Holiday Arts, Crafts, and Bazaars

Buy local this holiday season with some handmade and salvaged gifts

The Artists’ Co Op Gallery of Westerly

Celebrate the Joy: Art as the Perfect Gift, 7 Canal St, Westerly. Dec 4 – 28 www.westerlyarts.com

Sharing Small Treasures, 7 Canal St, Westerly. Thru Dec 1. Wed – Sat 11am – 4pm; Sun 1-5pm www.westerlyarts.com

Blackstone River Theatre

Holiday Craft Fair and Festival, 549 Broad St, Cumberland.Dec 7, 9am – 3pm www.riverfolk.org

Charlestown Gallery

Holiday Group Show, 5000 South County Trail, Charlestown. Nov 31 – Dec 31, Thurs – Sun, 10am – 5:30pm

Cherish the Moments

Holiday Extravaganza, VFW, 1418 Plainfield Pike, Cranston. Nov 16, 10am – 4pm www.cherishthemoments.net

Christmas Craft Fair, Knights of Columbus, 7 Valley Rd, Middletown. Dec 14 – 15, 10am – 4pm. www.cherishthemoments.net

Craftland Show, 235 Westminster St, Providence. Nov 29 – Dec 30, Sun – Wed, 10am – 6pm; Thurs – Sat, 10am – 8pm www.craftlandshop.com

Craftopia, Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main St, Pawtucket. Nov 10, 10am – 4pm www.rhodycraft.com

DeBlois Gallery

Invitational Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show, 134 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown. Nov 30 – Dec 24, Tues – Sun, noon – 5pm www.debloisgallery.com

Festival Fete Holiday Market, Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Pl, Cranston. Dec 8, 15, 22, 10am – 6pm www.festivalfete.com

FosteringArts

Christmas in the Valley, Foster Country Club, 67 Johnson RD, Foster. Nov 29 – 30 www.fosteringarts.org

The Foundry Artists Association

The Foundry Holiday Show, The Pawtucket Armory, Dec 5 – 15, weekends. See site for schedule.www.foundryshow.com

Gallery Night Providence, 27 participating Providence Galleries. Nov 21, 5 – 9pm. www.gallerynight.org

Hatch Street Studios Holiday Sale, 88 Hatch St, New Bedford. Nov 22, 5-9pm; Nov 23, 10am – 5pm; Nov 24, 11am – 5pm. www.hatchstreetstudios.com

Mad Dog Artist Studios and Gallery

Holiday Open Studio Sale, 65 Blackstone Ave, Pawtucket. Dec 5 – 15. See site for hours maddogartiststudios.com

The Mill at Shady Lea

Open Studios Weekend, 215 Shady Lea Rd, North Kingstown. Dec 1 – 2, noon – 5pm www.themillatshadylea.com

Ocean State Artisans

Holiday Craft Festival, CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave, Warwick. Nov 29, 10am – 5pm; Nov 30, 9am – 4pm www.oceanstateartisans.com

Providence Flea, Hope High School, 324 Hope St, Providence. Nov 17, Dec 8, Dec 15, 10am – 4pm www.providenceflea.com

Providence Art Club

Little Pictures Show and Sale, 11 Thomas St, Providence. Nov 19 – Dec 23. Gallery open daily. See site for times. www.providenceartclub.org

RISD Holiday Alumni Art Sale, RI Convention Center, 1 Sabin St, Providence. Dec 7, 10am – 5pm www.risdalumnisales.wordpress.com

South County Art Association

Holiday Pottery and Art Sale, 2587 Kingstown Rd, Kingston. Nov 29 – Dec 22, Wed – Sun, 10am – 6pm www.southcountyart.org

Urban Vintage Bazar, Brown University Campus Center, Faunce Hall, 75 Waterman Street, Providence. 10am – 4pm www.facebook.com/UrbanVintageBazaar

Alt-Nation: Some New Discs and Shows to Bid 2013 Goodbye

Rock in RI: Clarkin’s top shows of December

Throwing Muses – Purgatory/Paradise

It’s been a decade since Newport’s own Throwing Muses have released a record and Purgatory/Paradise shows that it wasn’t spent being idle. Purgatory/Paradise is a 32-track record that comes with a book that includes audio commentary and even more tracks! Because of the sheer volume, it is impossible to compare it to anything the band has done before. Taken on number of good songs, it’s the band’s best release to date. Of course, technically they could have 20 stinkers and still accomplish that. There are multiple versions of some songs, like “Cherry Candy 1 & 2,” but it doesn’t feel excessive. Listen to it on shuffle and it doesn’t seem overdone at all. “Morning Birds 1” starts as a fuzz fest that reminds me of The Real Ramona era Muses while “Morning Birds 2” is quiet, like an expansion on the first version, which quiets down at the end. “Sleepwalking 1” is another great guitar romp in vintage Muses style. “Glass Cats” is a dirty piano-driven number that feels like it’s going to explode into something else at any moment from the tension. Singer/guitarist Kristin Hersh’s lyrics are as haunted and biting as ever. “Static” is another hypnotic indie guitar psychedelic romp that nobody can quite do like the Muses. I was skeptical going in about Purgatory/Paradise because I only liked one song off their last album, but Purgatory/Paradise is one of the Muses’ best records yet. Unlike many of their contemporaries, Throwing Muses aren’t together to play the hits for the money. On Purgatory/Paradise the Throwing Muses come off as band still challenging themselves and pushing the envelope on noise and melody.

Six Star General – Hair Supply (75orLess Records)

Six Star General has had a difficult year that forced them to be on the sidelines for several months due to various medical maladies. In the meantime, they managed to finish another album, Hair Supply. In addition to being my motto, “I Don’t Know Where We’re Going (But I Know That It’s Not Good)” is a return to form noisy rocker that has been missing from the last couple of Six Star records. “Christopher Walken” and “I’m Expanding Slowly” are like stoner indie rock powered by hypnotic grooves. “Way Out of Control” is a noisy fun punk romp. “Life in Vain” is an infectious ditty powered by a cool hook and probably the closest thing to a single on Hair Supply. I look forward to hearing the new tunes live at the CD Release for Hair Supply at The Parlour on January 4.

Dan Baker – Pistol in My Pocket (75orLess Records)

I didn’t know what to make of Dan Baker at first on the title track of Pistol in My Pocket that comes off as a howling Beck imitation on one of his independent albums. Then things started to get good. “Threw Me Down the Well” is a blues number that comes across as an Americanized version of Nick Cave, thanks to the violin from Rob Flax. “Never Alone” and “Up On the Roof” are winners as spacey piano ballads that remind me of sitting out on my porch staring up at the stars. “Down in the Canyon” has kind of a later-day Dylan feel at times. On “She’s Not Going To Call,” Baker channels his inner Tom Waits with an added Americana touch on the outro. Baker’s best material is so raw it hits you straight in the gut on tracks like “Coming Home.” I didn’t know anything about Dan Baker before, but after listening to Pistol in My Pocket, I certainly want to know more!

