musings from boston

Schooltree Record Release
w/ Count Zero and WANTON REVELRY
Friday, March 15th @ the Lizard Lounge
8:30 doors, 9pm show | 21+, $10 cover
::: BUY TICKETS ::: | facebook event

This is going to be a very special event to celebrate the release of Rise, a modern take on the 1970s rock opera, very convincingly masterminded by the inimitable Lainey Schooltree Steamy Bohemians, Jerkus Circus, Bent Wit Cabaret).

I don’t think just anyone could have pulled this off. Lainey is the prog rock queen of modern times, with her Broadway musical vocals and theatrical cabaret presentation. You only have to know that she’s a fan of both Queen and Steven Sondheim to understand this completely.

On Rise, this musical journey is nothing short of epic and while strongly recalling the piano driven orchestral drama, screaming rock god guitar, vocal histrionics and sweeping harmonies of what was a proud art form of the time, it is also imbued with a contemporary feel. This isn’t just parody (though it did put a big smile on my face upon first hearing). No, it’s an honest depiction of present day struggles through the looking glass of the past, with a strong sense of reverence. As for the doom and gloom subject matter, the breakdown of society, feelings of alienation and loss, hope and salvation… well, all that’s eternal, isn’t it?

I’m unable to share anything off the new album with you (you’ll have to go to the Lizard Lounge on Friday night for that), but if you’re unfamiliar with Schooltree, have a listen below to a performance of “Everyman” from the Lizard Lounge back in February of last year.

This isn’t just any run-of-the-mill record release with any old backing bands either. “Wanton Revelry” isn’t the name of a new Allston punk band; it’s billed as “bombastic burlesque, sexy satyrs, olympian comedy, devastating elegance!” If you’ve been to any Schooltree performances in the past, especially Bent Wit Cabaret events, you will definitely recognize at least a few of these names… UnAmerika’s Sweetheart Karin Webb, Femme Bones, Lolli Hoops, Jade Sylvan, and there will be other special guests as well. Count Zero will close out the evening’s festivities, performing their first full show in almost a year. Definitely something you won’t want to miss.

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The Next Day: David Bowie’s State of the World Address

By julie

On March 10, 2013

In Reviews

[an abridged version is up on Ryan’s Smashing Life]

What is most compelling about David Bowie’s first studio album in a decade, The Next Day, is not the brilliance of this album, but the brilliance of the timing of this album. A key part of Bowie’s genius, from his earliest incarnations to the present day, is his uncanny ability to be at the right place at the right time–with the right musical statement. He has always been the man of the hour, whatever the hour happens to be.

For the past 10 years, our Chief Observer who was always there, holding up a mirror to our hopes and dreams, our fears and insecurities, our pop culture and sacred cows, had covered that mirror with a dark shroud and walked away from public life. He went off to live his life, and left us to live ours, unobserved and unrecorded. But it’s 2013, and Bowie’s back. Why now? Maybe it’s because we need him, or because he needs us. Or it’s that all this clutter and confusion, the growing chasm of human experience and sense of alienation feels too important to be just sitting and watching from the sidelines. Perhaps he feels the need to weigh in and shine his light upon this time in our collective history. Maybe it’s less a concern about legacy, and simply an eagerness to join in on the conversation.

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Introducing… Jacco Gardner (at the Middle East Sunday night 3/3)

By julie

On February 27, 2013

In Indie Music, Show Previews

Jacco Gardner with MMOSS, Quilt and The Ocular Audio Experiment
at The Middle East (Upstairs)
presented by The Middle East and Boston Hassle
Sunday, March 3, 2013 – 8pm doors
18+ | $10 advance, $12 day of show | ::: tickets :::
facebook event

Oooh, psychedelic! It’s Jacco Gardner, a Dutch multi-instrumentalist, and it’s difficult to believe he’s just 24 years old, because I swear he’s been to some of the same parties I was at, well, many years ago. He has a new album, Cabinet of Curiosities (from Trouble in Mind Records), and is currently touring in the U.S. Mmmm… strings, harpsichord, flutes… love. Grab your magic mushrooms and head out to The Middle East (Upstairs) on Sunday night to enjoy this live and in person. It seems he’s received high praise from Pitchfork, but we won’t hold that against him.

