Suits and Boots: A Guide to Ska Style

With New England summer winding down and cooler weather approaching, it’ll be time for all the rude boys to get their suits out of the closet and get set to look sharp at a show.

Wait. What’s that you say? Rude boys? No, no. I don’t mind. I always relish the chance to nerd out about ska.

In the 1960s, rude boys were either glorified or vilified in the poorer sections of Kingston, Jamaica. They were discontented youth, violent and prone to crime, and many ska and rocksteady artists of the time had songs about them. Tunes such as Dandy Livingstone’s “A Message to You, Rudi,” Alton Ellis’s “Dance Crasher,” and many more featured rude boy culture.

Rude boys favored sharp suits, skinny ties and pork pie or Trilby hats. Think Dan Akroyd and John Belushi as The Blues Brothers, and you won’t be far off.

In the late ’70s, the style was revived along with ska music by the 2 Tone Label and its associated bands: The Specials, Madness and The Selecter. The 2 Tone logo featured a cartoon drawing of a cool looking dude in a sharp suit and skinny tie nicknamed “Walt Jabsco.” The artist based the drawing off a slick looking Peter Tosh from one of the earlier Wailers records and thus the rude boy was reborn, not as a violent gangster, but as a fashion archetype and a label to describe fans of ska music.

This era also saw the birth of the skinhead and the working class style of flight jackets, Fred Perry polo shirts and jeans held up by braces, rolled up to show off a neat pair of Doc Martens boots. Coming from hard-working families in the UK, skinheads started off as hard-drinking, hard-dancing youth who favored ska, reggae and punk — a far cry from the racist image portrayed today.

There were also female counterparts to both. There were the rude girls with their pressed skirts, loafers, tights and bob haircuts, and skinhead girls who dressed mostly the same as the boys.

This was also where ska picked up its black and white checkered motif. Originally a design symbolic of racial unity, it has since come to just mean ska in America.

As ska continued into the ’80s and started to trickle over to America, so too did the styles. Here you have the great melting pot in effect as the rudies and skins were joined on the dance floors by punks and dreadlocked Rastas. The music, as well as the styles, became more mixed with various branches sprouting off the ska family tree.

Nowadays the styles at shows can get pretty eclectic, but you’ll still find your adherents to the rude boy faith. In fact, get those suits pressed and boots shined and head to the Parlor Bar in Newport on Friday, September 11 as The Copacetics and The Hempsteadys dish out the ska! Just don’t be no dance crasher… Alt-Nation: An Interview with Peter Wolf and Fall Shows

My earliest memories of listening to radio involve getting down to The J. Geils Band when they started to have a string of huge radio hits with the likes of “Freeze Frame,” “Centerfold,” and “Just Can’t Wait.” This was the tail end of the band’s career as soon as they hit the big time, it was over. Singer Peter Wolf left to go solo. Wolf would have a couple hits like “Lights Out” and “Come as You Are.” More than the hits, Wolf has built up a catalogue 30 years in the making of some really fantastic music. Growing up, there would be that one Saturday night of year where Wolf returned to where he started, on the airwaves of WBCN. He’d play all these obscure records that I had never heard of and spin tales of hanging with musicians like Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters that in my teenage mind were some legendary figures from another dimension. I had heard of them and these stories about them but didn’t really know much about them at the time. These experiences later would prod me to dig deeper in the band’s rich history.

The J. Geils Band remain one of my all-time favorites for classic American R&B-infused blues rock ‘n’ roll. With The J. Geils Band coming to town, it seemed like a good time to talk to singer Peter Wolf about the band and his solo career.

Marc Clarkin: Does it take a while when the band gets back together to recapture the magic?

Peter Wolf: Well yeah, we work hard on it. It’s not unlike actors getting together putting on a classic play. The lines might be there, but you want to make sure it lives and breathes and has the same intensity you are known for. We always try to keep the bar high and keep the energy where it needs to be. It is always an interesting get-together, kicking up the songs that we’ve been known for.

MC: When it comes to constructing the set lists, obviously there are the hits that everyone expects. Do you have any deep cuts or tracks you are partial to planned this time around?

PW: Yeah, we had about four or five in the set that were kind of obscure album tracks that we liked. This time there will be several of them. It changes. Of course people expect certain songs that you made popular, but that is true of many bands that have been around a long time like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles or the Rolling Stones. People want to hear the songs you made popular.

MC: Although The J. Geils only had their commercial success toward the end of their career, you guys were playing arenas for years prior to that. Do you think that things are different today as far as a band being able to reach the level of selling out arenas without a hit record?

