musings from boston

The Boston Calling Festival: Lucius and Big Black Delta

On July 5, 2013

In Boston-area news, Indie Music, Show Previews

Lucius, photo by Peter Larson

Big Black Delta

Continuing my plan to cover at least all the “non-headliners” for The Boston Calling Music Festival coming up September 7 & 8, here’s a little taste of Lucius (performing Saturday) and Big Black Delta (who are playing Sunday). I heard great things about the first Boston Calling festival, so this second one is definitely not to be missed. Especially not one that features bands like Boston’s You Won’t and Bearstronaut, Okkervil River, Deer Tick, Bat for Lashes, Major Lazer, Passion Pit, Local Natives… oh yeah, and The Airborne Toxic Event.

Lucius — is a fairly new Brooklyn-based quintet (just started last year), recently signed to Mom & Pop Music. It features the dual vocals of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, and the dual guitars of Peter Lalish and Andrew Burri.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/92029636″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Big Black Delta is the solo project of vocalist and bassist Jonathan Bates (Mellowdrone). He’s collaborated with several artists including Morgan Kibby, War Widow and Alessandro Cortini.

Get your tickets now for Boston Calling, as it’s liable to sell out just like the last one did.

share this:

Endation, Schooltree, and The Burners @ Precinct 7/6

By julie

On July 3, 2013

In Boston Bands, Indie Music, Show Previews

If one night of getting drunk and blowing shit up isn’t enough for you, Schooltree and friends invite you to continue the theme two days later this Saturday, July 6, at Precinct in Union Square, Somerville.

I can personally recommend Schooltree, and especially for those who miss the 1970s and the classic rock opera. They’re art rock cabaret and campy delight but absolutely heartfelt and genuine. This is a Broadway musical for the off-kilter and slightly deranged.

<a href="http://schooltree.bandcamp.com/album/rise">Rise by Schooltree</a>

The Burners, hailing from Portland, Maine, will be bringing their fine gypsy Americana, which is a great way to celebrate American musical tradition. These guys seriously jam on guitar, violin, bass, harmonica and accordion. It’s serious “kick up your heels” music.

<a href="http://ryanflaherty.bandcamp.com/album/the-burners-live-from-one-longfellow-square">The Burners Live From One Longfellow Square by The Burners</a>

Headlining will be Endation, who describe themselves as “stripped down and raw, heavy with bombastic rhythms, a fusion of complex and simple while also melodic, serene and emotional.” Um… “melodic, serene and emotional”?? Seriously?? Ok, so maybe there’s a place in the cacophony where you will enter unexpectedly into a peaceful, trance-like state, but I probably wouldn’t recommend this band to someone looking for a tranquil string quartet. You’ve been warned.

<a href="http://endation.bandcamp.com/album/the-absence-of-everything">The Absence of Everything by Endation</a>

Set times: The Burners – 9ish; Schooltree – 10ish; Endation – 11ish | Facebook event. Be careful out there, kids! And happy holiday weekend.

share this:

Introducing… Son Gulien

By julie

On July 1, 2013

In Boston Bands, Indie Music

So everyone, meet your next superstar, right here. Son Gulien. French refugee who now lives in Boston (god help him). He brings to our city a dose of quirky electro with a deliciously deviant “who the f*ck cares” punk irreverence and everything that was campy and wonderful about the 1980s. In this video directed by Son Gulien & Face B, the Frenchman takes us on an all-encompassing tour of the greater Boston area. Hang on, is that Revere Beach? You gotta be kidding me. He just released his “Black Russian EP,” which is available as a free download. Sorry, I can’t help it, I like this guy. Anyone who makes me instantly think of Yello’s “I Know” automatically earns their place in ‘musings.’ And perhaps their place in music history as well.

