SILICA Releases New Video
RI-based SILICA has finally released their long-awaited visual to the hit song “Wind-Up Doll” and it lived up to fans’ expectations. SILICA is known for their unique and creative approach to pop rock music, which has always helped them stand out as a band. The lead singer, Lauren Cloutier, has a deep role in band’s creative process as the main writer and director for SILICA’S pieces.
“Wind-Up Doll” is very easy to listen to, and has a soft vibe that makes it the perfect tune to listen to during long rides or nights where time feels like it has stopped. The lyrics will certainly touch home for many listeners; it describes being vulnerable to others’ mental abuse, which many of us can relate to. The visual is well put together and certainly helps show the true talent Cloutier has as an artist and how well SILICA works together as a unit.
For information: thisissilica.com. Check out the video for “Wind-Up Doll” here: youtube.com/watch?v=dLbSkRGJ5fo&feature=youtu.be
Get Excited, Mallrats!: Strip Mall is working on an album Despite the quarantine, local musicians are still working to put out new music. Like most bands before the 2020 pandemic hit, Strip Mall was playing shows and getting their sound out to Providence locals in anticipation of a new EP estimated to come out in the fall.
Strip Mall is a newer PVD-based emo band out of Warwick, Rhode Island. The band consists of three members: Vinnie Ortez, Jack Anderson and Nick English. The band does not categorize their sound as just emo music, but instead, they are party emo. How does one describe the party emo genre? Drummer, Jack Anderson, simply explains party emo as being moody and a little angsty.
“We want people to dance and have a good time, even though you may be crying a little bit on the inside,” said Anderson. Having known each other for years, Ortez and Anderson jammed a bit one day. They had never formed an actual band together. Ortez and English lived together and played in multiple bands together in the past, so eventually they brought in English and made Strip Mall official.
The inspiration for the band name simply came from their desire for something funny. Anderson said he had it in his mind for a while and liked the vibe of it. Regardless of where the band name came from, it adopted the nickname “mallrats” for their fan base.
For the moment, they have two songs available on all streaming services: “Reverse the Curse” and “We All Have Plus Things.” Strip Mall’s sound acquires aspects from different genres like math rock and jazz. Ortez’s post hardcore-styled vocals are melodic and aggressive, and the riffs are very rhythmic and jazzy, yet root from a progressive rock style. Anderson said a lot of their songs have a loop section where they can jam for a while. Certain parts let Ortez solo for a bit, and for Anderson to change up the tempo. All-inclusive, Strip Mall really sets the mood to dance and vibe out.
“You are gonna feel whatever we put out, and if it makes you dance, that’s a plus,” said Ortez.
They are all inspired from different genres and subgenres, but meet perfectly in the middle of it all. Bassist, Nick English, said their venn diagram is a pretty eclectic mix. They all dabble a little bit in heavy genres, but listen to the same type of stuff whether it is emo or post rock. As for the songwriting process, English said it can be sort of a puzzle. Like most bands, they take pieces and fit them together. It’s important to realize that most musicians do not have an established process, but always seem to work with what each band member brings to the table.
“We’ll come together, practice and put together two random parts, and I will try to glue it together with transitions,” said English. “I’d say that’s probably where I shine the most, and try to make the song flow together.”
Strip Mall’s approach to making music is having fun. English said there is no point in playing music if the people playing aren’t having fun. Because you feel intensely what they feel intensely, Strip Mall is almost like a tribe — that’s what Ortez said Strip Mall feels like to him.
“Any time I like to go to a show, I like to have fun and dance and sing the words. If we can inspire people to do that and maybe make up songs of their own, that would be great,” said English.
For the remainder of our time in a socially distanced world, Strip Mall is working on recording the last four songs of their EP. Because they can’t meet in person, it has become difficult for the band members to lay down the tracks and get all the takes they are satisfied with; however, they plan on releasing it sometime in the fall. While you wait, you can still support and follow up through their social media and singles on streaming services. You can find their music on Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.
There is a compilation playlist on bandcamp started by Providence Podcast, Where The Living Room Used To Be, with local artists who donated songs to raise money for Pawtucket music venue, The News Cafe. The website offers a name-your-price option to donate money and download on electronic devices. Artists include Strip Mall, Nova One, Delko, Jesse the Tree, Slitty Wrists, Ghosts in the Snow and The Benji’s, among others. A simple listen will suffice for any local musician, so it is imperative you support your locals in times like this one. Panic! Pandemic!: Quarantine and non- quarantine tracks to check out
So, we are on what, day 50-whatever of the apocalypse? And all the hot shows coming up are remarkably similar to last month: CANCELLED! I’m stoked, looking forward to seeing everyone and pouring a few back with ya.
