HxC: Ending Summer on a Face-Melting Note
With summer coming to an end, you can almost taste the fall air slowly rolling toward Providence. And with fall comes all the best festivals in the city. Many venues are prepping for the upcoming festivities, so they’re leaving the last half of August with fewer shows than usual. But that doesn’t mean that you should take any time off from seeing shows. The post hardcore/ screamo band Pianos Become The Teeth will be playing The Met on Tuesday, August 18 with The World Is a Beautiful Place … and Turnover! It has been over a year since these bands have played PVD and it is sure to be an eventful evening.
If that genre isn’t your forte, then stop by Simon’s the weekend of August 20 where each night you will be able to hear all styles of music. On the 20th, metal will take over Simon’s with headliners Unearth and Fit For An Autopsy and a ton of great locals, including Great American Ghost, Elegy and In Depths & Tides. Only two days later, Simon’s and Rambudikon will host a day of pop punk with their Pop Rocks Music Festival. Locals Trophy Wives will headline alongside many more of PVD’s pop punk bands.
Also on August 22, Dusk will host Morpheus Descends with locals Witch King and Impenitent Thief. Firehouse 13 will hold a mostly local show on August 23 with Mis(s)Invader and Nervous System.
August 18: The Met — Pianos Become The Teeth, The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Turnover, Take One Car
August 20: Simon’s 677 — Unearth, Fit For An Autopsy, Hollow Earth, Hope Before The Fall, Great American Ghost, Elegy, In Depths & Tides
August 22: Simon’s 677 — Pop Rocks Music Festival
August 23: Firehouse 13 — Mis(s)Invader, Nervous System, Polluter, Tomb and Thirst
August 22: Dusk — Morpheus Descends, Martyrvore, Witch King, Impenitent Thief
Alt-Nation: Handsome Pete, Beach House and Lincoln Tunnel
Handsome Pete’s Birthday Shitshow – The Funcrushers – Self-Titled CD Release (75orLessRecords) Longtime local music fixture Handsome Pete Lima’s annual birthday never fails to live up to its billing. This year will be no exception as it includes a self titled CD Release for Lima’s surf rock band, The Funcrushers, who no longer exist. His new surf rock band, The Anchorites, will play instead. That’s a little confusing so I contacted Handsome Pete to get the lowdown. As far as The Funcrushers CD, I’ve heard bits of the album over the years, but it was always around 4am in a practice space in Olneyville so those memories are sketchy. I feared the record was lost forever in a warehouse next to Dr. Dre’s Detox album. Happily, the lost Funcrushers record has resurfaced and is even better than I remembered. The all instrumental record is very much in the style of Man or Astro-Man? as far as spacey surf punk. Highlight tracks include the sprawling “Rampart,” “Seamantics” and the soothing “Fond Farewell.” The whole album is something one can listen to on repeat because it just has a great chill atmosphere for sunny days.
Marc Clarkin: There are a lot urban legends surrounding The Funcrushers. Who is in the band and how long have they been together?
Handsome Pete Lima: The Funcrushers are myself and Jesse Roy, who I’ve known since the 5th grade. We recorded the record in November 2008, and we only played together for maybe 6 months before that. There were never any plans for it to be an active project; initially we just wanted to document what we had written and I wanted to try my hand at recording and mixing. The entire process was kind of a nightmare up until this past year or so, when I finally learned the “right” way to approach mixing. Somehow a rough mix leaked and since then there has been great speculation that this was the greatest unreleased surf album ever created by two guys from Seekonk.
MC: Some call this record a very political instrumental record. Did it start out that way?
HPL: If you listen closely to the lyrics on this album you would be hard pressed to disagree with any of our political leanings. We are all things to all people
MC: I believe it was Cream magazine that likened the record as the surf rock answer to Dr. Dre’s Detox and GnR’s Chinese Democracy. Do you think that’s fair?
HPL: During the 6+ years it took to finish the record, I can totally relate. The only thing I can say for sure is that it’s better than Chinese Democracy, and I’ve never even heard it.
MC: Oh it was the best thing GnR ever put out! Who is in The Anchorites and how would you describe the sound?
HPL: The Anchorites are myself and Kevin Bowden on guitars, Bobby Gregory on drums, and Chris Monti on bass. The sound is based on the traditional surf rock style, but it’s a definitely a little rough around the edges. Man or Astro-Man? is obviously a huge influence along with Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet and maybe some of the twang of the Flat Duo Jets thrown in there.
