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Alt-Nation: & The Savages – Under the Savage Sky (Bloodshot Records)

Barrence Whitfield and The Savages have been kicking up a rock ‘n’ roll ruckus off and on for over 30 years. Whitfield and The Savages were known for their bruising take on R&B and soul with reckless -fueled abandon. It was like some combination of , and being backed by The Seeds. The garage rock wasn’t a surprise given Whitfield founded the band with Peter Greenberg who was already a garage punk legend for his time in DMZ and The Lyres. With any band that has been around that long, there is always a question of whether they still have it. Can they still rock or are they like a boxer all punched out and hanging onto the ropes for dear life? The Savages may have been in the latter category for a while; they did take a 16-year hiatus between before 2011’s Savage Kings (Bloodshot Records) that had Whitfield reunite with founding guitarist Peter Greenberg and Phil Lenker. If Savage Kings showed that Whitfield and The Savages are rejuvenated and ready to rock, their new Under the Savage Sky offers all of that and more.

Under the Savage Sky swings coming out of the gates with the ’70s R&B stomp of “I’m a Full Grown Man” and “The Claw.” What really separates Whitfield and The Savages from the garage rock scene they came out of is the groove. They make you want to shake your ass, not sit admiring some craft beer. The saxophone on “Rock ‘N’ Baby” borrows the riff of “Keep on Knockin’” while Whitfield does his best Little Richard impersonation. Under The Savage Sky isn’t just a total party record as more introspective tunes like “Simple Man” and “Full Moon in the Daylight Sky” bring you down to the crossroads where American soul meets the . “Angry Hands” has a brooding power that reminds me of ’ “Gimme Danger” with haunted lyrics like “cruel birds keep taunting me from the trees.” “Katy Didn’t” is one of my favorites with a Stax meets go-go garage chorus that just makes you want to dance all night. With Under the Savage Sky, Barrence Whitfield and The Savages guide you on a 12-step journey through the fiery ends of rock ‘n’ roll.

As much as I enjoyed Under The Savage Sky as a record, Barrence Whitfield and The Savages are most know for their high octane blitz of a live show. They rocked the main theater at the Columbus Theatre this past spring opening for The Sonics, and haven’t been off the road since. With The Savages now on a headlining tour that will take them all around the US and Europe, including another stop at the Columbus Theater this Friday, I decided to call up Barrence to find out what’s shakin’. Marc Clarkin: What types of influences made you want to become a musician?

Barrence Whitfield: All the soul and rock ‘n’ roll acts of the ’60s like , , James Brown, and Sam Cooke … I could go on for hours. We’ve got a mixture of a lot of those elements of the music that we grew up with and is embodied in our souls. We’re just happy that we’re able to put it together through some fine recordings that people are very happy with and excited about.

MC: When and how did the Savages start?

BW: We go back to about 1983 when I first met Peter Greenberg who was with The Lyres and DMZ. He was looking to put together a garage-y soul R&B band with a black singer who can shout and scream like Little Richard.

MC: What was the scene like back in those days?

BW: It was incredible! You could go out any night of the week, especially on weekends. There were many clubs with a lot of our friends playing in them. There was just rich music going everywhere and you’d just be staying out late night and partying. There was just an incredible scene going on back then.

MC: What would you say the difference in today? Lack of places to play?

BW: I would say that. In the past month (in the Boston area) we lost three clubs with Johnny D’s closing at the end of the year in Somerville and TT’s & The Bears closing last month. It’s a new era, especially in that area of Cambridge where there is a lot of money coming from MIT. The money is just changing those areas like Central Square. What you see now is just like what you see in the malls. At least the Middle East is still around.

MC: The band went on a hiatus for a decade.

BW: Peter and Phil, the original members, left in ’86. I put together a band with some other guys that recorded some other records and toured to keep the momentum going till about ’95 when it kind of died down. I continued to travel overseas to different parts of the world performing as well as doing some shows around here. I kept the musical thing going.

MC: Now you are back with Peter and Phil; do you think that’s the best lineup you’ve had?

BW: Oh yeah man, this is a very powerful lineup. Going onstage with these guys is just like magic and the energy is supersonic. Its fun playing with these guys and looking at the reaction from the crowd when we hit the first chord to the last chord.

MC: After all these years, do you ever get the jitters before taking the stage?

BW: No man, I’m ready to go. I’m like a boxer after its prey. I’m still excited to perform whenever I get on the stage.

MC: One song I’ve loved from Savage Kings was “Oscar Levant” who seemed like an interesting Hollywood figure. What inspired that song?

BW: He’s just one of those figures from Hollywood history that people forget about. He was actually a classical genius of a piano player. If you ever watch any of the clips of him playing classical pieces from the late 1930s into the ’40s – the guy was like a child prodigy, but he also had his demons. He was already a celebrity, but he was one of those crazy celebrities. He would say something that was on his mind that would be some crazy thing that would have people going, “What? I don’t believe he just said that.” That was the character of Oscar Levant.

