Peabody, MA, singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau has a knack for leaving a lasting impression through melody. The way his lyrics bounce off the chords and strums is astounding and guarantees a wonderful listening experience. His stellar talent has catapulted him to the upper echelon of New England musical acts, and it looks like he’ll be staying […]
During this era of music, it’s easy to disregard innovation. Some people think that every possible style has already been conceived so there’s no chance of discovering something new. Through the nonsense, a band comes along to push the envelope while making sounds that leave the ears in awe. Philadelphia math pop quartet Palm is […]
1. Thursday, Feb 8: Twin Foxes (CD Release), Weak Teeth, Darklands, Fine; 9pm; $6; All ages; AS220, 115 Empire St, PVD. Providence’s Twin Foxes are celebrating the release of their first album, Sleeping on the Attic Floor. I am kind of surprised that this is the first LP; the guitar-driven indie rock act has been kicking […]
Steve Smith and the Nakeds Turn 45 Celebrating four and a half decades this February are acclaimed R&B/soul group Steve Smith and the Nakeds. The band has become a mainstay of the live music circuit both locally (there’s no higher level of RI cred than being featured in the final Benny’s commercial) and nationally. What […]
Okee dokee folks… Maybe you made a New Year’s resolution to finally get out and perform in public. If so, open mics are a great stepping stone to get into the world of music performance. In case you are not completely sure what an open mic is, I will clue you in. First of all […]
Many jazz standards have faded from popular memory and been usurped by newer charts, but a select few continue to be played throughout the years, never losing their luster and sounding as current as the day they were composed. In the spirit of the upcoming romantically themed holiday I’ll explore one such standard: My […]
Down With Love: A Cabaret will be presented on February 16 at the Common Fence Point Hall in Portsmouth. Jeff Blanchette and Rachel Hanauer will be performing jazz standards, musical theater and pop. “Jeff and I wanted to perform again at the Common Fence Point Hall, specifically to fundraise for some theater arts equipment,” Hanauer […]
If you have been reading this review column for the past couple of years, there’s one thing that you should realize by now. At least once a year I’m going to write about a certain musician’s new album due to his immense talent and his continuously prolific output. That certain musician is Los Angeles garage […]
The Z-Boys are a power trio that set themselves apart. This act from Newport brings an amplified style of surf rock that shreds into the infinite abyss. Guitarist and vocalist Greg Burgess has a unique jazzy flair. The rhythm section of bass guitarist Amato Zinno and drummer Ziggy Coffey is incredibly tight. When their talents […]
Portsmouth’s Rick Wells is truly one of New England’s top jazz drummers. Rick separates himself from other drummers, smartly choosing to be more of an accompanist, rather than a showman soloist. He wisely recognizes that he is hired to complement other members of the group, not to take away from other talents during performances. His softness […]