Atlantic Thrills

The thumpin’ garage beat with a sprinkle of surf guitar sound of the Atlantic Thrills headlines this great all local show. Atlantic Thrills released their debut a few months ago and hopefully in 2014 will see an expanded release with the other songs from the session. I’m actually excited to see every band on this bill. TEAZER is making their debut and the word on the street is there a sleazy rock ‘n’ roll band that pays homage to ‘80s hair metal. I hear they’ll be doing a cover of W.A.S.P. and have an original number titled “Sexxx Tape.” I’ve caught both of Lincoln Tunnel’s local shows and they remind me of bands like Sebadoh and The Replacements. VapoRubs channel punk with a little bit of a ‘9os pop punk.

Atlantic Thrills, TEAZER, The Lincoln Tunnel, and VapoRubs are at The Parlour on December 7.

Rock 4 X-Mas 17 The holidays are always a ripe time for charity events. Rock 4 X-Mas is now in its 17th year as an accredited charity that raises money by doing benefit concerts around the country. Rock 4 X-Mas’ mission is to bring food, gifts and holiday spirit to less fortunate families around the country. This year, Rock 4 X-Mas lineup is heavy on ‘80s rock ‘n’ roll thunder with members of ZEBRA, W.A.S.P., Lita Ford’s band, Danger Danger, New England and Holy Diver all scheduled to perform! All for a good cause, this show is the perfect way to pre-game the above mentioned TEAZER debut. For more information on Rock 4 X-Mas check out their website at rock4xmas.com.

Rock 4 X-Mas 17 featuring performances by Randy Jackson, Stet Howland, Terry Ilous, Hirsh Gardener, John Mellini, Ted Poley and The Rock 4 X-Mas All Stars will rock to raise money for the less fortunate at Lupo’s Heart Break Hotel on December 7. The show runs from 7 pm to 10 pm.

Big D and The Kids Table

Big D and The Kids Table come back to town to play some ska from the holidays. There is nothing like putting on your best Santa suit and going out to skank off a few of those holiday pounds and share a few laughs with friends.

Big D and The Kids Table, The Fighting Jamesons and Short Handed Goal will skank it up at Fete on December 7.

NRBQ

NRBQ are having their 46th anniversary party at The Met Café. NRBQ runs across the gamut of all things rock, pop, jazz and blues. NRBQ are respected in the industry and are admired by legends like Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Keith Richards. Their music has been on shows like The Simpsons. Don’t miss this rare chance to catch a legendary band in an early evening Sunday show in an intimate environment.

NBRQ, Original Jelly Roll Soul and Happiness (featuring members of Deer Tick and Ravi Shavi) will rock The Met Café on December 8. This is an early show with doors at 4 pm and show starting at 5 pm.

Black Oil Incinerator

Black Oil Incinerator are a local no-holds-barred stoner metal monster. Black Oil Incinerator have been kicking around for a few years, but have had no releases. Black Oil Incinerator have exciting plans to change all that by recording a live album at Dusk. It’s great chance to rally around a great local band and be part of a live record.

Black Oil Incinerator will be recording a live recording on December 8 at Dusk.

95.5 WBRU’s Birthday Bash featuring Grouplove and J Roddy Walston & The Business

95.5 WBRU’s Birthday Bash continues as Grouplove rolls into town for a show that had to be postponed last month due to illness. Grouplove is a goodtime alternative dance band that is sure to have the place hopping. An added bonus of the postponement is the addition of J Roddy Walston & The Business to bill who add some grit and balls to this show.

95.5 WBRU Birthday Bash featuring sets by Grouplove, J Roddy Walston & The Business and Bear Hands comes to Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on December 16. Tickets to the original date last month will be honored.

The McGunks Holiday Party

Truth be told, The McGunks really don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party, as anyone who has been to one of their shows can attest. The McGunks are straight-on pub punk with bits of bands like the Supersuckers mixed in. Check out their recent CD, Highlights for Lowlifes for even more sweaty, booze- drenched rock & roll hi-jinks!

The McGunks and The O’Tooles will throw a punk rock Holiday Bash at Broad Street Tap in Cumberland on December 21.

Afroman

It seems like only yesterday that Afroman had a worldwide hit with the stoner anthem “Because I Got High.” Since then I can’t say that I’ve heard anything from Afroman, although he has continued releasing music independently. Then again, who recently wants to hear 2009 Afroman tunes anyway? This show will be a fun place to hear the old Afroman stuff, if that is your bag, and see locals Kris Hansen and Big Jon Tierney perform. There is also a ridiculous amount of other local openers on this band, to the point that I frankly just gave up counting.

Afroman, Kris Hansen and Big Jon Tierney, and like, 37 other bands will ring in Boxing Day at Manchester 65 in West Warwick on December 26.

Narragansett Beer 123rd Anniversary Party

Northern Lands

Narragansett Beer put together a beast of a party to celebrate their 123rd anniversary. Of course, I’d contest the year because they should have to subtract all the years the brand was dormant, but nobody listens to me anyway. This show has something for almost everyone. You want straight-out rock? Northern Lands and the slightly country tinged Jay Berndt & The Orphans will be there. Want something acoustic? Brian McKenzie will be there to deliver. Jazz? Michelle Lewis for the win! The only thing missing is metal, which is odd considering Berndt and McKenzie were in the ‘90s local juggernaut, Kilgore. In addition this will be the annual unveiling of the Gansett Girl Calendar.

Narragansett Beer 123rd Anniversary Party featuring live performances by Northern Lands, Jay Berndt & The Orphans, Brian McKenzie Michelle Lewis and Jeff Byrd hits The Met Café on December 27.

Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons

Joe Fletcher will soon be relocating, so these annual New Year’s Eve shows may not be a guarantee every year. Good music is something one should always appreciate it while it is there. Fletcher and the Wrong Reason will ring in at least one more year in town with a hootenanny romp through their all things American rock & roll catalogue. This is my pick to ring in the New Year from the listings I’ve seen so far. Joe Fletchers & The Wrong Reasons, J.P. Harris & The Tough Choices, and Smith & Weeden will ring in the New Year at The Met Café on December 31.

