Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros performed their new album for the first time at KCRW’s ‘Berkeley Street Sessions.’

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
at the Orpheum Theatre – Saturday, May 12 @ 7:30pm
::: buy tickets :::

The celebratory happy hippie love fest that is Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (and I say that in the most complimentary way) is gearing up to release the follow up to their highly-acclaimed debut album, Up From Below, which spawned the alternative rock station anthem, “Home.” Their new album, Here, will be released on May 29 on Community Music, with a companion album (part two) following close on its heels by the end of the year.

Man On Fire by Edward Sharpe Mag Zeros

You can preorder the new album with limited edition merch or preorder on iTunes. They’ve also set up an ‘interactive website experience’, which is counting down to the album’s release, and where apparently things happen at 5:29pm daily. Not quite sure about that, but check it out! I’ll be reviewing the new album soon on Ryan’s Smashing Life.

For now, they’re in town Saturday night at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets are still available, but you should jump on them soon, as shows in Toronto, Washington DC, and Chicago have already sold out. Be a part of the upbeat, positive vibes with some really fine music at a venue befitting this classy outfit.

web | facebook | twitter | tumblr | youtube | fan site

Kina Zore

Zili Misik and Kina Zoré
The Milky Way Lounge at The Brewery Complex, 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain
Friday, May 11, 2012 at 9 p.m.
21+ | $7 cover

Here’s a special evening of music happening at the Milky Way Lounge tomorrow night. Boston-based Kina Zoré is a 7-member Afro-pop dance collective made up of Berklee and NEC graduates who perform the music of Helder Tsinine, a singer and guitarist from Mozambique. Raised in a musical family in Maputo, Mozambique and brought up during a 15-year civil war in his homeland, his music is celebratory, upbeat, joyous and highly danceable, though lyrically he addresses topics like war, poverty, the challenges of his native country, and the idea of social justice. Kina Zoré have been performing around Boston for about a year and a half, and will be releasing their debut album this summer (you can preorder on Paypal). They’re also very involved with social issues, with the focus on action and compassion. Listen to their music on Kina Zoré’s official site. Beautiful, and bound to be amazing in an intimate live setting. Treat yourself to Mozambican dance party!

Kina Zoré will be joined by the all-female, African band Zili Misik.

Zili Misik

Also from Boston (and also 7-members strong), Zili Misik’s sound incorporates a spicy Haitian flavor (along with reggae, Brazilian, Cuban, jazz, soul, blues and African American spirituals). Festive horns, lovely guitar licks, tasty percussion, and phenomenal vocals. This is the sort of band it’s impossible to just sit still and listen to. They perform traditional folk songs and their own orginals, and are hypnotic, spiritual, and powerful as hell. They sing of African social issues, forced exile and cultural resistance. Zili Misik was voted Best World Act in Boston in 2009. They recently released their third CD, “Crossroads,” on March 3, and their recordings can be purchased on their official site.

This is the first time these two bands have performed together, and from the look and sound of it, this should be a pretty spectacular evening.

Kina Zoré: web | facebook | twitter
Zili Misik: web | facebook

Musically they’re just as cheery, with accompaniment that is sometimes folky, sometimes with rocking guitar riffs; driving rhythms and melodies. Wildly tuneful and sophisticated, this is happy music without the shame.

Also on the bill at the Middle East show – funky Boston trio The Cultured, Allston’s wacky and punky Fort! The Band, and also from Boston, folk-tinged indie rockers Friendly People. Nice line-up! Get out there and show these Los Angeles kids some love on their first foray to the Eastern wilds. And appropriately, it looks like they’ll be bringing warm weather along with them; looks like it’s going to be getting up into the 70s when they get into town. Thanks, guys!

Warm Weather Debut East Coast Tour!

5/9 Philadelphia, PA — Kung Fu Necktie
5/11 New York, NY — Pianos NYC
5/12 Lewiston, ME — Bates College
5/14 Boston, MA — The Middle East Upstairs
5/15 Montreal, QC — L’Absynthe
5/16 Burlington, VT (at 6PM) — Radio Bean Cafe
5/16 Winooski, VT (at 10 PM) — The Monkey House
5/17 Hamden, CT — The Space
5/18 Hanover, NH — Dartmouth College, Phi Delt Block Party

It’s a testament to this fine performer that eleven days after Christopher Paul Stelling’s mid-evening set at Precinct, I still have a vivid memory of it. I’d written about him a few times here, marveling at his lightening-fast finger picking style and impossibly warm and soulful vocals, but wasn’t able to get out to see him the last time he was in town (also at Precinct).

CP’s music and his live performance has this religious fervor that’s both deeply moving and overpowering. It’s in his eyes – wide and piercing, as if remembering some especially vivid night horror. I was instantly drawn in and fascinated by this solitary figure standing on a piece of plywood, stamping out a beat with his boots, fingers flying fluidly across his beat-up acoustic guitar, and vocals compelling like a hellfire-and-brimstone revivalist but without the preaching and damnation.

