Rocking the Gap: Scuttlebutt Performing Post-Parade

For at least a decade during Ridgewood's Fourth of July festivities, Scuttlebutt has dutifully filled the gap between parade and fireworks with Southern and classic rock jams.

So following the 100th Independence Day march, Mac Murphy's Bar on the West Side will once again feature the local band for its annual July 4 (well, July 5 this year) bash. With three members raised in the village, Scuttlebutt knows what it's like to "support the tradition."

"Oh, yeah. Our parents used to drag us over to the parade, and of course we'd see the fireworks," keyboardist and lead vocalist Chris Ivory said. "But I think the fireworks in recent years are a lot better than it was when I was a kid."

The five-piece band has played Mac Murphy's post-parade bash "between 10 and 15 times" in the band's 20-year history.

"We're all good friends with people at Mac Murphy's, so we're not necessarily playing to a fresh crowd, but there's a lot of friendly faces," he said.

Playing three, hour-long sets, Scuttlebutt (which means "rumors" in Navy slang, but is really a tribute to a Stevie Ray Vaughan tune) will weave through songs from the Allman Brothers, Little Feat, the Beatles, Eric Clapton and Tom Petty, among many others. Although the band can quiet it down with unplugged sets, the Monday show will be full-blown electric.

Ivory plays with brother guitarist Bill, guitarist Jeff Neidig, bassist Kenny Kaufman and drummer John Stanton.

Performing outside, Ivory said the band "doesn't have to worry about blowing off the place's doors," and fans should anticipate "straight-ahead rock and roll."

The parade starts at North Monroe and Godwin and should complete its march past Mac Murphy's around 12:30 p.m. Ivory said an opening group may kick things off, and he expects Scuttlebutt to start around 1 p.m. It will play on-and-off through 5 p.m., so residents have plenty of time to catch a set, eat dinner and head off to Veterans Field for night-time festivities and fireworks—with gates opening at 6:30 p.m.

For information on the band, visit its website.