As the new year rolls along, still chock full of anxiety and loneliness, a seafaring music genre that peaked in the 19th century has become an unlikely star on TikTok. The trend started when 26-year-old Scottish mailman Nathan Evans posted his version of the sea shanty “Wellerman,” a whaling song with origins in New Zealand. […]
I wanted to start with a few words on the passing of legendary New York Dolls guitarist, Sylvain Sylvain. Although I am trying not to write a monthly rock ‘n’ roll obituary column, I would not be writing this column without the influence of Sylvain Sylvain and the New York Dolls. The New York Dolls, along […]
Sea Shanties are typically not my preferred listening, but my recent research into the genre as a whole has yielded some fascinating results. Long before TikTok made it trending, The King’s Busketeers – Joshua Gannon-Salomon, Andrew Prete, and Sam Atwood – were continuing the traditions of many sailors before them hundreds of years in the […]
When I first noticed the high-octane energy of The Callouts and their undeniable attitude, I knew they were something special. The intricate guitar articulations layered with the spunky vocals and driving drumbeat are a force to be reckoned with. The Callouts is led by badass vocalist extraordinaire Missa Hills. She’s supported by shredding guitarists Andrew […]
To kick off a hopefully brighter 2021, here’s another edition of RI Repository, where we revisit notable releases from RI’s past. This year, we examine 1995’s Severe Exposure from noise rock band Six Finger Satellite. 6FS formed in Providence in the late ’80s with a lineup that included singer/keyboardist J. Ryan, John MacLean and Peter […]
Big Lux is the stage name of Kevin Lowther. He is a hip-hop artist, violinist, lyricist, composer, educator and most recently, a film director for his own music videos. “Lux,” as he is known by friends and colleagues, grew up in Westerly, where he studied violin with a private instructor for 10 years. At the […]
Welp, the ball finally dropped in 2020, minus the usual glitter and confetti, to the thud of a collective sigh of relief. We made it, right? Well here we are, not even a week in and so far the President incited a mob of thugs to storm the Capitol on Twitter. I don’t know what frightens […]
Okee dokee folks… There is a quote floating about that says, “We are NOT all in the same boat; we are in the same storm. Some have better boats than others.” This perfectly sums up the inequities people are experiencing in the pandemic even though we are all in the middle of a worldwide health […]
Music predates human language – it is woven into the history of every culture and into the rites and rituals of every religion. What is less known is that one of its most ancient uses was not as a form of expression – music was also one of the earliest forms of medicine. For centuries, […]
During 1932, the gifted international musician Frank D’Rone was born.He grew up in Providence, where at five years old he began singing and learning to play guitar. By age eleven he had his own radio show. While playing regularly in Rhode Island at all kinds of professional venues, he decided to try his luck in […]