The Big Happy
Written by: Cait Elizabeth - June 2019
Edited by: Travis Ryan
Introductions
The Big Happy might be a small circus family disguised as a funk/hip-hop/rock band. Eight members all versed in mediums like acting, music, and film, who travel around in a modern caravan…maybe you can understand my suspicion. Their stage presence and energy certainly belong under the spotlight of a big, colorful top! The Big Happy’s cast is made up of Joseph Baquet (vocals/guitar), Nikki Silva (vocals/percussion), Austin Morgan (MC/percussion), Eddie Baquet (bass/vocals), Ben Pinnola (keyboard/saxophone/vocals), Matt Maloney (drums/vocals), and Joe Rubino (lights). The players trade off on the mic, sharing stories and donning roles throughout the performance. Their sound smashes genres together, throwing in-your-face raps in between catchy melodies.
Nikki, Joey, and Austin originally met in an acting class and got to know each other over the course of the several plays they were cast in together. Joey asked Austin to rap on one of the songs he was working on, which turned out to be the spark needed for ignition. Adding Joey’s brother Eddie was an easy choice; the band describes him as “the best bassist we know,” so there wasn’t much deliberation necessary. Then Matt and Ben signed on to make up one Big Happy family. They’ve applied their experience in film and their talent on stage to produce two music videos, “Aimless” and “High in Demand”, directed by Joey, Austin, and Nikki with their friend Marc Fratto. They have a new video in the works that promises to be “a little racy and a tad controversial,” touching on the topic of unsavory clergy. Keep your eyes open for the music video coming Winter 2019!
Their favorite song to play live is “Learn Me” off of their self-titled debut album. The songs takes a few unexpected twists, keeping the audience on all ten (probably) of their toes. One jam leads into another and the melodies are infectious, making it near impossible not to bop along.
Tours & Shows
A perfectly orchestrated variety show, The Big Happy packs more than one punch into each performance. I was lucky enough to catch them in May up in Narrowsburg, NY for the Froggy Daze Festival. In an open barn surrounded by hundreds of excited music fans, The Big Happy pulled out all the stops. The crowd sang along with enthusiasm, following Nikki’s dance instructions and bobbing in time to Austin’s rhymes. The audience was completely entranced by the band shining in their element.
Another recent gig, the Moonchaser Booze Cruise out of Captree State Park with Oogee Wawa, was one the band’s favorite shows so far. On June 1st the Moonchaser set sail celebrating four years partying with Oogee, and on this voyage The Big Happy were in tow! Every trip out on the Moonchaser is magical—there is a literally inescapable camaraderie that manifests when you’re out on the water drinking and dancing to music together. Arrange for DD’s and Ubers, my friends!
When you catch The Big Happy on the road, they’ll be up to their usual antics in The Big Happy Van. Joey and Matt will be bickering over the radio station (sorry Joey, I’m anti-sportsball myself mostly), Nikki will be asking for another rest stop break, and the whole family will either be in the middle of a laughing fit or preparing for the next one.
Inspiration & Influences
The Big Happy lives by the mantra "In the end, we'll all be singing songs/only got one life, it ain't long enough," a line from their song “One Life”. The lesson is that life is too short to miss out on the little things that make us happy. Don’t get lost in the overwhelming issues in the world and miss out on the joys all around us.
The band is as professional as they are creative. “Yes, we're all about enjoying this life we are given but we are also all about putting in the work,” they share. They handle all of their own promoting and marketing and take every opportunity to help support fellow local musicians and businesses.
“ We live for our music every single day. We better ourselves individually and as a group with tons of practice and hard work!! We don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. ”