Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
Here’s The Gravel Pit playing TT’s in 2013. To what do we own the honor? TT’s 40th Anniversary! There aren’t too many opportunities to catch a Gravel Pit show these days, but they’ve got a new album in the works. You know what that means…
Watching Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents perform makes me happy. There’s a lot of joy in their music, be it the girl group R&B that launched the band or their more recent adventures in electro-symphonic pop. It all sounds right. It all sounds good. They closed out the Thursday night of TT’s 40th Anniversary week.
Jenny Dee & Several Men Of Mystery
Jenny Dee & Several Men Of Mystery
2013
Three country tunes from Jenny Dee and some of her very talented friends?* Yes, please. Opening track “You Had It All” is a duet with Roy Sludge. I’m pretty sure I knew this one was going to be great before I even heard it.** “Never” has suitably weary and worn backing vocals from Bill Janovitz and Chris Toppin. It’s always a treat when those two team up. Also, I’m a sucker for a weepy lapsteel. The EP closes with Jenny Dee & Several Men Of Mystery tearing it up on “Looking For Clues.” Jenny notes that this song is a reworked tune from her gig with The Downbeat Five. Given the song’s fiery nature, it’s certainly not hard to believe. The band really cuts loose here. Sometimes sad songs can make you happy.
Where to get it:
* Duke Levine, Bill Janovitz, Chris Toppin, Ed Valauskas, Tom Arey, Roy Sludge, Matt Pynn, and Ben Zecker? Good, Lord. Even Eric Salt gets in on the action, playing the tambourine on “Looking For Clues.”
** It is.
There was plenty of heart at Bands For Babs. The bands, raffle donors, the fine folks at Radio and everyone who came out to the shows made sure of that. On Thursday night, Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents brought the soul…
The Rationales
“Radio”
2012
Well, The Rationales have done it again. The band went into Q Division with producer Ed Valauskas and came out with a top notch recording of a killer song.
The Rationales debuted “Radio” at the opening of the club it shares a name with. They were rightfully giddy in doing so. They knew that had a scorcher on their hands. The song is a blistering rock number, shedding much of the Americana that the band is usually tagged with in favor of a driving beat, fuzzed-out bass and jagged guitars. The Rationales continue to evolve as a band while maintaining a knack for writing a good hook. It’ll be fun to hear what they come up with next.
Where to get it:
Eric Salt & The Electric City
The Hail Mary
2007
Two minutes and forty seconds into “Open Doorway” from Eric Salt & The Electric City’s album, The Hail Mary, the listener is submerged in a sea of cascading vocal harmonies. It’s the culmination of a three song opening sequence that is thoroughly engaging. “Stand In The Light” kicks things off with its syncopated guitars and snarling vocals while “Pearls” oscillates between the vibrant and ominous. By the time of the final snare hit of “Open Doorway”, it’s hard to imagine any other way Eric and company could have unveiled The Hail Mary.
The record sheds some of its drama with the fourth track, “Never Intended”, complete with Billy Preston-esque electric piano flourishes and light-hearted backing vocals. “Beatle Chord” doesn’t hide its Abbey Road influence in title or style. Throughout the 12 song CD there are hints of Wilco, Elvis Costello, and the occasional guitar line or vocal melody that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Paul Westerberg penned tune. The earnestness of the record would be burdensome if it wasn’t so damn honest.
There’s a high level of musicianship on The Hail Mary. Eric and his crew know when to play fast and loose and when to show some restraint. Vocals go from breathy to biting without ever sounding forced. Denis Saulnier’s drums are clockwork steady yet never lack feel. Layers of guitars all seem to know their place. Nuanced mixes from Ed Valauskas and Rafi Sofer (and Eric himself on “Long Livin’ Life”) tie it all together. The Hail Mary has all of the expected polish and sheen of an album produced by Ed at Q Division.
Where to get it:
