Artist Spotlight: Hermigervill

Today, we kick off another week of Artist Spotlight and head over to Reykjavik, Iceland where we come across the ever vibrant sounds of Hermigervill. His music is a unique and refreshing blend of electronic music based upon a layer of synth waves that are extremely mellow and subtle that it goes down smoothly like the Reyka vodka that is native to their homeland, and you can tell how much he genuinely loves playing music to a room packed full of curious listeners. I got the opportunity to catch him in concert this past Saturday at the Reykjavik Calling festival at The Middle East Downstairs, and I was equally impressed with how he didn't take himself too seriously, and you can clearly tell how much he was enjoying playing while on stage and was having the time of his life with his long hair waving in the wind and his epic beard expressing the free wheeling and laid back personality that permeates his body. A terrific performer that is one of the most unique human beings that I've encountered in my musical travels. Some songs of his for you to check out include "I Reykjavikurborg" and "Gvendur a Eyrinni".

For more information on Hermigervill, give him a 'Like' on his Facebook page here to show your appreciation for everything he does musically. Check out his wide plethora of music available on iTunes here and for purchase on Bandcamp over here.

Anaheim Angels Player Music Listing

Our MLB Player Music Special continues with a look at a team that was once previously known as the California Angels, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Angels have fallen on hard times the last few years, consistently finishing the bottom half of the AL West despite a locked and loaded lineup including Albert Pujols, the brilliant phenom Mike Trout, hot power from Josh Hamilton, and incredible starting pitching from Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson. The team has made some tweaks in the lineup, including acquiring former Cardinal and World Series hero David Freese to complement the existing hitters in the lineup, and fortifying the back end of the bullpen as well to give the Angels a fighting chance in the division, and looking to make their first playoff appearance since 2009. Here is a look at what the players and grooving to as they head out to the field:

Albert Pujols: Juan Luis Guerra - Soldado

The legendary first baseman grooves out to this Latin flavored track that is a homage to his roots. While his numbers have gone done significantly since his St. Louis days, Albert still packs a formidable punch in a lineup that is chock full of talent, and is looking to help his team in any way possible get some timely hits and clutch home runs when needed.

 CJ Wilson: Chromeo - Night By Night

The former Ranger has this high energy and pumping track by the electronic masters as his entrance song. A very charismatic presence both in the clubhouse and on the mound, CJ packs a devastating arsenal of fastballs, changeups, and curveballs that can pose an insurmountable challenge to the hitter, and is on top of his game when healthy.

Chris Iannetta: Drake - Up All Night

The backstop has this groove lade Dranke track as his entrance song. Iannetta used to catch for the Rockies, and feels right at home with his new team and has started to develop a strong repoire with his pitchers and makes sure that they stay in tune each and every time so that they know what the gameplan is to attack opposing hitters.

David Freese: Tool - Forty Six and 2

The former hero for the Cardinals in the 2011 World Series has some hard rock courtesy of Tool and his entrance song. Freese's numbers have fallen off sharply in recent years, but he is looking to get back to his peak with a new ballclub and can be depended upon to deliver a timely and clutch hit here or there to put his team over the top.

Howie Kendrick: Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

This recent smash by Imagine Dragons has become a popular commodity among players, and is the choice of the Angels second basemen. With a strong visual acuity of seeing the ball and knowing where to hit it, Howie also has a strong glove that can allow him to jump over incoming readers, and making the strong presence of mind to throw to first to turn a double play when the opportunity presents itself.

Jered Weaver: Shinedown - Simple Man

The long haired ace of the pitching staff has this rocking number by Shinedown as his entrance song. The ace who threw a no-hitter a couple of years ago has been a fan favorite in Anaheim for several years now, and possesses the ability to go deep into ballgames, and deliver a stellar performance time and time again that makes him the envy of his teammates and certainly the fans as well.

