RI Gears Up for Record Store Day
April 21 is Record Store Day (RSD), a celebration of the nearly 1,400 independently owned record stores in the US, and thousands more internationally. Since 2007, RSD’s exclusive releases have spurred music nerds everywhere to get out there and spend their hard-earned green on the black circle, and this year will be no different.
RSD’s popularity mirrors a renewed interest in physical music media. In January, Billboard reported that 2017 was the 12th straight year of growth in vinyl album sales, and a Nielsen Music-era record high for sales.
Record store day releases aren’t just for the ultra-diehards who need to hear John and Paul dicking around in the studio in between takes. From multi-lps box sets to EPs, RSD’s hundreds of exclusive releases will have something for every music fan.
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you already know the deal, so let’s get to the details. The list of events and releases is way too expansive to print, but some notable releases include:
The vinyl LP release of Car Seat Headrest’s Twin Fantasy (Mirror To Mirror), which is a reworking of a 2011 Bandcamp release.
An expanded 5-LP edition of Johnny Cash’s classic At Folsom Prison, including songs from June Carter and Carl Perkins, and unreleased recordings of Cash rehearsing for the show the previous night.
A recording of Nas: Live at the Kennedy center, a performance of his debut, Illmatic, with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center four years ago, to mark the album’s 20th anniversary.
Exclusive vinyl reissue of The Sundays’ debut album Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (you may remember the track “Here’s Where The Story Ends”).
Also look forward to exclusive releases from David Bowie, Robert Glasper, The National and Frank Zappa.
Of course, our local purveyors will be pulling out all the stops. A few Rhode Island record shops reported what they have going on: In Your Ear (Warren) will have live bands and DJs, free Sub Pop swag, $1 CDs and free refreshments courtesy of ‘Gansett.
Olympic Records (Wickenden St, PVD) has limited copies of the Arcade Fire’s first EP (released before Funeral), which has never been available on vinyl.
Looney Tunes (Wakefield) is featuring a few cassette tape reissues, including AC/DC Back in Black and Wu Tang Clan’s debut Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), of which only 2,500 were issued nationwide. They also stock lots of home audio gear on which to enjoy your new music.
Also check out Round Again Records, Symposium Books, Analog Underground and Armageddon Shop in PVD; Flashback Vintage Emporium in Warren; Barrington Books and Time Capsule in Cranston; and Vinyl Guru in Newport.
There’s plenty of evidence that capitalism is a failing system that is destroying our democracy, but when it involves going out and supporting your local shop on Record Store Day, it’s not all that bad.
Alt-Nation: LittleBoyBigHeadonBike, Public Policy, and More
The Curious Case of LittleBoyBigHeadonBike
Lo-fi folk outfit LittleBoyBigHeadonBike is the music of William Orchard, and armed with a guitar and a recorder, he presents a body of work that is an impressive experiment in unbridled creativity. Orchard churns out releases like the White House goes through staffers, and since December of 2014 has put out a head-spinning 99 releases. For music nerds who try to to engage with every song, it’s a frustrating amount of music. I didn’t think that Motif would foot the bill for a team of researchers to examine every release and get an exhaustive look (ed — we blew our April budget on discounted Peeps), so I tried to parse through as much as possible.
Releases range from one or two tracks to full LP length work, with names that range from Untitled to Flaming Pillars of Psycholiberation. It’s mostly a one-man show with Orchard playing acoustic, singing and dubbing in the occasional second guitar or harmony. His voice has a homespun quality to it, sort of like Iron and Wine or M Ward. William Orchard
His lyrics often contain childlike themes of an ambiguous nature, but some are specific, like the somber and celebratory “Lucy Girl, My Old Dog,” about the death of the family pet. His release frequency also gives Orchard a chance to be more directly topical, like his examination of the Parkland shooting, “Why can’t the Earth Grow” (“It’s not the first time someone died for somebody’s right to hold a rifle.”). Not everything draws in you, but there aren’t any filler tracks either. With this much content, there aren’t many blanket adjectives you can apply to the music, which I think is sort of the point.
Orchard started when he was 16, and was at first very inspired by the artist Frankie Cosmos, who at the time was posting blueprints of songs that were very unfiltered. “I was tired of the mentality that you’ve got to spend hours and hours to perfect a part, and I basically just didn’t want to think too much about what I was doing,” Orchard said.
It’s not some sort of alchemy or amphetamine use that accounts for this ferocious output, just old- fashioned, anti-climactic shoe leather. “When I started, I had the goal of making myself write a song every two or three days,” said Orchard. But after years of that, my mind is just used to putting it together, and it’s become something I have to do. A big part of it is learning to recognize the state of mind in which you write best.”
A good place to start if you’re looking to dive in is Orchard’s most produced work, God Damn Wonderland, which he says can be considered his first album. It’s his first collaboration with other people, which he finds difficult, but is becoming more open to. He said, “When you trust someone else to produce your album, you’re giving something away in return for something, and you hope the exchange will be worth it in the end.”
Orchard’s next release, LP BIG BLUE BUTTERFLIES, is a celebratory one: his 100th release. It will be a more polished effort in the same vein as Wonderland. “I started this when I was a kid in my bedroom, and in a way that’s still kind of how I am, and would like to remain,” said Orchard.
If you’ve got time and an open mind, dig in to LittleBoyBigHeadonBike. Orchard is a unique talent, and a testament to how there’s no real reason anyone can’t put their stuff out there, if they are so inclined and determined.
LittleBoyBigHeadonBike will be performing at AS220 on April 27 with Older Brother and Gentle Temper. All 99 releases can be listened to here: littleboybigheadonbike.bandcamp.com
Public Policy — Human Resource EP
Human Resource is the latest EP from Providence quartet Public Policy. I’m not sure if post-rock, post- hardcore or another one of the many “post-prefix” genres would be the most appropriate tag here, but there’s a lot to like in Human Resource. To me, the best moments are in the buildup; the jarring, interlocked guitars move over a slow and steady rhythm section, and the song chugs along to some unidentified point on the horizon.
