musings from boston

Happy Silversun Pickups Day in Boston!

On June 6, 2012

photo by Autumn De Wilde

Silversun Pickups Acoustic Performance & Autograph Signing
TODAY! – Wednesday, June 6th @ 6:30 PM
Newbury Comics, Faneuil Hall – Boston, MA location

We welcome the Silver Lake-based band, Silversun Pickups, who are in Boston today doing some promotional stuff to celebrate their wonderful new album, Neck Of The Woods on Dangerbird Records (my review is ‘coming soon’ over at Ryan’s Smashing Life). There were two competitions (Radio 929 and WFNX) for acoustic appearances, and at 6:30pm, Brian and Nikki will be over at Newbury Comics (Faneuil Hall store) for an acoustic set and signing. The Newbury Comics folks will be handing out wristbands starting at 10am, so if you want to catch it, I strongly recommend that you head over as early as possible, since it’s limited to the first 200 people. No word on any proper shows in the area; so far, only a handful of festival dates are mentioned on their site.

Check out their recent appearance on David Letterman…

(thanks to IdolXfactor2)

share this:

Tally Ho! The Clean Conquer Allston!

By julie

On June 5, 2012

In Indie Music, Reviews

Hamish Kilgour of The Clean, at Brighton Music Hall

Hamish and David Kilgour of The Clean, at Brighton Music Hall

It’s easy to be cynical about music these days, with so many bland, mediocre bands that commandeer the increasingly homogeneous radio airwaves and mainstream media. But there are those rare moments when a group of musicians have that special synergy and love of performance, that can transcend everything else and make all those years seem to instantly vanish. We’re all back at the beginning, when everything was fresh and exciting. The joy of discovery, and of rediscovery. All Hail The Clean!

For those who can catch one of their few remaining shows here on the East Coast, they’re also selling a very limited edition 2LP vinyl pressing of “Oddities,” their 1994 Flying Nun release. Rolling Stone talks about it in their article today. The first 200 pressings of the 1000 total are on very pretty yellow vinyl. Really nice.

See my loving appreciation – and the rest of their handful of U.S. tour dates – on Ryan’s Smashing Life.

Robert Scott

Robert Scott and Hamish Kilgour

This is pretty close, though they (sadly) didn't play Beatnik

share this:

Robert Francis – Strangers In The First Place

By julie

On June 3, 2012

In Indie Music

Just a few words in honor of Robert Francis’s lovely new album, Strangers In The First Place (Vanguard Records). It’s personal and romantic, with finely-crafted arrangements of strings and horns, lap steel and harmonica, and Robert’s timeless, smooth and soaring vocals. Watch and listen as he describes the recording process and sample tastes of this wonderful work. | KCET Interview

Honest and straight-from-the-heart, on this, the follow-up to 2009’s Before Nightfall, there is a perfect integration of words and music and a lyrical sophistication that suggests a songwriter much further down the road. A class act. Robert’s playing U.S. dates through the end of this month; then it’s off to Europe through July.

web | facebook | twitter

share this:

Amy Correia – Free 3-song sampler and Independent Music Award Winner!

By julie

On June 2, 2012

In Band Profiles, Boston Bands

photo by Jeff Fasano

Lakeville, Massachusetts native Amy Correia, whose latest album, the sultry and sassy You Go Your Way, recently scored an award for Best Folk Singer-Songwriter Album at the 11th Annual Independent Music Awards. The competition is judged by such music luminaries as Suzanne Vega, Ozzy Osbourne and Tom Waits.

<a href="http://amycorreia.bandcamp.com/album/3-song-sampler">3-Song Sampler by Amy Correia</a>

Amy spent some time on New York City’s Lower East Side, performing alongside songwriters Jesse Harris, Jeff Buckley and jazz singer Rebecca Martin. She’s recently moved back to Massachusetts to take part in the vibrant Boston music scene. Boston’s Session Americana recorded her song “Love Changes Everything,” and she’s made guest appearances on Rose Polenzani’s and John Powhida International Airport’s new albums. She refers to Massachusetts as her “spiritual home base.”

