By Bonnie J. Toomey
Correspondent
SHIRLEY — NRBQ and The Whole Wheat Horns will take the Bull Run stage tonight, offering up a menu of roaring rockabilly, transcendent pop rock, delicious roadhouse blues, a touch of avant jazz, and whatever else comes to the musical mind of Terry Adams, the band’s founding member.
Adams, keyboardist and visionary for NRBQ (which stands for New Rhythm & Blues Quartet) since the band’s inception in 1966, reignited the quartet in 2007 with the addition of Scott Ligon on guitar and vocals, John Perrin on drums and Casey McDonough on bass and vocals.
The Whole Wheat Horns, featuring Klem Klimek on tenor saxophone and Carl Q on trombone, will join NRBQ on the Sawtelle Stage.
Speaking from his home in Chicago on Friday, Ligon said his brother Chris — “a musician and great songwriter” — introduced him to the band in 1988.
Chris, 12 years his senior, got him into music-making.
“He steered me,” Ligon said. “My dad was a piano player. Everybody is really musical in my family. It was Chris who came into my room and put on an NRBQ record one day, a live recording called ‘God Bless Us All.'”
Ligon says it’s difficult to explain how important that moment was to him as a young musician. As he listened to the first three songs from the album released in 1987, the music sounded new and mysterious, and at the same time really familiar.
“These guys had been around since the late 1960s, but at that moment, I was under the impression they were just another new band,” Ligon said. “Then my interest was piqued, and with a stroke of luck they came to town a month later. I went to see them and it changed my life.”
Ligon was impressed by the band’s freedom of approach and was drawn to Adams in a way that was reminiscent to meeting a new friend in school and knowing you’re going to be friends for a long time.
“I watched him on stage and felt I already knew him. In a way, he reminded me of an older brother,” Ligon said.
“Based on the musical choices they made I could tell at least someone, and it turned out to be Terry, in the band was living in a pile of records somewhere, and it was a similar situation I grew up in; my brother Chris is huge collector. We shared a sensibility and we didn’t even know one another.”
Ligon formed his first band in sixth grade, and by the time he hit high school he was already playing gigs and working professionally.
“Hanging in bars until 3 a.m. and getting up to do math the next morning just wasn’t happening. I had parents who took mercy on me and let me get out of high school,” said Ligon, who eventually earned his GED.
He notes that it was “painful” for his parents — who had seen him perform from age 3 — to let him go, but that his musician father understood.
Meanwhile, Ligon couldn’t get NRBQ out of his head. He felt it was a reach on some level, but even so, he felt a deep connection to the band and their music.
“It’s crazy thinking — they were all on the East Coast, and they were all older. It took 20 years. I first saw them in 1988, and then Terry and I met at their last show in Milwaukee on Halloween of 2004 … No one knew it was to be NRBQ’s last show (for awhile),” he said.
From the other side of the stage, Ligon watched and secretly felt he should be involved.
Shortly after, NRBQ went on hiatus when Adams was diagnosed with throat cancer. He was told he would never sing again.
“It’s incredible what Terry did to fight back. He put Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger on the walls of his hospital room, and he kicked its ass and went back out on the road,” he said.
Before the hiatus, the band played 200-plus shows a year in the U.S., Europe and Japan, made records for several major labels, including Red Rooster/Rounder, Mercury, Virgin (“Wild Weekend”), and Rhino, collaborating with Skeeter Davis and Captain Lou Albano, and producing compilations and reissues.
In 2007, while he was busy in Chicago with his own projects, Ligon heard that Terry Adams and Friends — made up of Adams, original NRBQ guitarist Steve Ferguson, the band’s 30-year dummer Tom Ardolino and bass player Pete Toigo — would be playing in Berwin, Ligon’s hometown outside of Chicago.
Ligon’s band, Flat Five, opened the show for NRBQ that night. Adams surprised Ligon by recognizing him.
“Before the show he said, ‘I know you!’ and I probably said, ‘I know you, too!’ It was by virtue of me having been to so many shows. Terry has a great memory; he’s very perceptive,” Ligon said.
After the show, they talked about records and Ligon got his long-awaited chance to tell Adams how “truly meaningful” his music had been in his life.
“We had a nice chat and we ended up batting some music around on the piano, and hardly anybody was in the club at that point,” Ligon said. “I had no idea everybody was in the van waiting to get paid.”
