A Look Back : The Locals Covering Locals Compilations Locals Covering Locals Music Features by Brian Carroll - January 18, 2023January 22, 20230 As we head into a decade of Red Line Roots being around (in some capacity), I wanted to re-visit...and quite frankly, try to remember...some of the milestones and pivotal experiences, projects and moments for this labor of love. For those who don't know, Locals Covering Locals is a three album compilation recording project of local New England musicians covering songs from their favorite local New England musicians. The idea being that Red Line Roots gets a bunch of studio time and invites local songwriters to come into the studio and cut a song that one of their friends and/or local heroes wrote, further expanding and perpetuating the rich tapestry of local music, sharing audiences and spreading the songs of local artists
Locals Covering Locals V2 Video Sessions Now Complete… Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - July 8, 2015January 21, 20160 One of the best parts of the Locals Covering Locals project has been being in studio for the sessions, witnessing the spontaneity of musicians given a task and a set amount of time to give the best performance they can of a song that is important to them. Just being in the room. It was such an incredible experience. Well, this time around I kept my camera rolling the whole time we were in the studio and while a some of that video footage has seen the light of day, I have spent the last 5 or 6 days tying up all the loose ends and editing, editing, and editing a bit more to get all 10 of the tracks into
Locals Covering Locals Volume 2 Is Fully Released… Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - June 12, 2015January 21, 20160 I guess it was just over two years ago that I initially had the idea to produce a project in which local Boston area musicians would come into a studio and record covers of their favorite local, independent songwriters. I had been playing my friends songs with them live at shows (like David Gallager's table sessions and Roots in the Round at Toad) and Ian Fitzgerald's "Galveston", Patrick Coman's "Hungover", and "Danger and Dread" and "Down to the River" by brown bird were becoming regular songs in my live show setlists, so it only seemed like a natural progression to help others share their favorite songs with a broader audience. With the incredible generosity through the Iguana Fund and Club Passim
Locals Covering Locals 2: Sarah Borges Covers Evan Dando (The Lemonheads) “Ride With Me” Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - June 12, 2015January 21, 20160 Sarah Borges is a rock star. When I moved back to town after college and started playing around Boston again there were a few people scattered about the area that I looked at and just went "holy shit, that person is the epitome of rock n' roll"...Sarah was at the top of that list. When I first reached out to her to take part in this I really wanted to see her do something super stripped down, acoustic, and sparse, which I think her take on "Ride With Me" by Evan Dando has aspects of. It builds really beautifully with electric guitar parts and the pump organ of the one and only Dinty Child. Sarah also wanted to layer in these
Locals Covering Locals 2: Dinty Child Covers Sean Staples “New Memories” Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - June 10, 2015January 21, 20160 Dinty Child comes with a lot of baggage...and I mean that in the most positive and literal sense possible. When Dint comes for a studio session he shows up with a pile of instruments and the unrivaled talent to play each and every one of them in ways that are interesting and creative and just plain wonderful. When Dint showed up for his LCL session he did just that, with an electric guitar, pedal board, mandocello, pump organ and great tune by Sean Staples in tow, I knew it was going to be a special day. The track plays out a lot like the session did, it slowly built and built, and it just eased into itself. Dinty started with that
Friends of RLR: Local Music Sampler Now Out! Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - May 28, 2015January 21, 20160 If there is one thing I have and will never take for granted in launching into this Red Line Roots thing its the friendships I have forged with so many incredible artists as a result of all this. Whether its been the folks playing at the shows I put together or the magic that plays out during the studio sessions for Locals Covering Locals, I realize that I am incredibly lucky to know so many beautiful and talented people. It's beyond comprehension, really. With that being said...music. 15 artists (and there's another extra track from some slouch on there too) who had been a part of the Locals Covering Locals project in the past responded to my call for helping out
Locals Covering Locals 2: Wise Old Moon Covers The Meadows Brothers Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - May 26, 2015January 21, 20160 Of all of the folks I have become friends with over the years through music I would say that Connor Millican is one of the few that I had an immediate and undeniable connection and similarity to. Millican spends an incredible and generous amount of his time helping others through The Old Guitar series and lending advice in video, printings, and other formats that are hugely beneficial to artists. I first met him when filming my own episode playing that beat up old Kay acoustic and soon after found myself deep into his original music. And damn, its some great music. Needless to say I have an incredible amount of respect and appreciation for this guy. Connor has spent some time
Locals Covering Locals 2: M.R. Poulopoulos Covers Laurence Scudder Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - May 19, 2015January 21, 20160 There is something about Mike Poulopoulos that is secretive for some reason. Maybe because you can't read if he is smiling or not behind that beard of his, but you can always tell when he is elated and excited because that smile travels right up to his eyes. I can tell you that for the duration of his session covering his pal Laurence Scudder's tune "Bumps in the Road" he was absolutely gleaming with brilliance and happiness. I first met Poulopoulos as I meet most of my musical compadres, on a stage playing songs alongside one another for the very first time. With Mike it just felt natural, like we had been playing together for a long while. His songs have
Locals Covering Locals 2: Julie Rhodes Covers Jonah Tolchin Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - May 12, 2015January 21, 20160 "Every so often a voice comes along that moves you. I mean, sure, there are a lot of really good singers out there and around town. I could rattle off 15 people really easy who have great voices (probably easier than rattling off those whose voices aren’t great, there are a few…but I digress). But there is something that just clicks and gives you chills, the ones where your legs kind of lock up and your shoulders tremble. Julie Rhodes commands a voice like this and she gets me every single time."...I don't love to quote myself, but why reinvent the wheel when over a year after first hearing that voice, it still does it to me. When I first asked
Locals Covering Locals 2: Bob Bradshaw Covers Paul Rishell Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - May 5, 2015January 21, 20160 The first time I heard Bob Bradshaw's voice it shook me. He has such a natural feeling to it, but it cuts deep with its tone and timbre. It's just one of "those" voices. The one in a million that really speaks to it, all the elements are in the right place and its a beautiful thing. Bob also happens to be one hell of an accomplished guitar player...he may argue otherwise, but trust me, the guy has got some serious chops. His take on the blues man Paul Rishell's tune "Louise" is exciting and engaging, while only using a voice and an old National Resophonic dobro. Just listen to the way he plays those lines, man its tasty. Enjoy this. I