On Stage with Mantis entering fifth season

Feb 3, 2014

Music will rock the studios of Wareham Community Television for a fifth consecutive year, courtesy of Wareham resident Mantis Khiralla.

“Tell your friends to watch. It’s an hour of free music,” Mantis said.

Mantis brings bands from all over New England to come to WCTV’s studios and play for an hour each week on the program “On Stage with Mantis.”

Putting on these shows is challenge for Mantis beyond just booking bands.

Mantis can’t travel long distances or be heavily involved with shows because he has health issues that include having a brain tumor removed and scoliosis.

“Every movement, I can lose feeling in my legs, stinging pain in my hips- anything,” said Mantis.

For this reason, Mantis is thankful for his crew and WCTV staff that help with the show.

“First thing that comes to my mind: A. Will they show up on time? After that, how many people are coming? What kind of equipment? It’s the logistics,” said Steve Ruiz, WCTV technical director.

“He puts on a good show. It’s a feather in his cap that he’s able to attract the quality of bands and musicians that he does, and it’s a feather in our cap to be able to put them on the air,” said Jay Heard, WCTV executive director.

“I started working shows when I was 16, and fell in love with it,” Mantis said.

Mantis added that outside of playing at bars, preforming in Wareham can be a challenge.

“Outside of Buzzards Play Productions, there’s nowhere for people to play,” Mantis said. “It doesn’t matter where you do a show. It’s how you do the show.”

This year, the concert series begins Feb. 6 and ends April 24.

All shows can be viewed on WCTV Comcast 9 or Verizon 30 Thursdays at 10 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 p.m.