PW: We played arenas quite a bit, but I would say it wasn’t till the MTV era came along and embraced the band that we had our largest popularity. Also it coincided with a label change that had a great belief in the band that combined with MTV gave us new possibilities that we didn’t have before. There are a lot of bands playing arenas today that people say wow, where did they come from? I’ve never even heard of them. There is a whole new audience through multimedia and the internet that communicate to a whole new fan base that are having great success that might not be played on the traditional radio in the way that the Stones or Geils or Aerosmith, bands of that order achieved their acclaim shall we say. MC: You got your start in the music business as a deejay for WBCN in Boston. How did that come together?

PW: The fellow who put the station together was kind of an eccentric character. He used to go out drinking and when the bars closed, he’d come to my place and pass out on my couch. Then one day he asked me if I wanted to invest in this radio station. I couldn’t even pay my rent, never mind invest in a radio station. “Well,” he said, “you’ve got all these records around the house. Why don’t you at least help me out and come up and deejay?” So I ended up doing that for a couple of years. Every night I had the Wolfa Goofa Mama Toofa that went from midnight till 6 in the morning. I really enjoyed it. I had guests like Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, Carla Thomas, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and all sorts of different people. It was an amazing time to be on radio because it was one of the only music shows on at night on the FM dial that was playing that kind of stuff. So a lot of guests who were in town would drop by after their shows to promote that they were in town.

MC: I know you’re working on a new record. It’s been five years since your last solo record, the excellent Midnight Souvenirs, was released, how is the new record coming along?

PW: It is finished and should be out in February or March. We’ll be touring with the Midnight Travelers. which I’m very excited about. I enjoy doing the Geils stuff because it enables me to revisit a body of work that I helped create and was part of my life for so long. The solo stuff is very important and meaningful because it gives me the ability to keep rolling on.

MC: Midnight Souvenirs had a lot of guests on for duets; do you have any on the new record?

PW: It was a thrill to work with Merle Haggard who I always admired. He’s an icon. He’s right up there and it was a labor of love. On the album before that (Sleepless) it was great to work with Mick Jagger and another song with Keith Richards who are old friends. I had been planning to do a duet with a singer and songwriter that I had always loved and admired, Bobby Womack. There was a song I wrote with Don Covay who was a good friend of Bobby’s. Just as I got done finishing the song that Bobby was going to sing on, the fellow that was producing the record said you won’t believe it. I just got a flash on my cell phone that Bobby Womack passed away. It was very sad and disappointing news to lose an artist like that. His band the Valentinos was the first band to record “Looking For a Love,” which became a Geils staple. Bobby had been somebody that I had been a fan of throughout my career. That’s why I say with this Geils tour when people ask if this is the last tour, “You never really know.” Some bands like to promote it as the last tour but you never really know. So if people haven’t seen the band, they should make a point to get out there. Catch it while it is there.

The J. Geils Band and Ian Hunter & The Rant Band will bring the Houseparty to India Point Park on The Providence Waterfront on September 5. The doors open at 5:30pm and the show starts at 6:30pm.

Scurvy Dog Parking Lot Mega Show

The Scurvy Dog is at it again, hosting another all-day barbecue and rock show in their parking lot. The Labor Day Weekend lineup includes co-owner Jami Sleaze’s ’50s Elvis tribute band Louisiana Hayride, Beta Motel, the Viennagram, The Worried, Sasquatch, The Hornets, The Quahogs, Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion! (Boston instrumental surf rock), and Minibeast (crazy psych-rock featuring Peter Prescott of Mission to Burma and Adam Autry from Olneyville Sound System). There will be a grill going outside with the Scurvy Dog’s usual menu plus the addition of Jennifer Hurricane’s world-famous seafood gumbo. The Scurvy Dog Parking Lot mega show happens at The Scurvy Dog on September 6th. The music will run from 2PM to 11Pm and the bar will be open all night.

Spot Underground’s Summers End Rock BBQ

As sad as it is to see summer go, who doesn’t like a good barbecue to send it out in style? In fact, one can just go barbecue hopping from the Scurvy Dog for the Parking Lot Mega Show to the Spot, and then maybe hit The Parlour. The whole time you’d have great music going on in the background. The Spot will have food and two stages going all night featuring performances by Spiderfighter, Another One Down, Chained to Insanity, Chronovore, Rich Polseno, Johnny Poons and Insanity Plague.

Spot Underground’s Summers End Rock BBQ will take place on September 6 at the Spot Underground in Providence.