MC: What are The Anchorites’ upcoming plans? And what is it about the band that has publications like The Source magazine saying that The Anchorites are far superior to any band today?
HPL: We’ve already started working on writing tracks for our debut EP. I’m hoping to have it out sometime before 2022. We just wanna show people that it takes a little more than reverb to have a “surf” sound. After such high praises, I’m really hoping they invite us to the Source awards. I wanna take a selfie with Diddy.
Handsome Pete’s Birthday Shitshow featuring performances by Teazer and The Anchorites will rock The Met Café on August 21. The show will also be your first chance to get the new CD by The Funcrushers.
Beach House Dream pop duo Beach House hit Lupo’s in support of their 5th album, Depression Cherry. Beach House has been called the perfect soundtrack for a David Lynch film for their sense of subversive melody. The songs are modern alt-pop, but retain a sense of imagination. This promises to be a fun night filled with hazy keyboards, dreamy guitars and hypnotic melodies.
Beach House will play Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on August 25.
Lincoln Tunnel – Today 2.0 (75orLess Records) The debut release from the Lincoln Tunnel is a mess of indie rock, Americana and mariachi horns thrown together like a Jackson Pollock painting where against all odds, it somehow works. On Today 2.0, Lincoln Tunnel come out swinging like Mike Tyson with the frenetic “Damn, I Wear It Well,” which has the gall to sound like a cross between The Gun Club and the Jim Carroll Band. “Big Decision” and “All Together Wrong” are rockers that get bailed out by big infectious choruses, but otherwise would have no redeeming value. The horns on “Friend of the Roses” invoke bands like Mariachi El Bronx, but I can’t picture singer/guitarist Christian Caldarone being able to pull off a sombrero. On “Memphis” they have the nerve to sound like pre-sober Replacements — think “Left of the Dial” on meth. “Makin’ Cents & Takin’ Vows” and “Line My Pockets” turn to Americana folk. Begrudgingly, I’ll admit to really liking the lyrics on the latter. “Ordinary Sun” was probably a mistake because it is just an all around good tune with a soaring skyscraper hook.
75orLess Records presents a triple CD release show featuring new biscuits and performances by Lincoln Tunnel, Karma Rocket, and Groundhawgs. As an added bonus, Jets Can’t Land will also rock the house and it all goes down at The Parlour on August 29.
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Roots Report: Comedy Series, Folk Fest and Other Shows to Close the Summer
Okee dokee folks …The other night I was in Pawtucket to tape an appearance on the cable access show, “An Hour with Bob.” For some reason I always get lost in Pawtucket, even with a GPS, so I just don’t go there very often. Avoidance is the best solution! Anyway, if you have never seen the show, you should check it out. You can view lots of local celebs, musicians, chefs, politicians and newsmakers. On the air for over 23 years, “An Hour with Bob” is one of the longest running local television shows in Southern New England. Besides, Bob is a character and watching him can be pretty entertaining. He can talk (talk, talk, talk) about anything, and does! “An Hour with Bob” is basically a talk/variety show that is VERY local and has a LOT of (Bob’s) personality. Dial up Bob at bobsadventures.com or find him on the telly, Thursdays at 11pm, Fridays at 10pm and Saturday at 1pm on Cox 13 or Fios 32.
One of the guests on this installment of Bob was Joe Rocco, who you may remember from his days as a TV sportscaster. Now he is the producer of the Newport Comedy Series. The Newport Concert Series lost its home when the Newport Yachting Center was sold at the end of last year. Fortunately he found a suitable home for those funny folks — the Newport Hyatt on Goat Island. This is a plus for comedy aficionados. There is on-site parking, the venue seats are comfy, it’s air conditioned and there is a restaurant and bar so you don’t have to go into downtown Newport at all. The bridge is just around the corner for easy on and off access. This arrangement doesn’t limit the series to the summer months either. The performances go into November with appearances by Paula Poundstone, Lenny Clarke and Natasha Leggero. Their next show is one you will definitely NOT want to miss — the queen of the “D- List,” Kathy Griffin. Griffin’s live shows are largely improvised with the comic gossiping, going off on tangents and telling stories from her outrageous experiences in Hollywood. You have TWO chances to have Griffin tickle your funny bone. She will be doing 7pm and 9:30pm shows on Friday, August 2. Laughter does a body good and Griffin will make you laugh — a lot! We all could use a good dose of that. For more, chuckle your way over to NewportComedy.com. Hey, Joe and Bob, don’t forget the “www”!