Since I somehow … still have a little space left over after all those shows, let’s talk about some new jams and EPs that have been rocking my world. Before I get to them, I also recommend following your favorite bands because there are tons of cool livestreams to check out while quarantined. Let’s share that with our friends and on social media to keep us somewhat connected till we’re able to get back together. Thank you for tuning into this column now or hanging in there anytime for the past 15 years.
Quarantine Singles
Electric Six — “Panic! Panic!”
The pandemic might have become real to most when all your favorite clubs, bars and restaurants closed but for me, it wasn’t real ’til Dick Valentine weighed in. “Panic! Panic!” has a chorus that says “Wash your hands till you love me” and it made me pause writing this column in a combination of procrastination and/or just a need to hit my bedroom dance floor. The tune continues the upward trend that Electric Six has been on with their most recent album, Bride of The Devil. Check it out at soundclound.com/electricsix2020 — I give it a 7.4.
The Dirty Knobs — “Lockdown”
Tom Petty’s right-hand man, guitarist Mike Campbell, has a new number to rock the quarantine called “Lockdown.” It’s an enjoyable rocking take on un-rocking times with lines like, “I got a face mask and some rubber gloves, I’m washing my clothes in an old bathtub.” Check it out at thedirtyknobs.com. I give it a solid 6.7, but by August it might be an 8.2 — who the hell knows?
Non-Quarantine-Related Singles
Scott Janovitz — “The One Below” / “Over The Wire”
Scott Janovitz is one of my favorite songwriters from the late ’90s and early 2000s. Back then I tried to hit every one of his shows with his bands, Rhino and Dragstrip Courage. I distinguished myself by being the one non-girlfriend or wife there back then. I saw them everywhere from playing on what is now PC’s soccer field to Mama Kin in Boston — back when Aerosmith decided they should have their own club on Boston’s Lansdowne Street. I still listen to those cassettes sometimes to hear the non-album shit “Screaming Gun Blues” and “I Feel Alright.” Anyways, my man Janovitz is back with two new jams. The first tune, “One Below,” is a gazing Brit-Pop love letter to the mid- to later-era Beatles. It’s infectious as fuck. The B-side, if you can call it that on a digital release, is a less rock but more groove straight shot. I give this a 7.1. Check out Scott Janovitz on Bandcamp. Jesse Malin — “Backstabbers” / Crawling Back To You”
After the boom of his Lucinda Williams-produced Sunset Kids record, Jesse Malin is back with a new single, “Backstabbers,” that was recently named the coolest song of the week by Little Steven’s Underground Garage. To be fair, it is his record label, but Malin also cleaned up with three awards at the Independent Music Awards last week. It was a well-deserved honor as Sunset Kids is a great record and also a long time coming for one of my favorite modern day songwriters. On “Backstabbers,” Malin reminisces about his youth growing up in New York City where “the dealer and the doctor were charging the same price.” “Backstabbers” is a sneaky track that grows on you. It’s tough to rate. Today it might be a 6.1 and tomorrow it might be an 8.3. The B-side is a faithful cover of Tom Petty’s “Crawling Back To You.” Malin has talked about how the last verse really struck a chord with him. The lyrics of “it was me and my sidekick, he was drunk and I was sick, we’ve got caught up in a barroom fight, till an Indian shot out the light, I’m so tired of being tired, sure as night will follow day, most things that I worry about, never happen anyway.”
Thinking back, it’s just amazing how stacked Petty’s Wildflowers was. That was track 14 and still … straight-up fire. Malin doesn’t really add anything, but does it justice. I give the single a 6.6, and look for Malin’s new album, Lust For Love coming in 2021, the year we all make contact … allegedly.
Check out his Saturday livestreams on YouTube at 4pm and his interview show, “Meet Me At The End of The World,” on YouTube on Wednesdays at 5pm.