Ligon asked Adams to call him if he ever needed a “musical slave.” Five months later, Adams called, asking him to play guitar for NRBQ. Ligon was so shocked he called back immediately.
“I knew if I thought about it for awhile I could screw it up,” said Ligon, who ended up leaving a message on Adams’ voice mail.
Finally, the two connected and talked over the phone much of the summer of 2007. They hit off and began formulating ideas for a new band.
Ligon helped Adams put a band together even though Adams had only heard him play the piano for 60 seconds. But, Ligon said, his instinct had served him well in the past and it was musical instinct that had brought him to NRBQ.
“There is a language to this thing you either understand or you don’t,” he said.
Eventually, it came time for Scott Ligon to get on a plane, leave Chicago, meet up with Terry Adams, and actually rehearse, even though Adams still hadn’t heard him play. But Ligon was more nervous about the plane crashing than auditioning for Adams, who told him over the phone, “You better be good!”
Ligon said NRBQ rolls to the beat of a different drummer.
“There are no set lists, and (at the audition) it was all very intuitive and being in the moment,” Ligon recalled.
“We got going and played 50 songs together, hardly even mentioning a song title, playing song after song. We both felt pretty confident it would work, and then it was a matter of trying to find a rhythm section.”
Ligon is still with Flat Five in Chicago and the band has an album with songs by his brother coming out. He makes it clear that he never planned on being in NRBQ. He calls the idea presumptuous even though he admits he fantasized about it.
“I just knew that my spirit was connected to it and that was never going to change,” he said.
While he considers the invitation serendipitous, he said it’s a good example of following your instincts. He credits his ability to trust his gut for all of the best things that have happened in his life and says he pays his rent by playing the music he wants to play.
“A lot of musicians are playing songs they hate for weddings — but I sleep good knowing I play what I love,” he said.
His enthusiasm for NRBQ is undimmed.
“You have to see NRBQ, you have to see the musicians in action. Do yourself a favor and go see NRBQ!” he said, then caught himself.
“I am forgetting I am in it. In the end, the music lives on with or without me. I’m just a little part of the story.”
NRBQ & the Whole Wheat Horns, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Bull Run Restaurant, Shirley. Go to tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com
Weekend Best Bets
Food and Entertainment
Marty Nestor & the Blackjacks: Saturday, 8 p.m., Bull Run Restaurant, Shirley.
Also at the Bull Run:
* Los Lonely Boys: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Brunch with Chet Williamson and Jimmy Morell: Live music, Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St.
Also at Gardner Ale House:
* Blue Mondays: Live music, 7-10 p.m.
Teacher Appreciation: Thursday night, Destaré Martini Bar, 320 Main St., Fitchburg. Visit www.destare.com.
Also at Destaré:
* Jazz Depot 8: Thursday evening
* Blues Jam: Wednesday evening.
Swing Dance
The Love Dogs Band: Swing Dance Lesson, Sunday, doors open at 6 p.m., Leominster Elks Lodge, 134 Main St. Call 978-728-4533.
Shows
Magic Men Live: Sunday, 8 p.m.; Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. Visit thehanovertheatre.org.
Exhibits
Regional Exhibition of Art & Craft: Fitchburg Art Museum, 185 Elm St. fitchburgartmuseum.org
Also at Fitchburg Art Museum:
* Lynette Vázquez Polanco — The Reflection of the Soul
Adult Craft Night: Thursday, 5-7:30 p.m., coloring on vellum. Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton. Visit www.museumofrussianicons.org.
“MEOW”: 55 Salisbury St.; Worcester Art Museum. Visit www.worcesterart.org.
Also at Worcester Art:
* Knights: Through Nov. 6
* Arms & Armor Demonstration: Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
* The Last Judgment Tapestry: Contemporary Gallery
* Blood and Honey: Photojournalism Gallery in “Knights!’
* Jeppson Idea Lab: The Art of Combat
* Nude Drawing in the Galleries: Thursday, 2 p.m.
* Public Tour: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Fiber Art by Tarja Cockell in the IH Gallery: Indian Hill, 36 King St. Littleton. Visit indianhillmusic.org.
Comedy
Carolyn Plummer and Friends: Friday, 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 p.m., 257 Park Ave. BiagioÕs Grille, visit Worcester. Worcester.laughstub.com
Adult Puppet Show
Camping Fever: Fridays, 7 p.m. through July. Presented by Neon Dolphin Productions, Drawbridge Puppet Theater, 1335 Mass Ave., Lunenburg.
