Is This Jazz? Newport Jazz Festival ’17
Cecile McLorin Salvant, credit: Norman Grant
The jazz world descended upon Newport to see some of the music’s legends as well as many of its rising stars. As is always the case with such events, the hardest part of the weekend was catching a significant portion of each great set before running full speed to another stage to try and catch the next historic moment that could be unfolding. It was tough to get it all in, but here are some of the highlights.
The festival kicked off Friday with a stellar set from the Jimmy Greene Quartet on the Fort stage. Greene — the saxophonist and band leader — took his quartet through a set of terrific originals, including the flowing groove of “Second Breakfast” off his latest release Flowers. Later on, Cecile McLorin Salvant and the Aaron Diehl Trio took the stage and shattered minds with their beautiful and complex arrangements, including her profound version of “Wives And Lovers.” Having a soft spot for the New Orleans clarinet style, Evan Christopher’s Clarinet Road & New Orleans Brass was a much- appreciated addition to the Quad stage with a killer band, locked-in swing and loose group improvisations. The day closed out with Joey DeFrancesco + The People, who were by far the funkiest, most swinging band of the day. DeFrancesco is a monster organ player who demonstrated why he has redefined how the instrument is approached. After leaving the Fort I headed over to watch Rhiannon Giddens and Trombone Shorty each play very different, but equally excellent sets at the Tennis Hall of Fame.
Saturday started with “Jazz 100: The Music Of Dizzy, Mongo and Monk,” an all-star salute to some of the pioneers of jazz. The titanic group of Danilo Perez, Chris Potter, Avishai Cohen, Josh Roseman, Roman Diaz, Ben Street and Adam Cruz ran through some of the most incredible small ensemble arrangements I have ever witnessed, with each musician playing not only to the peak of their individual abilities but also masterfully blending as an ensemble. Later, on the small confines of the Storyville Stage, trumpeter Peter Evans performed his solo composition “Lifeblood” that stretched the limits of what is possible on the trumpet and quite honestly, totally changed my concept of what a solo horn performance could be. One of the most moving sets to witness was “Flying Toward The Sound: For Geri, With Love.” The love and reverence that Esperanza Spalding and Terri Lyne Carrington have for Geri Allen was in the air and the addition of Christian Sands, Vijay Iyer, and Jason Moran filling in on piano and paying their respects added to the feeling. Not only was the performance amazing, but the spirit was moving heavily throughout the Quad. The day ended split between Henry Threadgill Zooid’s intense, dynamic compositions and Snarky Puppy’s groove-infested arrangements.
Even though it was the final day of the festival, Sunday had some of the most memorable performances. The Maria Schneider Orchestra began the day with a mesmerizing and incredibly inspiring set of some of the finest large ensemble jazz ever composed, played by some of the best musicians around. Moving over to the Harbor Stage, Tim Berne’s Snakeoil locked in and burned through some of the most exciting, entrancing group improvisation that you could ever hope to hear. Jason Moran brought his wildly entertaining and musically vibrant “Fats Waller Dance Party” to the Fort Stage, inviting the audience to dance and revel in celebration of one of jazz’s late greats. The Philadelphia Experiment — the trio of Questlove, Christian McBride, and Uri Caine — held down the Quad Stage with a tight pocket and deep groove, with special guest DJ Logic joining in on turntables. Closing out the Storyville Stage was the Newport Jazz Assembly Band, a group of young musicians that was formed to support the Festival Foundation’s mission of bringing jazz into local schools, with a killer set of standards and originals that showcased every member’s immense talent and deep love for this music. The final performance of the festival went to The Roots who proved their status as the world’s baddest band by showcasing both their jazz chops and high energy stage presence.
While the lineups for the past couple of years have been great, this was one of the strongest, most diverse sets of artists I have ever seen at the festival, and it made for a fantastic three days. Be sure to get your ticket for next year and I’ll see you at the Fort!
Happening Around Town:
The John Allmark Jazz Orchestra; first Monday monthly @ The Met (Pawtucket)
Is This Jazz?; first Friday, bimonthly @ AS220 (Providence) isthisjazz.tumblr.com
Allary At Arias; Sundays @ Arias Lounge (Providence)
Groove Merchants; Mondays @ Fifth Element (Newport)
Jazz Jam; Tuesdays @ Ten Rocks (Pawtucket)
Groove E Tuesday; Tuesdays @ Murphy’s Law (Pawtucket)
Parlour Jazz Jam; third Sunday each month @ The Parlour (Providence)
Jeff Platz Quartet’s Modern Sound Series; last Sunday each month @ Tea In Sahara (Providence)
To add your listing please email [email protected].
