screams, whispers and songs from planet earth

Tag: Bearstronaut

Boston’s Bearstronaut gets especially dreamy with “Begonias”

Bearstronaut

Although they’re technically from Lowell, I’ve always thought of Bearstronaut as a good ‘ol Boston band. And I probably don’t cover Boston bands as much as I should. So let’s catch up with them. They released a full-length album Telecoast last June, which has a strong dreamlike quality in addition to being deeply satisfying for those who enjoy their take on shoegazey Brit-pop that incorporates elements of electro for today’s dance floors. What does this mean? It’s my lame way of saying that their music has considerable heart and soul while still being infectiously dancey. Put it this way: these songs wouldn’t be out of place with flashy strobe lights, but at the same time, it’s not completely inappropriate for a romantic evening at home.

It’s good to see the band still going strong and putting out good music seven years after their debut album Broken Handclaps back in 2009, which honestly seems like a lifetime ago. Here’s the latest single from that album, titled “Begonias.”

The current band lineup is Dave Martineau (guitar, vocals), Paul Lamontagne (guitar, synth, samples), Phil Boisvert (bass, synth, vocals) and Nate Marsden (drums). They’ll be performing at The Sinclair in Harvard Square on January 24 with Austra and LAFAWNDAH.

web | facebook | twitter | instagram | bandcamp | soundcloud | youtube

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Outside The Box, part 2 ~ Wed. & Thurs. bands of note

While I’m busy preparing the first of a several-part “Eastside L.A. Midyear Roundup,” here are some more local highlights. Performing at the FREE Outside The Box festival on Boston Common and around town are Boys Like Girls (Wed, 6:30-8pm at the Beacon stage) — and at the City Hall Plaza Main Stage on Thurs, Bearstronaut (Thurs, 3-3:45pm), David Wax Museum (6:30-7:20pm) and Gentlemen Hall (8-9pm). All Boston-area bands. So there.

Boys Like Girls

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Bearstronaut

David Wax Museum

Gentlemen Hall

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/users/1608611″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”250″ iframe=”true” /]

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Boston Calling Music Festival 9/7 & 9/8: Tickets On Sale Now

Tickets have just gone on sale TODAY for the Boston Calling Music Festival which takes place September 7 and 8 at City Hall Plaza, so I thought I would commemorate the occasion by having a brief look at the Boston bands that will be opening up the festivities on each day. Over the weeks leading up to it, I’ll be doing little profiles about some of the “non-headliners” performing, since that’s how I am here, and it’s actually a pretty diverse and interesting line-up.

I’ll begin by profiling the two Boston bands who open things up on each day. I’ve heard some people comment that it’s a little odd not to have the Boston music scene more strongly represented at a festival that calls itself “Boston Calling.” While I tend to agree, this is also the first festival we’ve had here in Boston, right downtown no less, and there’s always a future (one hopes) to grow and improve. The first festival had two local bands, this one has three (yay Passion Pit!). Maybe the line-up can be expanded, extended into before and after-parties, whatever. Better not to boycott, but to engage in discussion. Off soapbox, on to the music.

You Won’t :: Saturday ::

I’m really happy to see the Boston-based duo of Josh Arnoudse and Raky Sastri a.k.a. the totally charming and really great indie folk outfit You Won’t opening things up on Saturday. The band came into existence in 2011 and released their debut album Skeptic Goodbye (Old Flame Records) in February 2012. This was followed by a U.S. & Canadian tour, a bunch of glowing reports in places like NPR and The New York Times, and more touring this year supporting the likes of The Lumineers, The Joy Formidable and Josh Ritter. Nice to see they’ll get some more high profile exposure with this festival.

Upcoming shows: 6/17 Toad’s Place, New Haven, CT (w/The Joy Formidable) | 6/18 Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME (w/The Joy Formidable) | 6/20 House of Blues, Boston, MA (w/The Joy Formidable) | 7/31 Downsview Park, Toronto, Canada (Edgefest)

Bearstronaut :: Sunday ::

There really isn’t a more perfect band to kick off Sunday’s dance party than Boston’s own Bearstronaut. Polished and well-produced synth-pop with hints of electro, R&B, Britpop, the 1980s… basically a bouncy, happy affair. They released their debut EP in 2009 and were the inspiration for a homegrown record label, Vanya Records, founded by Michael Marotta (the pill, WFNX). Their Moniker single was released on vinyl by Vanya, as was last year’s EP Paradice. Bearstronaut have perform with Passion Pit, fun., Bad Rabbits, St. Lucia, Surfer Blood and others. And in September, they’ll get to kick off quite an inspired Sunday line-up for dance music, hip-hop, R&B, electro and synth-pop aficionados.

Boston Calling: web | facebook | twitter

You Won’t: web | facebook | twitter | bandcamp | soundcloud

Bearstonaut: web | facebook | twitter | bandcamp | tumblr | soundcloud

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Boston Bands This Week (06/08/10)…

Needy Visions, Magic Magic, Bearstronaut, and co-host of Bent Wit Cabaret, Mary Dolan.

Needy Visions, Magic Magic, Bearstronaut, and co-host of Bent Wit Cabaret, Mary Dolan.

Two Three interesting events to profile this week. The first is actually a three-day musical extravaganza to celebrate The Boston Phoenix’s Best Music Poll, with some very cool local bands in free performances at Downtown Crossing. This includes everything from psychedelic to lo-fi punk, synth-propelled New Wave and dance, indie pop, folk, and Americana. Secondly and a late addition because I just realized they’re performing at the Milky Way in JP Friday night, Audrey Ryan and Shepherdess, two highly talented singer-songstresses. The third promises to be a fun and adventurous evening of cabaret and music from Bent Wit Cabaret. They present a full collaborative theatrical production on the second Sunday of every month at OBERON in Cambridge (Harvard Square). For this particular show (“Identity”) which commemorates the end of Pride Week, they’ll be exploring race, sex, and gender, with lots of music, from rock to jazz to pop.

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Boston Bands This Week (02/15/10)…

Some of this coming week's festivities... Monique Ortiz (who's about to desert us?), Jonathan Richman, Walter Sickert (& his Army Of Broken Toys), and the Family Jewels

Some of this coming week's festivities... Monique Ortiz (who's about to desert us?), Jonathan Richman, Walter Sickert (& his Army Of Broken Toys), and the Family Jewels

Here’s a few very cool local band events this week. There’s a three-day benefit for Haiti at The Middle East Downstairs; a three-day Jonathan Richman encampment at the Middle East Upstairs (which are all sold out, but you never know); and H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E. along with Walter Sickert and the Army Of Broken Toys, Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling, and Sarah RabDAU at the Church of Boston. On Saturday, Feb. 20, Asa Brebner and his Family Jewels grace the stage (such as it is) of the Plough & Stars in Cambridge for an afternoon show.

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