Artist Spotlight: Ruby Ridge

Starting off your week with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight. Today, we have an eclectic indietronic duo based from out of Camrbidge, MA by the name of Ruby Ridge. The group consists of the husband and wife team of Callan Von B on synthesizers, programming, and vocals and John Von B on vocals, programming, synthesizers, and percussion. The duo has a mellow, intricate sound that is reminiscent of such groups like Animal Collective and Beach House with a distinct and straightforward sound that is all their own and allows them to explore the confines of their comfort zone with remarkable ease and aplomb. I was really impressed with their music when I first heard it last month and really appreciated the band's simplicity and the dynamic and creative approach they took when crafting their music together that didn't feel need to go over the top with anything too fancy or extreme. A great local group deserving of an extra push in the local scene. A recommended track for you to have a listen at is "No Shade".

For more information on Ruby Ridge, click on their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well while you're there finding out more info on the group. If you would like to listen to their debut EP Intent, it's available for streaming on their SoundCloud page located here along with a host of other assorted tracks for your listening pleasure.

BREAKING: The Self Proclaimed Rockstars Call It A Day

Breaking news coming in just now. Wakefield, MA's own The Self Proclaimed Rockstars have decided to hang it up after a total of 11 years together. The official announcement came this morning via their official website and you can read the official announcement here. The band has existed since 2002 through a variety of different incarnations and several different lineup changes over the years. The most current lineup has been together since 2009 with frontman John Malone, guitarists Mick Greenwood and Rjan Savary, drummer Stephen DeBenedictis, and bassist James Hogg rounding out the lineup.

I'm heartbroken to hear this news as I was a huge fan of SPR ever since I first saw them back in November 2010 at McGann's, and was amazed with the band's stage presence and their ability to incorporate the audience in as a part of the act with the song "Whisky", where the members would invite random concertgoers to come up on stage with them and have a shot of whiskey as they were performing. The band has been covered extensively here on the blog as an Artist Spotlight shortly after that aforementioned performance, and their album Postcards From Purgatory was reviewed glowingly here on the blog upon its release in April 2011, plus I conducted an interview with them shortly after that totally encapsulated the free wheeling, fun spirit that the band were trying to emulate in their music. I really appreciate and admire the guys for constantly evolving during their time together, and adapt to the ever changing musical climate by sticking to their guns and making the audience feel like they're part of the act, something that is very rare with other local artists these days. I'm very close with the guys in the band, and I'll continue to support the guys with their new musical venture which should be announced sometime soon. A personal thanks to the whole band for being such cool guys and being huge supporters of the blog and the whole Boston music scene in general!

BREAKING: My Chemical Romance Calls It Quits

Breaking news coming in just now. My Chemical Romance, who broke onto the scene way back in 2004 with Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, have decided to disband permanently. The band made the announcement via their official website just now. Here is the official announcement in its entirety:

"Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We’ve gotten to go places we never knew we would. We’ve been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We’ve shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure."
My Chemical Romance

The band formed back in 2001, and released their debut album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love in 2002. The band later released what is arguably the greatest album of their career, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge in 2004. The album produced monster tracks such as "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", "Helena", and "The Ghost of You". Their follow up album came out in 2006 called The Black Parade, which was modeled to be a rock opera of sorts in the vein of Green Day's American Idiot which came out just a couple of years prior. The album contained scorching tracks like the album's title track, plus "Famous Last Words" and "Teenagers". Their final album came out in 2010 called Danger Days. This album wasn't as successful as their predecessors, but contained one memorable track in the form of "Sing". My Chemical Romance was a big part of my college years, and I remember blasting Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge in my dorm room and I recall it being unlike anything I've ever heard before and it was raw in terms of sheer musical style and sharp lyricism that really hit you hard the moment you listened to it. 

Interview w/ Gentlemen Hall

Today, we have another entry in my ongoing interview series on the blog. To round out the week, we check in with Boston's own fun loving rock sensations Gentlemen Hall. You may remember they were an Artist Spotlight feature on the blog a few weeks back, and they were kind and gracious enough to sit down for an in depth chat so that we can get a chance to know them a little better, and get a sense of the band's beginnings and where they all their positive energy emanates from and shines brightly in their music. Here is the full transcript from that interview:

- What are your names and roles in the band?

Gavin Merlot: vocals/guitar
Cobi Mike : vocals/guitar
Seth Hachen: flute
Brad Alderman: synthesizers
Rory Given: bass
Phil Boucher: drums

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

We met in school, where we each had a common interest in spending our time listening to and writing the music we really vibe on.  Our first show was May of 2008 but it was mostly accidental.  We'd just been having fun writing music and jamming together in our basement before that.

- How would you characterize the sound of the band to those who aren't too familiar with you guys?

A Smörgåsbord of alternative rock with modern sounds and a take-you-on-a-journey flute.  We're often compared to bands like The Killers and Passion Pit. 

- What artists inspired you while growing up and how have they helped influence the sound of the band?

The six of us have different musical backgrounds, but the common thread is meaningful, interesting songwriting.  So bands like The Beatles, The Smashing Pumpkins and The Flaming Lips are good examples.

- You guys recently just performed at SXSW, can you tell us what that whole experience was like?

We took this year off from SX to focus on finishing our new record, but can't say enough good things about it in the past.  Going down there and playing multiple shows a day over a week is a lot of fun, but it's even more fun to see and meet a whole boatload of bands you hadn't known of before.  Nonstop music of all genres.  Paradise.

- What is your favorite thing about performing live and how does it make you all feel?

The best part of a great show is a great crowd.  When the audience is vibing off your sound and energy, they give it right back.  All of a sudden you are taken over by this sense of one-ness, it's like a deep, spiritual, tribal connection.  And to be supplying the foundation for that is an electric experience.  

- What is the inspiration behind your song "All Our Love", and what the lyrics are about?

-These days, it feels like almost all the news is bad news.  "All Our Love" is meant to be a rallying cry to remember how right it felt to be young, with nothing but the best intentions for one another. 

- Away from music, what do you guys like to do in your spare time for leisure?

It's a rare day that we are away from the music, but when we are you can usually find us in venues checking out other acts.  Boston has a lot of other great options to explore depending on the season, but it's more about who you spend the time with than it is what you do.  

- What's coming up next for the band this year, are you guys planning on recording a new album in the not too distant future?

You can expect a lot from us this year!  We're almost done with our new record and the plan is to hit the road this Summer to spread the word following its Spring release.  We think the new songs have turned out great and are really looking forward to sharing them!

- Lastly, how influential have your fans been in getting you to this point, especially those from the Boston area?

Oh wow.  Not sure if it's possible to articulate how important our fans have been.  GH fans have so passionately backed this band over our five-year career.  They've never hesitated to spend their time helping us out on our various campaigns, coming to our shows and spending time together afterwards.  Boston has been amazing, it's doesn't feel so much a band / fans experience as it is a tight community for us.  Can't imagine a better group!

Thanks once again to the fellows in Gentlemen Hall for being so gracious enough in carving out some time from their busy schedules to conduct this interview. These guys are definitely a band to keep a close eye on in the Boston scene as they definitely have the mindset and charisma to take it to the next level. If you haven't already, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter right over here.

Artist Spotlight: Jared Lee

For today's edition of Artist Spotlight to wrap up the week, we head over to Hollywood, CA and uncover the vocal stylings of Jared Lee. Jared has a distinct, powerful pop-rock sound that takes influences from the likes of Alicia Keys and John Mayer to name a few, with a style all his own that is real, authentic, and gets to the point very quickly upon first listen. I don't regularly listen to this genre of music too often, but something about Jared's voice made me want to continue listening to see what else he had in store for his listening audience, and doesn't rely too heavily on auto-tune or any extraneous electronic accompaniment that would have otherwise drowned out and destroyed such a beautiful and delicate voice like Jared's. A great upstart artist that is destined to take that next step on the musical path to success. His single "It's Over (Goodbye)" is a perfect example of the abilities of Jared's voice.

For more information on Jared Lee, click on his Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well while you're there finding out more information about him along with his music. To follow him on Twitter, click here and find out where he'll be stopping by on tour next! To check out his debut EP titled Falling Through Holes, it's available on iTunes at this link right here, plus you can find more information about Jared on his official website here and you can check out more music from him on his SoundCloud page located right over here.

Artist Spotlight: Shade of Red

Today's Artist Spotlight comes to us courtesy of a band emanating from right across the pond in St. Ives, Cornwall England called Shade of Red. The group mainly consists of Dani Smith on lead vocals, guitar, and synth, Elliot Benjamin on guitar and vocals, Fred Williams on melodeon, melodica, and vocals, Isaac Watkins on bass, violin, and orchestral arrangements, and Josh Benjamin on drums. The band has a think, distinct indie rock sound that uses a wave of odd and random instrumental arrangements, where synthesizers and violin are among the choices in a very orderly and concise musical fashion put forth here. I stumbled across this band randomly while surfing the interwebs, and I was impressed with the band's ability to take instrumental combinations never before conjured up, and combine them to create bombastic and upbeat indie-rock tunes that make them stand out prominently from the other bands attempting to make it in the London, U.K. music scene. A great band on the rise that I look forward to hearing more from in the future. Some recommended tracks for you to have a listen at include "Tragedy of Artists" and "Wits' End".