Odds & Sods

A Wilhem Scream celebrate the release of their new CD, Partycrasher, with a show with Half Hearted Hero, The Holy Mess and The Down & Outs at The Met Café on December 7. 990WBOB presents Austin Lucas (featuring Allison Weiss, PJ bond, and Valencourt) at Fete on December 7. Black Pus & Xylouris White (Jim White of The Dirty Three and Giorgos Xylouris) come to the Columbus Theatre in Providence on December 8. Born Cages and NGHBRS play Fete on December 11. Azar Swan, Triangle Forest, Delphic Oracle and Winter Line play AS220 on December 12. The Wonder Years, Vinnie Caruana and Young Statues will have a holiday acoustic party at The Met Café on December 14. The Z3 (featuring Frank Zappa percussionist Edward Mann) play the The Spot on December 14. The Mausonic Temple Presents: The White Mice “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” also featuring sets by InHeat, and Cheeseface on December 16 at AS220. Fungus Amungus and Johnny Lingo will bust out some jams for the holidays at The Met Café on December 20. I Am The Avalanche, Hostage Calm, Raindance and Foreign Tongues rock The Met Café on December 21. Math The Band celebrates their new CD release and their 1000th show with a gig at AS220 on December 22. Jeff Rosenstock (of Bomb the Music Industry), Lyra and Malportado Kids will also perform. Forever Young, A Tribute to the Music of Neil Young, play The Met Café on December 28. Spiritual Rez and Daddie Long Legs will ring in the New Year with some smokin’ jams at The Spot on December 31. Empire Revue and Superchief Trio ring in the New Year at AS220 on December 31. Kiss Forever Kiss Tribute comes to Manchester 65 on January 4.

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Othello: Shakespeare, Straight Up

Mixed Magic Theatre delivers Othello in its classic form Shakespeare was a rather good playwright. We tend to forget that amidst modern interpretations of the sort done by Kenneth Branagh or Joss Whedon. Trinity Rep a few years ago put on Hamlet as if it was an episode of Downton Abbey. One film version of Othello transfers the story to a high-school basketball court. Such theatrical conceits are common, almost de rigeur, but not at Mixed Magic Theatre who serve their Othello straight up in the classic mode.

This style of performance may seem a bit bombastic to modern tastes attuned to the small television screen, but it is very close to what Shakespeare himself and his audiences saw 400 years ago. With a minimalist set consisting of little more than floorboards painted to look like a map — “Afrika” stage right, “Italia” stage left, and a compass rose dead center — a company of actors proceed to distill to its essence one of the best and most challenging plays in the Shakespearean repertoire, a tale of jealousy, revenge and prejudice.

Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, the patriarch of a theatrical family that is the Rhode Island version of the Barrymores, gives one of the most physically demanding performances of the title role I’ve seen, a man driven mad by his own inner demons although with more than a slight push. At first a swaggering general, Pitts-Wiley’s Othello shrinks throughout the course of the play into a cowering and hesitant weakling, no small feat for an actor whose natural appearance is more the former than the latter. His Othello is not angsty or arrogant, but paranoid. Who can he trust?

Such physicality of the performance can be genuinely unsettling. Desdemona’s final scene is not softened through stage artifice and is shown with all of the violence of the literal text, but in Pitts- Wiley’s hands this makes the contrasting involuntary tenderness of it even more horrifying. Consistent with modern perspective, Stephanie Crugnola plays Desdemona as passively and resignedly accepting whatever her fate may be, rather than as an unknowing innocent.

Alex Duckworth as Iago is faced with one of the most challenging and loquacious roles in all of Shakespeare, a character whose fatal flaw is to equate justice with revenge and who believes he is in the right, no matter how evil his scheming and betrayals, because he has himself been wronged. There is something of a custom in recent decades to see Othello and Iago as twinned, or at least two sides of the same coin, sometimes even with a pair of actors alternating the roles throughout the run of performances, but here Duckworth, thin and serpentine, plays Iago more traditionally as the polar opposite of his boss.

Particularly outstanding in supporting roles are Hannah Lum as Emilia (Iago’s wife), who comes to realize the shocking moral consequences of her own unknowing action, and Bob Colonna as Brabantio (Desdemona’s father), whose vast experience as founder of The Rhode Island Shakespeare Company (TRIST) more than 40 years ago gives him a commanding stage presence. Jordan Greeley as the framed Cassio, Christopher Ferreira as the hapless buffoon Roderigo, and Ottavia De Luca as Bianca round out the core cast.

Mixed Magic’s Othello is a solid version especially well suited to the play-goer who has been turned off by the forced cleverness and gimmickry of hypermodern interpretations. I noted with some regret that there were more than a few seats available for the Saturday evening performance I attended; Pitts- Wiley’s well-acted interpretation is well worth seeing.

Othello at Mixed Magic Theatre, 999 Main St Unit 115, Pawtucket, RI 02860, 401-305-7333 http://mmtri.com/2013/11/01/othello/, Fri (Dec 6, 13) and Sat (Dec 7, 14) at 7:30pm, Sun (Dec 8, 15) at 3:00pm.

The Not So Great Gatsby: A Night Out With Scrooge

Dear Nick,

I’ve really enjoyed my first year at Motif. 2013 has been a wild thrill ride of a year, and writing this column has been the icing on the proverbial calendar cake.

I met Ebenezer at the Avery so we could decide what Christmas sites we’d see around the state. Someone had finished JR’s supply of Pappy Van Winkle, so I had Kelly pour me a Blanton’s, and I waited for Scrooge to saunter in. He arrived while my ice cube was mid-melt, and we sat down to plan our night.

“Ebenezer, how have you been keeping?” Christmas at Blithewold

“You know me. I can’t complain, but sometimes I still do.”

“You and Joe Walsh both!” I said. “I heard that Blithewold Mansion in Bristol has some great events during the season. A bonfire, hot cocoa and a singalong. What do you say we start there?”

“Bah. Fire? Is that safe? Bristol is so far out of the way. My singing voice isn’t prepared to carol in public. What else could we do?”

“I heard the Christmas tree lighting at Bowen’s Wharf is a lot of fun. Santa arrives by boat and there is music there as well. From there we could tour the mansions done up in their holiday splendor.”

“So we’ll have to go over the bridge? And pay tolls both ways? You may get along with the mansion set down there, but that is not my speed. What else?”

“We could see The Nutcracker at Festival Ballet, or Coppelia at State Ballet.”

“The only problem with those ideas is that they are Baaah-let and Baaah-let. Humbug.”

“The West Side Neighbors do a caroling night around the West Side of Providence.”

“I was serious about not singing. And I am not a fan of walking in a winter wonderland.”

“The Arcade just reopened downtown. We could go take a walk around and get some Christmas shopping done. Some of the new stores sound cool and they have a coffee and whiskey bistro.”

“I paid for a fatted goose last year. Am I supposed to get gifts every year? This whole gift thing wasn’t a one-time deal?”

“No. In fact there are some great art sales all over the state. From galleries to the Armory in Pawtucket, you can get some really unique gifts for everyone on your list.”

“I am not artsy fartsy like you. I wouldn’t know a Monet, but I know my money. And art costs a lot of it.”

“No, you can find something in your price range. Whether you are a pauper or a Pell. How about going ice skating down at the Bank of America skate rink?”

“I’m going to pretend you never even said that. Let’s just say I don’t live my life based on what Brian Boitano would do.”

“I have one last idea. Not sure if you will like it or not. We could check out a holiday play I heard about. It’s called A Christmas Carol and it’s playing at The Artists’ Exchange in Cranston, The Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket and at Trinity Rep in Providence, so you actually have to go out of your way to avoid it. What do you think?”

“I love that idea. I heard the main character is a handsome, generous sort. And tall. And good looking. At least that’s what I heard. Call and let’s get tickets.”

I looked at my watch and down at my second Blanton’s. We had missed that night’s curtain we had done so much rantin’. I had spent the whole night listening to Scrooge’s rude rumbling, it had gotten so late that my stomach was grumbling. I was filled with the spirit, but needed food to make me whole, so across the street we went to North (which is close enough to “North Pole”). Ordered country ham and some oysters… didn’t speak ’til they were done. Merry Christmas to all, now go have yourself some fun.

Ho Ho Ho,

Gatsby

Roots Report: Hey, Hey it’s Mike Nesmith, and Some Music for Veterans Day

The best in folk, blues, roots and acoustic in the greater RI area Okee dokee folks … How about them Red Sox? Honestly I don’t give a #@%* (insert your favorite expletive here) about them. Sorry, Dad. Folks get mighty excited when the Red Sox win. Not me. People think that having them do well is good for the local economy. Maybe it is. It may help some, but mostly it helps put more cash in the pockets of grossly overpaid players and big corporations. Oh, yeah, and it HURTS local musicians. During the past few weeks, as fair weather fans jumped on the Bosox bandwagon, local musicians’ gigs were canceled. This takes funds from the pockets of musicians who don’t make a lot to start with. In a way, a cancellation beats the indignity of playing in front of a big screen TV that has a game on. Either way, it is not good. This sport’s mania seems to occur every couple of months, be it football, basketball, hockey or whatever sporting event is temporarily exciting the mindless masses. Venue owners and music lovers should focus more on supporting local, working musicians instead of pumping more into the already wealthy sports machine. Remember folks, IT’S JUST A GAME!

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well, most of what happens. To the surprise of many of my friends and myself, I was in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago. It was never on my list of places to go. The biggest reason is that I despise gambling. If you are into checking your morals at the border, a 24/7 “frat party” and a place that is hell bent on sucking every dollar out of your pocket before you leave, then Vegas is for you. Contrary to what I have written thus far, I did have a great time. That was mostly because of the company I was keeping. A couple of the highlights of the trip were a visit to The Valley Of Fire about an hour from the strip and the Beatles Love show by Cirque Du Soleil.

I was never very interested in seeing a show by Cirque Du Soleil. My parents have seen most of their shows and always rave about them. To me, it simply sounded like a show where acrobats dangle from ropes to the accompaniment of music. The Love show was far, far more than that. The Cirque Du Soleil Love show featured the music of the Beatles presented in ways that you have never heard. The soundtrack was an almost two-hour blend of some of the Beatles’ best known songs-original and alternative recordings, and between song studio banter. It was all well seasoned and tastefully mixed with program appropriate sound effects. The Love presentation was a constant parade of activity. Several things were always going on at once and it was impossible to focus on just one. To sum it up in simple terms it was like you were having a very, VERY strange dream (or acid trip –whichever you prefer). From the ceiling to below the floor the entertainers entered with strange props and odd costumes. A flying bed, an exploding VW, trampolines, a skateboard half-pipe with a British phone box, hydraulically changing levels, spacemen floating from the corners of the theater and the lonely man bearing flowers that periodically popped up to present them to an unrequited love made up just some of the bizarre and beautiful simultaneity that kept your senses busy. Shadow animations of the Fab Four trying to cross Abby Road, state of the art lighting effects and performance film footage on four screens and scrims augmented the AV portion of the spectacle. This is the kind of experience you would have to have in person to fully appreciate. Videos on TV or the web could never do it justice. I can’t imagine this show ever happening in another location. Between the 50+ cast members; the AV, staging, and rigging requirements, and the vast amount of props involved, it would take a caravan of tractor trailers and buses just to transport and a small army to set-up and operate. This is one of the occasions where you can’t move the mountain; you must go to it. With the high price of concert tix these days the $80 for the admission wasn’t outrageous. If you are a Beatles fan this pilgrimage is a must. If you are gambler, maybe you can win back some of your expenses in on of the nine zillion slot machines that are in every nook and cranny of the city. But remember, you can also lose. If you do plan to go, whatever you do, don’t fly Spirit Airlines – that is another story.

Going from the Fab Four to the Faux Four- Hey, hey, one of the Monkees is coming to town. Mike Nesmith will bring his “Movies of the Mind” tour to the Narrows in Fall River on Monday, November 11. This performance will touch on the highlights of Nesmith’s 50-year music career. Best known for his start as the singing, wool-capped, Gretsch guitar-slinging co-star of the Monkees television series, his songs were recorded not only by the Monkees, but Linda Ronstadt, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Butterfield Blues Band and Run-DMC. In addition to this, he is a movie producer (Repo Man, Timerider, and Tapeheads), and he also founded Pacific Arts, a record and video production house and book publishing company. He was the first and only winner of the Grammy Award for Video of the Year for his 1981 long-form video, “Elephant Parts.” He is also the inventor and founder of Videoranch3D, for which he holds a patent. With the notable exception of “Listen to the Band,” the tour will focus primarily on Nesmith’s post-Monkees work, both solo and with the First National Band. This body of work has been described by Rolling Stone as “the greatest music never heard.” Hey, hey, he was a Monkee, he got rich (from Liquid Paper) after he monkey-ed around, he’ll be busy singing, and he’s coming to our town!!! OK, that was bad – especially if you didn’t get it. Just go to the show! For more, swing over to: narrowscenter.org.

“I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore” is probably one of the best protest songs to come out of the anti-Vietnam war era. It was written by the late Phil Ochs. These days, many people probably don’t know who Phil Ochs is, but should. He was a singer-songwriter in the 60s and 70s who wrote and sang about the issues of the time – Vietnam, civil rights, and organized labor. And, while his songs were written for this time, they continue to speak for our time, causing us to think about the issues and injustices that are happening now. His songs were crafted with tunes and lyrics that stay with the listener; they are infused with his sharp wit and humor.

Phil Ochs was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1940. He grew up in a non-political, middle class family. While in college at The Ohio State University, Phil formed his political beliefs and started putting them to music. After three years of college, Phil dropped out and went to New York City. This was during the early 1960s when things were booming in Greenwich Village. Phil started out singing at open mikes and passing the hat. By 1964, he was well enough established to release his first album, “All the News That’s Fit To Sing.” His second album, I Ain’t Marching Anymore, was released in 1965, and by 1966 he was able to sell out Carnegie Hall for his solo concert. He suffered from manic depression and an affinity for alcohol. He committed suicide on April 9, 1976, at the age of 35.

He left many songs and a legacy that is carried on by his sister, Sonny Ochs. I met Sonny about 20 years ago at a Folk Alliance conference in New York. She was a New York folk DJ and some of the guerilla showcases she ran at the conferences featured the music of Phil Ochs. Now she organizes touring Phil Ochs Song Nights. Stone Soup Coffeehouse will host one of these concerts on November 23. Greg Greenway, Sharon Katz, Joyce Katzberg, Magpie (Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino), David Roth, and Pat Wictor will be the musicians performing Ochs’ tunes. At Phil Ochs Tribute Nights you will hear from contemporary singer-songwriters who continue to sing about the right from the wrong, who continue to do their share to sing about injustices, who continue to praise and blame people, actions and organizations.

Ochs recorded this in 1966: “And I won’t know the right from the wrong when I’m gone … Can’t say who’s to praise and who’s to blame when I’m gone … Can’t be singing louder than the guns when I’m gone …So I guess I’ll have to do it while I’m here.” The Phil Ochs’ Tribute performers continue to sing louder than the guns. Although Ochs is gone, his voice and his legacy continue as they sing his songs and their own. For more, (don’t) march over to: stonesoupcoffeehouse.com.

The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame and The Ocean Mist present The Unity Concerts two-day event to benefit the Tune In & Tune Up Rhode Island Musicians Health Awareness Program on Saturday, November 9, from 6 pm to 1 am and Sunday, November 10, from 2 pm until midnight. The concert- fundraiser will take place at The Ocean Mist in Wakefield. Admission is $20 per day or $35 for a weekend ticket. All proceeds go to the Rhode Island Musicians Health Awareness Program. RIMHOF board member and Tune In & Tune Up cofounder Russell Gusetti says, “It can be scary being a musician. We usually have no health insurance unless we are lucky enough to have a spouse who does. Musicians have no benefits, nor do we make much to begin with. We end up holding benefit concerts for fellow musicians who have suffered major health events.”

The weekend features four inductees to the RI Music Hall of Fame and every musician member of the R.I. Music Hall of Fame board. Slated to perform are Kim Petrarca and The Brian McKenzie Band, Adrienne West and the Tabers, Rossoni, The Brian McKenzie Band, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, The 100 Watt Suns, The Rudy Cheeks Band, Ken Lyon, The Zimmermen, Longshot VooDoo, Becky Chace, Mark Cutler, Pendragon, Roomful of Blues, Steve Smith & the Nakeds, and James Montgomery. If you are queasy about going out on a Sunday because it is a school night, remember that Monday is Veterans Day and if you are lucky, you have the day off! For more, rock on over to rhodeislandmusichalloffame.com. Running out of room, but you should go to these shows! If you saw David Tessier and company’s Jesus Christ Superstar concert at the PVD Social Club last year, you will be thrilled to know that they are doing it again! If you missed it, here is your chance to finally see it. Last year’s shows were amazing. Don’t miss this one – you will regret it if you do. This year’s version will happen on Saturday, November 16, at Manchester 65 in West Warwick. Find out what the buzz is at manchester65.com.

Boomer Power, a tribute to the Baby Boomer Generation with Billy Mitchell, takes place at the Brooklyn Coffee and Tea House in Providence on Saturday, November 9, from 8 to 10 pm. Boomer Power is a feel-good show that explores the Baby Boomer experience through original songs such as “Assisted Livin’,” “You Still Got it,” “Gettin’ Old Ain’t for Sissies,” “Prescription Drugs,” and “I Wish I Could Remember What I Said I’d Never Forget.” Also experience some Boomer humor, interactive games, and satirical observations. For more, hobble over to BoomerTunesConcerts.com.

Common Fence Point hosts The Horn of Plenty Music concert on Saturday, November 23. The performance features a harvest of some of the best area musical talent: Michael Troy, Allysen Callery, Haunt the House/Will Houlihan, The Throttles, Greg Burgess, and series favorites – The Folk Support Group (Ed McGuirl and Mike Fishman). For more, cornucopia over to commonfencemusic.org.

That’s it for now. The sugar high from the leftover Halloween candy is wearing off, maybe I will sleep. Thanks for reading! John Fuzek www.johnfuzek.com

Mike D’s Top 5 — Can’t Miss Shows of November

Top November Alt Shows in the greater RI area

1. Friday, November 8: Tim Kasher (of Cursive/The Good Life), Laura Stevenson, Littlefoot. $12 advance / $14 day of. 8 pm doors / 9 pm show. All ages. The Met, 1005 Main St., Pawtucket, RI. Tim Kasher is one of my favorite songwriters. His songwriting themes of love, loss, substance abuse and the pursuit of whatever happiness is while having an amazing amount of self awareness makes him a modern day Bukowski. After splitting his time over the last decade-plus as lead man of Cursive and Good Life, in 2010 he released his first solo record, The Game Of Monogamy, focusing on the nuances of relationships. His new album, Adult Film, is out now. Laura Stevenson and one of my favorite new local bands, Littlefoot, round out the bill. 2. Sunday, November 17: Johnny Gates & The Invite. $10 advance / $12 day of. 6 pm doors / 7 pm show. All ages. The Met, 1005 Main St., Pawtucket, RI. What a journey for Johnny Gates & The Invite. Having formed in Rhode Island in 2005 right out of being high school classmates, the band was one of the hardest working bands in the Providence indie / emo music scene, constantly playing The Living Room and Lupo’s. After flirting with major labels and grinding to get on national tours, the band moved to Nashville in 2008 and retooled. The game changing moment for them was meeting with producer Nathan Chapman (who is known for his production work with Taylor Swift) who took the band under his wing and found them a major label and major booking agency. Having left the pop element, the band now is a bit more in the vein of The Wallflowers. It was a bit of a learning curve for the band, to go from songwriting in their basement to the Nashville big business way of going in a room with a popular songwriter they have never met and collaborating. The show at The Met will be their first New England show in five years since their departure for the south. Look for their major label debut in 2014 on Warner Records. 3. Thursday, November 21: Boo City, Ravi Shavi, Ian O’Neil (of Deer Tick). $8. 8 pm doors / 9 pm show. All ages. The Met, 1005 Main St., Pawtucket, RI. Here is a co-bill of two of Providence’s funnest and best live acts. Boo City is self described “Black Country Soul Rock Steady,” in other words an all-the- fuck-over-the-place party band. While the band’s songs sound great on record (Google Boo City and Bandcamp), vocalists Tai Awolaju and Andrew “Moon” Bain’s songs really come out live. The show will also be Boo City’s world premier of their video “Nobody Knows.” Ravi Shavi, Providence’s premier upstart garage rock band, are unstoppable when they are on their A-game. And Ian O’Neil, who is currently jetsetting around the world behind his band and Rhode Island’s own Deer Tick’s 5th record Negativity, opens what should be a great night of Providence music in Pawtucket. 4. Saturday, November 23: Bad Swimmers (Record Release Party), Little Big League, Bloodpheasant, Steve Layman, Darklands. $5. 9 pm. All ages. AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence, RI. Sean Murphy (of Rhode Island hardcore vets Verse) new project sounds like a bit more lo-fi and punk Superchunk, and that’s more than fine with me. This show celebrates the release of See You, a new 10″ record coming out on Atomic Action. Philly’s Little Big League remind me a lot of a more mellow Pretty Girls Make Graves. Providence’s Bloodpheasant are on the top of my Providence bands I haven’t seen, but want to, describing themselves aptly as doom folk. Steve Layman and one of Rhode Island’s several bands called Darklands round out the bill. 5. Saturday November 23: Blowfly, Tinsel Teeth, DJ Dave Public, The New Lewiss and his BIG BANG. $10. 9 pm. All ages. Machine With Magnets, 400 Main St., Pawtucket, RI. Where does one start when describing what Blowfly is about? My introduction was laughing at this dude’s outrageous album covers before I knew who he was. Blowfly (born Clarence Reid) was originally a writer and producer having worked with Sam & Dave, Bobby Byrd, and KC and the Sunshine Band. He would rewrite popular hits with new, not-so-subtle sexual innuendo. What started as a spoof and side project became an underground phenomenon and was definitely an influence on future rappers such as Kool Keith and 2 Live Crew. Worth going to just to see what costume he’s wearing. Providence’s entertaining noise mongers Tinsel Teeth open.

2nd Story Previews Impressive Sons of the Prophet

2nd Story Theatre’s dominance of the East Bay continues as they solidify their expansion in Warren with a production of Stephen Karam’s 2012 Pulitzer finalist, Sons of the Prophet. Having just concluded a magnificent showing of Dancing at Lughnasa in the main theater (UpStage), 2nd Story’s new space downstairs (DownStage) follows the celebrated Lobby Hero with this intimate, yet expansive tragicomedy. 2nd Story is no stranger to Karam’s work, having delivered the exquisite Speech and Debate a few summers back, and Director Wendy Overly adds her distinctive touch to a piece that seems wild and mundane in one fell swoop. Motif was invited to attend the first preview performance to get a sense of what is in store for audiences by the time the show enters its official run. Regardless of how the piece gels and settles in after further performances, Overly and company have managed to fulfill Karam’s desire to illuminate suffering and loss with pointed humor and dogged perseverance.

Unlike the ebullient Speech and Debate, however, Sons sputters after its initial exposition peters out. The script concerns the Douaihys, a Lebanese-American family suffering compounded loss and adversity in the wastes of eastern Pennsylvania. The sons, Joseph and Charles, navigate the recent, somewhat bizarre loss of their parents as they struggle to care for their aged, ailing Uncle Bill. Both sons are gay, Uncle Bill is an ardent bigot and Joe’s acerbic employer, Gloria, is blackmailing him for a career boost (or prescription drugs … or both). This setup leads to a somewhat dizzying array of plot twists and amusing secondary characters as we glean what seem to be overtly autobiographical details from Karam’s script. What is set up as a cathartic race to the finish, symbolized most poignantly by Joseph’s phantom pains that have curbed his Olympic dreams, ends up more like a studied stroll across the finish line. Karam seems to tell us that life simply doesn’t work like a Lifetime movie – we laugh, we love, we die and everything in between can get very, very messy.

So it goes, and Overly’s cast takes a very difficult script and makes the most of it, succeeding, in some cases, spectacularly. Out of an overall solid cast, featuring many 2nd Story regulars (including Paula Faber who rallies to channel an inner Carol Burnett in a tour de force toward the end of the show), the standout here is Vince Petronio as the willfully inappropriate, yet heartfelt, Uncle Bill. While it would seem that Joseph’s Job-like struggles to frame his own suffering would be the play’s through line, it is Petronio’s Lebanese Archie Bunker who becomes a pivot point for all concerned. The two sons must care for him while struggling with their own issues: the loss of their parents, their socio-religious identity and the challenges of homosexuality in a small town. Gloria intrudes on their home and winds up as a sort of uneasy ally and Vin, the culprit of the accident that took away the family stability must seek acceptance, if not approbation, from Bill more so than Joseph. This may not be what Karam intended, but his forceful, memorable performance serves to make the wonderfully realized chemistry between Joseph (an understated Jed Hancock-Brainerd) and Charles (a delightfully sardonic Andrew Iacovelli) subservient to Petronio’s grounded, yet perfectly crafted character work. Charles Lafond (seen recently in Counter Productions’ Speed the Plow) does a neat Anderson Cooper take while Sharon Carpentier and Susan Powers handle the background comic relief in a play that needs all it can get, lest we start weeping.

Trevor Elliot’s sets for 2nd Story never fail to amaze, and here, with Moe Assad, he delivers yet again. Audiences enter the DownStage space to a deceptively simple room, a two-tiered monolith that comes alive through clever use of projections and lighting with the flexibility of moveable set pieces and carefully choreographed changes that create a wide variety of tableaus. Lighting designer Steve McLellan creates pockets of reality within these confines and allows us to make the necessary leaps in time and space required to keep up with the constantly shifting scenes and scenarios. Special notice for costume designer Jessie Darrell Jarbadan, who manages to make the appalling Uncle Bill seem cuddly while Gloria’s awful, yet flattering dress in the first scene allows us to forgive the inanity of statements like, “You’re white the way a Jewish person is white.” The absurd is the norm in Nazareth, PA. Small towns hide a litany of stories and most of them are sad. We laugh at the plight of the Douaihys even though nothing truly funny is occurring. Tragedy wears a clown nose and bigotry wears animal prints. Sons of the Prophet may well be titled Sins of the Father, since no one here chose their suffering, only the manner in which they approach it. Wendy Overly and her cast didn’t write Karam’s hilarious, yet plodding script, but their choice in handling it triumphs over all adversity. DownStage at 2nd Story is shaping up to be a worthy companion to its UpStage predecessor; it may be time to schedule even more drives out to Warren and remember that some of the best professional theater in the state is way out on the East Bay.

2nd Story Theatre presents Stephen Karam’s Sons of the Prophet October 31 through November 24th in their DownStage playing space. 28 Market Street, Warren, RI, 02885. Call 401-247-4200 or visit http://2ndstorytheatre.com/downstage/#/sons-of-the-prophet for more tickets and information.

Dash Around Town – New Urban Arts

Mentors’ and students’ collaborative art

Do you want to make a difference? Well, if you don’t know anything about the New Urban Arts Center for mentors and students, shame on you. Many of the mentors are from Providence, like Rhode Island poet laureate, Rick Benjamin. These mentors foster creative talents in interested and dedicated high school kids.

Go and check it out. It’s very impressive place filled with interesting and energized folks like development director Daniel Scheiber, director Elia Gurna, and Tamara Kaplan who is in organization and finance. These people, among others, work hard to make a difference with the people who matter the most – the new generation of young people. Paving the future is not easy, but “… we want people to find out what their values are and what drives them, and to merge and build a community that empowers youth so they can develop a creative practice that they can sustain for life, even if they are not necessarily going onto art school,” says Daniel Schleifer. And he means it. So go check this organization out and see what you might be able to do to make a difference. Tell them Angelo sent you.

