Part of NEMPAC’s collaborative new Artist Series, Flower & Ash: A Post-American Concert is a folk-inspired musical which explores a dystopian America born of violent political differences. The post-apocalyptic story chronicles the epic journey of two 20-somethings—Flower and Ash—who discover the true meaning of survival. Along the forgotten roads that lay between The Island (aka Manhattan) and Fishcamp (formerly Gloucester, MA), the two develop deep bonds with unlikely friends they meet along the way (Steel, Sasha, and a few dozen more outlandish characters). Facing danger from wayward tribes, the anarchic Confeds, and a primal landscape after “the Fall,” the journey calls on Flower and Ash to find their authentic power.
Unlike a traditional musical, the folk/roots band of Flower & Ash delivers songs that create a concert experience alongside the action onstage.
THE PROCESS OF CREATING FLOWER & ASH – in the words of creator Mike Descoteaux
Flower & Ash is a vigorous push-back against the hardening of hate and vitriol in our culture. We’re shining a spotlight on the power of compassion through storytelling that is as fun as it is pointed. We’re combining music, theater, and storytelling in unique ways. We’re asking folk music to do what it’s always done: change the world, if just a little bit. Our show explores the tribal wasteland of a dystopian America born of violent political differences and the resulting anarchy. Amidst the literal and figurative rubble arises a truly American story of resurrection and connection. Unlike a traditional musical, our folk/roots band delivers songs that create a concert experience alongside the action onstage. In fact, the concert can stand alone as a live album, reflecting on the themes explored in the narrative—freedom, identity, sexuality, religion, and what it means to be American.
On the road to a first full production, we are thrilled to partner with NEMPAC and City Winery in presenting the debut performance of the complete song-set of FLOWER & ASH with a band of talented musicians. Songwriter and playwright, Mike Descoteaux, will provide narrative highlights between songs for audience members to engage with the story beyond the music. After the concert, everyone is invited to discuss their experience with the artists.
This concert is a folk-inspired musical:
Mike Descoteaux: (songwriter, piano, vocals)
McCoy Plaisted: (drums, vocals)
Shane McLaughlin: (guitar, vocals)
Lila Blue: (guitar, banjo, vocals)
Pearl Scott: (vocals)
DATE: Thursday, April 16th @ 7:30 PM to 9 PM | Doors open at 6 PM for drinks and dinner
VENUE: City Winery Boston | Haymarket Lounge
ADDRESS: 80 Beverly St, Boston, MA 02114
ABOUT MIKE DESCOTEAUX (SONGWRITER, PIANO, VOCALS): Mike Descoteaux (he/him) is a songwriter and performer with over 25 years in the music industry. In addition to his singer/songwriter catalog, he’s written a handful of musicals including Ready for Life (a zombie musical), Dia De Los Muertos, The Fundamental Skip, and Warfield: USA. He’s collaborated with brilliant artists like Ellis Paul, Jason Robert Brown, Jackie Hoffman, Dickie Smothers, Laura Hall, and William Finn. Mike’s performed at theaters and music venues around the world with The Second City, Club Passim, Chicago Shakespeare and New World Stages topping the list.
Mike was creator and head of the Music Program at the legendary Second City in Chicago, songwriter/pianist of the Second City ETC stage, and full-time artistic director/executive director of several New England nonprofit arts and comedy organizations. His work has been seen on NBC, A&E, WGN, WGBH and stages around the globe. He has “composed” and “conducted” over 1,000 completely improvised musicals with BLANK! the musical (Off-Broadway), Baby Wants Candy, Musical! the musical, and many others. In addition to teaching/performing at institutions like the Second City, iO, Comedy Sportz, the Annoyance, the Magnet, UCB, Northwestern University, and Columbia College, Mike has led workshops in improvisation, sketch, music direction, and music improv at festivals and theaters all over the world. Find Mike on Instagram at Mike_D_Makes_Music.
MCCOY PLAISTED (DRUMS, VOCALS)
McCoy Plaisted (he/him) is an active drummer, educator, composer, arranger, and producer originally from New England. As a current graduate student in the Jazz Studies program at Rutgers, he continues to regularly perform across New England, New York, and New Jersey as the bandleader of .mp3. He is particularly active in the Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey jazz and musical theatre scenes.
McCoy is a proud alumnus of UMass Amherst, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Afro-American Music Studies, served as center snare for the UMass Minuteman Marching Band, and taught the UMass Drumline upon graduation. McCoy’s mentors deeply ingrained a strong foundation in jazz and rudimental percussion, having studied under Thom Hannum, Ian Hale, Tom Giampietro, Jeff Holmes, Jonathan Barber, and Ryan Sands.
SHANE MCLAUGHLIN (GUITAR, VOCALS)
Shane McLaughlin is a songwriter, guitarist and singer based in Pittsburgh. He spends much of his creative time with the band Buffalo Rose. Buffalo Rose have toured the country and shared the stage with Jessica Simpson and Tyler Childers, and are currently on the road supporting their upcoming cover record “All You Can Eat”. While not on the road, Shane works as a music educator, booking agent, and gigging musician. His other projects include Whiskey River – A Tribute to Willie Nelson, and Turkeyfoot, a traditional bluegrass duo. He has made a return to the theatre in the last two years, playing a musician named Shane McLaughlin in City Theatre’s Ghosted, and playing at City Theatre’s The Bash, performing songs from Hedwig and the Angry Inch
LILA BLUE (GUITAR, BANJO, VOCALS)
Lila Blue (they/them) is a twenty-five year old non-binary and queer folk musician, singer-songwriter, playwright and performer based out of New York City. They have been performing and composing professionally since early childhood in communally devised theater with the likes of Bread and Puppet Theater and the Lake Lucille Chekhov Project. They have toured and performed internationally, as well as composing music for film and television, most notably for MTV and Lifetime. They released their fourth LP, “Sweet Pea,” in 2023 garnering much critical praise including Ann Powers of NPR, “they bring an incredible authority to songwriting and singing…enormous fearlessness and panache….” Their projects navigate themes of grief, joy, intergenerational trauma, rage, queerness and collisions with divine and haunted spirits, stemming from their own intuitive practices (which include writing in their sleep). Their original musical about the life and work of Hilma af Klint, “SEE/UNSEE,” is currently in development at HERE Arts. You can find them online at @lilablueofficial and lilablueofficial.com.
PEARL SCOTT (vocals)
Pearl Scott is a military veteran & singer/songwriter/producer originally from Indiana, who now currently lives in Boston, MA. She spent four years as a vocalist in the U.S. Army Bands stationed at Fort Liberty, NC, and Fort Knox, KY, after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. Accomplished in her songwriting and performance capabilities, she was honored to be the NEMPAC recipient for April 2024. She has an album and various singles available for purchase/stream. Follow on Instagram @pearlscottmusic and view her website www.pearlscottmusic.com for more information.
PARKING & PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
There are several parking garages within a few minutes’ walk, including the Haymarket Garage located at 136 Blackstone Street, with parking maxed at $16 for evenings and weekends.
The closest MBTA stations are Haymarket (orange and green lines) about a 5 minute walk, and North Station (orange and green lines), also about a 5 minute walk.
ACCESSIBILITY: City Winery Boston is fully handicap accessible. Their ADA entrance is located at the corner of New Chardon St and N. Washington St. If you need assistance or have questions, please contact their Concierge at bostonconcierge@citywinery.com or call them at 617-933-8047. For Information about All their Accessibility options please email accessibility@citywinery.com.