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages come to town in support of their new powerhouse of record in Under The Savage Sky (Bloodshot Records). Under The Savage Sky is packed with the R&B and garage rock that has long been Whitefield and The Savages’ calling card. I’ll have review of the entire record next issue but until then, circle this date on the calendar so you don’t miss something special.

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages return to rock the Columbus Theatre on September 11.

The Goddamn Gallows

The Goddamn Gallows are like punk rock Americana with the way they incorporate instruments like washboard, mandolin and banjo into their up-tempo tunes. Hailing from Michigan, The Goddamn Gallows have made regular stops in Providence for years. If you are on the lookup for a night of up energetic music that is a little bit unique, check out The Goddamn Gallows.

The Goddamn Gallows will rock Firehouse 13 on September 16.

The Ghost Wolves

Austin rock duo The Ghost Wolves conjures up swampy blues and howling fuzzed-out garage rock on their album Man. Woman, Beast. As far as garage rock duos, The Ghost Wolves are a more dirty, raw-to- the-bone outfit than, say, a mainstream act like The Black Keys. I hear a heavy Cramps influence the way the blues is presented with a punk rock accent. This should be an exciting show!

The Ghost Wolves will rock Firehouse 13 on September 17.

The Mallett Brothers

The Mallett Brothers mix country and rock ‘n’ roll up in a stew, shake it and let it all hang out. I’ve been catching The Mallett Brothers for a few years now, as they seemed to be on one of those never-ending tours. Their sounds has bits of alt-country, Americana and folk combined with harder elements like full- on rock to make things pop. Get there early to check out The Red Pennys who have a new record that I’ll be reviewing next issue.

The Mallett Brothers, Sasquatch & The Sick-A-Billys, and The Red Pennys will rock the Met Café on September 18.

2nd Pop Fest

Chris “Pop” Popoloski was the Mayor of the Providence music scene. Pop was a voice of honesty whether manning the soundboard, playing a show, or supporting friends’ bands. Nobody was a bigger supporter of the scene. For the second year in a row his friends are having a memorial concert. All proceeds will go to the Pop Memorial Fund to assist stage hands and night club workers. The show will feature performances by The Struggle, Rhode Kill, The Bastards (Pop’s band) and Holy Cow. There are also a number of special guests lined up to appear.

The 2nd Pop Fest celebrating the life of Chris “The Pop” Popoloski takes place on September 19 at Aurora in Providence. Doors open at 8pm and the show will go all night with a $5 minimum donation.

Ace Frehley

The Spaceman — as original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley is known — continues the classic rock into Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel. I haven’t heard any of Frehley’s recent solo material, but I’m guessing it is closer to where his bread is buttered in the vein of KISS than say the disco of his solo hit “New York Groove.” That said, part of me hopes he comes out and does a 45-minute version of “New York Groove” because that would be so scarring. Some of his solo work with Frehley’s Comet is excellent with gems like “Ozone” that have been covered by the Foo Fighters. I’m excited just thinking about all the ways this night could go.

Ace Frehley and Pistol Shot Gypsy rock Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on September 23.

The Queers

The Queers are arguably New Hampshire’s finest export. They started as a Ramones rip-off, and then soothed the edges in the ’90s by incorporating the Beach Boys into their sound. Since then, there hasn’t been much change. The Queers have amassed a catalogue that is pretty damn impressive with gems like “I Met Her at The Rat,” “Punk Rock Girls, and “Teenage Bonehead.” The Queers don’t come down this way anywhere near as much as they used to, so don’t miss this one.

The Queers, Nobodys, and Party Pigs will rock Dusk on September 27.

Wayne “The Train” Hancock

Wayne “The Train” Hancock is an accomplished old style western outlaw country. It seems weird thinking about it now, but it has actually been 20 years since his debut album, Thunderstorms and Neon Signs, came out. Wayne “The Train” isn’t for those who like modern pop country, but the rabble rousers of the old hard stuff love him. All the cowboys of West Warwick are sure to be at this rodeo.

Wayne “The Train” Hancock will play Manchester 65 in West Warwick on September 27.

Pentagram

Pentagram are one of those rock ‘n’ roll tragedies that has been revived late in life. Pentagram started as a ’70s stoner metal rock ‘n’ roll band. They should have been huge, but it took 16 years to release their debut. Drugs and more drugs capsized the band’s commercial potential. In the movie Last Days Here, a documentary of the band picks up with singer Bobby Liebling living in his elderly parents’ basement and addicted to crack. Liebling gets sober and married during the film and since then Pentagram has become active again. If you ever want a reason not to do crack, check out Pentagram live because Liebling in one grotesque-looking fellow. If that’s not enough of a reason to go, the band rocks, too!