123 Astronaut — “Cry Baby Cry”
One of my favorite local bands, 123 Astronaut, released a new jam that is completely different from the rocking stomp that is their usual calling card. At first, I was like, ‘I don’t know, Jeff,’ but the guitar riff is just so hypnotic that it spreads like love. I can’t wait to see it live. It started as a 4.1 on my scale, but it’s a 6.7 now. It’ll probably be an 11 by the time this all ends. Check it out on 123 Astronaut’s Bandcamp page and check out their lyric video on their social media page.
Okay, I’m halfway through so this means I will do at least one more column. Till next time, stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive and email me shit at [email protected]. Time to vamos!
Video Killed the Radio Star: Our binge- watching expert recommends a few favorite music docs
Okee dokee folks…I haven’t had much, if anything, to write about as of late. Concerts are canceled. I haven’t had a lot of motivation either. This is all very depressing, and we are all handling things very differently. Some folks immediately took to live streaming their music while I have not picked up my guitar since my last real life gig at the beginning of March. I am not very technologically proficient nor am I a fan. I do not have a smart phone and I have little to no desire to perform in front of a computer. I feed off the energy of an audience and going virtual just don’t do it for me.
Performance is more than can be live streamed. It is an experience. Yes, I am stubborn and stuck in my ways. I do realize that I will more than likely HAVE TO upgrade my life and get with this new normal, but I will probably do it kicking and screaming like any other change I have had to endure. All of this affects people differently. Some will come out of this with three albums of music and others will forget how to play. Unless things change I will be the latter. I can actually feel my brain turning to mush as I binge watch season after season of shows on Netflix, Prime, HBO and Showtime. I am running out of shows to watch. I try to lose myself in these shows because reality is just making me more and more angry. I watch PBS news nightly (BTW, it is one of the only reliable news sources) only to see that the mango moron has done something more stupid than the previous day and is trying to blame someone else for his fuck ups. The money that has been approved to help hasn’t gotten to where it is needed. I haven’t gotten any.
I did receive some financial assistance from the Newport Festivals Foundation, RISCA and The RI Music Hall of Fame (THANK YOU!) and this helps to cover some the lost funds from canceled gigs. The problem is that long term, most musicians are screwed. Gigs have been canceled and rescheduled and then canceled again and then rescheduled until NEXT YEAR. We really don’t know when we will be playing live again. We don’t even know if the venues that we have been performing at will even reopen, and if they do, if they’ll be able afford to have music. The summer festival season is canceled. I am already seeing gigs for the end of the year being canceled. I am not being pessimistic about all of this, I am just being realistic. No one has any money now. Even if we all survive the pandemic, will we survive the economic depression that will follow?
I am not one of those gun-toting idiots marching on city hall wanting the economy to open. I believe that the shut down has been necessary for our protection. I don’t think there is any nefarious reasoning behind it like others do, but I do think that we are probably headed for some kind of dystopian future as a result of the concessions that have been made.
Anyway, I will shut up now. It’s not all doom and gloom. I will try to be positive. I have watched a lot of great music documentaries over the past couple of months. If you are into music as much as I am, you should check some of them out. They are quite entertaining and just like when I was getting my art history minor, you can learn a bit about general history of the times as well, as art mirrors life. Read on…
YouTube has a lot of music docs and concerts available that you can watch for free. Recently I went down the rabbit hole watching Kate Bush docs and videos. I have been a fan of hers since 1978 when I saw her on “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.” It’s easy to get sucked into these videos because it is both entertaining and nostalgic. I also found great documentaries about the Jefferson Airplane and Pink Floyd. Many of the episodes of the VH1 series “Behind the Music” and “Classic Albums” as well as “The Midnight Special,” “Rock Concert,” “Old Grey Whistle Test” and so many others can be watched on YouTube. Just roll up your sleeves and start searching.
On Netflix the music film that recommend most is Echo in the Canyon. I have watched this about 25 times. The music is great, as is the story. It focuses on the Laurel Canyon music scene in the mid ’60s and stars Jakob Dylan, Michelle Phillips, Beck and many others. Even though I am not a John Lennon fan, Above Us Only Sky is a wonderful film about the making of the Imagine album. The Other One: The Long Strange Trip of Bob Weir is a must-see for Deadheads, but it might make you a Deadhead as well. Rush’s Beyond The Lighted Stage, Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation, The Rolling Stones and Ole, Ole, Ole!: A Trip Across Latin America are all also available on Netflix and worthy of your viewing time.
Showtime has Eric Clapton’s Life in 12 Bars, Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know, Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Wembley or Bust, David Bowie’s Finding Fame and Miles To Go Before I Sleep (about roadies). The good thing about Showtime is that you can sign up for a 30 day FREE trial!
