A few months ago, I sat in the dark Columbus Theater listening to Convinced Friend while thinking about a conversation Austin Wilson and I had had about his record and journey to Providence. We explored the convergence of seemingly unrelated topics: New Orleans, North Carolina, mental health, divinity school, and Quakerism. It seemed fitting to […]
Have you ever walked into a local bar and wondered to yourself, “Am I still in Providence?” That first happened when I stepped into Nick-a-Nees, and happened again when I saw Jake Hunsinger play a solo show at Union Station Brewery. I was transported to a town somewhere in Texas with Garth Brooks songs playing […]
Imagine you’re sitting in a black box theater in the dark, eagerly awaiting the beginning of a play starring a real-life soap opera actor from your childhood, when suddenly, familiar music emerges (the opening song from “Cañaveral de Pasiones”) and you’re transported to a time where you actually watched soap operas with your mom, and […]
As a bilingual and bicultural Latina living in Rhode Island, learning more about Providence-based Spanish language theater, Teatro ECAS and interviewing Francis Parra Guerra, its Executive Artistic Director — in Spanish — was pretty amazing. As she highlights in our conversation, there’s nothing quite like connecting to all parts of one’s identity and roots — […]
In early November, Rhode Islander Bill Bartholomew returned to Brooklyn, a place he called home for 10 years, to debut his solo record, “Beij,” and I was lucky enough to be there. It’s a special kind of thrill to see local musicians in other spaces, and self-identified artist of many trades, Bill (who told the […]
This RI-based rock band asks bold questions such as: When is it too early to celebrate Halloween? Is October 8 too early? (no). And, should a band sell socks as merch? That’s a resounding YES in my opinion! Beyond Gravity’s Eddy DeMelo (guitars) and Dustin Oerman (vocals and guitars) discuss managing being family men and […]
Providence-based and influenced, it takes minutes to see how Joe Tudino navigates self-discovery in order to assuage self-doubt, and how he draws inspiration and comfort from fellow PVD creatives. He has reclaimed part of his Italian identity and renamed himself the “Electric Paisan,” releasing his debut EP: Cigarettes and Dandelions. Mayte Antelo-Ovando (Motif): Let’s start […]
If you live in PVD, you might have seen Chance Kinyange Boas around town. He’s typically filming performers being showcased at a PVD World Music event, either at Machines with Magnets, at the Columbus Theatre, at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, at the Farm Fresh Farmers Market or at Long Live Beerworks (he’s everywhere!). If […]
With a mix of unusual beats, improvisational sounds and engaging lyrics such as, “I was beaming about you, I’ve been healing without you” and “devoted to makin’ mental health my first responsibility,” Bochek’s songs take listeners on a journey. They invite us to join them on their path towards vulnerability and revelry, all while inevitably […]
Michael J. Schiavone (1982-2022), fondly referred to as Mike or Mikey, passed away unexpectedly on February 28, 2022. The obituary written for his funeral services describes music as “his world,” a point reflected in his ever-present and positive impact on the music community in RI. The first band he belonged to was called Demon Spawn. […]