For more information on the chaps in Shade of Red, click on their Facebook page located here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well while you're perusing all the features on the site. The band can also be followed on Twitter from this location here and find out if the band will be dropping by stateside in the U.S. anytime soon! Their official website can be found here that has a long list of features pertaining to the band, and their BandCamp site located here has all their music that can be streamed from that central location.

Interview w/ The Basics

Back with another all new interview in my ongoing series. Today, we sit down for a chat with Melbourne, Australia's The Basics. The band was formed in 2002 by Wally DeBacker (more popularly known by the stage name Gotye), and maintained a small but loyal following in their native country, playing over 1,000 shows and evoking a sense of humor and vivacity in their live performances as well. We caught up with the members of the group during their self-imposed hiatus to get a better sense of their beginnings and how their music is created in the first place. Here is the transcript from that interview:

- Give your names and positions in the band?

Col. Wally De Backer, Intelligence and Drums

Staff Sgt. Tim Heath, Gunnery and Guitar

Capt. Kris Schroeder, Reconnaissance and Bass

(shared vocal duties as required)

- How and when did the band form?

Ancient Scripture quotes the following Genesis story:

"In the Worlds before The Basics, primal chaos reigned.
Heaven sought order, but the Phoenix can fly only when its feathers are grown.
The four worlds formed again and yet again, as endless aeons wheeled and passed.
Time and the pure essences of Heaven, the moistures of the Earth, and the powers of the Sun and the Moon
all worked upon a certain rock - old as Creation, and it magically became fertile.
That first egg was named "Rock 'n' Roll".
Tathagata Buddha, the Father Buddha, said, 'With our Rock we make the world.'
Elemental forces caused the egg to hatch: from it there came a stone The Basics.
The nature of The Basics was ... irrepressible!"

- What initially inspired your foray into music, were you always into music even at a young age?

From the youngest age (which I assume would be "1"). Our reasons were obviously different, but all three of us needed an outlet, somewhere secret to express ourselves in the oppression you can face at home and at school. I guess we were all black sheep in our own way, seemingly bleating a different bleat to the rest.

- How do you guys normally go about writing and recording your music, what is each members duty or does one person handle all the lyrics?

Eh, it just kinda... happens. Wally and Kris typically handle the songwriting together, sometimes more collaborative, sometimes less. But when we get together to 'learn' the song - that is to say put it together - everyone has an opinion and everyone's opinion counts.

As for the recording, well we've done it so many different ways from the old 4-track Tascam Tape Recorder, right through the to 144-channel desk in Abbey Road's Studio 3. Now THAT was fun.

- What are some of your favorite songs that you guys have recorded together?

Wow, big question. Okay the short-list might be Get Me Down, I Could Be Happy, The Executioner, Wait For You, With This Ship. That's a pretty-good cross-section. They all have something unique about them.

- What is your take on music being used in films and TV shows, do you feel more able of reaching people through this medium than on record or at shows?

Well we've had a bunch of songs used in film and TV - Scrubs, The Bank Job, Californication, just to name a few - and I don't know about the reach, but the money sure is good. Also it's pretty cool when you're just kicking back and it just comes on and you're like "Hmmm... this sounds familiar..." until you realise it's actually you.

- What do yo make of the success of Gotye with his debut solo album "Making Mirrors" and all the success surrounding it?

Well his debut album "Boardface" only sold a few hundred copies, "Like Drawing Blood" was pretty huge though, only bolstered by the "Mixed Blood" remix album. He's done great!

- Do you guys plan on getting back together and hitting the studio sometime soon to record some new material?

There's no concrete plans, but there's been a bit of talk. Sometimes it's better to quit while you're ahead, but I feel like we've still got at least one more album in us. I guess we just have to have something to say, and if we do... who knows.

- What do you gentlemen like to do in your spare time away from making music?

Sit somewhere quiet, sometimes with friends, just enjoy the serenity that the World offers. Good conversation, good food, good wine also. You only live once, so it's good to make the most of it.