The second annual Providence Folk Festival will take place on Sunday, August 30 at Roger Williams National Memorial in Downtown Providence. This year’s headliners are folk fan favorites The Nields, and Cliff Eberhardt. Vocal quartet, Sync or Swim will kick off the day with fun a capella renditions of popular tunes. Other main stage performers are Dan Lilley with his band, The Keepers. They will be joined by Amy Bedard on violin and vocals. Kala Farnham and Co., Tiffany Rozenas, Shamanic, Cardboard Ox, and Motif Award Winners The Rank Strangers round out the music on the main stage. The RI Songwriters Association stage features Marc Douglas Berardo; Lara Herscovitch; Jacob Haller; father of Motif Award Winner, Lisa Couto, Michael Couto; Motif Award Winner Jan Luby; Alissa Musto; Grace Rennick; Carolyn Waters and the Generations duo. The festival is FREE. Food trucks will be on North Main Street or you can pack a picnic and stay for the day. Come out and experience some great music in the most historical setting in the state. For more, What Cheer over to HearInRhodeIsland.com.
It may be coming up on summer’s end, but you can still Reach The Beach at the Narrows Center for the Arts when The Fixx come to town on Saturday, September 5. The British rock band that formed in London in 1979 recorded “One Thing Leads To Another,” “Saved By Zero,” “Are We Ourselves?” and “Secret Separation.” The unforgettable vocals of Cy Curnin never fail to deliver the sonic authenticity their fans have come to expect. Who can forget the MTV generation videos of “Stand Or Fall” and “Red Skies At Night”? Judy Collins is a major interpretive singer and one of the quintessential folk figures to emerge in the ’60s. At the age of 75, she is still writing, performing and nurturing music that lights up the world and speaks to the heart. A few years back I opened for her in Newport and she played a very memorable show. Her versions of other writer’s songs are timeless: “Send In The Clowns,” “Both Sides Now,” “Someday Soon,” “Amazing Grace,” “Bird On A Wire” and much more. Will you go see her … Thursday, September 10? What have you got to lose? I HAD to sneak a LITTLE Suite: Judy Blue Eyes reference in there! This is about as intimate of a performance as you are going to get by an artist of Judy Collins’ stature.
Just want to mention one more show at The Narrows. About 30 years ago I went to a Triumph concert at the Providence Civic Center. It was by far the LOUDEST concert I have ever been to. Fortunately by then I was regularly wearing ear plugs to shows. BTW, if you don’t protect your hearing from LOUD MUSIC you will regret it in later years. OK, that was my PSA for hearing. Anyway, Rik Emmett gained international recognition as the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the band Triumph. In celebration of Triumph’s 40th anniversary, Emmett will present a special night of their music: “Rik Emmett: An Acoustic Night of Triumph and More.” With five gold and platinum recordings, decades in the music biz and induction into the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame, Rik Emmett has a lot to sing about. Considering this is an acoustic show, I don’t think the volume will be quite as loud as it was back in the ’80s at the Civic Center! “Lay It On The Line” and “Fight The Good Fight” Saturday, September 26. For more, use your “Magic Power” to get to NarrowsCenter.org.
Read quickly so I can squeeze these in. The 17th Annual Pawtucket Arts Festival presents the Blackstone River Party/Taste of The Valley on Friday, August 28 (see our story at motifri.com/taste2015). Food samplings from regional restaurants are the appetizer to an evening of music from the Shiny Lapel Trio and Zydeco tunes from Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-chas under the dance tent and on the Slater Mill grounds (PawtucketArtsFestival.org). The 2nd S.A.M. Festival happens at Slater Mill on August 29 and 30 with The Young Adults, James Montgomery, Jon Butcher Axis, DW Funk All Stars and more (SlaterMill.org). The J. Geils Band will be Southside Shufflin’ into India Point Park on Saturday, September 5. If you want to “Blow Your Face Out” then get to NewportWaterfrontEvents.com. At the Historic Warren Armory on September 4, you can contra dance to caller/guitarist, Tod Whittemore and Life On the Ocean Wave (EastBayContraDance.com). On Saturday, September 5, the Durham County Poets, an Ontario group specializing in terrific harmonies will perform bluegrass, doo-wop and early country songs at the Wamsutta Salon Concert series (wepecket.com).
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. JohnFuzek.com
Album Of The Week: Royal Headache’s High
Old-school punk fused with Motown-era soul is an amazing combination; it makes me wonder why more bands don’t go that route. Both styles have a genuine aesthetic for pouring out your ills through a mic aided by bass, guitars and drums — you think they would be symbiotic. One band that does it in impeccable fashion is Royal Headache out of Sydney, Australia, and they’ve had me hooked since their self-titled debut that came out in January 2011. Their follow up, High, is due out on August 21 and it’s my top candidate for the best album of 2015. Why such acclaim you ask? Read what I gotta say and then give it a listen when it’s released. I might be biased since I’ve been listening to this band along with a few others on a near constant basis for a couple years now, but hey it’s my weekly album review. High shows no sophomore slump from this soul-punk quartet from down under; frontman Shogun lets out pristine rage with his honest heartfelt lyrics while drummer Shortty, bassist Joe and guitarist Law bring a gargantuan level of intensity with scorching riffs and bombastic beats. If you ever needed an album that’s going to make you dance while falling in love with the music, the pure rock ‘n’ roll from High will just be what you’re looking for.
While other acts who are more famous act like a bunch of prima donnas and continuously let their fans down with sub-par releases following heavy marketing campaigns, Royal Headache doesn’t need that crap. All you gotta do is press play once and I guarantee you’ll immediately become a fan. To further support my claims, check out my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week:
While I’ve already said High is the best album I’ve heard so far this year, “Garbage” is also the #1 song of 2015. The fuzzy bass from Joe and igniting of Law’s guitar provide the perfect sound to Shogun going off on being used and abused in a very angry and furious manner. If you’re pissed off at someone, then here’s your anthem. A ballad of some sorts, “Carolina” is reminiscent of what could have been included in an ’80s John Hughes’ film. An ode to the outcast, it’s all about hoping the girl from the rough side of town still has a heart to care. The perfect dose to add to your dance party playlist, “Little Star” has a lot of rhythm while Shogun sings out to the alienated one that he loves.
Royal Headache are currently in the middle of touring the States, and they’ll be making their presence felt in New England at Great Scott in Allston, Massachusetts, on August 24 with Sheer Mag and The Channels. If you like to have a crazy fun time and see some kickass music, I highly suggest you go. Obviously you should grab a copy of High while you’re at the show, because it’s going to blow your mind. Do yourself a favor and dive in to the brilliance that is Royal Headache; you most definitely won’t regret it.
Stream the title track here: http://royalheadache.bandcamp.com/track/high
Royal Headache’s Website: http://www.royalheadache.com.au
Weekend Music Festivals: DOT AIR, Summit and FloodFest
On Saturday, August 15, you have your pick of music festivals. You can’t make a bad choice, but we’re here to help you make the best choice.
From 4pm till 1am at Machines with Magnets in Pawtucket will be the 2nd annual DOT AIR Experimental Music Festival, which will be full of imagery inspired by Pawtucket’s industrial past. Close to 20 bands will be performing on two stages and you’ll be able to hear everything from ambient electronic to blenders run through processors. This year’s lineup includes Blistex, Work/Death, Spiritual Recess, Birdlady, Craow/St, Sitting Adult, Laurie Amat, V. Sinclair, Mares Laig, Belarisk, Reverse- Engineering, Domestique, House Red, Apathy and Steel, Vision Control, Virusse, Morgan Packard, Vehement Caress and Shambling Mound. But this festival isn’t about just music. As darkness falls, experimental films will be projected onto the outer wall of Machines with Magnets. Artists will be available to screenprint a t-shirt you bring from home or one you purchase to help fund next year’s event. And between musical acts, attendees can check out a sound installation that is a mystery even to event organizer, James Toomey. “The creators want this sonic experience to be a surprise to everyone,” he explained.
Festival attendees also can take part in some public art as they decorate a 6-foot-tall capsule that was once used in a factory, donated by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Association. “Providence has its roots in industry,” said Toomey. “In order for this city to move forward, we have to continue to create. Making art out of an old factory piece is symbolic of that notion.”
For ticket and festival information, go to dotair.org
Also check out the Summit Music Festival, taking place on August 15 at 1pm at the East Side’s Lippitt Park. This is the 6th annual festival and every year, the whole neighborhood comes out to hear some good music, eat the finest food truck fare, entertain the kiddos and seek a little shade in the beer garden. This year’s lineup includes The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Garrin Benfield, And The Kids, Torn Shorts Duo, Extraordinary Rendition Band and Brother Henry. The free festival starts up as Lippitt Park’s farmers market winds down, so get there early and pick up some locally grown festival snacks!
For event information, go to facebook.com/events/987865844598393
Then in Foster, school is definitely in session for FloodFest ’15! Not only will there be two stages featuring local musicians, there will be food vendors, artisans and alcohol for those old enough to grab a shovel instead of a sled when snow days hit. Performing at Flood Fest are All About Buttons, The Kennelly Family Band, Red Hot Rascals, Tai Chi Funk Squad and Box Of Roses at the inside stage; and The Mill Rats, Neal Vitullo & The Vipers, Back Rhodes, Steve Malec & The Electric Flood, ClamBake and Rat Ruckus at the outside stage.
For tickets and festival information, go to theelectricflood.com
Roots Report: Getting Weird Okee dokee folks … I am going to use the “g-word” here. I am a bit hesitant to do so, but what the heck? Weird Al Yankovic is a genius! So he might not be a genius in the “Einstein way,” but he is a musical and comedic genius.
I had the rare opportunity to see Weird Al in concert at the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford. The show was sold out and I was lucky to score ONE ticket. The first thing I noticed when I got to the theater was that quite a few people were wearing aluminum foil hats and Hawaiian shirts. The merch table was buzzing with folks buying Al paraphernalia. The popular shirt seemed to be the one with Weird Al’s face emblazoned in the Che Guevara style. As I entered the theater I saw a large video screen behind the stage that had Yankovic’s visage in a retro, Soviet propaganda style with radiating colored lines that swirled around and seemed to suggest FUN would be MANDATORY. The house lights dimmed and the four piece band started playing. The video screen switched to a live feed from outside of the Z. Al was running around on the sidewalk and singing his opening number. He was dressed appropriately as he crooned “It might seem crazy, wearing stripes with plaid” from the song, “Tacky.” He made his way through the Z’s lobby and down the aisle onto the stage continuing to sing, “I would live-tweet a funeral, take selfies with the deceased, because I’m tacky…If I’m bitten by a zombie, I’m probably not telling you-because I’m tacky…If you don’t think that’s bad, guess what, then you’re tacky, too.”
From there he went into more Mandatory Fun with “Lame Claim to Fame.” Al asked, “Are you ready to Polka?” and then donned his accordion and plunged into his Polka medley, “Now that’s what I call Polka!” This consisted of bits from ”Too Fat Polka,” “Wrecking Ball,” “Pumped Up Kicks,” “Best Song Ever,” “Gangnam Style,” “Call Me Maybe,” “Somebody That I Used to Know,” “Sexy,” “Get Lucky” and more. Between songs the video screen kept the audience amused with clips of references to Weird Al in popular culture from the news, sitcoms and movies. Many celebs were included in these clips: Bill Maher, Mary Steenburgen, Celine Dion, Alex Trebek and more. There were also segments that appeared to have been produced for the concert. These were just as entertaining as the show! This gave Al and the band a few minutes to make the MANY costume changes throughout the night. He spoofed Lady Gaga with “Perform This Way” dressed in a furry octopus jacket and a large ice cream cone “smooshed” on his head. “Dare to be Stupid” (one of my fav’s) brought out the flower pot hats and yellow jumpsuits as he channeled his inner DEVO. He changed into a “fat suit” for his Michael Jackson spoof, “Fat.” “Foil,” a parody of “Royals” by Lorde had Weird Al wearing an aluminum foil hat, thus explaining the aforementioned tin foil hats. “Smells Like Nirvana” brought out the cheerleaders and grunge. Another medley followed with “Party in the CIA,” “It’s All About the Pentiums,” “Handy,” “Bedrock Anthem,” “Another One Rides the Bus,” “Ode to a Superhero,” “Gump,” “Inactive,” “eBay” and ended with “Canadian Idiot” and an explosion of red and white streamers.
“Wanna B Ur Lovr” sent Al off the stage into the audience for the entirety of the number. He sang to individuals and even crawled onto a few laps. He took things down a notch to mimic MTV unplugged and did a quieter, “lounge-ier”, mini acoustic set with new renditions of “Eat It,” “I Lost on Jeopardy,” “I Love Rocky Road” and “Like a Surgeon.” A Segway transported the “gangsta-looking” Yankovic onto and around the stage for the beginning of “White and Nerdy.” One of Weird Al’s most clever songs, “Word Crimes,” a lampoon of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” had Yankovic dressed in the black and white striped suit made famous by Thicke. Songs such as this show the attention to detail, knowledge and intelligence needed to create such a number. It actually far surpasses the original. “One thing I ask of you…Time to learn your homophones is past due…Learn to diagram a sentence too…Always say ‘to whom’…Don’t ever say ‘to who’…And listen up when I tell you this…I hope you never use quotation marks for emphasis” (I am sure that I am guilty of that!).
The signature suited garb and long beards of the Amish and “Amish Paradise” closed the set. He emulated a James Brown ending by having a silver cape thrown over his shoulders. “Want some more?” he screamed, “I can’t do no more!…I just got done explaining that to you!” and Al was led offstage. Thunderous applause and a standing “O” brought the keyboard player out in a dark, hooded robe. Stars lit the background of the stage. The cloaked figure went into “Phantom of the Opera” organ music. A satire song of a mock interview with Michael Stipe of REM was the basis for the first bit of the encore. “We all have cell phones so come on get real,” was assisted by audience vocals. Stormtroopers and Darth Vader entered. A light saber waved in the crowd. “The Saga Begins,” Al’s epic, mock “American Pie” got the fans singing more. The stormtroopers, decked out in their white plastic armor, were grooving to the music. The apropos follow-up piece, “Yoda,” sung to the Kinks’ “Lola” and interplayed with a bit of a capella “boom-lacka-lacka-boom” and “Frere Jaques” was the final ditty of the night.
The 18-song show ran about two hours and seemed to satisfy the Weird Al enthusiasts. Yankovic is funny, quirky, edgy and very talented. He is a master accordionist. It takes expertise, inventiveness and a rare gift to be able to compose the imaginative and knowledgeable lyrics, and to be able to morph from musical genre to genre. He is a chameleon when it comes to this. Yankovic sings caricatures of popular culture using a palette of pop songs. He is also in great shape for a 56-year-old man. He ran around much of the two hour show and did MANY high kicks that would have sent just about any man into a crouch of pain.
The Zeiterion was a perfect sized venue for this performance. It allowed the feel of a big show with the intimacy of a smaller venue. When Yankovic took it to the seats he was able to cover the whole crowd giving just about everyone a close up and personal view. The camera crew that followed him for his outdoor escapades and auditorium romping caught many of the show goers on camera, which were then projected onto the big video screen; I was one of the “lucky” ones to be seen on the screen. I am glad to say that I was able to see Weird Al Yankovic live. It was certainly an experience that I never thought I would have!
Photo Essay: Detroit Cobras at Great Scott
Rob’s Album Of The Week: The Woolen Men’s Temporary Monument
With a jangling punk sound and driving riffs that’ll immediately grab you, The Woolen Men’s sophomore full-length, Temporary Monument, is bound to show no slumps when it’s released via Brooklyn indie label Woodsist Records on September 4. Having more of a polish than the Portland, Oregon, trio’s self-titled LP that came out in 2013, there’s also a lot of boundaries being pushed and dimensions being explored. While having a distinct fuzz to go with a lo-fi style of recording, The Woolen Men have fine-tuned themselves immensely while keeping things unique. If you’re into weird rock ‘n’ roll acts like Parquet Courts, Jackson Scott and Alex Bleeker & The Freaks, you’re bound to dig this killer band from the Northwest.
Each track on Temporary Monument has a lot of energy, you’re either gonna start dancing or want to repeatedly bump into someone when you give it a listen. Thunderous guitars shine all over the album, definitely anchoring the intensity to serve as the body of the trio’s music. You can notice the four-track production quality on The Woolen Men’s upcoming release, a complement to their DIY aesthetic. Getting in your face and letting you know how they feel, Temporary Monument shows a band ripping their hearts out and making you eat it with a smile on your face.
