Category Archives: music

Pink Martini? I’ll Take One!

My love for Pink Martini started almost twenty years ago when they released their first album, Sympathique. I did not see them perform until two years ago in a show that was in my top ten of 2013. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see them again this week at The Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence.

Storm Large

Storm Large

This band (or is it truly a small orchestra?) is one of the most entertaining acts to see live. The two shows I have seen were quite different but equally wonderful.

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Newport Folk Festival Line-Up Adds A Number Of Unknown Acts (To Me, At Least)

The Newport Folk Festival continues its lineup announcements and added some acts whose names are not familiar to me, but that does not matter! I look forward to being introduced to them.

Newport Folk Festival Logo

Newport Folk Festival Trademarked Logo

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One Of My Favorite Performers Is Returning To The Lowell Summer Music Series

Wow, for the second year in a row, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will be appearing at the Lowell Summer Music Series on Thursday, August 13! I see this band every chance I can, and this Series is perhaps my favorite place to see them!

lsmslogo2015

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Tom Russell Performs His Ballad Of The West

See No Depression for my review of this terrific show by Tom Russell at Club Passim.

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Thad Beckman

Thad Beckman

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Tom  Russell and Thad Beckman

Tom Russell and Thad Beckman

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Thad Beckman

Thad Beckman

Tom  Russell and Thad Beckman

Tom Russell and Thad Beckman

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Thad Beckman

Thad Beckman

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Tom  Russell and Thad Beckman

Tom Russell and Thad Beckman

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Tom  Russell

Tom Russell

Another Great Act Making Its First Appearance At The Lowell Summer Music Series

As part of their 35th anniversary tour, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will be appearing at the Lowell Summer Music Series on Friday, July 10! I have never seen them and finally have my chance!

lsmslogo2015

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An Evening of Folky-Rootsy Love Songs

For my review of this fine performance at Club Passim by Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, click here.

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem

Rani Arbo

Rani Arbo

Scott Kessel

Scott Kessel

Andrew Kinsey

Andrew Kinsey

Anand Nayak

Anand Nayak

Rani Arbo

Rani Arbo

Scott Kessel

Scott Kessel

Andrew Kinsey

Andrew Kinsey

Anand Nayak

Anand Nayak

IMG_9006

Scott Kissel

Scott Kissel

Andrew Kinsey

Andrew Kinsey

Anand Nayak

Anand Nayak

Rani Arbo and Anand Nayak

Rani Arbo and Anand Nayak

Scott Kessell

Scott Kessell

Andrew Kinsey

Andrew Kinsey

Anand Nayak

Anand Nayak

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem

Rani Arbo

Rani Arbo

Anand Nayak

Anand Nayak

Scott Kessel

Scott Kessel and his repurposed percussion instruments

Rani Arbo

Rani Arbo

Scott Kessel

Scott Kessel

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem

Anand Nayak and Rani Arbo

Anand Nayak and Rani Arbo

How Much Better Can The Newport Folk Festival Line-Up Get???

The Newport Folk Festival continues its lineup announcements and added even more interesting acts.

Newport Folk Festival Logo

Newport Folk Festival Trademarked Logo

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The Acoustic Poetry of We Are Baker

I had the privilege of meeting We Are Baker last year at The Extended Play Sessions.  A duo composed of Mishal Moore and Richard Cortez, their music is both thought-provoking and unusual.  Today they released a short film/long video of their song ‘Owl’.

Mishal Moore

Mishal Moore

Richard Cortez

Richard Cortez

I am far from an expert on music videos, but this film captures what I know of Mishal’s and Richard’s personalities. Emotional and introspective, those qualities and more are conveyed through this film. Their music is not easy to quantify. When I was introduced to them, they were described as soulful jazz, although jazzy soul might better suit them. Those fit as well as any descriptor (okay, they are not a country band, nor are they a pop, rock, or roots band).

There is a tremendous amount of sensuality in their music and their live performance, and that is conveyed well in this video.

We Are Baker is embarking on a European tour in the very near future; if anyone reading this wants to host a house concert, please contact their manager, Elliott Chambers, at echambers@wearebaker.com. They are worth seeing.

Up-And-Coming Retro Majestic Indie Rock Act Delivers A Solid Performance

I may be a bit biased when it comes to Laney Jones and the Spirits because they are friends, but I watched the reaction of the audience at the Extended Play Sessions where they performed on Friday night and saw that everyone in the room was as enthralled with this band as I am. Phew!

Laney Jones

Laney Jones

You may wonder what ‘retro majestic indie rock’ (Laney’s self-description) is; my answer to that is that you should listen to the band’s new music which is not yet out on an album. Here’s a video of one of the songs performed at this Session.

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This Riff Raff Is Everything But!

Everything but riffraff, that is… Hurray for the Riff Raff has been one of my favorite bands since the first time I saw them at the Newport Folk Festival two years ago. The band returned to Boston to perform at the Paradise Rock Club in what might have been their first headlining show at a major venue in the area.

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Hurray for the Riff Raff (4/5)

Hurray for the Riff Raff (2/5)

Hurray for the Riff Raff (3/5)

This show might possibly be the best show of theirs I have seen to date; the energy in the room was tremendous and the band fed off that (although it was truly symbiotic – they fed off us and we fed off their energy and joy).

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