This EP brings the goods, including pensive verses that expand into forceful choruses (“Trawlers”) and descriptive, half-spoken vocal stylings, à la The Hold Steady (“Alluvial Cuts”). In “Ice Age,” the lyrical themes are as bleak as the soundscape (in a good way): “When the ice age comes around/All I want to do is burn down together.” I’m looking forward to hearing more from this promising band.
Public Policy’s Human Resource can be streamed and purchased here: publicpolicy.bandcamp.com/album/human-resource
Franz Ferdinand @ HOB Boston
Franz Ferdinand, the Scottish rock group known for a few hits in the 2000s, has probably fallen out of the hearts and minds of the general population, but they are still making solid music and, in my experience, put on a fantastic show. I remember seeing them at Lupo’s in high school, where they were totally electric, due in large part to the dynamic exuberance of frontman Alex Kapranos. Their latest, Always Ascending, released in March, leans a little heavy on the disco/synths for my taste, but still includes some of the nifty refrains for which they’re known.
Franz Ferdinand is at the House of Blues in Boston on Apr 10.
Built to Spill @ Fete
Built to Spill, with their off-kilter hooks and melodic shredding, is music I would describe as indie rock with balls, and I’d put them ahead of peers like Modest Mouse and Pavement. I’m often the sellout who prefers the albums made after the band has signed to majors and become more accessible, and BTS is no exception. All their albums have something to offer, but I think their peak releases are the mid- career Keep it Like a Secret and Ancient Melodies of the Future. This show is a double bill along with The Afghan Whigs, rockers from a similar era, so this one is sure to be a Monday night treat.
Built to Spill and The Afghan Wigs rock Fete Ballroom on Apr 16 at 7pm.
A few other notable shows:
Screaming Females: Apr 8 @ AS220
Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams: Apr 19 @ The Met
Part 3 of Rob Duguay’s infamous Birthday Benefit Bash, featuring Consuelo’s Revenge, Tall Teenagers, The Low Cards and Jets Can’t Land: Apr 21 @ The Parlour Alt-Nation: Narrows Center Thinking Big, Harvey Garbage and More
Narrows Center Plans to Expand
“Music that matters, art that inspires” is the apt motto of Narrows Center for the Arts, an arts collective and concert venue in Fall River, Mass. Motif readers might have heard a mention here and there, but it’s a underrated spot that’s well worth the drive. Their eclectic programming, respectful audience and overall relaxed vibe have helped the Narrows put Fall River on the map for legends like Richard Thompson and Leon Russell. Also, and not a minor detail, all shows are BYOB.
The Narrows has been building in quality and popularity over the years, but in a very grassroots way. A big part of that is executive director Patrick Norton, who still introduces himself and welcomes people to the Narrows before every show. I talked to Patrick about some new renovations, and how this third- floor mill space developed a devoted following.
Jake Bissaro: How did the Narrows start out?
Patrick Norton: We started in a small venue on the other side of town with a small gallery and about 40 seats. We moved to Anawan St in 2001, and we’ve been growing ever since. I’ve been involved for 20 years, and was a volunteer for 13 years until I worked part-time.
JB: Talk a little bit about the expansion.
PN: We’ve purchased our entire three-floor building, and we’re adding 150 stadium-style seats to the back of our performance space. We’re moving our art studios down a floor to accommodate, and we’re also looking at putting in a brewery in the first floor.
JB: What made you decide to expand?
PN: Currently, we’re doing about 150 shows a year, and we sold out 36% of them last year. This will give us a way to allow more fans into the sellout shows. We want it to be a scalable thing – we pride ourselves on acts that have grown with us over the years like Grace Potter, Lake Street Dive and the Wood Brothers. I think our new capacity will hopefully allow us to keep these bands a little longer. The easiest next step would’ve been getting a liquor license in the venue, but we’re serious about keeping the vibe the way it is.
JB: What are some upcoming shows at your new capacity?
PN: We have Blue Oyster Cult (Mar 31) and Cowboy Junkies (Apr 7) coming up soon. We’re also going to have a curtain to close the new seats off for the smaller shows, and maintain the feel of an intimate space.
JB: What do you think has kept people coming back?
PN: We’ve always tried to keep the quality of the programming really high. I think people here take the chance on something they don’t know, but because it’s here, they’ll check it out. We still try to be ambitious with booking, even if we can only break even with a new band. We’ve had jazz, reggae, belly dancing, comedy, classical, comedy, all kinds of stuff.
JB: What have been some highlights for you?
PN: Definitely more than one, but I’d say Richie Havens is the “show that made us.” We needed something big to generate some publicity, so we took a chance in 2003 and splurged on Richie. He was great in person. It was our first sellout crowd, and it was on from there.
Notable upcoming shows include “younger crowd” acts Shovels and Rope (Mar 23), Dustbowl Revival (Mar 15) and Trevor Hall (Mar 8).
To view the Narrows entire calendar and buy tickets, visit showclix.com/events/26362
Harvey Garbage + The Flowers — Numbskulls EP
Reppin’ my adopted hometown of Pawtucket is Harvey Garbage and The Flowers, whose new EP is a fun, grungy punk rock statement. “U Rat Bastid” and “Refuse” are like fuzzy doo-wop on speed. “Dog Grave” is a melancholy dirge with killer dynamics about giving yourself a dog grave.
If you’ll allow a bloated, grandiose analogy, I think bands like HG&TF harken back to the spirit of commercial innovation that originally led industrious types to strike it rich in Pawtucket. Although, more the general essence of that whole deal, and not the unscrupulous exploitation of immigrant labor. The DIY ethic means you don’t have to wait for approval or permission, just write it and rip it. It’s good to see folks still making earnest, urgent music, so check this stuff out.
Also, a shout out to Justin at The News Café in Pawtucket, where you can check out HG&TF on March 1, for putting together solid programming week after week.
Numbskulls EP is available at harveygarbage.bandcamp.com/
Parsonfield
Coming to Fete on March 11 is Parsonfield, a Western Mass-based quintet with a baroquey sound that I’d say sounds sort of like a folksy Paul McCartney. Much like the Avett Brothers, they’re adding some production and energy to old-timey-style folk. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but might be a nice excuse to go out on a Sunday night.
