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| Hometown | Bradford, MA |
| Genres | R & B / Soul, Singer/Songwriter |
| Band Members | Varies |
| Achievements |
|
| Upcoming Shows | None |
| Contact Information: |
Artist / Band Member
Elle Gallo elle@ellegallo.com 978-476-1908 |
| # Years Experience Performing Live: | 15 |
| # Live Perfomances Past Six-months: | 30 |
| Market Draw: | North of Boston: 101-150; boston: 151-200 |
| Opener Experience: | Travis Tritt, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Blondie |
| Similar Artists: | Adele, Amy Winehouse, Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Norah Jones |
Whether she's with a full band, a piano & saxophone or just an acoustic guitar, Elle is an honest songwriter whose live performances at once yearn and explode with a raw, naked and powerful expression of a woman doing exactly what she came here to...
Whether she's with a full band, a piano & saxophone or just an acoustic guitar, Elle is an honest songwriter whose live performances at once yearn and explode with a raw, naked and powerful expression of a woman doing exactly what she came here to do. She’s been awarded Best Female Vocalist, New England 2011, Gimmeesound’s Fan Choice Award, 2010; and Boston’s Battle of The Band Champions 2009.. The supporting act for national artists like Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Blondie, Travis Tritt and several others, Elle was even asked to be the official “house band” for Boston’s prestigious House of Blues.
As much as she loves to perform, she equally enjoys watching, listening to and helping other local musicians. She is a promoter and a business woman, hosting a weekly music series and producing the shows for most of her community’s events. Her greatest passion and her newest baby is 3 years old: The Annual Eve Rising Music Festival, bringing women in music, art & enterprise together to help women in need.
Full Story:
In 1st grade Elle’s mother received a phone call from the principal of her South Boston School. “You need to come down here quickly,” he told her. “Your daughter is on stage singing for the entire student body, and she is going to be a star!” Elle’s first recording was made at age 7, singing a perfect-pitch rendition of Debbie Boone’s “You Light Up My Life”. Her first “real” on stage experience was at the tender age of 8 when she won the Jerry Lewis “Gong Show”. In her mid-teens she was offered a job singing on cruise ships, which her protective parents turned down. Senior year of high school Elle heard about a local pageant in the newspaper, of which the winner would go on to compete in the Miss Massachusetts Pageant. Although she wasn’t one of the girls who dreamed of becoming Miss America, Elle thought there might be a talent scout in the audience and registered to compete. 5 years later, she walked the runway of Atlantic City’s Convention Center alongside Regis and Kathie Lee as she competed for the title of Miss America as Massachusetts' state representative. Just a short year after that she took on a new title: Mrs. Joseph Gallo.
In the 5 years between getting married and being blessed with her now 12 year old daughter, Elle began writing music. She was introduced to local legend Brian Maes who took her under his wing, helped her see her musical visions through, got her songs recorded, and helped her find band members, book gigs, and get started on the path of a working musician and band leader. Elle and Brian can even be seen performing together these days and are currently working on her 3rd CD release-the first full compilation of her original music TBR this year.
Sultry, soulful and packed with passion that defies specific genres, Elle's honesty & sincerity combined with an ability to let herself succumb to lilting and haunting piano lines, the deep funk of a bass groove, the steadiness of a driving kick, or the wailing energy of the guitar have earned her die-hard fans in New England.
Photos
May 2010 Judging Excellence
November 2008 Judging Excellence
Connector
May 2010 Judging Excellence
November 2008 Judging Excellence
Connector
Super Connector
Working Parents By Day, Rock Stars by Night by Haverhill Gazette
In a quiet neighborhood in Bradford, where perfectly manicured lawns and elaborate swing sets highlight every plot, two residents live a double life.They are dedicated and working parents during...
In a quiet neighborhood in Bradford, where perfectly manicured lawns and elaborate swing sets highlight every plot, two residents live a double life.They are dedicated and working parents during...
Elle Gallo's Passion and Power by The Villager-Mark Remburke
Elle Gallo’s first recordingwas at the tender age of fiveand her first stage appearanceat six. Twenty some yearslater, with a dynamic voice andsomething meaningful to say, hermusical road less...