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages will rock the rafters at the Columbus Theater on September 11. The show is all ages with doors at 8pm and the show at 9pm.

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Alt-Nation: An Interview with 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 . 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, , 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 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 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, . 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 Americana with the way they incorporate instruments like washboard, mandolin and banjo into their up-tempo tunes. Hailing from , 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 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 rip-off, and then soothed the edges in the ’90s by incorporating 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 ’s songwriting since the ’90s when he was fronting a band call . 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.

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Alt-Nation: Handsome Pete, 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 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] Alt-Nation: Blushing Brides, Rock ‘n’ Jock and Dylan

The Blushing Brides (Rolling Stones tribute) I don’t do a lot on cover bands because what is there is to say other than how well a band pretends to be somebody they are not? The one exception is The Blushing Brides who I’ve caught a couple of times in recent years probably due more to my obsession with the Rolling Stones than anything else. The Blushing Brides hail from Canada and have been impersonating the Stones for 27 years. That’s a lot of time to get down Mick’s dance moves and Keith’s licks. If one is going to spend 27 years pretending to be somebody… welp, it might as well be the Rolling Stones. As one can guess given their longevity, The Blushing Brides are damn good at it. The Blushing Brides sell the gimmick with each member dressing up as a Stone and they are close enough at nailing the sound that one can close their eyes and pretend it’s the real thing. Last time they were at Manchester 65 the place was packed, so advance tickets or getting there early is recommended!

The Blushing Brides return to rock Manchester 65 in West Warwick on August 7.

Rock ‘N’ Jock I never thought I’d write anything hyping spending a Sunday at a hotel in Warwick, but sometimes strange things happen when one is day drinking. I recently caught Steve Smith & The Nakeds at the Ocean Mist and it’s amazing to witness their energy and the musicianship of this band that has become a Rhode Island institution. Steve Smith & The Nakeds were formed in 1973. If you haven’t had the pleasure of catching The Nakeds live, think classic ’70s bar rock like early Springsteen & The E Street Band. While at the show, I introduced myself to Smith who told me about this upcoming Rock ‘N’ Jock benefit that they would be playing. The Nakeds will be joined by fellow Rhode Island Music Hall of Famers John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, which alone is reason to go. For those who like some R&B, there is Skip Martin formerly of Kool & The Gang and a Temptations cover band to boot! For those hungering for some ’80s new wave, they’ve got from The Romantics on the bill to tell you what he likes about you! There is pretty much something for everybody who loves to dance to old time rock ‘n’ roll and it’s all for a great cause! The mission statement of the Rock ‘N’ Jock charities is to raise money for the children of Rhode Island who are experiencing life altering illnesses and disabilities. The two charities this show will benefit are The Matty Fund and Joe Andruzzi Foundation. The Matty Fund promotes epilepsy awareness through education and research. The jock in the show is former Patriot guard and cancer survivor, Joe Andruzzi, whose foundation gives back by providing support to cancer patients as well as funding research. The intersection of great bands rocking for a greater cause should make for a great Sunday Funday.

John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, Steve Smith & The Nakeds, Revue, Skip Martin, Wally Palmar, and Mike Antunes will rock for the kids at the Crown Plaza Garden Pavilion in Warwick on August 9. For more information, including advance tickets, go to rocknjockcharities.com

Skinny Millionaires and friends present: The Songs of Bob Dylan The Newport Folk Festival closing tribute to the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan going electric has sparked a one-of-a-kind local tribute. Mikey Millionaire of The Skinny Millionaires has organized a night paying tribute to the man who is arguably the most important musician/poet of the 20th century. For the occasion, Millionaire has put together a Dylan tribute band that will feature a revolving cast of characters like Smith & Weeden, Haunt The House, Bob Kendell, Roz Raskin, Skinny Millionaires and much more! I’m stoked about this just sitting around pondering what songs they’ll cover! Fans of Dylan and these musicians will not want to miss this show!

Skinny Millionaires, Smith & Weeden, Haunt The House, John Hillman, Bob Kendall, Roz Raskin, Josh Grabert and more will be paying tribute to Bob Dylan at Jimmy’s Saloon in Newport on August 15.

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Alt-Nation: VulGarrity’s Afterlife

On their 4th release, Afterlife, VulGarrity conjures up another batch of supernatural-themed thrillers. VulGarrity are a brother/sister team composed of Shawn and Tracy (Vul)Garrity that are known for swapping instruments back and forth and being obsessed with horror movies and the supernatural. They even used to have their own web series that delved into skits involving all kinds of paranormal stuff and Santa Claus. For this obsession, some (or one) in the local media have referred to them as the sinister siblings. Afterlife is no different from the cover artwork depicting the sinister siblings in a graveyard dressed as ghosts from another era to the tunes with titles like “Dead Dance,” “Maniac Shuffle,” and the infectious lead single, “Stygian Night.”

