Songs for Wednesday // Jeannot, RayLand Baxter and more

Words // Adam Sharp

'Tire Swing'- Jeannot
This song manages to be breathtakingly gorgeous and heartbreaking all at once. So, basically, perfect.
Website: http://www.facebook.com/Jeannotmusic

'Driveway Melody'- RayLand Baxter
Two and a half minutes of fun, summertime rock & roll.
Website: http://www.raylandbaxter.com/

'Hey Love'- Miner
You'll need 55 seconds to love this song. Maybe less. Either way, you'll love it.
Website: http://www.thisisminer.com/#!index/mainPage

Hey Love - Miner

'Los Angeles'- Northern Youth
I’ll never tire of people talking/singing/writing about that feeling
of home (and the search for it) in passionate ways.
website: http://www.facebook.com/youthmusicband

Los Angeles - Northern Youth

'Weekends'- Tiger Waves
This song sounds like summer.
Website: http://www.tigerwaves.com/

'Old Friend'- Sea Wolf
You won't do much better than listening to this song while taking in a sunset.
Website: http://www.seawolfmusic.com/

Songs for Wednesday // J, Dana Buoy and more

Words // Adam Sharp

'Get Goin', Boy!'- J
Seriously, this does about everything right. Everything.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ColdColdNights

Get Goin', Boy! - J

'Call To Be'- Dana Buoy
Fair warning: this song might give you heat stroke.
Website: http://danabuoy.tumblr.com/

Call To Be - Dana Buoy

'Quill'- Bison
You're not going to hear a lot better start to a song than the swirling strings and swelling 'ooohs' and 'ahhs' that open this little number. The rest of the song is just as good.
Website: http://www.bisonfolk.com/

'Summer Flings/Baby Blue' (La Blogotheque) - We
Were Evergreen
This should put a smile on your face. I'd be concerned for your health if it didn't.
Website: http://www.wewereevergreen.com/

'So Much Pain (feat Luther Dickinson)'- Star & Micey
The world can never have too many songs like this.
Website: http://starandmicey.com/

Les Rhinocéros at Lilypad, Cambridge MA 6.13.12

Words // Sarah V

I'm always pleased when a band I like decides to play Lilypad; partly because it's an eclectic and intimate space with a decent sound system that makes for a good concert setting, and partly because no matter how lazy I am feeling or how hard it is raining, I can always convince myself to take that five-minute stroll down the street and go there for a show. This week, Washington, D.C.-based Les Rhinocéros graced us with a visit and played a late Wednesday night set.

I've been a fan of theirs since picking up their self-titled debut album last year, so I was happy to get a chance to see them here in the neighborhood. I wasn't really sure what to expect from a live set; their album seems very studio-oriented, so I wasn't sure if they would try to recreate that feel live or go in a different direction. The answer was a little bit of both: they had a surprisingly wide array of electronics and pedals to recreate a lot of the ambient sounds, noise, and samples that they used in the studio, but they still managed to really blow the roof off with a loud and high-energy set. They played rock- and jazz-inspired instrumentals with fairly heavy drums and some catchy bass lines, along with interludes of quieter, more ambient music. Filling out the quartet were a saxophone and a violin (which sometimes sounded like it was meant to be an unusual substitute for an electric guitar).

Only about half the set was drawn from their album, the other half was (presumably) newer music as yet unreleased. It was interesting to hear hints of what their second album might sound like - I'm looking forward to hearing their music evolve.

Les Rhinocéros is continuing their tour for another dozen or so dates; if you are interested in hearing some creative new music like nothing you've never heard before, check them out!  If you can't make it to one of their live sets, check out the recording of their Cambridge concert below.

Les Rhinocéros
June 13, 2012
Lilypad - Cambridge, MA

Up
Bea Spiders
Velcro
Johnway
Mark it 8
Unknown title

Upcoming dates:

JUNE 19th - Detroit, MI @ HYBRID MOMENTS LOFT
JUNE 20th - Chicago, IL @ TOWNSHIP
JUNE 21st - Bloomington, IN @ RACHAEL'S CAFE
JUNE 22nd - Nashville, TN @ NOA NOA HOUSE
JUNE 23rd - Asheville, NC @ BOBO GALLERY
JUNE 25th - Chapel Hill, NC @ NIGHTLIGHT
JUNE 26th - Charlottesville, VA @ TEA BAZAAR
JUNE 27th - Baltimore, MD @ SECRET SHOW
JULY 1st - Brooklyn, NY @ LITTLEFIELD
JULY 10th - Washington, DC @ BLACK CAT

TONIGHT!! Spirit Family Reunion + Hurray For The Riff Raff / Gloucester MA, June 8

 

Spirit Family Reunion
Hurray For The Riff Raff
The Broken Wing Routine

Friday June 8 - DogBar, Gloucester MA
65 Main Street  Gloucester, MA 01930

9pm // FREE!!

Presented by...
Narragansett - Visible Voice - GloucesterGoods.com

Escape from the city and head north to the seaside town of Gloucester MA for what's going to be an incredible night of music.  Spirit Family Reunion is set to tear up Newport Folk this year with their brand of backyard folk-bluegrass - don't miss an opportunity to see them in an intimate venue.  Seriously.  And as if that wasn't enough, they'll bring along two amazing bands from down south in New Orleans -- Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Broken Wing Routine.

There's no cover, no advance tickets - just show up, and enjoy an incredible night of music.  It doesn't get any better than heading to the shore in the summer to see some amazing music!

Check out the Facebook Event page for more details (RSVP does not guarantee entry)

I Am Following The Sound - Spirit Family Reunion
Look Out Mama - Hurray For The Riff Raff

Songs for Wednesday // The Cellar Door, Kelli Scarr and more

Words // Adam Sharp

'Ground'- The Cellar Door
Plucked strings, tight harmonies and cascading/layered vocals to close- yeah, I'd say these are some talented teenagers.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/findthecellardoor

Ground - The Cellar Door

'Dangling Teeth'- Kelli Scarr
As this song proves, not every summer jam has to be loud and anthemic.
Website: http://www.kelliscarrmusic.com/

Dangling Teeth - Kelli Scarr

'That Darkness'- Hot Bodies in Motion
Appropriate activities while listening to this song: sweating profusely, drinking and dancing in a wholly inappropriate way.
Website: http://hotbodiesinmotion.com/

'Ivory Coast'- Pure Bathing Culture
So. Much. Dreaminess.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/purebathingculture?ref=ts

Ivory Coast - Pure Bathing Culture

'Since I Left You'- The Avalanches
Even after a decade this song still sounds like pure summer.
Website: http://www.theavalanches.com/

TONIGHT: Langhorne Slim / Ha Ha Tonka / Kingsley Flood at The Middle East

If you're looking for something to do tonight, there's no better choice than heading to the Middle East for what has to be one of the strongest bills of the year so far.  Langhorne Slim, Ha Ha Tonka and local favorites Kingsley Flood are going to bring a heavy dose of gritty, sweaty Americana to Central Square and I suggest you be there. 

The Way We Move - Langhorne Slim

Usual Suspects - Ha Ha Tonka

I Don't Wanna Go Home - Kingsley Flood

Preview // FreshGrass Festival @ Mass MoCA 9/21-23

Words // Scott Pingeton

Mass MoCA is becoming a destination known as much for their excellent music programming as world class modern art.  Wilco's annual Solid Sound Festival has played a big part in putting the Western Mass museum on the map, but there are plenty of other events throughout the year that are well worth the drive.  One of those events that I personally will be happily making the 3 hour trek from Boston for is the FresGrass Festival in late September.  You really don't need a reason to visit the Berkshires in late-September - it's just gorgeous out that way as summer starts to fade into fall - but if you really need your arm twisted, a top-notch bluegrass festival should do the trick.  The lineup includes David Grisman, Trampled By Turtles, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Devil Makes Three, Infamous Stringdusters, Spirit Family Reunion and lots more.  Spread out over 3 days, it's the perfect excuse for a long weekend away from the city.

Tickets are on sale now for the incredibly reasonable price of just $46 for the whole weekend.  Make your plans now, I am.  Here is some brand new music from three of my favorite artists that will be at FreshGrass:

Alone - Trampled By Turtles

Boodle-De-Bum-Bum - Carolina Chocolate Drops

I Want To Be Relieved - Spirit Family Reunion

Review: Kalispell - Westbound

Words // Scott Pingeton

I think you're gonna dig this one, so listen up.  Kalispell is the work of Shane Leonard, and it brims with the earnestness you may have come to expect from fellow Eau Claire Wisconsin locals Justin Vernon, S. Carey and Chris Porterfield.  Westbound is a gorgeous and deeply personal record, perhaps influenced at least in part by the circumstances around Leonard's move from Massachusetts to Wisconsin. I think Kalispell's bandcamp page paints a better picture than I could:

It's like when good friends gather, perhaps around a fire in someone's backyard as the night settles or on the front stoop of your house, cigarette in hand—the setting doesn't matter. It's about the moment after the laughter quiets and the tone shifts, when you venture to say what's been heavy on the mind, so near the tongue, so hard to admit: 

How you've grown impatient with the "state of summer's same."
How you feel alone with the person who should know you best.
How "there was no devotion / in our frozen poses."
How you said yes when you meant no.

Intimate confessions set to folk music is nothing unique, but I think Kalispell does it particularly well - combining confident lyrics with intricate, textured compositions.  From the clawhammer banjo on "Methodist Lift" to "Marion, MT", a folk-dirge that recalls The Low Anthem, to "Lucky A Hundred Times", a gently rolling highlight, the album covers enough sonic ground to hold the listeners interest throughout.  It's a great listen - highly recommended.

Kalispell - Lucky A Hundred Times

Kalispell was at the Middle East in Cambridge last week -- my timing sucks.  Shout if you were there!

Songs for Wednesday // Lemolo, Shakey Graves and more

Words // Adam Sharp

'On Again, Off Again'- Lemolo
Dreamy, echoing goodness. I absolutely cannot wait for this album.
Website: http://lemolomusic.com/

Lemolo - On Again, Off Again

'Thumper'- The Wedding Band
You like Mumford & Sons? Then you’re going to love The Wedding Band
(because it’s just all the same guys playing under a different name,
basically).
Website: http://www.mumfordandsons.com/

'1904'- The Tallest Man on Earth
Kristian Matsson is back with a gorgeous, brisk song that expands on
his sound ever so slightly.
Website: http://www.thetallestmanonearth.com/

1904 - The Tallest Man on Earth

'Word of Mouth'- Shakey Graves
Music for cowboys from the heart of Texas.
Website: http://shakeygraves.tumblr.com/

'Float'- KO KO
This song will give your ears a sunburn.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/longlivekoko#!/longlivekoko

Float - KO KO