This week, we reach the milestone I assume you’ve all been waiting for: this column finally breaks the surly bonds of Earth and gets some perspective from the rest of the universe. Zoink Zulag and the Galactic Shag The Galactic Shag are a “rogue band of troubadour aliens from universes outside of our own” that have […]
Okee dokee folks … for this pre-Valentine’s Day issue, I thought I’d write a little primer on how to love a musician. These are words I have used to school my current and former partners in the finer points of dating musicians. Over the years I also have talked to musician friends — both women and men — about this […]
Okee dokee folks… The duo Aztec Two-Step has been performing for almost 50 years and are one of my biggest musical influences. Aztec Two-Step is Rex Fowler and Neal Schulman but now it is just Rex, Neal has retired. Fowler has a new group of musicians filling the void left by Neal’s retirement. One of […]
Every generation needs an Elton. Or a Freddie. This generation has Brendon. Lead singer and last remaining original Panic! At the Disco band member, Brendon Urie, puts on a fantastic show for his adoring (and screaming) fans! Last Saturday (Jan 19), Panic! At the Disco came into PVD for a one-night show on their way […]
Two years ago, two members of The Copacetics, an eight-piece Providence-based reggae/ska band, decided they wanted to start a project to play music as an artistic outlet, and what they’ve built is an experimental, hard rock machine with horns front and center. You’ve never heard a robot wail like this before. Chris Mitchell (keys/lead vocals) […]
JeanLou is one of the city’s most active performers — he released three projects in just one year. He kicked things off in 2017 with, Since Your Listening… The five-song project was the official start of his musical journey. What came next is what really caught my attention. In early 2018 came the arrival of Melodies […]
In advance of the Too Many Stars Mark Cutler Benefit at The Met in Pawtucket on January 19 & 20, I interviewed the organizers, Richard Ribb, Emerson Torrey, Rick Couto, Scott Doggett and Tommy Piche, via e-mail about the event. They responded as a group. Marilyn Keller of the BickerSins, who is also involved, added […]
I’m already toward the end of my annual “go though an exercise routine for two weeks and pretty much give up” cycle. Enough with having a “dry January;” instead of giving up substances, food or a sedentary lifestyles, why not focus on ending your music dry spell and go experience some quality local tunes? Fine. – […]
Okee dokee folks… Sometimes I feel like I am beating a dead horse, err, DEAF horse, when I talk about hearing protection, but it is something that I feel the need to constantly reiterate. A couple of years ago I wrote a column about hearing protection for our health issue (motifri.com/hearingprotection), and as we publish […]
I found myself in the Federal Hill section of Providence last month at Dusk Lounge for a sold-out performance from rapper Hamad. Labeling him as a rapper is, in all honesty, an understatement; he’s also a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. Last time I saw Hamad take the stage was at 2017’s PVD Fest. I was intrigued […]