Tag: Six Star General
Six Star General at The Parlour
with Jets Can’t Land and The Lincoln Tunnel
The Parlour
North Main Street
Providence, RI
9pm
$5
Baylies Band and Six Star General at The Met
The Pizza Underground, Guerilla Toss, Baylies Band, Six Star General
The Met Cafe
Pawtucket, RI
8pm
Six Star General ‘Hair Supply’ review in Motif Magazine
You can read the review here.
An endless supply of true alternative rock
In October of last year, we lost a musical pioneer who many consider to be the father of alternative rock, Lou Reed. Hailing from an era where the vast majority of teenage record buyers were still consuming “boy loves girl” lyrical content, he and his band The Velvet Underground provided a truly alternative approach to songwriting and performing. Though seen at the time as a commercial flop (their debut album selling less than 350,000 units upon release), his deadpan vocals and gritty prose contributed in elevating rock to an art form, and went on to influence four generations of musicians and still counting.
Whether consciously or not, one such band that seems to have garnered influence and possesses many of those same prodigious qualities is Providence’s Six Star General. Their latest CD offering, Hair Supply is a concrete example of this trio’s ability to move effortlessly from post-psychedelic trippiness to hard metal authority, yet all the while remaining just esoteric enough to leave the listener intrigued. The band is made up of Kyle Jackson on guitar, Mark MacDougall on bass and vocals, and drummer Dan Ulmschneider. Though each of these gentlemen have incurred some health issues over the past year, which merely delayed the process of promoting Hair Supply, these generals are back in service and ready for action.
The disc opens with the ethereal “Christopher Walken,” a rhythmically driving, four-chord tour de force, that’s every bit as mysterious as its namesake. In a musical styling reminiscent of The Flaming Lips, and a stolid vocal delivery that evokes the aforementioned Reed, MacDougall presents the listener with beautifully disjointed poetry: “You walk in, Chris Walken claims he’s the king of New York… Milwaukee, Wisconsin will keep all the teachers away….Keep smoking, keep joking, it all evens out in the end.” Throughout, an angelic chorus subtly blankets the entire mix, culminating to a steep end, as the band-proper fades out.
The band changes course in the next track, the riotous “I Don’t Know Where We’re Going (But I know That It’s Not Good).” Kyle Jackson dials in his best Tony Iommi guitar-tone for this cautionary tale of inebriate excess. “Thrill your brain with alcohol, let me buy this round for you – You took too many shot glasses, so what are we gonna do… I don’t know where we’re going, but I know that it’s not good.”
One surprise on Hair Supply was Six Star General’s raucous rendition of Daniel Johnston’s “Life In Vain.” Done originally as an acoustic number, MacDougall and the boys transform a whiny, teenage angst-ridden song (featured last season in an episode of HBO’s original series “Girls”) into a catchy, palatable rocker, far better suited for national broadcast than its impotent original.
There is little wonder why Six Star General’s eight-song Hair Supply has been nominated for Alternative Album of the year. In fact, the only thing that has me scratching my head is one line in the band’s biography section of their website: “[Six Star General] make very little money from their music.” How can that possibly be true, considering the band regularly plays to packed houses in rooms throughout New England? It’s a disgrace and a scourge on the entire local music scene that talent this extraordinary goes relatively uncompensated for their efforts. I’ll have more to say on the overall topic in an upcoming article. But suffice it to say that Six Star General has earned their stripes over their past decade of creating absorbing alternative rock.
Blood Moons and Six Star General at Pour Farm
Blood Moons, Six Star General, and Nick Sundman
Pour Farm
780 Purchase St
New Bedford, Mass 02740
9pm
Six Star General at Manchester 65
with Two Cow Garage, The McGunks, Cad, Senior Discount
Manchester 65
West Warwick, RI
8pm
$10
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.
Six Star General – Hair Supply
75OL-180 Six Star General – Hair Supply CD
[sold out]
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1. Christopher Walken
2. I Don’t Know Where We’re Going (But I Know That It’s Not Good)
3. Trans Am Hands
4. Shaking Fists
5. I’m Expanding Slowly
6. Way Out of Control
7. Life in Vain
8. Breathe at Different Speeds
Hair Supply was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Plan of a Boy by Kraig Jordan in Providence, RI Dec 2012 – June 2013.
Dan Ulmschneider – drums, percussion
Kyle Jackson – guitars
Mark MacDougall – vocals, bass
also appearing
Stan Sobczak – moog synthesizer
Kraig Jordan – acoustic guitar
Tom Chace – piano
backing vocals by Jodie Treloar, Suicide Bill, Mark Cutler, Dan Ulmschneider
Artwork by William Schaff
All songs copyright Six Star General, except Life in Vain by Daniel Johnston.
Six Star General, Sweet Love, Deadlands at The Parlour
The Parlour
North Main Street
Providence, RI
Six Star General, Lloyd’s Llamas, Hurricane Me at Billy Goodes
Billy Goodes
Newport, RI
Six Star General at The Met
with Sarah and the Tall Boys and The Tower and the Fool
The Met
Pawtucket, RI