Artist Spotlight: We Are The West

Kicking off your Tuesday with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we have a terrific folk rock duo from the City of Angels, Los Angeles, CA by the name of We Are The West. The group mainly consists of John Kibler and Brett Hool, and the band has developed a stripped down, bare bones sound that really hits you like a ton of bricks the minute you first hear it. The duo have come up with a way to get at you with intricate and thought provoking rhythms that are achieved easily with just a stroke of a guitar, and the terrific vocal work sets them apart in a class all their own. I was enthralled when I first heard these gents, and was particularly stricken by the band's well thought out dynamic that is on elegant display here, and how they're able to affect the listener with just a simple and straightforward approach that everyone can relate to when they first hear it. A terrific up and coming duo that is definitely going to get more notice as the months go by. Recommended tracks now available for your listening pleasure include "The Hammer" and "Cauliflower Ears".

For more information on We Are The West, click on their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well so that you're in the know of everything that is going on in their world. The band can also be followed on Twitter from over here and find out where the band will be stopping by next out on tour. If you would like to check out the band's self-titled EP from their Bandcamp page, you may do so here and see for yourself what remarkable musical skills these two have.

Phoenix - Bankrupt!

Versailles, France's preeminent alt rock sensations Phoenix are back with their highly anticipated, brand new studio album titled Bankrupt! The follow up to 2010's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix finds the French rockers continuing to bring their electro infused vibe, but hit at a much different angle and wavelength like their predecessor did, aiming to create a more streamlined and stratospheric sound that defines who they are as a band and as individual musicians.

The disc starts off with the album's first single "Entertainment", a wondrous, synth infused delight that reacquaints you with the lead vocals of Thomas Mars, who adds a distinct element to every Phoenix song that can be heard in one form or another on all of their material predating the Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix era. "S.O.S. in Bel Air" adds a more complex, layered touch to the album that amps up the velocity on the electro side, and blends that in with the band's standard issue guitar riffs that present a band able to adapt to the ever changing musical climate currently out there today, and represent a true artistic and creative direction for the band that gives them some clout as well in the process. "Trying To Be Cool" is an aural, toned down delight that perfectly accentuates Thomas's vocals, and brings everything down a notch to highlight the band's well thought out diversity previously displayed in the prior tracks, and also continues to peel away at the different layers of the album that give a little something for everyone. "Drakkar Noir" strikes the perfect balance and harmony with an synth-rock lovers delight that highlights all the band members individual talents, and puts that on a musical pedestal for all to take notice of and just stand in awe to be in their collective presence right in front of you.

We ease into the album's second half with "Chloroform", my favorite track off the album that has an 80's, old school feel to it with the synthesizers set to 11 on this one, and thoroughly showcasing the band's unique and wide ranging talents, which have always been exhibited to the highest degree on all of their studio releases up until this point. The disc begins to wind down on "Bourgeois", a mellow, laid-back tune that allows us to take a break from the uptempo, electronic wavelengths we heard earlier on the album, and shows off the diversity of the group as well and their ability to dabble in other genres of music with terrific aplomb. "Oblique City" closes out the album with an electro infused treat, and Thomas's vocals once again providing the backdrop for a well rehearsed and composed track that ties all the songs together, and also offers up a brief synopsis for those who may have just tuned in to the album. I always knew Phoenix were on the fast track to success when I first heard "1901" and "Lizstomania" from their prior effort Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, and introduced a new blend of alternative rock that is slowly starting to take ahold of the scene these days and is becoming the norm, something which I wholeheartedly support as the whole genre is in desperate need of a makeover these days.

All in all, a respectable and well executed effort from Phoenix, who are making their presence known as one of alt-rock's most promising bands with this dazzling effort that thoroughly encapsulates the sound that the band had intended to create when heading into the studio.

                                                                                                                           Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Entertainment
2. The Real Thing
3. S.O.S. in Bel Air
4. Trying to Be Cool
5. Bankrupt!
6. Drakkar Noir
7. Chloroform
8. Don't
9. Bourgeois
10. Oblique City

Interview w/ The Relevant Elephants

Proudly presenting to you another entry in my ongoing series of interviews with former Artist Spotlight alumni. Today, we zoom in on a recent addition to the ever growing Artist Spotlight family, The Relevant Elephants! The boys were featured on the blog at the beginning of the month, and have quickly grown on me and made a strong first impression with their easy going, laid back rhythms and their fun, upbeat attitude that keeps the listener entertained and begging for more. The other day, I caught up with one-half of the group, Zack Hankins and Taylor Knox, as we basked in the glory of a beautiful day on the grounds of Tufts University and we touched up on the group's beginnings, how they came up with their name courtesy of Stephen Colbert, and what the immediate future holds for them. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and what you do in the band?

Taylor: Hi, I'm Taylor, I play lead shredding guitar and I also sing a little bit and Zack and I write the songs.

Zack: I'm Zack, I sing and play rhythm guitar, I enjoy long walks on the beach, my favorite color is green. We also have Mack Suhre, he plays drums for us and Adam Khalil plays bass.

How did you guys all meet to form the group?


Zack: Taylor and I met up in 2008 when we both visited Boston for the first time cause we were doing a little summer class thing at Berklee, and then we just kept in touch through that, and when we both ended up moving back here, in 2010, Taylor and I started writing songs together, we got Adam in on it later, and Mack joined the group later cause Taylor jammed with him a few times and we were in need for a drummer and he's filled in great.