Parsonfield takes the stage at Fete on Sunday, March 11. Doors are at 7.
Titus Andronicus @ AS220
Arguably no artist in the past decade has broken more ground in the punk rock arena than New York’s Titus Andronicus, constantly pushing the boundaries with ambitious and experimental material. Their last studio release was 2015’s triumphant 90-minute The Most Lamentable Tragedy, a rock opera about frontman Patrick Stickles’ mental illness and inner demons. It’s, in my opinion, their best work and their most engaging start to finish, which is saying something considering that everyone has the attention span of a newt these days. Stickles has a knack for building a whole world with his lyrics, with self- referential ideas and grandiose themes. Stickles has been teasing their forthcoming album, A Productive Cough, in interviews, and has described a softer, more spacious record than previous work. Released so far is “Number One (in New York),” an eight-minute power-ballad diatribe on the world as Stickles sees it. New York becomes a menacing character in his music, asking, “When does it get any closer to ending?/And can I just mention the stench?” The other, “Above the Bodega (Local Business),” is about how Stickles “can’t keep a secret from the guy at the store downstairs.”
This show appears to be “acoustic,” with just Stickles with his guitar and keyboard accompaniment. Rick Maguire from Boston rockers Pile will open the show.
Titus Andronicus takes the stage at AS220 Friday, March 9 at 9pm.
Summer Showdown
This is the time of year when concert enthusiasts have to decide which “big box” tours they’re going to take in (if there are even still any tickets left). Whether that state-of-the-art light show and the killer fog machines are worth crowding in next to 20,000 people and shelling out for the hefty price tag is something each man or woman must weigh for themselves. For my money, the one to see is David Byrne in Boston (Blue Hill Pavillion, July 31 and Aug 1), which is always a fantastic, multi-dimensional performance, and news just broke about a Radiohead tour. Also,: Foo Fighters at Fenway (Jul 21 and 22), Weezer/Pixies at the Comcast Center (Aug 17) and the Smashing Pumpkins at TD Garden (Jul 31).
AltNation: Steve Smith, WHEM, and More
Steve Smith and the Nakeds Turn 45
Celebrating four and a half decades this February are acclaimed R&B/soul group Steve Smith and the Nakeds. The band has become a mainstay of the live music circuit both locally (there’s no higher level of RI cred than being featured in the final Benny’s commercial) and nationally.
What makes an artist remain vital for 45 years? The most obvious draw of the Nakeds is the terrifically tight horn section, an irreplaceable element that puts the group way above your average soul quartet. Smith agrees that the horns are a big part of what kept people coming back for 45 years. “You really don’t see a 10-piece band with five horns that much anymore, and even a lot of the national acts play to tapes,” says Smith. “I think people enjoy seeing real music.”
Credit is also due to Smith, with his great stage presence and a voice that has really held up over the years. The history of the Nakeds, a band that has had 63 members in its different forms, is a long one. Smith started out in the hard rock band Bloody Mary, and in 1973 he joined Naked Truth, one of the first rock ‘n’ roll bands in Rhode Island to carry its own horn section. They found success through the ’70s, and changed their name to the Nakeds in 1981.
Though superstardom never materialized, there have been some impressive and unexpected career highlights. When Springsteen broke up the E street band in ‘91, The Nakeds for a while became the backing band of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, touring with him for a number of years. Later, their song “I’m Huge (And The Babes Go Wild)” ended up as a bonus feature on a “Family Guy” DVD and took off online, giving the band a surprising boost and getting them a record deal. They were inducted into the RI Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
”Not in my wildest dreams” did Smith ever think he would still be making a living playing music for this long. “We’ve been lucky — over the years, when the band seems to be losing luster,
Steve Smith and the Nakeds something usually happens to bring it back. Like the partnership with Clemons, or our song recently featured in Dumb and Dumber To,” said Smith.
“I think one of the other big reasons we’ve stayed together is we always kept the focus on the music, and not the partying and false idols that often come with it,” said Smith. “We just kept plugging along.”
For those who have never seen the horns in all their glory, there are plenty of opportunities – they maintain an impressive roster of gigs. The Nakeds will share a bill at The Stadium Theatre on February 3 with fellow RI lifers John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band and Roomful of Blues. They also have upcoming dates at Pub on Park (Feb 9) and the Ocean Mist (Feb 18).
When asked if booking the full horn section is ever negotiable, Smith replied, “Absolutely not. It’s an essential part of the sound, so you’re either going to get the whole package or nothing at all.” I suppose you don’t last this long by compromising your principals.
Rhode Island Music Legends Concert goes down this Sat, Feb 3 at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket.
WHEM – Get on This Bandwidth
With downsizing and consolidation everywhere you look these days, the fake radio broadcasting biz can be brutal. Luckily, local brotherly duo Horse Eyed Men possess the constitution for it, and have been killing it for almost a year. WHEM (Horse Eyed Men) is a sendup of an old radio variety hour that has been going steady every first Thursday at the Columbus Theatre.
A statement from the group reads: “The show features local and national musical talent, skits, imaginary promotional offers, interviews and a recurring segment called ‘Mom’s Attic,’ in which we raffle off items from our mother’s attic (really).”
These shows are a real treat. They’ll wow you with creative flair and regale you with whimsicality, like the epic tale last month of Noah Harley’s brutal decimation in a phone app at the hands of an 8-year-old Chinese boy.
The series has become quite successful, “for reasons completely unbeknownst to its hosts,” and past guests include Willy Mason, Roz Raskin and Hubby Jenkins of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Highlights for me have been Malian percussionist Sidy Maïga and Cowboy and Lady.
Thursday’s show will feature New York folksingers Feral Foster and Ali Dineen. In the words of WHEM, “Drop by, tune in and flip out!”
The next installment of WHEM goes down Feb 1 at The Columbus Theatre. Doors are at 7, show begins promptly at 8.
