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 and Outlaw in Peru Reviews in the Latest Motif Magazine
Outlaw In Peru – OIP
This record has been kicking around for awhile but I popped it into my CD player the other day and it floored me. I don’t know when — or if — this band will ever play again, but that is part of the fun. They dress up in masks (because they are the Outlaw In Peru) and kick off a 10-minute stomper with fake crowd noise with “straight outta Little Compton…” where they name every town in Rhode Island except maybe Portsmouth and Arctic in “OIP Worldwide” with complete stadium bombast. They even make the point to let you know they are skipping Barrington because let’s face it, outside of that teddy bear store, it’s as gentrified as fuck. Outlaw In Peru understands that. It’s not all anthems for stadiums that don’t exist as “Profile in the Rock” rocks to some nirvana halfway between Motorhead and Thin Lizzy. “I Killed the Kennedys” rocks hard in a Grand Funk Railroad on amphetamines meets Body Count vein while offering up as much truth as the Warren Commission. You don’t have to wait for their next rodeo to hear them play. You can just go to 75orlessrecords.com to order and be the proud owner of this biscuit.
Tall Teenagers – Self-Titled
T-Rock used to always try to get me to listen to this late ’90s alt-rock band Verbena. They sounded like Surfa Rosa-era Pixies with songs that were just not as good. Surfa Rosa is in my top 50 all time records, so there is no shame when I liken Tall Teenagers to that record. I’ve never spent the time to appreciate Verbena till I saw Tall Teenagers and it struck me what they reminded me of. It is the same shtick with fuzzy loud guitars, mixed gender vocals and short twisty tunes. What I like about the Tall Teenagers is, for starters, it sounds phenomenal. Raw guitars whether they be foreboding on “Gone Gone Gone” or just driving through the morning madness of a new day rising on “I Get Awake.” “Thief In The House” jams along sounding like some mix of Crazy Horse Neil Young digging deep into a mix of grunge and gospel with no Gods in sight. “Home” has some surf licks and a driving back beat to carry you to safe harbor. The tension build-up in “Walking On A Street” just engages one to find out what is around the next corner. Speaking of corners, from their first show till I eventually saw them, people have raved about Tall Teenagers live. Being a fan of grungy guitars and short songs, I concur. That time I asked for my money back based on them not being particularly tall or close to being teenagers was strictly an aberration, possibly from inebriation.
Tall Teenagers live at WBRU video for ‘Visible Anger’
Tall Teenagers Debut Album reviewed by Vanyaland
Album Premiere: Tall Teenagers rise above the mundane on provocative guitar-rock debut
By possessing a sound that’s reminiscent of Nick Cave’s gothic tones, old school electric surf rock, and the post-punk charisma of The Raveonettes, Tall Teenagers have gained a local buzz in a relatively short time. The act consists of a couple Providence music scene vets, featuring former Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons members Damian Puerini and Shaun Chevalier on lead guitar and drums, respectively. The lineup rounds out with Puerini’s wife, Shannon, on bass, and Chelsea Paulhus on rhythm guitar. There’s a uniquely haunting aesthetic to the band’s style that sends chills up the spine. Get down with the darkness as Tall Teenagers premiere their self-titled debut album on Vanyaland today.
Believe it or not, Tall Teenagers originally started out as an innocent music project between Puerini and Paulhus that was eventually deemed to be a tad provocative.
“Chelsea and I wanted to write children’s songs to make money and then we realized our songs were really inappropriate — true story,” says Damian Puerini.
With dark lyrics accompanying each track, it’s fairly certain that Tall Teenagers’ music wouldn’t go well with the child demographic. It might scare them a bit and leave parents a tad confused. That’s a good thing though, let the kids stay home while the adults dive into an interesting take on rock and roll.
The surfy twang that starts off “Feel Us Out” sets the mood for the song, the chorus is where the energy comes through and invades the listener’s inhibitions. On “Anniversary”, Chevalier’s drumming is evidently present as the reinforcing base of the track with Puerini and Paulhus’ guitars serving as the source of invigoration. “I Get Awake” is an absolute ripper, an unapologetic punk structure anchors this electrifying track to exude a dancing feeling. Paulhus’ backing vocals on the song gives it an eerie inflection as well.
Tall Teenagers will be celebrating the release of their self-titled debut at the Columbus Theatre Saturday night (April 16) with alt-rock art enthusiasts Pixels and rabble rousing rock and rollers Smith & Weeden. Do the ears a favor and pick up a copy of the album at the show but for a taste of what to expect stream the album via the band’s Soundcloud below:
Jordan Everett Associates album review in Motif
Jordan Everett Associates – Self-Titled Album
Jordan Everett Associates is a songwriting collaboration between two longtime forces in these parts in Kraig Jordan (The Masons, Stan Sobczak, Junior Varsity Arson, Lloyd’s Lamas) and Paul “Pip” Everett (Coat of Arms, Blizzard of ‘78, Hope Anchor, Everett Brothers Moving Company). The songs were written over a 2-year period at Jordan’s Plan of a Boy studio. The result is a sometimes dark exploration of 21st century life that works in a gamut of influences. “Stuck In The Driveway” is a meditative take on life over a backdrop of moody post-modern folk. The boys kick it up a notch on “Deep Blue Goodbye,” which has a new wave flavor. “Poison” reminds me of rowdy late-’70s power-pop in the vein of The Jam or Elvis Costello. “Never Letting Go” and the ridiculously infectious “The House Up On The Hill” remind me of late ‘80s alternative rock radio similar to bands like The Church and Love and Rockets. They throw in a couple of covers including a spacey ballad take reminiscent of late ‘90s Radiohead or The Family Band’s “Moonbeams.” They also do a stripped-down ethereal cover of Belly’s “Super Connected.” I don’t think it got nominated, but this record was on my nomination ballot for Album of the Year in the Motif Awards. It deserves to be up for consideration because it was one of the best albums to come across my desk from anywhere in the past year. I am stoked that Jordan and Everett are going to be playing the record out live. Well, at least once. For the show they’ve assembled a top-notch band that in addition to Everett on vocals and Jordan on guitar includes Dan Ulmschneider on drums, Kevin Zahm on bass and Bob Kendall on keyboards.
The Lincoln Tunnel video for ‘Friend of the Roses’
Dead Rhetoric review Gaskill’s ‘The End of The World’
RATING: 8/10
New Bedford, MA band Gaskill has been delivering original music since 1995 – sticking to their guns through self-perseverance, a significant break during the late 2000’s and natural lineup changes- as well as caring less about fitting in to the latest trends or ‘hip’ styles in heavy music. “The End of the World” illustrates a raw, abrasive sound that is part punk, part hardcore – yet definitely sturdy enough to keep itself in the metal category.
The evil guitar sound is one that put bands like Pro-Pain, Life of Agony, and the much missed Only Living Witness in the hearts of a lot of fans during the 1990’s – the riff swirl striking mammoth, pit worthy proportions off the “Worms” get go. Highlights range from the psychedelic crossover groove throughout “Long Lost Friend”, the Sam Black Church-ish meets Slayer maniacal quick hitter “I’m Not Waiting” (102 seconds of blood bursting activity) and the thrash thrust and parry between guitars and rhythm section action for “War and Knives”.
The ace in the hole definitely is singer Kevin Grant. To put his take on what he does for Gaskill in a few words can be difficult – the man is a chameleon in a punk/ hardcore / metal montage. The melodic aspects of his voice fluctuate between Glenn Danzig and old Keith Caputo, while his screams and punk ways are 100% native to the New England scene – fairly equipped to add some SBC, OLW, and a host of others reference points from the rich history of the local movement. He’s very tuneful during Gaskill’s take on “Eleanor Rigby”, as well as psychotic in certain screams and warbles for “Dog Heaven” – certainly memorable when taking these tracks to the streets for live performances.
People who purchase The End of the World get a nine song bonus album – Gaskill tackling the classic Black Flag record My War. Wow that record is now 32 years old… but stylistically fits with its punk rooted A-side and Sabbath-heavy, longer B-side material to the band’s openness in crossing genres to make things work.
Kick out these jams…
Live Reviews of Sick Pills and Six Star General in The Noise
6 STAR GENERAL
SICK PILLS
The Parlour, Providence, RI
3/5/16
Winter is winding down but it is still bitter cold as I brave the frozen tundra to ride my sled dogs to Providence to see two great bands for a 75orless records night. Where are all the sunny tundras? The Parlour is a nice place to play a show or see one. I just don’t like the paintings of giant Marshall amps on the rear of the stage. I think it makes the real amps look small and is distracting, it makes it cheesy if you videotape your set or take pictures, but hey, what do I know about sliced bread? 6 Star General have small amps but big sounds. Singer and bassist Mark is ever entertaining as a frontman, with asides, introductions, observations, and conversations between songs. 6 Star General have been winning hearts and minds with their blend of 90’s college rock and punky alternative for over a decade and they have this down to a sweet science. Well placed covers of Daniel Johnston, Grandaddy, and Camper Van Beethoven give you a glimpse of their influences. The night might have been running late, because their set seemed a bit short to me, but that’s rock and roll sometimes.
After a short break Sick Pills storm the stage, like well mannered Vikings. Singer/ guitar player Chris Evil has been playing around New England in Blood Moons and Chris Evil & the Taints for many a year. This band mixes his punk and garage influences with a bit more straight up rock ’n’ or roll. They do a cool version of “Goodbye Horses” from Silence of the Lambs, but rely mainly on their well crafted catchy punk nuggets. This is their first show in a couple of years with their old drummer, but they sound pretty well rehearsed. These two veteran bands of the Providence punk and whatever scene make the frostbite worthwhile. (Eric Baylies)