PAT MONAHAN - Class of 1976

MARK LINDSEY - Class of 1974

‘Enjoy the time we have …’

Mark Lindsey (’74) has been making music for decades, in fact going back to the 1970s at venues including cafes, dance clubs and weddings. These days, he plays electric and acoustic guitar, guitar synthesizer and he contributes lead and background vocals for the Gunn Street Revival Band.

When asked about playing at the reunion, Mark said, “Truly an honor to be playing the place where we spent four years - 45-50 years later. MHS was in a beautiful setting and the people we met there stayed friends.”

So what does Mark like best about playing in the band? “I’ve played with many bands during my musical career but Gunn Street Revival is like home base. We play music that we love - not because we have to - but because we feel it.   

“We know the people who come to see us connect with our songs, as do we.  

“It’s truly the backdrop of our lives,” not to mention special that “my band mates are all MHS musicians who came back together to share that love and passion. It hopefully brings us back to a time much simpler and full of many personal memories.”

Mark started playing guitar and piano at age 11. “I was self-taught,” he added. “I picked up the flute when I was 17 and played for a very short time in the MHS school band (Mrs. Barbie). I had many local role models - all mostly Milford-based.  

“They motivated me to keep playing and get better. I went on to play in several local bands and always stayed close to the shoreline.  After taking several years off to be with our kids, I came back in 2010.”

Any favorite memories from Milford High?

Mark said he enjoyed playing his guitar at the flagpole - often times prompting sing-alongs. “I also met his wife - Betsy Troy - there. And I loved going to watch my band partner, Pat Monahan, play with Dave Nicholson in study hall.”

Any message Mark would give to MHS alumni attending the All-Class Reunion on June 24.

“Yes, let’s enjoy the time we have left by sharing these memories with our friends and families once again.”

Thanks, Orange Ale House

Many thanks to Orange Ale House and Jim Hassenmayer for its sponsorship of the Gunn Street Revival Band at the June 24, 2023, Milford High All-Class Reunion.

The band regularly plays at OAH, usually monthly on Thursday nights. For the band’s local schedule, go to: https://pat-monahan-mark-lindsey.webnode.page/

The Gunn Street Revival Band is ready and set to go as our featured performer at the 2023 Milford High All-Class Reunion on June 24, 2023.

And they’re plenty excited to be playing before a hometown crowd estimated at more than 600 attending our every-five-year reunion event to be held on the front patio of the Parson’s Complex, aka Milford High School.

Specializing in acoustic-electric rock music from the ‘60s through the ‘90s, the band playlist features artists including Elton John, John Mayer, Don Henley, The Beatles, Sting, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, the Eagles and many more of the era’s favorites.

History of the band

By Mark Lindsey

The "Gunn Street Revival Band is based on the actual "Gunn Street" located off of West River Street.

Somewhere around 1981, Pat Monahan, myself and Doug Edo (founding member of the Rumrunners band) were jamming with other local musicians in various basements and garages.

Pat had a bunch of original compositions that he wanted to record professionally with a band to provide to recording artist and record producer, Todd Rundgren. Pat had stumbled upon Todd at a local solo gig while Pat was performing. The conversation resulted in Todd asking Pat to get him a tape.

Doug, who resides on Gunn Street, graciously offered up the use of his infamous "barn" located at the rear of his property as a practice space/recording studio.

We all chipped in our time and Pat did some creative marketing to finance the renovation and eventual creation of what we called Sunrise Studios on Gunn Street. There were many hours of great music and memories created in that space..it later saw several popular bands visit and record there including Apple, Flashback and the Rumrunners.

Fast-forward 40 plus years - Pat and I found our way back together as a duo playing locally the music we loved so much. That became the Gunn Street duo.

We later added Dick Furanna on drums/percussion and Mike Krajewski on bass to really capture the sound and dynamics we were looking for. 

Pat and Mark deemed the group "Gunn Street Revival...the rest is, as they say, history!"

Pat’s story …

For decades now, Pat Monahan (‘76) has been a bedrock of positive energy and happiness – sharing with many - including hundreds of children - the joys of music and storytelling.

