Tag: Black Fortress Of Opium

Ajda the Turkish Queen and her Beautiful Boot Leg

On January 9, 2015

For those of you unfamiliar with Ajda the Turkish Queen, she’s one of Boston’s musical treasures, best known as the compelling frontwoman of the dark and mysteriously stunning Black Fortress of Opium. After many requests through the years for a solo album, this extremely talented multi-instrumentalist has finally dipped her toe into the waters with a 15-track live album titled Beautiful Boot Leg — Live at Rick Walker’s. It was recorded July 13, 2014 by her friend Rick Walker at Rick Walker’s, a Boston institution and supplier of “rock ‘n’ roll cowboy clothes” since 1932.

It’s an eclectic musical selection that features some of her solo work, first ever debuts, some new and unreleased Black Fortress of Opium songs and a Johnny Thunders cover. She accompanies her gorgeous voice on guitar and mandolin. Though I’ve seen her perform with ‘BFOO,’ this is my first time hearing her solo, and she’s just stunning. Her sound is beautifully influenced by her Turkish heritage, though she surprisingly gets a little country in the aptly titled “Mighty Fine Day.” This heaping helping of Ajda and the promise of more to come makes it a mighty fine day indeed.

Have a listen, buy a copy and keep an eye out for a studio solo album at some point in the future, when she’s able to “rustle up the funds.” Hm, do I sense a crowdfunding campaign coming up?

<a href="http://ajdatheturkishqueen.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-boot-leg-live-at-rick-walkers">Beautiful Boot Leg – Live at Rick Walker's by Ajda the Turkish Queen</a>

Originally from Houston, Texas and now based in Boston, Ajda has been performing since 1997. Between her solo and band projects, she has appeared alongside such artists and groups as Andrew Bird, Franz Ferdinand, Bill Laswell, The Dresden Dolls, John Zorn and His Name is Alive. Her styles have included psychedelic pop, goth rock and cabaret, and has recorded everything from pop and electronic music to modern classical music. She also contributes to film soundtracks.

Ajda the Turkish Queen will be celebrating the release of Beautiful Boot Leg – Live at Rick Walker’s with a show at the legendary Plough & Stars in Cambridge. Details follow.

Saturday January 31st, 2015
Plough & Stars
912 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
10PM, 21+ | ::: Facebook Event :::
10:15PM Ajda’s New record!
11PM Anubis Pop melodic psyche-pop
11:45PM The Freeways ~ sun-gaze, psych-haze

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Musician and producer Martin Bisi in Boston this weekend with documentary and performance

By julie

On July 22, 2014

In Indie Music

photo by Elizabeth Graham for Creative Loafing, Atlanta

Saturday July 26th
Sound and Chaos: The Story of BC Studio
A new documentary about Martin and his Brooklyn studio – Boston premiere
Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St. (Harvard Square), Cambridge
2pm show, doors at 1:30pm | Q&A with Martin Bisi and filmmakers follows
running time of film: 72 minutes | $8

Saturday July 26th
Martin Bisi (10:30 pm set) with Black Fortress of Opium (11:30 pm set)
at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St (Inman Square), Cambridge
all ages, 10 pm doors | $7

Martin Bisi has an impressive musical resume. That’s putting it mildly. As a New York-based musician, producer, engineer and studio mastermind since 1981, he has recorded an illustrious collection of artists that include Sonic Youth (Bad Moon Rising, 1985 and EVOL, 1986), Swans (The Burning World, 1989, Love of Live, 1992 and The Great Annihilator, 1994), Angels of Light, Afrika Bambaata, Iggy Pop (Instinct, 1988), John Zorn, Alice Donut, Fab Five Freddy, Lydia Lunch, Foetus, EMF, Bill Laswell, Material, Serena Maneesh, US Maple, Jon Spencer’s Boss Hog, Helmet, Live Skull, Unsane, Ginger Baker, Cop Shoot Cop, White Zombie (Make Them Die Slowly, 1989), Boredoms and Herbie Hancock’s Grammy Award winning song Rockit. He recorded The Dresden Dolls’ highly acclaimed debut album in 2002 and more recent bands Pop. 1280, Rude Mechanical Orchestra and Cinema Cinema. He’s worked with filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, and with painter Jean-Michel Basquiat and performance artist Michael Holman’s industrial band, Gray. Bisi has been a vital part of New York’s underground music scene throughout the 1980s, 1990s and beyond.

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An Amazing Show at the Lizard Lounge Saturday Night!

By julie

On January 14, 2012

In Boston Bands, Indie Music, Show Previews

Three of the four amazing bands to be gracing the 'stage' (such as it is) at the Lizard Lounge tonight - Black Fortress of Opium, Marc Pinansky, and The Fatal Flaw.

Black Fortress of Opium with St. Helena, The Fatal Flaw,
and Marc Pinansky (of Township) at the Lizard Lounge
Saturday, January 14, 2012
$8 | 18+ | doors at 8pm | facebook event

Here’s an absolutely ridiculous line-up of bands at the cozy little Lizard Lounge tomorrow night (or rather *tonight*, but the time I get this posted..). And speaking of my tardiness, apologies for this ‘quick and dirty’ preview, but this is seriously worthy of a mention, despite its hastiness. This may well sell out, so get there early. See you there.

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Boston Bands This Week, and a few BMA Winners!

By julie

On December 8, 2010

In Boston Bands, Indie Music, Show Previews

Performing this week: Black Fortress Of Opium (photo by Derek Kouyoumjian), Tristan Allen, Girlfriends, and A.K.A.C.O.D.

There are five shows of special note this week, starting on Wednesday. Three of them feature winners from the Boston Music Awards on Sunday night (more on that soon). First… well, technically she’s not a Boston artist anymore, as she’s moved to Austin, but Monique Ortiz had been a strong presence on the Boston music scene until just recently, and will be performing with beloved locals Dana Colley and Larry Dersch as A.K.A.C.O.D., so if you’d like your music smoky and soulful, with deep, sensuous vocals and gorgeous sax, most certainly head to the Plough & Stars tonight. On Thursday, Ajda the Turkish Queen‘s lushly gothic Black Fortress of Opium are joined by the fascinating “dope folk” of Narcoterror (also featuring Ajda) and Happy The Clown at P.A.’s Lounge. And just announced is a special Friday night “2010 Boston Music Awards celebration party” at Great Scott: Best DJ/Dance Night (The Pill) & TimeOut Boston Editor’s Choice (Mystery Roar). Sunday, there’s a special performance at the Berklee Performance Center with BMA ‘Artist of the Year’ Amanda Palmer and Tristan Allen, the Berklee Summer Student pianist whom Ms. Palmer met and was so impressed with, she helped put out his debut EP. Also on Sunday, for those more in the mood for a good ol’ fashioned rock club, Great Scott is having their holiday party with You Can Be A Wesley and BMA winners of ‘Rock Artist of the Year’, Girlfriends.

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