VulGarrity are tough to pin down because there are elements of so many different rock formats going on including everything prog-metal to post-punk while still touching on everything from ’80s pop, synth- and classic rock riffs while circling the bases. This time around, they expand to include what I think is their first straight out acoustic ballad to the heavens in “Dear God.” It has more of a “We Are the World” feel than the XTC tune of the same name. Things shift fast in VulGarrity’s universe, though. The next tune, “Flight Simulator,” sounds like an ’80s funk recreation center dance floor banger in the vein of Morris Day. I’d love to quote the lyrics, but what I think I hear is usually wrong; Shawn VulGarrity is spitting gold here. “Wait Here for You” has a synth-tinged heavy rock verse before melting into an ’80s pop chorus. Afterlife goes cover to cover without losing any momentum as the closer, “West Coast Broke,” is so simple and so damn catchy that it is my favorite of the bunch. Not since Tupac has any musician managed to continue to crank out grave rave and roll party classics in the Afterlife.

Records are nice, but the real measure of any band is to experience them live. VulGarrity has earned their stripes there, becoming the first band to win the WXIN and WBRU Rock Hunts against some pretty stiff competition in some of those rounds. VulGarrity is a trip because on one song Shawn will be drumming while controlling a guitar loop pedal that was recorded at the start of the song while Tracy is on bass. Next song, Shawn might move to keyboards while Tracy mans the drums. It makes for different sounds on different songs that keep everything fresh. I asked Shawn VulGarrity a few questions about what is shaking in the VulGarrity universe and also about School of Rock: Seekonk where he is music director. School of Rock is another must-see act. They played the Motif Music Awards not too long ago and the sight of these 15-year-old kids slaying Earth Wind and Fire was mesmerizing!

Marc Clarkin: Afterlife is VulGarrity’s fourth release. Is there anything you tried to do differently on this release?

Shawn VulGarrity: We added an electronic drum pad into the mix while writing/recording this album with the intention of adding it to our live show. It didn’t pan out because we found we were getting all the electronic drum sounds we needed from our keyboard and the drum pad wasn’t adding much, so we took it out of the live show.

MC: VulGarrity songs and photos have always played with a horror/paranormal theme. What are some of the things that influence your songwriting?

SV: Horror movies and novels are a huge influence on a lot of what we do. Even the personal experiences we write about tend to be colored by the horror genre because we grew up fascinated by (maybe even obsessed with) it. It continues to be a large part of our lives.

MC: Does being a two-piece ever affect your songwriting as far as creating something that can be performed live by just the two of you?

SV: Absolutely. All of our songs start out live. We add very little to them in the studio so that our live show is not too far off from the recordings. I imagine our music would be wildly different if we had more people in the band.

MC: How did you get involved in the School of Rock?

SV: I was toying with the idea of opening a school and then I was approached about coming on board as the music director for the School of Rock: Seekonk in September 2012. I took what turned out to be my dream job — a challenging but highly rewarding job. We teach our students songs and then book performances for them at real venues so they get to experience all that goes in to putting on a concert — lights, sound, hair, makeup … the works. They perform on the same stages as some of their heroes and become better musicians in the process. MC: There are some amazing musicians in School of Rock. What has the experience of mentoring been like?

SV: Being a part of the experience is truly amazing. Many of our students barely say a word when they first sign up, and by the time their first show rolls around they are different people. Spending several months preparing for a performance with your peers changes you, makes you better at your instrument, communication, social interaction, and life in general. I get to see that every day. Words can’t express how awesome it is.

MC: Do you have one favorite moment or moments that stand out as a musician?

SV: Winning the WBRU Rock Hunt, and all of the shows that came as a result of that, was pretty special and probably had a great deal to do with Tracy and I continuing down this road. Playing Foo Fest in 2013 was pretty amazing, too, as it was the biggest audience we’ve performed to thus far.

Midday Records Release features releases and performances by VulGarrity, Latin Metrics, Hwuevo, Nate Cozzolino, Global Crash, and Far Below at Firehouse 13 on July 25. Email music news to [email protected]

Alt-Nation: July Shows Keep Summer Cooking

Jodie Treloar – Voila (75orLess Records) Jodie Treloar’s debut EP Voila features five tunes on the crossroads of indie folk and alt-country. Voila opens with “Marionette,” which reminds me of a stripped-down version of The Cranberries with the breezy guitar style and Treloar’s rich vocals. “Credit Score” is a driving indie folk nugget propelled by some heavy punk rock acoustic strumming. “I’m OK” is probably the natural single here, thanks to the sweeping chorus and fancy guitar work. The EP closes with the bare bones “Lovelorn Lullaby” that ties an intimate bow on the EP. This is a recommended pickup for fans of the and Sharon Van Etten brand of thrash.