Torn Shorts
As far as local music goes, every Torn Shorts show seems to be an event, and with good reason. They provide audiences with unpretentious, solid songwriting and a bluesy flair.
Their last release, 2016’s Be My Mechanic combines revved-up, Black Keys-style blues (“All them Kids,” “Be My Mechanic”) and jangly rock tunes (“Run with Me”). There may be a few more extended guitar solos than I usually prefer, but you certainly won’t be let down by their live show.
Torn Shorts and The Freeway Revival roll into Alchemy on Wed, Feb 21 at 9pm.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
I sort of missed the boat with Jason Isbell and his recent rise to fame, but an airing of his band on “Austin City Limits” a few weeks ago showed what all the fuss is about. They put on a pretty epic live performance, which definitely amps up the material on the records. It’s the kind of act that would make sense headlining at a festival.
Their sound is gritty but refined, like a bar band that went to music school. Isbell rocks killer harmonies with girlfriend/fiddle player Amanda Shires and there is excellent playing from the whole band. James McMurty opens the show.
Jason Isbell comes to The Vets Auditorium Fri, Feb 2. Show at 8pm.
Alt-Nation: A Winter Music Medley
This isn’t a particularly uplifting time; the recent deep freeze has turned these parts into a dreary hellscape for what seems like a decade, and at this point in the year some people won’t even get a day off till Memorial Day. Fortunately, the musical community doesn’t slow down very much, so there are more than enough ways to occupy your time.
The Sultry Sounds of Neko Case This Sunday, January 14, The Columbus welcomes Neko Case, an artist whose instantly recognizable voice and ballsy songwriting has made her into something of a national treasure. She’s perhaps better known for her work with supergroup The New Pornographers, and she was also recently involved in 2016’s excellent Case/Lang/Veirs project with KD Lang and Laura Veirs.
Neko Case
Her first few albums were more middle-of-the-road country/folk fare (see: Everly brothers cover, “Bowling Green”). In later albums things started to get a little darker and more poetic, kind of like a country girl who went to college and started reading beat poetry and listening to the Pixies. The arrangements become more orchestral and song structures less traditional, with use of stark lyrical imagery. Take the lyrics to “Red Tide,” from 2009’s Middle Cyclone:
“There’s a smell here that stands my hairs on end/Dog hair in the heater, gas pumps and cedar/And jackknifes on the nine/And seabirds choked on fishing line”
With her last solo, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, Case pushed herself even further (see: Robyn Hitchcock cover, “Madonna of the Wasps”). Even the clunky experiments, like the mostly a capella “Nearly Midnight, Honolulu,” show that she’s not afraid to land on her face.
I remember at a New Pornographers show years ago in Boston, someone threw a CD at frontman AC Newman. Case unleashed a wave of threats and expletives at the perp that lasted for at least a few minutes. So I guess she’s not afraid to raise some hell, either.
There are few on her level, so this is not one to be missed. At the time of this writing, the show is very close to being sold out. Indie folk act Mt. Joy opens.
Neko Case comes to the Columbus Theatre on Jan 14 at 8pm.
The Mallett Bros.
Come watch The Mallett Brothers swing the alt-country hammer at The Met next Saturday. Helmed by brothers Luke and Will Mallett, the Portland, Maine-based crew plays their own high-quality brand of rockin’ Americana and folk, a sound I’d compare to a rustic Jason Isbell or Lucero. They usually travel as a six-piece unit and entrance audiences with myriad instruments like pedal steel, banjo and dobro. The Mallet Bros
Their latest release, 2017’s The Falling of the Pine, is an interesting reimagining of Maine-area folk songs they found in an old book. The album is full of historical yarns and tributes to local points of interest (“Chesuncook Lake”), but their renditions don’t come off as cheesy or insincere.
There’s a crunchy blues version of Canadian folk song “Peter Amberley” and logging ballad (I guess that’s a real classification) “The Jam on Gerry’s Rock.” The album is a little less rollicking than their previous albums, with more of a folksy Appalachian feel, but with the same superb playing. In my experience, people from Maine are totally obsessed with Maine, so it seems like they’re doing right by their community.
The Mallett Brothers hit The Met on Jan 20 at 9pm.
Holy Hands New Magnetic LP release @ AS220
New Bedford-based punk band Holy Hands will celebrate the release of their first LP, New Magnetic, this month. The tunes fall into the post-hardcore/heavy emo end of the spectrum, and the LP is a step up sonically and creatively from the band’s debut EP.
I can’t say I’m 100% plugged into this scene, but this is some of the highest quality music I’ve heard from the area. The musical performances are first-rate, moored by booming rhythm section Craig Burns (bass) and Evan White (drums), with the high end handled by Adam Gonsalves (vox/guitar) and Ryan Parker (guitar).
The style of music may be abrasive, but the crisp, professional production makes New Magnetic a pleasure to listen to. It makes sense that the album was engineered and mixed by Kurt Ballou, noted producer and guitarist from the band Converge. Clocking in at around 27 mins, the album and its 2- to 3-minute songs don’t give you anything you don’t need.
Some of the songs also convey the restlessness and anger of the Trump Era well, from the brooding “Bombs Aren’t Beautiful” to the swaggering “Love is Love.” There will always be great art that pushes back against the status quo, but aggressive music like this sounds more vital in the midst of troubled times.
The album release show is a stacked bill that features Leopard Print Taser, Darklands, Trevor Vaughan (also out of New Bedford) and Bare Bodies.
Holy Hands is at AS220 Psychic Readings on Jan 19 at 9pm. Benny’s: The Musical
Benny’s, the late, great chain of stores will be honored with its very own musical at AS220. At the helm is the Empire Revue’s Sparkling Beatniks, AS220’s house sketch and variety outfit headed up by Keith Munslow. It’s also fitting that it’s being put on at AS220, an institution that is almost as RI as Benny’s. Few details have been released, but you can expect more coverage from Motif as they’re available.
