When people come over to Denise Vaillancourt’s house, they think a band is practising in the basement.
They’re right — sort of.
The sound of vocals, a guitar and drums resound from the studio, but Vaillancourt is the only one there.
The Chelmsford resident is a one-woman band.
Denise Vaillancourt sings, plays guitar and drums — all at the same time. Photo by Jenny Jelen.
Sitting at an electric drum kit, she bangs out a beat with her feet, while strumming a guitar and singing along.
While watching her “idol” Laurence Jalbert, a Canadian pop singer-songwriter, perform, Vaillancourt noticed the singer’s guitarist was also tapping a drum with his foot. Vaillancourt’s husband Percy noticed, too, and asked his wife if she could do that.
Her answer, along the lines of “probably,” was enough motivation to get her started.
Vaillancourt said the store clerk gave her a “bizarre” look when she asked if the drum kit could be made foot-friendly, but that didn’t stop her.
Now, six months later, she can play about 30 songs, using all three instruments at once.
She learns each song one instrument at a time, usually beginning with vocals, then progressing to guitar, and then drums.
Vaillancourt admitted she is “a shy person,” but has hopes of eventually playing for the elderly in retirement homes. She’s already wowed crowds at the Algoma Tavern in Chelmsford. In fact, she sold out the venue when she performed there July 31.
Vaillancourt, who has played in bands and been performing music all her life, said taking the stage all by herself was nerve-racking.
“If you’re not nervous, it’s not good,” she said. The “adrenaline” she felt helped her make it through all four sets without any trouble.
She’s even thought of expanding her one-woman show to include some bits of harmonica music, even though she’s never played it before.
Percy said he is glad his wife has decided to share her talent.
He said she is just too good at what she does to not share it with others.
“It’s a gift,” he said. “Some people are just born with it.”
Vaillancourt also drums in a local band, but has been practising her solo show so much, she joked that she might not remember how to play the drums with her arms.
This is the second piece in Out of the Ordinary, a series celebrating the uniqueness of Sudburians. If you’d like to be featured in the column, or know of someone who should, e-mail [email protected].
- Posted by Jenny Jelen