- How would you describe the sound of The Basics to those who have never heard of your music?

The best sh!t you've never heard.

Thanks once again to the gentlemen of The Basics for being so kind in taking some time away from their sabbatical to do this interview. The guys are definitely a quirky bunch as you may have read, and definitely enjoy being in each others' company. For more information on The Basics, 'Like' their page on Facebook here, check out their music via their official website here, and also via their YouTube channel as well from right over here.

Artist Spotlight: The Hiatus Flux

For today's edition of Artist Spotlight, we head over to Bloomington, Indiana and uncover the hard rocking sounds of The Hiatus Flux. The band consists of Tyler Mortis on lead vocals, Chad Kinder on guitar, Sam Pruett on guitar, Richard Pruett on bass, Nick Mosier on keys, and Zack Phillips on drums and programming. The band has an intense, in your face sound similar to the likes of Pierce the Veil and Underoath with a no holds barred, frenetic listening experience that will have you on edge immediately right out of the gate. Now I'm not much of a metalhead, but these guys inject some intricate keyboard elements that make the songs unique and arch out prominently from the other ordinary types of metalcore bands currently running amok today. For those who like simple-structured metal like myself, this band has all their musical talents down pack and truly know what they are doing to get themselves noticed on a larger scale beyond their hometown. Recommended songs for you to take a listen at if you dare include "Front Page" and "Snake".

For more information on the guys in The Hiatus Flux, head on over to their Facebook page and 'Like' it right here to get accustomed to them upfront. You can also follow the band on Twitter as well from right over here to communicate with the boys and find out if they'll be stopping by your area sometime soon! The band's latest album "Fire Starter" is now available on iTunes via this link here and you can also check out their music via their ReverbNation page here and on their SoundCloud profile located here.

New The Strokes Album Now Streaming On Pitchfork

The new Strokes album Comedown Machine won't be out until next Tuesday, but you can now stream it in its entirety thanks to the fine folks over at Pitchfork! The site features dark, silhouetted images of each of the 5 members of the band to choose from as wallpaper while listening to the record. This is definitely a step up from their previous album Angles, and sees the band dabbling with some Sinatra styled crooning on a couple of tracks. Anticipation is quickly building as this is sure to be one of the top releases of the year.

To stream the new album in it's entirety, simply click on this link here that will take you to the Pitchfork site.

With WFNX.com Gone, Will RadioBDC Suffer The Same Fate?

With WFNX.com now kaput, will RadioBDC go along with it sometime soon? The New York Times Co, which owns The Boston Globe and it's online counterpart Boston.com and has RadioBDC as an online subsidiary, has hired Evercore Group, an investment firm to sell the paper after 20 years as it was first reported late last month in the paper. The online portion of the newspaper reported a profit in 2012, but after factoring in various accounting charges and other pertinent financial data, there was actually a net loss recorded.

That begs the question, is Internet radio actually profitable in this day of age? I've been skeptical on the fiduciary capabilities of Internet radio from the get go, and I question their ability to sustain themselves in an ever changing and competitive marketplace where long established industries are fading away to the stone age. With streaming services like Pandora, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, there are now a plethora of options for music lovers to get their fix. Don't be surprised if in a couple of months I'm reporting on the demise of RadioBDC, it's only a matter of time.  

Artist Spotlight: The Field Effect

To wrap up the week with Artist Spotlight, we explore with a little hometown flavor from Boston's own The Field Effect. The group consists of Doug Orey on lead vocals and guitar, Nick Grieco on guitar, Annie Hoffman on bass, and Adam J. Hand on drums. The band has a melodic, straightforward sound similar to the likes of Wilco and Elliott Smith, but with a more upbeat tone in terms of lyricism and sound that immediately brightens up your day the moment you listen to it, and allows you to move forward with your day with a great deal of optimism and positivity. I stumbled across these guys randomly while listening to the radio one day, and I was impressed with the band's musical kinship eloquently displayed on record, and their ability to communicate with their listening audience in such a direct and positive way that it really makes you appreciate the goodness that comes out of these guys hearts, and what they have to offer you musically. A great local band that I have a good feeling we'll be hearing more from in the months to come. Some recommended tracks to have a listen at from them include "Ogunquit, ME" and "What If I".

To find out more info about the band, and to 'Like' them on Facebook, head on over here and get a sense of what the group is like upfront. The band can be followed on Twitter as well directly from here and find out what the guys in the band are up to this very minute. To check out their latest release titled "Cartography", head on over to their Bandcamp site from here and click on their official website here for more wide-ranging info pertaining to the band.