Elle Gallo’s first recordingwas at the tender age of fiveand her first stage appearanceat six. Twenty some yearslater, with a dynamic voice andsomething meaningful to say, hermusical road less...
Working Parents By Day, Rock Stars by Night by Haverhill Gazette
In a quiet neighborhood in Bradford, where perfectly manicured lawns and elaborate swing sets highlight every plot, two residents live a double life. They are dedicated and working parents during the day, but on nights and weekends, Jim Wyse and Elle Gallo are rock stars, inspiring clubgoers to sing and dance with their original songs and catchy covers. Better known to some as Acoustic Soul, Gallo and Wyse live just a few blocks away from each other, but didn’t meet until Wyse put out an ad looking for a singer and Gallo sent out fliers looking for a guitarist the very same day. “We had lived in this neighborhood for eight years and had never seen each other,” Wyse remembered. They exchanged music samples via the Internet, then Wyse asked Gallo to join him for his solo gig at Keon’s Bistro in Haverhill, and their act became a mainstay at the trendy downtown hot spot. “It’s kind of interesting. We start playing together and everything just flows,” Gallo said. “We’ve had amazing responses. Really, it’s been nothing short of magic.” For Gallo, who once sang the national anthem at a sold-out Red Sox game, baring her soul for just 10 or 20 people was too intimate a setting, but once she got over her fear, her experiences at Keon’s and other small venues became the most rewarding. “I think fear is a great indication of where our potential lies,” she said, “and I think we should be running as fast as we can toward it. I’ve learned more about music this year than I have in my life. You have to connect to the audience or it’s not a great night.” Acoustic Soul and Keon’s have parted ways amicably so they can better serve their customers and fans, but interest in the pair has grown. Their sound, which can be soothing at times and peppy at others, has been drawing crowds in their brief time as a duo. “When we play in the area, they’re always asking where we’re from,” Wyse said. “They assume we’re from New York or Nashville, and surprised to find out we’re from right here in Haverhill.” Gallo and Wyse have a lot of exciting things on their plate in the coming months. They added other parts to their duo this past March to form a new band named On The Rocks. As they balance their duo act and their larger band, their schedules have been filling up. Their next performance in Haverhill will be Oct. 26 at the Chit Chat Lounge. Acoustic Soul will release an album of original songs in the spring through Briola Records. If their self-written work takes off, they’d like to perform showcases of their original songs and hopefully open some big-name festivals. “I’d love to open up at Riverfest or a show like that,” Gallo said. “I could see that as our next big step.” But getting to this point in their careers has not been easy. And both Gallo and Wyse took very different roads until their paths crossed. Wyse, originally from Portland, Maine, grew up in a musical household. His mother taught guitar and piano, but he didn’t really get into the art until college where he learned flamenco guitar from a professor at the University of Maine. Then, after moving to Massachusetts, he kept taking classes at the Boston Conservatory and the New England Conservatory. Gallo, who hails from Saugus, was singing at an early age. Her school principal called her mother when she was in the first grade and encouraged her to come to the school to see her daughter perform. “She said, ‘Your daughter is on stage, and she’s amazing,’” Gallo remembered. Gallo’s next step was pageants. “I did it mainly for the talent portions, thinking maybe a talent scout would see me,” she said, “but then I got bitten by the bug and I had to go on.” In 1993, Gallo was named Miss Massachusetts and went on to compete in the Miss America pageant. The next year, she wrote her first album, but it was never released because starting her family became her top priority. Eventually she thought her days of performing were behind her. “I think musicians have a calling,” Gallo said. “I had decided I wasn’t going to pursue this, but it doesn’t go away. I think we’re all put here to share our gifts.” It has been difficult balancing a personal life with the pressures and demands of a career in music. Wyse, the father of an 11-year-old daughter, and Gallo, a mother to three children under the age of 7, find themselves at gigs until the wee hours of the morning on some nights, then they must be up early for day jobs and morning parenting. Wyse jokes that the relationships between bandmates can be equally as difficult. “Being in a band is like having five girlfriends,” he said with a laugh. Gallo helps her husband with the two companies he owns and Wyse is the webmaster for UMass Boston, so their nonmusical endeavors take up a good deal of time. They estimate that their music career takes up 20 to 30 hours per week. “It’s a job in itself,” Gallo said. “You have to keep the band’s energy up, and you’re up there sweaty from performing for three or four hours. It’s a tremendous amount of work keeping the crowd entertained.” Gallo also added that all the off-stage promotion and rehearsals take time as well, a reality that their closest friends often don’t understand. “To your friends, you fall off the map,” Gallo said. “All they see is when we’re on stage, and they don’t understand that off-stage we’re still working.” “It’s a business really,” Wyse added. “As fun as it is, it’s still a business.” For more information about Acoustic Soul and On The Rocks and to hear clips of their material, visit Jim Wyse at www.myspace.com/jimwyse and Elle Gallo at www.myspace.com/ellegallo.
