musings from boston

Owen Tromans ~ Examining the Golden Margins

On May 5, 2014

Owen Tromans

Released today is a new album from Owen Tromans (San Lorenzo) called Golden Margins, on Sacred Geometry Records. In the past, he has supported Idlewild, Best Coast and Plush, and he’s been on collections with Mercury Rev and Devendra Banhart. For this new recording, he’s back with his band The Elders.

The music is beautiful and haunting with the sound steeped in the best of British chamber folk and 60s alt-country traditions. If there’s a radio single in this collection, it would have to be “Golden Margins,” which is more upbeat, punchy and lighthearted. And it’s got horns. But for a better idea of what the overall album sounds like, check out the gorgeous Americana melancholy of “Saltwater Curse” or the homey Byrds-esque backporch vibe of “White Candle Road.”

The album was recorded in the middle of winter in Hampshire, England with producer Dan Parkinson. Subject matter varies between the nostalgia of the autobiographical title track and the 17th century witch trials in England (“John’s on the Bridge”, “1682”). Light and dark, like the changing of the seasons. The instrumentation is colorful and varied, providing a rich palette of sounds and textures. There’s acoustic finger-picked guitar, horns, pedal steel, double bass, violin, piano, organ and accordion, and the band is joined by multi-instrumentalist Joe Bennett (The Dreaming Spires, Goldrush). “I Saw Him,” which closes the album, is a soft-spoken stunner.

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Ronny Morris ~ “Built to Last” (Save the Arctic)

By julie

On May 1, 2014

In Indie Music, Worthy Causes & Activism

May Day seems the right time for this particular video. Ronny Morris is a Danish singer-songwriter who is very involved with environmental activism, working with Greenpeace and SaveTheArctic.org. His music has won awards and has been featured on One Tree Hill, Ghost Whisperer and other TV shows, but at the moment, he’s trying to spread awareness about global warming. He’s releasing three different videos set to his new song, “Built to Last,” one of which features Greenpeace in action (see below). The song comes from his debut album Sweet Silence. All proceeds from the single will be donated to Greenpeace, to support their efforts to have the Arctic declared a global sanctuary. SaveTheArctic.org is working for a ban on offshore oil drilling in the Arctic region and is trying to stop unregulated fishing in the area. They also support setting up a global sanctuary in the uninhabited region around the North Pole, which is pretty much a “no-brainer” at this point.

He’s really serious about this very serious issue, and has partnered with Spotify and YANGAROO to produce videos in different languages to get the message across. This latest one is video #2. You can see the first one on that video page, which features Morris walking around Los Angeles in a polar bear suit, with the original version of the song as the soundtrack. The remixes are available on an 8-track EP and features work by Michael A.M., Ganga, Leon El Rey and Rich Morel aka Pink Noise. You can purchase music and other merchandise from this project and support the vision.

Sign the Petition

If you support the idea of creating a protected global sanctuary around the North Pole, please visit SaveTheArctic.org and sign their petition.

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A Visit to the Dentist

By julie

On April 27, 2014

In Musings

(drilling down deep to discover the root of the problem)

It was a routine dentist appointment, nothing out of the ordinary. A cavity filling on a recessed front tooth and a few cosmetic patches, made possible by recent health care changes. She couldn’t afford it otherwise, but now, why not?

A few small shots of novocaine and she waited a while, relishing the empty time when she could just sit and collect her thoughts, relax and not have to be working.

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Bow Thayer ~ Eden: Live at The Chandler

By julie

On April 25, 2014

In Indie Music

Bow Thayer and Perfect Trainwreck - photo by Paul Janovitz (2011)

Watching Bow Thayer and Perfect Trainwreck performing “Eden” from their just released first live album Eden: Live at The Chandler (recorded during a January 2013 performance at the Chandler Center For The Arts in Randolph, Vermont) was a rather surreal experience. I had been blown away, along with the rest of those in attendance, by Bow and his band at the 2012 Boston Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble, which they ended up winning. To reconcile their down ‘n’ dirty (and quite marvelous) performance on the scrappy T.T. the Bear’s stage a few years ago with a seated audience in a lavish concert hall is to realize how far they’ve come. A bit of catching up is in order.

Bow started in Boston with rock/reggae band 7 League Boots, who toured with bands like Fugazi, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Pearl Jam. He relocated to Vermont fifteen years ago, took up slide guitar and immersed himeself in the Delta blues. He also started playing the banjo and performing with the bluegrass group, The Benders. His latest album, Eden, was released last year, examining man’s destruction of the planet. No doubt one becomes more sensitive to the callings of nature and the precarious state of the planet whilst living in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Appropriately, the live album was released on April 22, Earth Day. He also released a concept video for “The Tide,” which addresses the encroachment upon animal habitats by big business and industry.

It is said that he’ll be moving on from his work with Perfect Trainwreck to explore new musical terrain with drummer Jeff Berlin and some new bandmates, as he continues performing on his self-designed instrument, known as the “Bowjotar.” Having already performed with musicians such as Ringo Starr, Booker T, John Hiatt and Levon Helm, there are no doubt interesting journeys ahead.