To celebrate her award win, she’s sharing a 3-song sampler with her fans and friends, free of charge. It features “Love Changes Everything” and “Powder Blue Trans Am” (from her latest album You Go Your Way), and the title track from “Lakeville.”

Amy will be performing at the NightCat in Easton, Maryland on Friday, June 15.

web | facebook | bandcamp | twitter

share this:

Introducing Omara “Bombino” Moctar, Tuareg songwriter, guitarist and activist

By julie

On June 1, 2012

In Band Profiles, Indie Music, Worthy Causes & Activism

photo by Ron Wyman

Musician, Omara “Bombino” Moctar (Goumar Almoctar), has a pretty incredible background. One of 17 siblings, he was born and raised in Niger among the nomadic Tuareg people, whose ancestry is traced to to the North African Berbers. The Tuareg, also known as the Kel Tamasheq, are warriors as well as travelers and traders, fighting against colonialism and strict Islamic rule.

<a href="http://store.cumbancha.com/album/agadez">Agadez by Bombino</a>

After a severe drought in the early 1980s killed off their livestock and forced the Tuareg people to leave the countryside and move to cities or to Algeria or Libya, these displaced communities organized uprisings against local governments that were ignoring them. Omara was forced to flee his homeland when violent rebellion raged, as people fought for their rights and preservation of their culture. The local musicians played a vital role in telling the story of their plight through song, in a style known as ishoumar (taken from the French “chomeurs,” meaning “unemployed”). He taught himself to play guitar, inspired by this music of his people. In addition to developing a passion for preserving his Tuareg heritage, he would also develop into a formidable guitarist and songwriter.

share this:

Warm Weather’s First Visit to Boston – The Middle East 5/14/12

By julie

On May 21, 2012

In Reviews

It was an odd communion: a night of band-audience bonding, angelic harmonies and a surreal mini-musical soap opera episode. There was a relatively small but surprisingly boisterous and supportive crowd for a Monday night, and Ryan commented how it was like playing for a bunch of friends at home. I had expected the gentle melodies and bucolic harmonies from their two eps, and I certainly got that, but what I also got were some furious jams, mind-bending ethereal to thrasher mood swings, and a heaping helping of unhinged madness in the form of an over-the-top rendition of R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet Chapter Two.” The original is bizarre enough, but Warm Weather’s version, with guitarist Ryan in a long blond wig, was truly inspired and something they seemed perfectly well-suited for (what this says, I’m not sure). It was a wonderfully camp adventure, though at the same time convincing as a piece of musical theater, as these guys have the moves and the vocal chops to pull it off.

Warm Weather videos:

Bull Run / (Be My Baby) | #2 | #3 | Trapped in the Closet Chapter Two (R. Kelly)
(still getting familiar with their recordings; song titles coming… eventually)

share this:

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes in town tomorrow night!

By julie

On May 11, 2012

In Indie Music, Show Previews

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros performed their new album for the first time at KCRW’s ‘Berkeley Street Sessions.’

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
at the Orpheum Theatre — Saturday, May 12 @ 7:30pm
::: buy tickets :::

The celebratory happy hippie love fest that is Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (and I say that in the most complimentary way) is gearing up to release the follow up to their highly-acclaimed debut album, Up From Below, which spawned the alternative rock station anthem, “Home.” Their new album, Here, will be released on May 29 on Community Music, with a companion album (part two) following close on its heels by the end of the year.

Man On Fire by Edward Sharpe Mag Zeros

You can preorder the new album with limited edition merch or preorder on iTunes. They’ve also set up an ‘interactive website experience’, which is counting down to the album’s release, and where apparently things happen at 5:29pm daily. Not quite sure about that, but check it out! I’ll be reviewing the new album soon on Ryan’s Smashing Life.