In a quiet neighborhood in Bradford, where perfectly manicured lawns and elaborate swing sets highlight every plot, two residents live a double life. They are dedicated and working parents during the day, but on nights and weekends, Jim Wyse and Elle Gallo are rock stars, inspiring clubgoers to sing and dance with their original songs and catchy covers. Better known to some as Acoustic Soul, Gallo and Wyse live just a few blocks away from each other, but didn’t meet until Wyse put out an ad looking for a singer and Gallo sent out fliers looking for a guitarist the very same day. “We had lived in this neighborhood for eight years and had never seen each other,” Wyse remembered. They exchanged music samples via the Internet, then Wyse asked Gallo to join him for his solo gig at Keon’s Bistro in Haverhill, and their act became a mainstay at the trendy downtown hot spot. “It’s kind of interesting. We start playing together and everything just flows,” Gallo said. “We’ve had amazing responses. Really, it’s been nothing short of magic.” For Gallo, who once sang the national anthem at a sold-out Red Sox game, baring her soul for just 10 or 20 people was too intimate a setting, but once she got over her fear, her experiences at Keon’s and other small venues became the most rewarding. “I think fear is a great indication of where our potential lies,” she said, “and I think we should be running as fast as we can toward it. I’ve learned more about music this year than I have in my life. You have to connect to the audience or it’s not a great night.” Acoustic Soul and Keon’s have parted ways amicably so they can better serve their customers and fans, but interest in the pair has grown. Their sound, which can be soothing at times and peppy at others, has been drawing crowds in their brief time as a duo. “When we play in the area, they’re always asking where we’re from,” Wyse said. “They assume we’re from New York or Nashville, and surprised to find out we’re from right here in Haverhill.” Gallo and Wyse have a lot of exciting things on their plate in the coming months. They added other parts to their duo this past March to form a new band named On The Rocks. As they balance their duo act and their larger band, their schedules have been filling up. Their next performance in Haverhill will be Oct. 26 at the Chit Chat Lounge. Acoustic Soul will release an album of original songs in the spring through Briola Records. If their self-written work takes off, they’d like to perform showcases of their original songs and hopefully open some big-name festivals. “I’d love to open up at Riverfest or a show like that,” Gallo said. “I could see that as our next big step.” But getting to this point in their careers has not been easy. And both Gallo and Wyse took very different roads until their paths crossed. Wyse, originally from Portland, Maine, grew up in a musical household. His mother taught guitar and piano, but he didn’t really get into the art until college where he learned flamenco guitar from a professor at the University of Maine. Then, after moving to Massachusetts, he kept taking classes at the Boston Conservatory and the New England Conservatory. Gallo, who hails from Saugus, was singing at an early age. Her school principal called her mother when she was in the first grade and encouraged her to come to the school to see her daughter perform. “She said, ‘Your daughter is on stage, and she’s amazing,’” Gallo remembered. Gallo’s next step was pageants. “I did it mainly for the talent portions, thinking maybe a talent scout would see me,” she said, “but then I got bitten by the bug and I had to go on.” In 1993, Gallo was named Miss Massachusetts and went on to compete in the Miss America pageant. The next year, she wrote her first album, but it was never released because starting her family became her top priority. Eventually she thought her days of performing were behind her. “I think musicians have a calling,” Gallo said. “I had decided I wasn’t going to pursue this, but it doesn’t go away. I think we’re all put here to share our gifts.” It has been difficult balancing a personal life with the pressures and demands of a career in music. Wyse, the father of an 11-year-old daughter, and Gallo, a mother to three children under the age of 7, find themselves at gigs until the wee hours of the morning on some nights, then they must be up early for day jobs and morning parenting. Wyse jokes that the relationships between bandmates can be equally as difficult. “Being in a band is like having five girlfriends,” he said with a laugh. Gallo helps her husband with the two companies he owns and Wyse is the webmaster for UMass Boston, so their nonmusical endeavors take up a good deal of time. They estimate that