I’m going to be honest, I’m always full of nervousness and angst whenever a band I like puts out a follow-up record. Maybe it’s the jaded part of me that’s been disappointed by so many bands after their debuts that’s creeping out. Anyway, I can be nothing but impressed with The Woolen Men’s upcoming second album. They’re going in the right direction, just like you will after checking out my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week:
A quick one that’ll make you move, “University” has some badass drumming going on that’ll absolutely wow you. Kind of sludgy and distorted, “Hard Revision” walks the line of lo-fi sounding riffs, but it’s never boring. Reminiscent of a lot of late ’70s post-punk, but with a lot more power and emphasis, “The Wheel” rolls with excellent downbeats when the guitars and drums come together to create a formidable audial duo.
The Woolen Men’s next few shows will be at The Know in Portland with Piss Test & Mall Walk on September 10 and at Mississippi Studios in the same city on September 28 with Landlines and Honey Bucket. Temporary Monument will be released by then, so you better grab a copy when you hit up either show. Let’s hope these guys come over to New England soon, but until then get your hands on this album next month — it’ll definitely be worth the wait.
Stream “After The Flood” here: soundcloud.com/woodsist/woolen-men-after-the-flood Check out The Woolen Men on BandCamp: woolenmen.bandcamp.com/
Interview with A Prairie Home Companion’s Garrison Keillor For over 40 years, A Prairie Home Companion has graced radios with its presence all across the United States, whether it’s at its home base at the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, or at one of its numerous stops on the road. Last June, long-time host Garrison Keillor announced that he’ll retire from his role in the program and that next year, duties will be taken over by folk acts Nickel Creek & Punch Brothers’ chief songwriter Chris Thile. A Prairie Home Companion will perform at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Friday, August 7, as part of the America The Beautiful Tour, so we talked about his favorite memories of the program for the past four decades, the current transitional period in media and what his plans are after he leaves as host.
Rob Duguay: A Prairie Home Companion has a lot of vintage quirks in its comedy, storytelling and skits, and its musical guests tend to be in the folk and traditional genres. It seems as if it could have been as successful a show in the late 1800s and early 1900s as it is today. What inspired the conception and creation of A Prairie Home Companion when it started in the mid-70s?
Garrison Keillor: It started out in imitation of the country-music show The Grand Ole Opry, and we kept adding to it — the monologue about Lake Wobegon, the sketch comedy, the serial dramas of Guy Noir and the Lives of the Cowboys, the commercials, and now it’s a complicated patchwork of material that keeps bursting its seams.
RD: Last year A Prairie Home Companion celebrated its 40th anniversary. What are some of your favorite memories from taking the show out on the road?
GK: The show’s been on the road almost from the very beginning. Radio is highly portable and it’s good to keep looking for fresh audiences. The other night in Portland, Maine, we got a beautiful audience and the show went for three hours simply because it was so much fun. I’ll miss that when I’m done. But there’s no way to do it part-time. It’s all or nothing.
RD: Who comes up with the fictional advertisements in A Prairie Home Companion?
GK: I do.
RD: Since the dawn of the internet, radio has been experiencing a transition where you have these independent radio entities going head to head against the terrestrial conglomerates, while some corporate media stalwarts, notably The Boston Globe, have started their own internet stations. What do you think of this whole transitional period and do you think there will ever be a day where A Prairie Home Companion will be broadcast primarily on the Internet?
GK: I am happily unaware of this. It’s for younger people to deal with. I live in the world of broadcast radio where the family sits down around the Motorola and tunes in the station early to give the vacuum tubes time to warm up. I love that the internet connects us to people in Malaysia and Sweden and the Antarctic, but that’s not what I’m in it for. I’m in it for the trucker crossing the Rockies who is looking for a real-time companion.
RD: After you retire from being the program’s host, can we expect any LPs or CDs under the A Prairie Home Companion name in the future or do you have another book in the works?
GK: I’m working on a memoir that is mostly about work. No LPs or CDs in the works. I don’t see a point to putting them out. You can get whatever you want for free online.
Tickets for A Prairie Home Companion @ The PPAC: http://www.ppacri.org/events/detail/garrison-keillor
Gathering of the Vibes Celebrates 20 Years with a Memorable Lineup
Once a year, Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut, becomes home to Gathering of the Vibes, perhaps the greatest celebration of music, culture and art I’ve ever experienced. On their 20th anniversary, Ken Hayes and the team over at GotV didn’t skimp out on the excess, assembling one of the most memorable lineups in recent history.