Ben Shaw is a local composer and performer. Find him at ahueofshaw.tumblr.com or on Twitter @ahueofshaw. Album of the Week: The Two Tens – On Repeat
On Repeat by The Two Tens
Along with being the home for the majority of today’s pop music garbage, Los Angeles has become the epicenter for the 2010s garage-rock explosion. The Two Tens are a fiery duo from the City of Angels that can cause a ruckus. Their sophomore release On Repeat is coming out Aug 18 via Man Della Records and it’s a banger of an album. Guitarist and vocalist Adam Bones oozes endless swagger while Rikki Styxx brings the thunder on drums. Together they create a rad sound that’s intense and harmonious.
As each track rolls through, On Repeat pummels the eardrums with powerful beats and electrifying riffs. There are elements of surf and ‘60s pop that singe the garage-rock heavy tones. Both Bones and Styxx are unapologetically up-front and unrelentingly emphatic. Even the songs that ride the chorus more are still amplified and noisy. Nothing lets up in the album and there are no generic fillers: What the listeners hear is what they’re getting.
It must feel a bit weird for older music fans to be in an age where two-piece rock bands are the norm. They probably still ask “Where’s your bass player?” every time they see one live. I personally don’t care as long as a two-piece act can bring it as loud as a trio or a quartet. With On Repeat, The Two Tens definitely make good on that. To see how solid these guys really are, let’s take a look at my top tracks off of the Album of the Week:
The title track is a charismatic love song that absolutely shreds with the chorus being bound to stick in your head, dare I say it, on repeat. “Keeping Hope Alive” is one of those songs that leans toward the pop realm; Bones and Styxx also provide stellar harmonies. Distorted and dirty, “Not Alright” is anchored by Styxx’s drumming while Bones yells on vocals; it’s very angsty and it’s just what your pissed-off friend, or self, needs after a rough day. The Two Tens will be ringing in the release of On Repeat with fellow Angelinos Go Betty Go and The Katellas at The Satellite in the bands’ hometown on Aug 16. They’ll also be doing a pay-what-you-want on-line celebration through StageIt! on Aug 20. Hopefully they come through the New England area sometime soon. By Aug 18, grab a copy of On Repeat: It’s an album that surely lives up to its name.
Stream the title track via Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/user-985902885-887977517/on-repeat
Pre-order On Repeat (CD, vinyl, digital available): mandellarecords.com/shop/
The Two Tens’ web site: thetwotens.com
2nd Annual Warren Folk’s Festival: Music, Food, Beer
2nd Annual Warren Folk’s Festival at 30 Cutler Street.
In its second year, the Warren Folk’s Festival is 2-8pm, Sunday, Aug 6, at 30 Cutler Street community arts and business space. It’s a family-friendly event that has tons of fun going on.
Fuzzy drum-and-bass duo Junior Beat, singer-songwriter Jodie Treolar, psych-folk act Viking Jesus, alternative rock trio Six Star General, rootsy blues act The Low Cards, folk rock dynamos Ian Fitzgerald & Something Else and Natural Vibes featuring members of the reggae act Natural Element will be performing.
Eli’s Kitchen and Balasco’s Pizzeria, among others, will have food available. There will be a craft beer tent featuring brews from Lagunitas Brewing Company, Whalers Brewing Company, Two Roads Brewing Company, Left Hand Brewing Company and more. To make sure everyone can get involved, there will be games and a craft table for the kids occupied.
The small town of Warren, RI, is admirably weird and unique. There are places like the Imagine Gift Store with arts, crafts, and figurines. The Galactic Theatre has become the coolest live music venue in the East Bay. Jack’s Bar is one of the best dives in the state and there are plenty of restaurants serving amazing food. Warren’s arts and music community is a major part of the town’s culture as well.
The Folk’s Festival is free admission but all the proceeds will be going to the arts organization The Collaborative to help with their mission of bringing meaningful and fun events to the community of Warren and to provide an environment that supports, encourages and celebrates the diverse talents within Rhode Island. It promises to be an exciting event so spend your Sunday afternoon in a wonderful little town with music, art and enjoyment all around.
Event page: facebook.com/events/304102790030249
The Collaborative’s web site: thecollaborative02885.org
30 Cutler Street’s web site: 30cutlerstreet.com
Alt-Nation: Dan Blakeslee and Trying Out Jazz
Here are some things to listen to/consider while you are trying to avoid thinking about how summer is flying by at breakneck speed.