Boo City/Cannibal Ramblers This show features two of my favorite things in this world — live music and barbecue. It really doesn’t take much more than that to get me to come to your function. Heck, the live music could be your drunken uncle shirtless on a ukulele that is missing three strings … as long as there are burgers, dogs, and sausage and peppers, I’ll go. The added bonus of this show is that the live music will be better than your drunken uncle’s. Unless your drunken uncle is Keith Richards or something. Boo City will provide the good time vibes with a repertoire that touches on everything from R&B to soul, reggae and even country. Cannibal Ramblers will blast the mother-load of psychedelic blues to get your ass shaking as well. Each band is doing two sets with chilling and grilling happening all night long. The show is free and will be outside with beachwear encouraged! Boo City and Cannibal Ramblers will rock Nick-a-Nee’s in Providence on July 18.

VulGarrity – Afterlife CD Release The sinister siblings in VulGarrity are set to release their fourth album, Afterlife, at the end of the month. The first single, “Stygian Night,” is available for the listen on the band’s Facebook page and features VulGarrity’s signature ’80s post-punk disco with horror-themed lyrics about gathering in the darkness of the underworld. VulGarrity didn’t become the first band in town to win two radio station Rock Hunts by sucking, so this figures to be a special night. All the bands on the bill will be releasing something at this show. There’s no way of telling what they are releasing. Yes, it could be flatulence, but VulGarrity has never disappointed me with a show or a release to-date. That VulGarrity will be releasing Afterlife is reason enough to go, and you never know who your new favorite band will be ’til you see them! Midday Records Release show featuring VulGarrity, Latin Metrics, Global Crash and From Below will take place at Firehouse 13th on July 25.

The Paraplegics – Back on Their Feet CD Release show (aka FU132) The Paraplegics celebrate 13 years of tasteless humor, bad decisions and cranked-up punk rock. The Paraplegics are also releasing a new CD, Back on Their Feet, which industry sources have speculated could be the boys’ commercial break-thru on the pop-country charts. The boys have managed to assemble some prime-time players for this show, including a resurrected Bender X, pub-punk kings The McGunks, and those Death Hawk rocking mofos in The Vaporubs. Despite the predictions of a leap across the river Styx in commercial superstardom, I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that Back on Their Feet will be a collection of crass minute-and-a-half rockers that will offend about 47% of the population in some manner. You know, the same punk rock jewels that The Paraplegics always deliver. The Paraplegics celebrate the release of their new CD, Back on Their Feet, with a show also featuring performances by Bender X, The Defectives, The McGunks and The Vaporubs at Firehouse 13 on July 31.

RI Pop Punk Covers Night – Senior Discount turns 11! For some reason we are doing a lot of band birthday shows this month and why not? July is good for birthdays. I celebrate my birthday in July and know who else does? America. Senior Discount understand this and have put together a show that pays homage to many of the pop-punks of the ’90s that inspired the band in the first place. The idea for the show started as a way to introduce new people into the local music scene. Senior Discount’s Chuck Staton explains, “I just think there’s a lot of people that need that initial invite into the scene. I’m trying to come up with a bridge of getting people to come out. We really feel strongly that this could be a positive thing for new, young people who don’t have a lot of (or ANY) exposure to local music to experience it.” The breakdown for the show is Senior Discount will be doing a set of Blink 182 covers. Soundoff will be doing a set of tunes. Rob from The Pogs and John from Bad Larry will be doing a set of Goldfinger tunes. It all goes down at the Met Café on July 31.

Email music news to [email protected]

Alt-Nation: Festivals in Flux

Festivals in Flux In local music, breaking news is kind of rare. Sure, bands put out albums and play shows, but those are more the result of months of work and planning than anything suddenly happening. But Liberty Fest had some breaking news as the steward of Liberty Fest decided to move the festival a mere week before its scheduled date from Dusk to Simon’s 677. The reasoning behind the move is that in order to run a second stage, Dusk would have to assume a significant financial risk to rent the equipment necessary. Dusk proposed adding “$3 suggested donation” to the show featuring over 40 acts to help cover the costs. The steward of Liberty Fest would not assume any of the financial burdens or accept any cover charge for the event that has traditionally been a free neighborhood block party. So last Saturday Liberty Fest announced the show was moving to Simon’s, which has its own outdoor stage already, eliminating a significant financial investment and keeping the event free.

So same bands, same times, different venue a half mile away – sounds so simple, right? Well, not so fast. Dusk quickly mobilized and announced they will be throwing a free one stage Fourth of July bash called Revival Fest. To muddy the waters, many of the better-known bands like World’s Greatest Lover, Happiness, VulGarrity, Fabulous Itchies, Hope Anchor, Gavage, Sire and more dropped out of Liberty Fest to play Revival Fest. So this 4th of July there’ll be two big free local shows to choose from: Revival Fest with the more established bands at Dusk or Liberty Fest with who knows what at press time at Simon’s 677.