Son Gulien – Black Russian by SonGulien

<a href="http://songulien.bandcamp.com/album/black-russian-ep">Black Russian EP by Son Gulien</a>

web | soundcloud | bandcamp

share this:

Lucas Biespiel and his Dangerous Gentlemen ~ “Preacher”

By julie

On June 29, 2013

In Boston Bands, Indie Music

Here’s a nice wind-down from your crazy week. Lucas Biespiel and his Dangerous Gentlemen have just released the first single titled “Preacher” from their debut album, Stories of Your Sorrows, which is due out October 1. The upcoming EP is described as “a series of monologues by different characters in a play. Each song acts as a soap box for each character to tell you their story.” Their music is bluesy and soulful with earthy, ageless vocals and tasty guitar licks that slide down like honey. It’s nicely crafted with percussive flourishes (rather than just “drumming”) and closely-knit vocal harmonies. This is good… really good.

Lucas, originally from Portland, Oregon, is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and violinist, formerly the lead singer of the Backyard Blues Boys. He moved to Boston to attend Berklee, and met up with the other members of his current band, Dangerous Gentlemen (that would be Sean Oliver on bass, Sam Small on electric and lap steel guitars and Griffin Davis on drums). He also runs his own label Blue Brick Records. You can learn more about his history, his thoughts about creating music and his future plans on Rose Rundown. For now, have a listen.

<a href="http://bluebrickrecords.bandcamp.com/album/preacher-single">Preacher – Single by Lucas Biespiel and his Dangerous Gentlemen</a>

facebook | twitter | bandcamp | Blue Brick Records

share this:

Introducing… Broadheds (catch ’em while you can)

By julie

On June 14, 2013

In Band Profiles, Indie Music

Hey all. Here’s a scrappy and charming little outfit from California called Broadheds who released their debut (and only?) album back in April. It’s all about nervous energy and angst, from a distinguished group of gentlemen giving full rein to their “inner teenage boy.” On guitar and vocals is Peter Walker, formerly of The Eulogies and also co-founder of that highly esteemed Eastside L.A. label Dangerbird Records, which I’ve been meaning to profile for years and will be doing so shortly. Along with Walker, Broadheds boasts an all-star lineup — drummer Denny Weston, Jr. (The Kooks, Earlimart), bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen (M83, Beck, Nine Inch Nails) and sax player James King (Fitz and the Tantrums). The fifth member of the band is visual artist Mark Todd, whose artwork is featured in a 64-page book that accompanies their album. Mark’s artistic vision was also an important part of the recording process.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/63548702″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

They’ve only intended to perform a handful of live shows, so if you’re in or around San Francisco on July 10 and you like what you hear, you’d best get yourself to Cafe du Nord while you’ve got the chance! Walker is apparently already writing again and thinking about his next project.

“Nothing is easy, nothing that I care about.” Indeed.

share this:

Thick Shakes’ new single “Polyommatus Blues”

By julie

On June 13, 2013

In Boston Bands, Gigs, Indie Music

Into the garage we go for the new single from Boston’s own Thick Shakes, “Polyommatus Blues.” Gritty. Noisy. I like it. They’re playing Saturday night (6/15) at O’Brien’s Pub in Allston with Flavor Packets, The Little Richards and Cutting Room Floor (queer feminist punk from Ohio) (that’s their description, not mine). This is their only summer show, so get on it. Oh, and here’s the Facebook event. Peace out.

<a href="http://thickshakes.bandcamp.com/album/polyommatus-blues">Polyommatus Blues by Thick Shakes</a>

facebook | bandcamp | twitter

share this:

Introducing… Balto (from Portland, Oregon)

By julie

On June 12, 2013

In Gigs, Indie Music

Dan Sheron (photo by Benedict Evans)

Based in Portland, Oregon, Balto is a folk music collective led by Daniel Sheron. Their latest album is Monuments, released last September. Balto has interesting beginnings. Daniel Sheron left his home in Moscow, Russia to go on a “vision quest” of sorts into Siberia. During his travels in that desolate region, he wrote songs about the people and places he encountered. In 2010, he found himself in a Brooklyn basement with a group of friends, and what came out of that was an album called October’s Road.