their music career takes up 20 to 30 hours per week. “It’s a job in itself,” Gallo said. “You have to keep the band’s energy up, and you’re up there sweaty from performing for three or four hours. It’s a tremendous amount of work keeping the crowd entertained.” Gallo also added that all the off-stage promotion and rehearsals take time as well, a reality that their closest friends often don’t understand. “To your friends, you fall off the map,” Gallo said. “All they see is when we’re on stage, and they don’t understand that off-stage we’re still working.” “It’s a business really,” Wyse added. “As fun as it is, it’s still a business.” For more information about Acoustic Soul and On The Rocks and to hear clips of their material, visit Jim Wyse at www.myspace.com/jimwyse and Elle Gallo at www.myspace.com/ellegallo.
Elle Gallo's Passion and Power by The Villager-Mark Remburke
Elle Gallo’s first recording was at the tender age of five and her first stage appearance at six. Twenty some years later, with a dynamic voice and something meaningful to say, her musical road less traveled is anything but that of your typical singer-songwriter. A self-admitted former rebellious high school chick turned beauty pageant queen, she eventually won the title of Miss Massachusetts in 1993. Then, in 1996, while attending college and working two jobs, Elle had the opportunity to record a country album and work for a short stint as the singer for the New Hampshirebased country music band Cheyenne. She stopped performing in 1998 to start a family, and it was while pregnant with her second child that she discovered and fell in love with music of blues and soul artist Susan Tedeschi. Learning nearly all of Tedeschi’s songs from beginning to end, Elle put together the band Obsidian Groove, soon considered a fine Tedeschi tribute act. But once again Elle had to put music aside to welcome baby number three. Last year, Elle returned to performing once again, and began to write new original material while seeking musicians to perform with. Elle first formed Acoustic Soul, a duo with guitarist Jim Wyse, and then launched a successful cover band called On The Rocks. The current lineup which also known as the Elle Gallo Band also includes bass player Dave Gagnon and drummer Mike Albano. On Aug. 31, Elle will perform solo at the Boardwalk Inn in Hampton Beach, N.H., which will include a 45-minute tribute set to Susan Tedeschi. Coincidentally, Tedeschi herself will be playing that same night right next door at Hampton Beach Casino. Now working on an original album she hopes will be out by next summer, Elle’s family is prepared to pack up and tour to support if need be. Until then, look for local performances of her various live acts and hear some smoldering song samples by going to myspace.com/ellegallo. Catch the soul-driven Elle Gallo Band at The Pump House in Southbridge this Friday, Aug. 24. F
Elle Gallo’s first recording was at the tender age of five and her first stage appearance at six. Twenty some years later, with a dynamic voice and something meaningful to say, her musical road less traveled is anything but that of your typical singer-songwriter. A self-admitted former rebellious high school chick turned beauty pageant queen, she eventually won the title of Miss Massachusetts in 1993. Then, in 1996, while attending college and working two jobs, Elle had the opportunity to record a country album and work for a short stint as the singer for the New Hampshirebased country music band Cheyenne. She stopped performing in 1998 to start a family, and it was while pregnant with her second child that she discovered and fell in love with music of blues and soul artist Susan Tedeschi. Learning nearly all of Tedeschi’s songs from beginning to end, Elle put together the band Obsidian Groove, soon considered a fine Tedeschi tribute act. But once again Elle had to put music aside to welcome baby number three. Last year, Elle returned to performing once again, and began to write new original material while seeking musicians to perform with. Elle first formed Acoustic Soul, a duo with guitarist Jim Wyse, and then launched a successful cover band called On The Rocks. The current lineup which also known as the Elle Gallo Band also includes bass player Dave Gagnon and drummer Mike Albano. On Aug. 31, Elle will perform solo at the Boardwalk Inn in Hampton Beach, N.H., which will include a 45-minute tribute set to Susan Tedeschi. Coincidentally, Tedeschi herself will be playing that same night right next door at Hampton Beach Casino. Now working on an original album she hopes will be out by next summer, Elle’s family is prepared to pack up and tour to support if need be. Until then, look for local performances of her various live acts and hear some smoldering song samples by going to myspace.com/ellegallo. Catch the soul-driven Elle Gallo Band at The Pump House in Southbridge this Friday, Aug. 24. F