Pentagram, Electric Citizen, and Satan’s Satyrs will rock The Met Café on October 1.

Gang of Four

Gang of Four are a seminal English post-punk band know for their political themes. Their debut album, Entertainment! is widely viewed as one of the essential albums out of the post-punk era. The lineups have changed over the years with guitarist Andy Gill the lone remaining original member. Gang of Four have been cited as an influence by REM, Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers among others, so come to The Met and find out why!

Gang of Four and The New Regime rock the Met Café on October 3.

Up Star Fest 2015 – featuring The Vibrators

Up Start Fest is more like a traveling tour where the lineup can change slightly from night to night. The highlight for me is the presence of legendary first wave UK punks The Vibrators. The Vibrators released a lot of classic music most notably their 1977 debut, Pure Mania. They are more pop hook oriented than some of their contemporaries like The Clash and Sex Pistols. It isn’t every day that one gets the opportunity to see a first generation UK punk legend in an old firehouse in Providence, so take advantage of the opportunity at hand!

Up Start Fest featuring sets by The Vibrators, Two Fisted Law, Hudson Falcons, The Sharp Lads, Cry Havoc, Kyle Trocolla, and more hit Firehouse 13 on October 4.

Jesse Malin

I’ve been a fan of Jesse Malin’s songwriting since the ’90s when he was fronting a glam punk band call D Generation. There is something about his lyric writing that is rich with references from rock ‘n’ roll while still being able to tell a story. Some of Malin’s solo work veers toward indie songwriter, but other points of reference include The Kinks, Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Pete Yorn. It’s been a busy year for Malin as he already released one album in New York Before The War and has a 2nd one called The Outsiders coming out the day of this show. This is my pick for the show of the fall right here.

Jesse Malin, Matthew Ryan, and Don Dilego will rock Firehouse 13 on October 9.

Email music news to [email protected] Roots Report: Polly Want Some Music

Okee dokee folks … Today I was running an errand and saw a heartbreaking sign stapled to a telephone pole. It was a notice for a lost parrot named Bella. You never think about a parrot getting lost — it’s usually cats and dogs. I always hope that these animals are reunited with their human companions. A lost dog or cat sometimes finds its way to the pound and if it has proper identification, eventually home. It can be confusing to figure out what to do with parrots and other feathered friends that are lost or abandoned. In my opinion and in the opinion of most animal lovers, birds and exotic animals should NOT be kept as pets. Most people don’t realize that parrots can outlive their owners. Parrots, as well as other birds, were meant to fly and be free. A life in a cage is not much of a life.

Anyway, here I am on a rant again and trying to tie it in to my music column. Guess what? I can! Ironically, just before I saw the lost parrot flyer I was given a handbill for a fundraiser to support a parrot/wildlife sanctuary. My friends Dorian and Tracy, who gave me the flyer, volunteer there one day a week. The sanctuary is Foster Parrots, Ltd & The New England Wildlife Sanctuary and they care for a population of over 450 exotic bird and animal refugees. They will have their Fall Fundraiser Extravaganza on Saturday, September 19 in Hope Valley. Now this is the part where I tie it in to music. The Adam Ezra Group will headline this event. There will also be a champagne welcome, sanctuary tours, an extensive vegetarian buffet and an open beer and wine bar.

The Adam Ezra Group (AEG) is a great choice for this event. They’re not just a band, they are a force to be reckoned with socially. Selling records and tickets is important to AEG, but they are committed to changing the world with their songs and their actions along the way. Ezra and his band are activists and community leaders as much as they are musicians and songwriters. Ezra has spent time living out of a van, farming in Canada, volunteering for the relief effort in Kosovo and practicing environmental geography in South Africa. Whether as a kitchen hand or carpenter, teacher, athlete or traveler, Ezra crams it all into the music, always challenging our perspective and often teetering somewhere between the ballsy rocker and sensitive poet. Through their nonprofit organization, RallySound, AEG helps people organize live music events that inspire communities and encourage grassroots activism. They have toured with The Avett Brothers, Jason Mraz, Indigo Girls, Deer Tick, The Goo Goo Dolls, Blues Traveler, Los Lobos, Toad and the Wet Sprocket, Dwight Yoakam, Gin Blossoms and many more. The Adam Ezra Group has graduated from the Boston scene to the national level with a momentum that is catapulting them toward being one of the country’s most talked about bands. For more about the fundraiser, wing over to FosterParrots.com.

