Rob’s Top 10 Providence Shows of 2015
St. Vincent; Photo Credit: Kendra Whitcomb
Another year in our wonderful little city of Providence has passed and it has been a great year for live music in The Creative Capital. A few shows happened in a few unlikely spots, some big names had their first ever shows in Providence and local acts showed that they could still put on a party. I wasn’t able to make it out to every show going on, but there are a good number that I got to check out in 2015 that’ll always stick in my mind. Here are my Top 10 Providence Shows of the year:
10.) Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls @ Fete Music Hall 12/15
When this show got announced a few months ago you could sense the anticipation. And no wonder — Turner and his band of Sleeping Souls delivered with an energetic show that captivated a sold out crowd in the ballroom of Fete Music Hall. It was also their first ever show in Rhode Island. A performance that lasted over 2 hours included some of his newer material “Get Better” and “Josephine” along with the classics “Peggy Sang The Blues,” “Reasons Not To Be An Idiot” and “I Still Believe.” Boston pop punks Rebuilder and The Homeless Gospel Choir, the folk punk project of Pittsburgh based musician Derek Zanetti, opened up the night to set a vibrant tone for an extremely enjoyable show.
9.) Sebadoh @ The Met 6/6
Ever since my early college days I’ve been a huge fan of Lou Barlow whether as the bassist for ’80s alternative rock legends Dinosaur Jr. or sharing songwriting duties with Jason Loewenstein in the lo-fi indie rock act Sebadoh. It was an absolute pleasure seeing Sebadoh play again; they always manage to bring a unique kind of intensity when they play live. You also had Cleveland geek punks Total Babes and Providence emo trio Twin Foxes on the bill for a well rounded night of great music. There was a little over 100 people in attendance and for a big room like The Met it provided for an up close experience that you rarely get. 8.) Jared Paul Get My Ghost Record Release @ Firehouse 13 10/16
A great example of how much of a comeback the hip-hop scene has made in Providence was Jared Paul’s release show for his first full length Get My Ghost this past October. Medusah Black showed once again why she is a force to be reckoned with through her lyrical delivery that’s always on point. The Funk Underground flat out impressed me with their incredible stage presence and organic electricity. They’re a band that I’m amped to see what they do in 2016. Paul gave his heart and soul into a performance that included “$8 Smoothie,” “Five Or Five Thousand” and “Down With The Bank Kings.” The packed house was into it all from start to finish and the feeling was contagious.
7.) Elder @ AS220 3/6
Ben Barnett and the crew over at Armageddon Shop on Broadway put on an insane metal show at AS220 in March. You had New Bedford progressive fuzz metal gods Elder headlining a bill that attracted so many people that AS220’s performance space was nearly over capacity. Magic Circle from Boston were incredible, very reminiscent of Dio and Iron Maiden. Seattle’s Mos Generator stayed true to their roots with a sludgy sound that had me in awe. After everything ended I was simply amazed, truly one of the best metal shows I’ve been to in a while.
6.) Atlantic Thrills Vices Album Release @ Dusk 12/5
With a local show of this magnitude you knew going in that it was guaranteed to be a blast. It was a garage rock extravaganza in celebration of Atlantic Thrills’ second album, Vices, with Pyramid, Eric & The Nothing and Neutrinos providing a stacked bill. Atlantic Thrills concluded a raucous set with back- to-back renditions of Bad Company’s “Feel Like Making Love” and Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild.” There was also a giant papier-mâché whiskey bottle that got obliterated and left shreds all over the small venue on Harris Avenue. Complete bedlam was abundant that evening and it was something truly incredible to witness.
5.) B. Dolan Kill The Wolf Album Release @ The Met 7/11
Another testament of Providence’s hip-hop scene coming back was B. Dolan’s release show for his fantastic full length Kill The Wolf at The Met this past July. An all-local star-studded lineup with hardcore punk legends Dropdead, thrashy math punks Ask The Dead, the immensely talented Roz Raskin and Dolan’s compadre Sage Francis shared the stage. One moment I will never forget would be when B. Dolan was performing “Jailbreak” and The Silks’ Tyler-James Kelly joined in on the chorus that was originally recorded by the late Dave Lamb from Brown Bird. It was one of a handful of nights throughout the year that brought the entire Providence music scene together.
4.) Providence Garage Fest @ AS220 11/14
The main event as part of a weekend party in November curated by Shybluespaceman’s John White, the Providence Garage Fest was a wild show that had kickass band after kickass band performing. Punk rock act Gavage was celebrating the release of their self-titled debut album. The Worried played a down and dirty rock set that blew minds all over the room. St. James & The Apostles from Philadelphia brought a bit of soul and Party Pigs concluded the night. I hope Mr. White does it again next year because the first Providence Garage Fest was a treat to experience.
3.) Roz and The Rice Cakes Close Encounter 7” Release @ Providence Public Library 6/19 Indie pop trio Roz and The Rice Cakes always have a habit of doing things out of the ordinary and the release show for the 7″ single “Close Encounter” was no different. It took place in the auditorium of the Providence Public Library on Empire Street and the setting was very quaint. You had the Classical High School Jazz and Rock Band starting the festivities off with a slew of covers. Psychedelic Austin, Texas shred masters Megafauna shocked and amazed everyone in attendance. Roz Raskin, Casey Belisle and Justin Foster then proceeded to put everyone in a trance and make them dance. It was a very fun show and it’ll be cool to see more live music at the library’s auditorium next year.
2.) A Tribute to David Hemingway @ Columbus Theatre 10/2
One of the low points for the Providence music scene this year was the loss of long time drummer David Hemingway due to cancer. During a sad time for a lot of people who played with “Handsome Dave” and/or were friends with him, the community came together for a show featuring a lot of Hemingway’s closest friends at the Columbus Theatre. Emotional performances from Dan White and Sasquatch & The Sick-A-Billys highlighted the night, but what will always stick with me from that show was the a cappella rendition of Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart” by Seamus Weeden and Jesse Smith from Smith & Weeden. All the proceeds went to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; it was a spectacular night celebrating the life of one of Providence’s finest.
1.) St. Vincent @ Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel 3/8
It’s crazy when you go to a show to see someone you’ve hardly ever heard of and after it all ends it immediately becomes one of the best shows you’ve ever seen in your life. That’s what happened when I saw the enigmatic St. Vincent at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel in March. The way she carried herself on stage was impeccable and her techniques on guitar put me in a state of astonishment. “Huey Newton,” “Rattlesnake” and “Strange Mercy” made me an instant fan. Opening act Jenny Hval provided a mellow mood as well. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen (easily in my top five of all time) and that’s why it’s the best show I saw in Providence in 2015.
With a year like 2015 for live music in Providence, 2016 looks like it could be even better. You’re going to have to go out and see for yourself.
Top 20 Albums Of 2015 (Because 10 Wasn’t Enough)
There’s a lot to be said for music in 2015. It was a year of consistently great albums from both the independent and mainstream. A few acts came out of nowhere to deliver masterpieces while a few vets released some of their best work in years. As we reach the second half of the 2010s we see music reflecting on the tumultuous times — youth are using art to combat their feeling of alienation and being cast aside. 2015 was a year of poignancy and profundity on countless levels and it was reflected in the music. It also was a year of prodigies and wunderkinds reaching their potential, and here are my Top 20 Albums of 2015, because 10 wasn’t enough. 20.) The Battery Electric – The Heart and The Thrill (Little Dick Man)
A bunch of wildmen from Asbury Park, New Jersey, who fuse Misfits-esque punk, ’70s heavy metal and vintage Motown soul, The Battery Electric are bound to give a shock to your system with their second full length, The Heart and The Thrill, that came out in March. Ron Santee can absolutely wail on vocals and Brent Bergholm scorches on guitar. Alexander Rosen holds it down on bass with Santee also playing drums on the album. These guys’ charisma shows with The Heart and The Thrill. “Heathen,” “Key Party” and “Crown Royal” are bound to rev you up.
19.) Jose Oyola & The Astronauts – Hologram (Purebred)
New Haven, Connecticut, indie musician Jose Oyola manages to head into a different dimension with his music on the new album he did with The Astronauts in Hologram. His bilingual lyrics that shift between English and Spanish, intelligent songwriting reflecting his thoughts on the world and outer space along with his uncanny way of finding a groove and rhythm in complex structures makes Oyola truly stand out. “Inside/Out” is catchy along with having a killer bass line, “Lune” has a distinct edge with Oyola riffing on electric guitar, and “Miedo” combines indie rock and mariachi for something truly special. Hologram is the epitome of a musician not being afraid of being himself, and that’s why it’s on this list. 18.) Wild Sun – Little Truths (American Laundromat)
Wild Sun are a fantastic alternative rock trio from Westerly, Rhode Island, that are some of the most talented musicians in New England. Glenn Kendzia writes pristine son
gs while bassist Paul Fazio and drummer Cameron Raubeson syncopate perfectly as a rhythm section. Together they create a tightly knit and flowing sound on their debut album, Little Truths. “Shy Hinges” is an emotional love song with an amplified punch, “The Vacation” is one of the best songs to come out of The Ocean State in a few years, and “Windowless Room” has infectious angst. The future looks bright for Wild Sun and hopefully their follow-up will be even better.
17.) Evans The Death – Expect Delays (Slumberland/Fortuna Pop!)
With all the music coming out of the United Kingdom, you probably didn’t expect an up-and-coming act not familiar to us in The States to make this list. Evans The Death from London put out an awesome album with Expect Delays. Classic British indie with hints of raw noise and punk rhythms reminiscent of Siouxie & The Banshees take things over from track to track. You’re bound to gravitate to “Bad Year,” “Enabler” and “Sledgehammer.” Expect Delays is a very underrated album from a band that are on to bigger things in the coming years. 16.) Banditos – S/T (Bloodshot)
Honky-tonk, country-stained rock ‘n’ roll is what Banditos are all about, and you’ll know why once you listen to their self-titled debut that came out in May. They really push the envelope in an age where anything related to folk music is becoming increasingly copied, redundant and boring. What Banditos do best is play at a feverish pace with grit and soul. It all comes together to make for wonderful music that’ll wow you. “The Breeze,” “Waitin'” and “Cry Baby Cry” are going to make you dance.
15.) Atlantic Thrills – Vices (Almost Ready)
In Providence, one of the highest anticipated releases of 2015 was Atlantic Thrills’ second album, Vices. They absolutely delivered and even took a few risks by going with more of a polished surf and vintage route rather than the sheer rawness of their self-titled debut that came out last year. Vices still has the party vibe Atlantic Thrills are known for, and that’s all that matters. Speaking of partying, “Live For The Weekend” talks about just that. “Bed Bugs” is a jumpstarter that’ll make you boogie, and “Treat My Baby” has a doo-wop vibe that’ll stick in your head.
14.) Leon Bridges – Coming Home (Columbia) Some musicians are considered a blast from the past and then there’s Leon Bridges from Fort Worth, Texas. His voice harks back to Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, and his guitar playing is reminiscent of B.B. King. Bridges also dresses like something straight out of the late ’50s and early ’60s. His debut album, Coming Home, that came out in June has that old- school tone. Check out the title track “Coming Home,” the straight talkin’ “Smooth Sailin'” and the gospel ballad “River;” they each exemplify Bridges’ finest talents.
13.) Bully – Feels Like (Startime International/Columbia)
When the lead singer of your band is a former intern at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio studios in Chicago and is also an experienced engineer, it’s almost a given that your album is going to sound great. That’s what you get with frontwoman Alicia Bognanno and Nashville garage punks Bully’s debut full length, Feels Like. There’s a heart-on-the-sleeve aesthetic to Bognanno’s songwriting that makes this album an absolute gem. “Milkman” is a thrasher that’s hits you right from the start; the chorus in “Trying” will send chills up your spine and “Six” is relatable to anyone who was a rambunctious child.
12.) B. Dolan – Kill The Wolf (Strange Famous) For the past few years, Providence hip-hop phenom B. Dolan was searching for a certain type of sound. He was trying to combine the power and spectacle of rock music with the lyrical flow of hip-hop and he found it with Kill The Wolf. It’s an album that’s different than a lot of local releases in The Creative Capital. At one point Dolan will dive into blues, then punk and then jazzy hip-hop. “Lazarus” has a bit of jazz and a lot of intensity, “Jailbreak” features fellow Strange Famous label mate Buck 65, New York City underground hip-hop legend Aesop Rock and the late Dave Lamb from Brown Bird on a track with a gothic blues influence, and “Alright” has this insane drum beat that’ll hook you from the beginning. Kill The Wolf is definitely one of the crown jewels of The Creative Capital’s music scene this year.
11.) The New Highway Hymnal – Reverb Room (Self-Released)
Bringin’ the fuzz and psychedelic tendencies are The New Highway Hymnal from the north shore of Massachusetts and their album Reverb Room that came out in January. Hadden Stemp has endless swagger on vocals and his guitar makes crazy amounts of distortion. Amelia Gormley on bass is the reason why there’s such a fuzzy sound and her backing vocals provide a dream pop tone. Travis Hagan is like Animal from The Muppets on drums. “Isolation” is one of the best tracks to come out of New England in 2015, “By The Pool” will get you in the mood to start shaken’ and “Television” is another danceable tune that critiques sitting in front of an electronic box. 10.) Downtown Boys – Full Communism (Don Giovanni)
The best album to come out of Providence in 2015 without a doubt has to be Downtown Boys’ Full Communism that was released in May. It catapulted these sax- fueled dance punks to new heights in terms of popularity and the expansion of their mission. What’s their mission you might ask? To break the status quo, to punch stereotypes in the face and to make their voice heard. “Wave of History,” “Monstro” and “Future Police” are all excellent examples of how Full Communism is one of the most important albums out right now. Victoria Ruiz is an amazing force on the mic with the rest of the band being a rhythmic army.
9.) Screaming Females – Rose Mountain (Don Giovanni)
One of the best punk bands in the 21st Century so far has to be Screaming Females from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Their sixth studio album, Rose Mountain, cements that claim with frontwoman Marissa Paternoster consistently ripping it on guitar with each song. King Mike on bass and Jarrett Dougherty on drums are also one of the best rhythm sections in independent music. “Empty Head” is a perfect opening track to the album with an endless amount of riffs, “Ripe” sounds like something a metal band would write and “Triumph” has King Mike showing his skills on bass. The album also captured the trio’s energetic live show, which is always a plus. 8.) Wilco – Star Wars (dBpm)
It’s hard to say what was the most unexpected about Wilco releasing their ninth studio album, Star Wars, in July. Was it that they released it on their website with no prior announcements? Was it that they released it for free? Who cares? It’s some of Wilco’s best work. What I really liked about this album is that they used Nels Cline’s noisy guitar skills to give each track some distortion. “Random Name Generator,” “Pickled Ginger” and “Cold Slope” all bring the noise and has Wilco pushing the envelope. Definitely a departure from the band’s usual alt-country style, but you have to appreciate that they’re willing to try new things.
7.) Royal Headache – High (What’s Your Rupture?)
When Sydney, AU garage punks Royal Headache unveiled their style evocative of Motown and The Ramones with their self-titled debut back in 2012, a bunch of fanatics were craving more. They satisfied their fans with their follow up, High, in August and it had them progress into more rigid punk anthems and deeper into old school R&B. There’s definitely a lot more variety with this album as well, which shows a band heading down the right path. “Garbage” is the perfect song for anyone who’s pissed off that they got burned, “Wouldn’t You Know” is a ballad for the broken-hearted, and “My Own Fantasy” is a rager that confronts reality. They have said that this might be their last release; hopefully it isn’t.
6.) Speedy Ortiz – Foil Deer (Carpark Records)
This quartet originally started out in Western Massachusetts and now they’re the most sought after band in New England. If you don’t know who Speedy Ortiz are, then you probably know someone who does and they’re most likely a huge fan. They’re just that type of band that can do no wrong and when they released Foil Deer in April, it further showed how awesome of an alternative rock band they are. Sadie Dupuis’ sardonic and dreamscaping songwriting is fantastic and drummer Mike Falcone, bassist Darl Ferm and guitarist Devin Mcknight round out an extremely talented and versatile foursome. “Raising The Skate” is one of the hits off of the album and the guitar structures jump out at you. “Puffer” gets groovy with a hot beat and “Swell Content” is a twee punk electrifier. It’s going to be very exciting when Speedy Ortiz puts out their next release; we’ll just have to wait and wonder to see if it’ll be better than their most recent one.
5.) Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly (Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope)
After lighting the popular music world on fire with 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, West Coast hip-hop trailblazer Kendrick Lamar had the world at his fingertips. This year he released To Pimp A Butterfly for his magnum opus with influences of funk, jazz and spoken word. Collaborating with George Clinton, Thundercat, Snoop Dogg and Ronald Isley, Lamar takes hip- hop back to its roots while giving it a jolt of something new. “Wesley’s Theory,” “King Kunta” and “How Much A Dollar Costs” are all fantastic tracks off an incredible album. Lamar puts an entire genre on its head and shifts it into a totally different direction.
4.) Hop Along – Painted Shut (Saddle Creek)
Frances Quinlan’s voice has a raspy quality, and that’s what makes Hop Along’s Painted Shut so damn good. It’s old school alternative rock with pop structures that has a way of hitting your soul. There’s also a couple of acoustic tracks to mix things up a bit. It’s such a hard hitting and emotional album that you can’t help but love it. “The Knock” has a chorus that’ll attach itself to your nucleus, “Texas Funeral” is shoegazey and distorted and “Powerful Man” stuns with a couple riffs that’ll rock your socks off. This act from Philly is one of many reasons why the music scene in The City Of Brotherly Love has had a great year.
3.) Beach Slang – The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us (Polyvinyl)
Another act from Philadelphia who really know how to sock you in the heart, Beach Slang is one of those bands that already had a buzz about them before they put out their first full length album. The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us from start to finish is honest and genuine, the most punk of any punk rock record that has come out this year. Cheap thrills, broken hearts and alienation, James Alex and crew cover it all from track to track. “Throwaways,” “Noisy Heaven” and “Young & Alive” are raging anthems for the broken. Beach Slang are a hugely refreshing band in a time where people don’t even know if punk ideal exists anymore.
2.) Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Mom + Pop Music/Marathon Artists/ Milk!)
Every year there’s a musician who comes out of nowhere and makes a big splash. In March, Courtney Barnett from Melbourne, AU put out her debut full length Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit and she became a bit of a garage rock sensation overnight. What makes her songwriting astounding is the way she blends pop rhythms. It’s as if she’s an amalgamation of Kimya Dawson and PJ Harvey. Barnett’s lyrics also have a rebellious snark that you’ll enjoy. “Pedestrian At Best” speaks to the girls who deal with mixed feelings. “Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party” strangely makes me think of The Beatles as well as preaching the gospel of the hermit. “Aqua Profunda!” is a neo-mod track that has ultra distorted chord progressions. I’m very excited to see what Barnett does next because her debut is simply brilliant.
1.) Fuzz – II (In The Red) When I first heard this album from the project featuring Los Angeles garage rock prolific machine Ty Segall, Charles Moothart and Chad Ubovich it made me think of the glory of ’70s heavy metal and ’70s hard rock. The riffs alone will spark thoughts of Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy and Motorhead (RIP Lemmy). With so many bands trying to replicate this style or at least come close to it, Fuzz got it right with II. Epic beyond belief with solos that’ll warp your mind in two and put it back together again. Just listen to “Time Collapse Pt. II/The 7th Terror,” “Pollinate” and “Say Hello” and try to tell me that Fuzz’s II isn’t one of the most badass albums to come out so far this decade. It’s stupendously incredible music and that’s why it’s the best album to come out in 2015.
That’s my list, so let the debating begin. Who knows what 2016 could bring? If it’s as good as 2015 was for music then we’re going in the right direction. Have a safe and happy new year and keep on listening.
Motif Interviews Northern Lands’ Josh Cournoyer One of the best things about the holiday season is friends coming home from afar. What’s even better is when they come back home and play a show with their old band and put on a party. Current Nashville resident and Rhode Island native Josh Cournoyer will perform with his high octane rock act Northern Lands at The Parlour on the day after Christmas for what should be one hell of a homecoming. Sharing the bill are the psychedelic folk of Viking Jesus and local rockers Jealous Fuck. Ahead of the weekend’s festivities, I caught up with Cournoyer about adjusting to Nashville, new musical projects and where he’ll be spending Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Rob Duguay: You first moved down to Nashville while being a member of the current Los Angeles rock band Runaway Saints. How was adjusting to a new city?
Josh Cournoyer: I think it was definitely sensory overload at first. From a musician’s standpoint there are a ton of great players down there and there are a lot of really great songwriters. You have a lot of different genres of music that are taking off out of Nashville right now and it’s all really great stuff. It was super fun starting to experience what the city is like, but I also kind of missed the camaraderie of the Providence music scene because it takes a little bit longer to find a group and a niche down there.
RD: You’re not in Runaway Saints anywhere and like I mentioned before they’re in Los Angeles now. What made you want to stay in Nashville rather than come back to Rhode Island?
JC: Well, I really love the energy of Nashville and the music that’s coming out of there. As much as it can be overwhelming at times from being with Runaway Saints, then working down there now and playing and writing, it’s great to feel challenged constantly. Nashville is kind of a melting pot, I have a group of friends that are musicians from all over the country. It’s constantly forcing me to grow, change and evolve a little bit. I’d never lived anywhere outside of Rhode Island prior to moving to Nashville so I felt like at this point in my life that I owed it to myself to experience something new. My fiancé and I decided to make a go of it in Nashville, try it out for a few years and see how we liked it.
RD: It seems that you’re enjoying yourself down there. Outside of Northern Lands, which particular music projects are you involved with in Nashville?
JC: Right now I’m writing a new record, I don’t know whether I’ll release it as Northern Lands or as a solo record, but I’ve been working on that for about a year and I’ll be recording it this spring. I also started doing some production work with a few different artists, along with working on the record.
RD: Do you plan on making the record in Nashville at a studio or do you plan on just doing it at your apartment?
JC: I’ve been demoing it both at my home studio in Nashville and at a studio that belongs to a friend of mine. Eventually I’ll record it at a studio in Nashville, but I’m doing the writing and pre-production either at my apartment or at my friend’s studio.
RD: It must be a lot cheaper to do that rather than do the writing and everything else at a studio right from the get-go. You said before how you missed the camaraderie in Providence where in Nashville it can be a tad difficult to network yourself. Is that what you miss the most about Providence or are there other things you miss about the city as well?
JC: I think Providence is such a great city, I’ve played in a lot of bands here over the years and I’ve made a lot of really great lifelong friends so it’s really difficult at times to be away from all of that. Smith & Weeden have stayed with me a bunch of times on tour, Dan Dodd has come down and played shows with me and I absolutely love when that stuff happens. It’s really cool to see those people come down, but you kind of miss that small town feel a little bit. Nashville is super collaborative so it’s not hard to necessarily network yourself, it’s that I had a routine and a pattern in Providence that I definitely miss. You have your favorite bars, I loved working at The Met and getting to see a ton of live music all the time. I get to see music in Nashville, but my pattern and my routine has shifted a lot from living in a new city.
RD: There can definitely be a little change in everything when you immerse yourself in a new environment. With it being the holiday season, who are you spending Christmas with and what are you doing for New Year’s Eve?
JC: I am going to be splitting time between my fiancé’s family and my family in Rhode Island for Christmas along with spending a lot of time with friends while I’m in town. For New Year’s Eve I haven’t actually decided yet. I’m going to look and see what the best thing going is and I’ll probably go with that.
RSVP to Saturday’s Northern Lands Homecoming Show @ The Parlour on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1641127326112205
Northern Lands on Bandcamp: http://northernlands.bandcamp.com
Fungus Amungus Bring The Holiday Hangover To The Met Sometimes band members change but the name and vibe stays the same. That’s what you can say about long time Providence funk act Fungus Amungus. Being around for over a decade (which is a long time for a local act), the band’s lineup has changed throughout the years, but they’re always an awesome time. With Shane Manzi ripping on guitar and singing soulfully, Johnny Lingo on the keys, Jarrod Valenti booming on the sax and the tight rhythm section of bassist Mike Sperduti and drummer Joe Jannarelli, Fungus Amungus has talent. It’ll be their first show in a few months, but they’ll be taking over The Met the night after Christmas on December 26 for their Holiday Hangover spectacular.
One-man funk jam machine Resin Ed will kick things off at 9pm sharp, and ugly sweaters are strongly encouraged. There will be a prize given to the person with the ugliest sweater of the night. There will also be a Christmas re-gifting table to swap any of the bad gifts you got from a weird family member (most likely the strange uncle with the bad comb-over) for another bad gift that might actually appeal to you. The bar also is offering drink specials. What better way to celebrate the day after Christmas than with a bunch of funk and a continuation of holiday cheer?
Doors will open at 8pm and it’s an all-ages event, so bring the family. You’re going to be dancin’, drinkin’ and sweatin’, and you’ll be a little happier with a nicer gift than you got the day before. Sounds like a win-win right? Work off that Holiday Hangover with Fungus Amungus on Saturday and have a blast. Trust me, you’re going to need it.
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1659657377608487
Fungus Amungus on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetFunkedYo
Resin Ed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resinED What Cheer Celebrates 16 Years This Weekend
It’s tough starting a small business no matter where you are. You have to deal with rent, cost of goods, paying employees, taxes and all sorts of other things. Sometimes just one hiccup can put your whole establishment in jeopardy. What if there have been multiple ones? It can definitely disrupt the steady flow of business. Stolen merchandise can be an absolute killer; a loss in profit and revenue can result in a business closing for good. Among other obstacles, that’s what Chris & Jennifer Daltry have dealt with this year at their quaint little shop, What Cheer Records + Vintage, on the corner of Angell and Thayer Street in Providence’s East Side.
At one time, Thayer Street was known for having multiple record stores to choose from. Tom’s Tracks and the original In Your Ear Records were notable, among others, for being havens for music fanatics searching through troughs of vinyl to find that one album their ears were craving. These days, Thayer Street has evolved into a highly commercialized hub that lacks the same charm it had decades ago. What Cheer Records + Vintage is the only record store on the street since they moved from their Wayland Square location in June 2012. Being at their present location that has a lot more traffic and notability, you can only imagine managing their business has gotten more expensive for them.
With a few instances of people stealing records from their shop, the Daltrys have resorted to installing security cameras and moving their register closer to the door so they can combat these calamaties. You’d think that would be the end of their worries, but unfortunately it’s not. The building they’re in that also houses The Kind Connection and Chipotle just got bought by Stephen Lewinstein, who is part owner of Capstone Properties, a real estate firm based in Providence.
About this whole situation and the trial of tribulations What Cheer has faced in 2015, Chris says, “It’s been a tough year because of theft, and also because our building was sold. It has made us feel very uncertain about our future there. Having to relocate from our old location 3 ½ years ago was incredibly difficult for us, and we’re not sure we have another move in us. We also cannot face extreme rent hikes, as our current rent is nearly triple what we paid at our old space in Wayland Square.” With a history of increasing rent and making buildings financially suitable only for multi-million dollar corporations, you can understand why the Daltrys have a sense of uncertainty with Capstone Properties buying their building.
To the local consumer this should come as a concern and hopefully the apathy of the masses will transform to empathy when it comes to local small businesses just trying to get by. The citizens of Providence have been known for priding themselves on the city’s DIY community and always electing to spend their money at a local business with a wholesome quality rather than a chain filled with density and meaningless aesthetics.
What Cheer Records + Vintage will celebrate both their 16th year of being in business and the joy of the holiday season on Sunday, December 20. So stop by 180 Angell Street, buy a record for yourself and a cute little knickknack for the special someone in your life. Let’s keep one of Providence’s most unique and best businesses around.
Check out all the details on What Cheer Records + Vintage’s 16th Anniversary/Holiday Party on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1492595411045203
What Cheer Records + Vintage’s Website: http://whatcheerprovidence.com
Album Of The Week: Strange Faces’ Stonerism
With the help of the internet, it’s fairly convenient for the typical music fan to dive into different music scenes around the country just by search through a few genres and clicking on a couple of tags. For example, take Chicago’s garage rock community. Countless bands have come out of The Windy City over the past few years with fuzzy riffs, catchy hooks and a raw flair. Another one of those acts is Strange Faces and they’re putting out their debut album, Stonerism, just before the year ends. With a combination of surf punk and power pop, this quartet lets it all hang out with each track.
Similar to their local contemporaries The Orwells, Twin Peaks (Cadien James from that band produced and mastered Stonerism) and Modern Vices, Strange Faces mix intense, unbridled electricity with catchy lyrics. What sets them apart are the atmospheric vocals from David Miller and the lo-fi, shoegazy styles from Taylor Walters on guitar. It’s a different take on a genre that’s usually in your face with these four kids taking it a bit back while playing songs that’ll make you dance. With Stonerism, Strange Faces show that they’re not your typical garage rock band by continuously pushing the creative envelope.