How did the name "The Relevant Elephants" originate?

Taylor: We have to give credit to Stephen Colbert. We went to go see his show last November and before the show started, he comes out 5 minutes beforehand to interact with the studio audience and Zack stood up and asked him, "What are some good band names?" and without hesitation he said, "The Relevant Elephants!" So we were like, "Thank you, Stephen Colbert!" and thus, the birth of the name The Relevant Elephants.

What other bands do your fans most commonly liken you to in concert?

Taylor: Well, I haven't asked enough people that, I would think that alot of them like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, 311, Porcupine Tree, some prog stuff, we have a pretty eclectic mix of rock, funk, reggae, and a little but of country too, bluegrass style.

Can you describe the atmosphere of your live shows, what they're like, and the one thing you love the most about performing?

Zack: Our live shows, we always like to do a little bit different each time, we just like to go along with a joke, we played at The Palladium in Worcester on December 1st, and I don't know what the deal was, but it was absolutely freezing in there, I could see my breath when I'm singing. So everyone on stage was bundled up, and at the last second when we all went backstage, we took our shirts off and did the entire show topless even though we were freezing, and we did another Battle of the Bands at the Hard Rock Cafe, so we covered ourselves in warpaint, stuff like that, and just made it look like were about to go into actual battle, just little things like that. I mean when it comes to live shows, it's just the energy and having everybody in there, and getting to show off what you do best and just really gets you amped seeing that.

Taylor: We're really all about the energy, we try to put alot of energy into the show, alot of crazy movements and stuff, a little choreography, and something we'll always be working on is trying to  get the crowd involved as much as possible, clap alongs, shouting, little stuff like that. We need to get trampolines on stage and stuff, kind of feel like we're headed in that direction.

Recently, you guys have been making the rounds performing at subway stations around Boston, could you describe what those performances are like?

Zack: It's pretty cool, I mean obviously it's annoying when you have a train going by every few minutes, but the thing is it's a really great way to build up a new fanbase and just have little things like this happen because the thing is on the street as much as nice days like this, you can still get alot out of good out of it, but on the subway people have to stay there, and you have alot of people finding it that way and on the subway you will run into other funny experiences, like people wanting to take pictures with you, we've had breakdancers go by and just start breakdancing, we had some kid find us and said he couldn't pay us so what he did is, he took pictures of us on Facebook, and cartooned us and those are our profile pictures now, he went to art school. And you have all these random things that can happen from it, and also you run into some unpleasant experiences like sometimes you'll have some homeless drunks say, "Hey, give us your money!" And overall, it's just a fantastic way to promote and get the name out there, because they get just a little taste, we can't bring our full drum set down in the subway or full amps or anything like that so it's "Ok, well these guys in the subway, now when I see them live, it's going to be bigger and better."

What are some of your favorite songs to perform live, do you guys do any covers that fans seem to take a shine to?     

Taylor: We have done some covers, not too much lately, not in our later shows, we have more original material, so we tend to fill up our set with that, but covers we have done in the past people really seem to enjoy, we do a cover of a cover actually of 311's cover from The Cure "Love Song", that's a really fun one to do. We've also done "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder, we changed that one up a bit, we kind of rock it out, made it heavier as if almost Rage Against The Machine did it.

Zack: Sometimes we'll improvise in the subway, this kind of comes into play where someone will come up with a request and say maybe we know it, on the subway we've done "Sweet Home Alabama" and stuff like that, don't expect to see that in shows too much cause we're getting more original material now and obviously that's what we want to put out, so that's what we want to play.

In your spare time away from making music, what do you guys like to do to pass the time? Any activities or hobbies? 

Taylor: I play more music. I'm kind of a nerd when it comes to music, I'm always just playing music or drums or something. In the summertime when the weather starts to get nice like right now, I enjoy going to the beach, I surf, boogie board, skimboard, I spend alot of time there. I also skateboard outside alot. In the winter, I'm kind of a recluse, like to sit and watch movies.

Zack: As for me, I also DJ sometimes around town here. When I'm hanging out with friends or whatever, it's always about Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart, and lots of beer involved because that's what you do with friends. That is my Friday night typically, video games and beer, but I wouldn't have it any other way right now.

What's coming up next for you guys this year, any more new music or live performances to look forward to? 

Taylor: We've got a couple performances coming up, we'll be performing May 1st at Radio in Somerville, MA for a Marathon runners benefit. Next one, we'll be playing Church, right now it's scheduled for May 6th, but that's subject to change, check in with us on Facebook about that. And we might be playing Johnny D's on May 14th as well. And then, we're going to take a month break.

Zack: And then we're playing a benefit at the South Shore Music Hall. If you're familiar with Deftones, their old bassist named Chi Cheng, he was in a coma actually for awhile unfortunately, and he recently passed away, and they're doing a benefit and his mother is choosing the charity it goes to. They're doing benefits all around the world, so we're doing that in June. We're always working on new music, cause the way alot of our practices go it's like if someone else is getting ready either Mack will just start playing a beat or two or start playing a riff, we just kind of roll with that for awhile, and "Ok, let's just get this a bit more structured." So we have a couple of songs that we are in the process of finally getting finished and we have about 100 half songs, it's just a matter of putting those pieces together. There's going to be a couple of days where we're going to sit down and take care of them. If we did, we would have 2 albums!

Lastly, what do you guys enjoy the most about performing together? 

Taylor: I think it's going to have to go back to the energy. After every show, even if we do a terrible show which we have done in the past where everything goes wrong, I just almost get a high from doing it, I just enjoy it so much. For about an hour, people have to pay attention to you. You're in the spotlight, and I'm not usually the kind of person that is trying to be out in front all the time. (Laughter) But definitely the energy, that would be it.

Zack: With me, it's once again the energy, and also the thing is it's nice to have this group that I know I can trust them completely each show, that they can do their part which gives me the freedom to do whatever I want to without any worry, like I know Taylor knows his part down, I know Mack, I've never had to worry about him, and Adam has always been the same way too. Every show, day in and out they're going to do it right, they're going to play their best and say if something goes wrong with the equipment, sometimes that's out of our hands. But I know what whenever we go to a show, we're the most prepared to give them the best show possible. I know Mack, Taylor, and Adam feel the exact same way.

Thanks once again to Taylor and Zack for being so kind and gracious enough with their time to do this interview out in the glorious weather as you can clearly see from the picture above! They're really humble and funny guys, and I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with them in a truly peaceful interview locale. You never know what bands you'll encounter while you're waiting for the subway in Boston, and I'm so glad and honored I stumbled across these gents to catch their performance, even if it was just for a few seconds. For more info on The Relevant Elephants, visit their Facebook page here and follow them on Twitter over here.       

Artist Spotlight: The Shills

Today's edition of Artist Spotlight to round out the week comes to us from a terrific Boston based band that goes by the name of The Shills. The group mainly consists of Bryan Murphy on lead vocals and guitar, Ryan Jackson on guitar, Dave Sicilian on bass, and James Zaner on drums. The band has a inventive, layered prog rock sound that evokes a highly stylized blend of prog rock, mixed in with a little The Pixies influence and an authenticity that is all their own and speaks to mind about the group's intense musical dynamic that is in full force here. I was really enthralled with the drumwork which helps enhance the rich musical tonality of the tracks and allows the song to have a certain lifeforce that permeates all crevices of the music, and finds it way into the listeners vast musical catalogue almost immediately upon first listen. I managed to catch these guys in concert last month at The Middle East Downstairs and I was impressed with the band's stage presence which is one of the main selling points in getting recognition from the listening audience, and acts as a barometer of sorts to how the people out there will communicate with you on stage, and they were able to accomplish that task with remarkable ease. An emerging Boston band that has a welcome spot among the plethora of other local artists currently on the rise today. Recommended songs for you to have a listen at include "Move A Mountain" and "Nectar Perfect".

For more info on the guys in The Shills, click on their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well so that you can stay up to date on everything that is going on in their world right now as we speak. The band's official website here has more wide ranging info pertaining to them, and if you would like to check out their new EP "Keep Your Hands Busy, Vol.1", it's available for purchase on Amazon, iTunes, and via a free stream from their Bandcamp page located here for your listening enjoyment!

Artist Spotlight: Juice

Today's edition of Artist Spotlight comes to us from a band based from right here in Beantown simply known by the name of Juice. The band consists of Harrison Harter on lead vocals and guitar, Alex Remoue on lead guitar and vocals, Lenny Brown on bass, and Ale Giuliani on drums. The band has an inventive, organic, and straight to the point alt-rock style similar in the vein of Incubus and Red Hot Chili Peppers with a style and sophistication that is all their own and something that all the members of the band feel comfortable playing and enjoy being around all at the same time. I managed to catch these guys in concert last month at The Middle East Downstairs where they played with Bear Language (a past Artist Spotlight alumni), and they put on a fun filled, enthusiastic set that totally encapasulated the band's dynamic and their ability to make the audience part of the act and reel them in as a part of something special that is happening right before their eyes. A great local band that is primed to take the next step forward on their musical journey that lays ahead in the distance. Some recommended tracks for you to take a listen at include "Bigger" and "Faces in The Water".

For more information on the boys in Juice, head on over to their Facebook page here and get to know the guys in the band more on a personal level. The band can also be followed on Twitter from right here and find out when the guys will be stopping by the Boston area again with another show for the masses! The band's official website here has more wide ranging info pertaining to the band, and check out their music available for free streaming on their ReverbNation page located over here. 

Artist Spotlight: San Cisco

Back after a brief hiatus with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we check in with Fremantle, Australia's own indie rock sensations San Cisco. The band consists of Jordi Davieson on lead vocals and guitar, Josh Biondillo on guitar, keyboards, and vocals, Nick Gardner on bass, and Scarlett Stevens on drums and vocals. The band has an earthy, vivacious tone to them similar to the likes of Beach House and Surfer Blood, but taken up a notch in terms of sheer musical optimism and simple, well orchestrated rhythms that allow you to fall for the band quite easily, and make sure you stay for the entire duration of your musical stay. I stumbled across these guys randomly while listening to the radio one day, and I was impressed with the band's fun loving ways while creating their songs, and I could just tell by listening to them that they were having a blast while they were in the studio recording their album, and truly and thoroughly enjoyed being in each others' company. A great upstart act that is definitely primed to take the next step up on the musical ladder. Recommended songs for you to check out and have a listen at include: "Awkward" and "Beach".

For more information on the guys from the land Down Under, check out their Facebook page located here and see what they can do to brighten and liven up your day. You can follow the band on Twitter right here and see when the band will be stopping by the U.S., maybe sometime relatively soon. Head over to the band's official website here for more wide ranging info pertaining to the band and their music is readily available on iTunes and Spotify among digital music outlets.

Eddie Japan, Camden, The New Highway Hymnal Face Off in Rock and Roll Rumble Semis

Night 2 of the Rock N Roll Rumble Semi-finals resumes tonight at TT the Bear's in Cambridge. The show was originally set to take place this past Friday, but due to the terrorist situation taking place in the city, many deemed it would be inappropriate to hold an event in the city with a heavy police presence going on at the same time. Because of the postponement, a band that has previously played in the Rumble before, Randy Black and the Heathcroppers, will be opening up the night and a wildcard band has been added by the name of Twin Berlin, and this allows Boston to get back to what it does best, highlighting and breaking new and cutting edge bands! Here is the full list of the set times tonight in case you're going:

Randy Black and the Heathcroppers - 8:45pm
Eddie Japan - 9:30pm
The New Highway Hymnal - 10:15pm
Camden - 11:00pm
Twin Berlin - 11:45pm

Boston Bruins Fans Sing Along To The National Anthem

Last night at the Boston Bruins-Buffalo Sabres game, the first game played in Boston since the terrorist attacks at the Boston Marathon on Monday, the entire crowd in attendance joined Rene Rancourt in the traditional singing of the national anthem. But this was anything but traditional, as the entire crowd sang in unison with one another, and everybody joined together in a strong sign of solidarity and camaraderie with one another as everybody sang at the top of their lungs, and wept as everybody joined together in this massive showing of Boston pride. I''m a hardcore Boston Bruins fan through and through, I even have the Bruins logo tattooed on my left bicep as a symbol of my dedication and loyalty to the team, and last night nearly threw me to the brink of tears, and just seeing this massive throng of people all singing together really spoke volume about why I love the city of Boston so much, it's hockey team, and most of all its people. View the video above and try not to tear up while watching this amazing video.

Commentary on The Marathon Bombings

I know this is a music blog and all, but I felt I needed to share with everyone my thoughts and reactions on the recent tragedies that occurred the other day at the Boston Marathon. I first heard about the bombings when I was out running that day (not at the Marathon, but a track close to my home) and I got a news flash on my phone saying that there were explosions reported near the finish line of the Marathon. My initial reaction was that it was just a manhole explosion and whatnot, but then my gut reaction thought this was way more serious when I turned on the radio in my car, and all the stations were reporting on what just occurred.

I drove straight home, and saw the mayhem unfold right before my very eyes. I was shocked and scared that something awful like this could happen in Boston, a place I've called my home for close to 30 years now and a place that has a rich, cultural diversity like no other. Immediately after the bombing occurred, I decided out of respect for the 3 people who unfortunately lost their lives and the hundreds who had to endure countless hours of surgeries because of their injuries, I made the conscious decision to suspend all blog posts for the rest of the week. I thought it was a sign of humility and pride that I shut down for a couple of days to focus and reflect on the recent events. Although the intervening time off has helped cope with the healing process, music has helped me more than anything else ever could. I'm truly amazed with the power that even just one song could have and become a highlight of your entire day and make the weather seem that much warmer and the sky much more clearer as well. I'm also amazed with the outpouring of well wishes I've gotten from people all near and dear to my heart via Facebook asking if I was alright and saying that Boston is in the hearts of everyone around. I'm teary eyed and amazed at the outpouring of love and affection that occurred in such a short span of time, and really spoke volumes about the kindness of humanity in times like these.

The picture at the top of the page symbolizes the never-ending spirit and support of the Boston community, and also symbolizes our love of baseball and all our sports teams in general. Please feel free to spread this image around to your friends and use it in your profile pictures (I know I will!) I'll be back with my regular round of blog posts on Friday, and thanks again for everyone for all the well wishes! Your support means more than you will ever know!

BREAKING: Deftones Bassist Chi Cheng Dead At 42

Sad news coming in over night. Chi Cheng, bassist for Deftones who was in a semi-conscious state since a car accident back in November 2008, died on his way to the emergency room last night, he was 42. Chi was bassist for Deftones since its inception in 1988 along with Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, and Abe Cunningham. The band achieved initial success with their debut album Adrenaline, which came out in 1994 and ended up achieving platinum status without the aid of any radio airplay of the album's tracks. Their follow up release Around The Fur came out in 1997, and was an immediate success on the strength of such fine tracks like "My Own Summer (Shove It)" and "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)". The album eventually reached platinum status much like its predecessor did. It wasn't until their follow up White Pony which came out in 2000 where the band really reached big time. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 on its release, selling 178,000 copies in its first week out and had a monster hit that summer with "Change (In The House Of Flies)" and "Back To School (Mini-Maggit)". The album has sold 1.3 million copies to date and remains the band's best album to date.

Their self-titled follow up came in 2003, debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, their highest position to date on that chart, selling 167,000 copies in its first week and contained the haunting single "Minerva". Another follow up effort Saturday Night Wrist came out in 2006, selling 76,000 copies in its first week and wasn't as successful commercially as their prior ones were, containing the prominent track, "Hole in the Earth". The band was working on their new album Eros prior to November 5, 2008, when Chi was involved in a car accident which resulted in him being ejected from the vehicle and sustained massive head injuries as a result. He wasn't wearing his seatbelt at the time, and immediately began receiving treatment at an outpatient facility that specialized in traumatic brain injuries. Sergio Vega of Quicksand immediately began filling in his absence, and contributed to the band's Diamond Eyes album in 2010, which hearkened back to the band's late 90's heyday, and the album's title track became a massive hit at alternative radio. The band released their most recent album Koi No Yokan just last year, and was an immediate critical success for the band and among the best reviewed albums of the year.

It remains to be seen what the future of the band holds without Chi, as it's left a gaping hole in the band which can't possibly be filled at this time.  

The Self Proclaimed Rockstars Final Interview

You may remember a couple of weeks ago of the announcement here on the blog that The Self Proclaimed Rockstars would be no more after their final show at Radio in Somerville this coming Saturday on April 13th. As they move forward with their new band called The Interrobang, guitarist Mick Greenwood sat down and we thought it would be a good idea to take a trip down memory lane and look back at SPR as a whole, plus why the band came to the decision to discontinue the SPR name and what his favorite memories are from being in the band. And here it is, SPR's last interview ever:

What was behind the decision of discontinuing The Self Proclaimed Rockstars name permanently, was it all a collective decision?

It has been discussed since Rjan, Steve and James joined the band in 2009. I was probably the biggest opponent of it. But I recently took over managing us again and realized (after about a year away from the helm) that I couldn't explain why a band with songs like we were getting ready to roll out had a name like SPR. I re-opened the discussion and, despite the fact that I had to make four separate phone calls, I had unanimous consent in less than 15 minutes. We don't agree on anything that easily, so that made me feel pretty good that we had made the right decision.

Just to be clear, you guys aren't breaking up but are forming a new band with all the same members called The Interrobang, can you talk a little about that?

It's hard to explain. We're ending the SPR project and we are cutting ties with all of the material we released ("This is rock." and "Postcards from Purgatory"). We may mine those riffs/lyrics for future songs for The Interrobang, but for now, it's all eyes on the future. We don't want The Interrobang to be known as SPR's new name. SPR was a band that released two albums and they're out there for the world to hear. The five us were in SPR for a portion of its run, that's about it. The Interrobang is a new band, new look, new sound. We're starting from scratch and I couldn't be more excited or energized about that.

Was the ever changing sound of your music a factor in starting a new band, or had you thought about this for awhile?

Absolutely - with SPR, the five of us were really kind of bound to OLD SPR - a bar band from the suburbs that Johnny and I started as kids that wrote songs about drinking and the suburban doldrums. When you look at our recorded material, 80% of it was written before 3/5 of the current lineup joined. Now, I can say with all the certainty in the world that those guys made every single one of those songs better, but (given a blank page) those are not the songs the five of us would have written. Not even close. Once we got that blank page, we realized we had something completely different. It was its own thing - separate and apart from anything we had done before. It was aggressive, alternative and new - and it couldn't be married to what had come before. I think that's why we're so sure about this move. SPR is over and, if we're being honest, it's been over since the moment we wrote our first song collaboratively.

As a member of SPR, what are some of your favorite moments together as a group?

There's a lot - being BC football's tailgate band during the Matt Ryan era, John Popper asking to sit in with us in NYC, hearing ourselves on the radio for the first time (in Delaware). But if you're asking me, personally - I'll remember all of what SPR was for  my 2010 bday show.  We closed with Whisky, like we always did, and during his final solo, Rjan led the band into "Happy Birthday" and the whole bar sang along. It was packed  that night, but the sound was so shitty that I literally bled out of my ears later that night. The crowd wouldn't let us leave and asked for and got FOUR encores. We literally played every song we knew at that time; each shittier/sloppier/drunker than the last.  I think that moment captures what SPR was, at least to me - it was fun, it was entertaining, it was misbehavior...it wasn't always pretty, but it always felt like simple stupid freedom. That's what I'll remember.

Lastly, what kind of hijinks and shenanigans can we expect at your show this Saturday @ Radio? 

We'll play a couple of the retired tunes, I'm sure. Not sure there'll be any hijinks, but there will be a lot of appreciation. I think we all just want to play the shit out of this show, take a bow and mingle with our friends/family/fans. Our eyes are already on the future and our heads are already in The Interrobang. This show is a thank you...and my 30th birthday party. Frankly, for me...I can't think of a more appropriate box to bury SPR in than my 20's.

Thanks again to Mick for taking time out of his hectic schedule to do this interview! And also, a special thanks to all the other guys in the band: Rjan Savary, John Malone, James Hogg, and Steve DeBenedictis for being such awesome people and great musicians, and also for giving me the opportunity to feature them prominently on the blog over the last couple of years. Like I said, the band have been featured numerous times on the blog, the very first being an Artist Spotlight feature in February 2011, and I'll continue to support the guys with their new musical venture The Interrobang moving forward. If you're looking for something to do over the long weekend, come on down to Radio in Somerville, MA tomorrow night at 8pm for SPR's final show, which also features performances from The Southern Lust Club and The Steve Walther Orchestra. Don't miss this performance as SPR closes out their illustrious career with a bang!