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New David Bowie video: “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”

By julie

On February 26, 2013

In Music News

After so many years away from the public eye (and so many years after I’ve uttered such a phrase, and not in this digital medium), it feels downright strange to type “here’s a new Bowie video, from his soon-to-be-released album.” But well, here it is. Called “The Stars (Are Out Tonight),” it’s both disturbing and hilarious. A man who is happily (boringly?) settled into a comfortable though uneventful life is besieged by fashionably dressed stalkers. Though of course in Bowie’s case, these are fashionista monsters of his own making. His wife is portrayed by Tilda Swinton, and Norwegian model Iselin Steiro does a dead-on reading of a young ‘Thin White Duke.’ Keeping with the whole androgynous theme, models Andrej Pejić and Saskia de Brauw play the stalker couple. Just brilliant.

“Stars are never sleeping / dead ones and the living // We will never be rid of these stars / but I hope they live forever.”

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Beck’s Song Reader comes to life with 150 Performers this Thursday!

By julie

On February 25, 2013

In Boston Bands, Indie Music, Show Previews

Beck’s Song Reader—featuring 150 performers in music, dance and performance art
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Somerville Theatre
facebook event | ::: tickets :::

Back in December, Beck released his album Song Reader the way music was traditionally released—as sheet music, to be interpreted by those inspired to do so. This custom songbook contains 20 songs and over 100 pages of original art. It’s both a vintage and revolutionary idea, and was eight years in the making. A web site was set up where musicians (and budding musicians) could upload their renditions.

Inspired by this creative effort, 150 local performers (yes, that’s one hundred and fifty) have joined together to present their versions of songs from this album, ina live performance at Somerville Theatre in Davis Square on Thursday night. As stated in their press release, “On Thursday, February 28th Boston’s finest musicians & dancers are collaborating to bring Beck Hansen’s album “Song Reader” to life with live music & original choreography at the historic Somerville Theatre. Months in the making, this evening will feature over 150 musicians, dancers, performance artists and a choir performing new material based of Beck’s latest work. Don’t miss this ONE NIGHT ONLY show!”

To give you an idea of the scope of this, some of those performers are Sarah Rabdau, Molly Zenobia, SchoolTree, Jade Sylvan, UnAmerika’s Sweetheart Karin Webb, Kristen Ford Band, Mary Bichner, Vessela Stoyanova w/Tony Leva and Singer Mali. The show is produced by Burns and Webb. You can get a little preview of what’s planned for Thursday night on YouTube.

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Introducing… Tim Noyes

By julie

On February 24, 2013

In Indie Music

It’s unfortunate that I missed out on promoting Tim Noyes’ album release party last night at Church, but I’d like to give a little mention of his new music anyway. Tim Noyes was previously in a band called Aunt Martha, which was a violin-infused indie folk outfit. He’s now gone off on his own with a new band and debut album, just released, called In Hands. Acoustic guitar and violin have developed into a bigger sound with electric guitars, crisp drumming and synthesizers. What remains constant are Tim’s warm, wistful vocals and a moody melancholy. In Hands is the result of his collaboration with multi-instrumentalist and arranger Grant Zubritsky.

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In your tide

By julie

On February 19, 2013

In Musings

Grant me not equilibrium
I would be lost in a forest of placid faces
for the grace of a moment lingered
I gladly accept the agitation.

Disturb the air with abrupt movement
turbulent like the sea
push pebbles violently, without a care
onto the sand, with stubborn rage.

Vulnerable then, as a newborn child
bereft of a comforting embrace
are anxiously drawn back in again
as the water pleads for their return.

