Category: Bands/Comps/Splits
Mark Cutler at the Common Ground Coffee House
with Jimmy Berger and Banjo Bob Kirkman.
Early show, pass the hat
Common Ground Coffee House at Harbor Church
Block Island, RI
7pm
Brook, Bear and the Elephant ‘Montreal’ Album Reviewed at Foster’s
Here’s what we know. Nate Laban and Eric Ott have both enjoyed individual successes in their own respective songwriting endeavors. We also know that they’re good friends. So, it makes sense then that at some point in time they’d join forces and pump out some creative jams. That time is now.
Under the band name Brook, Bear and the Elephant (joined by other Seacoast musical vets Sean Yadisernia on lead guitar and vocals, and Dan McGary on drums and vocals), Laban and Ott have crafted a collection of nine tunes that push the bounds of each other’s general comfort zones. The result is grandiose, and the collective whole of their debut, “Montreal” is eclecticly interesting and wholly satisfying, from the influences that earned both of them individual praise to the inclusion of a little “Pet Sounds” era Beach Boys psychedelia pop, and contemporary Tweedy-ish playfulness and experimentation.
The most impressive part about the collaborative journey these fellas have embarked on is the successful forging of two uniquely different voices and outputting memorable vocal harmonies throughout the entirety of the record. I’ve long written about how Ott’s voice is reminiscent of Michael Stype, and the same is true of Laban’s Elvis Costello-ish punk-injected croon. Mash ‘em up, and you get some interesting results.
One of the highlights for me is the track, “Normal, IL.” Among the record’s other eight tracks one of the two gentleman take the vocal lead, while the other harmonizes in accordance with the general feel of the tune. On “Normal, IL,” both take the lead for a turn (while the underlying harmonizing still takes place). The track is fairly mellow compared with the rest of the offerings, but is cut right in half by a solo that you might find as a working piece of a Traveling Wilbury’s song structure. Upon completion of that slicing six-string flame, both Laban and Ott finish out the tune in unison, as the lead, levels both equally matched. It’s mighty fine.
Feng Shui Police at The Salon
The Salon
57 Eddy Street
Providence, RI
9pm
Black Oil Incinerator at Machines With Magnets
with Snowplows and Husbandry
Machines With Magnets
Pawtucket, RI
9pm
Sam Hill – Sonja
75OL-216 Sam Hill – Sonja CD
$8.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1. 37 Rings 3:06
2. Serpents 3:59
3. Bullet 5:24
4. Scourge of the Warm Blooded 3:12
5. Wait For Me 3:00
6. Lithuanian Maiden 5:34
7. Electric Funeral 4:58
Sam Hill is the devil. The band originally formed in 2013 to be the backing band for some of Nate and Cam’s pop-punk tunes, but with the added influence of Jason and his harder hitting tastes turned into what is now Sam Hill. All members of the band have been playing regionally for 20+ years and have been friends for just as long. Themes on the record range from tree people (37 rings), to life taking a form of a bullet, to ice giants (scourge of the warm-blooded), to the love of the woods by Maine’s own North Pond Hermit: Mr. Christopher Knight (Wait for me). The song ‘Serpents’ refers to an experience of losing 3 friends in a freezing winter river and being the last to see them alive. Lithuanian Maiden was a piece inspired by a piece of artwork by Joshua Belanger, a local NH artist.
Feng Shui Police video for “Shit, Man”
Dennis Most and the Instigators at The Platinum Pony
with Heavy Necker, Kosmic Daydream, and Thaumaturgist
The Platinum Pony
30 Cottage St
Easthampton, Mass
9pm
$5
Mark Cutler and the Men of Great Courage at the 133 Club
133 Club
Warren Ave
East Providence, RI
9pm
Sick Pills at Pour Farm
with Free Chaos and Nick Sundman
Pour Farm
Purchase St
New Bedford, MA
9pm
Groundhawgs – Lets Get Dark
75OL-211 Groundhawgs – Lets Get Dark CD
$8.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1 Mr Walks On Water
2 Dogs of El Agustino
3 Lets Get Dark
4 Double Nickels On The Dime
5 Floored
6 Mercury and Mass
7 Apartment Down The Hall
8 Oblivious
9 Out Of It
10 Darkwaters
The Hawgs are back with a deftly crafted batch of NUMBERS that will quench your thirst for TIGHT, HARD ROCKING, POST PUNK FARE. From the get go to the final bell, LET”S GET DARK will scratch your rock itch!