The New Urban Arts Center can be found at 705 Westminster Street in Providence.

Stand Aside Knave! The Show Must Go On!

Government shutdown, government shmutdown

Fie! Fie I say to the government. A plague on both your houses!

For the past two weeks, we have run into snags in our lives since the U.S. Government shut down. Some people even lost jobs. Public outrage has grown as we see more and more poignant pictures of elderly vets banned from the War Memorial, little children stopped at the gate to the zoo, and average families kept from enjoying the beauty and splendor of our national parks. But another group is being shut out by the government: Artists!

As if it isn’t tough enough to be a humble, non-profit performing group with limited resources, the government shut-down has forced a scramble for performing space. Months ago, Bob Colonna’s Rhode Island Shakespeare Theatre booked time at the Roger Williams Memorial Park in downtown Providence, a lovely venue. This is the outdoor space the group has used before. Shortly before their opening date in October, Colonna was informed that the park would be closed and unavailable to the troupe. However, there’s no stopping the highly talented mere mortals of Director Bob Colonna’s Rhode Island Shakespeare Theatre, nor the ghosts in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Shakespeare serves us well, even centuries later. And how goes our own government? Not so much.

The troupe is proceeding with performances close to the original location, at Memorial Park in downtown Providence, located at the corner of South Main and College Streets. Yes, it is still outdoors. “Oh sure,” says Colonna. “You may have to bundle up, but it’ll be fun. Among other things, the outdoor venue allows us to use fire in certain scenes, which is pretty exciting. And don’t forget, it’s free! If you bring along something to warm the blood, you should be perfectly comfortable.” Also bring something to sit on – chair or blanket.

Colonna is known for cleverly modernizing Shakespeare settings, making the presentation fresh. This time, his inventive adaptation has transformed Macbeth into a mob story, taking place in the present time. “Audiences will hear Shakespeare’s famous chilling and heart-wrenching words,” says Colonna, “but they will see black leather, fancy furs, AK-47s and baseball bats.” This transformation brings an extra exciting vibe to the production.

Three free-spirited actresses portray the wicked witches stirring up the dark arts. Meryn Flynn, Cherylee Dumas and Meg Taylor-Roth gleefully screech and writhe through their chants. As a special twist in this production, the role of the head witch/goddess, Hecate, is played by a variety of actresses in different performances. This includes Amy Anderson, Mary Paolino and Karyn Valcourt.

Dan White and Leann Heath deliciously play the Macbeths, with their own style of contemporary mob class. They are the ultimate devoted married couple, intensely scary and prone to violence. Christopher Ferreira is a blustery presence as Macduff, the ever patriotic adversary of Macbeth. Geoff White, as the good-hearted Banquo, brings a special quality to the production as a gentler soul.

The multi-talented director, Bob Colonna, also doubles as old King Duncan, and the humorously inebriated Porter. Rosanna Cavanaugh plays Macduff’s doomed wife, CT Larsen and Ben Royer play the royal brothers, Malcolm and Donalbain. David Kane is Macbeth’s loyal servant, Seyton, and two younger cast members are Kiara Wallace as a feisty but unfortunate Macduff daughter, and Brandon Garvey is the brave and resourceful Fleance.

So go on down and enjoy the show, celebrate the season, and don’t let the government sequester your enjoyment of the arts. Macbeth will continue through October 27, Thursday through Sunday nights at 7 pm at Memorial Park, Providence. Admission is free. Check out TRIST on Facebook.

Alt-Nation: An Interview About BoobStock and Deer Tick’s Latest

Internet radio superstation sensation 990WBOB is getting ready to roll out the pink carpet for their 5th annual BoobStock to raise money for those afflicted with breast cancer. To find out what to expect, I posed some questions to 990WBOB General Manager, Adam Palazio, who promises that this year will be “the craziest yet!” Of course with any great event that WBOB does, there’s bound to be a few surprises, as each BoobStock outdoes the one before. The best of Local Rock this October

MC: So people have an idea how much has BoobStock grown, how much money have you raised since the first show five years ago?

AP: Each year we have been able to donate to multiple charities thanks to the money raised at BoobStock, specifically focusing our contributions on the recovery of those women who have suffered from breast cancer. I am proud to say that over the years we’ve raised over $5,000 to help the fight.

MC: Do you have any particular acts that you are extra stoked to see at this year’s BoobStock?

AP: Truly I’m stoked for all the acts. This is a solid lineup. We are talking about one of the hottest bands going in Torn Shorts. The Stilts are a great complement in style with them. Then we’ll kick it up a notch with the much awaited return of SexCoffee, equipped with new drummer, the original maniac Nick “The Pipe” Iddon. Speaking of crazy people, no one has worked harder in this business than Satellites Fall. Their unique style has put them on big stages all over the east coast. Lastly, let’s not forget about the lovely and talented Kait Clavette playing an acoustic set.

MC: What are some of your favorite performances from BoobStocks past?

AP: We’ve made a ton of memories in the last five years with so many great acts and moments. If you had to narrow it down, certainly Kanerko last year in their final performance would be one. They left everything they had on that stage – truly unbelievable. BoobStock III aka 2011 was by far the most memorable all the way around. We truly kicked it up a notch with our introduction of the pink carpet and infamous BoobStock wall. Then again, BoobStock NYC last year was in its own category. To see a NY crowd and a pack of some 50-plus Providence friends in attendance was touching. On that particular night, The Can’t Nots killed it.

MC: How many different programs are on 990WBOB now? What’s your listenership?

AP: 990WBOB offers a wide variety of programming. Of course our music department is thriving. Rob Duguay, Chad Hoyle, Bob Giusti and Joe Ferro are all well groomed in the music scene. Each host offers our listeners a plethora of underground bands and tracks. We also offer a solid sports department featuring such personalities as CES manager Michael Parente, three time Super Bowl Champ Patrick Pass, and WBOB superstar Kevin Aherne. Our talk department is anchored by the Wild Side David Clyde and his everyman shot from the hip point of view. Todd Giroux is Main Street’s voice on the air. All and all we offer some 14 plus shows with another two or three in development, including a new show titled Raw Sex. Use your imagination. We currently are in over 200,000 homes, businesses and mobile devices nationwide including over 80,000 local RI listeners.

9 90WBOB will once again roll out the pink carpet to present BoobStock V on October 26 at Dusk in Providence. This year’s BoobStock will be hosted by Terry Shea and Kim Kalunian and features performances by Torn Shorts, The Stilts, SexCoffee, Kait Clavette, and some of the best local comedians to boot!

