Category: Bands/Comps/Splits
Sick Pills at The Pour Farm
with Pink Beans and Nick Sundman
Pour Farm Tavern
New Bedford, Mass
Dan Baker ‘Pistol in my Pocket’ review at Keys and Chords.
You can read the review here
Op zijn vroegere langspelers ‘Outskirts of Town’ en ‘Sad Song Junkie’ profileert deze jongeman zich al als een begenadigd storyteller die zich in de inspirerende driehoek Dylan-Prine-Waits manifesteert. Evenals zijn illustere voorgangers komt bij Dan Baker alles recht uit het hart en wordt die stuff met ongehoorde passie gedebiteerd.
Vanaf de eerste gezongen noot sleurt hij je mee met niet zelden beklemmende verhalen die een uitzichtloos leven aan de zelfkant laten vermoeden. Ten tijde van de opnamesessies leefde hij toevallig in Chelsea, een bescheiden voorstad van Boston. In die wat troosteloze omgeving rijpten heel wat songs. Een van die songs haalde de cd. De titelsong ‘Pistol In My Pocket’ stamt uit flarden van een conversatie die Baker in de plaatselijke 7-Eleven supermarkt opvangt. Wat later smijt Baker de song op tape in de plaatselijke 1867 Studio, een voormalige pleisterplaats van vrijmetselaars waar hij met zijn begeleidingband een tijdelijk onderkomen vindt.
Die beklijvende, bij momenten hallucinante sfeer kleeft ook aan ‘Threw Me Down The Well’ en ‘ What I’m Looking For’, ‘Down In The Canyon’ Baker zingt of beter gezegd, huilt als een gewond dier dat zijn wonden likt . Dit wordt geventileerd in songs waarin steevast een onderhuidse spanning wordt opgebouwd.
Je hoeft zelfs niet aandachtig naar de teksten te luisteren van pianoballaden als ‘Never Alone’, ‘Up On The Roof’ om te begrijpen dat Baker niet bepaald als een vrolijk Franske door het leven dartelt. ‘Coming Home’ en ‘Not Gonna Say It’ wedijveren om de titel van meest desolate song. Als de lusteloosheid in deze donkere tijden even toeslaat sla je dit gitzwarte werkstuk beter over en ietwat labiele personen gelieve zich bij voorbaat te onthouden. Ze missen wel een verdomd intens en doorvoeld werkstuk..
Junior Varsity Arson – Self Titled EP
75OL-176 Junior Varsity Arson – Self Titled CD
[sold out]
Track Listing
1. Her Parents Love Me
2. Brown Jacket and Purple Keds
3. Hippy Dippy Milk Man
4. Skull Collection
5. I’m Hooked
Junior Varsity Arson play Lonely Guy Rock. A soundtrack for men who are banned from certain establishments; men who were thrown out of record stores and video stores; men who have endless theories and endless amounts of time to explain those theories; men who are willing to tell you what you’re doing wrong; men with big crushes on the women behind the counter; men with the inside story; old men who despise what this country has become; young men who play Dungeons & Dragons with vintage pewter pieces; men who know their own IQs; men who cannot rock. Junior Varisty Arson have a lot of rock to do. They consist of Kraig Jordan, Don Sanders, Dave Narcizo and Guy Benoit. Featuring original artwork by William Schaff.
The Uncomfortables at Waterfront Tavern
with Stare Down the Sun, Untitled, and Crescent Hill
Waterfront Tavern
920 Main Street
Holyoke, Mass 01040
$5
8pm
21+
Dan Baker’s ‘Pistol in my Pocket’ #5 on December EuroAmericana Chart
Mark Cutler – Dreamland
75OL-182 Mark Cutler – Dreamland CD
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Mark Cutler’s new record Dreamland is a collection of songs recorded in a little room in his little house and features some guest appearances by his good friends Jim Berger, Rick Couto, Richard Reed and Bob Kirkman. It’s an intimate record that you might enjoy with headphones but feel free to blast the stereo. It’s also the first record he’s done since he quit his day job to pursue a life outside of the rat race. Dreamland features songs about every day life and every night life and the times in between.
