Brass over Tea Kettle stormed the Wolfe Island Hotel for the first time last night—and what a wild ride it was! The evening got off to a chaotic start when one of the band’s cars decided it had other plans, forcing some members to ditch the misbehaving vehicle and haul their instruments (including a naked tuba) and gear onto the snowy ferry by foot. Cold, slightly defeated, and loaded down with brass, the musicians then played a peculiar game of “Marco Polo” on the ferry, trying to track down their bandmates and other friendlies kind enough to cram them and their oversized instruments into their cars for the trek to the hotel.
Meanwhile, PJ, the ever-dedicated “Kettlehead,” stayed behind to revive the car. Not only did he manage to get it running again, but he also convinced another brass enthusiast to join the adventure on the next ferry, solidifying his status as the unsung hero of the night.
Once assembled, the band lit up the stage with two incredible, high-energy sets that had Islanders hitting the dance floor.
In a quirky twist of fate, the band stumbled upon a sousaphone mounted on the wall of the hotel’s piano room. Could this be the universe’s way of telling Liam it’s time to master an E-flat sousaphone? They seem to haunt him, whispering their sad, lonely songs, while the elusive B-flats remain out of reach. Only time will tell!
The grand finale? A mad dash to catch the ferry. Superfan Pam, with charm and determination worthy of legend, sweet-talked the ferry crew into holding the gate open just a little longer. Every band member made it aboard, and as a thank-you, Liam gave an impassioned performance of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from the bow of the boat that surely brought a tear to every ferryman’s eye.
Between Brandon’s whirlwind trip to Belleville to fix a frozen steering wheel, Claire’s delicious early-bird appetizers, PJ’s heroics, and Pam’s undeniable charm, it was our devoted band of Kettleheads who truly stole the show last night. We couldn’t do it without you—thank you for making the chaos unforgettable!