Gazebo Concert
Offers Breath
of Fresh Summer Air
By Abby Sullivan
Special to the Times
7/14/11

In the midst of a hectic summer, the band concert at Town Hall July 5 served as a breath of fresh air. Perhaps a hidden gem of Milton, the weekly concerts are a perfect way to get away for a while. Whether you bring the family, an old pal or your trusty little dog, or even if you venture solo, the atmosphere seems pleasing to all.

Listeners of all ages lined up their lawn chairs and opened their eager ears to the music played during “An Enchanted Evening with Paul Agnew and the John Capevella Quartet.” Little girls in sundresses and boys in their sneakers laughed and played in front of the gazebo; some chased each other while others danced their socks off.

Agnew, the band’s singer, gave shout-outs to the kids between songs, which made them stop and giggle, then start up again with even more enthusiasm. As if rehearsed, a young girl saw her chum from school and ran across the lawn, screaming along the way, “I love seeing my friends!”

A very different set of friends strolled in with their lawn chairs minutes into the concert, sitting a good distance from the stage and enjoying the view from behind the crowd. These particular women try to make the concert a weekly ritual, enjoying the music almost every Tuesday. They proved that you don’t have to be from Milton to enjoy its wonderful contributions. One of the women is a Milton resident and the other is from Canton. Although there were hundreds of spectators before them, the two friends said that the crowd is usually even bigger, suggesting that perhaps the holiday weekend contributed to the slightly smaller audience.

The band itself consisted of five men, all wearing festive Hawaiian shirts, appropriate of the July warmth. The mix of swingy, jazzy, slow-jam music had the audience moving their shoulders and swinging their hips.

Even Mark Williams, the auxiliary policeman on duty, spent most of the night tapping his feet. He said he used to play music with Agnew, adding that the singer previously lived in Milton but now resides in Braintree.

Luckily for Milton, Agnew paid a visit back. He and his band provided an exceptional show. Every member played their part, strumming, singing, and playing along to the sounds of summer.

Nothing about the concert lacked small-town charm. The sun setting on the gazebo, the children running to the ice cream truck, and the families sitting side by side on picnic blankets may sound cliché, but the concert serves as a slow-down that most people need in this day and age.

The bands play at the Baron Hugo Gazebo on the Town Green at the Town Hall every Tuesday during the summer months. Different bands play each week from 6:30 to 8 p.m. as part of a series offered by the Parks and Recreation Department.

If it’s possible to get away for a bit, this summer concert series is worth taking the time. The music and camaraderie of the night is exactly what our town needs. The night serves as the perfect cool-down to a hot summer day, and the perfect slow-down to a busy and bustling life.