Okee dokee folks… “It’s Different For Girls” got things going for Joe Jackson on Monday night at The Strand in Providence. Jackson sat down at his digital keyboard and performed a touching, solo rendition of the song from his 1979 album I’m The Man. The refrain, “You’re all the same…” faded the song to the […]
One of America’s top-rated musical entertainers today hails from Westerly, Rhode Island. Nicolas King, who is 26, began crooning at age 8. He quickly developed a style touching cabaret and jazz-swing — his famous grandmother, Angela Bacari, worked with his special skills, and another one of his mentors was Liza Minnelli. As he advanced, people began comparing […]
Rhode Island is a music hub filled with a wide range of musical talent, so I’m kicking off a new series that will highlight some of the best songs from around the state. Hip-hop, R&B, pop, and more, all genres will be considered. Here’s volume 1: Nino – “Vibes” After premiering a four-week series that […]
You might be feeling the post-fourth hangover and dealing with the oppressive humidity. But take comfort that there’s lots of music coming this month that will keep your pounding head from thinking of the weather. Ry Smith — Days of Iron Ry Smith is a visual artist and a one-man band wizard who conceives fascinating music in his Newport home. […]
1. Saturday, July 14: Brandon Reilly; 7:30pm; $10; All ages; Alchemy, 71 Richmond St, PVD. Brandon Reilly is having a busy year. His old band The Movielife reunited and in September released their first full length in 14 years: Cities In Search of a Heart. Brandon will be performing a solo set including his songs from The Movielife and […]
Okee dokee folks… Have I mentioned that I #%@*<!@ hate summer? (I am refraining from profanity; Mom was mad that I used it in my column.) The only thing, in my opinion, summer is good for is music festivals. At the END of the summer, which I am looking forward to, is the fifth annual Providence […]
When referring ambiguously to any music festival in Newport, most folks within Rhode Island’s borders (myself included) think of the Newport Jazz Festival or the Newport Folk Festival. Both festivals have international recognition and sell out year after year. However, there is another Newport festival to be aware of, and it’s unique in its own […]
I first became aware of Jeff Robbins’ work through his late ’90s band, Orbit. Orbit was like what you get if one took the guitar noise of Sonic Youth, combined it with the thump of grunge, and added a post-punk polish. Orbit had a modern rock hit with “Medicine,” which was all over WBRU and […]
R.J.Von See, (Robert John Von See) has played a major role in musical efforts in Rhode Island. He grew up in New Jersey, and began his jazz infusion quite early in life. The accordion and the trombone were his first instruments, and he joined a group called the Rhythnaires that performed on the “Jimmy Dean […]
The 6th season of Day Trill is on the horizon, so I sat down with the founders of Day Trill & stay silent PVD, Jason “WHERE’S NASTY” Almeida & Sabrina Chaudhary, to talk about the event. I first asked Chaudhary to describe Day Trill for the uninitiated. She called it “a hip-hop day party with childlike […]