Video: Red Molly’s last song…

Red Molly--Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Molly Venter--with fans after last NJ show. The Mollies had a special bond with fans, dubbed Redheads. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Red Molly--Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Molly Venter--with fans after last NJ show. The Mollies had a special bond with fans, dubbed Redheads. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Video: The last song performed by Red Molly?

 

By Kevin Coughlin

… maybe for now. Maybe forever.

SO LONG, RED MOLLY: Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Molly Venter in their sixth and final gig at The Sanctuary. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
SO LONG, RED MOLLY: Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Molly Venter in their sixth and final gig at The Sanctuary. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Red Molly is going on  “indefinite hiatus.”  So Saturday’s show at the Sanctuary series in Chatham really could be Goodbye and So Long to You, as the trio sang with gusto, with a helping hand from dobro player Pat Wictor.

Fittingly, the ladies saved another signature number, Susan Werner’s moving May I Suggest, for last:

May I suggest this is the best part of your life, goes the punchline.

For 11 years, the Mollies —  Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Molly Venter, and before her, Carolann Solebello — have been among the best parts of our musical life.

Red Molly--Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Molly Venter--with fans after last NJ show. The Mollies had a special bond with fans, dubbed Redheads. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Red Molly–Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Molly Venter–with fans after last NJ show. The Mollies had a special bond with fans, dubbed Redheads. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

They got their start around a music festival campfire, and the flame kept burning ever brighter.

Going forward the women all have solo projects, the most urgent of which is the arrival of Molly’s first child, expected next month.

Her husband, Eben Pariser of the band Roosevelt Dime, joined Molly onstage Saturday for one song,  surely their calmest three minutes for the foreseeable future.

Video: Goodbye and So Long to You

Although the hint of a tear appeared in Laurie’s eyes as the show came to a close, the evening was upbeat, with all the polish and humor that has defined Red Molly over the years.

NEW TRIO: Red Molly's Molly Venter and singer-husband Eben Pariser are about to embark on a new project: Their first child. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
NEW TRIO: Red Molly’s Molly Venter and singer-husband Eben Pariser are about to embark on a new project: Their first child. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Noting how the group always aimed to leave audiences wanting more, Laurie said she hoped Saturday’s rare double encore wouldn’t leave spectators “wanting less.”

Reflecting on Red Molly’s extensive tours, Abbie waxed nostalgic about Australia’s colorful currency… but lamented its elimination of the penny.

“I’m a little sentimental. I like to wish on pennies… maybe in Australia you don’t need wishes?” she mused.

Abbie also finally came clean about the band’s name (scroll down to Richard Thompson’s 1952 Vincent Black Lightning), after some coyness in the early days.

We’ll miss Red Molly’s charm, and sparkle, and sense of fun.  Above all, we’ll miss those ethereal harmonies and the joy with which they were delivered.

Thank you, Red Molly.  May we suggest the next chapter will be the best part of your lives.

MORE ABOUT RED MOLLY

HEAR OUR INTERVIEW WITH ABBIE OF RED MOLLY

 

Video: Red Molly sings about Red Molly

 

Video: One of our favorite tunes from the Red album, Red Molly’s last CD. 

Video: Red Molly makes harmony seem as natural as breathing.

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