I’ve always felt a special kinship to Steve Smith and the Nakeds because like me they have been a rocking and a rolling since 1973. They as a band and I on this planet, but our bond is strong. I’m sure there have been a few Nakeds over the years. The ex-Nakeds probably have an […]
Low Fidelity – Ready to POP(s) One of my favorite new spots in the city is POP. POP is an “emporium of popular culture” that just has the feel of strolling in and out of decades. I guess one could call it a thrift/antique shop, but to me it’s just a place with a lot […]
What makes Regina Spektor’s music brilliant is the way she puts her natural quirkiness into her songs. It makes her artistic style genuine while creating an interesting take on pop music. There’s also a distinct variety with her material; she can’t be pinned down and her music is never redundant. Spektor has become one of […]
Okee dokee folks … Last month at the Rhythm and Roots Festival in Charlestown I ran into Abigail Washburn just before the reunion set of her band Uncle Earl. Abigail Washburn also is an amazing solo performer as well as musical partner and wife of the banjo master Bela Fleck, and they’ll both be at […]
On September 13, 2015, the Providence music scene was shaken by the loss of one of their own. David Hemingway, who was a local fixture as a drummer who played in a bunch of bands in the city, passed away after a bout with testicular cancer that took his life at the young age of 33. […]
As with every genre, power pop has its contenders and pretenders. There are some acts where some guy is blatantly ripping off Alex Chilton while his band tries to be a fraction of the greatness Big Star embodied. Others just do their own thing while resonating rhythms that make people dance. That’s what Public Access […]
When it comes to music, keeping it real is usually the way to go. What do I mean by keeping it real? Being straight to the point and just writing a good song. You don’t always need a 3-minute guitar solo or 10 minutes of jamming nonsense. All the song needs is a fine strum, […]
Purchasing a new album has always been a thrill. The only problem I have is learning when enough is enough. I don’t buy a lot of stuff, but when I go in on grabbing new tunes it’s as if I stumbled into a buffet after not eating for week. When it comes time to listen […]
Every time Beach Slang’s James Alex writes a song, it seems he makes a conscious effort to discover the communal essence of punk rock. It doesn’t consist of bouncing around the mosh pit in a drunken haze; it embodies the moments when you’re singing along as you watch your favorite band on stage in the […]
Okee dokee folks… I had the chance to get to the Steven Tyler show last Saturday night at the Providence Performing Arts Center. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’d heard many things about Tyler’s “Out On A Limb” Tour — it was going to be country, unplugged, or music and talking, but I […]