Benny’s: The musical is at AS220 on Mar 4. Tickets can be purchased at bennys- musical.brownpapertickets.com
Alt-Nation: Celebrating the Season with Music
Spirit of ‘77 Photography Exhibit
This winter, Pop Emporium Providence will be hosting a photography exhibit called Out of Control: The Spirit of 77, which showcases work capturing the essence of the punk movement. To make the whole thing extra-special, Pop owner Darren Hill is throwing a few pretty epic shows. The first is X’s John Doe. After fronting the iconic L.A. punk band, Doe has reinvented himself in recent years in the roots/alt-country vein with positive results. The other is Paul D. Hudson, better known as Bad Brains’ H.R. (Human Rights), known equally for rapid-fire hardcore squealing and crooning reggae vocals.
The photos are the work of RI-born (and Motif contributor) Richard McCaffrey and f-stop Fitzgerald, both based in the San Francisco area in the late ’70s. Photos are a big part of the mythology of rock ‘n’ roll, and the people behind the camera have a role in its legacy.
I talked to Richard about his career and experiencing the era firsthand.
Jake Bissaro (Motif): What were you interested in first: photography or music?
Richard McCaffrey: I suppose both were interests of mine going back to childhood. The interest in combining them didn’t start until I was 25 or so, when I started an alternative newspaper called The Point here in Rhode Island.
JB: Why the move to San Fran? RM: The Point didn’t quite make it, and doing it had given me the bug for music photography. I said, “Why not just move to where Rolling Stone is?” and went out there with the intention of becoming a rock photographer.
JB: What drew you to photographing the Punk movement?
RM: It was totally different from what I had been doing previously — photographing the so-called “dinosaur” rock bands like Zeppelin, The Stones and The Dead. The punk scene seemed to come along all of a sudden; you could just tell there was something different happening, a new energy.
JB: I’d imagine the venues were a little different.
RM: Yes, very (laughs). When punk came along, I had worked for the promoter Bill Graham and BAM [Bay Area Music] Magazine as the chief photographer, so I had backstage access to the major clubs and that kind of thing. Trying to capture punk was sort of like going backward for me, because I now was taking pictures at these small, dingy clubs. What they used to call “slam dancing” made things difficult for photography, and there was not exactly a press area.
Around this time, f-stop and I were in the process of putting together a picture book of some sort. We decided it had to be about punk, because it was the thing moving people at the time. The first printing sold out in two weeks.
JB: Can you share any particularly memorable moments?
RM: Going to Mabuhay Gardens and seeing local punk bands like the Dead Kennedys was always an adventure. It was cool to see The Sex Pistols at their last show ever [Winterland Ballroom, 1976]. At the end there was the now-famous moment where Johnny Rotten asks the audience, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” and walks off the stage.
Out of Control: the Spirit of ’77 exhibit runs from Dec 9 – Jan 26, Fri 2 – 6pm, Sat – Sun 1 – 5pm
John Doe takes the stage with support from Tall Teenagers and DJ Hula Bomb on Sat, Dec 9 [sold out], and H.R. on Sat, Dec 16. Both shows start at 7pm.
Alone & Together – A Merry Band of Indie Heavyweights
Alone & Together is an rotating group of songwriters who perform gigs where they play their own or each other’s songs, perform choice covers and generally do whatever they want. Described as a “freewheeling and frequently magical environment,” this incarnation includes Eric D Johnson from The Fruit Bats, Sam Cohen from Yellow Birds, and Elvis Perkins. The rhythm section for this crew seems to be drummer Joe Russo and bassist Josh Kaufman, both known for their work with Bob Weir and other Dead-related projects.
Their performance at The Royal in Boston is one of a three-show run. There is no source material to go off of here, so you have to trust in the strength of these guys’ separate catalogs. YouTube has the collective singing awesome versions of “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’” by the Velvet Underground and Neil Young’s “For The Turnstiles.”
Since we’ve pretty much stopped paying for music, it’s probably depressing for musicians to have to constantly tour to make the bulk of their money. But now that tours don’t have to push album sales, it opens up the opportunity for cool side projects like this, which I would like to see more of.
Alone & Together rolls through The Royale in Boston on Dec 16 at 6:30pm.
Christmas Celtic Sojourn
A Christmas Celtic Sojourn is the live holiday edition of the long-running WGBH radio show of the same name. I’m generally not very festive, but my affinity for Celtic music makes me want to take in the holiday cheer. I look forward to listening to Brian O’Donovan’s smooth brogue on the three-hour Celtic Sojourn radio show every Saturday on WGBH, that is until my wife requests that we turn it off.
The show features fiddling, dancing and general merriment, and is now on its 15th year.
Christmas Celtic Sojourn takes place at The Vets on Dec 20 at 7:30pm. For those in Southeastern Mass., the act is also coming to The Zeiterion on Dec 19.
Holiday Cover Show
I’m told that giving back is an important part of the holiday season, so do so by attending the cover show that Dusk is throwing to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank on Dec 16! The performance will feature some notable cover sets like Devo performed by members of Math the Band and Tapestries, and Superdrag performed by members of Twin Foxes, The Brother Kite and Snowplows.
In something out of my fourth grade fantasy, The Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack will be played in its entirety by Lame Genie. If you require more proof that the RI music scene has everything you need, Lame Genie is a video game music cover band.
The benefit goes down Dec 16 at 7pm at Dusk.
Alt-Nation: Roz and the Rice Cakes’ Latest
Roz and the Rice Cakes – Devotion
With Devotion, Roz and the Rice Cakes continue to push themselves and build on a reputation for experimental, cerebral music. The trio, consisting of Roz Raskin (piano, vocals), Casey Belisle (drums, vocals) and Justin Foster (bass), has been playing in its current form for nine years, carving out their own place in the scene. According to the band, “Devotion sonically seeks to place the listener in a cosmic bubble, questioning the relationship between human lives and the ever-expanding universe.”
A cosmic bubble it definitely is. It’s more of an electronic, spacey take on things than their last full- length, Need to Feed, and reminds me of like Dirty Projectors mixed with Beach House-style dream pop, and owes a lot to the excellent production, which the band did themselves. They use minimalism well, and give everything space to breathe.