If you don’t know that the Rhythm and Roots festival is happening Labor Day weekend then you must be living under a rock. The best end-of-summer festival wrapper-upper has been going strong for the past 18 years. With multiple stages, dancing, camping, Cajun food, arts and crafts and more, the R&R festival is an event worthy of the holiday weekend. This year’s line-up includes such acts as The Mavericks, Los Lobos, Keb ‘Mo, Royal Southern Brotherhood (with Cyril Neville & Tyrone Vaughan), Sarah Potenza (from The Voice), Lake Street Dive, Marcia Ball, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys and more. Held at beautiful Ninigret Park in Charlestown, the festival has become a destination event drawing approximately 10,000 roots music and dance fans from all around the country over the course of the weekend. Highlights of this year’s fest include a “Main Stage Blowout” with The Mavericks, Los Lobos and boogie-woogie piano queen, Marcia Ball, plus perennial favorites Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys. Also, the Heritage Stage features special showcases and workshops with an up close and personal experience with the artists. Special evening music showcases this year will include Canadian and Blues Showcases hosted by Matt Anderson, an Americana Showcase hosted by Jim Lauderdale, and a Louisiana Showcase hosted by Steve Riley. There is SO MUCH MORE, but not enough room. To expand your R&R intake, swing over to rhythmandroots.com.

On Saturday, September 12, you can celebrate Five Years of Sweet Sounds with the Music at Lily Pads’ fifth anniversary concert. The date marks five years since Brown Bird and South County’s Fly Around performed in the UUCSC sanctuary in Peace Dale, kicking off a continuous run of concerts that has won hearts and ears with unique, innovative and quality artists. Music at Lily Pads will mark the anniversary with an evening featuring music by three exceptional bands, improv, theater, art, good food and more. The evening presents multi-instrumentalist, roots music and Shape Note singing historian Tim Eriksen and Friends; traditional music trio The Vox Hunters, featuring All-Ireland champion on the Uilleann pipes Torrin Ryan; and an acoustic set by The Silks. Also on hand will be the Whale Guitar, created by a collaborative of Rhode Island artists. This stunning custom-made guitar, with a body carved in the shape of a scrimshawed white whale, will be played by various artists that night. To add to the festivities, The Contemporary Theater Company’s “Bait and Switch” improv group will stop by, fresh from Austin’s Out of Bounds Comedy Festival. Rhode Island musician, band leader and artist Jim Chapin will be displaying a selection of his paintings, and refreshment sales will benefit The End Hunger Foundation, Inc. For more, ceremonialize over to musicatlilypads.org.

When I was young, Styx was one of my favorite bands and I had the pleasure of seeing them live a few times back in the days of arena rock. While this is not Styx, it is the next best thing: the VOICE of Styx. “Dennis DeYoung — The Music of Styx” will be at the Park Theater in Cranston on Friday, September 11. Dennis DeYoung is a founding member of the rock group Styx. The Chicago-based band originated in 1962 when 14-year-old DeYoung and brothers John and Chuck Panozzo joined Dennis in the basement of his childhood home to form one of America’s most successful and enduring bands. Styx has sold over 35 million albums worldwide and DeYoung has written eight of their nine top 10 singles. Styx was the only band to ever record four consecutive triple platinum albums. For over four decades, DeYoung has been a singer, songwriter, keyboardist and record producer. He wrote and sang several classics including: “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” “Best of Times,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Show Me the Way,” “Desert Moon,” “Don’t Let It End,” and the 1979 People’s Choice Award winner, “Babe.” His singing talents have made his voice one of the most recognizable in the world. DeYoung has recorded seven solo albums including Desert Moon, whose title track achieved Top Ten status. DeYoung continues to tour with his rock band around the world.

Also at The Park Theatre, on September 19 the all-female powerhouse Lez Zeppelin will perform. The band will recreate Led Zeppelin’s legendary live performance of “The Song Remains The Same” at Madison Square Garden in July 1973. There is ample FREE parking for the Park Theatre. It is available in the 400 space lot located across the street, directly behind Cranston City Hall. For more, Mr. Roboto to parktheatreri.com.

The Zeiterion in New Bedford welcomes celebrated, award-winning U.K. singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading on Friday, September 25. This globe-circling tour marks her first as a solo performer, as well as her farewell trip through the touring circuit. “I will never retire, but this will be the last major tour that I will undertake.” Aside from her captivating music, Joan will share her thoughts and experiences from a lifetime of making music. “These will be lively interactive concerts, because I will be asking the audience to put their questions to me.” With an epic 20 albums in her repertoire, this career- spanning review promises a fantastic mix of magical old favorites including “Love and Affection,”” Willow,” and “Me, Myself I,” as well as an in-depth look at what inspires Joan as a writer and performer. Melissa Ferrick opens the show. For more, “Drop The Pilot” to zeiterion.org.

