Amenia welcomes Way Behind the Sun for Monday Summer Concert Series opener

AMENIA — On Monday, July 8, the Town of Amenia opened its 2024 Summer Concert Series with a performance from Hudson Valley-based country band Way Behind the Sun. The concert took place from 6 to 8 p.m. on the basketball court at the Amenia Town Hall.

Way Behind the Sun was formed in 2018 by Virginia Ronconi and her husband Ty Ronconi, both of whom play guitar, as well as Virginia’s younger brother Thomas Califano, who plays bass. The three also provide vocals. Last year, they were joined by drummer Homer Weiss.

Virginia Ronconi said that the band’s music may not be what people initially think of when they hear the word “country.”

“We like to call it quote unquote ‘real’ country music, the way it was meant to be…but we’re trying to put a bit of a youthful edge on it” Ronconi said. “[We’re] playing classic country music from the fifties, sixties, seventies…the Golden Age of Nashville.”

Ronconi noted that she and Califano grew up listening to similar music, as their parents had a traditional country band called Tenbrooks Molly

“When I was in school, all the kids were into NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys and I [was] like, ‘I like country music.’” In addition to country staples like Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee” and Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Way Behind the Sun’s two-hour set included three original songs. The first, titled “Crawfish Night,” was written by Ty Ronconi and is inspired by Cajun music. The second, titled “Spent My Whole Night Cryin’” was written by Virginia Ranconi and was partly inspired by Connie Smith. The third original song, titled “Duke,” was also written by Ty Ranconi and is about the Ranconis’ rescue dog of the same name.

Amenia Recreation Director Katie Sterk-Grassi said that she found Way Behind the Sun on social media and was excited to invite them to open the 2024 Summer Concert Series.

“I try to kick off with bands that people would like, [and] country is a big thing here,” Sterk-Grassi said. “They are country at heart and their energy is just really good.”

This is the second year that the Town of Amenia has held its Summer Concert Series. Sterk-Grassi said she hopeful that the series will continue to help to facilitate community engagement among Amenia residents.

“I think there’s been such a divide in Amenia, … but I think [this] music series really bring[s] people together, and it doesn’t matter if you live on this street or you live on this street … everyone’s just coming together and experiencing something new,” Sterk-Grassi said. She also noted that her hopes for future years include a pavilion for performers and a longer series spanning the whole summer as opposed to just six weeks.

The Summer Concert Series will continue to run every Monday through August 12 and will feature local bands including The Big Band Sound, Johnny Lits Jerry Duty and Jordan Stoner and The Crash Test Silverados. Other programming slated for the summer includes a visit from Two by Two Animal Haven and the Senior Picnic.