Artist Spotlight: Transit

Today's edition of Artist Spotlight comes to us from an emerging rock band from right over in the Boston suburbs, Stoneham, MA to be exact, and they go by the name of Transit. The band largely consists of Joe Boynton on lead vocals, Tim Landers on guitar and vocals, Daniel Frazier on drums, PJ Jefferson on bass and vocals, and Torre Cioffi on guitar and vocals. The band has a sensational, melodic blend of post-punk rhythms reminiscent of Brand New and Taking Back Sunday with a sharp, lyrical driven focus that lovers of the aforementioned acts will grow to love almost instantaneously upon impact. This band has built up quite a remarkable following as of late, acquiring over 62,000 likes on Facebook and are currently in the midst of a tour all across the country that will see them bringing their blend of New England based rock to the masses,  and you will definitely take a shine to the boys and what musical dynamics they can bring to the table. A terrific upstart act that you'll definitely be hearing more from later this year and beyond. Some recommended tracks for you to have a listen at include "Nothing Lasts Forever" and "Second to Right".

For more information on Transit, click on their Facebook page here and be among the legion of thousands of fans who have already fallen for the band's incredible blend of Boston based rock. The band can be followed on Twitter as well directly over here and communicate directly with the band on a one-by-one basis! The band's official website is here featuring a plethora of wide ranging features all pertaining to the band, and pick up the band's latest album Young New England, now available on iTunes and Spotify among select digital music retail outlets.

Artist Spotlight: Jeff Crosby & The Refugees

Kicking off a warm start to the week with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we have an emerging folk rock act based out of Donnelly, Idaho by the name of Jeff Crosby & The Refugees. The band consists of the aforementioned Jeff Crosby, his brother Andy Crosby, Daniel Blumenfeld, and Will Prescott. The band has a peaceful, relaxing musical tonality to them similar to the likes of The Eagles and Neil Young with a thoughtful, melodic musical precision that runs deep throughout all the musical crevices of their music. I stumbled across these guys a couple of months ago, and I was amazed with the overall simplicity of their music that doesn't feel the need to do too much, and instead relies on a musical accompaniment featuring lovely accordion melodies, some flute interludes, and the sheer beauty of Jeff's voice that sets everything in motion here and will make you feel glad that you came along for the ride and were able to bask in his musical company at the same time. A great undiscovered act that is definitely worth opening up to listeners of other genres. Some recommended tracks for you to have a listen at include "This Old Town" and "I Don't Know".

For more information on Jeff Crosby & The Refugees, click on their Faecbook page located here where you can look at the band at a glance, and see what they're like firsthand just by looking at them and listening to their music as well. The band can also be followed on Twitter as well directly from over here and find out if the band will be stopping by your area anytime soon with some concert appearances. Click on their official website here for more wide ranging information pertinent to the band, and you can buy Jeff's EP "Too Many Walls" from iTunes at this link right here.

The New Highway Hymnal Advance In Rock N Roll Rumble Opener

Haverhill, MA's own The New Highway Hymnal advanced last night in the opening round of the annual Rock N' Roll Rumble festival that took place to a packed house at TT the Bears in Cambridge. You may remember the band as they were an Artist Spotlight feature on the blog a couple of months back, and they totally deserve this hard fought victory as they have slowly been creeping up on my musical radar as of late, and have a terrific and dynamic stage presence that puts them in a class of their own among their other peers in the Boston scene today.

The madness continues tonight as Endation, The Deep North, Herra Terra, and Camden will hit the stage. Doors open at 8pm, with Endation hitting the stage first at 9pm. Limited tickets are available at the door, so head down there if you can to do your part in supporting the local music scene!

Artist Spotlight: Red Oblivion

For Friday's edition of Artist Spotlight to wrap up the week, we shine the light on Boston's own Red Oblivion! The band consists of Zach Adams on lead vocals and bass, Michael John Romano on guitar, Emma Torres on guitar, and Carson Groenewold on drums. The band has an experimental, edgy vibe to them similar to the likes of Muse and Radiohead with a style and sophistication all their own that is something to behold and take notice of. The band's layered guitar tracks and tightly wound vocals set the band apart from all the other local bands coming up today, and have exclusively tailored made their sound to the musical needs of their audience, who are always constantly clamoring for music that gives them an escape from the ordinary doldrums of their personal life, and into a world where music knows no boundaries and has a rulebook all its own. An extremely talented band that is one to keep your eyes and ears on in the days and months to come. A recommended track to check out from them is called "Aqua Jesus".

For more information on Red Oblivion, click on their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it so that you can stay up to date with everything pertaining to the band. You can follow the band on Twitter right here so that you can find out when the band will be playing next in the Boston area. Visit their official website here for more wide ranging information related to the band, and visit their Bandcamp site here to check out all the band's music that they have to offer you.

Artist Spotlight: The Triads

On tap for today's edition of Artist Spotlight, we head down to Greensboro, North Carolina and uncover the hip-hop infused sounds of The Triads. The trio is mainly comprised of Deen Garba, James Black, and Shaheen Lashani. The trio has an electronic, alternative hip-hop based frame of mind that echoes the influences of Kid Cudi and B.o.B. with an pure, eclectic sound that represents the band's musical mission clearly and cohesively without drowning out the lyricism too much with the electro arrangements providing a nice backdrop. Now, while I don't listen to hip-hop a great deal, there is something to be desired from the trio's ability to weave inane and catchy hooks that are infused within the instrumental backdrops that create a weave of rhythm and echo that runs rampant through a particularly fast span of time, and within that time frame, you'll have developed an impression of the band and how they can make an impact on your life. A great upstart act that I would love to see gain more attention in the months to come. Some tracks for you to have a listen at include: "We Got It Wrong" (f/ St. Lucia) and "Insomniac".

For more information on the boys in The Triads, click on their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' the page as well so that you can stay up to date with all the pertinent announcements from the band. They're also available to be followed on Twitter at this location here and find out if the group will be stopping by your area sometime soon with a concert appearance! The band's music is available on SoundCloud for your listening pleasure right here and find out what this group can do for you musically.

Interview w/ Saul Conrad

Back at it again with another interview in my ongoing series with artists that have been featured on the blog in the past. Today, we catch up with emerging Boston based singer-songwriter Saul Conrad. I reviewed Saul's debut release "Poison Packets" on the blog back in October and he has quickly become one of the most intriguing new musicians coming up in the Boston area today. We caught up last week as we were partaking in some lunch at City Feed and Supply right in his hometown of Jamaica Plain and we touched base on various topics such as how he made his foray into music and what inspires him each and every day to craft such thought-provoking songs. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your name and where you're originally from?

Saul Conrad. I'm from Somerville first, but then Brookline and JP, I live around here.

What is your earliest recollection of being exposed to music at a young age?

My parents took me to Longy Music School when I was 3 or something, and I remember dancing around the room while this Russian lady played Greek waltzes and stuff, and then I started taking piano lessons with her and I did that from age 3 to 18 or 19, so I started with her and went with her for a long time.

What has music done to enhance or enrich your life up until this point?

I think when I was younger it was more of something I probably cared alot about deeply, and I got alot of emotion out of and I figured alot of things out while doing it, but it was always sort of a thing I was forced to do, like practice a certain number of hours every day, classical piano and I was always very resentful about that. Everybody would be playing wiffle ball on the street and I don't know if I ever admitted it, I was sort of in a constant rebellion because of the way it was with my parents and I don't know if I admitted how much I was enjoying it, but when I got older there was alot of obstacles and difficulties in life and some days every thing's just shit but if you have one record you're really into of some sort and you go out and drive or listen to it on your headphones while you're walking or something, I find those are central to my day and my life whatever record I'm listening to, it really changes the day from something hard to get through and maybe not worth getting through to something that you strive through. I feel you can relate to something and kind of feel like a purpose that other people shared in the past, especially with people who made music you really admired who are dead now, it really attaches you.

Where do you draw inspiration from to write your music, is it autobiographical in nature?

I think with "Poison Packets" I know it's not always completely clear, maybe it's a little vague because I really like the idea that you write something in my own code and language, it all makes perfect sense to me, but I want it to be open enough that it's a guide that once it's out, other people can sort of fill in the shapes I made with the words and it kind of acts as a skeleton for their story so that it's transferable, but I was trying to be as open as I could psychologically, really describing things that happened or continue to happen that caused me to live the way I live or feel the kind of situations I have, so I think maybe the new thing I'm working on is a little more abstract or about groups of things or history or mountain ranges or longer, less intimate psychological things.

Let's go behind the creation of your debut album "Poison Packets" and the story behind the genesis for the album?

I had all these songs written out, and we made "Poison Packets" and went to Rochester, NY (Katie Schecter and I) and we knew this guy who we used to work when we were in college and we've made some records that's long since lost, but then he's a very obsessive compulsive, very bizarre strange guy, but we were both comfortable with him. They had no idea what the songs were about and they were a little concerned there wasn't anything upbeat or dancy because they hadn't really heard the lyrics to have gotten the whole feel of what it was going to be about, and I just did acoustic guitar, and I would lay down a vocal, and pretty much in that time Katie would have learned the song and then she would put harmonies down, and we got it all done with vocals and acoustic guitar, and then in Boston I had people come over to the house, and had a mandolin and all the other instruments around there, and we added that all slowly, and I went to Rochester and moved it. And by the time we were halfway through the album, they had kind of given up on the idea of any dancy numbers, and they started to realize what it was about. But I don't think they had ever been listening to what I was listening to, I was listening to alot of stuff that the album was based on and it didn't make sense to them at first, but then is started to.

Can you talk about the creation of the title track on the album and "Sycamore" and talk about the lyricism surrounding it and what inspired it?

"Sycamore" is probably my favorite song, we did a video for it. Catherine Please, the girl who made the video sees these two birds, and one's in a cage at home and one's out traveling to get back home and at the very end of the video, that bird gets home and it's almost as if the two birds are seeing each other, the one bird is on the porch and the other is in the house and it's where it becomes clear is that the bird inside the house sees the bird outside but the bird outside maybe only sees its own reflection in the window, and that was Catherine's idea, but I guess that's kind of an interpretation that the song is about love is vanity or thinking you love someone else, but you really love yourself or not really seeing the other person, I guess in one way it's a gentle, romantic song where the protagonist is feeling like he's not really understood and he's a mess, but it's really his fault and he's sort of amazed by the miracle he's worth something or worth the time to the other person, but then I guess in another way you could kind of think of it as sort of a very self-indulgent thing all about me and how much of a mess I am, am I worth it to you or not all just for my own sake, and I think that's what she was getting at, so I think it has those sides in it.

I don't really know how it came to be. I mean, I was writing all those songs and I just had little sections of music and I had lyrics that I hadn't tied down to anything yet and I just had placeholder words like "I love you" and "I want you", just stupid little phrases that were holding, and I then replaced all those phrases with lyrics that I had been working on that I didn't know what song it would be for, and so the songs kind of came together.

What do you enjoy the most about performing your songs live in front of an audience?

It's nice when people are actually listening! (Laughter) I think they way we were doing it was just me playing guitar and me and Katie singing on the tour, and Katie is great and she knows me really well and the way I play, so I was sort of able to be very free and improvise alot and go off on solos that weren't supposed to be there or have an extra verse, and we were kind of free to just go where ever because it wasn't a band meant to stay together, and I had a really fun time where we just started playing a few covers that we got alot better at as time went on and the covers are meant to show off the influences of what you're listening to, where it comes from and it's sort of a lyrical portrait of the tradition of music I thought I was a part of, and I was also practicing with the way of relating to people live. I started listening to some recordings of some of my favorite artists live and especially when you're playing alot of dark, slow, and meditative stuff, you know the way you can kind of tell jokes in between or try to control the mood like bring it down and pull it up, and I felt like there are sometimes where people were really listening where we would have a song that was almost upbeat and then feel the people were really getting into it, and then pull it back and create a big effect so when you can really start to control the energy in the room, it's pretty cool.

Away from music, what do you like to do in your spare time when not making recordings?

I'm usually always recording, performing, or writing music. I've been working on playing organ and piano and helping alot of other people work on their records and helping people record in my house so I'm usually working on somebody's record when it's not my own.

What's on tap for the rest of the year musicwise, any touring or recording plans?

I'm hoping to at least for a couple of months play alot around New England and the Northeast, and I'm trying to set up shows and maybe towards the end of the summer do another bigger tour. There are some bands who were saying we can open for them, but I don't know if that will really come through. I've got a new album that just needs to be mastered that I'm really excited about, although it's totally different than the last one so I don't know if it's going to help my career at all, but I'm starting to work on another one where I really want to have symphony and horns and multiple lines going all at once with classical instruments, and hopefully some big choral parts. It's almost more of like symphonic music, but I guess I'll busy myself with trying to figure how in the world I'm going to get that recorded.

Lastly, how has music helped shape you to the person you are now?

Well, I guess for whatever reason I've always felt like I can't really care about anything, the only thing that ever really mattered to me is that I see as using my life in a way besides things that are joyful: horseback riding, or loving summertime where you can go boating everyday which is great if that's available. I think of my life as how much creative work have I done, and have I gotten about. I guess in a way, I get less scared of death the more I get work done, every time I get on an airplane I'm like, "Well I've done this, I've got that record out", those things exist you know. I really do think day by day the amount of work I've created is how I value my life and what makes it make sense that I'm here, something for me to do or worry about, and that I feel is important and I guess felt it was important to express myself and I was writing short stories before I really started taking music seriously, and I tried to make a movie at one point, and now I feel that I don't have to use completely words or short stories to express myself, maybe words aren't the best way at sort of the deeper emotions. I like words but having words sort of be something that's an added seasoning on top of something where the real emotion is getting across more abstract through the music, then I can have fun with the words and then I can sort of explain the words with feelings in the music, that I couldn't do with just words.

So, music is seeming to be the combination of things that is working best for me to express myself, and I hope at some point and time, a larger audience will somehow get to hear about it, and maybe it will be of importance to somebody. I think with this new record, I'm starting to write in a kind of way that is pretty different than anyone has ever done, I don't think people are going to like it right away, but I do think it's opening new doors for sort of new ways to conceive songwriting maybe, and it opens up alot of possibilities to really get at deeper, more careful portraits of emotions, so that's what I'm trying to do.

Thanks once again to Saul Conrad for taking some time out of his busy day to conduct this interview. Saul has definitely fascinated me with his uncanny ability to weave authentic emotion into his song that it almost makes you feel like one of the subjects he's writing about and strikes a chord almost immediately the second you hear it. If you would like to check out his music for yourself, visit his ReverbNation page here to get a sense of what Saul's music is all about, and check out his debut album "Poison Packets", now available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, and Spotify among fine digital music retailers.

Artist Spotlight: The Relevant Elephants

Today's edition of Artist Spotlight comes to us from four gentlemen by way of right here in Beantown by the name of The Relevant Elephants. The band consists of Zack Hankins on lead vocals and guitar, Taylor Knox on guitar and vocals, Adam Khalil on bass, and Mack Suhre on drums. The band has an inventive, down home blend of rock and reggae influences inspired by 311 and Sublime with their own unique twist on it that is insatiable and music you won't get out of your head anytime soon. I actually came across this band in the most unlikeliest of places, the Downtown Crossing T stop located right in Boston as I was heading to catch another train a few weeks ago. Their music caught my eye as I walked past the band performing, and I wish I would've gotten the chance to stop and take in the sights and sounds the band had to offer, but just hearing the band as I hurried by was more than enough for me, and convinced me that these guys are well on their way to something special. A clever collection of tunes assembled from four extremely talented gentlemen that definitely has the audacity to go places. Recommended songs for you to have a listen at include "Hot Air Balloon" and "Curse".

For more info on the guys in The Relevant Elephants, click on their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well while you're gawking at all the plentiful features found on the page. The band can also be followed on Twitter here and find out what the gents have in store for you concertwise in the coming weeks! If you would like to check out their music, it's available on their ReverbNation page here and see what these guys are all about, they're well worth it!