Author: johnny

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The Flying Blue Squirrels – Ancient Alien Squirrels In Space (2012)


The Flying Blue Squirrels
Ancient Alien Squirrels In Space
2012

Talk about timely releases. I had to write about this one straight away.

The Flying Blue Squirrels (Eric Baird, Mary Bichner, Randy Creasi, Jessica Sun Lee and Cathy Capozzi) formed at last year’s One Night Band.* They blew me away. I couldn’t believe they came into existence a mere few hours before performing their set at the Middle East that night. Listen to “Crossed On The Wire” and tell me it isn’t crazy good. The Flying Blue Squirrels have created an aggressive indie rocker that bristles with energy. Now remember that they wrote that song and two others in one day. And learned a cover. Oh, and as of 10 o’clock that morning they had never played together before and didn’t even know they were a band.

The rest of this Ancient Alien Squirrels In Space is a fun romp of creative guitar work, grooving bass lines, twinkling keys and non-novelty flute.** Pick it up as a reminder of the inspired, spontaneous collaborations that can come out One Night Band. Then come on out to the Middle East Downstairs on Saturday night and witness it all first hand. Here’s another reason to snag this one right away: One of The Flying Blue Squirrels lost her home in the Columbia House Fire, so if you download this EP before September 10th the band is donating the proceeds to the ‘House on Fire Fund.’ Get on that.

Where to get it:

* I took their promo photo that morning! So much fun. More on this year’s One Night Band coming soon!

** Seriously, it’s hard to use flute in rock music and not have it sound like a gimmick, but The Flying Blue Squirrels pull it off.

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Cask Mouse – “Vultures Live @ Tupelo Music Hall in White River Junction, VT” (2012)


Cask Mouse
“Vultures Live @ Tupelo Music Hall in White River Junction, VT”
2012

As much as I love Cambridge Sessions, Cask Mouse will always be a live band to me. Every time I see them I walk away impressed. They have the enthusiasm of a young band and the ability to play off of each other like seasoned veterans. Now they’ve got a live track to prove it. “Vultures” was recorded during one of their performances in Vermont. The track is a barn burner. The performance is exhilarating. It makes me wish I was there. That’s the true test of a live recording.

Where to get it:

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Black Thai @ Radio 8.24.2012

I’m feeling a little disoriented. Black Thai are up on the Radio stage blasting through a new number. It’s a dizzying barrage of devastating riffs and manic drumming. It’s all fingers and limbs flailing about in a fret and foot-pedal frenzy. Black Thai have just raised the bar.

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The Acro-brats @ Radio 8.24.2012

The Acro-brats are going to rock until there’s no one left standing in the crowd. What’s that? There’s another band coming up after them? OK, The Acro-brats are going to rock until there’s no one left standing in the band. Good times.

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Lonesome Red @ Moe’s Lounge 8.24.2012

In contrast to the adrenalin rush of a show Radio has going on upstairs, Moe’s Lounge is featuring some engaging, stripped-down performances. Earlier in the night I caught Ryan Lee Crosby bleeding blue. Now, Lonesome Red are delivering some stark Americana. Sometimes all you need are a guitar, a couple of drums and some voices to carry a tune.

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Cocked N’ Loaded @ Radio 8.24.2012

I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’ve never seen a more accurate description of a Cocked N’ Loaded show than what Richard Bouchard wrote on Boston Band Crush when previewing this show:

Cocked N’ Loaded play some of the best drunken, we-can’t-believe-this-hasn’t-gone-flying-off-the-rails-yet rock anywhere; frontman Kyle Neeson is as depraved on stage as any Florida bath salts addict, and at least twice as cunning, so watch out.

The band lived up to every word.

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Ryan Lee Crosby @ Moe’s Lounge 8.24.2012

After a youthful burst of punk rock from Problem Child, I head on down to Moe’s Lounge to see what’s going on. Ryan Lee Crosby’s tortured Telecaster is reverberating off of the wood paneling. They say guitar playing is all in the fingers. Ryan’s fingers sound like they’ve experienced one hundred years of sorrow. They leave quite an impression.

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Problem Child @ Radio 8.24.2012

Teenagers have been starting punk bands for over 35 years now. While I wish more kids were doing it, I wouldn’t exactly call it uncommon. You know, pick up a guitar. Learn a couple of chords. Convince your buddies to start up on bass and drums. Play a bunch of basements and parties for your friends, maybe a couple of all ages shows. Drive 207 miles to another state to open a crazy-over-the-top-rock-n-roll show at Radio.

Wait, what was that last part?

The last part is exactly* what Problem Child did. This trio of teens made the trek from Williston, VT to play at Radio the other night with Cocked N’ Loaded, The Acro-Brats and Black Thai. This makes me happy.

* Maybe not exactly. I estimated using Google Maps.

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The Rationales @ Radio 8.19.2012

Talk about a night of great songs. First we had Airport. Now, The Rationales.* On a Sunday. I’m alive and well at Radio, but I feel like I’ve died and gone to well-crafted-pop-n-roll heaven. We’re spoiled, folks.

* The Wooden Sky from Toronto topped the bill for a perfect songsmith trifecta.