It’s refreshing that they’re not afraid of odd time and messing with song structures. “Open Eyes” builds off of a cool, off-kilter groove in 7, and then cuts to a half-time breakdown. Needless to say, slouch musicians wouldn’t last a second in a band like R&tRC. “Somebody” starts with minimal drums and vocals, and builds up to a triumphant cacophony. “East Coast” is their version of a ballad, a captivating tune that sounds like it’s being played from a tin can.
Maybe I’m just being stodgy, but I find some of it a little too abstract and spacey, and sometimes I have trouble accessing things under so many layers of production. A song like “Do You” doesn’t have quite enough there for me to grab on to. It may not provide the uncut dopamine rush you’d get from a three chord rock song, but you have to respect a group so willing to plumb the depths of their own creativity.
Give this challenging listen a chance, as it doesn’t sound much like anything else. Roz and the Rice Cakes are definitely RI originals, with a true devotion to artistic expression, one might say.
Devotion can be purchased at Roz and the Rice Cakes’ Bandcamp: rozandthericecakes- tl.bandcamp.com/album/devotion
And now, a few shows to take all of your off whatever disconcerting news I assume just came out of Washington.
The Wood Brothers: A Love Letter
This Saturday, The Wood Brothers come to the Columbus Theater. Many people I know have probably listened to me drone on ad nauseam about how great these guys are. I realize this sounds dramatic, but I think they include elements of everything I love about music – earnest, smart songwriting; a great mix of styles and expert musicianship without being heavy-handed (nobody likes a 20-minute song).
The band consists primarily of brothers Oliver (guitar and vocals) and Chris (bass) Wood. Jazz fans may know bassist Chris Wood from Medeski Martin & Wood. They manage to mix country, blues, folk and country with a groovy edge, and be endlessly entertaining.
Their first few albums, beginning with 2006’s Loaded, featured the brothers as a duo, and in recent years they’ve added drummer/multi-instrumentalist wizard Jano Rix. As far as a primer, just throw on any of their albums, live or studio. They continue to crank out LPs that are just as good as the first few.
I’ve been going to see these guys for about a decade, and they’re one of the acts that I try my hardest to catch every time. At this writing, there are some tickets left, so get there if at all possible.
The Wood Brothers are at The Columbus on Nov 4.
As220 Brings the Heat — Nov 9 and 10
Dan Deacon
Next weekend should be an interesting one at AS220. First up on Friday is Dan Deacon, described as an “electronic-music iconoclast,” apparently known for epic, interactive live shows. I can’t claim to be a fan of electronic music, but it might be worth it for the pure spectacle. I remember hearing from multiple people in college about his legendary performances. Lazy Magnet opens the show.
Dan Deacon takes the stage on Nov 9 at 9pm.
Then on Saturday is a bill headlined by something called “An Alien Adventure starring Zoink Zulag and the Galactic Shag,” which seems to be an alien rock band.
What really caught my eye here is Roadhouse: the Musical. I saw the movie years ago, and from what I can remember, this cheesy flick is ripe for musical parody. I can only assume it will feature musical numbers with names like “Swayze Kicks Major Ass,” Parts I and II, and “Shirtless Training Exercises.” The show is supported by alt-rockers Bochek and power-popper Wayne Cabral.
The action happens on Nov 10 at 9pm.
Deer Tick Rollin’ In
Hometown crew Deer Tick comes to town at the end of the month in support of their recent Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 releases (see previous Alt-Nation column and watch this space for more Deer Tick news), just in time to jolt you out of your post-turkey coma. Like most local music fanboys, I look forward to seeing DT all year. These guys have built their reputation in large part on their live performances for a reason. According to a recent online setlist from Chicago, they played a 31-song set, complete with two Tom Petty covers and capped off with Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful.”
I’m particularly excited for the entirely electric night at The Met, as Vol. 2 includes a few of their heaviest tunes to-date (“Look How Clean I Am,” “It’s a Whale”). The acoustic-only set on the Friday should also be interesting, because I don’t remember guitarists Ian O’Neill or John McCauley so much as touching an acoustic guitar at a regular Tick show.
This does present a difficult conundrum, however, as the Nov 25 show is the same night as David Rawlings (Columbus) and Sarah Borges and the Silks (Narrows), which are also excellent choices. Tough times.
Deer Tick rolls into the Columbus on Nov 24, and The Met on Nov 25 and 26. Unsurprisingly, the electric set on Nov 25 is sold out. Alt-Nation: Sad News and Other News
Farewell to Aurora
And the slow, depressing march toward progress continues… Motif has already reported on the upcoming closing of Aurora in downtown Providence to make room for redevelopment. And with WBRU being sold off to the non-heathens, the past few months haven’t been incredible for the music scene here.
It’s a shame when anywhere that encourages artistic expression shutters its doors, but it’s especially sad in that Aurora featured way more than just music. The calendar lists variety shows, theater, electronic, salsa music and gay goth night. They had no issues mixing it up and giving a chance to whatever interesting-sounding programming came along, and how could you not respect that?
Having said all that, I can’t claim to have gone there more than three or four times, and now feel guilty for checking out none of the things I just listed. There’s still time to say your goodbyes, as Aurora has a full schedule through the end of October; it includes bills with macabre folk/alt rock outfit Vudu Sister, punk favorites Gym Shorts and a Halloween Cover Show. And there are still two more chances to check out the Salsa Con Soul.
Check out the Aurora calendar at auroraprovidence.com/calendar
The Silks and Sarah Borges at The Met
If you’ve paid any attention to Alt-Nation in the last handful of years, you probably know about the Silks (see Marc Clarkin’s previous column). There’s no need to waste your valuable time, so I’ll leave it by saying that they’re an exceptional blues-rock band featuring RI’s finest guitarist, and they put on a killer live show.
