Music

“Don’t Leave Me This Way, Jacob!”: Vocals and retro sounds pack punch in Hawk in the Nest band debut single

Upon hearing the first line from New England folk singer Avi Jacob’s debut single with his new band Hawk in the Nest, I felt like one of those judges on “The Voice” who looks up in startled disbelief at what they’ve just heard from the unknown singer behind them. Now don’t get me wrong, it […]

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Roots Report

Okee dokee folks … I wrote the previous issue’s column before the United States had its recent IQ test. Well, we failed. The dumbing down of America is complete. Ignorant, racist, bigoted, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic, and gullible people have once again hired the most unqualified, vile, criminal, racist, sexually predatory, narcissistic, sociopathic, traitorous “person” to […]

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Local Christmas Tunes

Ho Ho Ho! Here is the link to a Spotify playlist with all the local holiday tunes. Local Christmas Tunes – playlist by motif_magazine | Spotify The tunes mentioned in our Winter Issue included: “The Christmas Lobster” by Jacob Haller “Troll Song” by The Next “Christmas Must Be Tonight” (cover) by The McAdams Brothers “Winter […]

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The Anachronistic Whelks: Craigslist, Whimsy, and Reverse Mermaids

Peri DeLorenzo (fiddle), Mark Dobbyn (guitar), and Erin Lobb Mason (upright bass) are Rhode Island based acoustic trio “The Whelks”, whose three-part singing is inspired by classic American harmony groups and whose approachability and goofiness are all their own. I’ve seen how their music fills a room with joy and nostalgia, all at once. They […]

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Subterranean Jungle: November’s Diesel & Dust

Gamma Rage – Self-Titled On their self-titled debut, Gamma Rage serves a platter of punk with stoner rock seasoning. There are tunes about going down the wrong way on the highway of love “Blindsided” and acid “Scorchers.” “SCP 3000” is my favorite tune on the record. It’s infectious sci-fi pop-punk about an eel responsible for […]

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