Upcoming Shows

4/26 North Country Folk Festival – Canton, NY (Bow solo)
4/27 Musicians Against Child Abuse at Sweet Melissa’s – Montpelier, VT (full band)
4/30 Alternate Roots TV Session – Norwood, MA (w/The Mallett Brothers; full band)
5/1 Atwood Turns 8 Celebration – Atwood’s Tavern, Cambridge, MA (full band)
5/2 Tupelo Music Hall – White River Junction, VT (w/The Mallett Brothers; full band)
6/7 Cambridge River Festival – Cambridge, MA (full band)
6/28 Rockfire Festival – Barre, VT (full band)
7/9 Lyman Point Park – White River Junction, VT (Bow solo)

web | facebook | twitter | bandcamp

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Priscilla Ahn ~ gentle reflection and a spring tour

By julie

On April 21, 2014

In Gigs, Music News

Priscilla Ahn, a multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, harmonica, ukulele, banjo) with an angelic voice, is new for me but has been performing for more than a decade. She has toured with DeVotchKa, Willie Nelson, Amos Lee and others, and has collaborated with Tiesto (“I Am Strong”) and Ashtar Command (“The Breakup Song”). She released her fifth album, This Is Where We Are (Universal Music), back in July.

At her core is quiet introspection with the focus on her beautiful voice, softly accompanied by wistful, delicate piano and acoustic guitar. On her latest album, she incorporates electronica and beats (and sprinkles of fairy dust), though fortunately this adds to the appeal of her intimate and haunting vocals. While artists with less talent hide behind electronics, Priscilla Ahn uses the technology to further color her already quite colorful inner world.

Spring Tour

4/29 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
5/1 Cambridge, MA – T.T. the Bear’s Place
5/3 Washington, DC – The Hamilton
5/4 Philadelphia, PA – Tin Angel
5/6 Toronto, Canada – The Drake Hotel
5/13 Seattle, WA – Columbia City Theater
5/15 San Francisco, CA – Yoshi’s San Francisco
5/30 Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever

See full schedule

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Introducing… New City Ghost

By julie

On April 18, 2014

In Indie Music

Here’s something that stood out recently. New City Ghost, from Rhode Island, are poised to release their debut 5-track EP, Ossa Cava, on May 20th. In this first musical offering, they expertly exhibit a defiant punk rock sneer, but there’s more going on, which is why it caught my ear. The songs are dirty and noisy in a fine punk and grunge tradition that stretches out into a delightful cacophony, but there are also some very pretty melodies, layered sounds and delicate touches mixed in. The tightness, composition and vocal harmonies sound like a more seasoned outfit. The bits of lyrics I catch are also more sophisticated than the norm, which warms my jaded heart. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

They have a few shows coming up next month. The official CD release show is on May 23 at the Worcester Palladium, but before that, they’ll be at T.T. the Bear’s Place on May 17, with The Okay Win (who also have an album coming out) and Sikes. Have a listen and check them out live.

<a href="http://newcityghost.bandcamp.com/album/ossa-cava-out-this-spring">Ossa Cava (Out this spring!) by New City Ghost</a>

facebook | twitter | bandcamp | youtube

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The Both (Aimee Mann and Ted Leo) ~ debut album and tour

By julie

On April 15, 2014

In Indie Music

This is a brief commemoration of a new band. Or perhaps a new duo. Whatever they want to call it. Aimee Mann (‘Til Tuesday) and Ted Leo (Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Citizens Arrest, Chisel, The Sin-Eaters, The Spinanes) have just released their debut album on her own SuperEgo Records, and they’re embarking on a tour (see East Coast dates below).

Selected Shows

see full schedule

4/24 Pearl Street Nightclub – Northampton, MA
4/25 Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
4/26 Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME
4/27 Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT
4/29 The Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
5/1 Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
5/2 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
5/3 Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
5/5 Mr. Smalls Theater – Millvale, PA

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Introducing… STRNGRS

By julie

On April 11, 2014

In Indie Music

It’s when you hear a band playing a stripped-down set free of any electronic embellishments that you really separate those precious gems from the rest of the pile. NYC-based STRNGRS are a noisy, rambunctious trio with a scrappy and bluesy garage sound, but it is in last year’s CMJ penthouse performance where their soulful center and stellar musicianship really comes out into full bloom. Have a listen to that first, and then check out a few more in their “natural habitat.” They’ve got a bit of old Led Zeppelin going on as well (to my ears anyway – listen to “Outta My Mind”).

They’ve got two EPs out (Five Dynamic New Tunes! and Magic Boy) and will be recording their debut album later this year. Really? They’re that new and already sound this good? Nice. They currently have two New York shows scheduled — Arlene’s Grocery on April 25 and Mercury Lounge on May 31.

<a href="http://strangers-nyc.bandcamp.com/album/magic-boy">Magic Boy by STRNGRS</a>

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Neil Finn’s Dizzy Heights

By julie

On April 7, 2014

In Indie Music

Leave it to a Kiwi to produce the perfect soundtrack to our troubling times. Neil has been a favorite for many years now — from his musical meanderings with brother Tim in the artsy and rambunctious New Wave powerhouse of Split Enz to his own immensely successful (and immensely wonderful) Crowded House, to several brilliant solo albums, his 7 Worlds Collide projects and the warm brotherly love and playful affection in his recordings with Tim as Finn Brothers. He’s New Zealand’s elder statesman, an inspirational songsmith and along with brother Tim, was bestowed with an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1993 for their contribution to the music of New Zealand. So yes, it’s actually quite a big deal that Neil has a new album out.

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In honor of David Lamb of Brown Bird

By julie

On April 6, 2014

In Indie Music

I heard the sad news this morning that David Lamb of the wonderful Rhode Island folk duo Brown Bird lost his battle with leukemia yesterday. I’d like to send my very best wishes and heartfelt condolences to his partner and band mate MorganEve Swain and other friends and family.

I had the great honor of being in the audience for their stunning 2011 Newport Folk Festival set. It was an amazingly soulful and profoundly moving performance. David will be deeply missed not only by those who knew him, but by the many people who were captivated by their music.

(thank you, Boston Phoenix)

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