Nearly every town in Vermont, no matter how big or small, values live music. 

Whether a music festival, local jam session, or an evening at a local restaurant, Vermonters choose to share intimate parts of themselves through music. From the tops of the Green Mountains to the lows of the Champlain Valley, echoes of generational influences are heard to this day. In recognizing these richly diverse sounds, Castleton is honored to receive one of Vermont’s everlasting echoes; The Green Brothers Band. 

My first introduction to the band was a Friday in September at Third Place Pizzeria in Castleton, in which I sat down with two of the members, Philip Lamy and Andre Fleche, both professors on campus.

Lamy teaches Sociology, Anthropology, and Cannabis studies, while Fleche teaches History and serves as Faculty Representative. 

I then discovered that current philosophy professor Brendan Lalor and retired professor Bob Bizek are also a part of the band and have an abiding history to this community. 

The band’s history spans over 30 years, which Professor Lamy went on to explain. 

Naturally, the band has evolved over time; members have retired, and multiple horn players occasionally accompany the band for larger events. Steve Cahil, Bob Bizek, and Philip Lamy were the original band members. 

Lamy moved to Castleton in 1992. Coming from a musical family, he grew up playing in all types of bands and events to put himself through college. He quickly met his neighbor, Cahil, who was an excellent guitar player, singer and composer, and they began playing together. Along came Bizek, a bass player connected through a mutual friend of the music scene. 

It was Bizek on bass, Lamy on drums and percussion, Lalor on vocals, harmonica and guitar, Fleche on guitar, Dave McKenzie on trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion, and Harry Drum on saxophone, flute and percussion. 

Soul music, psychedelic rock, The Beatles, Steely Dan, and The Grateful Dead are a few musical influences of their generation. The Green Brothers Band play jazz with a Latin influence and past sets include R&B, Reggae, Rock, cover tunes, and originals.

When I questioned the origin of their name, I was met with a candid laugh and an explanation that goes back the baby boomer era; a time mixed with social justice movements, protests for peace, war on drugs and the never-ending expansion of social norms. 

Lamy said the band’s name alludes to cannabis and its effect on music culture, and pays homage to Vermont, the Green Mountain State. The forested beauty throughout the state paired with the appreciation of music in Vermont is celebrated and valued by the professors.

Fleche is the latest member to join the band and uses his love and appreciation of music as a tool when discussing history. Music gives a historical context to what a society felt at the time, what issues were relevant and provides anecdotal evidence of their conditions. Music is art and a continuous storyteller, and one style of genre can expand ideas for another. 

His musical influences are deeply rooted in Chicago style Blues; BB King, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton all serve as inspiration in Andre’s musical career. 

Lamy is deeply inspired by musical cultures and social movements. 

Being a drummer, he is influenced by Afro beats, Latin music, Reggae and R&B. As the Director of the Cannabis Studies Certificate Program, he has studied the connection between cannabis and music culture back in the 60s until present day. 

We connected on the need for music education and accessible programming and touched on the threat of budget cuts to the music department during the VTSU merger. He emphasized the importance of music education for all ages. 

“To be human is to be musical,” says Professor Lamy. 

It’s this expression of self, and the connection felt when music is valued that enriches the human experience. 

Local music is an integral part of the Vermont experience, which is something I felt during their performance. 

I watched the band play and noticed members’ subtle cues, prompting each other and communicating through the instruments.  The band loves to give an audience a piece of what they experience when they play, and their feedback is very important. The audience indicates when they’re on the right track and receiving the energy of the music in a positive way. 

They receive the love of the song; they are inspired by what the musicians are presenting, and it feels like a breath of fresh air.