Dan Blakeslee – The Alley Walker
Straight outta Boston by way of Maine, troubadour Dan Blakeslee is a talented songwriter with a mellow country/folk sound that I would compare to Ryan Adams’ best stuff mixed with some Steve Earle. The Alley Walker is his sixth full-length, and an excellent entry in the Blakeslee canon.
You may know him as Dr. Gasp, his spooky alter-ego Halloween act. Blakeslee also has a prolific art career, and Motif beer nerd readers may be interested to know that he’s the one who drew the Heady Topper label. His album art alone is worth the purchase.
The album’s strength is thanks in large part to the fantastic playing from his band known as The Calabash Club. Check out the killer organ on “A Golden Turn” and the pedal steel on “Ready for the Cinema.”
It’s clear that Blakeslee has had some experience with this songwriting business, and I especially enjoyed Alley Walker’s lyrics. He’s great at creating characters, but I particularly love how Blakeslee can spin events in his own life into inspiration and imagery. He wrote the upbeat “Pride of the Piscataqua” while watching a bridge he grew up with being removed (“here’s to you my crumbling beauty/beneath your belly we did sail”), and “Lone Star” is a gothic country tune about being stranded on tour in Texas.
Similarly, “No Shame in Wasting Time” examines the great benefits of doing nothing, including how hard is it to be a clock (“you spend your whole life waitin’ for a punch, and another when they get back from lunch”).
All in all, every song on Alley Walker has something to offer. I hear that Blakeslee has recently moved to Providence, so look for a show at some point soon.
Free Music Bounty @ Burnside Park
Like most, I’m enthralled by the power of getting something for free, especially when it’s music. This summer, there are awesome free shows happening every Thursday at Burnside Park in Downtown PVD, sponsored by the Downtown Providence Park Conservancy, a public-private partnership that aims “to preserve and revitalize Providence’s historic downtown core by transforming it into a lively, cohesive and prosperous economic and cultural center.”
The schedule is as follows:
August 3 | Charles Allin – Ambient electronic music from Jeremy Harris, who is also the man behind the Lazy Magnet Project.
August 10 | Hott Boyz – Apparently not the rap group from the ’90s, but a group featuring members of Roz and the Rice Cakes and GYMSHORTS.
August 17 | Grupo Sazon – A Latin salsa explosion, this group will make you want to call in sick on Friday to enroll in conga lessons.
August 24 | What Cheer? Brigade & The Quahogs – The infamous brass of the huge What Cheer? street band paired with The Quohogs’ twangy rock ‘n’ roll.
August 31 | Roz and the Rice Cakes – Some of the most exciting alt sounds in town. I also heard they may have a new album dropping soon.
September 7 | The ‘Mericans – Providence alt-country lifers who always make for a good show.
This is all part of a greater effort to revitalize the greater Kennedy Plaza area and build a downtown parks system, so I guess by partying outside on a weeknight, you’re actually helping to strengthen your community.
Let this also remind us of this park’s namesake, Ambrose Burnside, perhaps the greatest Rhode Islander who ever lived. He was, among other things, a decorated Civil War general, railroad man and politician, but Burnside is best remembered for his ridiculously over-the-top facial hair, which resulted in the term “sideburn” being named for him.
Each show starts at 5:30 – perfect for after-work beers. Find more info at: provparksconservancy.org/visit/music
Newport Jazz Fest
Roughly a century after it emerged as America’s original art form, jazz is now as unpopular as ever. According to Nielsen Music, jazz is tied with classical at the bottom of the pack by national standards.
This Saturday, I’ll be attending the second day of the Newport Jazz Fest. I must admit that I am part of the reason for the genre’s waning, as I listen to hardly any jazz and am very underqualified to write about it. I am, however, looking forward to checking out Snarky Puppy, the boundary-breaking jazz group (almost an orchestra), Rhiannon Giddens from the Carolina Chocolate Drops and bass legend Christian McBride.
Because I more often attend the sold-out Folk Fest, the JF feels like a relaxing reprieve where you can just sit back and take it all in. I honestly haven’t heard of any more of the Saturday artists, but I figure I should make at least one annual attempt to expand my horizons beyond the usual white dudes with guitars.
The Newport Jazz fest happens August 5 and 6. Tickets can be purchased at: newportjazz.org/tickets
RIP Chester Bennington
I’d like to note the passing of Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, who recently took his own life. It’s always a tragedy when musicians go too early, and his death comes only months after the suicide of Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell.
I can’t say I was a huge LP fan, but I definitely enjoyed the Hybrid Theory singles when I was younger and the right age to enjoy Bennington’s angsty vocal style. They were all over WBRU during my most impressionable years, when it started to become clear that obsessively listening to music wasn’t just going to be a phase.
It seems like prolific songwriting ability too often comes with mental illness or substance use, and this death is another stark reminder that someone’s success in no way determines what’s going on in the inside.
Rooftop At The G Announces It’s Capstone Event of The Season
Many of us who reside in Providence are familiar with the Providence G. The lovely historic building has decorated the skyline for years and has seen several transformations throughout its lifetime. Now home to luxury apartments, the building is also the site of a fantastic rooftop restaurant and lounge boasting one of the most spectacular views of the city. Many Providence residents have great memories of Rooftop at the G, but not all of our memories involve enjoying amazing live music. This is quickly changing!
The Rooftop has showcased a number of regional and national acts throughout the year. From solo pianists to full bands, diverse talent has moved Rooftop visitors all summer. Enjoy unplugged singer- songwriters each Monday, local piano entertainer Billy Muston on Tuesdays, and full bands on Wednesdays and Thursdays representing several genres. You can enjoy live DJs during the weekend to round out a full week of performance. After much success venturing into live music, the venue is excited to announce its capstone event of the season: Donavon Frankenreiter! This nationally acclaimed performer is entering his second decade as a singer-songwriter and solo artist. He has performed throughout the globe and is expected to bring 200 music enthusiasts to The Rooftop for his intimate performance on Tuesday, August 8.
When asked about the event, Brendan Chipley Roane, rooftop marketing manager, said, “It’s been wonderful hosting talented musicians from all over the country these past few months. This evening is definitely our capstone event of the season, and we are very excited for Donavon to perform on The Rooftop. There are very few upscale restaurant and lounges in the area that have live entertainment seven days a week, let alone on a rooftop relaxing by a fire pit.”
An evening of great music under the stars at one of the city’s most alluring venues does sound like a wonderful way to engage with Providence nightlife. You can find additional information and purchase tickets for this event at rooftopattheg.com.
The Roots Report: Please Take a Seat
Okee dokee folks… This is a public service announcement for those who attend concerts. There are these things that theaters have installed and they are called SEATS. They are used to SIT in, relax and enjoy the performances. It seems as though quite a few people have a hard time comprehending how to properly utilize these strange padded devices. When you purchase a concert ticket you are assigned a SEAT. This is not to be used as an area for your interpretive dance number during the show, it is meant to SIT in. I get it, the music moves you, and that is fine and dandy, but common courtesy should come before all else. You are not transparent; you block the view of people behind you. Please do your groovin’ seated. You may not want to give a lap dance to the furniture and your writhing may appear like you have a bad case of hemorrhoids, but standing up in an area meant to sit is just plain RUDE. Folks spend good money on tickets to enjoy a show. If you do feel the need to stand, PLEASE go to the back of the room.
I was at a show recently and the guy behind me was standing, as were the folks in front of me. I was sitting because I just wanted to relax and listen to the music. The guy behind me was dancing and holding a beer in one of those flimsy plastic cups. As if that wasn’t a precarious enough situation, his choreography included arm moves that had his beer waving over my head. I kept looking back and glaring at him and the beer. Finally I felt it — spilled beer on my head. I was livid. I yelled at him and gave him a look that was probably illegal in 50 states. The next time I turned around he was gone and did not return.
When I was younger, I would attend concerts with my brother and if people were standing in our way, we would use pennies as projectiles and bean them on the head. Lately I feel like I need to bring rolls of coins with me to shows. I get it, America is the land of the free, but if your freedom includes being extremely rude and ruining someone’s concert experience, then you are just an American Idiot. End of rant. Read on… Speaking of American Idiots, Green Day’s rock musical American Idiot will be at Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket August 11 – 13. The story is of three disaffected young men and their trials and tribulations. The music was written by the pop/punk rock band Green Day and comes mostly from their American Idiot album. Also coming up at the Stadium Theatre: If you like cranky comedy then you ought to check out Ed Asner’s one-man play, A Man and His Prostate, on August 19! Other shows include: Edwin McCain, Jeffery Gaines, Travis Tritt and Art Garfunkel. For more, “Letterbomb” to StadiumTheatre.com
The Collaborative presents the 2nd Annual Warren Folk’s Festival on Sunday August 6, from 2 – 8pm at 30 Cutler Street in Warren. This year’s festival will feature art from local artists, including many members of The Collaborative, a craft table for kids and food from local restaurants. There will be a “craft beer garden” with all proceeds going to The Collaborative. The music stage will feature Warren and Bristol natives Six Star General and Jodie Treloar Sampson, along with Junior Beat, Natural Vibes (feat. members of Natural Element), Viking Jesus, The Low Cards and Ian Fitzgerald & Something Else. All proceeds from this event go to The Collaborative to help their mission to continue to bring meaningful and fun events to the community. For more, just folkin’ get to TheCollaborative02885.org
“The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down…” The legend does live on, and he is coming to Twin River. Gordon Lightfoot is known for his hits “Sundown,” If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway,” “Rainy Day People” and of course, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Lightfoot’s show will feature his well-known hits as well as some deep album cuts for the die-hard fans, all of which are woven together with some of Lightfoot’s behind-the-scenes stories and personal anecdotes from his 50- year musical career. For more: “gitchie gumee” to TwinRiver.com
Back when I was in ninth grade, a friend of mine gave me the Beach Boys album Endless Summer. I listened to it over and over again. Loved it. Coincidentally The Beach Boys were on tour that year and I got to see them for the first of many times. I will be seeing them again as they perform at RI Waterfront Events’ new Bold Point Park Summer venue on Wednesday, August 9. The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston and continue the legacy of the iconic American band. A Beach Boys’ concert is a requisite of summer entertainment! (If you were at the June Empire Revue show, then you know why I am laughing about the Lake Lads right now!) Other scheduled shows are Kenny Wayne Shepard, The Waterfront Reggae Festival, Pat Benatar and Moe/Railroad Earth. For more, “Catch A Wave” to RIWaterfrontEvents.com
If you are curious to know “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone,” then you could get your answer at the Courthouse Center for the Arts. On Friday, August 11, Grammy-winner Paula Cole will make her CCA debut. Cole is also known for her popular “I Don’t Want to Wait,” which, besides being a radio mainstay, was the theme for TV’s “Dawson’s Creek.” The cowboy-ish country singer Grant Maloy Smith will return to the CCA Friday, August 18. Grant’s latest album, Dust Bowl, has garnered much praise. For more, “Tiger” to CourthouseArts.org
It will be “Coolsville” at the Narrows on Friday, August 4, when Rickie Lee Jones returns to the Fall River stage. This will be a trio show featuring a career retrospective of Jones’ music. Also coming up are the Ryan Montbleau Band, Los Straitjackets/Marshall Crenshaw, Janiva Magness and Shelby Lynn/Allison Moorer. For “Moorer,” get to NarrowsCenter.org
Do you like “Passionate Kisses” with a “Drunken Angel”? If so the Columbus Theatre has just what you need: a good dose of Lucinda Williams. The Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed songster will fill the historic auditorium on Broadway with her gravelly voice and biting lyrics on August 18. Chrissy Stewart, a local who is known for her work booking music at The Grange, running house concerts and being a Rhythm and Roots Festival artist liaison, has been on tour as Lucinda’s Production Manager. Chrissy had this to say: “I’m not sure how I got here, but I am feeling so blessed to be Lucinda Williams’ production manager. The crew and Lu feel like family and my heart leaps out of my chest with excitement every day!” Go Chrissy! The Low Anthem opens. For more, 1492 to ColumbusTheatre.com
Have you ever wanted to carry guitar cases, move drums and set up stages? Well, here is your chance. The Rhythm and Roots Festival and the Providence Folk Festival are looking for a few able-bodied volunteers. It is actually a lot of fun to do, and most stage crew members come back annually. Some of them are getting long in the tooth, so a little more youth would be good thing. For more, e-mail [email protected].
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. JohnFuzek.com
Mike D’s Top 5 Can’t Miss Shows of August
1. Saturday, August 5: Rancid & Dropkick Murphys with The Bouncing Souls, Jake Burns (of Stiff Little Fingers); 4:30pm gates / 6pm show; $39.50 advance / $45 day of; All ages; Brockton Fairgrounds, Brockton, Mass. It is August and if you are like me, you forgot to do many summer things and time is winding down. Here’s a perfect not-too-far road trip to see some great punk rock. Warped Tour seemed to be moving away from the mall metal and perhaps slowly turning back to punk and hardcore roots. This line-up reminds me of everything that I loved from the older Warped Tours. Rancid don’t tour very often and the Bouncing Souls seem to be slowing their tours, so I wouldn’t skip this if I were you.
2. Saturday, August 12: Foo Fest; 1pm to 1am; $10 advance / $15 day of; All ages; Empire St, PVD. Sticking with the “Oh shit summer is almost already over; I should be outside” theme, Foo Fest is back and mostly outside. While I don’t know set times yet, watch as220.org to make sure you don’t miss Massachusetts punks Funeral Cone (as well as for the other acts). It runs all day, and even if you don’t know the acts, it’s a fun day out drinking in the streets while checking out a ton of artists and vendors.
3. Wednesday, August 23: Kirk Knight & Nyck Caution “Nyck @ Knight Tour”, Gen 93, Brodie Fresh, Spocka Summa, Hazardous Drama; 8pm doors / 9pm show; $14 advance / $17 day of; All ages; The Met, 1005 Main St, Pawtucket. The hip-hop collective Pro Era is best known for Joey Bada$$’s crew, but the best talent from that group might be with lesser-known (as of yet) artists Kirk Knight & Nyck Caution. I can’t believe Kirk Knight is only 21 years old. He sounds like he was right along side in ’94 with NYC hip-hop icons Nas and Wu Tang Clan. His beats and flow are reminiscent of the golden days of NYC hip-hop. Check out Kirk’s 2015 release Late Knight Special to get a better idea of his talent.
4. Thursday, August 31: Sheer Mag, Haram, Lost Balloons; 7pm doors / 8pm show; $13 advance / $15 day of; All ages; The Sinclair, Cambridge, Mass. Sheer Mag are back in New England and so damn good it’s worth the drive to Boston, even in the summertime. Sheer Mag slayed it earlier this year at AS220, and are back in the northeast supporting their new album Need To Feel Your Love. The new record seems to be moving from the ’70s classic glam riffs to a touch more produced and ’80 metal punk riffs, but still paired perfectly with Tina Halladay’s dynamic vocals. I don’t know much about Haram; they seem to be from Italy and sound pretty doomish and have a big sound. Lost Balloons are also new to me, but they are a indie pop act project from Jeff Burke (from Marked Men) so definitely worthy of getting there on time.
5. Friday, September 1: Start Making Sense; 9pm; $?; 21+only; Ocean Mist, 895 Matunuck Rd, Matunuck. The Ocean Mist is one of the best venues in New England, and Start Making Sense, a Talking Heads tribute, are one of the best tribute acts out there. Find a beach cabin, spend a day at the beach, eat at Matunuck Oyster Bar, check out the show and your forgot-to-have-a-summer crisis is averted. The water comes right up to the deck of the club, and the view is spectacular / life affirming. Like Florida, The Ocean Mist is constantly fighting the ocean, which is always looking for a way in. Unlike Florida, The Ocean Mist is worth visiting. Take advantage of this Rhode Island institution as much as you can.
Also worth noting: August 19 — Waxahatchee at Royale; August 20 — SZA at Fete; August 24 — Moe at East Providence Waterfront
Album of the Week: People Like You – Verse
Verse by People Like You
Coming out of Boston’s DIY underground, indie jazz quintet People Like You explore musical boundaries with consistent brilliance. Poignant rhythms and abstract structure are the foundation for an act that keeps things interesting with each song. Their sophomore release Verse that came out Jul 28 via Topshelf Records dives into that æsthetic while achieving sustainable progression. Each track captivates the senses with impressive tones. There’s also a certain amount of unpredictability from start to finish.
The dual vocals from guitarist Chris Lee and keyboardist Michi Tassey provide mesmerizing harmonies. Drummer Sander Bryce and bassist Sai Boddupalli bring the abstract poignancy in amazing ways with breakbeats and improvisation. Matt Hull is the icing on the musical cake with his skills on trumpet and flugelhorn. It’s a creatively impressive melding of talents that makes Verse such a stunning album. Each song grabs hold of the ears and never lets go.
It can be the bane of a music journalist’s existence to encounter music that you enjoy but also find difficult to describe. Sometimes an act will incorporate numerous dimensions and the proverbial nail is hard to hit when it comes to telling the casual listener what the band sound like. It can be challenging, but that’s a good thing. People Like You bring a lot to the table with their music and Verse is a prime example of that. Let’s see exactly what they bring with my top tracks from the Album of the Week:
“You Need a Visa” starts the album off with an hypnotic chorus and a flurry of variety; Hull on trumpet accents the song well while amazing harmonies are conveyed by Lee and Tassey. With somber tones comes “Josephine Ave,” a sense of heartbreak and longing adorns the song from beginning to end. Bryce’s drumming is magnificent in “Thumbnail,” where he brings a rhythmic machine-gun style that backs the entire track up.
People Like You just finished up a summer tour of the eastern United States but since they’re from Boston be sure that they’ll be playing around the New England area for the time being. The next time they’re playing your friendly neighborhood music venue, grab a copy of Verse. It takes you on a musical expedition that encounters numerous dimensions.
Stream and buy Verse via Bandcamp: peoplelikeyoumusic.bandcamp.com/album/verse
People Like You on Facebook: www.facebook.com/peoplelikeyouma
Foo’s Day of Tunes
Imagine for a moment the wonder of going to the circus for the first time as a child. Now imagine that instead of a ringmaster and elephants, there were noise bands and Jewish drag queens. That sense of wonder, my friends, is what you can expect from the 22nd iteration of AS220’s Foo Fest.
Many are familiar with the storied history of the Fool’s Ball, the original incarnation of the Foo Fest back in 1995, though the culture and music of the 12-hour festival has evolved over time. Recently, this evolution stood front and center when AS220 dismissed headliner Sharon Needles back in May, due to her transphobic and racist media stunts that drew outrage in the Providence LGBTQ community.
While some debated whether AS220 was stomping on free speech, the seas calmed quickly when Jewish drag queen Annie B. Frank stepped up to emcee the evening and previous headliner Lightning Bolt, was asked to return.
And the vivacious Annie B. Frank and Lightning Bolt’s noise pollution certainly are major draws; however, the undercard is where audiences need to keep their eyes and ears for the next big act. With 22 bands appearing throughout the 12-hour span of 1pm to 1am, you may find yourself running down Empire Street to try and catch as many of these musicians as possible.
Glorified MVP and the best acquisition of the festival, Cakes Da Killa, is sure to be high priority for any music aficionado attending this year’s festival. Known for his raucous rapping style, wonderfully eclectic mixtapes and support of the LGBTQ community, Cakes Da Killa has garnered attention from Vice and MTV, making his RI appearance even more fabled to both fans and newcomers to his music.
Looking for unapologetic feminism with a dash of badassery? HOTT BOYZ is here to silence all naysayers with a supergroup collaboration between Roz Raskin of Roz and the Rice Cakes, Kate Jones of The Sugar Honey Iced Tea and Sarah Greenwell of GYMSHORTS. Adding to this feminist dynamic is Jodi Jolt and The Volt, an electrifying ensemble fronted by the one and only Jodi Jolt, a gender-fluid individual who has given greatly to Providence’s queer community.
For those like myself who want to connect to their indie and alt-rock roots, Foo Fest will not disappoint. The Neutrinos, a quartet out of Attleboro, Massachusetts, are one of the many hidden gems in this year’s lineup with their early 2000s garage rock tone that is addictive as hell to witness in a live setting, especially at AS220. “AS220 is run by a bunch of people with their eyes and ears open all year long, whether it’s from playing in their own bands, booking their own shows or just plain being around the scene,” states a representative from The Neutrinos. “They’re probably playing close attention to which bands are getting people stoked, which obviously changes from year to year.”
Midriffs is also a personal favorite of mine from this year’s lineup due to my fascination with psych rock bands, though Midriffs throws this sound around and delves into a poppy atmosphere that feels ethereal upon first listening.
If you like to live outside the grain of indie rock and pop, you might succumb to the waves of rap or other percussive styles of music that speak softly to your auditory orifices. Tying into this, The Funk Underground brings Brooklyn underground rap to Li’l Rhody with big sounds and flair that is massive enough to fill a room. Speaking to worldly issues, The Funk Underground is rising like a phoenix and is bound to explode out of their basements and into clubs around the country. “We’re really happy Foo Fest continues to support artists of color and LGBTQ voices, and we’re here to show our state and our nation what kind of city Providence is,” said Sydesho, half of The Funk Underground.
Additionally, the Blackout Drum Squad enters their 3rd year of existence in a big way with a soulful take on New Orleans funk that is sure to have everyone on Empire Street getting down.
So whether you stay for an hour to catch your friend’s band or are looking for a family-friendly event that puts music front and center, Foo Fest is the epitome of parties and believe me, when this circus comes to town, you won’t want to miss it. Roots Report: Declan MacManus at PPAC
Okee dokee folks… On Tuesday, July 25, I caught the Declan MacManus show at the Providence Performing Arts Center. If you know who that is and you attended, then you probably enjoyed the show. If you don’t know who it is then you would have had a long, somewhat painful evening. Declan, aka Elvis Costello, played the last night of his Imperial Bedroom and other Chambers tour at PPAC and gave quantity, not quality. The two and one half hour, 32-song set was mired by sound issues and an overall lackluster performance. The sound was muddy and occasionally Costello’s vocal trademark “ohhh’s” or “ayyy’s” cut through the din. Lyrics were virtually incoherent. This had to have been the doings of Costello’s own crew because the sound at PPAC is usually great.
The show started with pre-recorded jazzy orchestral and a flurry of album images on the video screen at the rear of the stage. Elvis entered in the darkness and waved to the crowd who were already on their feet. He was wearing a black three piece suit, a red fedora and dark glasses, and he was carrying a maroon hollow body electric guitar. His backing band, The Imposters, featured Steve Nieve on keyboard, Pete Thomas on drums and Davey Faragher on bass. The group was augmented by backing vocalists Kitten Kuroi and Briana Lee. Costello went right into his first two numbers, “The Loved Ones” and “And In Every Home,” which morphed into a chorus of the Beatles’ “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” Costello remarked about the venue, “The architecture outshines the beauty on the stage!” He followed with “Accidents Will Happen.” He commented that, “We’re trying to take another look at these songs and see how we feel about them now.” He was referring to his take on his 35-year-old album, Imperial Bedroom. His set continued with “Welcome To The Working Week,” “Miracle Man,” “Tears Before Bedtime” and “Moods For Moderns.” “Shabby Doll” had Costello playing lead and doing a few light Hendrix moves. A labored, extended version of “Watching The Detectives” had various pulp crime novel and movie posters flashing on the rear screen. He spoke of how TV programs like “Columbo,” “Murder She Wrote” and “Kojak” were his inspirations for the song, but then he said that he wondered what happened to the characters in the song later on. His answer to this was the next song, “The Long Honeymoon.” After a few more songs, concluding with “Pidgin English” Costello held up his guitar and signaled the end of the show. He left the stage to a standing “O.”
After a very short departure, he returned and sang into one microphone with his two back up singers and did a simple version of “Allison” accompanied only by his electric guitar. He then went to the other side of the stage with back-up singers in tow to the star covered grand piano and performed a few tunes with this simple set-up. He prefaced the song “Blood and Hot Sauce” saying, “It’s too late to announce my candidacy for high or low office, but I do have two American born sons.” “Shot With His Own Gun” followed when Steve Nieve sat down at the piano and left a sans guitar Costello to croon. Nieve’s performance took on a bit of a Liberace style and Elvis remarked, “We kidnapped him from the Royal College of Music when he was 14.” “Boy With A Problem,” a song he cowrote with Squeeze’s Chris Difford, had him singing from a lyric sheet. At the finish of the song, he stepped away from the mic to the edge of the stage and projected the final notes without amplification. He strapped on an acoustic guitar to join with the piano for “Almost Blue.” He talked about recording in a real studio for the first time and how Alice Cooper, Paul McCartney and Duran, Duran were down the hall. As he said this, Neive tinkled a little Duran diddy on the keys. The band retook the stage for a few more songs and then hit the home stretch with “Every Day I Write The Book,” and the band introductions as this song played out. The energy increased with the always popular “Pump It Up.” He closed the show with Nick Lowe’s “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?” that had a little bit of The Who’s “Substitute” thrown into the mix.
I am a light duty Costello fan. I like his music and I have seen him in concert four or five times over the past 40 years. I usually enjoy his shows. To make my life easier to track his songs during the night, I printed out the set list of a show that he played the night before in Maine. It was a good, long, 26-song set that included many fan favorites as well as obscure numbers for the diehards. I thought that if he stuck close to this set it would be a great show. I should know that expectation always leads to disappointment. While the set at PPAC was more ambitious and included the ENTIRE Imperial Bedroom album, it excluded a couple of the fan favs he had played the night before: “Red Shoes” and “Chelsea.” The bad sound coupled with Costello’s re-imagining of a few of the songs, out-of-time singing and uninspired performance left me unfulfilled. I know many folks will disagree, especially the hardcore Elvis fans. I have to admit that these fans did get their moneys worth in songs, just not great sound or performance.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. JohnFuzek.com