Out of room, squeezing these in! At Fete it’s Greensky Bluegrass, with American Babies on September 17 and on September 26 is The Ballroom Thieves (fetemusic.com). The Grange on Broadway in Providence has The Harmaleighs and Sean Kennedy on September 9, on September 11 is Providence World Ensemble and on September 16 is Cowboy & Lady (TJ Kelly and Jess Powers) (providencegrange.com). Aztec Two-Step is at Chan’s on September 18 (chanseggrollsandjazz.com). Eliza Gilkyson returns to Common Fence Music in Portsmouth for her third visit on September 19 (commonfencemusic.org).

No more room, thanks for reading! www.JohnFuzek.com

Album Of The Week: Mike Krol’s Turkey

Chock full of infectious fuzz and righteous noise to go with an adornment of pop hooks, Madison, Wisconsin, artist Mike Krol has something catchy for you to latch onto with his 3rd full-length, Turkey. Imagine The Cars’ brand of power pop blended with the sounds of The Stooges and MC5, and you’ll get something close to what Krol unleashes on his new release. Rapid fire rhythms will take over your senses while a reasonable amount of angst will give you an electrifying sensation. I don’t know if it’ll make you dance, but this Turkey won’t make you fall asleep.

Very raw and unapologetic, Turkey is abrasive as all hell in a beautiful way. You’ll dig Krol’s no-frills approach that avoids unnecessary production twerks some artists fall back on. Teenage frustrations are all over the album, so if you feel like punching something, Turkey could very well be your soundtrack to destruction. Also with Krol’s vocals coming through a guitar amp, there’s a unique dimension to everything that’s hard to duplicate.

Along with nearly everything that has to do with listening to music, you should turn it up to a reasonably loud volume when you press play. Just enough to wake up the neighbors, but not so they call the cops. Unless you’re the type who likes to live dangerously. Whether you’re the quintessential risk taker or not, you’ll love my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week:

An anthem for the alienated, especially in your local music scene, “Left Out (ATTN: SoCal Garage Rockers)” has that angst and frustration I mentioned earlier with a heavy dose of crazed noise from Krol’s guitar. The track that’s the most pop-addled is “La La La.” The chorus is obviously catchy and anyone who wants to let it out while concluding with a positive mental outlook can relate to this one. Another catchy one is “Cactuses.” Don’t let the pricks get you down, and rock out to this one with reckless abandon.

Krol will start a tour of the United States, Canada and Europe starting on September 4 with a free in- store performance at Strictly Discs in his hometown of Madison. New Englanders can catch Krol in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 1 at the Out Of The Blue Gallery, which should be a rad time that no one should miss. Until then, hit up your friendly neighborhood record store or log on to your favorite (legal) music download website and get a copy of Turkey. You’ll start twisting the time away when you give it a listen.

Stream & purchase Turkey here: mergerecords.com/songmgr/radio.php?album=70676

Mike Krol’s page on Merge Records’ Website: mergerecords.com/mike-krol

Rhythm & Roots Festival Turns 18

With the summer winding down, Rhode Islanders are hitting the outdoors by storm trying to catch those last drops of sun before the weather shifts to fall. If you haven’t gotten the chance to experience summer in Rhode Island then you better do it quick — there’s nothing like it. One great way to get that last dose is by checking out the 18th edition of the Rhythm & Roots Festival happening at Ninigret Park in Charlestown from September 4-6. The lineup is one of the best so far, so you won’t want to miss out on a good time. With acts like blues legend Keb Mo, Brooklyn jazz-soul act Lake Street Dive, chicano rockers Los Lobos and wailing wonder woman Sarah Potenza taking part, Rhythm & Roots will once again live up to its reputation as one of the best music festivals in The Ocean State. You’ll be dancing in the green grass after you park for free and the young’ uns won’t have to pay to get into the musical gathering. There will also be one-of-a-kind workshops and many family-friendly activities that makes this occasion a bunch of fun for anyone in attendance.

Check out Rhythm & Roots’ website at rhythmandroots.com for more details on tickets and directions. You can’t pick a better way to spend your Labor Day weekend away from the cubicles and water cooler banter.