  Josh Hamilton: Third Day - Trust In Jesus

The home run hitting machine has some relaxing Christian music to inspire him in his walk up song. With his struggles of alcoholism and drugs well documented, Josh is looking to put his demons behind him and eas back into the game he loves so much, and is a top notch defender while unraveling pitches as soon as he sees them, and deposits them into the upper bleachers of stadiums all over.

Mike Trout: Kanye West & Jay-Z - H.A.M.

The center field sensation has this delicious hip-hop combo as his walk up song. The big guy has churned up some serious numbers since being called up to the majors in 2012, and has been turning heads with his acrobatic catches, sizzling speed, and scorching hot bat that has made him the envy of baseball fans all across the country.

The Angels clearly have all the pieces in place to field a quality team that should be making the playoffs year in and year out. Why they haven't reached that point is news to me, but with Trout at the helm this is destined to be their year to return to the postseason.

WFNX: A Look Back One Year Later

It was 1 year ago today that the Boston Phoenix announced that they would be ceasing publication, effective immediately and also ending the 29-year run of WFNX, which was reinvented as an online only station 5 months prior after signing off terrestrial radio that summer.

Looking back, I still miss WFNX fondly and there honestly isn't a day where I don't think about it. I'm grateful for all the bands I discovered while listening to the station, I'm grateful for all the terrific memories that it provided me over the course of my teenage years, I owe a great deal of my musical existence on this planet to WFNX and it has repaid me plenty in ways that I can't possibly describe. This year marks the 5 year anniversary of writing for this site, and this will be a complete celebration of everything music related and all the important stories, bands, and features I've done on countless artists, plus a huge bash to follow which I'll discuss more info on at a later date, but WFNX will definitely be a part of that retrospective and it will always be a part of me and has helped me get to this point where I am now. Thanks once again to all the DJ's that were involved in some way, shape, or form to WFNX, especially Michael Marotta of Vanyaland who has been a great deal of inspiration me to start a writing career and while he is a competitor, we're both in this business to write about the local Boston music scene and share our individual viewpoints as to what constitutes great music, and break new artists in the New England area as well. Here's to WFNX and all the great memories and awesome people it has helped me interact with along the way!

Drummer Longineu Parsons Exits Yellowcard

Original and longtime Yellowcard drummer Longineu Parsons has announced that he won't be handling the drumsticks for the band any longer. The band released an official statement earlier today stating that he has left the band to pursue other musical endeavors, Here is the official statement from the band:

It has been announced that long-time drummer Longineu "LP" Parsons III has left YELLOWCARD. Said the band in a joint statement, "Longineu has decided to pursue other musical interests. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."

This is a huge shock to me and one that I didn't see coming. Yellowcard have been one of my favorite bands since the very beginning and I'm so happy I got to see them in concert 3 years ago with All Time Low at the House of Blues, and they were the soundtrack to my summer the year before I went to college and have provided me with very fond memories that will last me a lifetime. The band won't be the same after this.

As It Is Strip Down For Critical Wave's "In The Tub" Series

The fine lads of Brighton, U.K.'s own As It Is were lucky enough to hop in the tub with Critical Wave in their very popular "In The Tub" interview series. The handsome chaps stripped down to show their voluptuous bods and chatted about a host of topics including their brand new EP, their love of the recently deceased AMC show "Breaking Bad", and soaking it up half naked in the bathtub much to the delight of their ever growing fanbase. These guys were featured on my recent Bandcamp compilation "Towering Over London", and they have an amazing skill of keeping the audience entertained all the way throughout their set and they are such extraordinarily nice gentlemen who truly care about their fans and I'm so thrilled they agreed to be a part of such a deep and talented roster of artists on that disc.

For more info on As It Is, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter right here.