For now, they’re in town Saturday night at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets are still available, but you should jump on them soon, as shows in Toronto, Washington DC, and Chicago have already sold out. Be a part of the upbeat, positive vibes with some really fine music at a venue befitting this classy outfit.

share this:

Diasporic Dance Music with a Powerful Message: Zili Misik and Kina Zoré Return to Jamaica Plain

By julie

On May 10, 2012

In Boston Bands, Show Previews

Kina Zore

Zili Misik and Kina Zoré
The Milky Way Lounge at The Brewery Complex, 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain
Friday, May 11, 2012 at 9 p.m.
21+ | $7 cover

Here’s a special evening of music happening at the Milky Way Lounge tomorrow night. Boston-based Kina Zoré is a 7-member Afro-pop dance collective made up of Berklee and NEC graduates who perform the music of Helder Tsinine, a singer and guitarist from Mozambique. Raised in a musical family in Maputo, Mozambique and brought up during a 15-year civil war in his homeland, his music is celebratory, upbeat, joyous and highly danceable, though lyrically he addresses topics like war, poverty, the challenges of his native country, and the idea of social justice. Kina Zoré have been performing around Boston for about a year and a half, and will be releasing their debut album this summer (you can preorder on Paypal). They’re also very involved with social issues, with the focus on action and compassion. Listen to their music on Kina Zoré’s official site. Beautiful, and bound to be amazing in an intimate live setting. Treat yourself to Mozambican dance party!

Kina Zoré will be joined by the all-female, African band Zili Misik.

share this:

Warm Weather Comes To Boston! (the band, but the other will too)

By julie

On May 7, 2012

In Boston Bands, Indie Music, Show Previews

Warm Weather with The Cultured, Fort! The Band, and Friendly People
@ The Middle East Upstairs
Monday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m.
18+ | $10 advance/ @ door
facebook event

So I wrote about these three guys from L.A., Warm Weather, back in March, and now they’re here on their virgin East Coast tour! Their first show is Wednesday night in Philly, stopping off at the Middle East Upstairs next Monday. They have a lovely and upbeat sound, with kaleidoscopic 3-part harmonies that are ridiculously uplifting almost to the point of spiritual.

Musically they’re just as cheery, with accompaniment that is sometimes folky, sometimes with rocking guitar riffs; driving rhythms and melodies. Wildly tuneful and sophisticated, this is happy music without the shame.

Also on the bill at the Middle East show – funky Boston trio The Cultured, Allston’s wacky and punky Fort! The Band, and also from Boston, folk-tinged indie rockers Friendly People. Nice line-up! Get out there and show these Los Angeles kids some love on their first foray to the Eastern wilds. And appropriately, it looks like they’ll be bringing warm weather along with them; looks like it’s going to be getting up into the 70s when they get into town. Thanks, guys!

<a href="http://warmweather.bandcamp.com/album/dances">dances by warm weather</a>

Warm Weather Debut East Coast Tour!

5/9 Philadelphia, PA — Kung Fu Necktie
5/11 New York, NY — Pianos NYC
5/12 Lewiston, ME — Bates College
5/14 Boston, MA — The Middle East Upstairs
5/15 Montreal, QC — L’Absynthe
5/16 Burlington, VT (at 6PM) — Radio Bean Cafe
5/16 Winooski, VT (at 10 PM) — The Monkey House
5/17 Hamden, CT — The Space
5/18 Hanover, NH — Dartmouth College, Phi Delt Block Party

share this:

Music for the Soul: An Evening with Christopher Paul Stelling and Julia Christgau (at Precinct in Somerville)

By julie

On May 2, 2012

In Indie Music, Reviews

It’s a testament to this fine performer that eleven days after Christopher Paul Stelling’s mid-evening set at Precinct, I still have a vivid memory of it. I’d written about him a few times here, marveling at his lightening-fast finger picking style and impossibly warm and soulful vocals, but wasn’t able to get out to see him the last time he was in town (also at Precinct).

CP’s music and his live performance has this religious fervor that’s both deeply moving and overpowering. It’s in his eyes – wide and piercing, as if remembering some especially vivid night horror. I was instantly drawn in and fascinated by this solitary figure standing on a piece of plywood, stamping out a beat with his boots, fingers flying fluidly across his beat-up acoustic guitar, and vocals compelling like a hellfire-and-brimstone revivalist but without the preaching and damnation.

share this: