Friday, May 31, 2013

Abadabad Unveil New Single "Take It Slow"



Boston based rockers Abadabad have recently unveiled their brand new single titled, "Take It Slow". The band recorded the track at Converse Rubber Tracks in Brooklyn, and the result is one of the catchiest rock tracks I've heard in quite some time and is definitely one to have primed on repeat as the summer months draw nearer. The production on this track is absolutely flawless and sublime, and while I've been to Brooklyn a couple of times, I've never had the pleasure of checking out the Converse Rubber Tracks studio itself and I'll definitely make it a mission to visit there the next time I'm in NYC to see where the magic happens and how this awesome track took shape in the face of so many talented producers and engineers.

For more information on Abadabad, head on over to their Facebook page here and you can also download "Take It Slow for free from the direct link over here. You can follow them on Twitter as well from over here and visit their Tumblr page here as well for more wide ranging info pertaining to the band, and check out the YouTube video below where you can get a behind the scenes look of how the song took shape in the first place. For more information on Converse Rubber Tracks studios, visit their official website located right here. The band will also be playing a free show in the NYC area as part of the Northside Festival taking place on June 15th at McCarren Park along with The Walkmen, Phosphorescent, and Friend Roulette.




Artist Spotlight: Tales of Olde

Wrapping up the hot week with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we have a terrific Boston based group to discover called Tales of Olde. The band consists of Lucas Cortazio on lead vocals and guitar, Capen Evans on backup vocals, Ellen Melissa Story on fiddle, Drew Alan Story on guitar, Jeff Kinsey on bass, and Al Cleveland III on drums. The band has a pure, unadulterated folk based sound similar to the likes of Fleet Foxes with an ambient approach that works extremely well, and utilizes the power of Lucas's lead vocals to its highest potential and leaves you with an indelible impression of the group and all their musical abilities. I was amazed with the overall simplicity of their sound, and how they didn't try too much musically to allow the audience to join along with the breezy melodies and inspiring lyrics that make the band quite easy to enjoy and perfect to relax to on this hot summer day. A terrific local band that is definitely deserving of some plays in your music library. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Your Glory" and the band's cover of Justin Timberlake's "Pusher Love Girl".

For more information on the guys in Tales of Olde, head on over to their Facebook page here and see what the band's style is all about. You can follow the band on Twitter as well from over here and find out when the band will be gracing us with their presence in the Boston area with a concert appearance! Check out the band's official website here that doubles as their Bandpage where you can check out all their music, plus view pics of the band, video clips, and an up to date concert listing as well.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Artist Spotlight: Dan & The Wildfire

Cool off today with a refreshing, all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we have a local Boston band that I think you would enjoy that goes by the name of Dan & The Wildfire. The band consists of Dan HL on lead vocals and guitar, Thom Brennan on trumpet and backup vocals, Matt Hines on keyboards and vocals, Sam Katz on bass and vocals, and Kyle Jenkins on drums and vocals. The band has a refreshing, melodic folk rock based complexion that has influences ranging from The Avett Brothers to Mumford & Sons with an exquisite and outstanding musical spirit that can be felt in full force almost immediately upon first listen. I didn't need much time to develop an impression of these guys when I first heard them, and I could clearly tell how passionate they were about their craft, and how meticulous and dedicated they are to music and ensuring that each song starts and stops on cue, while also having a sound lyrical foundation that ensures the listener is following along with great fervor and anticipation of what they're going to do next. An amazing local band that deserves to get more recognition beyond the confines of the Boston area. Some recommended tracks for you to have a listen at include "Californ-ia" and "Mexico".

For more information on the guys in Dan & The Wildfire, head on over to their Facebook page here for all the latest of what the band has to offer you musically. The band can be followed on Twitter from over here and find out when the band will be stopping by the Beantown area sometime soon! The band members also have individual Twitter accounts that can be followed from that location as well. Visit the band's official website here for more wide ranging features pertaining to the band, and check out their latest album "Smoke Signals", now available at a host of physical and digital music retailers near you.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Carly Tefft - Tell It All

Emerging Boston based singer songwriter Carly Tefft has released her stunning debut album, Tell It All. The effort is an inventive and melodic mixture of bombastic acoustic rock mixed in with a strong lyrical rmindset that makes it hard to ignore and one that definitely stands among the crop of other albums released within the respective genre.

We start things off with my favorite song off the disc, "Sincere Soul". The song is the perfect introduction to Carly's incredible vocal abilities which help amp up the instrumentation and allow it to coast along at a comfortable pace that gives the audience the ability to explore the confines of the song and pick up on different parts of the song they admire individually, a truly unique and breathtaking track. "Effortlessly" winds it down a couple of notches with a piano based melodic interlude providing the backdrop for a eloquently and well displayed track that perfectly accentuates Carly's smooth and introspective vocals, and also allows you to see the diverse amount of songs available in her arsenal. "Would You Like To Know" is an extremely well written and musically deep track that ventures even further inside Carly's musical persona, and understand where she is coming from lyrically and how the words are formed to tell a story that some members of the listening audience can relate to. "Shades" is a musically advanced track that sees Carly's voice weaving in and out through the rich, musical texture of the song and gives the track more clout and added dexterity that bodes well for the rest of the album to follow.

The second half of the disc gets underway with the title track, a rapturing and gripping tune that takes it to a whole another level with soft, gentle acoustic guitar melodies weeping through the drifts of the song like a gentle, ocean breeze and gives the listener another facet of Carly that we're slowly starting to unravel with each song that passes by. We get ready to close out the disc with "Honest Sunrise", an upbeat and riveting tune that slowly starts to bring things together with brilliant instrumentation from everyone involved that showcases everyone's musical strengths and how well they communicate and are on the same page musically as well. "Taxicab" ends it all here with a blasting, hard rock edged tune that shows a sassy and rebellious side of Carly that we have yet to see on this album, and is a great way to close out one of the more musically diverse and adventurous albums that I've listened to in quite some time and ends it all here in bold fashion. I checked out Carly in concert a couple of months ago at Cafe 939 on Boylston St., and I was quite impressed with her stage presence and her ability to communicate eloquently with her audience, and allow them to be a part of the act and learn more about how these songs get created and what inspires her each day to write music. A truly unique and gifted songwriter that I hold great promise for moving forward.

In conclusion, a terrific and standout debut from Carly Tefft, who has definitely staked her claim among Boston's fast rising crop of singer-songwriters that all offer something different for the masses, but Carly has the charm and sophistication to definitely break on through in a big way moving forward.

                                                                                                                          Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:
  1. Sincere Soul
  2. Effortlessly
  3. Would You Like To Know
  4. Shades
  5. Tell It All
  6. Honest Sunrise
  7. Taxicab

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Artist Spotlight: The Susan Constant

Starting off the first unofficial week of summer with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight for you! Today, we check in with an emerging player in the Boston music scene by the name of The Susan Constant. The band consists of Paul Sennott on lead vocals and guitar, Brian Kingsbury on guitar, Emily MacPherson on bass and backing vocals, Jason Rossman on drums, and Jim Bernat on keyboards and vocals. The band has an energetic and vivacious power pop sound, mixed in with a strong indie rock sensibility that sounds like a cross between Passion Pit and The Decemberists with their own unique spin on the world as we know it. I caught these guys in concert this past Saturday at Radio in Somerville, and I've actually seen these guys previously perform in the past, but something about their most recent performance really spoke to me. It was mostly due to the high energy wavelengths emanating strongly on stage that gravitated me towards their music, and just seeing them on stage I can tell that they were having the time of their lives and seeing them being drenched in sweat afterwards, you can tell that they put alot of time and effort into their performance. A terrific and formidable band that is currently holding a strong presence in the Boston scene that will only grow with time. Some recommended tracks for you to check out from them include "Locked Up" and "Tennessee".

For more information on The Susan Constant, head on over to their Facebook page located here where you can find everything you need to know about these amazing and talented musicians. The band can also be followed on Twitter from over here and find out when the band will be playing in the Beantown area next this summer. Check out their official website here for more earth shattering features related to the band, and check out their latest EP "Shapes" now available for free streaming or "pay what you want" download at their Bandcamp site located conveniently here.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Interview w/ Mike and Tommy of Red Star Super Giant

Time for another installment in my ongoing series of interviews with recent Artist Spotlight subjects! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mike Swanson and Tommy Flynn from a local Boston band called Red Star Super Giant. They were an Artist Spotlight feature on the blog just a couple of weeks ago, and they were totally enthused when I approached them about doing an interview for the blog. We caught up as we sat on the bleachers overlooking the field at Tufts, the site of my ongoing outdoor interview series that I'll be doing this summer with a handful of local artists. The guys are relatively new to the local scene, and this interview will allow you to get know the guys a little bit better personally and see what they're like both on and off stage. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and your current roles in the band?

Mike: Hi, I'm Mike Swanson. I primarily play the keyboard and I picked up bass guitar for a couple of tracks, and every now and then I get to play guitar.

Tommy: Hi, I'm Tommy Flynn and I'll be doing the guitar playing, singing, and a majority of the writing.

How did you guys all meet and when did the band form?

Mike: So, we met in high school and we sort of knew we were playing instruments, and after college it became more of a reality that we should try to get together to form a band. So then we started getting together in their basement, and just working on concepts and making things happen. Like I said before sporadically, and then it became more of a consistent basis and then we locked down some tracks.

Describe the sound of your music to those who may not be too familiar with you guys?

Tommy: It is a little abstract, you can't really pin us down to one artist. I would definitely say alternative, it's not overly loud, not too soft, it's got a little Oasis in there, a little Tom Petty. I'm big on melodic songs that flow, I don't really like to get into the crazy, abstract bridge that goes up and down three octaves, we're pretty straightforward, we used a total of 6 chords. But we're more lyrically based anyways so that's kind of the thing we do.

Mike: But I think eventually we could gravitate towards Young the Giant, The Kooks, maybe even The Airborne Toxic Event.

Tommy: We plan on ripping everybody off at one point. (Laughter)

Mike: As our sound matures, I could eventually see our sound drifting more in that direction, but right now it's more of an organic, simpler sound, but it's working for us.

How did the name of the band originate, who was the one who came up with the idea for the band name?

Tommy: We went through some awful names. Me and my brother were talking names for a year and a half and we got in more fights over the band name than the actual songs and how to be successful. I like astrology, space, it's very interesting to me, so we were thinking of a new band name and I just looked up "Space terminology" and one of the things that came up was "Red Super Giant", it's supposed to be the biggest star in the sky, so I put "star" after "Red" and it became Red Star Super Giant, and I was like "I like that". There's no rhyme or reason behind it, it was just a coincidence I guess.

Mike: You tend to remember it too. You say it once to them, and then they say it back to you and they say "Are you sure? Red Star Super Giant?" and we're like "Yep, that's it!"

What do you guys love the most about playing together, either live or in the studio?

Mike: Playing live is definitely the rush, I've always been a huge concert junkie and I've been so jealous that they get to go up on stage and do what they love, and just finally I have that experience and share it with friends. For me, it's a dream come true and also when we can tell that the hard work is paying off and we're finally getting the tone right and playing together in harmony very well, it's a very satisfying feeling.

What are some of your favorite songs to perform live, any covers you like to play also?

Mike: My favorite is probably "Geisha's Garden" for sure.

Tommy: Right now it's all original material, we need covers cause our setlist is only 6 songs and it works right now, we're doing these smaller shows. Down the line, we're going to need 10 songs so I was thinking of doing some covers, maybe MGMT or some of the new bands but we like some of the old stuff too, so we'll see.

Mike: Another thing we're working towards is creating a list of songs we want to cover, and hopefully there's a Venn diagram in the middle with something for everyone. We're getting everyone to agree on a song to cover, cause that can be fun too.

Can you describe your live shows to those who haven't seen you live and why you think people should check you out in concert?