UPDATE: Steve Klein's Lawyer & NFG Respond to Sex Crime Allegations

Yesterday, I broke the story regarding former New Found Glory guitarist Steve Klein and the allegations that were levied against him of possession of child porn and inappropriate contact with a girl under the age of 14. Now, Steve's attorney Debra White released the following statement to Alternative Press magazine responding to the allegations against her client for the very first time late last night:

"It is a difficult challenge to defend oneself in the media when there is a pending criminal case. This is because people are quick to assume that if a person is charged with a crime, they are also guilty as charged. And it is especially difficult because criminal defense attorneys insist that their clients not talk about the case to ensure that their constitutional rights are protected. Furthermore, attorneys are limited by law as to what can and cannot be said about a case to the public. 

In the matter of Steve Klein, since his case has now been brought into issue by the media, I am permitted to make a few statements. To that effect, I offer you the following indisputable facts about the accusations:

1. Steve Klein is not accused of having any lewd actual physical contact with any minor. 

2. ALL charges against Steve are derived solely from online consensual video chats between Steve and some female strangers he met on an adult website. Steve believed the females were over the age of 18.

3. The females alleged to be “minors” in this case are not known females. This means that no one, not the prosecution, not the police, and not the defense, actually know who the females are and no one knows their true age. 

4. The possession of child pornography charge is based solely on Steve allegedly “possessing” the videos of chats with the female strangers from the adult website. 

This is about all I am permitted to disclose at this time. But I can tell you, from my many years of experience in this specialty area of criminal defense, I wholeheartedly believe that Steve Klein is innocent of all of these charges. 

Steve is devastated by these accusations. He has lost his band, his livelihood, and his ex-wife continues to push for full custody of his children using this case as her pawn while he literally fights for his life. Despite this heavy hand, Steve remains strong and hopeful that he will be vindicated."

Here is a statement that was posted on New Found Glory's Facebook page just a short time ago:

"Upon our return from Warped Tour Australia, Steve made us aware of possible allegations that might be made against him. At that point, not knowing all the details, we made the decision to part ways in order for him to deal with these personal issues. Us 4 members of New Found Glory have given our entire lives to this band and will continue to do so. We’ve been able to play all over the world for the most amazing fans. We can't wait to get in the studio to make a new album and we can't wait to get back on the road! Just coming off the Parahoy cruise and a surprise show in our hometown we are more inspired than ever! Thank you so much to everyone around the globe for always sticking by us. The future is bright."

Artist Spotlight: Bay Faction

Starting off your Thursday right with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we stay local and head over to the burgeoning Jamaica Plain music scene where we come across the sounds of Bay Faction. The group consists of James McDermott, Kris Roman, and Connor Godfrey. The band's music is an experimental, melodic driven indie rock sound similar to that of Vampire Weekend with a definite sound taking shape the moment you begin to listen to it. I was impressed with the overall subtlety of the sound and how mellow and relaxing it made me felt, and I really gravitated and grew to appreciate almost immediately the type of sound the band was aiming for when they were recording their music in the studio. I've been in the Jamaica Plain area only once, and I had no idea how big the music scene there was and is really growing exponentially in size at this given moment, and soon could become the next hotspot for local Boston area musicians to get their start. A great local band that is looking to expand beyond their region. Check out the song "Jasper" that exemplifies their sound perfectly to a T.

For more information on Bay Faction, give them a 'Like' on Facebook here so that you can stay in tune with everything going on in their world. Follow them on Twitter over here and see when they'll be playing the Boston area sometime soon. Check out "Jasper" over on their Bandcamp site conveniently located here.

311 - Stereolithic

Omaha, Nebraska's finest 311 have returned with their appropriately numbered eleventh studio album titled Stereolithic. The follow up to 2011's Universal Pulse finds the reggae rockers continuing to adhere to their independently released mainframe that they adhered to with their last release, and presents a huge challenge for the band who once relied on the help of major labels to get their way, but are finding that they don't need their assistance any longer and are more than capable of handling musical matters on their own.