Your local library may have a free streaming service called Hoopla. You log in with your library card number. Not all RI libraries off this service, so you will need to check your local library. Tubi is a free streaming service that offers films and documentaries with commercials. There are lots of music-related videos there, too. Of particular interest may be the Muscle Shoals recording studio doc, Song of the South, the Duane Allman documentary, Sad Vacation about Sid and Nancy, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, Jimi Hendrix: The Uncut Story, Festival Express (highly recommended documentary about a post Woodstock tour of musicians on a train across North America), Paul McCartney & Wings Rockshow live concert, Cream’s Farewell Concert, Steely Dan’s Aja and many more.
On Amazon Prime there is a great six-part series about the Grateful Dead that I thoroughly enjoyed even though I am just a lightweight Dead fan. Tom Petty’s Running Down a Dream is a must-see for any musician whether you like Petty or not. “CSNY” fans can be satisfied with Neil Young’s The First Decade and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s Fifty by Four. Docs about the Kinks, Pink Floyd, Stevie Nicks, Van Morrison, Jackson Browne, Thin Lizzy, Queen, The Police, Robert Johnson, Led Zeppelin, Chicago’s Terry Kath, Family Band: The Cowsills (highly recommended), Beach Boys, Nirvana and the list goes on and on. Like I said before, you can easily go down the rabbit hole and get lost in these music docs for hours and hours. It’s an easy way to kill a Corona Day and right now, we have all the time in the world even if we don’t want it.
Stand Up Comedy is also something that I love. The best specials that are out now are Marc Maron’s End Times Fun (the last 15 minutes about Pence is PRICELESS!), Jen Kirkman’s Just Keep Livin’, Bert Kreischer’s Hey Big Boy, anything by Sebastian Maniscalco, and Taylor Tomlinson’s Quarter Life Crisis, all of which are on Netflix.
That’s it for now. Join me in my binging of TV and have your mind turn to mush, too! Thanks for reading. www.JohnFuzek.com #StayTheFuckHome #DumpTrump2020
The Show Must Go On: Providence’s venues are being proactive and they’re ready for music to come back
On March 12, Mayor Elorza temporarily revoked entertainment licenses in PVD. Though the decision was made for the good of the community, as a result the Providence music scene witnessed the unraveling of its extensive labor.
This was far from a night out being replaced by a night at home. This was months of scheduling, days of hard work and hours of practice slipping through calloused hands and fingertips of diligent performers, now hopelessly awaiting their moment on stage.
“It’s been a nightmare, but I’m working through it; we’re all working through it,” expressed Justin Marcotte, promoter and event manager at Fete Music Hall, as he elaborated on the time, effort and planning that goes into every performance that the venue holds, and lamented having to do it all over again. Marcotte has successfully managed to reschedule a total of 60 events that were planned for March, April and May. Many include some of Fete’s most esteemed and long-awaited events of the spring and summer. Tattoofest (rescheduled to September 19) and Providence Rock Day (rescheduled to October 11), will proceed with nearly every band that was scheduled for the original date. As of now, no further changes have been made for the summer months at Fete.
“The national tours are the hardest part,” said John Difruscio, owner of Askew and general manager at Alchemy. “It’s going to be tough for bands to be on the road for a while considering some states will be opening before others.” Popular neighboring cities for tour destinations, such as New York and Boston, may also play a role in determining when Providence will be back in full force. This also is true for the rest of New England.
“My goal is not having to cancel any events, even if some of them have to be rescheduled a second or third time,” said Marcotte. “I will be on the front line to make sure every single one of these 60-plus events happen when the world returns to normal.”
Marcotte and Difruscio both made it a point to thank the vibrant and supportive local scene for their trust and patience during this time, and everyone else working tirelessly to keep the music of Providence alive when all is said and done. “It’s important that when you feel safe to do so, that you come out to support the venues and musicians,” concluded Difruscio. “That’s what’s most important to keep these places alive.”
Updated event schedules for all three venues can be found at fetemusic.com, askewprov.com and alchemyri.com
Put Down Those Chips: Snack on these biscuits instead
Keep on Movin’ is a good message during this trying time, and unfortunately it may have to be heeded for a long time. As I write this intro, the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals have just been officially cancelled; I guess that one seemed inevitable, but I’m really hoping that our local venues will be able to operate in some way. A summer without live music? Lame. It would be a hit to our enjoyment, but way more importantly, a huge blow for the musicians and venue owners that make this their living.