Commentary: My Renewed Commitment to Local Music

While hearing the shocking and sudden news today of the immediate shutdown of the Boston Phoenix, and it's online radio counterpart WFNX.com, I'm constantly reminded that you don't know how much you really appreciate something or someone until it's really gone, and with the impending fate of WFNX.com ultimately decided earlier this afternoon, I'm at a loss of words for the first time in a while.

It sort of feels like a death to me in most ways. WFNX was like a friend that was constantly there with me through thick and thin, and always there to comfort me through the power of music. When WFNX went off the FM dial last summer, it was like a punch in the gut for me, but I was happy that they would make the transition to internet radio and it sort of breathed new life amid a constantly shifting and seismic industry. What I didn't expect to happen was to have the station be shut down altogether, and that has made me angry and bitter at times all throughout the course of the day, and has left me shell shocked that something like this could happen when we all thought that they would catch their second wind online and remain there for good, but we were all wrong.

One thing the pending demise of WFNX.com has done has made me look at the stature and connections I've established through the Boston music scene and the countless friends I've made through bands that I still keep in regular contact with to this day. I have been doing this blog for almost 3 and a half years now, struggling to find full time work and having had countless temp jobs in between, but my main job and passion remains this blog and always will be. I can assure you, my readers that this blog will never go away, and I'll always have a passion of delivering breaking music news as it happens, weekly Artist Spotlight features on breaking local Boston bands, and the occasional album review every now and then. I'll be picking up where WFNX left off and continue to deliver the latest about everything going on in the local Boston scene. I'll be at the upcoming Rock N' Roll Rumble taking place in a couple of weeks at TT the Bear's, and I look forward to meeting some of you guys there as I'll be covering it for the blog. WFNX will always be a part of me and it's inside every one of us and will continue to do so well long after the lights are out and after the party has long since ended. A new beginning has come, and I'm proud to bring you all along for the journey!

BREAKING NEWS! Boston Phoenix To Shut Down!

 Some sad and tragic news coming in over the wire just now. According to Boston.com, The Boston Phoenix, the long running, independent newspaper that has been running in the city for 40 years now, will cease operations effective immediately. It's sister publications which are based in Providence and Portland will remain open for the time being, but The Phoenix is officially no more.

This also means that WFNX.com, which just relaunched as an internet radio station after signing off the FM dial last summer, will also be shut down effective immediately. This is another blow to the local music scene in Boston which had been so dependent on WFNX and the Phoenix to get noticed as it was a prominent platform for local artists to be heard, and also became a springboard for local bands to move up to the next level such as The Pixies and countless others who owe a great deal of gratitude to The Phoenix and WFNX.

As a side note, I want to pay homage to Michael Marotta, one of the writers of The Phoenix who also hosted Boston Accents on WFNX. He has been a huge inspiration to me in my writing career and is largely responsible for my foray into music journalism and has helped get recognition for hundreds of Boston based acts over the radio. Truly an amazing and talented individual, and I wish him all the best moving forward. Will definitely raise a glass for him and all the talented people at The Phoenix and WFNX.com.

Artist Spotlight: Little Brother Eli

Today's Artist Spotlight comes to us from a duo based out of Oxford, England called Little Brother Eli. The duo consists of Joshua Rigal and Alex Grew, and the band have a stripped down, organic, bare-bones blues/folk rock hybrid similar to the likes of The Black Keys and Phillip Phillips with an incredible vocal push that lures you in immediately from the get go and ensures that you'll stay for the duration of your musical stay. When I first came across these guys, I was enthralled with the duo's musicality and their approach to craft songs that have a down-home, folk rock feel that is prevalent and most notable with their musical contemporaries from their homeland such as Mumford & Sons, but they manage to put their own unique twist on it that immediately draws you in upon contact with them, and makes you fall in love with them right then and there and really makes you appreciate the talent that much more that is emanating from our friends over in England. A highly talented duo that is well worth your listening time and one to keep an eye on in the days and months ahead. Recommended songs for you to take a listen to from their catalogue include "Hanging" and "Awkward Positions".

For more information on Little Brother Eli, head on over to their Facebook page here, 'Like' it and find out what these gents are all about. The band can be followed on Twitter directly over here and get in touch with the guys to see if they'll be dropping stateside anytime soon! Their music can be found on their official website right here and experience a wide range of features all pertaining to the band, including most importantly their music.