95.5 WBRU Summer Concert Series: Torn Shorts
By Jeffrey Folker June nights: not too hot for a stroll in the park, not too cold for an Awful Awful from Newport Creamery. Growing up in New Jersey, three miles from the Atlantic Ocean, summer has always been the time of year to relax, hit the beach for a tan, and grab an ice […]
Pilgrim – Doom-metal, Heavy Drinking, and No Apologies
Doom. If you’re a nerd like me, the word conjures images of violent PC games and masked Marvel villains with PhDs in Evil Science. If you are a nerd of a higher pedigree, you might think doom-metal. It’s a sound that harkens back to Black Sabbath, emphasizing clean vocals and de-tuned guitars rather than screaming […]
Mike D’s Top Five: Can’t Miss Shows Of June
By Mike Delehanty #1 Saturday, June 1: Northern Lands (He Took A Dive CD release) with The Mallett Brothers Band, Viking Jesus and Cactus Attack. $8 advance/$10 day of. 7 pm doors/8pm show. All ages. The Met, 1005 Main St., Pawtucket, RI. This show will likely have happened by the time you are reading this, […]
Alt-Nation: The Hot Shows Of Summer
“Hot Times Summer in the city back of my neck getting dirty and gritty” – Yes, cue the damn Lovin’ Spoonful. Before we get rolling, I’ll touch on something from the weekly updates at motifri.com regarding Dave Lamb from Brown Bird. He has been diagnosed with leukemia and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Through the […]
ROOTS REPORT: Folk Music Heats up the Summer
Okee dokee folks … I have one foot in the modern era and another still dragging behind me in antiquity. I like the dragging foot; I am stubborn! Last month I wrote my first online column and also recorded an episode of Motif TV. I plan to TRY to keep up with contributing an online […]
Alt-Nation: Can’t-Miss Shows for This Weekend
Northern Lands – He Took A Dive (75orLess Records) Northern Lands kick up a barroom style rock & roll ruckus on their debut album, He Took A Dive. For those new to Northern Lands, think of straight forward rock with echoes of Tom Petty, The Hold Steady, and E Street Band Springsteen. He Took A […]
CD Review: Faber’s Pain Don’t Hurt
While watching the 2013 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony, I heard a fascinating quote during a videotaped package played before Randy Newman’s induction. In it, the notoriously acerbic singer-songwriter bemoans the fact that rock music takes itself far too seriously. And now here I am a week later listening to Rhode Island rock […]
Alt-Nation: New CDs and a Chance to Do Some Good
Dave Lamb Fundraiser and Benefit Show It was just a few weeks ago in this space that we were hyping Fits of Reason, the excellent new release from Brown Bird. I did an interview over the phone with Dave Lamb from the band, and he seemed excited to hit the road on what seemed to […]