I was fortunate enough to join my VibeTribe brethren for another year at Seaside Park, but this time, I threw out my plans for the weekend and basked in the culture of Vibes. While two days of virtually non- stop music might make one’s head spin in disorientation, I experienced a feeling of euphoria that kept my stamina up (despite my lack of sleep).
My adventures kicked off Saturday morning as I approached the main concert field, experiencing a mix of ecstasy and nostalgia. I made it just in time to listen to Kung Fu, who kicked off the action on the main stage with the instrumental proficiency to set the bar high for the day.
One of my favorite acts came early as Deep Banana Blackout graced the stage with a performance that can only be described as pure electricity. Originally formed in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in 1995, DBB has maintained a core lineup that recently reformed in 2007. They have since performed yearly at Vibes.
Vocalist Jen Durkin captured the audience’s attention with her Joplin-influenced attitude and complex vocal prowess while guitarist James “Fuzz” San Giovanni kept fans hooked through his audacious leads that melted songs together harmoniously. For an early set, I was shocked at the turnout of VibeTribers, since most were up till 1am the previous night for The String Cheese Incident.
As far as legacy acts go, I was fortunate enough to catch Billy & The Kids, a side project of Billy Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead. It was previously announced that there was a theme for the set, and after the band delved right into The Dead’s 1972 hit, “Ramble on Rose,” I knew they were about to attack songs that the Dead skipped over during their 50th anniversary shows in Santa Clara and Chicago.
Bassist Reed Mathis and guitarist Tom Hamilton Jr. both performed with lyrics in front of them, but when it came time for improvisation, they made the audience’s faces split open and melt with the sheer proficiency. Kreutzmann was on point (as always) and even invited Warren Haynes onstage to jam The Beatles classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with The Kids.
The performance of the day for me came late as my musical heroes, Wilco, took the main stage for an over-the-top, blistering two-hour set. The band delved into their whole catalogue of music and didn’t pull any punches, from the artfully dysfunctional “Via Chicago” to an epic jam of “California Stars” with special guest, Warren Haynes.
What excited me the most about their performance at Vibes was that Jeff Tweedy and the gang decided to take a risky move by playing their surprise album (it was announced out-of-the-blue on July 16) Star Wars, in its entirety. This maneuver paid off entirely as Tweedy went in and out of their new edition like tissue paper and provided the message that this alt-country band was more than a one-trick pony.
Other notable acts from the day included Greensky Bluegrass, a roaring bluegrass band that emitted a sound greater than the acoustic instruments they played; Trevor Hall, who is always a coffee house hit and respectable musician; and Warren Haynes with Railroad Earth, who performed songs from their new collaborative album, Ashes & Dust, as well as Allman Brothers Band covers and a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “China Cat,” featuring Billy Kreutzmann on percussions.
While I enjoyed the copious amounts of music I listened to on Saturday (over 12 hours of it), I lacked in exploring the culture and atmosphere of Seaside Park. I set out to accomplish this task the next day since I only planned to catch four musicians.
I explored all the tents and stands that Vibes had to offer. It had a similar feel to Shakedown Street, which I bore witness to during the Grateful Dead show on July 3 in Chicago. All the shop owners were thrilled to be at Vibes for the 20th anniversary, coming from as far as California to be in attendance. I shopped a bit and purchased an organically made Phish shirt before riding the ferris wheel.
The VibeTribers were just how I remembered them — peaceful, focused and of course, strange. I saw everything from a man dressed as a troll on stilts to an older gentleman who took in the music dressed as a pod of green beans. They welcomed me again as one of their own and in turn, I listened to their stories, reveling in their memories as if I had been there.
Then I took in the music with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who shook my eardrums and spirit with their authentic New Orleans jazz and blues-infused stylings. My dad, who joined me on this epic journey, was more excited by them than I was and even began dancing (which, if you know my dad, is a rare sight).
Weezer was my highlight of the day even though their style of garage rock was far from the notorious jam-band stylings of Vibes. Nonetheless, Weezer was just as memorable as the previous times I saw them and provided a kickass show that even got the cranky, tired-out VibeTribers singing along to notable tracks such as “Undone (The Sweater Song)” and “Pork and Beans.”
My experience at this year’s Gathering of the Vibes was one for the books. Whether you’ve been attending Vibes since its inception or have never heard of it, I cannot recommend a music festival more.
Stay Vibey, my friends.