From the Taunton Gazette: “Taunton’s BaHa Brothers perform with their idol, Jimmy Buffett”
Nearing the 20th anniversary of their founding, local band the BaHa Brothers — owners of the Sandbar Grill — performed a special concert with musical legend Jimmy Buffett in Newport, R.I. on Sept. 8.
“Jimmy himself hired us to play,” said BaHa Brothers bassist Jay Gonsalves. “We were sworn to secrecy because it was a surprise party for a friend of his.”
On the morning of Sept. 8, the BaHa Brothers packed their gear into their tour bus and left for Newport at about 8 a.m. At 3 p.m., they began their set with Jimmy Buffett and guitarist Mac McAnally — himself a four-time Country Music Association award winner — with “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
“Outstanding. Incredible. Nothing like playing with him,” said drummer John Correia.
“What a way to celebrate (our 20th anniversary), playing a show like that,” added saxophonist Pete Hebert III.
“But this was a once in a lifetime deal,” Correia added, referring to the concert with Buffett.
Their journey towards performing with Buffett began about two months prior to the show with a simple phone call.
“I was in the backyard doing some yard work, and my phone rang,” explained Hebert. “I looked at it, and it was one of those calls you don’t know. So I looked at it, and I wasn’t going to answer it but I decided I would.”
That phone call was from Kino Bachellier, who the BaHa Brothers describe as Buffett’s right hand man, offering them the gig.
“That’s how it all started,” Hebert continued. “In fact, I had to have him repeat the conversation twice because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”
According to the band, Buffett arrived at the approximately 300-person private function on a boat from Block Island. He then performed the first half of his set with McAnally, and the BaHa Brothers joined him on stage for the second half.
“If I had a bucket list, it would have been on my list,” Hebert said.