So, it’s that time of the year again. This is my final Album Of The Week article for the year, an interesting year indeed. It’s been great seeing so many underground bands put out a bunch of incredible records this year, and it’ll be very difficult trying to figure out which ones make my end of the year list. Before I figure that out, here are my top tracks: Right when the opening riff hits in “Don’t Feel Bad,” you’ll start to feel good. The rhythms will get you to cut a rug while everything else will put you under a spell. The downbeat driven “Still Lit” is an ode to adolescent boredom and not having any idea of what to do with yourself. It also might be a story about being alone after taking a hit of the devil’s lettuce, but I guess you have to ask the band about that. “Such A Drag” is very reminiscent of Guided By Voices; you can definitely notice the Robert Pollard influence right from the beginning.
They don’t have any shows coming up, but be sure Strange Faces will be back on stage performing live sometime next year. Hopefully they’ll venture to New England and grace us with their presence. Pine for them until they come through your friendly neighborhood music venue but until then, grab a copy of Stonerism when it comes out on December 11 via Autumn Tone Records. It’ll fill your latest need for something new while also giving your record player something to do.
Strange Faces on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sstrangeffaces
Mmmm … Pizza …
Any Rhode Island resident knows that our little state is home to some of the best pizza on the planet. Sicilian, thin crust, pan style or even just on flatbread, Rhode Islanders know what it takes to make a good pie. Local organization RI Food Fights puts on a series of events celebrating the many Ocean State restaurants throughout the year and this past November was Lord Of The Pies. Nineteen pizzerias and restaurants participated in the event, and I decided to take it upon myself to judge and review each establishment, with the help of a few friends. Rating each place on a scale of 1 to 8 slices (With 1 being the worst and 8 being the best). Here’s what I thought of each contestant along with my own winner of Lord Of The Pies.
Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza (380 Atwells Ave, Providence) — Cheese — Straight cheese, that’s what I got at Napolitano’s on Federal Hill. On a street filled with pizza royalty such as Sicilia’s, this place often gets overlooked. I can kind of understand based on the slice. The crust was burned, which left flakes of char on the pizza. One positive was that it wasn’t greasy, but I’ve had better cheese pizza slices in my life. – 3 slices
Blaze Village Kitchen (999 Main Street, Pawtucket) — Kimchi — Newly opened within The Hope Artiste Village, this swanky joint is located right across from The Met (where you’ve probably seen at least one live music show). The atmosphere was elegant and the orange and mahogany colors all over the place melded well. I got a slice of flatbread pizza here and it was the Kimchi, a take on the Korean specialty. With a Korean chili sauce known as Gochujang along with smoked tofu, picked cabbage, scallions and mozzarella cheese, among numerous other ingredients, it was fairly tasty. The way it was cut ruined it for me though. It was incredibly hard to handle with the toppings continuously falling on my plate. I have no problem with flatbread pizza, but cut it so I can actually eat it without making a mess. – 4 slices
Casa Pizza (855 Point Judith Road, Narragansett) — Buffalo Chicken — Located near the beaches of Narragansett, Casa Pizza is a tiny little place with big slices. I decided to try a slice of their buffalo chicken pizza. It’s different than others I’ve had with shredded buffalo chicken and a good layer of cheese topped with a light amount of carrots and celery. Obviously the tiny carrots and celery are more for decoration. The buffalo flavor was a little less spicy than I would have liked, but I did enjoy the consistency of the melted cheese and the thin crust. Overall it was average, but you can’t turn down the size of Casa Pizza’s slices no matter what it is. – 5 slices
Elmwood Diner (777 Elmwood Avenue, Providence) — The Breakfast — An old place that’s been around since the ’40s and recently brought back to life, The Elmwood Diner has a vintage decor. Kind of hard to believe you can get a pizza from here, but it’s true. I decided to get The Breakfast, a pizza that has scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon and green onions. They were generous with the toppings, and the pizza was very filling. I didn’t like how the crust was the consistency of something that was pre- made. It tasted like something out of a Pillsbury can. Everything else was great, but the crust was a downer. – 5 slices
K&S Pizza (469 Carolina Back Road, Charlestown) — Pepperoni — Nestled in rural Charlestown, K&S Pizza has become one of the most celebrated pizza joints in South County. A friend and I shared a large pepperoni pie. The curled up pepperoni slices on a thick and hearty crust made this pizza great. And for a pepperoni pizza, it wasn’t overly greasy, which I was surprised by. I wish the sauce had a little more of a kick, but it was pretty solid. – 5 slices
Providence Pizza Company (767 Westminster Street, Providence) – Margherita — It’s hard to believe that I’ve lived in Rhode Island for nearly a decade and haven’t been to Providence Pizza Company before now. When I ordered I decided to stick with a slice of a classic. A pizza holy trinity of tomatoes, mozzarella and basil is a delicious combo. On a thin crust that was soft and not dry at all, Providence Pizza Company had a pretty good slice. My only criticism is that they could be a little heavier on the toppings (the tomatoes were pretty thin) but overall I enjoyed it. – 5 slices
Andrews Commons (211 Bowen Street, Providence) — Caprese — Within the depths of Brown University is the cafeteria known as Andrews Commons. I got a slice of Caprese featuring tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, pesto and a balsamic drizzle. The thin crust was tender and not dry, and the pesto gave the slice body. Like the Margherita and Providence Pizza Company, I wish the slices of tomato were bigger. It wasn’t anything special, but I can see how a college kid couldn’t live without a slice of pizza from this place. – 5 slices
Luigi’s Restaurant & Gourmet Express (1359 Hartford Avenue, Johnston) – Cheese — Luigi’s is one of the best places to pick up food on the go. Chock full of Italian specialties like lasagna, chicken marsala and baked ziti along with BBQ pulled pork, you’re bound to have an amazing meal when you head to Luigi’s. I got a slice of cheese from here; the cheese was thick, the crust was just right and the sauce was solid. Overall, not a bad slice of cheese and it was way better than Napolitano’s. – 5 slices
Nice Slice Pizzeria (267 Thayer Street, Providence) — Cranberry Picnic — Nice Slice has always been a longtime staple of mine with the BBQ Steak & Bacon being one of my all-time favorites. For the sake of fair journalism and an unbiased opinion, I decided to go with something different. The Cranberry Picnic has dried cranberries, spinach, feta cheese and almonds. I’m not the biggest fan of feta, but its tartness complemented the cranberries well. The spinach and almonds gave it some consistency too. – 6 slices
The Fire Brick Oven Pizza & Bar (1874 Mineral Spring Avenue Providence) — Bacon — Over on Mineral Spring Ave in North Providence, The Fire is a classy establishment with fancy ambiance. A buddy of mine and I stopped by there and kept it simple by splitting a large bacon pie. A reasonable amount of bacon and a robust sauce highlighted the experience. The basil garnish was a nice touch, too. Could have been heavier on the cheese, but it was very tasty. – 6 slices
Uncle Tony’s Pizza & Pasta (141 Newport Avenue, East Providence) — Roasted Red Peppers, Onions & Hot Capicola — Uncle Tony’s Pizza & Pasta is a mini franchise in Rhode Island with locations in Cranston, East Providence and Johnston. They have a great reputation for pizza and their East Providence location was participating in this year’s competition. I could get a small pie of whatever I wanted so I decided to get a trifecta of roasted red peppers, onions and hot capicola. The crust was golden brown and not too thick, just the way I like it. They were generous with the toppings, too, and they rested on a bed of a robust and flavorful sauce. Two criticisms I had was that the cheese didn’t hold the toppings together that well — the peppers kept on falling to the plate. I also would have liked the capicola to be a little crispier. It stimulated my tastebuds just fine though. – 6 slices
Tomato City Pizza (1041 Douglas Avenue Providence) — Buffalo Chicken — In the North End of Providence, Tomato City has been a staple for hungry college kids craving a pie. I got a slice of the Buffalo Chicken and it was pretty good. The crust was crispy with a generous amount of cheese and chicken, as well. The complimentary slice of bakery pizza that came with it was nice, too. You can see why the PC and RIC students keep on coming back. – 6 slices
Pizza J (967 Westminster Street, Providence) — Pale Moon Rider — A brand new pizza off shoot of the popular west end restaurant Julians, Pizza J has only been open for a little over a month and it’s already creating a buzz. I got a slice of the Pale Moon Rider, topped with seasoned ricotta, olive oil, marinated mushrooms, shaved sirloin and caramelized onions. The slice had a certain earthy flavor I really dug and the numerous pools of ricotta made each bite enjoyable. – 7 slices
Fat Boys Pizza (1426 Hartford Avenue, Johnston) — Loaded Baked Potato Pizza — Located right near the intersection of Atwood & Hartford Avenue in Johnston, Fat Boys Pizza has only been open for a little more than a year and they’ve already gotten a big following for their pizza. With their loaded baked potato slice, I can see why. A generous amount of bacon and green onions on top of cheese and potato medallions brought a lot of flavor. The crust was tender and easy to fold as well. A sour cream drizzle completed the whole package. My only criticism is that they could have been a little lighter with the green onions, but that’s only because of preference. One of the best slices in the competition. – 7 slices
Van Gogh Pizza (12 Broadway, Newport) — Aquidneck BBQ Chicken — Down on Broadway in Newport, Van Gogh Pizza has a cool atmosphere with their menu written out on a couple of chalkboards and artistic photos framed on the walls. I got two slices of the Aquidneck BBQ Chicken and it was pretty good. Soft and tender crust, Honey BBQ sauce, chicken, red onion and bacon and plenty of it. There was a Honey BBQ drizzle as well, but it tasted like it just came out of the fridge. It was so good I almost asked for another slice. – 7 slices
Tomaselli’s at Rosario (17 Rosario Drive, Providence) – Honey Mustard Chicken — As a place that’s kind of a catering hall, I didn’t know what to expect from Tomaselli’s in Providence. I got the Honey Mustard Chicken and I was absolutely impressed. The crust was kind of thick, but not too hefty and they were generous with the cheese, chicken and honey mustard sauce. Very delicious indeed, the place threw me a curveball in a good way. I definitely want to come back. – 7 slices
The Big Cheese Pizza & Pub (606 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston) — BBQ Chicken — For over 40 years this longtime pizza haven has been serving up incredible pies. The Big Cheese & Pub is a pizza institution around these parts. I got small BBQ Chicken, a favorite kind of pizza from yours truly, but I hadn’t had it here before. It was flat out incredible. The crust was just right, not too big and not too soft. They were generous with the toppings too, perfect amount of cheese, chicken and BBQ sauce. To be honest, this was one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in my life. Perfect score, you can definitely see why The Big Cheese has been around for so long. – 8 slices
And the winner is…..
Well as you can tell by the scores, The Big Cheese Pizza & Pub got the perfect score of 8 slices. Therefore, they are the winner. Why? Because it was absolutely perfect and I’m definitely going back. Hell, I might even head back to every pizza place that participated.
RI Food Fights’ next competition is the Spectacular Cookie Throwdown happening at the Hope Artiste Village located on 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket on Sunday December 6. It’ll be the perfect way to handle your sweet tooth.
RI Food Fights’ Website: http://www.rifoodfights.com
Album Of The Week: Dirty Streets’ White Horse Everyone wants to talk about what’s happening in Nashville. But what about that other city in Tennessee? What about Memphis? With a long history of blues and soul music, The River City has been a hive for fantastic rock ‘n’ roll that’s still alive and well today. With a Motown vibe, hints of funk and a whole lot of groove, Dirty Streets call Memphis home and they have a sound that’ll get you hooked like a fish on a line. Their fourth full length, White Horse, is currently out and it brings a vintage power that’s reminiscent of every awesome rock ‘n’ roll band you’ve ever heard.
