Rock n Roll Boston!


hiatus
December 16, 2009, 7:42 pm
Filed under: Events

We’ll be back!



wednesday night: the points north

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A Visual Review: HUMANWINE

Boston band HUMANWINE (with Ketman and What Time is it, Mr. Fox) tore up TT the Bear’s on 10/8; if you missed that show, don’t worry. HUMANWINE takes over Great Scott during the first three Monday nights in November for the club’s Autumn Mondays Residency. Photos by Bridget Toner.

HUMANWINE:

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St. Helena at CMJ
October 21, 2009, 4:46 pm
Filed under: Interviews | Tags: , , , , ,

Wondering how our hometown bands are doing at CMJ? Here’s a glimpse into St. Helena‘s set. The group played The Alphabet Lounge last night with fellow Bostonians The Lights Out.

*Thanks to Adam of The Lights Out for passing this along.



Passion Pit likes “party in the usa”

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Ayad (pictured above) plays synth and samples for Boston electronica band Passion Pit. He kindly answered our goofy questions for an alternate take on the standard musician/band interview.

Liv: If you weren’t in a band, what would you be doing?

Ayad: Something with music. Commercials, scoring, programming, producing, remixing…I dunno, music is all I know nowadays…

Liv: Which cartoon character would you be, and why?

Ayad: Either the Cheshire Cat (from Alice in Wonderland) or Kung Fu Panda. Cheshire Cat because I like to lounge around a lot in weird places and positions, and I’m strange too. Kung Fu Panda because I was once jumping around my house with no shirt on doing ninja kicks and my roommate said I looked like him…



Boston folk tunes: The Points North

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Wearing my coziest sweater, I sit in front of a blazing bonfire in the middle of the woods with my most cherished friends. We sip hot apple cider spiked with Goldschlager while listening to harmonious folk tunes percolate through the smoky air. The music fades out and I open my eyes to survey the idyllic scene.

Wait. I’m not nestled in a perfect autumn evening fantasy. I’m sitting in the library with my headphones on listening to songs from I Saw Across the Sound, the new album by The Points North – the band that brought me to my reverie. Chris, Regina, and Dylan of the folk trio combine lilting flute lines, hushed drums, barebones guitar and mandolin, an assortment of other folksy instruments, and delicate harmonies to warm even the coldest New England soul. The musicians create a nostalgic sound without swaying into sentimentalville; quiet honesty prevails in I Saw Across the Sound.

“Nut Island” features the band’s signature amalgamation of Regina’s haunting voice resting perfectly into place with intimate vocals delivered by Chris. The simply yet beautifully played acoustic guitar and percussion undulates under the singers while a wistful flute line glides in and out of the music.

The album is touted as the ideal autumn soundtrack; however, I look forward to enjoying I Saw Across the Sound well into warm months. Songs from this album have a guaranteed spot on my summer road trip mix cd.

Download recommendations: “Stone Walls”, “Nut Island”, and “Our Humble Cross”

*Photos courtesy of the band’s myspace



RockNRollBoston presents a contest of epic proportions…

Legendary Boston band Big D and the Kids Table is playing two shows at the Paradise Rock Club on Oct. 29 and 30th. YOU and a guest could be going to one of them for free! Leave a comment anywhere on the site, using your real name and email address (those are kept confidential, so don’t worry) and we’ll pick someone at random a few days before the show. Good luck!

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it’s free AND all ages

These bands are NYC-based, but check out all the Boston DJs spinning:

Red Foxx

Ghostdad

Mistaker

The Bladerunners

Brek.One

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Hey, guess what…

In case you didn’t already know, Boston band The Everyday Visuals is headlining a show at the Paradise this coming Saturday with Mean Creek, Magic Magic, and the Great Bandini. The men of TEV produce sparkling harmonies and graceful melodies over buoyant, folky indie rock, and are a pleasure to see in concert. Buy tickets here.

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*The Everyday Visuals, courtesy of the band’s myspace.