If you’re spending your days trying not to snack uncontrollably in between binging the news like I am, we’ve got some new music to help you pass the time, and hopefully not let the madness overtake you.
Lazertüth — Leon
New Bedford prog rockers Lazertüth have a new record, Leon, that delves into sci-fi themes on a bed of synth-driven hard rock. With album-long songs, complex time signatures and tales of the fantastical, the genre is totally indulgent by nature, but with a great capacity for storytelling and possibilities for musical innovation.
Inside the prog pantheon, Lazertüth’s subject matter sticks to hard-edged interplanetary battles rather than woodland folklore. The 11-plus minute first track, “White Hot Chariot,” takes elements of Rush and Yes, and tells us: “The end is near/battlefields of red/countless heads will roll.” How’s that for an opener? Just when you think you’ve found your bearings, one movement bleeds into another, which can be dizzying.
The production and the performances have the juice for an epic soundscape, but it’s hard to feel the full concept with Leon. “Of The Same Design Part I” begins with a slogging groove and that classic prog mellotron sound, and features lines like “Saw the Sun split in half/ in a dreamscape for two.” But what follows is a bunch of random clanging noises followed by some decadent synth noodling, both of which total four and a half minutes.
Maybe it’s a lack of imagination or my internet-era short attention span, but I’m not sure it moves the story forward. It’s times like these when I think, “Where am I? Get me back to three-and-a-half minute singles!”
“Of The Same Design Part II” gets things started with a hardcare shuffle with some cool drumming and epic electro-arpeggios, then sprawls into a lot more jamming over repetitive riffs.
Everything they are going for coalesces in “The Rider,” the pick of the litter. To me, it’s the kind of prog you want: the whimsy of Jethro Tull mixed with the crunchy riffs of The Sword. The song begins with a chimey, 12-string classical guitar intro and builds into a pleasantly irregular rocker.
And then, the second it ends, it’s all a complete blur — what did I just listen to again?
Leon is set to release on America’s birthday, July 4.
Sprues and Runners — Trips to the Caribbean
Sprues and Runners is a Providence-based emo band that just put out Trips to the Caribbean — a very well-rounded effort that shows a lot of maturity. When I think of emo, it’s usually some sort of build-up with noisy guitar, and the vocals eventually exploding into a full-throated confession. Trips Doesn’t completely shirk genre conventions — it will give you the yelling — but they manage to blaze their own trail through the constraints.
Having grown up a prententious twit during emo’s peak, I always dismissed it as a lot of boo-hooing, but I can now appreciate the great songwriting behind that boo-hooing. S&R has the kind of craftsmanship that brought so many people into the fold back then.
Trips to the Caribbean boasts catchy arrangement build-ups throughout. The album’s opener, “Glitch,” fits these great, jagged guitar riffs together à la Built to Spill. “The Opening” is a good example of the jangly but acerbic guitar sound throughout the record and it has super-powerful guitar harmonies at the bridge.
“Red Teeth” has a loose jammy feel, eventually revealing a charged-up punk outro and some powerful imagery about something sneaking up on you: “I didn’t see the red until it was halfway up my teeth.”
In general, Sprues and Runners have a real way with lyrics, like conveying the feeling of general restlessness with your place in the world in Trips. “A hive that’s grown tired of its own honey/A buzz, a constant drone/the incessant taste of money.” The song has the best moment of the album, a huge refrain that really connects: “I’m looking for a place to rest my head/I’m looking for a place to start again.” And the metaphor in “Cactus” about “harvesting root rot” is downright literary.
Trips to the Caribbean is a high-reaching record that is definitely worth a listen.
The album can be purchased at: https://spruesandrunners.bandcamp.com/album/trips-to-the-carribean
Hidden Place: Songs Inspired by the Paintings of Maggie Siegel
Unfortunately, COVID-19 hasn’t meant a stop to the hard times that many were already going through. Maggie Siegel is a local painter who was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. Local musicians recently interpreted her paintings through song, and the proceeds from the release are going toward her medical bills. This very cool project includes Dan Blakeslee, John Faraone, Anthony Savino, Courtney Swain and Dylan Harley.
Buy the album or donate to the fundraiser.
