michael James - violin, mandolin
Rachel Webb - vocals
Victoria Mariconti - piano / keyboard

Law Rocks is thrilled to be extending our Music Matters grant into 2024! This grant, established in 2023, is presented in each of our US tour cities to benefit a local organization that supports music education. We are pleased to present our 2024 Boston Music Matters grant to Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC)! BCC harnesses the power of music to connect our city's diverse communities, cultivate empathy, and inspire social inquiry.

Click through to read our blog about Boston Children’s Chorus, including an interview with Boston Children’s Chorus Music Director, Kenneth Griffith.

We are proud The Return of Law Rocks Boston 2024 bands raised funds for the following organizations.

Featured

Featured

HOST - DOUG WOLF

Doug Wolf co-chairs Wolf Greenfield’s Trademark & Copyright Practice and co-chairs the firm’s New York office. Doug’s focus is primarily in the areas of trademark prosecution and litigation, patent portfolio management, infringement and patentability analysis, licensing, and internet issues. There are very few industries that Doug does not touch. Clients in industries ranging from consumer goods and services to high-tech and life sciences rely on Doug for his strategic intellectual property counseling. Known for his responsiveness, Doug works with large and small trademark clients, including several portfolios comprising thousands of trademark records throughout the world.

From hosting the MIT Enterprise Forum Bad Business Plan Competition to speaking at convocations and graduations, Doug is no stranger to the stage. In his professional life he’s often an orator and moderator for organizations such as INTA, TechGC, and Columbia, and when it comes to being a dad, he’s occasionally an interrogator.

JUDGE - JEFF BAKER

Jeff Baker has a long history of making noise in an organized manner. When Jeff was 11, Jeff conned a drum set out of his grandmother for the sole purpose of annoying his mother. Shortly thereafter, Jeff traded his first Grateful Dead album—“Sitting on Top Of The World”—for a Marine Band harmonica and Jeff was off to the bright lights and melody lines. Since that portentous trade, Jeff has taken up many different instruments, including guitar, piano, saxophone and accordion. If pressed to respond, Jeff would concede that he is primarily a keyboard player. Jeff has played in countless bands, some good, some not-so-good, some worthy of soundproofing. Notable experiences in this regard include playing in a side project with numerous members of the Boston-based band “O Positive”. In addition, Jeff has written and recorded songs produced by Stu Kimball, Bob Dylan’s former guitar player for countless shows. Currently, Jeff is in a tribute band called the “80’s Strike Back” (get the pun?)

On a professional level, Jeff graduated from Trinity College and then Suffolk University law school. Jeff has been practicing law over forty years now (where does the time go?). Baker has litigated in federal courts all over the country trademark infringement cases, copyright infringement cases, royalty claims, and manager agreement disputes, involving notable bands such as Boston, a former member of the Backstreet Boys, members of the Meters, Carly Simon, and Supertramp (the Supertramp case tried; Baker contributed but Baker was not chosen at the last minute to be lead counsel). Baker continues to maintain an avid interest in music and hopes one day to retire from the practice of law and live off of his recording royalties, the possibility of which is extremely remote.

JUDGE - KENNETH GRIFFITH

Kenneth Griffith, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Premier Choir at Boston Children's Chorus, boasts a decade of choral music education experience, renowned for his warm yet demanding approach and unique ability to connect with young talent. Under his leadership, the chorus has graced prestigious venues like Boston's Symphony Hall and collaborated on groundbreaking productions including the debut of WILD with the American Repertory Theater featuring Idina Menzel. Kenneth's versatility shines through collaborations with notable artists like Lawrence Brownlee and Javier Muñoz, as well as his role in preparing ensembles for renowned stages such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Beyond performances, Kenneth's passion for music's transformative power drives his commitment to community engagement, evidenced by his active involvement in schools and underserved neighborhoods around Greater Boston. His recent accolades include preparing the chorus for Anthony Davis' Pulitzer Prize-winning opera X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, earning a GRAMMY nomination in 2023. With a BM in Vocal Performance from Capital University and an MM in Choral Conducting from Bard College, Kenneth continues to inspire and uplift through his music.

JUDGE - JONATHAN PLAUT

Jonathan Plaut is an attorney in both New York and Boston. He has conducted over 200 jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations and appeals. He was Boston criminal prosecutor and practiced international transactional law in Tokyo. He is a Hearings Officer for the BBO Disciplinary Committee and the Chair of the Business Law Council of the MBA. He has taught courses on law at Tufts University and BC, and he taught Japanese language full time before law school.

Jonathan is also the lead singer and lyricist for Jane’s Great Dane, an country-funk band which just released its first studio album on Spotify, Sucker For Love. Jonathan produced the latest album for the great Dan Bern, Starting Over, and played 23 shows on bass and viola with Dan Bern this year already through the US (Texas, Nashville, Kentucky, New York), and recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis. Jonathan has played at many venues throughout the U.S. on both viola, guitar and bass including with John Waite, Michelle Shocked, Carlos Cavazo (of Quiet Riot and Ratt), and Carmine and Vinnie Appice (of Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck).

Jonathan recently published a book about his most interesting law cases, I’ll Take The Case.

JUDGE - JEFF PRYSTOWSKY

Jeff Prystowsky co-founded The Low Anthem in 2006. He has toured with Bruce Springsteen, EmmyLou Harris, The Avett Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Mumford & Sons, The Barr Brothers, The Chieftains, The National, Iron & Wine, The Head and The Heart, City and Colour, and Ray LaMontagne. Jeff has recorded with T-Bone Burnett for The Hunger Games soundtrack. He has played on Late Night with David Letterman three times, Carnegie Hall with Roseanne Cash, and The Grand Ole Opry with EmmyLou Harris. EmmyLou also recorded Jeff’s song, “To Ohio,” which was NPR song of the day. Jeff has toured the U.K., western Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, and across the U.S. six times on records labels such as Nonesuch, Bella Union, and Joyful Noise. He has played Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, and End of the Road Festival. Jeff also helped reopen, revive, and run a historic opera house/music venue in Providence, RI – The Columbus Theatre. He recorded Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band’s “Body and Shadow” there for Blue Note Records. During the COVID music meltdown, Jeff went to law school and finished as valedictorian of his class at RWU Law. He now works as an Intellectual Property associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Boston and is raising three music-loving kids under five-years-old.

JUDGE - VICTORIA WASYLAK

Victoria Wasylak is an award-winning music journalist and editor with over a decade of experience in reporting. Readers follow her coverage via “Sound Check,” her weekly music column for The Boston Globe, and via her prolific work as Music Editor of Vanyaland, where she has authored over 1,600 articles. A four-time winner of “Music Journalist of the Year” at the Boston Music Awards, her work has also appeared in NYLON, GRAMMY.com, Paste, and Under The Radar. In podcasting, she has researched and written over a dozen episodes of Disgraceland, the most-downloaded music podcast in the world.

In 2023, Forbes included Victoria in the first-ever 30 Under 30 list for Boston. She is also a Professional Member of the Recording Academy and volunteers as an Assistant Chapter Chair of Women in Music’s Boston chapter.