Interview with Speedy Ortiz’s Sadie Dupuis

Since early 2012, Northampton, MA indie rock act Speedy Ortiz has been leading the charge in a resurgence of musical creativity and innovation in New England. Powered by the songwriting skills of Sadie Dupuis, the quartet is rounded out by Darl Ferm on bass, Mike Falcone on drums and Devin Mcknight on lead guitar, producing a unique sound. This Sunday afternoon, August 30, head up I-95 where Speedy Ortiz will be rocking the seas around Boston Harbor as part of the Rock and Blues Concert Cruise with Providence punks Downtown Boys, Francine and DJ Michael V for what should be a rad time for all aboard. Dupuis and I had a chat recently about the band’s origins at a music summer camp where she used to teach, breaking into the Boston music scene, the process of creating their 3rd full length album Foil Deer and what the rest of the year has in store.

Rob Duguay (Motif): Speedy Ortiz originally started as a solo project you started up while teaching at a summer camp. Where’s the camp located and how did Speedy Ortiz grow from your own little brainchild to the band that we know as it is today?

Sadie Dupuis: The camp is called Buck’s Rock and it’s located in New Milford, CT in the northwest corner of the state. Speedy Ortiz basically started out as a home recording project so I had something to do with all these songs I was writing as part of a songwriting class I was teaching. I was in a band in New York and had been for quite a few years but most of the stuff I was working on just didn’t seem right for that band. I just made these home recordings with banjo, cello and all this other stuff. A few months after I made around 20 recordings at the camp I moved up to Massachusetts and was looking to play music with some new people so we used those songs to start with and it sort of became a band from there.

RD: Do you still teach at Buck’s Rock?

SD: I haven’t since 2011 but I did teach a master class there this summer for a couple of days which was pretty fun.

RD: Do you plan on going back to being a music teacher later in your life or do you plan on just doing it once in a while? SD: Right now I really don’t have time to do it, if it got to a point where the band wasn’t a full time thing I’m sure I would return to teaching. I taught writing at UMass Amherst for 3 years before the band started so I’ll probably try to find a teaching job along those lines when things aren’t so busy but that won’t be too soon.

RD: The band is based out of Northampton and you guys have got a really big following in Boston with recently selling out The Sinclair and doing a residency at Great Scott. When Speedy Ortiz first started playing shows in Boston, what was it like breaking into the scene there? Did it ever get difficult for you guys?

SD: At the time I knew a lot of bands already because of my old band Quilty and I already played with a lot of bands who were prominent in the Boston basement rock scene like Pile & Grass Is Green. So when I was starting a new project with other friends in bands that were basically in these same circles people kind of knew who we all were and what we were about so we were lucky that we already had friends in the scene, we already knew what bands we liked and we always were part of some pretty good shows. That’s straight from the first time we ever played.

RD: That must have been beneficial to start a new band off like that.

SD: Boston has always been the place where we’ve had the most friends and the most fans and I moved back there up until a couple of months ago. We’re sort of all spread out but I think we consider ourselves a Boston band more than anything because that’s sort of where we cut our teeth so to speak.

RD: This past April, Speedy Ortiz released in my opinion one of the best albums of the year so far with Foil Deer. It’s the band’s 3rd full length and it’s the follow up to the band’s successful 2013 release Major Arcana. While making Foil Deer, did you feel any pressure to live up to the previous album that got a lot of press and a lot of people listening to it?

SD: We kind of consider Major Arcana to be our first full length … the Speedy Ortiz stuff that was coming out before the band was in it was really just demos from me. With Foil Deer, we were just trying to make something that we liked and what we thought was interesting. I don’t think we were thinking much about the last album at all because recordingwise that was sort of a hit and run. We spent like 4 days tracking 14 songs for that record and it was very much live sounding, we didn’t get a whole lot of chance to experiment and it was like basically playing the songs as we’d play them live. Whereas for this album we spent a lot more time thinking about how to arrange for a studio and we expressly didn’t want to sound live at all. We weren’t thinking about the last record, we were trying to do things quite differently.

RD: Where was the album made? Which studio did you use to make Foil Deer?

SD: Foil Deer was made in a studio In Brooklyn called Rare Book Room and the producer there is Nico Vernhes.

RD: After the Rock and Blues Concert Cruise on Sunday, what can we expect next from Speedy Ortiz? Are there any new releases in the works? Are there any big tours coming up?

