Kevin Gordon @ Atwoods tonight and “Long Gone Time” Track Preview Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - October 6, 2015January 21, 20160 "Kevin Gordon’s voice is made from dust and red clay." is the first line in the Louisiana songwriter's bio on his website. I am intrigued, and it seems as though Cambridge's own Atwoods Tavern is the perfect venue to play host to the songwriter's tunes that examine his north Louisiana upbringing and its culture and match his deep, swampy sound. Gordon is playing TONIGHT at Atwoods. Get there early for some tasty eats and music between 9:30 and 10. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time HERE. Long Gone Time by Kevin Gordon
Drunken Prayer “Hellraiser” Single Preview Track Reviews by Ken Templeton - August 24, 2015January 28, 20160 Sometimes you just need some kick ass guitar and a two stepping back beat. That is exactly what I needed this Monday morning and Drunken Prayer delivered precisely what the doctor ordered. "Hellraiser" is the lead off track from the band's latest album (out today) titled The Devil and the Blues. It is spattered with dirty blues, chicken pickin' licks. Finger licking good and tasty until the last drop. This is that brand of 'chickenwire in front of the stage, beer on the dance floor, sweat through your blue jeans' music that really picks me up, gets you moving, and takes hold and won't let go until it's nearly sunrise and you have no idea where your ride home went. You
Lo-Fi Deliciousness: Haunt the House “Holy Revival” Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - February 5, 2015January 21, 20160 I have a soft spot for demo type recordings. Phone recordings quickly tracked to capture an idea, or something recorded to 4-track cassette. Something honest, nothing shiny or plastic about it, just candid and open where the song and the words have to speak...and if they don't it is very obvious. Haunt the House has a track up on their bandcamp page called “Holy Revival” that is just that. There is nothing pretentiousness to the recording. It is just songwriter Will Houlihan, his guitar, and a story. In it’s mere two minutes and twelve seconds, it manages to captivate and stop my heart. This to me is a glimpse behind the curtain of one of the best songwriter’s in the North East,
Single Review: Julie Dougherty “Home” Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - November 17, 2014January 21, 20160 “Home” is a sentiment I would say that the vast majority of us can relate to. There are countless songs about the theme, so it takes something to make a standout tune. Julie Dougherty’s take stands on its own merit, not over-utilizing the “home” aspect, but rather relying on the descriptors of what remind of us being at home. It’ s like a laundry list of things that just make you feel good and it does so very well. When she sings out “It’s the sound of your heart when you lay in bed…”, the way she annunciates heart really tugs at my…well, my heart strings I suppose! The musicianship here is a great and solid. There is this thing about Julie’s
Single Review: Richard Keith “This Time” Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - October 21, 2014January 21, 20160 “This Time” by Richard Keith is a fairly simple and straight forward tune. The rhyme scheme, the words, it isn’t frivolous or showy and I dig that about it. It is straight forward and down-to-earth. The track starts out with some guitar and mandolin and Richard Keith’s voice, and slowly builds. With a steady drum way back in the mix, it flows well and feels great. It sits in the space between a happy summer tune and a leading into fall where the dusk comes quicker. The words are playful and have a dry wit. I like his style of writing. You’re a rabbit on the run and I’m a man without a gun Still you best keep running, watch out baby here
Single Review: “Organ Donor Blues” – John Velghe Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - June 24, 2014January 21, 20160 Releasing today is John Velghe’s “Organ Donor Blues”. I took an in depth listen at the title track. Here are my thoughts… The song itself starts in nice and slow with a lonely guitar picked out. At first introduction Velghe’s voice against the sparse introduction is a bit shocking. It has a high register and he sings strong and with gusto. Once the rest of the track and arrangement kicks in, however, his voice sits nicely above the instrumentation, it smooths out well and I ease into the track pretty comfortably. It’s a pleasant listen up until about 2:05 where the duplicating vocal kind of loses me. It just feels a little too loose in comparison to the tight instrumentation on the
Emily Mure “Unfettered” (from album Odyssey) First Listen Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - June 27, 2013January 21, 20160 One part jazzy vocal, one part classical arrangement, one part folk songwriter equate to ALL parts really fantastic music. Emily Mure is a New York based songwriter releasing her sophomore effort “Odyssey” at the end of July. Classically trained musically, but self taught as a songwriter, she is able to appreciate what a lot of musicians are not, and that is a delicate balance (which is strongly displayed in the instrument arrangement and warm, poignant harmonies throughout the record). Emily has something, I am not sure what “it” is, but she has got IT. The sample track “Unfettered” is my first dive into Emily’s music and I am immediately in love (which is saying a lot because I am very picky
Jon Nolan “Fresh Cut Grass” Single Review Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - March 26, 2013January 21, 20160 Jon Nolan is a man who has seen some things. Lucky for us, he decides to write songs about a lot of those things and put the words to killer melodies, with excellent instrumentation and technique. Self proclaimed as “Americana-pop”, I think I have finally seen the phrase “pop” used in a positive light for me when it comes to music. Prior to this solo run Nolan fronted the roots rock outfit ‘Say ZuZu’ for 10 plus years. The group released 6 records, secured a record deal in Europe on Germany’s Blue Rose Records, and played all over 25 US states and 4 European countries. If thats not impressive enough, the musician is now back to his songwriting roots for a follow up
The Rationales “Radio” Single Review Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - March 12, 2013January 21, 20160 So this is kind of a throw back, but Dave Mirabella shot me over an email, I listened to this track, and I really dug it...The Rationales have been around for bit. Self described as “Mixing power-pop with alternative, teeming with hooks and harmonies, and layering their sound with hints of Americana and indie rock” is pretty perfect description of these fellas. And while pop may be a shunned term in the majority of bands in the Americana realm, it’s something these guys seem to embrace and own. As well they should…. I would describe them as a fun, rock n’ roll band with hints of “a bunch of different things that reminds me of a great night out at your
Autumn Hollow “Orlando Brown” Single Review Track Reviews by Brian Carroll - March 12, 2013January 21, 20160 Brendan from Autumn Hollow just sent me a track called “Orlando Brown” from their new record…Full album is coming out 4/2/13 and our local cd release party is at Precinct on 4/6/13. So I figured I’d do a little review of this tune before their full release, then review that when the whole thing comes out. The description of the song is “the 4th track on the record, “Orlando Brown”, is about an ex-NFL player who suffered perhaps the most tragic and unusual career ending injuring in the history of sports.. .Also, there is a group chorus at the end of the song that includes the lovely voices of our children, family, friends, and several musicians who were kind enough