Electric Six

It may seem strange for a person who writes a column titled “Alt-Nation,” but I find most modern alternative music boring. My favorite alternative band over the last decade plus is the Electric Six because they have soul. They rock with a sense of humor, try different styles and have amassed a war chest of booty shaking nuggets. Electric Six sound like Talking Heads if they took themselves less seriously, but still had the swagger of KISS and a touch of Abba thrown in. Throw in songs about Egyptian Cowboys, love stories about a 90-foot alien that vaporizes a town during a high school football game, taking over McDonald’s after closing, and -like romps about necrophilia and you have pretty much some of the best shit ever. Electric Six hit their commercial peak early with their debut album Fire (named because the word fire was in almost every song), which featured the singles “Gay Bar” and “Danger High Voltage.” The former’s video went viral with a flamboyant Abe Lincoln singing about how he has “something to put in you at the gay bar” over a catchy surf guitar riff. Electric Six never stopped making hits, but the world stopped taking notice. Albums that followed, like Señor Smoke, contained classics like “Future is in the Future” and “ Evacuation.” A downside of the Obama administration is the latter has been dropped from the live set likely ’til a Republican is back in office. has gems like “I Buy the Drugs,” “Infected Girls” and “Night Vision.” Electric Six have continued making great music, putting out a new album pretty much every year. In addition, singer Dick Valentine has been putting out solo albums, including this year’s Here Comes The Bags, which features a couple of gems like “Saddam Hussein” and “List of Lovers.” Electric Six also has a kickstarter going for what is being billed as a doc/mockumentary called Roulette Stars of Metro that is online: kickstarter.com/projects/e6absolutetreasure/roulette-stars-of-metro-detroit

One of the fascinating things about the Electric Six is that although they have plateaued commercially, their draw locally has been gaining. All the more reason to get there early to stake out a spot and check out some great local music from Atlantic Thrills and The Sweet Release. If you only take my advice to see one show this year, this is the one.

Electric Six, Atlantic Thrills and The Sweet Release will rock Fete on Jul 7. Murder By Death – Big Dark Love (Bloodshot Records)

With their 7th full-length record, Big Dark Love, indie rockers Murder By Death created a collection of songs that touch on the darkness and beauty of life. Big Dark Love kicks off with a blast of soul in “I Shot an Arrow” that sounds like it was melded from a mix of folk over an electronic beat with a touch of Hall & Oates. The title track has a tension that just continues to mount in a Nick Cave-like fashion. Murder By Death show off their country influences on “Natural Pearl.” “Solitary One,” for me, is the money track because of the big-horn-propelled chorus that meshes soul, rock ‘n’ roll and gothic beauty. “It Will Never Die” mixes folk song with modern rock in a way that is unique to Murder By Death. Albums are great, but over the years what has drawn me to Murder By Death is their live performances. Don’t miss them at The Met Café!

Murder By Death and Shipla Ray will be at The Met Café on Jul 10.

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Alt-Nation: Liberty Fest, The Spot Celebrates, BridgeFest and Under My Skin

Last week Providence Liberty Fest unveiled a staggering listing of 40 bands for their 16th anniversary show this 4th of July at Dusk. Confirmed bands for the show include Atlantic Thrills, Baylies Band, Beta Motel, Big Huge, Blackletter, Cross-Armed Calculator, Eric and the Nothing, Feedback Psychosis, The Frenzy of Tongs, Gavage, Gymshorts, Happiness, Headless Nixon, Honest John, Hope Anchor, Thee Itchies, Izzy True, J, Jacques Le Coque, M.O.T.O., New Maps, Pals, Pyramid, Radio Carbon, School of Rock Seekonk, Smith & Weeden, Swan Point, The Sweet Release, TEAZER, The Chiselers, Tomorrow & Tomorrow, Trunkweed, The Viennagram, Vulgarrity, World’s Greatest Lover and more! The event starts at high noon at Dusk on Harris Ave in PVD and will run all day and night. Liberty Fest will have at least two stages (indoor and outdoor) of live music featuring short 15- to 30-minute performances from the listed bands, food trucks. As always, this show will be all ages and free!

Sick Pills — Under My Skin (75orLess Records)

I’ve fallen dreadfully behind on my record reviews, but one of favorite releases of the year is the sophomore release from New Bedford’s Sick Pills, Under My Skin. I got into listening to this biscuit a few weeks ago on a road trip to Philly where I literally listened to it on repeat for three hours. For the uninitiated, Sick Pills have a post-punk ’80s indie guitar swing feel to them. Sick Pills are kind of in between as far as singer/guitarist Chris (Dr. Evil) Guaraldi’s other bands. Sick Pills are not as heavy as Chris Evil & The Taints, but heavier than The Blood Moons. Under My Skin kicks off with a couple of punk stompers in “You Make Me Sick” and “Black Skies,” and then proceeds to sprinkle in different influences. “Close To You” somehow has parts that channel both The Knack and Sonic Youth. “Don’t Know What To Do” has this kind of epic indie rock blues sway. Tunes like “Get Away From Me” and “I Got Nothing” have a ’60s garage rock groove, while “All Day” has a mid-’80s era Replacements feel. Sick Pills do not play PVD often, but as it happens they are coming to Firehouse 13. I’m particularly excited for this show, not only because Sick Pills did my favorite local release of the year, but because it also includes Deadlands (top 10 local release last year), and you can catch The Lincoln Tunnel channel indie rock of bands like The Replacements and Sebadoh.