Things kick off with "Ebb and Flow" a solid rocker with frontman Nick Hexum's familiar vocals working their way through the funk soaked interludes and providing for a familiar environment to the dedicated 311 fans who have stood by them all these years. The best song on the disc is the album's first single, "Five of Everything" a steady, reggae infused rocker with those familiar 311 rhythms working their way and P-Nut's insatiable bass licks providing the soundtrack to a terrific track that encapsulates the retro sound that the band were aiming for, hearkening back to their 1999 effort Soundsystem. "Revelation of The Year" is a decent rocker that features some dense electronic elements a la 1997's Transistor that give some listeners a hint of diversity and some retro musical images that take you back to the band's heyday, but mixed in with some of their newer material makes this song a bit jumbled and convoluted. "Sand Dollars" mixes in some elements from "Amber" off of 2001's From Chaos, and attempts to maintain our attention span with some earth tones and breezy ocean imagery that gives us a passable track to unwind to in the meantime. "Make It Rough" allows for an enjoyable stay with some seaside rhythms working their way into your consciousness and Nick's comforting vocals providing for an appropriate interlude as we dash into the second half of the effort.

The second half begins with the relaxing "Friday Afternoon", a delicately tuned track with ethereal guitars and a sun kissed melody that soars the second half into uncharted waters and presents a different sort of tempo than what was presented to us in the first portion. "Simple True" features a varied instrumental arrangement that runs the gamut all throughout the spectrum that has some promise, but comes across as being a tad bit overdone and suffers greatly in the process as a result. SA Martinez's vocals make up for the lack of effort here and prop the song up to a passable stage. "First Dimension" is a more complete band effort allowing you to see what happens when the full dynamic of the band is hard at work, making sure that their creative vision is being fully realized and that everyone is in tune as well. The disc's final three tracks feature "Existential Hero" a full fledged reggae-rocker that features dynamic shifts in vocals and instrumentation that echo classic 311 and feature a great deal of depth and variance that present itself quite well in the big picture. "The Call" has some sleek guitar riffs that are provided from Tim Mahoney and solid drumming from Chad Sexton give the album a late charge as we get ready to close out the album. "Tranquility" closes it out with a sonically eerie number that sows everything together in fine 311 fashion and presents us with a pathway as how we got to this point and where the cornerstones for the album were laid along our journey to the finish line. I have been a 311 fan since high school, and I have always respected them for sticking to their guns and doing what they want to do, not what corporate record label execs tell them. I think they should have done this DIY method a long time ago where they could have their own record label, their own finances, no one else to turn to but themselves to deliver quality music that fully satisfies their musical quest.

All in all, a decent and solid effort all around from 311, who are moving into the next phase of their careers as a band who have their own sense of self-identity and motivation that has accumulated all these years and coming to the realization that they are their own boss.

                                                                                                                              Album Score: 3/5

Track Listing:

1. Ebb and Flow
2. Five of Everything
3. Showdown
4. Revelation of the Year
5. Sand Dollars
6. Boom Shanka
7. Make It Rough
8. The Great Divide
9. Friday Afternoon
10. Simple True
11. First Dimension
12. Made In The Shade
13. Existential Hero
14. The All
15. Tranquility     

BREAKING: Ex-NFG Guitarist Steve Klein Arraigned on Child Porn and Lewd Conduct Charges

News just breaking a short time ago. You may remember the story that I broke in December about former New Found Glory guitarist Steve Klein departing the group for at that time were reasons unknown, now it's becoming clear why he left. On December 12 of last year, Klein was arraigned in court in San Luis Obispo, CA on charges of lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 14 and possession of child pornography. Klein pled not guilty to all charges.

Klein did not face jail time after the incident and will remain free until his next court appearances, which are scheduled on March 20 and April 10. New Found Glory will remain a four piece without Klein for the time being. We'll keep you informed on further updates as soon as they come in.