I am bound by an invisible strand, defying time.
No manmade construct can dissolve
this duty pledged by stronger laws
and no violent twist can cast you off
so in your tide I ebb and flow.

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Introducing…. Many Embers

By julie

On February 17, 2013

In Band Profiles, Indie Music

Two days ago, I wrote about Haunted Summer. It was about something beautiful coming out of a painful break-up. Two break-ups, in fact. Out of endings come new beginnings, and the results can be quite lovely. Today, I’ve been completely captivated by a new project called Many Embers. As with Haunted Summer, Many Embers was born out of sadness. After about 6 years of recording and performing, Eastside L.A. band Death To Anders called it a day. But instead of finding a a sensible day job, lead singer and guitarist Rob Danson, along with George Glass guitarist Nick Ceglio, embarked on an experiment. With no particular goal in mind, they started recording together.

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Introducing… Gospel Claws (and their sophomore album, Put your Sunshine Away)

By julie

On February 16, 2013

In Band Profiles, Indie Music

photo by Susan Jordan Anderson

I was already impressed with Gospel Claws at their debut album back in 2010, C-L-A-W-S (I remember being somewhat mystified by this title; turns out some early reviewers would misspell their name “Gospel Clause”). At once, I was swept away with their ’50s style, surf and doo-wop influenced music, set off with dark lyrics, Joel Marquard’s crooning vocals, and a touch of, well, gospel. On their latest album, Put Your Sunshine Away (released last November), there’s still that delightful vintage vibe, though it’s a fuller sound which at times (as on the soaring “Pale Horse Dry Cleaning”) becomes a full-on orchestral production with Marquard belting it out. “Hambone,” though curiosly titled, is a wildly romantic moonlit dance. “Looming Darkness” is also dreamy and romantic, though with a melancholy underbelly (“I’m feeling lonesome and I’ve got no one to blame / I can’t seem to break out of my 20-something cage.”). For this second album, released on Common Wall Media, the band had a very successful Kickstarter campaign which partially funded the project. As with the first, it was recorded by Bob Hoag at Flying Blanket Recording.

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Introducing… Haunted Summer

By julie

On February 15, 2013

In Indie Music

Out of two highly respected Eastside L.A. bands, Torches and Seasons has come something very dreamy and quite different. Haunted Summer features Bridgette Moody and John Seasons, who share songwriting and performing duties in a true collaboration. Despite the growing success of both their former bands, creatively neither was completely happy. In a moment of serendipity, things began to fall apart simultaneously, and the two found each other at just the right time. The result is a very pretty, psychedelic sound with ethereal vocals from Bridgette, who comes into her own as a lead vocalist. They’ve recorded six demos which are up on soundcloud. Though the core band are just those two, they’re recruiting friends for their live band, which will have a harp player and string quartet (strings to be composed by Kaitlin Wolfberg of Seasons). They’re recording this month, joined by Sheridan Riley (Avi Buffalo) on drums and (possibly) Scott Bassman (Kind Hearts and Coronets – if I’ve got that right) on bass. No live shows planned for now. Have a listen below, and stay tuned.

For all the gruesome details and the story of the phoenix risen from the ashes, read this excellent interview from Radio Free Silver Lake. I am completely indebted to this esteemed publication for all their great info, and to Kathryn Pinto for her exceptional interviewing skills.

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Torches | Seasons

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musings from boston

screams, whispers and songs from planet earth

Schooltree revisits the ’70s with their rock opera “Rise” – record release party Friday night!

The Next Day: David Bowie’s State of the World Address

Introducing… Jacco Gardner (at the Middle East Sunday night 3/3)

New David Bowie video: “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”

Beck’s Song Reader comes to life with 150 Performers this Thursday!

Introducing… Tim Noyes

In your tide

Introducing…. Many Embers

Introducing… Gospel Claws (and their sophomore album, Put your Sunshine Away)

Introducing… Haunted Summer