The Elle Gallo Band Rocks Wingate Street by The Haverhill Gazette
Elle Gallo Band rocks Wingate Street By Cara Spilsbury Staff Writer Visitors to Haverhill's Wingate Street can always expect to find unique artwork like paintings and jewelry. But on Friday night, Aug. 1, home-grown music rocked the road. The only rule for admission: The event was BYOC. Bring your own chair. The free concert, called Friday Night Live, featured the Elle Gallo Band, a local Americana blues band that covers songs by the likes of Susan Tedeschi, Beth Hart, Melissa Etheridge and Grace Potter, but also plays original music. The show took place in the middle of the street that makes up Haverhill's arts district, and the road was closed to vehicles. Speakers, instruments, microphones and a bevy of wires to power all the equipment were placed halfway down Wingate Street, between the Peddler's Daughter and Margot's Gallery. Gallo was happy to see such a pleasant crowd come out for her show. They attracted a really, really great group of people," she said. "They were so appreciative and very welcoming to us. A free show like Friday Night Live can be nerve-wracking for artists because without ticket sales, there's no way of knowing how many people will show up. But the concert, which started at 7 p.m., drew about 50 to 70 people, Gallo estimated from her vocal front-woman vantage point. A year and a half ago, I would have said the unknown part adds a lot of pressure," Gallo said. "But now we've been playing so many lounges, bars and clubs that 70 percent of our shows are unknown. I'm kind of used to the pressure. It doesn't matter to me if just two people come. I'm going to play my heart out for them and give them a good show. It's a bonus when a big crowd shows up. Just as they began playing their last song, the ominous clouds above finally broke and the rain began to fall. But before that, the crowd got a good mix of lively covers and Gallo originals that can't be heard anywhere else, except for her song "Sweet Addiction," which has been in rotation on 92.5 FM, The River. The radio station's studio is a stone's throw from Wingate Street, in Haverhill's downtown. The concert on Wingate Street was a special chance for Gallo to showcase some of her original work, songs that get shelved in favor of cover songs and jukebox classics at the bars and clubs she often plays at. The party crowd wants to hear songs they know and can sing along to, but the audience on Wingate Street was eager to hear her own unique music. Gallo was even more thrilled when audience members approached her after the show and complimented the songs she had written. Feedback is always good when you're aspiring to do something," she said. "You want people to respond. She estimated that there were about 50 to 70 people who turned out for the show, including many faces the Bradford resident knows well. I'd love to do it again," she said. "It was nice to do it in your hometown, with all your neighbors in the audience
Elle Gallo Band rocks Wingate Street By Cara Spilsbury Staff Writer Visitors to Haverhill's Wingate Street can always expect to find unique artwork like paintings and jewelry. But on Friday night, Aug. 1, home-grown music rocked the road. The only rule for admission: The event was BYOC. Bring your own chair. The free concert, called Friday Night Live, featured the Elle Gallo Band, a local Americana blues band that covers songs by the likes of Susan Tedeschi, Beth Hart, Melissa Etheridge and Grace Potter, but also plays original music. The show took place in the middle of the street that makes up Haverhill's arts district, and the road was closed to vehicles. Speakers, instruments, microphones and a bevy of wires to power all the equipment were placed halfway down Wingate Street, between the Peddler's Daughter and Margot's Gallery. Gallo was happy to see such a pleasant crowd come out for her show. They attracted a really, really great group of people," she said. "They were so appreciative and very welcoming to us. A free show like Friday Night Live can be nerve-wracking for artists because without ticket sales, there's no way of knowing how many people will show up. But the concert, which started at 7 p.m., drew about 50 to 70 people, Gallo estimated from her vocal front-woman vantage point. A year and a half ago, I would have said the unknown part adds a lot of pressure," Gallo said. "But now we've been playing so many lounges, bars and clubs that 70 percent of our shows are unknown. I'm kind of used to the pressure. It doesn't matter to me if just two people