311 Day Playlist

Get with your rhythm, get with your energy people! With 311's new album "Stereolithic" being released today, it's a total haven and mecca for dedicated 311 fans to share their love and unity over a band that they grew up listening to while in high school. To celebrate the special occasion, I've compiled a list of 311's best songs, along with some deep cuts and tunes that are the next step up from the usual tracks that were released as radio singles, hinting at some untold gems you loved that didn't receive much radio airplay way back when. Here is my personal 311 playlist:

- Freak Out
- Paradise
- My Stony Baby
- Feels So Good
- Do You Right
- Homebrew
- Lucky
- 8:16AM
- Applied Science
- Down
- Jackolantern's Weather
- All Mixed Up
- Don't Stay Home
- Prisoner
- Beautiful Disaster
- Rub-a-Dub
- Transistor
- Freeze Time
- Flowing
- Large In The Margin
- Come Original
- Amber
- From Chaos
- Champagne
- I'll Be Here Awhile
- Crack The Code
- Beyond the Gray Sky
- Creatures (For A While)
- Hey You
- It's Alright
- Never Ending Summer
- Something Out of Nothing
- Sunset in July

Any favorite 311 songs of yours that didn't make it on the list? Let me know your personal 311 playlist and I'll feature it right here on the site!

Artist Spotlight: Nemes

Kicking off another week of Artist Spotlight for the masses! Today, we take a look at a Boston based indie quartet going by the name of Nemes. The band consists of Dave Anthony on guitar and lead vocals, Josh Knowles on violin and backup vocals, Chris Anthony on drums, and Alex Glover on bass. The band's sound is an upbeat, frenetic blend of indie-rock similar to The Lumineers and Fleet Foxes with an organic musical mixture on tap that is a breath of fresh air and offers up something different from the other like minded acts currently popping up in the scene today. I got the opportunity to catch these guys in concert the other night at The Middle East Upstairs and I was completely enthused with their stage presence as they eloquently displayed their style and substance to a more than enthusiastic crowd, and I especially enjoyed Josh's talents on violin that is really the most identifiable characteristic of the group and sets off a domino effect that allows each band member to feed off of each other and transmit the energy out to the audience. A truly unique and gifted musical outlet that needs to be seen in person to be believed. Some standout tracks from the gentlemen include "Everest Isle" and "Blues".

For more info on the guys in Nemes, head over to their Facebook page right here and give it a 'Like' so that you can stay within their stream of consciousness with all the news in their world that is fit to spare. They are also able to be followed on Twitter from this location over here and stay in touch with the guys directly from that channel. Visit their official website here for more in depth information concerning them, and visit their Bandcamp site for your listening pleasure here and uncover the musical goodness that is waiting anxiously on the other side.

MusicBoxPete Presents: "Folk & Company" To Be Released on April 22!

Proud to finally unveil the cover artwork for the next MusicBoxPete Bandcamp compilation! The third installment in this series is titled "Folk & Company" and will be released to the general public on April 22. This disc will focus on the burgeoning folk rock movement that is taking over the indie scene and popular music in general right now as we speak. With so many of these acts populating the mainstream right now including The Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes, and Mumford & Sons, I thought it would be a great idea to highlight some of those acts that reside right here in the Boston area while also spotlighting some acts from other parts of the country as well to give a full cross section spectrum across the country that accurately represents those acts and the honest and true music that they make each and every day.

If you're an indie folk act and are interested in being featured on this compilation, send me an e-mail along with your recorded material in MP3 format to: musicboxpete@gmail.com Please give me a brief synopsis of your band in the e-mail including where you currently reside along with a recent press pic of the band as well. Stay tuned right here to the site for further details on the release of this compilation!

Ida Maria Releases New EP "Accidental Happiness"

Norwegian based Ida Maria has just released her brand new EP titled "Accidental Happiness". You may remember her from a few years back with her song "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked" and she has returned to form with a new effort that fully realizes her artistic and creative vision when in the studio that allows her to think outside of the box, and come up with intuitive methods of expressing her innermost thoughts that are running a mile and minute and are just yearning to be exposed with everyone around her.

