Alt-Nation: Listen to New Music and Great Shows While You’re Being Watched

This past week had to be one of the worst across-the-board weeks for Boston sports teams.  I can’t think of a comparison because other examples just involve one team. The triple downer from the Bruins choke in game 6, a Patriots Pro Bowl caliber player being arraigned for first degree murder, and the end of the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett/Doc Rivers era is a challenging blow to “Boston Strong.” I guess the Red Sox are still in play, but who’s paying attention at this point? The whole Aaron Hernandez thing is maddening. How does one sign a $40 million contract and then piss it all away? And do so in an allegedly sloppy way where cell phone records tie you to the crime after one of the bigger stories of the past week is that the government has been collecting records of every call? Speaking of which, how is their surveillance footage of his every move to the point that the cops know he started out on 95 South and turned around? What kind of world do we live in where cameras record our every move? This is all madness! So let’s talk about the Three Points of Madness debut CD and Liberty Fest that will also probably be under surveillance.

Three Points of Madness – Self-Titled CD

The cover for the debut self-titled CD release from Three Points of Madness is an eye-catching collage that serves as a reminder of why music was never meant to be just a download. The disc opens with “Is This Real,” which sounds like an Alice in Chains rip-off.  Not necessarily a bad thing, the tune has a big hook and is quite infectious. Three Points of Madness tone it down on the second song, “Freeze Me In Time,” which has a bit of a Queensyrche meets Staind ballad feel. Then it doesn’t really because of the lack of a set chorus. Three Points of Madness bring things back up with another clever hook rocker in “Profit Wins, Your Just a Life” with a stoner-psychedelic flavor. Some of the jamming may seem a little excessive, but that is what Three Points of Madness does in general with eight of the 11 tracks clocking in at 5 minutes or more. “Pay The Devil” has a breezy almost jam band like groove that while not bad, doesn’t really do much more than serve as a vehicle for the inevitable big guitar solo. Three Points of Madness are big on the 90s metal power ballads to the point that does get to be a bit of overkill. It isn’t like they do any of them particularly badly, it just all starts to sound the same after a while. Case in point, the instrumental “Driving Ms. Dickweed” is more distinct than any of the slow stuff. “Will This Ever Change” for some reason has me thinking of the Eagles if they were late 80s metal balladeers.  Three Points of Madness closes strong with “Freedom.” Keep an eye out for shows around town from them.

Liberty Fest

Liberty Fest is an annual neighborhood festival that takes place in the Smith Hill neighborhood every year by Caverly and West Park. There are usually three stages set up, and everybody who’s anybody seems to play it. This year’s lineup includes Sour Punch, Volcano Kings, LittleFoot, Atlantic Thrills, The Mighty Good Boys, The Universes, and many more! The music usually starts around noon and continues to dusk or when the police eventually break it up. There is even an annual tradition of having a pig roast that is coming back this year! It is a fun way to spend the Fourth of July and pre-game for the fireworks later in the evening.

The Neighborhoods

The Neighborhoods are a legendary power pop/punk band returning to the Ocean State after a successful show at the Met Café a few months ago. This time they’re going farther south to the Ocean Mist where they probably haven’t played since the early 90s. The Neighborhoods rose out the first wave of punk around 1976 to 1977 and continued playing regularly well into the 1990s.  A series of excellent albums, including 1987’s Reptile Men (Emergo) and their 1991 major label release, The Neighborhoods (Third Stone Atlantic), plus their non-stop touring made them the snotty favored sons of the Northeast and dark horses in much of the rest of the country. Singer/guitarist Dave Minehan is also a respected producer, having done solo records for Paul Westerberg and others.  Minehan is also respected in the mainstream rock establishment, having even played with Aerosmith filling in for Brad Whitford when he couldn’t make a few dates.

The Neighborhoods will rock above the surf at the Ocean Mist on July 13.

Swamp Stomp 6

Dan Boudin’s Swamp Stomp returns for the sixth straight year with another thrills-heavy roots lineup.  Boudin regularly hosts house concerts and he manages to get all kinds of great nationally known acts down to his abode in West Kingston. Swamp Stomp 6 features performances by Lydia Loveless, Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons, Toy Soldiers, Todd May, and Shacklehands and will take place on July 13 on the outskirts of the great swamp in West Kingston. I’ve been listening to Lydia Loveless’s new record, Indestructible Machine and she’s got a ton of swagger. Think country punk with great vocals and no shortage of sass! Advance tickets are required and can be purchased here:  www.brownpapertickets.com/event/380978. More Information for Swamp Stomp 6 can be obtained by contacting Roots Hoot House Concerts via email at rootshoot@cox.net or by phone at 401-965-0833. The grounds will open at 1 pm with the music starting at 2 pm and continuing straight till 9 pm.

The Lemonheads

Every time I hear “It’s a Shame About Ray,” I start thinking it’s a shame about Evan Dando in terms of how drugs have derailed his career. He’s a talented guy who has always been phenomenal live but just can’t seem to get it together when it comes to writing new music. The Lemonheads have been pretty much the Evan Dando show and whoever he can talk into playing with him for the better part of the last 20 years. The shows are still fun and worth coming out to as Dando will dip into virtually anything in his deep catalogue. Dando has had well-documented struggles with substance abuse, but I’ve never seen it affect his performance. There have been times where he’s seemed abnormally confused from it, but that just adds to the theater of the show.

The Lemonheads will return to the Met Café on July 19.

Newport Blues & BBQ Festival

A blues and barbecue festival? Like who wouldn’t want to go this? How is this not sold out? Hell they had me at Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – the original poor man’s version of the Boss & The E Street Band! Newport Blues & BBQ Festival featuring James Cotton Blues Band, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Matt “Guitar” Murphy with Rick Russell & The Cadillac Horns, Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, Quinn Sullivan, and Big Cat Clues Band takes place on July 20. Doors are at 12 pm with the music starting at 12:30 pm. Re-entry will be allowed.

Gogol Bordello

Gypsy Punks Gogol Bordello return to Lupo’s in support of their sixth record, Pura Vida Conspiracy.  Gogol Bordello shows have the vibe of Eastern Europe rave. They are like what I picture The Clash would sound like if they formed in somewhere like the Ukraine. I’m not the biggest fan of their records, but they are just one of those bands that are a must-see live.

Gogol Bordello will be at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on July 21. The doors are at 6:30 pm with the show slated to start at 7 pm.

Odds &Sods

Cactus Attack kicks off a great weekend of local music at the Met Café on July 5 while Way Out headlines on the 6. Fete is hosting a benefit for Dave Lamb of Brown Bird on July 6 with The Devil Makes Three and special guests. Ever wanted to be on public access television? If so, head down to AS220’s Empire Black Box where Hank Sinatra will be taping his comedy show “Something Else with Hank Sinatra” on July 6. The taping is scheduled to run from 9 pm to 11:30 pm. Afterward, you can even catch those zany hoodlums in The Viennagram next door at AS220. The Viennagram are an always entertaining kind of Tom Waits meets cabaret. What a wicked night it will be when Chris Isaak takes the stage at the Newport Yachting Center on July 10. With the recent Bruins run, Hockey is huge right now in this part.  People are even naming bands after the sport. On July 10, you can go to Fete and watch some Hockey, Saint Motel and Swann. BB King is at the Newport Yachting Center on July 12. Boston’s premier fun machine, Akashic Record, comes to The Spot on July 12 with Otis Grove and Milkbread. Japanther, Jacob and The Terribles, Power Masters, and Dungeon Broads will be at AS220 on July 13. Ska legends The Skatalites, who are celebrating their 50^th anniversary, kick off the Ocean Mist’s three-day powerhouse run of live music on July 13. Streetlight Manifesto will be at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on July 13 with Rodeo Ruby Love and Empty Orchestra. Steve Smith & The Nakeds have been money for straight up blues fueled rock every time I’ve seen them. Now in their 35 year and recent inductees in the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, Steve Smith & The Nakeds will be rocking The Ocean Mist on July 14. The Kolour Kult, The Mast, Trip Dicks, and All The Friends are at AS220 on July 14. Reggae star Luciano hits Lupo’s on July 16 with locals Soul Shot handling the opening honors. Yacht rock titans the Doobie Brothers will be fittingly kicking out the jams at the Newport Yachting Center on July 17. Irish music in July? Sure, why not? Fete hosts Young Dubliners and The Gobshites on July 20. There is sure to be some good rasta vibes at The Spot when it hosts reggae legend Freddy McGregor on July 18. The reggae madness continues the next night at The Spot with Spiritual Rez for a reggae horn funk party on July 19. Providence Roller Derby returns once again to the Newport Yachting Center on July 21 where the hometown Old Money Honeys will take on the Rocky Point Rollers. This sounds like code for white people playing reggae. Whore Paint and Human Beast are at AS220 on July 21. Party Pigs, Bad Swimmers, Somos, and Alpha Owl are at AS220 on July 26. Starting Over Tuesday start over with a reunion show at the Met Café on July 27 with Winds In Sails.

Email music news to mclarkin33@gmail.com.