There’s an old-school feel with Dirty Streets; their melodies and rhythms give me visions of The Guess Who, The Allman Brothers and James Gang. That’s not a bad trio to be compared to, right? Frontman Justin Toland’s voice harks back to the bravado of The Guess Who’s Burton Cummings, their psychedelic tendencies and riffs are evocative of late ’60s Allman Brothers and the sheer rawness of it all definitely brings the styles of James Gang to mind. This trio has a ton of boogie with the way they play, and you’ll notice it from the get-go once you give White Horse a listen.
It’s December, which means that you’ll have to do some Christmas shopping sometime soon. Why not get the people you love some music? Whether it’s a record, a God-forsaken CD or even a mixture. Who knows? Maybe the new album from Dirty Streets could make for a wonderful stocking stuffer. While you get ready to bring out some holiday cheer, check out my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week.
That drumbeat firing it all off from Andrew Denham on “Save Me” sets the tone for the entire album in magnificent fashion. It’s a near perfect opening track on White Horse that brings charisma to the forefront. A rabble-rouser to the fullest extent, “Good Pills” has Denham unleashing killer downbeats while creating infectious rhythms with Thonas Storz on bass. Toland gets straight up nasty on guitar in this track as well. You’ll hear a subtle piano cutting away and then everything gets thunderous on “Looking For My Peace.” Storz’s bass and Toland’s psychedelic twang are very much present in this track and it’s a gem.
Dirty Streets’ next show will be will be at Maxine’s on December 4 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They just did a tour with fuzz metal giants Spirit Caravan that rolled through Brighton Music Hall in Allston, Massachusetts on November 12 so it’ll only be a matter of time until they come back to New England. Until then, you gotta get yourself a copy of White Horse from Memphis rock & roll trio Dirty Streets. It’ll get you to boogie and it’ll get you to groove, plug this bad boy in and bust a move. Stream “Good Pills” on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/alivenaturalsound/dirty-streets-good-pills?in=alivenaturalsound/sets/the-dirty-st reets
Dirty Streets on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedirtystreets
Rob’s Album Of The Week: Black Moth Super Rainbow’s SeeFu Lilac
Genres blur in today’s music. Sometimes it’s a simple merging of two styles while other times it can be very abstract and all over the place. Then there’s music that’s stunningly weird, but able to strike a chord with your senses. Psychedelic electronic trip- hoppers Black Moth Super Rainbow are exactly that, with Tobacco’s entrancing vocals providing mellow tones to the distorted sounds. The act from Pittsburgh have “secretly” released their 6th album SeeFu Lilac recently, and it has interdimensional qualities that are duplicated by only a few.
What makes Black Moth Super Rainbow different from a lot of other bands are the unique instruments they incorporate into their music. For example, the way Tobacco gets his voice to sound like a robot with each track on SeeFu Lilac is with a vocoder. The group also uses a Rhodes piano and a mellowtron in many other songs. It makes for experimental music with a creative flair that not many artists can achieve. SeeFu Lilac also shows a lot more of a laid-back vibe than the quintet’s 2012 release Cobra Juicy.
Listening to this album can definitely relax your mind a bit. Structurally there’s a groove, but there’s a certain complexity that’s hard to put my finger on. To keep things simple, here are my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week. I like “DVD Sweetner” a lot; it starts off with a sheen of electronica and then a clapping beat settles in for a righteous listening experience. Humming its way to your speakers, “The Chew” is somewhat droning, but the bass and synths will excite you. Delving into the psychedelic realm is “Brotherhood of Sisters;” it bounces from place to place with a mix of acoustic guitar, dreamtoned keys and a slowed- down bass.
Black Moth Super Rainbow’s next show isn’t until January 14 when they perform at the Metro in Chicago. Fans in New England can see this act from The Steel City at Brighton Music Hall in Allston, Massachusetts, on March 31. Until then, you can stream SeeFu Lilac at the link below and grab a physical copy when it comes out on February 5. It’s a trippy release that’ll warp your mind into a psychedelic pancake.
Stream SeeFu Lilac on Bandcamp: http://blackmothsuperrainbow.bandcamp.com/album/seefu-lilac
Black Moth Super Rainbow’s Website: http://www.blackmothsuperrainbow.com/
What Cheer Records + Vintage To Make Black Friday Fun
When you hear the words Black Friday, horrific images might float around in your head. Crazed parents trying to find that new hot toy for their spoiled kids, people camped outside of Walmart for hours before the doors open and retail workers praying for their sanity while they deal with droves of customers until their shift ends. You can make a good case that Black Friday epitomizes everything that is wrong with America today. To bring a bit of enjoyment with live music and good vibes, What Cheer Records + Vintage on Thayer Street in Providence will be putting on a little celebration this Black Friday. It’ll definitely be a nice release from the ridiculousness that will ensue everywhere else throughout the day.
Chris Daltry (who you might know from local indie rock acts The ‘mericans and Purple Ivy Shadows) and his wife Jennifer have organized a wonderful event in their little shop. Discounts on certain records, including this year’s Record Store Day releases, free ice cold brews from Narragansett Beer and three local acts performing right in the store will be going on. You’ll have the dream pop fueled acoustics of Able Thought, Dylan Sevey (who is also the drummer for rock and rollers Smith & Weeden) from his own rock and roll act Dylan Sevey & The Gentlemen and power pop quartet Jets Can’t Land flowing around their sounds during the afternoon.
If you want to take a break from the chaos that is Black Friday, stop by What Cheer Records + Vintage. The festivities guarantee an awesome time and you’re bound to find that one record you’ve been looking for or a unique knickknack while perusing the store. If you do decide to venture out into the Black Friday shopping wasteland, please support your local businesses.
What Cheer Records + Vintage’s Website: http://whatcheerprovidence.com
Check out the event page on Facebook for all the info: https://www.facebook.com/events/691384064330125
Able Thought’s Website: http://ablethought.com
Dylan Sevey & The Gentlemen on Bandcamp: http://dylansevey.bandcamp.com
Jets Can’t Land on Bandcamp: https://jetscantland.bandcamp.com