Okee dokee folks… Some of you may know that I have started performing a Cat Stevens tribute called CatMoonShadow. I do this in spite of never having seen Cat play live. Not for lack of wanting to. Back in the mid 1970s he came to the Providence Civic Center on his Majikat Earth tour. I […]
The high-energy, thunderous sounds of the John Allmark Orchestra have a new home at Alchemy in Providence’s Jewelry District. The Orchestra is keeping alive a classic jazz tradition which originated at Bovi’s, an iconic club in East Providence, until it closed its doors ten years ago. Duke Ellington, one of the legendary big band leaders […]
Oasis Music opened 43 years ago in a small strip mall off Route 44 in Smithfield. Owner Tom Nimmo named the store after the band he was in at the time (a different band than the one you’re probably thinking of). He has since dedicated his life to music, drumming, and his family. He is […]
Say hello to another edition of Stop, Rock n Roll! We’re back in quick succession with some local releases, several of which are from recent winners of various Motif Music Awards. Check out these homegrown hits! Nel Fuoco – “Ciao Baby” Over a slick beat, local rapper Nel Fuoco drops bars that ooze confidence, even […]
In today’s ever-evolving musical landscape, few projects and musical acts manage to both break the mold and blend seemingly disparate genres seamlessly and in a way that maintains a consistent sound. Enter Chalumeau — the brainchild of Katherine Bergeron and Butch Rovan, two professors at Brown University who have spent years cultivating a deep understanding […]
On a breezy Friday night, May 9, Nick-A-Nee’s in PVD buzzed with excitement. Don’t judge a book by its cover, as this small dive bar backs a walloping punch. Known for showcasing RI’s rawest talent, they hosted the album release party for The Devil & the Deep Black Sea, the latest project from local genre-bending […]
FAVORITE INDIE ROCK ACT 2025 – SUE’S GARAGE Sue’s Garage is a band that keeps busy with shows. They play solid rock & roll that sounds just at home in a garage as it does in a sweaty basement. The songs are catchy with interesting guitar lines guiding them. They have a laid-back style that […]
Okee dokee folks… “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” Well, the lyrics of this Beatles’ song went through my head a couple of weeks ago. I turned 64. I don’t celebrate my birthday, haven’t in decades, but this getting old thing is tough. My father turned 90 a […]
This column marks 20 years at the Motif for me so without further adieu, let’s get through as many things ‘till I hit my word limit and hit send. SUMMER JAMS: Throwing Muses — Moonlight Concessions (Fire Records) RI Music Hall of Fame inductees Throwing Muses are celebrating their 44th year with a new album, […]
When Wu-Tang Clan’s debut album Enter the 36 Chambers was released in 1993, I was thirteen years old. I remember it vividly because Theodora, my longtime friend/ crush, had gifted me a bootleg copy of the LP on cassette tape. For those too young to remember, pirated copies of tapes and CDs were the only […]