And from the Depths of Bandcamp:
Modern Solutions is a page that features a bunch of old school audio from what I would guess are local TV news and local access intro and credits music, describing itself as “an ode to morning television, the sounds of meaningless information and the mundane moments of childhood.” Thank you to whoever you are; there’s something about the warble of a worn-out VHS tape that brings me back to simpler times.
COVID-19 Relief
And finally this month, I thought it would be good to share some ways to support our local artists and venues. Pre-buying the beers you will inevitably buy when this is all over is a good way to lend a hand.
Relief Funds
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) Artist Relief Fund Newport Festivals Musician Relief Fund
Support Local Venues: Buy an Askew gift card Buy a Narrows Center gift card Buy a Galactic Theater gift card Donate to AS220
And Bandcamp will once again be waiving their fees to support artists on June 5 and July 3.
BERZERKERS: Short film featuring Brown Bird to premiere Friday
BERZERKERS, a short film premiering Friday, April 24, will feature the story of Rhode Island’s Brown Bird and how their music came to serve as an inspiration for a chef 700 miles away.
Brown Bird was a folk duo featuring MorganEve Swain and her late husband, Dave Lamb. Lamb passed away from leukemia in April 2014, less than a year after he and Swain were married and the band had begun to find national success. James Rigato is the chef behind Mabel Gray, a celebrated restaurant just north of Detroit. So how does he fit in with a band from Little Rhody?
“The idea did seem like a stretch initially,” said Swain. “James had emailed me with this kind of long manifesto about how much he loves Brown Bird and how it inspired his restaurant and career.”
But Swain, who now plays bass in The Devil Makes Three and fronts her own group, The Huntress and the Holder of Hands, was won over. “After meeting him, it totally made sense how his passion as a music lover could inspire what he’s doing at the restaurant.” Swain visited Mabel Gray (named for a Brown Bird song) while on tour. “On the restaurant walls are painted Brown Bird lyrics and a mural of a flowering cabbage with ‘RIP Dave Lamb’ hidden in the leaves.”
A quick Google search reveals that Rigato is something of a celebrity chef, having appeared on the program “Top Chef” and involved in a bevy of online interviews. “No band or artist of any medium has influenced my creativity more than Brown Bird,” Rigato said. “After more than four years of cooking at Mabel Gray, it was time I sent them this love letter.”
“BERZERKERS was James’s idea; he wanted my blessing and didn’t want to do it without me, but I was definitely a little bit shy at first about having a film made about the band’s story,” said Swain. The film features extensive interviews with Swain and a brief history of the band, then explains how Rigato came to be a fan.
“I wanted to have that spontaneity and that freedom and just that whimsical nature, and I think that’s what I pulled most from Brown Bird,” Rigato says in the film. “I appreciated that spontaneity and that pushback to conformity and I just wanted to join the party… I wanted to create in the name of.”
“Ultimately, James’s intention with the film was to meet and check in on me and let me know how much Dave’s and my love and work was still living on in someone else’s passion,” said Swain. “I think it’s a great example about how we’re all creative beings and things across mediums can speak to us for different reasons — it’s a beautiful way to connect to people.”
BERZERKERS will have its world premiere at the Freep Film Festival on Friday, April 24. Visit freepfilmfestival.com for showtimes and location(s).
Lovable: Nova One’s ambitious new release is equal parts challenging and comforting
Roz Raskin; photo credit: Shea Quinn
With clubs and concert halls shuttered, it’s a difficult time for the music community, and especially for all the performers and employees left without an income. If you’re looking to lend some support, perhaps the easiest thing you can do is buy some of your favorite music.
We’ve all accepted that music is essentially free now, but there are a lot of expenses that the .008 cents per Spotify stream doesn’t cover. If you’re a regular reader of this column, you’ve seen many links to Bandcamp albums. This time, consider kicking in a few sheckles. And when this is all over, be sure to get out to your favorite local venue for the post-pandemic blowout that will no doubt be happening.
Nova One – lovable
Nova One, the project of local music supernova Roz Raskin, is back with a second release, titled lovable. The record sees their songwriting reach new heights, and bolsters an already-impressive body of work. It’s a nice mix of experimental and conventional, challenging the listener with ambitious themes on a bedrock of melodic maturity.
In 2018 Raskin’s longtime band, The Rice Cakes, disbanded after a decade-long run, and the release of the E.P. secret princess. While The Rice Cakes were known for being experimental and cerebral, Nova One revels in unapologetic hooks that provide the listener with an innocent comfort.
