Category: Bands/Comps/Splits
Live reviews in The Noise of Vertical Twin, Monument Thief, Matt Fraza Band live review in The Noise
MATT FRAZA BAND
MONUMENT THIEF
VERTICAL TWIN
Firehouse 13, Providence, RI
8/16/16
Firehouse 13 is in the middle of a war zone and the inside is dark and dirty, but at least they have a stage and a PA system. Vertical Twin is playing when I enter. They are a bit older of a band than I’m used to seeing. They are a little old to be Green Day and a little young to be The Who, but I see where they get their power trio influences from. Vertical Twin plays high energy rock ’n’ roll and put on a good show, the singer is funny and entertaining, it’s a great way to start the night, though I may have missed two earlier bands. Monument Thief take the stage next. Monument Thief is a Providence based bass and drums duo, but don’t compare them to Lightning Bolt! They play straight up rock and the bass sounds like a guitar player without solos. It’s really good alternative rock that reminds me of my childhood. I’ve had a few drinks by now and I’m ready for a great band to top off a cool night. sadly, the Matt Fraza Band is unable to deliver the goods. Boring Dave Mathews, Jimmy Buffet type generic garbage. Hey, guitar player, stand up, this is a rock ’n’ roll concert, man. I’m afraid if I see their whole set I’ll fall asleep at the wheel and I don’t even have a car. At least I have an excuse to get on the bike and head home early. (Terry Boulder)
The Noise Lists ‘Seven RI Bands to Take Note Of’
Two 75orLess veterans are part of the The Noise’s Seven Rhode Island Acts To Take Note Of, Allysen Callery and Mark Cutler and the Men of Great Courage
Allysen Callery — guitar, vocals
Noise: Where is your band located?
Callery: I’m in Bristol, RI, about 25 minutes from Providence.
Noise: What’s good and bad about your local scene?
Callery: There are a couple venues that really shine, The Columbus has an upstairs theatre with seats that’s a dream for me to play, I’ve really enjoyed myself there. Aurora under Jacob Wolf’s booking is starting to emerge as a premier room, as well. They brought out tables and chairs the last time I played, and that works best for my sound.
Noise: Describe your band’s sound and how you fit into the scene?
Callery: I play finger-style guitar & sing on the British Isles spectrum of folk, but I’m New England. I’m not trad Americana, but I play with some of the gentler acts like Haunt the House (I was in his band too, for awhile) and love the gothic New England folk style of Vudu Sister, and I book with them a lot, too.
Noise: What’s your best song?
Callery: Wow, that’s a tough thing to answer- but I’ll go with “I Had A Lover I Thought Was My Own,” for the DADGAD fingerstyle playing, and the narrative. That song got me into SXSW in 2014.
Noise: What national act’s influence is most evident in your sound?
Callery: Jessica Pratt & Meg Baird do a similar style of acoustic that I do, not quite folk, but I call it that out of convenience.
Noise: What are your plans for the future?
Callery: I’m doing my first Italian tour this October, stopping to play a show in Brighton, England for some folks instrumental in getting me on my first European label. I am also thrilled to be returning to SXSW festival in March, 2017.
MEN OF GREAT COURAGE
(rock ’n’ roll/ country and soul)
Mark Cutler — guitar, vocals, Jimmy Berger — bass, Rick Couto — drums, Bob Kirkman — guitar, banjo, Richard Reed — keyboard, Cathy Clasper -Torch – fiddle
Noise: Where is your band located?
Cutler: My bands, The Men of Great Courage and The Schemers are located in Providence, RI.
Noise: What’s good and bad about your local scene?
Cutler: I love the variety of styles and the high quality of music that’s being made around here. There’s always a sense of support and community. Although nowadays, I don’t get out too much unless I’m playing. One thing that gets me down and it’s probably true for many places is that I hear musicians talking about what they do like its a pain in the ass to play music. For God’s sake, you found something that you love to do! And sometimes you make some dough doing it! It’s not like you’re working in a chain gang. You’re playing music.
Noise: Describe your band’s sound and how you fit into the scene?
Cutler: I don’t know how we fit in the scene. We kinda hover around it. My band is all over the place but we’re influenced by tons of styles and artists. We like to get hypnotic and expansive but we also like to play a cry in your beer song too. Hank to Hendrix and all that it implies.
Noise: What’s your best song?
Cutler: I don’t know and I hope I haven’t written it yet.
Noise: What national act’s influence is most evident in your sound?
Cutler: The usual baby boomer stuff, Stones, Velvet Underground, Dylan, gut bucket blues, old time country.
Noise: What are your plans for the future?
Cutler: I plan on playing, writing, mentoring, putting out records, creating, and trying to do the right thing until the day I die.
Jackson Jillson – Acoustic Glue Stick
75OL-245 Jackson Jillson – Acoustic Glue Stick
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download is coming soon
Track Listing
1. Your Stupid Heart
2. Autumn in the Fall
3. Why Did You Sell My Car?
4. Give Me a Sign
5. (What the Heck is Wrong With) People
6. The Lousy Blues
7. Thank God I Have You / You Left Me Yesterday
8. Room 175
In making this record Jackson Jillson looked back over decades of time, pondering countless personal life experiences and dredging his deepest emotions. Finding that terrain to be infertile and fruitless, these songs were created instead. Acoustic Glue Stick envisages a musical adhesion – take a listen: You may indeed be stuck on (or with) Jackson Jillson’s latest musical offering.
Hooker Clops – Dumb 7 inch
75OL-174 Hooker Clops – Dumb 7 inch
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download is included with the single. Digital download ONLY is available here
Black vinyl limited to 300 copies – Label limited to 20 numbered copies.
Track Listing
1. Dead Dog
2. Sally Forth
3. Don’t Kill
4. 12 Items or Less
5. Notice
6. Workin’ Man
Three years ago the guys in Hooker Clops, with the support of 75orLess and their fans, came out with the “DUMB” 7-inch. As the album was being pressed and released, the band went in separate directions. There was a digital release and release show, and a few weeks later the vinyl came in. It has sat dormant for 3 years, until now. For fans of Rocket from the Crypt, Drive Like Jehu…
Here it is in all it’s DUMB glory.
Tall Teenagers video for ‘Anniversary’
The Lincoln Tunnel in studio performance of ‘Phone This One In’
The Spectacular Fantastic’s ‘Circling the Sun’ Review at Razorcake
THE SPECTACULAR FANTASTIC – Circling the Sun
This is some hooky power pop played by a duo out of Cincinnati. Given their locale, it shouldn’t be surprising that I immediately heard some Guided By Voices influence, as they’re both from the same neck of the woods. There’s also certainly an influence from the Elephant 6 collective bands. The Spectacular Fantastic has evidently been around for a while, so it makes sense they have their shit together. And by that I mean it sounds good, both in the way it’s recorded and how well the two members sound playing together. It doesn’t hurt that the tunes are catchy and pretty fun. –Kurt Morris
Tall Teenagers video ‘Feel Us Out’ Live at AS220 5-14-16
Tall Teenagers – Self Titled
75OL-246 Tall Teenagers – Self Titled
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1. Gone, Gone, Gone
2. Feel Us out
3. Anniversary
4. I Get Awake
5. Ground
6. Thief In The House
7. Falling Next To me
8. Home
9. Walking On A Street
Tall Teenagers are Chelsea Paulhus, Damian Puerini, Shannon Puerini and Shaun Chevalier. They play dark songs about horrible people using fuzzy guitars and heavy grooves. Drawing from The Breeders, Sonic Youth and Queens of the Stone Age, Tall Teenagers are available for weddings but you might want to listen first.
Jordan Everett Associates – Self Titled
75OL-223 Jordan Everett Associates – Self Titled
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1. Crawl
2. Deep Blue Goodbye
3. Permanent Damage
4. Stuck in the Driveway
5. Poison
6. The Usual Crowd
7. Never Letting Go
8. House Up On The Hill
9. Super Connected
10. Who You Are
Jordan Everett Associates is the songwriting and recording partnership of Kraig Jordan (The Masons, Stan Sobczak, Junior Varsity Arson, LLoyds Llamas) and Paul Everett (Blizzard of 78, Gladhouse, Hope Anchor, Everett Bros Moving Company).
Kraig and Paul’s musical paths have crossed many times in the last 25 years, and this project grew out of their mutual desire to collaborate. Written and recorded over the course of 2 years at Kraig’s Plan of a Boy studio, Jordan Everett Associates is a moody and sometimes dark exploration of life in the 21st Century.
Although a dark thread runs through the LPs’ 10 songs, the record is a celebration of creative collaboration, the recording process and music itself. It draws from their many influences and synthesizes them into a powerful and emotional whole. Jordan Everett Associates is a noir inspired journey through a 4AD Prism.
The record would not be complete without “The Associates” including Jodie Treloar, Dan Ulmschneider, Eric Sampson, Scott Janovitz, Dave Narcizo, Mark Stone, Tanya Donelly, and Leslie Shelton.