Mike: Based on what you've heard on the recordings what we play live, we tend to play live with all electric instruments and we try to get the people as pumped up and psyched about it as much as we can, try to have that good energy. While at the same time, just playing as best as we can so with those two combined, we think that people would really enjoy themselves at our show. Our friends have come and have had a great time, I think any random civilian or person from the street would enjoy it too.

Besides music, what do you like to do in your spare time when not making music?

Mike: Since college, I haven't really been into sports too much. I'm an electrical engineer as well, I personally try to go to alot of concerts, I'm a huge concert junkie and just hanging out with friends, trying local restaurants, going to bars, hanging out, stuff like that.

Tommy: Definitely going out, I love partying, you have to do that, that's the readiest excuse. Just the regular stuff, I love reading, I'm a big advocate of reading on philosophy and stuff. There's alot of time in the day to just swallow as many books as possible as I can. Just the usual stuff, nothing too crazy.

Mike: Travel when you can. I've been to California quite a few times, and I recently just went to Coachella and had probably the best time. It was too good to be true, it was amazing. I saw 31 bands in 3 days, I was sick for a week after, my whole body was sore and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

What's coming up next for you guys, planning to play any shows or release any new music in the future?

Mike: I think we need to focus on playing live, getting as many shows as we possibly can to get really comfortable playing live. We're definitely trying to solidify the tone of the songs we already have in existence. At the same time, we're also trying to create new material, but it's definitely focusing most on playing live and then solidifying the songs we already have and then whatever comes at anytime, we just build on that eventually.

Any last words to those who may be reading this interview?

Tommy: Definitely check out the music, obviously I'm gonna be biased because I'm in the band but with a lot of new bands, they're either too loud or you can't hear them or you cringe a little, I don't know if you're going to love our stuff, but it's definitely cringe-free music.

Mike:  I agree. It's an interesting sound, I have a tough time explaining who we sound like to other people and reading your review clearly that seems to be a common thing. It's a very unique sound, it's very original, it's very refreshing and something that hasn't been made into music in awhile so with that said in mind, I think alot of people would appreciate the new sound.

Thanks once again to Mike and Tommy for carving some time out of their busy schedule to do this interview. I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing the guys and I had a great time chatting with them briefly before and after the interview, and I really got a chance to know them a little bit better personally and I have high hopes for these guys moving forward, they're really genuine and honest people. If you haven't checked them out, please do so on Facebook here and on their official website right over here.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Boston Calling Festival to Return in September With Vampire Weekend and Passion Pit

If you missed the Boston Calling music festival in City Hall Plaza this past weekend, never fear because the festival will be making its return this September with two very big headliners, Vampire Weekend and Cambridge's native sons Passion Pit!

The announcement was made earlier tonight at the conclusion of the festival, and other acts that will be a part of the bill include: Kendrick Lamar, Local Natives, Major Lazer, The Gaslight Anthem, The Airborne Toxic Event, Solange, Deer Tick, Okkervil River, and Bearstronaut. Early bird weekend passes will go on sale this Friday, May 31st at 10AM. General admission passes will run you about $120 while the VIP passes go for about $325. Keep an eye out for an early bird code on Boston Calling's website here, and you may purchase tickets via Ticketmaster's website right here or you can avoid the service fees and buy them at The Sinclair box office in Cambridge or at Royale in Boston the day they go on sale. Don't miss this extraordinary festival coming at you this September!

Friday, May 24, 2013

Mod Sun Featured In Cheyne and Matthew Thorsen's Video For "Spirit of 94"



Bllomington, Minnesota's own Mod Sun is featured in Cheyne and Matthew Thorsen's video for "Spirit of 94", just released yesterday. The video features the exquisite rhyming talents of Mod Sun, who was the 100th Artist Spotlight feature here on the blog last year, and has quickly become one of my favorite artists, most largely due to his extreme positivity and outlook on life that he displays both on stage and in person, as I experienced when I got to meet him for the first time, and was totally in awe to be in his presence.

Check out the video above to see him lend his talents to this well put together clip. For more on Cheyne and Matthew Thorsen, click on their Bandcamp page located right here.

Hello Lazarus Release Music Video For "Stallions"

Bristol, England's own Hello Lazarus have just released a music video for the song "Stallions". The band have been described as being "the love child of Brand New and Deftones" as it's described on their Facebook page, and that description fits them particularly well as the video features a multi colored display of the band performing, while giving the prospective listener something visually stimulating for them to pass the time.

For more information on Hello Lazarus, visit their Facebook page here and visit their official website here for more wide ranging information pertaining to the band, and check out their latest EP "Moving Forward Over The Next Financial Quarter", now available on Scylla Record's Big Cartel store here and also available on Rdio and Spotify among digital music outlets.

Artist Spotlight: Isotopes Punk Rock Baseball Club

Wrapping up the week and heading into the long weekend with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head down to Louisville, Kentucky and check out the rocking sounds of the Isotopes Punk Rock Baseball Club. The band consists of Evan October on lead vocals and guitar, Dallas Duststorm on lead guitar and backing vocals, Dan Undahand and Tony Hustle on drums, and Rookie Rochelle on bass and backing vocals. Their music is an intense, enjoyable punk blast reminiscent of The Ramones and a dash of Sex Pistols with songs that speed through at under the 2 minute mark with a fast and furious combo of guitars and drums that will leave you begging for more by the time the songs have all concluded. What really drew me to the band was their affinity for all things baseball, and seeing that I'm a huge baseball fanatic, it made me love the songs even more and allowed me to blend in with the punk-rock crowd, even though I'm not a huge punk-rock fan. It also gave me the ability to find a common ground with something that I enjoy immensely in my spare time watching and something that I spend a great deal of time involved in, music. A terrific upstart band that is definitely worth your listening time. Some tracks for you to have a listen at include "Rule 21" and "Operation:Vamos".

For more info on the guys in the Isotopes Punk Rock Baseball Club, head on over to their Facebook page here and give it a well deserved 'Like' so that you can see firsthand what the band can bring to the plate (literally)! Their Twitter feed is located directly over here and interact with the guys directly to see where they'll be stopping by next in your area. Their Bandcamp site contains all their music up until this point, and that can be located right over here.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Artist Spotlight: Camden

Checking in with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight for you today! This one is brought to you by a Boston based group by the name of Camden. The group consists of Jason Sibilia on guitar, keys, and vocals, James Williamson on vocals and bass, Timmy Miles on guitar, and Brandon Neuburger on drums. The band has a simple and straightforward approach to their music, with elements of The Strokes thrown in for some good measure to balance it all out and let their sound speak for itself. I managed to catch these guys in concert last night at The Sinclair in Cambridge, and they kicked off the night in grand fashion with a terrific set that really speaks volumes about the depth of talent emanating from the Boston scene right now, and their effect on the music tastes of the general public is prevalent from the guys, which are constantly changing by the minute and are evolving gradually and getting more complex and versatile, and there is nothing wrong with that. It was great finally getting introduced to Camden and I have high hopes for their bright future here in Beantown and beyond. Some recommended songs for you to check out from them include "Talking About You" and "You're So Fine".

For more information on the boys in Camden, head on over to their Facebook page here and get to know the band a little bit better personally. The band can be followed on Twitter as well directly from this location here and find out when the band will be performing next and interact with the guys at the same time as well! If you would like to check out their music, it's available for free stream or download at their Bandcamp site located here and see what they're all about.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The Interrobang - The Interrobang EP

Boston's own The Interrobang have arrived on the scene with their self-titled debut EP. This debut from the former members of The Self Proclaimed Rockstars finds the band taking a slight detour from their usual fun loving, booze filled ways and into a more serious frame of mind lyrically that presents them in a whole different light than we're normally accustomed to.

We start things off with "Zirconia" an dark, ambitious rocker that features the tightly wound lead vocals of John Malone, who adds a distinct element and sound to the band that can't be duplicated by anyone else. "All Smiles" features a nifty percussion arrangement brought to you courtesy of Steve DeBenedictis, who offers up a rhythmic blast that allows the song to explode instantly on contact and penetrate the ears of all listeners who are currently listening. "American Debt Slave" features the band's trademark dual toned guitar riffs, expressed eloquently by Mick Greenwood and Rjan Savary, who when combined, show that they are a formidable force to be reckoned with both on record and on stage.

My favorite song off the album is "Chaos & Confusion", an extremely melodic, deeply toned opus that highlights the skills of James Hogg, the band's resident bearded bass enthusiast who contributes a great deal on the band's melodic side along with Steve, and when they're combined with the hard-edged guitar riffs and John's strong vocal presence, they create a track that perfectly highlights the band's vision all in one, fell swoop. "Bombs Away" is a more darker number that brings things down several notches on a track that shows what happens when four extremely talented musicians are all on the same page musically, and are focused on nothing but the task at hand to deliver the goods to an eager and receptive audience. The disc ultimately comes to a close with a cover of the Talking Heads classic "Life During Wartime", a track that fits in perfectly with the band's somewhat politically toned message embedded within the music here, and the group puts a unique twist on the tune that is tailored made for them and ensures that the band's style is well represented here as the song fades into black. One thing I've noticed about the band is that they are non-conformists, meaning that they can't be grouped into one particular genre out of the hundreds of types that currently exist out there today. That suits the band particularly well as they all have distinct personalities that make them stand out from the other bands out there today: John is the charismatic frontman who represents the band's outlandish charm, Mick and Rjan make up the guitar section of the band and give the band its riffs and other assorted banter typically displayed on stage in concert, and Steve and James, who make up the band's rhythmic section and are typically in various stages of undress when in concert, whether it being barefoot or going topless with no shirt on much to the delight of those in attendance.

All in all, a different but solid effort from The Interrobang, who have made a strong first impression with their debut, and the game remains the same with hard edged guitar riffs and a strong musical presence that is best experienced in concert in order to get the full grasp.

                                                                                                                         Album Review: 3.5/5

Track Listing:
  1. Zirconia
  2. All Smiles
  3. American Debt Slave
  4. Chaos & Confusion
  5. Bombs Away
  6. Life During Wartime (cover)    

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Artist Spotlight: Herb Stalk

Kicking off the week with another edition of Artist Spotlight for you! Today, we head over to the West Coast to Visalia, California and uncover the groovy sounds of Herb Stalk. Herb Stalk is primarily a solo artist with a three piece backing band that has a extremely diverse and wide ranging sound, packing influences from Bob Marley to Jimi Hendrix with a mellow, easy going vibe permeating the music as you listen to it while driving in your car or relaxing on a day off at the beach. I was quite enthused when I first heard Herb's music as I'm a huge admirer of the rock/reggae hybrid blend as it brings together the best of both worlds with a unique sound that I feel comfortable listening to and one that I'm familiar with also. Herb is an extremely talented individual who also has the ability to multitask as he doubles on the keyboards on occasion, which leads to an extremely fulfilling and worthwhile listening experience as a whole. A great upstart musician that is definitely deserving of some exposure here on the East Coast as well. Some recommended songs for you to check out from him include "A New Future" and "Social Comment".

For more information on Herb Stalk, head on over to his Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well so that you can stay in the know of any future musical projects that he has up his sleeve. Check out his ReverbNation page right here for more links to where you can purchase his music including iTunes here and also on Amazon MP3 from over here among digital music retail outlets.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Troy Cartwright Releases New Single "Sixteen"

Dallas, TX based singer songwriter and former Artist Spotlight feature Troy Cartwright has released his first single off his forthcoming studio album titled "Sixteen". The song is a upbeat, bombastic tune that sees Troy bringing his indelible blend of country infused rock with a strong lyrical sensibility that is quite prevalent from the area in which he grew up in. Troy also spent some time here in the Boston area also as he was a student at Berklee College of Music, so you know he's an extremely intelligent and resourceful musician who works extremely hard towards his craft and makes sure that everything sounds on point and the way it was intended to.

To download the new track free of charge, head on over to this link here and see the latest of what Troy has to offer you this time around! Keep an eye out for his brand new studio album, "Bull Run" expected for release sometime later on this year.

MusicBoxPete Presents: Artist Spotlight, Vol. 1 To Be Released June 18th!

Proud to announce to everyone the impending release of my blog's first ever digital CD compilation titled, "MusicBoxPete Presents: Artist Spotlight, Vol. 1". This compilation is designed to highlight some of Boston's most promising young acts that you may have heard of previously from my Artist Spotlight features that I've done on them in the past. It's also a way of showing pride for the city that I've lived in pretty much my whole life, and one that I love with all my heart. The disc features 12 amazing tracks from some of Boston's most talented up and coming acts including: Bear Language, The Okay Win, Troy Cartwright, The Foresters, and a host of others. The final track listing will be announced sometime within the next couple of weeks, and the compilation will be released in digital format only on June 18th via Bandcamp.

For more information and to check out the Bandcamp page, please click over here to see the official release site. More compilations will be released sporadically over the next few months, so this is just the beginning for the blog and for bigger and better things to come!

Friday, May 17, 2013

Yeasayer, Curren$y Headline Converse Rubber Tracks Concert Series

Yeasayer and Curren$y are among the acts that will be headlining the Converse Rubber Tracks Live concert series taking place on May 22 and May 24 at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA. The shows are in support to directly benefit The One Fund, a non-profit organization started up shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings last month and is definitely a great way to get music awareness flowing in the city again. Other artists that will be performing at these shows include: Bodega Girls, Ducktails, Camden, The Perceptionists, and Grey Sky Appeal.

Tickets for the shows start at $10, and both shows are 18+. If you would like to buy tickets, they're available via Ticketmaster at this link right here. The full lineup of performers is listed directly below:

May 22
Yeasayer
Bodega Girls
Ducktails
Camden

May 24
Curren$y
The Perceptionists
Statik Selektah with guests Sean Price and Termanology
Moe Pope and Rain
Grey Sky Appeal


Artist Spotlight: Red Star Super Giant

Closing out the week with another, all-new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we check in with an emerging Boston based band by the name of Red Star Super Giant. The band consists of Thomas Michael Flynn on lead vocals and guitar, Michael Swanson on keys, bass, and guitar, Ryan Flynn on lead guitar, and Ryan Elliot on drums. The band has a largely acoustic based sound, with keyboards providing the perfect accompaniment to the band's organic and homegrown sound that is totally unique and tailored made for them. It's hard to compare them to other artists and/or genres, but you can tell that the songs are meticulously crafted and have a sleek, defined characteristic to them that makes them stand out prominently from the other Beantown based acts, and the vocal stylings have a certain melodic twist to them that will definitely make you want to keep listening and see what else that they might have in store for you. A terrific local act that is definitely deserving of more exposure in the greater Boston area. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Geisha's Garden" and "This Time Around".

For more information on the guys in Red Star Super Giant, head on over to their Facebook page here and give them a well deserved 'Like' that will get you in the know about everything that is going on in their world musically. The band can be followed on Twitter as well from over here and find out when the band will be playing a show next in the Boston area. For more detailed information pertaining to the band, visit their official website here and check out their debut EP "Don't Mind Molly" now available on their Bandcamp page right here for your listening pleasure.

Set Times Announced For Boston Calling Music Festival

The official set times for next weekend's Boston Calling Music Festival have been announced. Bad Rabbits will be kicking off all the festivities at 1:30PM on Sat. May 25 with St. Lucia, The Cults, Ms. Mr., Matt & Kim, Portugal. The Man, The Shins, Marina and The Diamonds, and fun. rounding out the entire day of performances at 9:00PM.

Sun. May 26 sees Caspian kicking off all the action at 1:30PM with Youth Lagoon, Dirty Projectors, Ra Ra Riot, The Walkmen, Andrew Bird, Of Monsters and Men, Young the Giant, and The National closing everything out at 9:00PM. Tickets for this event are unfortunately all sold out, so hope everyone who is attending has a boatload of fun in a celebration that will bring the music lovers of Boston together in unity!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Artist Spotlight: Short on Shame

For today's edition of Artist Spotlight, we head over to Detroit and check in with the high energy sounds of Short on Shame. The band consists of Chuck Saad on bass and lead vocals, Zack Brandenburg on guitars and vocals, and Devin Harrison on percussion. The band has a energetic, frenetic blend of rock that is representative of the tough area the members grew up in, and shows their dreams and inspirations embedded deep within their music that is autobiographical in nature, and is tough and gritty to listen to at the same time. Music is a cathartic release, and allows us to take out our aggressions towards society in general, or through one person's shortcomings either their fault or not, and gives us something to look forward to in our everyday lives. An exciting and promising upstart act that I'd like to see get more attention outside of their respective hometown. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Red, White, and Black" and "Friends".

For more info on Short on Shame, head on over to their Facebook page located here and see what the band is like upfront from a music perspective. You can access a wide variety of features from their page, including the ability to stream their music directly from the page via the BandPage feature that allows you a handy method of listening to everything from the band in a central location.




Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Paris, France's own Daft Punk make their long awaited return with their highly anticipated, brand new studio album titled Random Access Memories. Their first proper studio album since 2005's Human After All finds the French electronic wizards paying homage to the late 70's and early 80's burgeoning music scene emanating largely from the Los Angeles area, and the duo do a masterful job of ensuring the sound of their music reaches a rabid audience who has been clamoring for new music from them for some time now, and the result is one of their best and most cohesive studio albums of their career so far.

We open things up with "Give Life Back to Music", a sensational and relaxing track that brings in Daft Punk's trademark electro tinged rhythms that run the gamut throughout the whole track, and kicks things off on a stratospheric level with top notch guitar rhythms finding their way into the track, and setting the bar pretty high on a groove laden opus heard here. "The Game of Love" is a mysterious, downtempo number that sees the duo venturing out into other areas with a sleek, soulful edge to this one that is almost romantic in nature, and makes for perfect love making music. "Within" starts off with an intricate, piano based melody that has light synthesized melodies that immediately put you in the mood right away and gives you an immediate shot of relaxation and comfort. "Instant Crush" features a guest appearance from The Strokes' Julian Casablancas, and he fits in comfortably with his voice hiding behind synthesizers that will put a smile on your face, and be glad that you're in the presence of such talented and eclectic musicians. Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. fame makes the first of two guest appearances on "Lose Yourself to Dance" a high energy, intensely focused synth rock jam that immediately gets you out on the dance floor and ready to rock the night away with one of the most indelible jams on the disc so far.

The second half of the album gets into gear with my favorite track off the album, "Get Lucky" featuring the return of Pharrell who lays down an exquisite vocal appearance on a immensely melodic tune that never lets up from the moment it begins, and it will leave you in a constant state of motion and dancing until your feet fall off, an unbelievable track that begs to be heard again and again with each passing moment. "Motherboard" starts to get ready to close out the album, with downtempo beats and a calm, feathery feel with ambient instrumentation running through the mid drifts and allowing you to feel the full wave of music that has been coming at you steady for some time now. The disc begins to conclude on "Doin' it Right" featuring the stylings of Panda Bear on a dreamy, synth-laden quest that puts everything together in a musical blender, and concocts a frothy mixture that brings together all the musical elements we've heard together in one way or another, and offers up a terrific way to close everything out much like the same way it began. "Contact" ends it all here on a futuristic, high energy, pulsating track that puts it all into overdrive here as we zoom towards the finish line, putting it all out there for everyone to see and take notice of as everything wraps up here. I've only listened to Daft Punk in spurts here and there, but the first time I listened to them was way back in 2001 with "One More Time", and it was probably one of the most infectious dance tracks I've heard in quite awhile, and their album "Discovery" that came out around that time totally defined the EDM genre that seems to be permeating the scene with great fanfare these days. This new effort is on par with that aforementioned album, and is another groundbreaking effort for the duo.

Overall, an outstanding and highly creative effort from Daft Punk, who have crafted another sonic masterpiece that eloquently displays the band's highly infectious and unavoidable dance tracks that are primed for the dance floor, and ready to get you in that celebratory frame of mind. One of the top albums of the year in my opinion, buy this one right now!

                                                                                                                              Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:
  1. Give Life Back To Music
  2. The Game of Love
  3. Giorgio by Moroder
  4. Within
  5. Instant Crush (f/Julian Casablancas)
  6. Lose Yourself to Dance (f/Pharrell Williams)
  7. Touch
  8. Get Lucky (f/Pharrell Williams)
  9. Beyond
  10. Motherboard
  11. Fragments of Time
  12. Doin' It Right (f/Panda Bear)
  13. Contact       

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Artist Spotlight: The Distorted Waltz

Starting off another week with an all new installment of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head over to Bay City, Michigan and check in with an emerging act in the area by the name of The Distorted Waltz. The band consists of Andy Jeglic on lead guitars and vocals, Connor Peil on drums, Matt Hofmann on bass and backing vocals, and Matt Miller on guitar and backing vocals. The band has a relaxing, melodic nature to them that features slight elements of reggae mixed in with an alt-rock vibe somewhat similar to the Red Hot Chili Peppers that is all their own and one that is reflective of the area they grew up in and their musical influences as well that give them some edge and diversity. The Michigan area has some diverse musical styles, from classic rock to Motown (where it was founded in Detroit), and other eclectic genres that are representative of the cultural scene there and their lifeblood as it's the only thing that gets them going through the day and is essentially the soundtrack to their lives growing up in the area. A terrific act that is primed to get their second wind beyond the Michigan area. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Poems" and "Boat on Boiling Water".

For more information on the guys in The Distorted Waltz, head on over to their Facebook page here and 'Like' it so that you can stay in tune with everything that is going on in their world. Their music can also be accessed from that central location. The band can be followed on Twitter as well from over here and find out when the band will be gracing us with their presence with a concert performance hopefully sometime soon.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Interview w/ Alexander

Closing out the week with an all new interview in my continuing series! Today, we head across the pond to one of my favorite music scenes outside of America, Durham, England to be exact as we have a chat with an up and coming band from the area by the name of Alexander. The band are currently signed to I Am Mighty Records, one of the preeminent and fastest rising independent labels in the U.K. and home to a host of other immensely talented acts including Lower Lands and The Ocean's Eyes. The band were kind and gracious enough to lend some of their time to do a sit down chat as we get to know the band a little bit better personally, what their music is like, and what life is like on the road. And here's my transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and roles in the band?

Anthony Snowdon - Rhythm guitar/vocals
Jamie Clark - Lead guitar
James Simpson - Bass
Andrew Michaels - Drums

How did you guys all meet and when did the band form?

We all met through education and the local scene 3 years back. We recorded our debut album "Say Hello" in Winter 2012, however we wrote together for months before this. We came out as Alexander January 2013 when we released our debut video, "You Lost Yourself" and the ball has been rolling since.

Describe your sound and influences to those who may not be familiar with you guys?

We’ve got a really British sound to our music, very guitar driven with sweet harmonizing melodies and trashy drums sounds. "Say Hello" holds a great dynamic value, from a piano ballad to a full British rock and grunge trash. It’s quite a spectrum hence why we draw influences from the likes of Michael Jackson, Jamiroquai, Fleetwood Mac and Death Cab For Cutie.

What themes and/or subject matter typically runs through your music?

From the start we’ve always been about positivity and optimism, getting through the hard times as one and all types of relationships as there is a lot of romance portrayed in "Say Hello". That’s how the idea of Alexander came together, a way we can channel all our triumphs and hardships into a fictional character who we write songs about. 

What is life like being on the road together, and how do you guys adjust to life away from home?

It’s just the same really being on the road is a breeze for us, we spend all our time together outside of touring and band related things so it’s never really a test of patience. We’re always writing together no matter where we are, foreign countries, up and down the country, it’s all the same vibe for us. What can i say, we just can’t get enough!

Take us through the recording process of your debut album, "Say Hello" and what that whole experience was like?

Recording "Say Hello" was a real milestone for us, we whittled the album down to these 8 final tracks and it was a pleasure working with some great producers in the process. It’s really taken us by surprise the incredible positive vibe we’ve received from fans and industry.

What are some of your favorite songs to perform live?

I think all of our favorite song to perform live is "Vapour Trails", the dynamics are crazy and by the end you feel like Zeus as it climaxes! I tend to take my guitar off during the break and smash it about the stage before this point though, it gets intense.

Besides music, what do you guys like to do in your spare time, any sports/interests/hobbies/special interests?

We all have a crazy obsession over Astrology and star signs, so much we’ve got identical tattoos. It’s the best conversation starter with new people we meet on the road, they love it every time! It’s as if sometime we judge people by their sign. ‘She’s breaks hearts because she’s a Scorpio’ ‘He’s so good at explaining things, it must be his Aquarius moon’.

What can we expect to see from you guys this year, any plans to tour in the U.S. sometime in the future?

This year we are focusing on pushing "Say Hello" out there, we’re really storming the U.K. between now and the New Year and we have some big plans for it. Definitely plans to tour the U.S. from the demand we’ve had so far, just hang off for a while so we can take over England!

Lastly, what words do you have for your fans both in the U.K. and the U.S.?

I can only express a tiny portion of our gratitude and love to our fans. We are really overwhelmed with the support of "Say Hello" so far and we hope it keeps growing and the Alexander family tree gets bigger and bigger.

Thanks once again to the fellas in Alexander for taking some time out of their hectic schedules to do this interview! They are extremely talented, upbeat, and positive individuals who have a knack for getting through to their audience solely through the power of music. For more information on the band, 'Like' their page on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter from over here. If you would like to buy their debut album, "Say hello" it's now available to purchase at iTunes at this link right here


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Artist Spotlight: Moniker

Proud to bring you another edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we check in with an up and coming Boston based band by the name of Moniker. The band consists of Socrates Cruz on lead vocals, guitar and keys, Peter Bartash on drums, and Luke Walker on bass. The band has a downtempo, inventive sound similar to the likes of Pink Floyd and Radiohead with their own unique spin on it that gives them an added sleekness and rich musical dexterity that heightens their musical awareness on a much greater scale. I caught these guys in concert a couple of months ago at The Middle East Downstairs, and I was impressed with their dynamic stage presence that really gave the full effect of what their music is all about and how they just go about their business regularly while playing on stage. A promising local act that is certainly worthy of increased exposure in the time laying ahead. Some tracks to consider to have a listen at include: "Burn This City" and "Pits & Pendulums".

For more information on the guys in Moniker, head on over to their Facebook page here and remember to 'Like' the page so that you can get the latest stream of updates directly from the band. The band can be followed on Twitter as well from over here and stay in touch with the band to see when they'll be stopping by the Beantown area next. Visit their official website here to get a full fledged set of features, including a bio, links to their music and video clips, photos of the guys, and the latest round of tour dates that they have coming up.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Vampre Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

NYC's preeminent indie rock sensations Vampire Weekend are back with their all new studio release, Modern Vampires of the City. The follow up to 2010's Contra finds the gentlemen deviating somewhat from their earlier efforts, but still maintains the upbeat tone and enthusiasm that the first two records exhibited in great detail and presents a band that are comfortable in their own skin, and continue to impress and amaze on this release.

We kick things off with "Obvious Bicycle", a mellow, downtempo number that shows off the eloquent vocal stylings of frontman Ezra Koenig, who contributes a great deal to the band's soft spoken nature of having fun while playing songs that evoke the band's individual musical influences that run the whole musical spectrum. "Unbelievers" picks up the melodic pace with an optimistic sounding tone running amok throughout the entire track, and features colorfully inventive instrumentation all the way throughout that shows that the band know how to have fun and make the audience part of the act while crafting these highly advanced tunes. My favorite track off the album is the incredible first single "Diane Young", an eclectic, R&B infused number that brings about a wide array of instrumentation that when all combined together, is both refreshing and an incredible step forward for the band who have been making a living entertaining the masses and keeping them coming back for more. "Hannah Hunt" is a breezy, piano styled tune that brings the collective energy down several notches to present a different side of the band that we haven't had much opportunity to see before, and showcases their wide ranging set of musical capabilities that go far beyond what we expected from them, and is a welcome change of pace for the band that just seems to get better and better with each album they make.

The second half of the disc begins with "Everlasting Arms", an upbeat, eclectic tune featuring a dazzling smorgasbord of intricate percussion arrangements and smooth guitar riffs that put everything in perspective here and gives you more audible pleasure right at the tip of your ears. "Worship You" finds Ezra speeding up his vocal abilities considerably to craft a fast paced, straight shooting blast that lays it all out there pretty quickly, and doesn't find the need to try anything too extravagant or risky and instead relies upon the guys trusting their own instincts and sticking to their guns while doing what they do best. The disc begins to wind down on "Ya Hey" a relaxing, toned down affair that sees the band bringing in all of the musical elements from their arsenal, and allowing the album to close on a scale that is the complete opposite of how it began, but shows a definite progression from start to finish. "Hudson" closes it all out with a moody, trodden number that shows off a side of the band we haven't seen before, but the band does a commendable job for accomplishing the task with great skill and determination, and wraps things up neatly on a well accomplished record. I've been a huge fan of Vampire Weekend ever since I first saw them on the cover of Spin Magazine back in 2007, and was totally enthralled by the band because of their name even though I hadn't heard any of their music yet, but once I did hear them, I realized that all the hype was worth it and these guys are definitely at the forefront of the indie music scene today with a spectacular and wide ranging set of talents that they're capable of displaying at given time with great fervor and enthusiasm.

Overall, an outstanding and terrific effort from Vampire Weekend, who have evolved their sound somewhat from their prior effort, and showcases a band that is more musically deep than they've ever been before and as a result, have really gelled considerably as band mates.

