My Silent Bravery to play El Basha to benefit independent film

Robert Duguay
| Special to Worcester Magazine

Bringing people together for something great is always a positive thing to do, no matter what the endeavor is. The result is usually a few quality connections that are established, friendships being made and an overall stellar experience for all involved.

Add a birthday party to it, and it becomes even more special. Which is exactly what Matthew Wade of Worcester has going on with “A Night of Music & Comedy,” set for June 22 at the El Basha Restaurant & Bar in Worcester.

Along with celebrating his turning a year older, the event has Wade performing with his acoustic alt-rock act, My Silent Bravery, and stand-up comedy from Tom Dwyer and Pat Brennan. The proceedings will benefit the making of Dwyer’s independent film, “Holly Woo” and a scholarship fund for firefighters’ children grandchildren, to help with their first year of college.

‘Working with local artists’

“About a month ago, I went with a friend of mine to check out Tom Dwyer’s comedy routine out in Fitchburg and I thought he was super funny,” Wade said. “Since he was my buddy’s friend, we hung out for a little bit and chatted. I told him I was a musician and we should try to do something locally.”

Wade added, “I like working with other local artists who are trying to make good in the area and trying to get their name out there while doing exciting things. I came to learn that Tom is working on an independent film from a series he did that did pretty well in terms of getting some accolades and awards.”

Wade said, “He was going to continue to work on the series, but he decided that he was going to turn it into a film and he asked me if I was interested in bringing that to fruition while helping out with some of the musical aspects of the project.”

Wade’s decision to help with the project was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since COVID, I really slowed down on some of my touring and I’ve been very active in terms of live streaming while performing in that way over the last several years,” Wade said. “I’ve really been able to appease my fan base during that time through the live streaming, but I’ve always loved doing the live performances. I wanted to shake off the rust and get out there to do a gig in my hometown in front of family, friends and fans who want to come out.”

‘A fund that’s very meaningful’

The inclusion for the scholarship fund came about due to Dwyer being related to folks who work for the Worcester Fire Department. This made it an ideal situation to have the show benefit both the film and the fund.

“I invited Tom to join me while making it a fundraiser for his film project and donating some proceeds to the fire department fund as well,” Wade said. “It’s a fund that’s very meaningful to Tom, he’s got some family who are very involved in the local fire department and it’s a cause that many people can get behind in terms of feeling good about where their money is going.”

Wade said, “I really wanted to make this a night not really about myself but just bringing a lot of people together to support some good causes that we believe in while putting some positive energy out there into the universe.”

On the day before the event, My Silent Bravery is going to be releasing a new single titled “We’re In This Together” from album “Silence & Bravery” due out later this year. With the song being written during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the message behind it confronts unrest and uncertainty with positivity.

“I wrote it with my dear friend Jim McGorman, who is also the producer of the song,” Wade said about the single. “Jim is out in Los Angeles, so we wrote this song over … a Zoom session and as far as the recording of it, I did my parts from my home studio and I sent them out to him.”

A great collaboration

Wade said, “He put them together into the recording and Jim is a very talented musician in his own right. His full-time gig is with the Goo Goo Dolls and he’s worked on a lot of really cool projects over the years. He was playing with Gwen Stefani for a number of years, he was in Poison, he was part of a project with the New Radicals and he toured and sang with Cher for a couple of years.”

Wade said, “Jim is someone I connected with in 2017 when I met him, we really hit it off in terms of not only our musical tastes but also being friends and working with people. He’s one of the first people I worked with where it seemed like everything clicked on all cylinders in terms of the writing, the recording, how we got along and our collective vision.”

Wade his worked with many talented writers and artists over the years, but said, “Jim ended up being my go-to guy. Since then, we’ve written over 100 songs together, and this one was really cool because I felt like the message was really important while the pandemic was going on. At the beginning of it, I had just gotten back from tour after being overseas for a month supporting ‘The Calling’.”

Wade observed, “The world had really changed in this moment and we wanted to write a positive song while looking to bring everyone together during this time of uncertainty and negativity with all of us being stuck at home.”

For this reason, Wade said, “The message of ‘We’re In This Together’ is about unity, it’s a big part of what I do musically and what I do as a person while looking on the bright side and having appreciation and gratitude for the good things that are happening in life.”

Celebrating life

Of the upcoming show, Wade said, “I’m just excited to bring people together.”

Wade added, I have fans who are traveling out from a bunch of different places to come and partake. Hopefully some family is going to come, I know some of Tom’s crowd is going to come and Pat is just starting out in comedy. So, I’m really happy to support him and trying to get him going toward his goals to be a comedian.”

Among those participating, Wade said, “My buddy Joff (Smith) is going to be emceeing, and I’m going to have my good friend BK (Jackson,’) who is one of the best saxophonists I’ve ever seen, sit in on some of the songs.”

Wade added, “My wife is going to be joining me for a couple songs, so I’m just looking forward to bringing a lot of amazing people together for some great causes, celebrating the night and celebrating life in general.”

A Night of Music and Comedy with My Silent Bravery and Tom Dwyer

When: 7 p.m. June 22

Where: El Basha, 256 Park Ave., Worcester

How much: $15 online, $20 at the door. eventbrite.com.