He performed songs from his gorgeous new album, Songs of Praise and Scorn, and brought along his bandmate and girlfriend Julia Christgau (who is also on the album) to add backing vocals and shaker to a few songs. She has a beautiful voice as well, sweet country and like a warm breeze, and did a stunning job handling the lead for one song. Their mesmerizing set unexpectedly ncluded a hilarious ‘road story,’ providing some great comic relief amidst the heart-pounding intensity.

Though I was there for CP Stelling, there was plenty to enjoy in the other bands performing. Subpar Co-Star (a.k.a. James Force) was compelling with his whimsical irrelevant style and acoustic guitar looping (quite impressive). I would call his thing ‘experimental folk,’ though it took on a spacey vibe when he invited friends Adam and Eric up on stage to indulge in some mind-expanding electric guitar tones. He has an album available, Gidgets and Gadgets, an aptly-named venture, what with its neo-folk, jazz-funk, spoken word, experimental, electronic and ambient influences (and sometimes all on the same song). DIY recorded, produced and “distributed” as a numbered limited edition, the packaging is as lo-fi as the recording, hand-lettered with custom stickers, each bearing a different method of acceptable payment for the release (mine says “pay w/ a unicorn, if ya got one”).

A curious but not unwelcome mix of genres, Divison Tree are a 3-piece psychedelic prog rock outfit, complete with their own laptop light show that gave their set that special mid-70s vibe, though technologically updated. Seriously spacey and mind altering, I went away somewhere, but came back just in time for a full-on crazed demon spirit visitation. At CP’s urging, I had decided to stay for Shoney Lamar and The Equal Rights, and I’m really glad I did. Having lived in Boston for many years, I’d heard of him here and there, but as in so many other cases, never witnessed him live. Quirky as all hell, in-your-face and confrontational with some pretty damn sophisticated musicianship surrounding him, there’s an exceptionally psycho Captain Beefheart thing going on. They clearly brought their own audience along; there was a tight group pressed against the small stage, who Shoney held captive with his riveting stage presence and poetic-punkish persona.

[As I'm old and it was past my bedtime, I unfortunately was not able to stay for Dead Cats Dead Rats, who closed the evening's festivities.]

Other videos of Christopher Paul Stelling:
Never Been There | Christopher Paul Stelling and Julia Christgau

photo by Clarence K. Photography

Hear Now Live will be presenting a big 5-band bill Friday night at Precinct with a few Boston notables – Dead Cats Dead Rats and Shoney Lamar & The Equal Rights – and two other Boston-area bands. But the one I’m really here to talk about is Brooklyn-based Christopher Paul Stelling. His debut album, Songs of Praise & Scorn (Mecca Lecca Recording Co), was released back in February, and it’s quite wonderful.

I’ve written about Mr. Stelling’s very impressive acoustic finger-picked guitar; smooth, soulful and occasionally hellfire-explosive southern gospel vocals; and personal storytelling a few times now on ‘musings.’ The album is stunning, with minimal accompaniment in the form of gorgeous gypsy violin courtesy of Cheyenne Marie Mize and additional vocals from Julia Christgau. Last time he was also at Precinct, and I see now with Shoney Lamar as well, and for some reason I wasn’t able to get there. I’ll do my best not to make the same mistake twice. I’ve heard his live performances are quite powerful and compelling. Have a listen below, and put this on your calendar (get there early, as it seems he’s on first).

Christopher Paul Stelling: blog | bandcamp | facebook | twitter
Dead Cats Dead Rats: facebook | bandcamp
Shoney Lamar & The Equal Rights: facebook | bandcamp
Division Tree: facebook
Subpar Co-Star: bandcamp | reverbnation

Image: Stian Berg Larsen

Org: Intoxication (under the influence)
featuring music: cirkestra, shana falana (brooklyn), molly zenobia; dance: shri rajuli with honey circuit, the wondertwins; magic: dezrah the strange; and musically MC’d by: singer mali (of Jaggery) with raky sastri (of You Won’t)
Friday, April 20 at 8pm
Club Oberon, 2 Arrow Street (Harvard Square), Cambridge MA
18+ | $20 seating, $15 standing
::: buy tickets here ::: (or at the Oberon box office)

Anyone who has been to one of Singer Mali’s infamous Orgs knows this is not to be missed. This one is open to the public, and is the 3rd such extravaganza at the wonderful Oberon in Harvard Square (think: gothic supper club). The theme this time is “Intoxication (under the influence,” and its mission statement: “to exhilarate and stupefy as if by liquor.” I have no doubt this wonderful line up of artists and oddities will do just that.F For those uninitiated, Orgs are multimedia spectaculars; avantgarde, gothic variety shows. Very special. Here’s a taste of what’s in store.