Catch Sick Pills on a stacked local bill with Deadlands, The Lincoln Tunnel and The Matt Fraza Band at Firehouse 13 on Jun 20.

The Spot’s Five-Year Anniversary

It recently moved into its fourth and largest installment, and The Spot Underground is throwing a two- day 5-year anniversary hootenanny. The Spot has grown from its humble beginnings as an art gallery/yoga space on Thayer St to an 800 capacity venue with an additional 180 capacity outdoor patio inside The Colosseum, plus a full bar and deli. That growth and five5 years is sure cause to party, and party The Spot will with an action-packed weekend of funky jams. On Fri, Jun 26, The Spot will host performances by Turkuaz, Consider The Source, Adam Travis & The Soul, and Elephant, as well as an outdoor patio afternoon acoustic lineup to be announced. On Sat, The Spot will host performances by Daddie Long Legs, Levitation Jones, Funky Dawgz Brass Band, more outdoor patio entertainment, and a top secret headliner. Check out The Spot’s website at thespotunderground.com for advance ticket information that includes an option for a discounted two-day pass. Happy anniversary to the Spot crew!

The Spot’s Five-Year Anniversary goes down Jun 26 & 27 at their new location on 180 Pine St in PVD inside The Colosseum.

Newport Bridgefest

The problem with doing a Summer Guide is there is really too much going on to get it all in one issue. Case in point, one thing I missed is Newport Bridgefest, which will happen Jul 28 thru 31. Bridgefest will be going down at four different locations on three different bodies of land (they weren’t kidding about the need for bridges with two islands). We at The Motif will be sponsoring a Rock Stage at Sandywoods Center For The Arts located at 43 Muse Way in Tiverton. Some highlights for the week include Monday’s opening rock night, which features The Skinny Millionaires, Pier Jump (formerly Castle), and more for only $5! One is not going to find much in Tiverton for only $5. Tuesday night I’d highly recommend catching The Copacetics as Tiverton goes rasta for reggae/ska night. Wednesday includes a barbecue dinner plus great music by Joe Fitz & They Don’t, James Montgomery and more. The Americana finale Thursday includes performances by The Mighty Good Boys, The Little Compton Band, Able Thought and Shotgun. While I don’t quite get why anyone would want to hold a festival exclusively on week nights, it is summer and a good excuse to get out and soak up some great music and beat away the mid-week blues. For full listings for the Newport Bridgefest go to newportbridgefest.com.

Email music news to [email protected] Alt-Nation: Summer in the City

All killer, no filler, hot times, summer in the city, back of my neck getting dirty and gritty… Hey ho, let’s go!

Sebadoh

Lou Barlow’s other seminal band, Sebadoh, reunited a few years ago and has been off and on touring ever since. Sebadoh put out some classic indie guitar swing with albums like Bubble and Scrape, Bakesale, and Harmacy. There is a reason why there is a demand for Sebadoh to keep coming back from the dead and it’s simple – they’re just that good.

Sebadoh, Total Babes, and Twin Foxes will rock The Met Café on June 6.

One Providence Experience

The Columbus Cooperative and The Imaginary Company present One Providence Experience as part of the Providence International Arts Festival inside the ruins of the Providence National Bank on 35 Weybosset St in Providence on June 13. The event features performances by Lee Fields & The Expressions, The Low Anthem, Gymshorts, And The Kids, Medusah Black, Ravi Shavi and more. One Providence is free and open to the public. For more information check out the Facebook event: facebook.com/events/1636545956575553/

Local H

Local H burst upon the scene with the hit “” from 2006’s As Good as Dead. As a two- piece, Local H brought a new twist to . pretty much started the two piece fad that later saw bands like White Stripes and Black Keys emerge. I caught Local H a few years ago; Lucas still shreds and the band kicks as fierce as ever.

Local H, Aeges, and Six Star General will rock The Met Café on June 18.

Bettye Lavette

Bettye Lavette is a powerhouse on the pipes when it comes to belting out soul and R&B-infused rock ‘n’ roll. Lavette is best known for her breakthrough album I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise, which in addition to being one of the greatest album titles ever, has great tracks like “Down to Zero” and “The High Road.” Lavette is known for her chops live and covering classics and making them her own.

Bettye Lavette will play the Narrows Center For The Arts in Fall River on June 20.