I also recommend the show’s opener, Sarah Borges. She’s a Taunton, Mass, native specializing in a catchy brand of alt-country/blues. I saw her with her band The Broken Singles a few times with my mom at the Narrows during my high school years, and was always really impressed. Her catalog includes excellent slow songs and honky tonk bar blues, but she has some twangy, just-upbeat-enough rock numbers that are 10/10s as far as I’m concerned. Check out “Daniel Lee,” “The Day We Met” and “Stop and Think it Over.”
Although all Borges’ albums are worth a listen, the best release to-date is probably 2007’s Diamonds in the Dark, her first album with the Broken Singles. Looking back to reviews for Diamonds, it seems like there was some buzz surrounding the band at the time. Unfortunately, after one more album, the band split in 2011 and Borges embarked on a solo career. It’s a shame she never managed to fully break out, but it certainly wasn’t for lack of first-rate songwriting.
If you have to miss this show, the same bill (but with Borges headlining) is coming to the Narrows Center in Fall River on Saturday, November 25. The Silks and Sarah Borges at The Met happens on Fri, Sep 28 at 9pm. [Friday is the 29th]
Bavarian Bliss
Motif often features music festivals that allow drinking, but how about a drinking festival that features music? The German American Cultural Society of Rhode Island in Pawtucket is presenting their annual Oktoberfest celebration featuring live Bavarian music, dancing, food, traditional dress and, most importantly, huge steins of beer for, like, four bucks.
Last year, I discovered this gem smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood down the street from my house. The basement bar, called the Rathskeller, is regularly open on Friday nights only, and a great time is had by all. I’m about as German as sashimi, but I’ve come to really enjoy this place.
Music is a great way to experience a culture, so check out Oktoberfest performances from:
Bavarian Brothers Band
A talented duo bringing the authentic Bavarian music. Roger Botelho handles accordion and vocals and Bruce Botelho is the brass man. According to the bros themselves, their specialties include authentic Bavarian folk songs, audience participation, yodeling, cowbell and something called the alp horn.
Their only known video is of the band playing a set (yodeling and all) at the bottom of a working ski slope, joined by a gentleman literally playing a pair of skis as percussion. The GACSRI website has assured us that they will indeed be joined by the guy playing the skis. If none of that sounds appealing, I don’t know what else to tell you.
SGTV Alpenblumen Schuhplattlers
I’m not sure what the first word means, but suffice to say that it’s a dance crew with Schuhplattler (shoe-slapping) moves that will knock your lederhosen right off.
Alpenblumen Musikanten
Playing sets Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, as well as backing up the Schuhplattlers, Alpenblumen Musikanten specializes in lively folk music with lots of cowbell.
The GACSRI is located at 78 Carter Ave in Pawtucket, and Oktoberfest takes place on Sat, Sep 30 (1 – 11pm) and Sun, Oct 1 (Noon to 5pm).
For more: gacsri.org/oktoberfest-2016 Nick-A-Nee’s
I’ll end by giving a shout-out to the best bar in PVD, Nick-A-Nee’s, where people of all ages gather to drink Old Milwaukee, saddle up to the bar and take in some high-quality live music. The Jewelry District gem offers free music almost every night of the week! Regular slots include jazz on Thursdays and the Bluegrass Throwdown every Wednesday.
Nick’s’ music schedule (posted on their Facebook) is definitely worth checking out for specifics, but open-minded folks can just roll up and expect to hear talented people doing their thing.
Some upcoming Nick-a-nee’s shows to note:
Friday 9/22 – Mark Cutler & the Men of Great Courage – Rhode Island legend with expertly crafted rock songs.
Saturday 9/23 – Julie Rhodes – Chill blues/soul anchored by Rhodes’ pristine vocals. She’s been making a name for herself lately, so catch her here while the ticket is still free. She’s joined by The Quahogs.
Saturday 9/30 – Cannibal Ramblers – Heavy delta blues/freak out music from the brain of RISD professor Mark Milloff.
Nick-A-Nee’s is located at 75 South St in Providence. Most shows start at 9 or 9:30pm.
Alt-Nation: Dan Blakeslee and Trying Out Jazz
Here are some things to listen to/consider while you are trying to avoid thinking about how summer is flying by at breakneck speed.
Dan Blakeslee – The Alley Walker
Straight outta Boston by way of Maine, troubadour Dan Blakeslee is a talented songwriter with a mellow country/folk sound that I would compare to Ryan Adams’ best stuff mixed with some Steve Earle. The Alley Walker is his sixth full-length, and an excellent entry in the Blakeslee canon.
You may know him as Dr. Gasp, his spooky alter-ego Halloween act. Blakeslee also has a prolific art career, and Motif beer nerd readers may be interested to know that he’s the one who drew the Heady Topper label. His album art alone is worth the purchase.
The album’s strength is thanks in large part to the fantastic playing from his band known as The Calabash Club. Check out the killer organ on “A Golden Turn” and the pedal steel on “Ready for the Cinema.”
It’s clear that Blakeslee has had some experience with this songwriting business, and I especially enjoyed Alley Walker’s lyrics. He’s great at creating characters, but I particularly love how Blakeslee can spin events in his own life into inspiration and imagery. He wrote the upbeat “Pride of the Piscataqua” while watching a bridge he grew up with being removed (“here’s to you my crumbling beauty/beneath your belly we did sail”), and “Lone Star” is a gothic country tune about being stranded on tour in Texas.
Similarly, “No Shame in Wasting Time” examines the great benefits of doing nothing, including how hard is it to be a clock (“you spend your whole life waitin’ for a punch, and another when they get back from lunch”).
All in all, every song on Alley Walker has something to offer. I hear that Blakeslee has recently moved to Providence, so look for a show at some point soon.
Free Music Bounty @ Burnside Park
Like most, I’m enthralled by the power of getting something for free, especially when it’s music. This summer, there are awesome free shows happening every Thursday at Burnside Park in Downtown PVD, sponsored by the Downtown Providence Park Conservancy, a public-private partnership that aims “to preserve and revitalize Providence’s historic downtown core by transforming it into a lively, cohesive and prosperous economic and cultural center.”
The schedule is as follows:
August 3 | Charles Allin – Ambient electronic music from Jeremy Harris, who is also the man behind the Lazy Magnet Project.