Asked about their coming out as a lover of catchy melodies, Raskin said, “For many years with the Rice Cakes, I worked to flip pop on its head (which was fun as hell), but this project has given me an opportunity to be loud and proud about my love of pop music. It felt important that these songs were vocal-centric with a pad of warm, raw sound underneath.”
The shimmery guitars and synths throughout give lovable sonic textures that remind me of artists like Jay Som and Beach House. “Feeling Ugly” is a fuzzy chamber pop tune, and “Close Encounter” is a reimagined Rice Cakes single that treads lightly over shimmery guitar chords. The Cakes drummer, Casey Belisle, also performs on three tracks.
The record’s dreamlike quality is in part the work of Big Nice Studio in Lincoln, which Raskin calls “truly an incredible space” that they worked with multiple times. “Bradford Krieger and Chaimes Parker, who engineered and co-produced the album and played on several tunes, tirelessly work to make every project that comes through that studio sound the best it can.”
In addition to the soundscape, the album is thematically ambitious, tackling the nature of relationships, expectations and growing apart. “This particular record felt like a big release,” says Raskin. lovable was written while I was going through a heavy breakup with an incredible person and while also feeling a need to be more vocal about my queerness and non-binary identity.”
“Somebody” is about the predictability of domesticated love, stating, “I don’t want to be everything you need.” The surreal, midtempo beauty “violet dreams” deals with how desires are sometimes put off for the sake of others, and the raw emotion and imagery of “let’s party” addresses anesthetizing yourself in the face of sadness.
The standout for me is the album’s title track, which has it all: simple guitar leads, a devastating hook, and a compelling bridge build-up. It asks the poignant question that all sentient beings ponder at some point in their time on this mortal coil: “Am I lovable?” It’s straight-up radio hit pop perfection, and a song I hit repeat on way more than was necessary to write this article.
When asked how they’re dealing with these times of uncertainty, Raskin says, “Communication is key for me right now. I think putting in effort to stay in touch with our communities the best we can is super important right now so folks don’t feel isolated.”
And their suggestions for supporting the creative community during this time? “Buy merch online, support Patreon pages, tune into live streams, leave loving comments on social media, share your musician friends’ works.”
Lovable releases April 24 on Community Records, and can be purchased at: novaonenovaone.bandcamp.com/album/lovable
Quarantime: Why not learn to play an instrument?
Okee dokee folks… Last week I wrote about the way social distancing and the show cancellations that came in its wake have affected artists. If you didn’t have a chance to read it, please do. (https://motifri.com/music-in-the-time-of-corona-musicians-talk-about-the-impact-of-losing-gigs-during-so cial-distancing/ )
“We are all pretty much in the same boat and that boat is the Titanic and it just hit the iceberg. Some folks are taking off alone in the lifeboats while others are giving up their seats.” I will add, “The captain is a moron and his ineptness is adding to the panic.” My good friend and bandmate Dan Lilley has the perfect song for this. His “No Captain at the Wheel” is a great tune about lack of leadership. If any of the past month’s shows had gone on, you could have had the pleasure of seeing him perform it live. Hopefully a recording of it will show up online. Turn on the music, turn off Trump. He is a directionless, narcissistic sociopath and is trying to feed his ego by holding daily press briefings only because he can’t hold his own rallies. His denial is what got us into this mess. A proper pandemic response would have lessened what is happening now. My stomach turns from anything Trump. He is the real virus affecting this country! #TrumpVirus Onto what little music news there is. Read on…
If you haven’t already noticed, the internet has been flooded with livestream concerts by artists from those whose only performance experience is in their bedroom all the way to legends like Neil Young. Most are just trying to entertain the isolated while others think they may become the plague’s Justin Bieber. One of those is more than we (never) ever needed. It is virtually impossible to even list who is doing them, just assume EVERYONE is doing them and check out your favorite artist’s Facebook or web page. Some are asking for money for themselves while others are raising funds to help with this crisis. Money is very scarce with most folks nowadays so be wise and spend it where you can and where it is needed most. When, and if, this is all over and we are back to whatever normal is, please remember that it was more than likely music, movies and books — art — that got you through and saved you from slitting your wrists in isolation. Art is a necessity in civilization for education, communication, growth and entertainment.