Liberty Fest

Liberty Fest returns to Dusk after a long run as a Smith Hill neighborhood festival. Liberty Fest will have both indoor and outdoor stages with 12 hours of music on both stages. There will be food vendors and more, and the event is open to all ages. The list of acts still is being finalized, but the listing of bands that will be rocking this year’s Liberty Fest includes Atlantic Thrills, Baylies Band, Gymshorts, Happiness, The Viennagram, Beta Motel, The Sweet Release, M.O.T.O., PALS, Blackletter, Hope Anchor and more to be announced.

Liberty Fest will blow up like freedom at Dusk and spread all down Harris Ave on July 4.

Electric Six

Electric Six are in my top three bands of the last 15 years. They burst upon the scene with the album Fire, singing about gay bars and fires in Taco Bells, and haven’t stopped putting out album of heart pumping rock ‘n’ roll. Last year’s Human Zoo (Metropolis Records) continued in that vein with jams like “Karate Lips” and the most catchy song ever written about necrophilia, “Alone with Your Body.” While Electric Six alone is reason to go, the presence of Atlantic Thrills and The Sweet Release on this bill is reason to go early!

Electric Six, Atlantic Thrills and The Sweet Release will throw down at the one of the biggest parties of the summer at Fete on July 7.

Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys

Alejandro Escovedo’s career started in the mid-70s with the punk group The Nuns. His career now spans 40 years that in addition to punk has touched on Americana, country, and plenty of straight forward rock ‘n’ roll. Escovedo is also known for busting out some excellent live covers to boot. I caught him the last time he was at the Narrows and it was a great show.

Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys will rock the Narrows on July 9.

Amanda Palmer & PWM BTTM

Amanda Palmer rose to fame as one half of the cabaret punk Dresden Dolls, continued performing as a solo artist and collaborated with Grand Theft Orchestra and Neil Gaiman. This show should be a hoot!

Amanda Palmer & PWM BTTM plus special guest Neil Gaiman will perform at the Columbus Theatre on July 11.

WBRU Summer Concert Series

An annual summer tradition is the WBRU Summer Concert Series at Waterplace Park for the perfect way to kick off the weekend. This year WBRU presents these shows to get you rocking on summer nights:

July 17 – Joywave (w/ openers Jetty) July 24 – 2015′s WBRU Rock Hunt Champions – Public Alley (w/ openers S. Walcott) July 31 – St. Motel (w/ openers We Were Astronauts) Aug 7 – In the Valley Below (w/ 2014′s WBRU Rock Hunt Champions – The Rare Occasions) Aug 14 – Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (w/ openers Forest Fires) Aug 21 – Life in Film (w/ openers Le Roxy Pro)

The shows usually start around 6pm, but get there early to stake out a good spot for these FREE shows!

Bloody Diamonds

Bloody Diamonds are a Canadian duo that mix the blues rock of a White Stripes/Black Keys with grunge into a stiff elixir. Blood Diamonds have their fair share of pop hooks, too. I’m looking forward to escaping the city for some heavy rock ‘n’ roll in the backstreets of West Warwick.

Bloody Diamonds will rock Manchester 65 on July 17.

Newport Folk Fest

The lineup for the Newport Folk Fest seems to grow more staggering every year. This year is no exception and they are still announcing acts. I’m looking forward to the genius behind much of Pink Floyd seminal works Roger Waters, First Aid Kid (a highlight of 2012 Folk Fest), Jason Isbell (2013 Festival highlight), The Felice Brothers, Calexico, J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr. front man is always great live), Courtney Barnett, Tommy Stinson, Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons, and Haunt The House. In addition to the Folk Fest at the Fort, there are plenty of post-Folk Fests going on all weekend. Check out newportfolk.org for a full listing of festival performers as well as other events happening at night!

Newport Folk Fest returns to take over Fort Adams State Park July 24 thru 26.

Deer Tick

Deer Tick return to Newport to do their annual post-Festival romps at the Newport Blues Café for those lucky enough to score tickets. Deer Tick do different sets every night and this year it will be the only opportunity to see them as they are not playing the festival. These shows are always electric and chock full of surprise guests from the festival. You never know who is going to jump up on stage.

Deer Tick return to the Newport Blues Café for their annual post-Folk Fest after-parties July 24 thru 26.

Swamp Stomp 8

Swamp Stomp is an outdoor BYO/picnic event that attracts some of the best musicians nationally in the roots and rock ‘n’ roll scene. Swamp Stomp goes down every year near the entrance of The Great Swamp of West Kingston. This year’s lineup is loaded, featuring two prior headliners, The Sadies and Steve Wynn & The Miracle Three. Also on the bill is Vermont native Caroline Rose and hometown rock ‘n’ rollers The Silks. Capacity is limited to 200 and last year sold out, so advance tickets are recommended.

