HUMANWINE:

Ketman:

What Time is it, Mr. Fox?

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

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

Red Foxx

Ghostdad

Mistaker

The Bladerunners

Brek.One

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

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.

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.

Liv: Your songs are emotionally driven and seem to include very personal messages. Do you ever get nervous when you perform them?

Barcelona: We are all proud of performing emotionally charged songs. As far as nerves go, we have become pretty good at transforming them into excitement and energy.

Liv: What’s your favorite song on Absolutes? Favorite song to perform live?

Barcelona: Each song has it’s own unique life, so it’s hard to pick favorites. Buuuuut… Chris likes “The Takers” because of the energy and the crowd sing-a-long on the bridge, Rhett likes to play “First Floor People” because of the dynamic movement and build throughout the song, and I love to play “Time To Mend” because it’s the most personal song I’ve written and it’s very raw in its presentation.

Liv: You’re currently involved in a month-long tour of the U.S. What is your favorite thing about being on tour?

Barcelona: It’s very fun to return to cities we love. Currently we are in Chicago on our way to New Haven, CT. It is amazing to feel like the people we meet on tour, who were once strangers, are now some of our close friends. Beyond friends, Barcelona loves to eat good food and drink good drinks. We get silly sometimes.

Liv: Have you got a favorite city to play for, or most exciting performance thus far?

Barcelona: Well, let’s start off with our least favorite show experience, shall we? Earlier this year we drove overnight to play at Crawfish Festival at a community college in Shreveport. Our set was basically the sound check for the other bands because class wasn’t out yet. We didn’t even get no crawfish! But, when crawfish are out of season, we really enjoy playing shows in Denver, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and of course, beautiful Seattle.

Liv: Ever played for Boston before? What was your experience like?

Barcelona: We’ve played Boston twice. Once at Great Scott and once at the Paradise. Both times were FRIGID, but the crowds are always piping hot, like a fresh pot of baked beans. We love Boston.

Liv: What new music have you been listening to lately? What’s on your iPod?

Barcelona: Rhett: J. Tillman – Year in the Kingdom, Chris: Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3, and Brian: Allen Stone – Last to Speak

Liv: Where do you see yourself as a band ten years from now?

Barcelona: We all want wives and kids and dogs, although Rhett wants no children, just a large cat. In all seriousness, we are in this for the long haul. As long as people are willing to listen, we will keep creating music. It’s the best job ever. And Rhett hates cats …. and children.

*Thank you to Nicole Garvey of Universal Motown Records for setting up the interview. Pictures courtesy of the band’s myspace.

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

the new collisions:

left to right: adam of the lights out, liv of rocknrollboston.com, and scott of the new collisions

the luxury:

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!”

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:

Trail of Dead with Midnight Masses:

*photos and article by liv hauck

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!