CD Review: Matt Vanaria’s Soaring
What I’m about to say might not win me any popularity contests among the younger indie crowd, but as a rule I frown upon artists recording their commercial releases in their “home studio”(a.k.a., mom’s basement), armed only with their laptop and a midi controller keyboard. Skipping over the professional recording studio environment, with its visceral, […]
The Specials’ Roddy Radiation Brings The Vibe To The Parlour
On a Sunday it’s common to just stay in, relax and gear up for the upcoming week. This past Sunday at The Parlour was an exception as ska royalty entered the building for what was going to be a righteous time. Founding member and guitarist from English ska legends The Specials, Roddy Radiation, was rolling […]
Alt-Nation: Starting May Off Right
Rough Francis The sons of Death return to the Columbus Theatre to lay a smackdown of ’70s Motor City inspired rock ‘n’ roll. I call them the sons of Death because three members of the band are sons of the Hackney brothers who had the band Death in the early ’70s. Death has come back to […]
Album Of The Week: And So I Watch You From Afar’s Heirs
A wave of electrifyingly experimental rock has been coming out of Ireland & Northern Ireland over the past few years. At the forefront of this underground explosion is Belfast’s And So I Watch You From Afar. With a sound that hits numerous dimensions, at times being progressive then flowing into a hyper metal and hardcore punk […]
In The Mood For Ska?
I’m in the mood for ska. I’m ALWAYS in the mood for ska. But what kind of ska? Third wave? Traditional? Maybe some Two-Tone or ska punk? There are a few traditional ska shows coming up in Providence — The Skatalites are playing the Spot on May 8! Wait, what? Traditional Ska? You know … the original […]
Roots Report: Getting Out
Okee dokee folks … Got out to a few shows this week and want to let you know what you all missed and what I thought of them. On Thurs, Apr 16, John Cougar Mellencamp made a stop with his Plain Spoken tour at Providence Performing Arts Center. It seemed like it was a full […]
Album Of The Week: Speedy Ortiz’s Foil Deer
Few recent New England musical acts have shined as bright as Western Massachusetts alternative fuzz rock act Speedy Ortiz. With complex beats, structures and rhythms combined with scorching riffs, the sheer originality from this quartet is absolutely infectious. That couldn’t be more evident than with their brand new release Foil Deer, showcasing a progression of […]