After their first national tour in 2011, Daniel moved from New York to Portland, Oregon, performed on his own and wrote songs for the next release. The band came together again last June to record the six songs with producer Jeremy Backofen (The Felice Brothers, Mice Parade, Gregory and the Hawk). Balto’s music is Americana with a bit of an edge and some compelling storytelling that feels very personal. It’s pretty with acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo and closely-knit harmonies, but it’s rather sad as well. Have a listen.

<a href="http://balto.bandcamp.com/album/monuments">Monuments by Balto</a>

East Coast shows

6/19 Cameo Gallery (10:30 pm) – Brooklyn, NY – 93 N6th Street (w/ Bird Courage)
6/20 Wormwood Park (7:30 pm) – Boston, MA – A St and Wormwood St (organized by New Music Cooperative) (Free)
6/21 Lickety Split – Philadelphia, PA
6/29 Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 (6 pm) – New York, NY – 196 Allen St. (Free)

See Balto’s site for full tour schedule

web | facebook | twitter | bandcamp

share this:

Introducing… We Are The West

By julie

On June 10, 2013

In Gigs, Indie Music

Here’s something absolutely stunning for you tonight. We Are The West are the Los Angeles-based acoustic guitar and upright bass duo of John Kibler and Brett Hool. They record and perform in “natural places” to, in their words, “use sound and space to create an experience that is welcoming and honest.” Their mission to bring their music into common (and uncommon) places has meant gigs in shipping containers and storm drains, sheep farms and abandoned convents… and they have a “residency” (so to speak) in an underground parking garage of a Santa Monica office building on the Saturday night before every full moon. The just recently released their second EP installment of a four-part album, entitled We Are The West II (listen below). It was recorded in a Western New York barn, which is probably one of the more conventional place they’ve played.

As the full moon is just around the corner, so is their next gig. They’ll be performing at The Parking Garage beneath the Office Building on the corner of 7th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard this coming Saturday, June 15, with a very special guest, New Zealand songwriter Greg Johnson. And it seems they’re playing an actual venue on June 19 — The Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, Arizona with Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers. That should be an unusual experience for them.

web | facebook | bandcamp

share this:

JBM (Jesse Marchant) – “Stray Ashes” & tour

By julie

On June 9, 2013

In Gigs, Indie Music

JBM a.k.a. Jesse Marchant released a pretty, dreamy and haunting album called Stray Ashes (on Western Vinyl) a little over a year ago. He’s currently touring and will be coming to the East Coast for a few shows in July, so I thought I’d share a few luscious tracks to ease you into your week.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/46037222″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/46038411″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Upcoming Shows

(select dates – see JBM’s site for full schedule)

6/13 San Francisco, CA (w/Cayucas) – Rickshaw Stop
6/17 Portland, OR (w/ Cayucas) – Mississippi Studios
6/19 Seattle, WA (w/Cayucas) – Barboza
6/28 Minneapolis, MN (w/Cayucas) – 7th Street Entry
7/3 Boston, MA (w/Cayucas) – Great Scott
7/5 New York, NY (w/Cayucas) – Mercury Lounge

You can purchase “Stray Ashes” here: digital release | CD, vinyl

web | facebook | youtube

share this:

Introducing… American Authors

By julie

On June 8, 2013

In Boston Bands, Show Previews

Here’s a band that at first listen was maybe a little “mainstream alternative” for my tastes, but damn, this is pretty contagious stuff. I was about to write that American Authors was “Brooklyn-based,” and indeed they are now, but apparently they are actually Boston escapees, having met while all the members were students at Berklee. Ok, so I won’t hold that against them [that’s a JOKE, Bostonians…]. Previously known as The Blue Pages, they went through a name change in 2010.

They signed with Mercury Records in January and released their debut single, “Believer,” in March and another single called “Best Day of My Life” was used in a Lowe’s ad. Nice start, guys. Album forthcoming. They’re on tour; click on the photo above for dates.

web | facebook | twitter

share this: