Category: Blog

Posted on

The Rationales @ Lizard Lounge 5.14.2011

Here we are at the end of a most pleasant evening. The Rationales have released a wonderful new album, The Distance In Between, and we all came out and celebrate.

After The Rationales opened the night with a laid back acoustic set, we were treated to the power pop stylings of The Future Everybody. Before long we found ourselves enthralled by OldJack’s performance. Now The Rationales were coming back out to give us a proper send off. Their performance was heartfelt and determined. They were not about to let anyone leave disappointed. The Rationales sent us home smiling.

I think I’m still humming “No Guarantees”.



Posted on

OldJack @ Lizard Lounge 5.14.2011

I’m sitting here trying to describe how I felt during OldJack’s set at the underground den known as Lizard Lounge this past weekend. I write and rewrite, my words always coming up short. It’s frustrating, because I want to find some concise way to convey how wonderful it is seeing OldJack play. If you haven’t had a chance to see them, I want to tell you that there’s a good chance you are missing out on something that may bring you great joy. Did you see them in The Rumble? Unreal. OldJack breathes life into whatever room they inhabit. There is something special about the moments when Dan Nicklin, Kelly Davis, Christie Beaulieu and Emily Belastock all sing together. I want to grab you by the scruff of your neck and drag you to an OldJack show so you can see what I’ve been fortunate enough to see.

Oh, I guess I feel lucky.



Posted on

Watts – On The Dial (2010)


Watts
On The Dial
2010

Watts are back.  Guess what?  They still sound like Watts.  Are you surprised?  You shouldn’t be.  Watts have their sound and they’re sticking to it.  On The Dial is well rounded power pop with its roots in good old fashioned rock n’ roll.

The album opens with the one-two punch of “On The Dial” and “Chaperone”.  Dan Kopko’s gruff voice tears through the mix with conviction.  “Afterburn” and “Time To Give The Devil His Due”, the latter sung by drummer John Lynch, get a healthy charge of AC/DC.   “Girls On Holiday” has a Phil Spector vibe (maybe it’s the guitar line nicked from “Then He Kissed Me”).   Do I hear a guiro in “Dancehall Days & Nights”?  I’m a sucker for a good guiro part. Guitarist John Blout takes a vocal turn on the hooky “She Wants To Rock”. Craig LaPointe’s lead vocals on “Don’t Mind” help to add a bit of variety late in the proceedings.  The scathing “Fight Song” is the most aggressive Watts tune to date.

On The Dial is another solid effort from Watts.  I expected nothing less.

Where to get it:

Posted on

The Rationales (Acoustic Set) @ Lizard Lounge 5.14.2011

The Rationales opened and closed their own CD release show for The Distance In Between. They booked a great bill with friends OldJack and The Future Everybody. They had special guests join them during their sets. The Rationales did it up right.

The first set was a stripped down acoustic affair featuring mandolin, cajón and melodica. Good stuff.



Posted on

Ultrabreakfast – Ice Cream Tricycle (1997)


Ultrabreakfast
Ice Cream Tricycle
1997

Mix equal parts Pavement and Smudge (the Australian, Tom Morgan fronted Smudge) and you’ll get a rough idea of what Ultrabreakfast sounds like. It’s quirky, fuzzy, catchy and fun. The production is mid-fi, the playing is a little sloppy, and it’s full of heart. All of this is documented on their full length album, Ice Cream Tricycle.

While much of the record is full of indie rock crackle and buzz, my favorite song on Ice Cream Tricycle is a straight up pop tune. “Mary” has a sweet guitar line and a simple melody that works well with Josh Boughey’s cool vocal delivery. The song has an innocence to it that will put a smile on your face.

The rest of Ice Cream Tricycle has something for everyone. There are quick and dirty up tempo numbers like “Orange Car,” “Dragon” and “Wishlist” (which mentions such wonderful things as Superchunk, albino kangaroos, time machines and dear departed local legend Billy Ruane). Kristen Day’s kick-snare beat and Tim Farrell’s slide guitar give “On The Floor” an almost country feel. The slower numbers provide the band some room to experiment with their sound. These songs serve as a showcase for Paul Wisner’s creative guitar effects. There’s even a conceptual song trilogy within the album’s ranks. All of this in under 40 minutes. That’s some marvelous ’90s indie rock efficiency.

Where to get it:

Posted on

Davina Yannetty @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.27.2011

Davina Yannetty is a dynamo. She has a big voice and a small guitar.* She loves Billy Squier, prog rock and long walks on the beach.** Oh, and her last name rhymes with spaghetti.



*Not really. It’s a ukulele.
**I know 2 out of 3 of these things to be true. The third could be conjecture or a blatant lie.

Posted on

Melvern Taylor And His Fabulous Meltones @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.27.2011

I had never heard of Melvern Taylor before this night at TTs. Over the course of the evening a few different people asked me if I had ever seen him perform before. They knew. Now I know. Melvern Taylor And His Fabulous Meltones are amazing.



Posted on

Niki Luparelli @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.27.2011

Niki Luparelli

Look at these pictures:


I wasn’t sure how I was going to describe that, so I figured I’d get right to the photos. Seeing a picture of Niki Luparelli hula hooping while strumming a ukulele and playing a kazoo with a microphone in her cleavage sums up her immensely entertaining vaudeville act better than me saying “Niki Luparelli was hula hooping while strumming a ukulele and playing kazoo with a microphone in her cleavage.” I don’t know if a picture is worth a thousand words, but the one of Niki Luparelli hula hooping while strumming a ukulele and playing a kazoo with a microphone in her cleavage is worth at least 18.

What you can’t see in the photos are the polio jokes…