While there are no shows for the foreseeable future, there is plenty of music to listen to. I am sure that after the quarantine period ends that there will be even more. I am often asked to review recordings, but I usually tend to pass on doing so. Why? First of all I give brutally honest critiques and that is not always a welcome thing. I went to art school. There we were subjected to and involved in critiques on a daily basis. It teaches you a lot about criticizing and toughens you up about criticism. I am also a musician and have been playing music for 45 years and have been performing, producing and involved in the RI music scene for over 35 years. Working on both sides of the musical fence gives me a unique perspective on music. Also, I know a lot of the local musicians personally and that could prove to be an awkward situation. In spite of all this, during this lull in live performances I guess I should soften my “no CD review” stance. If you have a project that you have released in the past year send me a LINK to the recordings or MP3s. Please e-mail me first to discuss. I don’t want a physical CD. I have bins of CDs and no more room! Besides, I don’t want any COVID-19 deliveries and who knows when I will get to the post office! Only send the music to me if you are up for honesty! I will write about the projects that I choose and post them online as I get them done. E-mail me at [email protected]
I hope we all enjoy the QuarantiMe! Make the best of it. Learn that instrument that has been collecting dust in the closet. Plenty of musicians are providing online lessons. Again, just find your favorite performer and check their site. Facetime, Skype, Zoom and other platforms are being used to teach. I honestly don’t understand how anyone can be bored already when there is so much to do at home! Get to it!
Anyway, DUMP TRUMP 2020!!! – “He is dangerous!” Put that line from a Jesus Christ Superstar song in your head. You could have heard it at PPAC live, but alas, like everything else that show has been canceled, too. That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. JohnFuzek.com #StayTheFuckHome
RI Creatives Seek Statewide Artist Relief Fund Our local economy has collapsed in the wake of COVID-19, leaving thousands of people down and out in the Ocean State with an unemployment rate rapidly approaching Great Depression levels. Creatives have decided to organize. Artists, musicians and gig workers under previously existing rules were unable to collect unemployment or benefits for lost income. The recent $2 trillion relief package passed last week for the first time will expand unemployment insurance to these workers. More than 200 Rhode Island creatives have signed a letter of demands that will be sent to state and local lawmakers across the state.
Signees are demanding federal funds be made available as soon as possible and as widely as possible, with no undue burden on applicants. They are seeking an emergency Statewide Artist Relief Fund, to provide needs-based grants to struggling creatives. Another demand is that the Small Business Association disaster declaration should apply to such self-employed gig economy workers as well as undocumented workers. Lastly, they are asking lawmakers to suspend all rent and mortgage payments for the duration of the crisis, something Governor Gina Raimondo has punted to the federal government.
“In a state that prides itself for boasting a ‘creative capital,’” said Ian O’Neil of Deer Tick in a press release. “The gig workers, small businesses, artists and musicians of Rhode Island deserve to be recognized fairly for their invaluable cultural and financial contributions.” O’Neil is among the dozens of Ocean State creatives who have signed a letter, a list that includes Roz Raskin, Justice Gaines, Muggs Fogarty and more. Freelancers and contract workers of all stripes, writers, journalists, rideshare drivers, tech workers and more are impacted by the crisis and should be covered under UI. Entertainment organizations like IATSE and SAG-AFTRA have been calling for similar expansions of unemployment.
While the letter has been a collective effort involving numerous people, its main organizer is Joey La Neve DeFrancesco, a member of the Downtown Boys, a solo artist, organizer and labor historian. DeFrancesco helped to organize a similar effort on the national level, with signees including Neutral Milk Hotel and Bikini Kill and garnering coverage in Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. More than 1,000 bands and artists signed it, and it was presented to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. DeFrancesco views the national effort as a success in organizing artists, getting its message into the press and reaching Congress. Organizers received responses from Pelosi’s office, as well as appreciation from the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign.
“The energy off the national letter certainly informed the Rhode Island campaign,” said DeFrancesco, “but we had wanted to organize at both the national and local level for a long time now.” Both national and local coalitions are going to be kept active. The intention is to build a lasting organization of musicians and artists that will be able to join other workers to push for power and resources through the crisis and beyond.
You can view the open letter to state and city lawmakers at docs.google.com/forms/d/17hDkDbz55LDDGV0FDWWDZCb922JzuqaKCW7idOLaq0k/edit. Artists, musicians, creatives and gigworkers of all types are encouraged to sign.