Author: johnny

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Darling Pet Munkee – Glows In The Dark! (2012)


Darling Pet Munkee
Glows In The Dark!
2012

Darling Pet Munkee is what happens when the kids who grew up on comic books, The Cramps and The Misfits decide to make a record just for the hell of it. The kids in this case are Michael J. Epstein, Sophia Cacciola and Catherine Capozzi. Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling meets Axemunkee in name and sound.

The subject matter for Glows In The Dark! (and the band’s name) comes from the ads in the back of old comic books. Songs like “X-Ray Specs”, “Kung-Fu Sandals” and “MONSTER S-I-Z-E MONSTERS” are given a garage/surf treatment. Even the ubiquitous “Sea-Monkeys” are fodder for this trio. The band’s website reveals the inspiration for each track, which is quite the fun read. Thankfully, the songs focus on what the products could have been rather than the inevitable disappointment delivered by the postman. Although, if a “Darling Pet Monkey” showed up at your door, disappointment would be the least of your worries.

Where to get it:

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One Happy Island @ Radio 1.13.2012

The whole world may not be a happy place, but at least there’s One Happy Island.

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Elena Siegman @ Moe’s Lounge 1.13.2012

Elena Siegman opened night #2 of The Shakes & Pony Show residency at Moe’s Lounge. She sure can sing about death…

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Ryan Schmidt – White Horse EP (2012)


Ryan Schmidt
White Horse EP
2012

Knowing nothing about Ryan Schmidt except that he was in Golden Owl*, I click on over to the Bandcamp page for the White Horse EP and am immediately floored. The finger-picked guitar. The voice with the somber tone and a touch of optimism. The strings. Oh, the strings! I don’t know what I was expecting, but this Nick Drake dream was certainly not it. What a nice surprise.

I’m hooked, and I scroll down to look for credits to see who was responsible for this blind-side assault. OK. Recorded by Rafi Sofer, mastered by Mike Quinn. These guys know their stuff. Wait, strings recorded by Aaron Tap at QuailTop Studios? That could only mean one thing. Yup, string arrangement by Paula Kelley.** Well, there you go. This is how you do it. Write a great song that you can play and sing the hell out of and then surround yourself with some of the best music making people around. “White Horse” is a masterpiece.

The rest of the EP is pretty darn good, too. I love Ryan’s finger picking, which returns on “Go Where You Belong”. The harmony vocals by Tim Gearan and the twelve-string on “November 15” are a nice touch. White Horse EP is a solid effort all around.

Where to get it:

* One of my favorite One Night Bands. I even got to shoot their official promo picture!

** Aaron Tap and Paula Kelley live out in LA. They used to live in Boston. If you are not familiar with their work, try checking out Paula’s solo albums, Boy Wonder, Betty Goo, Hot Rod, The Weisstronauts or Boston’s best Bee Gees tribute act, The Boy Joys. You won’t be sorry.

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The Shakes & Pony Show @ Moe’s Lounge 1.6.2012

Rodrigo Van Stoli and Jason Baldock were tasked with opening Moe’s Lounge* with a bang. The duo cooked up a residency where they would pick a different theme for each night** and assemble a ragtag group of local rockers to help them pull it off. Night one was Mixtape-Mixtape night, where the gang*** performed selections from the various nights of the MixTape series they’ve been involved with. What you ended up with was a mishmash of covers spanning decades. A couple of highlights were some great interplay between Rodrigo Van Stoli and Rona Mattocks on “Beast Of Burden” and a snappy cover of Robert Plant’s “Tall Cool One”. The night ended with a “Daydream Believer” singalong.

Welcome to The Shakes & Pony Show…

* Moe’s Lounge is downstairs at Radio. Seeing a show there is like hanging out in your friend’s basement. Good times.

** To find out what’s in store for the rest of the residency, check out this amazing poster by the wonderful and talented Nicole Anguish of Daykamp Creative.

*** Which at various times included 2/3 of Brownboot, 2/5 of Sidewalk Driver, 1/5 of The Future Everybody, 1/6 of Fit To Be Tied, all of Tad & Kate and 4/5 of Bright Lights, Big Rod.

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Streight Angular – Everyone Is Syncopated (2012)


Streight Angular
Everyone Is Syncopated
2012

After a couple of mind blowing singles, those neon-loving maniacs in Streight Angular have finally released the Everyone Is Syncopated EP. In fact, those singles kick off this new collection. Since I’ve already told you how “Everyone Is Syncopated” and “Supermarché” make my insides feel all warm and tingly, let’s jump to the new stuff.

“In My Bed, Not My Head” is a blistering freak out. Dig it. “Oh Gurl” is an ’60s pop ballad with ’80s keyboard layers. It’s an unusual paring that works quite well for these DayGlo punks. The EP closes with “Hot Pot Anaconda”, a trippy space jam with lyrics consisting of the song’s title, the occasional “woo” and rhythmically chanting “hey”. I can’t wait to hear what Streight Angular cooks up next.

Where to get it:

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Tad & Kate @ Moe’s Lounge 1.6.2012

Tad and Kate. Kate and Tad. Hearing those two names together makes me happy. I think about plane crashes and the world coming to an end. I think about hobos, bad presents, karaoke and being kidnapped. I think about all of these things and I smile. It’s some kind of Pavlovian response. I’ve become so accustomed to being entertained by this duo that I just can’t help myself. At least I don’t drool.

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Nate Rogers @ Moe’s Lounge 1.6.2012

Friday night marked the opening of Moe’s Lounge downstairs at Radio. While they’ve had a couple of shows in the wood paneled basement in the past, this was the official coming out party.

Nate Rogers was the first person to play in the newly christened room. To honor the occasion, Nate performed a set of songs spanning his entire career. There were “hits” and “deep cuts” from both The Future Everybody and Scamper. The highlight of the set? Nate performed “Test Tube Babies”*, a song he wrote when he was seventeen. So great.

* The song raises the question: “Are the adults in bigger tubes?” Awesome.