By Tom Kane
Brooklyn Eagle

It was a Saturday night, and The Cove, located on the corner of 91st Street and Fourth Avenue, would have a “one night only� performance of the hit country-rock band New Riders of the Purple Sage at midnight. The opening band for the evening would be local favorites the City Kids. Admission was $10, which included two drinks. The year was 1981.

The Cove was a Brooklyn musical “happening� that featured the best in local talent every week. It was Bay Ridge’s hot spot.

“It was the only legitimate rock club in the area,� said City Kids guitarist Mike Riddle, one of the main organizers for the reunion. “They had a big stage, which was perfect for that sort of entertainment.�

Paddy McDonagh owned the taproom and loved the sound of live music. The City Kids was one of the premier local bands.

“I think it was a Friday night, early November of 1979, the very first time we played at The Cove,� explained Annie B. of the City Kids. “We were the only band playing – at the time, the City Kids were Mike Riddle on lead guitar, Jack Whitman on guitar and lead vocals, Michael Colangelo on drums, Mark Jones on bass and me on lead vocals and percussions. We also had Janet, my sister and Mike’s wife, doing sound and lights. She’s actually the best soundperson I ever performed with and her talents were definitely part of our sound and success! We would get there late afternoon, early evening to set up. Paddy’s friend, Weasel, would be there to let us in. After a sound check, we’d go home to eat, change and come back around 10 p.m. to start at 10:45. We’d do four 40 minute sets and end at around 3:45 a.m.�

That’s how it all started. As time went on, the City Kids would play every Wednesday night. They had a great following with many of the soldiers from Fort Hamilton Army Base as regulars. “They were wonderful to play for,� said Annie B.

On Sunday, October 11, at BallyBunion, there will be a “Cove Reunion.� Organized by Riddle and his wife Janet, John Bennett and Pat Donnelly of BallyBunion, and former Cove owner Paddy McDonagh, the celebration is set to start at 4 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10, which will benefit The Guild for Exceptional Children. Paul Cassone, Executive Director of the GEC, is a guitarist himself who, as a young man, had a band called Shepherd and played here in Bay Ridge during the early 70s.

“You know, growing up in Bay Ridge there were, and still are, a lot of musicians,� said Cassone, whose band has had Columbia Records interested in them during 1972. Shepherd played original music and were hits on the high school dance circuit and venues like Bananafish Park.

“I can remember playing Bananafish with Shepherd along with bands like Sneaky Pete with Jack Whitman and Tony Monier,� Cassone reminisced. Whitman and Monier later joined Riddle to form the City Kids. “Thanks to Mike and Janet Riddle, who know and have helped the Guild, for suggesting to the organizers that the door be donated to the GEC. This is going to be so exciting,� he added.

McDonagh, The Cove’s former owner will be at this reunion. “Paddy, to us, was almost like a manager,� said Riddle. “He had taken a shine to our band, and had actually got us our first manager, who was able to get us down to the Jersey shore and up to Hunter Mountain. Paddy just wanted us to branch out.�

And branch out they did, though their home was in Bay Ridge, at Paddy’s Cove, where a sign that just said “City Kids� hung above the front door. At one point, says Riddle, McDonagh had the group videotaped during one of their performances, so he could show the video during breaks or even when the band wasn’t even scheduled to perform. “We had a great relationship.� Riddle said.

The bands taking the stage that Sunday will be Head Over Heels (80s version) at 4:15 p.m., Southern Comfort (original) at 5:15 p.m., Workin’ Class at 6:10 p.m. Nasty Habits at 7:05 p.m., the City Kids will feature the 80s version at 8 p.m. and the original band at 9:15 p.m.

The suggested cover charge and raffle sales will benefit the GEC; Bally Bunion has donated the stage, sound system and lights. This is perhaps your last chance to savor the wonderful sounds of an era gone by, for a most inspiring cause.

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