Rhode Island guitar slinger/songwriter Mark Cutler’s latest release is called “Dreamland”. It’s an apt title for the followup to last year’s critically acclaimed and award winning “Sweet Pain” (both available from 75orLess, iTunes, etc.). Along with sparse touches of accompaniment from his excellent live band The Men of Great Courage, MC plays most of the instruments himself this time around. Recorded at his home studio- just down the hall from his bedroom- dreamlike qualities abound, in the title cut, in songs like “I’ll Play For You”, “Soul Flame” and “You’re Gonna Need My Help”, to name but four. Like the mixed memories and visions of wonderful recurring dreams you wish you’d have more often, instruments, lyrics, harmonies and riffs intermingle in ways both familiar and surprising. And, like a dream you can’t quite get out of your head all day, the rustic surrealism of this “Dreamland” will stay with you long after your ear buds are slipped into a pocket.- DR
CD is limited to 200 numbered, brown and white jackets with screen print design
Allysen Callery ‘Mumblin’ Sue’ review at Gaesteliste
You can read the review here.
Es waren die Platten ihrer Eltern, die Allysen Callery einst auf den Weg brachten – ihr Faible für den Sound des britischen Folk-Revivals der späten 60er- und frühen 70er-Jahre ist auch auf ihrer fünften Veröffentlichung ungebrochen. Seit vor zwei Jahren ihre Themen-EPs “Winter Island” und “Summer Place” erschienen sind, hat die in Bristol, Rhode Island, ansässige Singer/Songwriterin die Nylonsaiten ihrer Akustikgitarre gegen Stahlsaiten getauscht, die herrlich unwirkliche Stimmung ihrer zerbrechlich-poetischen Songs ist allerdings glücklicherweise unverändert. Mehr als ihr ausgezeichnetes Fingerpicking und ihre einnehmende Falsettstimme braucht die Amerikanerin auch auf “Mumblin’ Sue” nicht, um eine sagenhaft intime Atmosphäre zu kreieren, die eine geradezu hypnotische Wirkung auf den Hörer ausübt. So traditionell folky, wie sich viele ihrer Songs im ersten Moment anhören, sind sie übrigens gar nicht. Das macht sich vor allem beim (einzigen) Traditional “Long Black Veil” bemerkbar, das – wenngleich wunderschön – ein wenig aus dem Rahmen fällt und unterstreicht: Mit viel Subtilität hat sich Allysen Callery längst eine eigene Nische in den immer größer werdenden Folk-Zirkeln erarbeitet.
Dan Baker, Six Star General reviews in December issue of Motif
Along with coverage of upcoming shows with The McGunks and Northern Lands.
You can read the article here.
Six Star General – Hair Supply (75orLess Records)
Six Star General has had a difficult year that forced them to be on the sidelines for several months due to various medical maladies. In the meantime, they managed to finish another album, Hair Supply. In addition to being my motto, “I Don’t Know Where We’re Going (But I Know That It’s Not Good)” is a return to form noisy rocker that has been missing from the last couple of Six Star records. “Christopher Walken” and “I’m Expanding Slowly” are like stoner indie rock powered by hypnotic grooves. “Way Out of Control” is a noisy fun punk romp. “Life in Vain” is an infectious ditty powered by a cool hook and probably the closest thing to a single on Hair Supply. I look forward to hearing the new tunes live at the CD Release for Hair Supply at The Parlour on January 4.
Dan Baker – Pistol in My Pocket (75orLess Records)
I didn’t know what to make of Dan Baker at first on the title track of Pistol in My Pocket that comes off as a howling Beck imitation on one of his independent albums. Then things started to get good. “Threw Me Down the Well” is a blues number that comes across as an Americanized version of Nick Cave, thanks to the violin from Rob Flax. “Never Alone” and “Up On the Roof” are winners as spacey piano ballads that remind me of sitting out on my porch staring up at the stars. “Down in the Canyon” has kind of a later-day Dylan feel at times. On “She’s Not Going To Call,” Baker channels his inner Tom Waits with an added Americana touch on the outro. Baker’s best material is so raw it hits you straight in the gut on tracks like “Coming Home.” I didn’t know anything about Dan Baker before, but after listening to Pistol in My Pocket, I certainly want to know more!
– See more at: http://motifri.com/alt-nation-some-new-discs-and-shows-to-bid-2013-goodbye/#sthash.mdmZLpMf.dpuf
Six Star General – Hair Supply (75orLess Records)
Six Star General has had a difficult year that forced them to be on the sidelines for several months due to various medical maladies. In the meantime, they managed to finish another album, Hair Supply. In addition to being my motto, “I Don’t Know Where We’re Going (But I Know That It’s Not Good)” is a return to form noisy rocker that has been missing from the last couple of Six Star records. “Christopher Walken” and “I’m Expanding Slowly” are like stoner indie rock powered by hypnotic grooves. “Way Out of Control” is a noisy fun punk romp. “Life in Vain” is an infectious ditty powered by a cool hook and probably the closest thing to a single on Hair Supply. I look forward to hearing the new tunes live at the CD Release for Hair Supply at The Parlour on January 4.
Dan Baker – Pistol in My Pocket (75orLess Records)
I didn’t know what to make of Dan Baker at first on the title track of Pistol in My Pocket that comes off as a howling Beck imitation on one of his independent albums. Then things started to get good. “Threw Me Down the Well” is a blues number that comes across as an Americanized version of Nick Cave, thanks to the violin from Rob Flax. “Never Alone” and “Up On the Roof” are winners as spacey piano ballads that remind me of sitting out on my porch staring up at the stars. “Down in the Canyon” has kind of a later-day Dylan feel at times. On “She’s Not Going To Call,” Baker channels his inner Tom Waits with an added Americana touch on the outro. Baker’s best material is so raw it hits you straight in the gut on tracks like “Coming Home.” I didn’t know anything about Dan Baker before, but after listening to Pistol in My Pocket, I certainly want to know more!
The McGunks Holiday Party
Truth be told, The McGunks really don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party, as anyone who has been to one of their shows can attest. The McGunks are straight-on pub punk with bits of bands like the Supersuckers mixed in. Check out their recent CD, Highlights for Lowlifes for even more sweaty, booze-drenched rock & roll hi-jinks!
The McGunks and The O’Tooles will throw a punk rock Holiday Bash at Broad Street Tap in Cumberland on December 21.
– See more at: http://motifri.com/alt-nation-some-new-discs-and-shows-to-bid-2013-goodbye/#sthash.mdmZLpMf.dpuf
The McGunks Holiday Party
Truth be told, The McGunks really don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party, as anyone who has been to one of their shows can attest. The McGunks are straight-on pub punk with bits of bands like the Supersuckers mixed in. Check out their recent CD, Highlights for Lowlifes for even more sweaty, booze-drenched rock & roll hi-jinks! The McGunks and The O’Tooles will throw a punk rock Holiday Bash at Broad Street Tap in Cumberland on December 21.
Northern Lands
Narragansett Beer put together a beast of a party to celebrate their 123rd anniversary. Of course, I’d contest the year because they should have to subtract all the years the brand was dormant, but nobody listens to me anyway. This show has something for almost everyone. You want straight-out rock? Northern Lands and the slightly country tinged Jay Berndt & The Orphans will be there. Want something acoustic? Brian McKenzie will be there to deliver. Jazz? Michelle Lewis for the win! The only thing missing is metal, which is odd considering Berndt and McKenzie were in the ‘90s local juggernaut, Kilgore. In addition this will be the annual unveiling of the Gansett Girl Calendar. Narragansett Beer 123rd Anniversary Party featuring live performances by Northern Lands, Jay Berndt & The Orphans, Brian McKenzie Michelle Lewis and Jeff Byrd hits The Met Café on December 27.
Mark Cutler in Go Local Prov ‘5 December Live Music Musts’
You can read the article here.
Mark Cutler at Nick-A-Nee’s
Nick-A-Nee’s in Providence has a Record Release Party starring longtime local rocker Mark Cutler. Along with his band Men of Great Courage, he’s celebrating the release of his killer new album Dreamland. Founder of legendary RI bands The Schemers and The Raindogs, Cutler’s sound continues to evolve, or in this case devolve, toward a simpler, more roots influenced style. Check him out tonight at 9PM. (Cutler is also part of the Songwriters Circle show to benefit the RI Food Bank Sunday afternoon at the historic Channing Memorial Church – Visit the website for more details.)
Jacob Haller at AS220
with Joe Auger, Ian Fitzgerald, Daniel Ouellette and the Shobijin
AS220
Empire Street
Providence, RI
9:00 pm –