Deer Tick –Negativity (Partisan Records)

When we last checked in with the boys from Deer Tick, they were a decadent globetrotting rock & roll party wherever they showed up. For the first time, the boys had captured the energy and chaos of their live performances with Divine Providence (Partisan Records) resulting in a great rock & roll record. But all great parties have to end, and once one is over the wrong side of the bump, it’s a new world that can get pretty bleak. Deer Tick are back with their fifth full length titled, Negativity. True to its name, Negativity explores themes of singer/guitarist John McCauley’s struggles dealing with drug abuse, a broken engagement, and his father’s incarceration. While the title is intended to be tongue in cheek, as it’s offset by the cover art of blue skies on a South County beach, there is no masking some of struggles within.

Negativity starts off with the hypnotic chant of “The Rock” before it kicks into blues-tinted soul jam complete with horns reminiscent of McCauley’s side project, Diamond Rugs. It probably doesn’t hurt as far the Diamond Rugs reference goes, that one of McCauley’s band mates, saxophonist Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), produced Negativity. “Just Friends” is a piano based number that has a classic 70s pop feel in the vein of Jackson Browne or a Warren Zevon. To further explain the record’s title, even guitarist Ian O’Neil’s one turn on the mic this time around is a Springsteen-esque rocker called “The Dream Is in The Ditch.” “Mr. Sticks” is another McCauley number that fuses 70s pop with a darker alt- country feel wrestling with his father’s federal imprisonment. Ironically a number called “Trash” breathes a light of wistful optimism as McCauley sings “don’t want the drink, dry out in style, waste all my ink, checking out past noon, bill me if you want, it is my disposition as a wasteful savant, where is all the romance that I used to know, I want to fall in love again with the open road.” Drummer Dennis Ryan takes a turn behind the mic on the lushly textured “Thyme” that McCauley says has nothing to do with the spice by the same name. “In Our Time” is a duet with Vanessa Carlton that has an endearing old time feel that McCauley wrote about his parents. “Hey Doll” is a piano driven number that has a70s Elton John feel with a chorus ripe for lounge styled sing-a-longs. “Pot of Gold” has an In Utero-era Nirvana fuzz crunch as the lyrics chronicle a descent into a drug-fueled doom. Negativity closes with “Big House” that comes across as Paul Westerberg ballad likely about McCauley’s father.

Negativity takes some getting used to, but overall I really dig it. On an initial listen, it at feels like the band tried to re-create something that harkened back to their debut, War Elephant, a favorite among Tick Heads. But upon repeated listens, Negativity comes across more as step forward for Deer Tick. They may not be peppered with as many Replacements comparisons this time around, but the songwriting exceeds that on Divine Providence in many areas. It may not be a party album, but it’s not a downer, woe-is-me record. Negativity finds Deer Tick at their rawest – dealing with the highs and lows of life and wrestling demons in song.

For The Love of Sloane – Curses, Spells, and Charms

It’s hard to believe that Curses, Spells, and Charms is For The Love of Sloane’s debut release because it seems like lifetimes ago when they were runner-ups in the WBRU Rock Hunt Finals and Champions of the WXIN Rock Hunt back in 2009. Life has a funny way of getting in the way, as they say. For The Love of Sloane are pretty much a modern alternative rock band, which invites comparisons to other contemporary female fronted rock bands, like stranded somewhere along the highway between The Cranberries and Paramore. Singer Elese Morrone has her own style that I’ve always loved because there is an element of chaos in terms of how she employs the power of her pipes. Curses, Spells, and Charms lays out all the standards from the Sloane’s catalog like the uber infectious “Dig Deeper” that was their radio staple back in the day. I found cuts like brooding “Chances” and “Girl on Fire” to be just as rewarding listens. The latter almost has an alt-rock reggae feel in the verses before the blast off outro. “So What If..” is a tight rocker in the vein of a someone like Blink 182 with a good bridge to boot. The fuzz guitar wizardry of Stephen Moniz is an omnipresent pleasure to listen to throughout Curses, Spells, and Charms, but particularly on “Flora” and “Subtle Honesty (Dear John).” Check out For The Love of Sloane’s debut on iTunes or better yet, pick up a physical copy for yourself at their CD Release show at The Spot!

For The Love of Sloane celebrates the release of Curses, Spells, and Charms with a CD Release Party featuring The Nymphidels, VulGarrity, Satellites Fall, and Subject 2 Change at The Spot Underground on October 4.

Atlantic Thrills – A Day at The Beach 7 Inch (Almost Ready Records)

Local garage rocking kings, Atlantic Thrills, have released their debut as a 7-inch single featuring two infectious ditties. The A-side cut, “A Day at The Beach,” showcases the mix of surf, 60s garage, and harmonies that have long been the Atlantic Thrills’ calling card. The B-side, “Hold Your Tongue,” is a raucous garage stomper. Atlantic Thrills are planning a longer release of material from this session sometime in the near future.

Atlantic Thrills will be rocking the Life’s Gas show at The Parlour in Providence along with Castle (The Band) Pixels, Vudu Sister and Tyler James Kelly (of The Silks) on October 6.

Big Shows:

The Met Cafe’s 3rd Anniversary featuring March Fourth Marching Band and The Mallet Brothers

The Met Café is celebrating its third anniversary at its current location in the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket. For anyone who has yet to make it there, The Met Café is one of the best places to see a show that I’ve ever been. To top it all off, The Met is throwing a party with some great bands like March Fourth Marching Band, The Mallett Brothers from Maine, and locals Smith & Weeden to ring in the anniversary in style!

March Fourth Marching Band, The Mallett Brothers, and Smith & Weeden rock The Met Café on October 3.

The Lyres

The Lyres are Boston garage rock legends that trace their roots back to the 70s. The Lyres are best known for tunes like “Don’t Give It Up Now,” “Help You Ann,” and She Pays The Rent.” In an ever changing world, one of the few things that doesn’t change is that The Lyres will continue to come at you with organ tinged classic 60s garage rock.

The Lyres play The Met Café on October 5.

They Might Be Giants

New York City’s original Kings of Nerd Swing, They Might Be Giants, return to Lupo’s for what has been becoming a pretty regular engagement the past few years. They Might Be Giants are one of those cult bands that some people love and some detest – so this is getting listed for all the lovers out there. They still do “Birdhouse in Your Soul” and “Ana Ng” live for the casual fans but the rest of the material is a broad mix, encompassing their whole career.

They Might Be Giants return to Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on October 10.

The English Beat

The English Beat returns to bring their fusion of rock, ska and new wave to Manchester 65. Best known for their 80s hits like “Mirror in The Bathroom,” “Hands Off. She’s Mine,” and “Save It For Later,” The English Beat are still money for a good time on the dance floor live.

The English Beat will be at Manchester 65 on October 24.

Eve 6

Eve 6 ruled the modern rock charts in the late 90s/early 2000s with hits like “Inside Out,” “Leech,” and “Here’s to The Night.” After an extended hiatus, Eve 6 is with all original members and has released a comeback record in Speak in Codes that has the band, once again, making waves on the radio. Don’t miss a rare chance to catch Eve 6 locally at the Manchester 65!

Eve 6 will be at Manchester 65 in West Warwick on October 26.

Email music news to [email protected].