come. I'm going to play my heart out for them and give them a good show. It's a bonus when a big crowd shows up. Just as they began playing their last song, the ominous clouds above finally broke and the rain began to fall. But before that, the crowd got a good mix of lively covers and Gallo originals that can't be heard anywhere else, except for her song "Sweet Addiction," which has been in rotation on 92.5 FM, The River. The radio station's studio is a stone's throw from Wingate Street, in Haverhill's downtown. The concert on Wingate Street was a special chance for Gallo to showcase some of her original work, songs that get shelved in favor of cover songs and jukebox classics at the bars and clubs she often plays at. The party crowd wants to hear songs they know and can sing along to, but the audience on Wingate Street was eager to hear her own unique music. Gallo was even more thrilled when audience members approached her after the show and complimented the songs she had written. Feedback is always good when you're aspiring to do something," she said. "You want people to respond. She estimated that there were about 50 to 70 people who turned out for the show, including many faces the Bradford resident knows well. I'd love to do it again," she said. "It was nice to do it in your hometown, with all your neighbors in the audience
Elle Gallo & On the Rocks by The Boston Blues Society
Elle Gallo & On The Rocks Live review – July 25, The Rock Pond Restaurant, Georgetown, MA By Georgetown Fats August 2008 For a town of approximately 7,500, Georgetown residents who prefer the live music experience are fortunate to have two local restaurants that book live music on weekends. Having ventured out recently to review one of my personal favorite bands, the weekend was dedicated to heading outside of my usual area to check out a live act getting a lot of buzz in the North Shore and Merrimac Valley area. Out of Haverhill, Elle Gallo is a pint-sized vocalist with a great big voice. Accompanied by “On The Rocks,” some of the best blues rock musicians the North Shore and Merrimac Valley have to offer, I managed to sneak in unannounced in the middle of the first set at The Rock Pond in Georgetown. Bassist-vocalist Dave Gagnon was entertaining the crowd with his rendition of “Mustang Sally.” Gagnon, drummer Sean Davies, and guitarist Jim Wyse had the near capacity crowd up and dancing. From there, the band kicked off “Voodoo Woman.” After a couple of quick last minute sips of wine, Gallo – no pun intended - roared into the tune. She flaunted a voice which, while being technically impressive, also possesses the grit to add life to a set which relied heavily on juke box friendly material. This vocal grit was on display with a rocking rendition of “Bobby McGee.” The great Janis Joplin may have passed away 38 years ago, but Elle Gallo & On The Rocks honored Janis by rocking the dancing crowd with a strong cover version of this classic. For the proprietor of The Rock Pond, Elle Gallo & On The Rocks may have rocked just a tad harder than he would have liked, as he made a quick dash to the band to reduce the volume. For a remarkable bar room, which resembles an old church with high ceilings and a long bar, volume levels at The Rock Pond need to be constantly monitored as the restaurant attached to the bar area was still open, and the majority of clientele is either an older set or a family crowd. After a quick adjustment, the band ripped into “Son of a Preacher Man.” Once again Gallo and her crew showed the technical ability to dive into a classic and add just enough soul to make the tune their own. All too often, cover acts resort to classic tunes for shows and stick to note-for-note renditions. It takes a real strong band to take set lists full of jukebox friendly material and make the material its own. After the Dusty Springfield classic, Gallo took a moment to announce the next tune for the evening. “Am I the One,” a tune written and recorded by Beth Hart, slowed the evening down and illustrated that the band can rock, but they can also pour passion and energy into a power ballad. Next, Gallo announced there was one more tune before the break, and Wyse laid into his six-string to produce that unmistakable riff which is “Road House Blues.” Gallo roared her vocals, Gagnon and Davies powered the rhythm section - which allowed Wyse the room to blister a guitar solo that managed to compromise one of his strings. One popped string later “Road House Blues” came to a rocking close. The band thanked the crowd, and navigated through the dance floor to take quick breather. After procuring a copy of Yes I Am, Gallo’s new EP, I left The Rock Pond both impressed with the location and Elle Gallo & On The Rocks.