August 10 | Hott Boyz – Apparently not the rap group from the ’90s, but a group featuring members of Roz and the Rice Cakes and GYMSHORTS.
August 17 | Grupo Sazon – A Latin salsa explosion, this group will make you want to call in sick on Friday to enroll in conga lessons.
August 24 | What Cheer? Brigade & The Quahogs – The infamous brass of the huge What Cheer? street band paired with The Quohogs’ twangy rock ‘n’ roll.
August 31 | Roz and the Rice Cakes – Some of the most exciting alt sounds in town. I also heard they may have a new album dropping soon.
September 7 | The ‘Mericans – Providence alt-country lifers who always make for a good show.
This is all part of a greater effort to revitalize the greater Kennedy Plaza area and build a downtown parks system, so I guess by partying outside on a weeknight, you’re actually helping to strengthen your community.
Let this also remind us of this park’s namesake, Ambrose Burnside, perhaps the greatest Rhode Islander who ever lived. He was, among other things, a decorated Civil War general, railroad man and politician, but Burnside is best remembered for his ridiculously over-the-top facial hair, which resulted in the term “sideburn” being named for him.
Each show starts at 5:30 – perfect for after-work beers. Find more info at: provparksconservancy.org/visit/music
Newport Jazz Fest
Roughly a century after it emerged as America’s original art form, jazz is now as unpopular as ever. According to Nielsen Music, jazz is tied with classical at the bottom of the pack by national standards.
This Saturday, I’ll be attending the second day of the Newport Jazz Fest. I must admit that I am part of the reason for the genre’s waning, as I listen to hardly any jazz and am very underqualified to write about it. I am, however, looking forward to checking out Snarky Puppy, the boundary-breaking jazz group (almost an orchestra), Rhiannon Giddens from the Carolina Chocolate Drops and bass legend Christian McBride.
Because I more often attend the sold-out Folk Fest, the JF feels like a relaxing reprieve where you can just sit back and take it all in. I honestly haven’t heard of any more of the Saturday artists, but I figure I should make at least one annual attempt to expand my horizons beyond the usual white dudes with guitars.
The Newport Jazz fest happens August 5 and 6. Tickets can be purchased at: newportjazz.org/tickets
RIP Chester Bennington
I’d like to note the passing of Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, who recently took his own life. It’s always a tragedy when musicians go too early, and his death comes only months after the suicide of Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell.
I can’t say I was a huge LP fan, but I definitely enjoyed the Hybrid Theory singles when I was younger and the right age to enjoy Bennington’s angsty vocal style. They were all over WBRU during my most impressionable years, when it started to become clear that obsessively listening to music wasn’t just going to be a phase.
It seems like prolific songwriting ability too often comes with mental illness or substance use, and this death is another stark reminder that someone’s success in no way determines what’s going on in the inside.
Foo Fest Arts, Music, and Foo-Topia
The biggest draw for Foo Fest has to be the huge number of bands performing (see opposite page). But Foo-goers who head downtown on August 12 also can find plenty of food, art and more of the funky stuff that AS220 has been bringing to Rhode Islanders for 30 years.
For those who would like to stretch their artistic muscles, the fest will have family-friendly hands-on activities from AS220 Industries (Printshop, Media Arts, Labs) available, including activities like screen printing designs on a variety of mediums, mask-making, face painting and a learn to solder station. Foo Fest also will see the return of the La Feria Latin-American Artisans Fair, where attendees can buy folk art, Spanish poetry, hand-made fabric and jewelry, and other creations from local artists. PVD’s Gather Glass studio will host a workshop and live glass blowing demos, and The Steel Yard also will be there, so maybe you can live out your “Game of Thrones” fantasies by smithing a giant broadsword.
One of the more intriguing projects that will be showcased at Foo Fest is Foo-Topia Now, put together by Greg Cook and Kerri Percival, a Malden, Massachusetts-based husband-and-wife duo who have been creating together for more than two decades.
Final details have yet to be ironed out, but I had a quick word with Greg for more on what attendees can expect from Foo-Topia.
Jake Bissaro: What is Foo-Topia?
Greg Cook: Our aim is to explore the theme of ‘how do we improve the world and make things better?’ And we’re also trying to explore the role of art in that effort. With all that’s going on right now, we’re ultimately trying to imagine a bit of utopia in the middle of downtown Providence.
JB: What are some of the details?
GC: We’re going to design the official Foo Fest photo booth and other similarly iconic spaces within the festival. It’s all going to culminate in a parade, and we’ll be doing a workshop in the afternoon helping people make masks and signs for the parade.
JB: Ever done anything like this before?
GC: Not exactly, but we have done similar events trying to deliver a message to broad audiences in catchy and funny ways. In Malden’s parade of annual holiday traditions, we put together “Santas Against Global Warming.” Kerri and I also helped develop the Fox Festival Parade in Arlington, Massachusetts, in June, on the theme of welcoming wildlife back into our communities and celebrating the city’s Fox Library.
JB: What else should people look forward to?
GC: We’re hoping to set up some free art workshops in the city’s community libraries and schedule speakers at the festival who will present on the subject of utopia and improving the world.
In other artsy pursuits, Foo Fest will feature installations by Corrine Wahlberg’s “P.O.P. Pixie of Poteniality,” Leslie Atik’s Weaving Project and Joe-Lou’s “The Phantom Hand.” Attendees also will see pieces from Jennifer Vinegar Avery’s arresting “The Fainting Room: A Period Piece.” For lovers of spoken word, Tina Cane (State Poet of Rhode Island) and Laura Moire Marciano will present “Poetry on Demand.”
You’ll be needing some nourishment to take in all this artsy stuff, so food will be provided by fine local purveyors like Dudleys’s hot dog cart, Tina’s Jamaican, Julians Omnibus, Poco Loco Tacos, Like No Udder and more.
AS220’s Foo Fest takes place on Aug 12 from 1pm until 1am on Empire St in PVD. For more information, go to foofest.as220.org.