"Accidental Happiness" is now available for purchase on iTunes at this link right over here. For more on Ida Maria, 'Like' her on Facebook here and follow her on Twitter here.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Music Spotlight

Continuing on with my MLB Player Music series. Today, we look at a team that calls Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL its home, the Tampa Bay Rays. Constantly regarded as a team with endless amounts of young prospects, the team found its way into the playoffs last year, only to fall at the hands of its divisional rival, the Boston Red Sox. Spearheaded by its top ace and former Cy Young winner David Price and the red hot bat of Evan Longoria, this team is fully charged and looking to head right out of the gates this season on a charge that they hope will last throughout the duration of the season. Here is a look at some of the players and what they'll be listening to on their way out towards the field:

Alex Cobb: Godsmack - I Stand Alone

The Boston native has this rocking track from the Beantown natives. Cobb was the unfortunate victim of a line drive pitch by Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals that hit his head in a game last year. The experience bonded the two players as Hosmer visited him in the hospital soon after the incident, but he is looking to put that awful image in the back of his head and focus on the possibilities that abound this year with this rocking track while out on the mound.

Ben Zobrist: Julianna Zobrist - The Tree

The multi-faceted Zobrist has a song from his wife that provides him with some motivation as he steps out to the batters box. Ben can be depedned upon to play multiple positions when needed, as has a strong glove that can stop balls from traveling any further in the outfield and an amazing arm that can stop would be runners from scoring at the plate. A truly gifted player that has all the tools necessary to play the game, both physical and mental.

David Price: Pretty Lights - Finally Moving

The ace of the staff has this electric track from the Colorado based group as his signature walk up song. Winning the Cy Young award just two years ago, the Price is right with a devastating arsenal of pitches that clock somehwere in the vicinty of 95mph, and can go deep into ballgames and has his team firmly enthrenched on his shoulders.

Evan Longoria: Tantric - Down and Out

The sleek third baseman and face of the franchise has this gritty track as his walk up tune. With jaw dropping fielding skills and a hot bat to boot, Longoria is a fan favorite down in St. Pete and recently signed a long term deal that will keep him down there for some time to come and most likely the duration of his career. An amazing player that any team would love to have on their roster.

Jeremy Hellickson: T.I. - No Mercy

This pitcher hailing from America's Heartland of Iowa has this strong hip-hop track from T.I. and his entrance song. The landlover had a breakout year a couple of years ago as a starter, but has struggled greatly down the stretch and has now moved into the bullpen in a mop up role. He has a strong pitch selection and a high mental aptitude, and is looking to get back to the level of success that he obtained a couple of years back.

Matt Joyce: Flux Pavilion - I Can't Stop

The Tampa native has this bumping electronic track as his walk up song. The outfielder can be depended upon to deliver a clutch walk off hit here or there, and has a great glove that allows him to reach out and grab balls in his line of fire that come within vicinity of his radar. An extremely gifted and versatile player, Joyce is looking to improve upon the success that he obtained from years prior.

Matt Moore: Metallica - King Nothing

Another Matt from the Sunshine State has a wise walk up song choice in the form of this Metallica tune. Matt has been rounding out the starting rotation of the Rays since 2012, and has been making an indelible impression on the minds of Rays fans and baseball fanatics in general with his strong work ethic and ability to go deep into his outings that has made him a prize commodity in Florida and a highly touted and talented player in general.

The Rays have been a literal fountain of youth in recent years with a seemingly endless supply of highly touted prospects at their disposal that have very promising careers in baseball moving forward. One hinderance of the Rays is their low payroll and their inability to sign some of their players to long term deals that greatly impacts the long term future of the club moving forward, but the team's current paradigm will be enough to get them into the playoffs and how well they do from there will depend upon the characteristics of the players currently embedded within the fabric of the ballclub.