SD: We’re doing a lot of festivals right now so our schedule has been mostly flying in and out of places. There’s going to be a lot more touring until the year is up, if we have any new music out I don’t know what it’ll be so we’ll see. Tickets to the Rock and Blues Concert Cruise are still available: https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=b30b9937abdac6daf407e9a72270a50f

Purchase Foil Deer here: http://speedyortiz.bandcamp.com/album/foil-deer

Speedy Ortiz’s Website: http://speedyortiz.com

Andy Lampert Brings The Pleasant-Sounding Pain

If you have a hankerin’ for the bygone era of power-pop, there’s a local artist you may want to take a listen to. You know what I’m talking about: jangly chords, bluesy riffs and hooks that dig in deep. 10 Songs of Pain is local songwriter Andy Lampert’s attempt to turn depression into music everybody can enjoy.

Despite singing and playing guitar in bands around Rhode Island since the 1980s, 10 Songs of Pain will be Lampert’s first album. More recently, he served as rock trio The Providence Riots’ frontman and primary songwriter, but became disillusioned with being the man in the middle. Upon his return from a trip to Eastern Europe, he decided it was time to go solo and record the album that never materialized.

As the album’s title implies, Lampert draws on his personal demons as much of the subject matter, like that time he (maybe) went insane in Warsaw at the sight of his girl with another man. But the often- grim themes pair well with the bright, tight musical arrangements. Nothing on the album feels like a throwaway, which is probably a distinct advantage of waiting decades to release an album.

“Tree Climbing Goats,” is a catchy truck featuring some truly bleak subject material; he says things like, “It’s all a childish game that I’m destined to always lose,” over a shimmering, psychedelic melody. “Chance to Be” is about the desire to just be given one chance to prove yourself to somebody, with some suicide contemplation mixed in. One doesn’t like to assume that profound personal turmoil is necessary to produce worthwhile art, but I’m sure it can’t hurt. “Annoying Qualities” delivers a dose of sax-infused glam jam, a la T. Rex in the early ’70s.

If you like what you’re hearing and want to experience it live, you’re in for some good news. Luckily, Andy has rediscovered the formidable power of a rock band! His new group, featuring hand-picked local talent, will celebrate the 10 Songs of Pain release on August 28 at the Fatt Squirrel. The bill also includes Blackbutton, Running Maid and 3 Parts Dead, and is being presented by the New England Artists Coalition and Midday Records. To get the vintage sound that you remember and the mental suffering that you hopefully don’t, give Andy Lampert a try.

The 10 Songs of Pain release party will be held on Friday, August 28 at The Fatt Squirrel, located at 150 Chestnut Street in Providence. The show is 21+.

Rob’s Album Of The Week: Silverbird’s Pureland

Taking your senses and imagination to new heights, Brooklyn indie rockers Silverbird have a sonic essence that’s bound to strike a nerve. Their debut album, Pureland, comes out on September 18 and they’re already packing them in whenever they play The Big Apple. Started by songwriter Tim Barr (who actually used to be part of pop artist Lana Del Rey’s backing band), Silverbird’s hooks and catchiness will make you gravitate to what they have going on. Think of Pureland as a tractor beam with each track bringing you closer and closer to falling in love with the band.

What I really dig about Silverbird’s sound is that they have this thing where Barr sings like Gordon Gano from The Violent Femmes and the music is reminiscent of old-school power pop from the likes of Big Star and Sloan. A couple tracks have a little bit of blues to them, others have a tad bit of psychedelia and a few are even borderline dream pop. In a world where nearly everything is recycled and reproduced, Barr’s band does their own thing and achieves their own identity.

Has Brooklyn become a music scene cliche like Seattle was in the mid-90s? Quality bands have been coming out of there for quite a while now and it’s surprising that it hasn’t died down yet. If quality is what you’re looking for here, then you’ve come to the right place. Immerse yourself in my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week:

If you’re a Jeff Buckley fan, I suggest giving “Brooklyn” a listen. I guarantee, when everything builds up you’ll start thinking of the late musician. The riffs and strums from Barr and lead guitarist Dan Whaley are pristine as well. One of those bluesy songs I mentioned earlier, “45” has some dirt and grease that makes it badass. You’ll definitely be getting down with it right when you press play. With a pretty sweet drum beat, “Lyfe” has a little bit of a droning thing going on with R&B-inspired lyrics.

Silverbird just announced the album release show for Pureland will be happening at The Studio at Webster Hall on September 26 in New York City. Let’s hope they venture out to New England soon. Until then, mark your calendar for September 18 and grab Pureland when it hits the internet and record store shelves. It has to the potential to be on a lot of best of lists by the end of the year.

Stream “Lyfe” here: https://soundcloud.com/silverbirdsongs/lyfe

Silverbird’s Website: http://www.silverbirdsongs.com

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. Email music news to [email protected]