Elle Gallo & On The Rocks Live review – July 25, The Rock Pond Restaurant, Georgetown, MA By Georgetown Fats August 2008 For a town of approximately 7,500, Georgetown residents who prefer the live music experience are fortunate to have two local restaurants that book live music on weekends. Having ventured out recently to review one of my personal favorite bands, the weekend was dedicated to heading outside of my usual area to check out a live act getting a lot of buzz in the North Shore and Merrimac Valley area. Out of Haverhill, Elle Gallo is a pint-sized vocalist with a great big voice. Accompanied by “On The Rocks,” some of the best blues rock musicians the North Shore and Merrimac Valley have to offer, I managed to sneak in unannounced in the middle of the first set at The Rock Pond in Georgetown. Bassist-vocalist Dave Gagnon was entertaining the crowd with his rendition of “Mustang Sally.” Gagnon, drummer Sean Davies, and guitarist Jim Wyse had the near capacity crowd up and dancing. From there, the band kicked off “Voodoo Woman.” After a couple of quick last minute sips of wine, Gallo – no pun intended - roared into the tune. She flaunted a voice which, while being technically impressive, also possesses the grit to add life to a set which relied heavily on juke box friendly material. This vocal grit was on display with a rocking rendition of “Bobby McGee.” The great Janis Joplin may have passed away 38 years ago, but Elle Gallo & On The Rocks honored Janis by rocking the dancing crowd with a strong cover version of this classic. For the proprietor of The Rock Pond, Elle Gallo & On The Rocks may have rocked just a tad harder than he would have liked, as he made a quick dash to the band to reduce the volume. For a remarkable bar room, which resembles an old church with high ceilings and a long bar, volume levels at The Rock Pond need to be constantly monitored as the restaurant attached to the bar area was still open, and the majority of clientele is either an older set or a family crowd. After a quick adjustment, the band ripped into “Son of a Preacher Man.” Once again Gallo and her crew showed the technical ability to dive into a classic and add just enough soul to make the tune their own. All too often, cover acts resort to classic tunes for shows and stick to note-for-note renditions. It takes a real strong band to take set lists full of jukebox friendly material and make the material its own. After the Dusty Springfield classic, Gallo took a moment to announce the next tune for the evening. “Am I the One,” a tune written and recorded by Beth Hart, slowed the evening down and illustrated that the band can rock, but they can also pour passion and energy into a power ballad. Next, Gallo announced there was one more tune before the break, and Wyse laid into his six-string to produce that unmistakable riff which is “Road House Blues.” Gallo roared her vocals, Gagnon and Davies powered the rhythm section - which allowed Wyse the room to blister a guitar solo that managed to compromise one of his strings. One popped string later “Road House Blues” came to a rocking close. The band thanked the crowd, and navigated through the dance floor to take quick breather. After procuring a copy of Yes I Am, Gallo’s new EP, I left The Rock Pond both impressed with the location and Elle Gallo & On The Rocks.
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