Swamp Stomp 8 returns to The Great Swamp of West Kingston on Aug 1. Grounds open by 2pm, music begins around 3pm. Tickets can be purchased online at brownpapertickets.com/event/1429145. For more info or to pay by check, email [email protected].

AS220 FOO FEST

Once again AS22o will take over Empire St in PVD for 12 hours with all kinds of vendors, activities for kids, and two stages of music rocking all day and night. In what has been hailed in music circles as the best FOO FEST lineup in years, AS220 is rolling out the heavy guns with headliner, the national noise punkers DEERHOOF. The local headliners represent PVD’s Americana scene with standouts like The Low Anthem and Death Vessel. My other picks to check out are Way Out, Gymshorts, Beta Motel, Good Lord, and Bloodpheasant. Check as220.org for the full lineup and more information. AS220’s FOO FEST takes over Empire St on Aug 8.

Beach House

Dream pop duo Beach House hits Lupo’s in support of their newest 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 that separates Beach House from the rest of the pack.

Beach House will rock Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on Aug 25.

Rhythm & Roots Festival

The 18th annual Rhythm & Roots festival returns to Ninigret Park in Charlestown for an action-packed Labor Day weekend. I went for the first time last year and it’s a pretty sweet setup. You can take a break and literally go swimming, chill out and come back. There also is camping space if you want to make a weekend of it. This year’s lineup has some gems like Los Lobos, Keb Mo, The Mavericks, and Lake Street Dive. Check out the full lineup and ticket info at rhythmandroots.com.

Rhythm & Roots Festival returns to Ninigret Park from Sept 4 thru 6.

The J. Geils Band

This show popped up in my Bandsintown and Facebook feed and I thought it was a cruel joke. More than their hits like “Centerfold,” “Love Stinks,” and “Freeze Frame,” it’s their dynamic live shows that make The J. Geils Band legend. Tthey don’t even have J. Geils playing anymore. As long as they have the Wolfa Goofa, Peter Wolf, one of the most electric front men in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, The J. Geils Band will be one of the best party bands in the world. Plus any band with a guy called Magic Dick is bound to be cool.

The J. Geils Band rock India Point Park in Providence on Sept 5.

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Alt-Nation: Just Going to the Library

Providence Public Library – “From Pop to Punk: Highlights of 20th century Popular Music in Providence”

I’ve had the privilege to patronize some legendary joints like The Rat in Boston, in , The Roxy in LA, and of course The Living Room and Safari Lounge locally. So it’s always a pleasure to check out another building with some history to it. The Providence Public Library has been very active hosting music events as part of their “Don’t Stop The Music” campaign, which includes a series of live music in the Library’s Grand Hall and the “From Pop to Punk: Highlights of 20th century Popular Music in Providence” exhibit. The exhibit traces the history of local popular music starting with turn of the century classical music and moving all the way up through modern day punk rock. It includes photographs, programs, instruments, composer notes, show posters, outfits from the ’70s disco sensation Tavares, recordings and even the script of the movie Purple Rain! Another reason to stop into the library is their series of live events. For the full list, go to tech.pplspc.org/music/index.html, but some highlights include Beta Motel on May 22, Providence Rock and Roll Yard Sale with performances by Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores and others on June 13, and Roz & The Rice Cakes on June 19.

The Spot Underground on The Move

The Spot Underground recently moved around the corner to 180 Pine St inside The Colosseum nightclub, and has some great shows coming up like SIRSY, VulGarrity, and Young Pandas on May 22; Les Racquet, Full Tang, and Alec Huston Trio on May 23; and an early show from 6-10pm with performances by Pixels, The Planes, and Eric and the Nothing also on May 23.

The Independents

The kings of horror ska from Florence, South Carolina, return to get Memorial Day weekend started right! I first saw The Independents 19 years ago opening for the Ramones and after seeing them last year, they still bring it with a vengeance. The Independents have so many great tunes like “Succubus,” “Left For Dead,” and “Legion of Doom” with the latter being off last year’s excellent Into the Light album. More of a punk band playing ska than a traditional ska band, The Independents have played some of my favorite shows that I’ve ever attended. This show will be a doozy!

The Independents, Brunt of It, Black Cat Attack, and Honest John bring the thunder to Firehouse 13 on May 22.

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club

Slim’s Cessna’s Auto Club has been around for 20 years, making it happen every show. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club are like The E Street Band of Americana music. They take country, folk and rock ‘n’ roll and meld it together into some of the most powerful anthems ever written. Slim Cessna used to live in Cranston and had a side project called Blackstone Valley Sinners. Cessna’s time in RI is shown in several Auto Club tunes like “Cranston,” “Providence, New Jerusalem,” and the epic set closing anthem “He, Roger Williams.” These guys are simply one of the best bands in the world and it would be foolish to miss them. Get there early for the strong local support!

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, King Sickabilly, and The Red Pennys will rock the Columbus Theatre on May 27.

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