BOSTON–“Ten years ago, I was a homeless heroin addict, now here I am on stage at Boston Calling,” said Justin Clancy, wiping the sweat from his forehead and basking in the love and applause generated by a large audience.
The 29-year-old Peabody native had just finished his spectacular half-hour set Friday afternoon on the Orange Stage at this premier music festival. His performance was a triumph from start to finish. A victory lap to be sure, considering the long road Clancy has traveled to get this far.
At age 12, Clancy started popping pills. By age 16, he was a full-blown addict. His dad passed away. He dropped out of school and the future looked bleak. “Music saved my life. I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for music.”
His life changed on December 21, 2013. That’s when he entered recovery and faced the mental health challenges that had derailed a promising life. He graduated from Northshore Recovery High School in Beverly. He wrote brutally honest, deeply personal story songs and made videos that connected with other young people who were facing the same challenges.
Clancy was off-and-running. He had successfully outrun the devil and has been clean and sober for more than 10 years.
Stylishly dressed in a red jumpsuit and Converse All-Star high-tops, a high-energy Clancy bobbed and weaved his way across the stage for every second of his eight-song set. He was fantastic, as were his three bandmates and 13 students from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School a cappella group, Full House, who provided perfect harmony. “Run From the Devil” and “Noose,” two stark high-octane rockers, drew loud ovations. Clancy introduced an excellent new song, “January Blue,” and said more new music was on the way.
While Ed Sheeran, Tyler Childers, The Killers and other headliners performed on three larger stages during Boston Calling’s three days, the intimate Orange Stage showcases local singers and bands on the rise. A large crowd gathered to cheer, support and sing along to Clancy’s impassioned songs. Many Peabody residents, young and old, were on hand to witness what Clancy called “a lifelong dream to play at Boston Calling. This is one of my favorite shows of all time.”
Backstage, after the performance, everyone was in a celebratory mood.
“That was just sick,” shouted a smiling Catherine Quaresma, a member of the a cappella choir. Her fellow singers nodded in agreement.
How did Full House end up on stage?
Jon Simmons, Director of Performing Arts for Peabody Public Schools, said Clancy phoned him a few months ago, out of the blue, with a proposal: Could the a cappella group appear on stage with him and his band and provide harmony vocals during the Boston Calling show.
“Here I was, calling the school I had dropped out of. He probably thought I was full of shit,” said Clancy with a wide grin.
Not so, said Simmons, who realized just minutes into the first rehearsal with Justin and the band that this was a rare opportunity for the students.
For the past month, Clancy and his band traveled to the school to rehearse. The choir members were ecstatic, loving every second of their two-hour rehearsals. They include Christina Izaguirre, Gia Meola, Jacqueline Moreschi, Caroline Sargent, Allyson Bua, Rena Deftos, Riley Linger, Emmy Sousa Santos, Tijan Camara, Myles Fitzgerald, William Watson, Sofia Dixon, Yadiel Acosta and Quaresma.
“This was a blast,” said Simmons.
“It’s important that every one of these students never forget this day or forget this feeling. This is special,” said Clancy. “If I had an opportunity to sing on a stage like this when I was young… who knows (what path his life might have taken).”
Justin’s mom, Alyssa Rice of Peabody, was thrilled for her son. “Proud doesn’t even come close to how I feel about my boy. My boy gives back.”
In addition to giving the high school singers the opportunity to wow an audience, Clancy is also a longtime, strong supporter of Northshore Recovery High School, which helped him kick his addiction and find inner strength. He has presented many benefit concerts where all performers were in recovery and often donates all proceeds to the cause.
“Yes, this (performance) is gratifying. But it is just the first page of a new chapter. We will not be stopping here,” said Clancy. He’s confident that one day he’ll be on those bigger stages, just like Sheeren, the day’s headliner, would be doing in about four hours time.
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North Shore music lovers have an opportunity to see Clancy, his band and the Full House singers in concert Saturday June 1. Clancy will headline the Young Entertainer Showcase music festival at 81 Main St. in Peabody. Sponsored by Peabody TV, a special stage has been built just for this event. The music starts at 1 p.m. and admission is free. It aims to celebrate local diverse talent, promote artistic expression and provide a platform for the North Shore’s blossoming music and arts community. In addition to Clancy, performers will include Paula Feris (Peabody High grad), The Far Out, Not Bad Pretty Good, I$aac Groove, Cody Care, Sol Maria, Cyan Sueno, JFX, Brent Julian, LennyDontCare, and Pretty Rotten. It will also be live-streamed at Granite Coast Brewery. Food and drink will be available at neighboring businesses.
