Last year I interviewed comedian Kathy Griffin in advance of her show at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. At that time she was just a funny female on the “D” list. In the course of a year she has become an extremely controversial figure. I spoke with her last month about her life now and her upcoming […]
Okee dokee folks… Well, it’s that time of year again, time for the Motif Summer Guide when I look into my magical, sweltering crystal ball and let you know what you can consider for your “summa” music plans. Most coffeehouses are ending their seasons about now, and the folding chairs and coffee cups will be collecting […]
While my lack of a moderate glow (even a farmer’s tan!) may disagree, summer 2018 is almost upon us! In RI, this season always seems too short. That’s why now’s the time to make plans and purchase tickets for upcoming concerts and parties. In the world of local electronic dance music (EDM), there are four […]
Now is the time of year to weigh the summer festival pros and cons – is it worth baking in the sun/drinking overpriced beer for the prospect of being able to see a bunch of cool bands, all conveniently located in one field/street/parking lot? You’ll want to do your due diligence to avoid ending up […]
For classical music lovers, there are some great events to look forward to over the next few months. Here’s what’s on tap for summer 2018: The 2018 Music On The Hill festival presents seven concerts of chamber music from June 2 to 10 at various locations throughout the state, including Cranston, Warwick and Westerly. For […]
The time has come once again to collect an assortment of concerts happening around the state and present them here so that those who are interested in providing a jazz soundtrack to their summer know where to go and who to listen to. Local group Geo Trio, led by guitarist George Leonard, will be performing […]
It’s almost summer, summer, summertime. As quick as 2018 came, it’s already halfway over! Here are a few events to mark on your calendars for the upcoming sunny months. If you missed him before, don’t miss him this time! A Boogie is back at The Strand with Don Q on June 30. Speaking from personal experience, […]
Justin Marra talks during movies. Not in a negative way. More in like a “Oh no she didn’t!” way. Why do I still invite him, when I know halfway through the film, I’m going to hear a sarcastic, “Oh yeah, you should TOTALLY trust THAT guy!” interrupting the flow of a perfectly crafted scene? The […]
Boston Calling takes over as the hub of the music world in the northeast every Memorial Day Weekend. At The Motif, we obviously specialize in covering events in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, but every now and then it is good to extend out of one’s comfort zone. Like the other day, I was ordering […]
When a new jazz venue pops up in the area, it’s important to shine a light on them so they can flourish. So when Scott Abrahamson reached out to me to discuss the new live music offerings at Toti’s in Seekonk, I wanted to find out more. Our interview is lightly edited. Ben Shaw: Tell me […]