He wrote recently, “My life in Milford has been a gift - the greatest of friends, family and spectacular memories that have lasted a lifetime.”

And what about playing at the 2023 MHS All-Class Reunion?

“What could be better than to perform some favorite music from our glory days with my great musical friends from high school?!”

Pat plays piano and keyboard, acoustic guitar and is a songwriter. His lead vocals skillfully cover some of the great artists of the recent past – he himself doing solo and duo work since the late 1970s.

What do you like about playing in the Gunn Street Revival Band?

“It’s four good guys with the pure joy of playing music from our lifetime - just putting our best musical vibes out there and knowing there are others out there who instantly connect with us.

“Well, maybe not everyone,” he notes, “but for those who do, it simply takes you back there!”

Pat, who recently returned from a trip to Italy, said music and particularly piano playing runs in his family. “My grandmother – who I never knew – played piano. My Dad and my Uncle Phil played piano, too – so I guess it’s just osmosis.”

When asked if he had a favorite memory from his time at MHS, Pat replied, “Through the years, I've had lots of nice comments from people remembering the assemblies Dave Nicholson and I used to play and sing in the MHS auditorium and at Jonathon Law.”

And what does Pat say to those Alumni attending the reunion on June 24? “Close your eyes and let the music take you back!”

DICK FURANNA - Class of 1973

MIKE KRAJEWSKI - Class of 1974

‘It was the Beatles, man …’

For band member Dick Furanna (‘73), February 9, 1964 “changed my world” (as it may have changed many of you reading this).

“I started piano lessons in third grade. I wasn’t the best student but it gave me fundamentals that I have used my entire life. But my world changed on February 9, 1964, when I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show.

“All I wanted to do then was play drums, and my parents were good enough to let me take lessons from the school in fourth grade, although I didn’t get my first drum kit for two years – as they were smart enough to make sure I really wanted to play and made me start on a practice pad!

What does Dick like best about playing in the Gunn Street Revival Band? “The chances of four friends and musicians having attended the same high school and sharing a similar taste in music is unique and kind of magical. It  took all those years for all four of us to enter each other’s spheres to play together - although I used to go watch Pat play as a soloist as far back as the 70s!

Dick, who grew up on Maple Street, said it’s special being able to play at the All-Class Reunion. “A lot of memories and nostalgia - I grew up just two blocks away from the schools, both MHS and Central Grammar, and they were a big part of my world – and I’m sure more emotions will come roaring back as we will be physically set up to play between the Yellow and Parsons buildings!

“My favorite memory in high school was music related to our senior year - there was a talent show and it was the first one in five years. So seven of us friends did a Sha Na Na-type oldies band  - American Graffiti was big at the time - and it went over gangbusters at the school assemblies!  

“It was our 15 minutes of fame and I can trace that first experience of playing to an excited audience to getting me hooked on playing in a band!”

What does he want to say to all our Alumni attending on June 24? “Time is precious and these events are great opportunities to reconnect. I’m sure we’ll all be surprised many times throughout the day seeing old friends and I just encourage people to stop by to say hi. I look forward to talking with people between sets!”

Mike: ‘Enjoy the music’

Mike Krajewski (’74) is especially looking forward to playing at the All-Class Reunion. “It’s truly a joy to have this opportunity to play at this reunion, especially for classmates who might be attending.”

He said he became hooked on the sound of the bass guitar since he was young back in the early 1960s. “I got one in junior year of high school, which I utilized to practice and I learned from listening.”

He got pretty good fast.

Mike played few gigs in the mid-‘70s and was hooked ever since – playing regularly now for decades.

According to his band mates, Mike is proficient at many styles and is particularly skilled “at his ability to recreate some of the greatest bass parts from the music from our younger lives,” one said.

What does Mike like about playing in the band?

“It’s the great musician/singer/friends in the band - and playing songs that are loaded with memories from our time in high school and the following years.”

And what about his years at Milford High, and what does he have to say to those attending the All-Class Reunion?

“I remember mainly my friends and the fun times we all had there and also some excellent teachers,” Mike said. “And I hope everyone attending the reunion has a great day – and enjoys the music.”