The Bacon Brothers enjoy what they do, and do it as often as they can.
You could be just one degree from Kevin Bacon, if you’re visiting Ocean City, New Jersey.
Bacon was baking on the beach of O.C. three years ago when he called for an interview plugging a concert.
When reminded of the chat, Bacon laughs.
“Sure, I called from Ocean City,” Bacon says while phoning from Manhattan. “I love the beach at Ocean City. I love the beaches of New Jersey. I grew up on the beaches of New Jersey and so did the rest of my family.”
Well, no wonder Bacon and his fellow singer-songwriter brother Michael, who make up the Bacon Brothers will perform Monday, July 9, at the Ocean City Music Pier.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Michael Bacon says. “We love playing in New Jersey. We always get a really enthusiastic response there.”
Well, Ocean City is the antithesis of Malibu, but so is Bacon, who takes acting and musical chances. Bacon and his brother Michael deliver catchy songs with rich harmonies and deep lyrics. They connect well with the audience, spin yarns and just have an easy-going manner. It’s not surprising they are so connected as the Bacon Brothers have played together since they were children growing up in Philadelphia. The Bacons would write and play music together in the family basement while attending grade school during the 1960s.
“It’s just something that each of us have always been so passionate about,” Michael Bacon says.
But their solo careers took over. Michael, 62, has written a myriad of scores for film and television. Kevin, who will turn 54 the day before the concert, has become one of the most successful and recognizable faces in the world courtesy of his high profile acting career.
However, in 1995 the busy siblings were invited to play a one-off benefit concert at Philadelphia’s Theater of Living Arts. It was only after that show that they decided to record together.
“We could never have imagined it working out like it did,” Kevin Bacon says. “This is something we love to do. Obviously we’re busy doing other things. But it’s been so great making time making music with someone you love to work with. We’ve been incredibly fortunate. We know how lucky we’ve been.”
The Bacons have released a number of solid albums, particularly 2005’s White Knuckles and 2009’s New Year’s Day.
It should no longer be a surprise that the Bacons craft agreeable, straightforward pop-rock with a touch of the blues. Kevin Bacon is obviously an impressive performer and Michael Bacon is a well-regarded soundtrack composer.
“I think over the years we took some people by surprise,” Kevin Bacon says. “I guess I can see why. Some actors didn’t cross over so well as musicians. But we’ve been doing this for a while and I think we’ve been pretty consistent.
You know what to expect from us.”
“I’ve got a band that needs to live. And they need to pay bills. You know artists like myself no longer sell any records because radio is a disaster. They don’t play anything new. Radio is still the most powerful way to get yourself out there. But there are no more DJs. It’s all programmed and there’s just no surprises anymore.”
O.C. Hosts Bacon Brothers Musicians Michael and Kevin Bacon will be performing live at the Ocean City Music Pier on Saturday, Oct. 11, 8pm. The concert is a fundraiser for the Ocean City Education Foundation. The brothers last appeared in O.C. five years ago. The lifelong musicians have been touring together since 1995 and have released five albums, most recently their CD White Knuckles (2005). Michael Bacon has composed hundreds of songs for TV and film, and Kevin Bacon is a well-known character actor who has appeared in dozens of movies. Both brothers are guitarists and singers, and will be backed up in O.C. by drummer Frank Vilardi, bassist Paul Guzzone, keyboardist Charlie Giordano, and multi-instrumentalist Ira Siegel. "I love to play and I love to play live," says Kevin Bacon. "If you have songs inside it's hard not to want to get them out. And if the songs keep coming, we'll keep playing them." Tickets ($30) are available at the City Hall Annex (901 Asbury Ave.), at www.ocnj.us or by calling 525-9300. -- Ray Schweibert Absecon Lighthouse Lighting Up N.J. Visiting 11 lighthouses, three of which are near and dear to the hearts of southern New Jersey lighthouse fans, in...
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