Cirkestra

“a circus pit band who stayed together”

Shana Falana

“abstract & impressionistic cathedral psychedelia”

Molly Zenobia

“soulful, visceral, vast”

Shri Rajuli with Honey Circuit

The performance will feature Shri Rajuli, the belly-dancing founder of the Black Butterfly Dance Troupe with Honey Circuit, “electro-acoustic tribal trance”

Valhalla International Restaurant and Lounge, and future sites of The Davis Square Theater and The Sinclair

Attention club hoppers – Davis, Central, and Harvard Squares will all be giving birth to brand new clubs this year. The Davis Square Theatre, which was formerly Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theater, will be adding live music shows to its schedule of theater productions (Spring); Valhalla is coming to Central Square, which is actually the All Asia Bar moving house (Summer); and The Sinclair in Harvard Square will be operated by Bowery Cambridge, the latest ‘outreach program’ by New York’s booking agency The Bowery Presents, much the same as they now do at The Royale with Bowery Boston (Autumn).

The Davis Square Theater

Formerly Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theater, associate producer Gabriel Kuttner will be opening up a new 200 capacity live music venue in that space. Also involved in this venture are the co-owners of Saloon and the Foundry, and Union Square’s Precinct and the Independent. It sounds like they’ll continue to have theater productions in there as well. The new venue will be opening on April 14 with a mixer hosted by Mary Flatley of Mount Peru. Other bands scheduled are Biscuits and Gravy, Michael Bernier and the Uprising, Love In Stockholm, and The Doctor Doom Orchestra. According to the Phoenix article, there may also be readings, rehearsal space, and classes. Keep a lookout for more info. web | facebook

In other Davis Square ‘rock club news,’ it looks like The Rosebud Diner might be bought out by the Tasty Burger franchise. Kind of a bummer, as this would mean goodbye to the Rosebud Bar & Grill local music nights as well, though hopefully the new Davis Square Theater will pick up the slack. We’ll see what happens.

Valhalla (Central Square, Cambridge)

All Asia Bar in Cambridge (owned by Marc Shulman and wife Patty Chen) will be moving to Central Square, into the former CCTV space at 675 Massachusetts Avenue. The new 5,000 square foot club and restaurant will be officially christened as Valhalla. There are plans to book national acts and also “entry-level” performers. Their current space (334 Mass Ave) is being torn down for redevelopment. As they started construction at the new location in March, they should be ready to open sometime this summer. full story | Valhalla International Restaurant and Lounge | All Asia Bar

The Sinclair (Harvard Square)

New York concert booking agency The Bowery Presents, who operates The Royale as Bowery Boston, now has Bowery Cambridge, and will be opening up a new 525-capacity club in Harvard Square in the fall, to be called The Sinclair. To put it all in perspective, this will make it equivalent in audience size to The Royale and The Middle East Downstairs, a bit larger than Live Nation’s Brighton Music Hall, but a good deal smaller than the Paradise Rock Club (also owned by Live Nation). It will be a 10,000 square foot multi-level live music venue and restaurant at 50 Church Street, which formerly housed the restaurant and club Phatt Boys (which closed in 2006). Word has it they’ll also be booking comedy acts. Joshua Bhatti, who also runs The Royale, will be the music manager.

photo by Dhrupick

Lucas Navarro (12am) with Faux Ox (11pm), Sara Radle (10pm), and Gun Shop Daddy (9pm) at PA’s Lounge, Thursday, 3/29
8:30pm doors | 21+ | $8

From San Antonio, Texas, to L.A.’s Eastside, songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Sara Radle has been performing since 1996, first in the punk-pop trio Lucy Loves Schroeder, then in The Rentals with ex-Weezer bassist Matt Sharp (who convinced her to move out to Los Angeles). After releasing an EP and going on a world tour, she left The Rentals to join up with her current band, Walking Sleep (formerly known as The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra).

Throughout those years, she’s also had a solo career. In February, she released her fifth album, Same Sun Shines, on which she plays guitars, drums, piano, and violin, as well as doing all the engineering and mixing herself. It was released on Jeez Louise Records, her own label. On the plucky and proud “The Pins,” she sings “I’ll do this without you.” Indeed. The result? Vibrant and poppy with a ’60s girl group vibe, and some delicately pretty, sad and sweet pop ballads. Of special note, the song “Still Here,” a chilling matter-of-fact contemplation of suicide, and a cover of “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” sung as a duet with Mary Lou Lord.

Upcoming Shows

Thursday, 3/29 @ P.A.’s Lounge // Boston, MA
Friday, 3/30 @ The Living Room w/Marvelous Toy // NYC
Sunday, 4/1 @ DC9 // Washington, D.C.
Saturday, 4/7 @ Art Bar // Milwaukee, WI
Sunday, 4/8 @ Quenchers Saloon // Chicago, IL
Monday, 4/9 @ Redstone Room // Davenport, IA

West Coast tour w/ Girl In A Coma, Pinata Protest
4/22-5/10 (AZ, CA, OR, WA, ID, UT, NM, TX) – see site for details

web | facebook | twitter | youtube | bandcamp