Events
Star City Games Open: Saturday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. DCU Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester.www.dcucenter.com.
Summer Concert on the Lawn: Concord Band, Thursday, 7-9 p.m. Harvard. Visit fruitlands.org
At the Library
Thursday Evening Book Sale: 6-8 p.m. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St.
Also at Leominster Library:
* 3-D Hot & Cold Theory With Brian Beaudoin: Monday, 10 a.m.-noon.
* Pen & Ink Drawing: With art educator Suzanne Hauerstein: Tuesday, 3-4:30 p.m.
* Literacy Volunteers ESL Tutor Training: Wednesday, 5:30-8:45 p.m.
* Knitting Group: Wednesday, 5-8:45 p.m.
Knit and Crochet: Thursday, 1-3 p.m. 610 Main St. Fitchburg Library.
Also at Fitchburg Library:
* Finnish Conversation: Monday, 6-7:45 p.m.
* Color Me Zen: Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m.
* MassHealth Family Forum: Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m.
* Peer Support Meeting: Wednesday, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Creative Writing: Tuesday,10:30 a.m.-noon, and Wednesday, 6:30-8 p.m., 1023 Main St. Lunenburg Library.
Family Best Bets
Art Together: Sizzling Summer Art Adventure, Ages 3-5 with adult, Thursday, 10 a.m.; 55 Salisbury St.; Worcester Art Museum. Visit www.worcesterart.org.
Also at WAM:
* Brush Painting: Ages 8-10, Thursday, 10 a.m.
* Exploring Modern Art: Ages 11-13, Thursday 10 a.m.
* Painting Workshop: Ages 14-17, Thursday, 10 a.m.
* Ready! Set! Paint!: Ages 5-7, Thursday, Thursday, l0 a.m.
* Art Carts Family Fun and Games: Thursday, 1 and 2:30 p.m.
* Family Tour: Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
* Arms and Armor: Company of the Wolfe Argent, Friday, 11:30 a.m.
Painting, crafts, and more: Saturday and Sunday, Mondaythrough Wednesday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., drop-in, Let’s Gogh Art Studio, 107 Union St. Leominster; Family Walk-in arts & crafts, visit www.rezclick.com/letsgoghart.
Read to Your Bunny Story Time: Thursday, 10-11 a.m.Leominster Public Library; 30 West St.
Also at Leominster Library:
* Van Gogh’s Starry Night: Teen pastel painting workshop, Thursday, 2-4 p.m. Register, please.
* Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Thursday, 3-4 p.m. Ages 3-7. Register, please.
* Gina’s Bracelet Workshop: Friday, 1-3 p.m.
* Preschool Story Time: Tuesday, 10-10:30 a.m.
* Terrific Twos Story Time: Wednesday, 10-10:30 a.m.
* Get Ready, Set, Exercise! Stories & Craft: Wednesday, 3 p.m. Ages 3-7, register, please.
Lego Club: Thursday, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 610 Main St., Fitchburg Library.
Also at Fitchburg Library:
* Mario Kart Tournament: Friday, 1-3 p.m.
* Library Chess Club: Saturday, 11a.m.-1 p.m.
* Read! Build! Play With Duplos!: Monday, 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
* Nursery Rhyme relays: Monday, 11a.m.-12 p.m.
* Maker Mondays: 4-5 p.m.
* Pokemon Game Night: Monday 5:30-6:30 p.m.
* Afternoon Crafts: Tuesday, 4-4:45 p.m.
* The Owls After School Book Club: Wednesday, 4-5 p.m.
* Yoga Story Time: Wednesday, 6-7 p.m.
Cubee Crafternoon: Thursday, 7-9 p.m. Grades 6-12. Lunenburg Library, 1023 Main St.
Also at Lunenburg Library:
* Make it Mondays: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
* Controller Addicts: Monday, 5-8 p.m. Grades 6-12.
* Summertime Lunch Bunch: Listen to The BFG by Roald Dahl, Tuesday 12-1 p.m.
* PJ Story Time on the Piazza: Tuesday, 6-6:45 p.m. Families please sign up.
“Carnival of the Animals & The Three Bears”: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. and noon, Drawbridge Puppet Theatre 1335 Mass Ave., Lunenburg.
Check your local library for events and passes.