Barcelona Comes to Boston

Beautifully crafted piano lines complimenting the heartfelt, poignant vocals are just two of the reasons you should listen to Seattle-based indie band Barcelona. Their sound translates into a thrilling, well-crafted rock balladfest exhibiting exquisite musicianship, as I had the pleasure of experiencing this past Sunday when the band played at The Paradise in Boston. The group kept things light admidst the emotionally charged songs by cracking jokes with the audience and bringing upbeat stage presences. Brian Fennell (vox, keys), Chris Bristol (guitar, vox), and Rhett Stonelake (drums) of Barcelona kindly answered my questions a few days before the show.l_8a3f85015ed3f8e65574d8026aa9671c

Liv: The three of you studied at Seattle Pacific; were your academic endeavors music related? How did you all start making music, individually, and as a group?

Barcelona: Chris and I (Brian) both studied music at Seattle Pacific University. The three of us met playing in a musical group on campus.

Liv: You began by starting your own label, NBD music. Why did you decide to create it? Difficulties? Process? Does the label still exist?

Barcelona: Based on our early experiences in the music industry back when we started the band in 2006, we chose to release our music independently via our own label. It seemed like the most practical and controlled way of releasing our first record. We learned a great deal during the process and are proud of how it has progressed.1114197865_l

Liv: What is your song writing and lyrical process and inspiration?

Barcelona: I (Brian) write the lyrics, melodies, and basic song structure. Then when we rehearse as a band, I bring the song to the guys and we add parts and work it out until we have a finished product. Most of my inspiration comes from relationships I’ve been involved with, whether it’s me and someone else, or relationships outside of myself. (more…)



CMJ 2009

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don’t forget, folks, last chance to register is october 18th! click here for info…

check out the most recent list of bands…is this not a huge mindfuck??


The Lights Out – A Million Years – Acrylics – Adam and Dave’s Bloodline – Adam Matta – Adam Tensta – Adventure – Alex Gopher – Alexandra Hope – All Day Holiday – Aloha – Amber Rubarth – Amy Kuney – An Albatross – Anamanaguchi – The Antlers – April Smith and the Great Picture Show – Atlas Sound – Bear Hands – Beat Radio – BELL – Benjamin Wagner – Benji Cossa – Bermuda – Big Takeover – Birds of Avalon – Black Hollies – Black Taxi – Blacklist – Blood Warrior – Bloodsugars – Body Language – Bonerama – Break Science feat. Adam Deitch – Brit and the Calvary – Broadcast – Brother Josephus & the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra – The Budos Band – Cale Parks – Calypso – Casino vs Japan – Choir of Young Believers – Chris Barron & Friends – Chris Kasper – Christopher Denny – Clare and the Reasons – Claymation Velociraptor – Clinton Curtis – Cobra Skulls – Corridor – Crystal Antlers – Cymbals Eat Guitars – Dada Life – Danger – Dan Torres – Dang-It Bobby’s – Daniel Pujol – Dark Meat – Dark Room Notes – Darshan – Darwin Deez – Das Racist – Deer Tick – Denney and the Jets – Dent May – The Depreciation Guild – DeScribe – Diane Birch – Dick Prall – The Dig – Dinowalrus – Disciplines – Diwon – Dizzy Gillespie™ Alumni All-Stars – DJ Jonathan Toubin – DJ Odd Nosdam – Dolorean – Drawlings – Dred Scott Trio – Drink Up Buttercup – Drug Rug – Dum Dum Girls – ear pwr – ECHOecho – Electro Morocco – EOTO – Eprhyme – Ethan Lipton – Every Avenue – Excepter – Eyehategod – Felix Cartel – Fervor – Fieros – Fionn O Lochlainn – First Aid Kit – Flexions – Floating Action – Flying Machines – Fool’s Gold – Foreign Echange – Frat Dad – Free Energy – French Horn Rebellion LIVE – French Miami – FUCT – The Fumes – Furcast – Generationals – Gentleman Reg – Gigi Fouquet – Goat Whore – Golden Boots – Golden Triangle – Grammar Debate – Great Republic of Rough and Ready – Greg Davis – Guyora Kats – Hank and Cupcakes – Harlem – Headlights – Heath Brandon – Heavy Cream – Heavy Weather – Hecuba – Helado Negro – Hesta Prynn – Hey Champ DJ – Higgins – The High Strung – Higher Giant – The Hi-Risers – Hockey – Holiday Shores – Hollerado – Hollis Brown – Holy Sons – Home and Garden – Hospital Bombers – Hot Panda – HotChaCha – Ian Axel – Ian Thomas – Immaculate Machine – Inlets – Ivan “Funkboy” Bodley – Ivana XL – J. Dash – Jaguar Club – James Husband – James Maddock – Janel and Anthony – Japandroids – Javelin – JBM – J.D. Souther – Jeff Taylor – JEFF The Brotherhood – Jess King – Joey Cape (Lagwagon) and Jon Snodgrass (Drag The River) – Jonny Hirsch – Josh Mease – Julius C – Jupiter One – Kaiser Cartel – K-Holes – Kosha Dillz – Kria Brekkan – LA Riots – La Strada – Las Rubias Del Norte – Laura Marling – Laura Warshauer – Lemon Bell – Leslie Mendelson – Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez – Lia Ices – Like Bells – Lisa Bianco – Local Natives – Lost In The Trees – Lovvers – Lynch (ft. Jim Loughlin of moe.) – Marcus Johnson – Margaret Cho – Marianna Falusi – Math the Band – Mere – Michael Daves – Michal Towber – Mickey Factz – Midnight Juggernauts – The Mieka Canon – Mighty Five DJ – Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – The Minutes – Miz Metro – Modern Science – Modern Skirts – The Moi Non Plus – Mon Khmer – Montag – The Moore Brothers – Mr. Move – Múm – Mumford & Sons – Mutlu – Mystery of Two – The Naked Hearts – Nate Campany – Nathan Corsi Band – Natural Child – The Neanderthals – New Villager – Ninjasonik – NLX – Obits – The Octagon – Owen – The Pack A.D. – Paleo – Papa – The Paparazzi – Patrick Watson – Pela – Pepi Ginsberg – Pete & J – Pig Destroyer – Pill Wonder – Pissed Jeans – Pitbull – Pocketknife – The Polyamorous Affair – Portugal. The Man – Princeton – Puba – Ravens & Chimes – Red Wire Black Wire – Richard Julian – Right On Dynamite – Rings – Rob Roy – Rumspringa – Saul Williams – Savoir Adore – School of Seven Bells – Screaming Females – Sean Bones – Selmanaires – Shaky Hands – Shayna Zaid and The Catch – Shout Out Out Out Out – Signer – Silver Starling – Sin Fang Bous – Sissy Wish – Sister Hazel – Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds – Slow Club – So Many Wizards – So So Glos – Social Hero – Sonya Kitchell – Souljah – Space Capone – Speech Debelle – The Spinto Band – Squaaks – The Stalkers – The Star Department – Stationary Set – Still Flyin’ – Still Life Still – Strong Intention – Subplots – Suckers – Sugar & Gold – Super Extra Bonus Party – Superdrag – Superhuman Happiness – The Surrender – Sxip Shirey – Takka Takka – Tall Tall Trees – Taylor Barton with GE Smith – Teenage Bottlerocket – Telepathe – The Temper Trap – Terry Poison – Tickley Feather – Timber Timbre – The Title Tracks – The Toby Lightman – Tommie Sunshine – Toro y Moi – The Trashmen – Trouble Andrew –True Womanhood – Twi The Humble Feather – Two Man Gentlemen Band – The Uglysuit – U-God – Underwater People – Unnatural Helpers – The Unsacred Hearts – UUVVWWZ – Val Emmich – Vega – Vertical Horizon – Very Best – Via Tania – VIKING – Wallpaper – Warpaint – We Are Country Mice – We Are Enfant Terrible – We Are The World – We Should Be Dead – The Wheel – White Tie Affair – Wild Light – Wild Yaks – Wiyos – The xx – Y-Love – Yes Giantess – Zac Brown Band – Zaza – Zeus – Zs – Z-Trip – Zuri Star – ZzZ



a visual review: new collisions and the luxury at the middle east downstairs!

i cannot thank our dear photographer michael connors for these amazing pictures of the new collisions and the luxury. the show rocked; thank you to all who came out and supported these fantastic boston bands!

the new collisions:

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video release party! aloud!

“what’s this??” you say….”another video release party?” yup, so count on partying with boston rockers aloud on october 4th at river gods in cambridge for their release of “you got me wrong”. in addition, there will be the premiere of select sections of aloud’s rock tour of boston; rockumentary style webisodes featuring jen and henry of aloud, the motion sick, fatal flaw, ryan of ryan’s smashing life, and the new collisions (just to name a few)

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video release party! the cinnamon fuzz!

the cinnamon fuzz is throwing a party at the magic room in brighton in honor of the release of their video for “reboot my heart”! come on out, here the band play, and be one of the first to see the spectacular visual and audio experience that is the “reboot my heart” video. those who pay the suggested donation of $5 will receive a cd of the video and song!

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disco fever: a midsummer night’s dream

ever pondered what a disco take on the shakespearean classic “a midsummer night’s dream” would sound and look like? well, now you don’t have to wonder. check out the american repertory theater’s “the donkey show”. audience members are encouraged to sing along, party, and dance during the performance…what could be more fun?? keep in mind: this is an 18+ event. 

from the A.R.T.’s site: 

“The Donkey Show tells the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream through the great 70s anthems, including “We are Family,” “I Love the Nightlife,” “Car Wash,” “Ring My Bell,” and “Last Dance.” The enchanted forest of Shakespeare’s classic comedy becomes the glittered world of retro disco as the lovers escape from their real lives to experience a night of dream, abandon, and fantasy.

A.R.T.’s OBERON houses this magical romp. Join the party under the disco ball. After the show, the party continues into the night so you can live out your own fantasy of disco fever!”

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s-s-s-saturday night

for some seriously funky beats just begging to be danced to, head to gentlemen hall’s cd release party this weekend. check out their myspace here. “stun gun” hasn’t left my head since i first heard it a few weeks ago.

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see this band live: midnight masses
September 23, 2009, 9:44 pm
Filed under: Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Midnight Masses opened this past Monday night for Secret Machines and Trail of Dead at The Paradise. For most of the band’s set, there lacked a solid audience; I regret that not more concert goers arrived early to see this talented group.

The septet, led by lead singer and song writer Autry, beautifully combined delicate harmonies, rambling guitars, soul singin’, and poignant lyrics.

Autry’s honest and fervent delivery of the songs imparted upon the audience members his (very) personal thoughts on love, death, rebirth, spiritual existence, desperation, and sorrow. His soulful vocals soared dramatically over the instrumentation, leaving the audience in awe of his emotional outpouring. Sun soaked harmonies offered by the other band members provided an elegantly halcyon balance to the aggressive and gritty instrumental music and Autry’s impassioned – at times frantically so – singing.

Secret Machines and Trail of Dead followed Midnight Masses, but coherent thought disintegrated into that peculiarly glorious adrenaline high induced by fantastic live music; all I can say is all three bands performed spectacularly.

Midnight Masses:

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the lights out cd release party. be there.
September 23, 2009, 4:43 pm
Filed under: Events | Tags: , , , , , , ,

the lights out put on an amazing live show; you’d be crazy not to attend their cd release party this friday night at tt the bear’s in cambridge. getcher tickets to awesomeness here.

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the bynars! cd release party!

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just a reminder…
September 22, 2009, 12:19 am
Filed under: Events | Tags: , , , , , ,

Rocknroll Boston (yes, dear little us), is helping to sponsor the wild and crazy Back to School Special with the New Collisions and the Luxury this coming Thursday night at the Middle East!! Don’t forget…those with college IDs receive a discount. Our co-sponsors include the fabulous WTBU and playgroundboston so please check them out and give them love.

That’s all for now, folks. Please email me at livhauck@yahoo.com if you’ve got questions about the show. These are fantastic bands that deserve every ounce of your love and attention. I hope to see you all there!