                                                                                                                              Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:
  1. Obvious Bicycle
  2. Unbelievers
  3. Step
  4. Diane Young
  5. Don't Lie
  6. Hannah Hunt
  7. Everlasting Arms
  8. Finger Back
  9. Worship You
  10. Ya Hey
  11. Hudson
  12. Young Lion  

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Artist Spotlight: British Harlem

For today's edition of Artist Spotlight to kick off the week, we head across the pond to Swindon, England and stumble across the ever vibrant sounds of British Harlem. The band consists of four friends Ady, Jordan, David. and Ben and they have a infectious, high range melodic twist that is totally their creation, and is something entirely unique within their own collective that allows you to get a sense of where these guys come from and what they're all about musically. I've always been intrigued by what's happening across the pond in merry old England, and the musical styles are not all that different from over here in the States, and it's all music that I feel comfortable listening to and isn't all that foreign to me because I love indie and alternative rock, and it's something that is on a level playing field with all the other types of music that I listen to regularly in my spare time. A truly enjoyable act that is definitely worthy of more press over here in the U.S. Some tracks that you should take a listen at from them include "Ride" and "Friends".

For more information on the guys in British Harlem, head on over to their Facebook page here and see what they can do to whet your musical appetite. The band is also able to be followed on Twitter from over here and see where the band will be stopping by next while out on tour, and hopefully they'll make their way over to the United States sometime soon! If you would like to check out the band's latest EP, it's now available for free streaming on their Bandcamp page located here and see for yourself what these guys are all about. 

Friday, May 3, 2013

Artist Spotlight: Jimmy Nash

Closing out the week with another brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we brush upon a singer-songwriter originally based out of Houston, TX but currently living in Los Angeles, CA by the name of Jimmy Nash. Jimmy has a clever and inventive playing style reminiscent of Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson with a style and sophistication that is all his own. What really impressed me upon first listening to him was how laid back and natural his musical presence was, and wasn't trying to do much. The only thing he was doing was just being himself and enjoying being the focal point with an amazing voice and good looks to boot. His songs have an amazing melodic syncopation that grabs your attention almost immediately from the minute you hit 'Play', and ensures that you'll listen to the entire portion of his album, not just little snippets here and there. An immensely talented and gifted singer-songwriter that is already on his way to larger success. Some recommended songs to check out for your listening pleasure include: "More Than Crazy" and "Save Me".

For more information on Jimmy Nash, head on over to his Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well so that you can stay up to date with all his latest music and upcoming concert appearances as well. He can also be followed on Twitter as well here so that you can stay in touch with him directly while he is out on the road. If you would like to check out his latest album titled "The Road To 33", it's available at iTunes directly from this link here and at Amazon MP3 as well from this link over here.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Artist Spotlight: Twin Berlin

Continuing to truck along with another all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we keep it local with a Boston band by the name of Twin Berlin. The band consists of Matt Lopez on lead vocals and guitar, James Janocha on drums, and Sean O'Neil on bass. The band has a loud, distorted garage rock style that is faintly reminiscent of The Strokes, with a direct and stylized style that is all their own and one that has gotten them notice around the Boston music scene and beyond. You may remember these guys as they partook in the recent Rock and Roll Rumble at TT the Bear's, and while they didn't win the competition, they certainly made an impression on hundreds of concertgoers who were being exposed to countless musicians from around the area and gave them a little bit of variety in the process as well. It's awesome to hear bands experiment with different styles of music that is a step up from the usual influences that other acts usually dabble in, and these guys clearly take charge of the situation at hand with remarkable strength and veracity that makes them a formidable presence in the local Beantown music scene. Recommended tracks now available for your listening pleasure include "Don't Hang Around" and "Give Up On Me".

For more information on Twin Berlin, please head over to their Facebook page here and 'Like' it while you're reading up on the guys and what they're like from a musical standpoint. The guys can be followed on Twitter as well from over here and find out when the band will be stopping by your area next! All of the band's music is available for free streaming on their Bandcamp page located here and see all of the collective works that are making a dent locally.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Andrew McMahon - The Pop Underground EP

Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin fame has released his much talked about debut solo EP titled The Pop Underground EP. The disc is markedly different than his previous material, but still has his trademark musical fingerprint stamped all throughout the disc that signifies another change of pace for the incredibly talented and gifted singer-songwriter.

The EP kicks off with the dazzling "Synesthesia", a track that has touches of electronic influences sprinkled about throughout the song, and Andrew's familiar and comforting vocal refrain runs its way through the crevices of the song at a steady and comfortable pace that is more than enough time for the listener to marvel over and see how far Andrew has come since his SoCo days. "Catching Cold" is my favorite track off the album, and one that has a more prevalent electro influence, but somehow it's able to connect with the listener in another dimension with its crafty wavelengths and spaced out time signatures that reach a new delight that sounds like something The Postal Service would create, and is an all around fascinating track and one to definitely put on repeat to get the full grasp of what Andy is trying to tell you lyrically. The disc continues on with "Learn To Dance" a toned out, simple structured track that features enhanced electronic components and Andrew's marvelous vocal work that once again puts him in a class all his own. The EP wraps up with "After the Fire" a melodic, joyous number that finds a way to link up the piano melodies and electronic delights, and finds a way to bring in Andrew's trademark sensibility and wisdom that helps the song achieve far greater than desired and allow the EP to wrap up on cue and on point. I've been a huge admirer of Andrew McMahon for as long as I can remember, dating back to my Something Corporate days back in 2002 and ever since, has remained one of the most talented musicians I've ever listened to in my life. I've seen him twice in concert with Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin, and I've grown even more and more impressed with him since that time, from his skills on the piano and belting out passionate, heartfelt ballads that have totally inspired me from the get go as to how conduct my daily life, and become a more musically rounded person in the process as well.

In summary, a terrific and well executed effort from Andrew McMahon, who continues to amaze and inspire countless listeners alike with his trademark musical prowess running gamuts throughout the disc, and presenting a comfortable and confident singer-songwriter ready to take on the new challenges and adventures that lay ahead.

                                                                                                                        EP Score: 4/5

  1. Synesthesia
  2. Catching Cold
  3. Learn to Dance
  4. After the Fire