Singled Out: Noel Smyth “East Coast” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - July 2, 20200 The winter time seems a million years away as the sun seems to be up at all hours and the heat begins to weigh heavy. But even so, as Noel Smyth sings out "cruising down the highway / right through the snow / its just about midnight / don't know where to go" on his track "East Coast", the sentiment and vibe still ring true in this moment. You can drive around, you can feel the road beneath the rubber of your tires (sans ice and slippery flakes) but, alas, the places you can go are few. The tune also brings us a feel good and summer sonic vibe in this time...despite the descriptions in the lyrics...and lets face it,
Singled Out: Whitacre “Seasons” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - May 15, 20200 I am not quite sure where the genre set of Whitacre exactly falls. Its rock, but with faded edges, dusted with a bit of red dirt and coffee-stained. Theres a grit, but electric tubey guitar lines that flow throughout in a beautiful fashion. This new tune from the band is the kind of shit that anthems for generations are made of. Driving. Heart. Soul. Passion. Who: Whitacre From: Denver, Colorado Song: "Seasons" Latest Record: Seasons What About It: "My favorite memory about the song "Seasons" was writing the chorus together as a band. Our old guitar player, Bob Bullington, threw in an 'F' chord that brought out a 60s/70s vibe. He then played the progression over and over again and randomly said, "This song is
Fresh Track: Chrissy Stewart “All We’ve Got (Is Now)” Music Features by Brian Carroll - May 8, 20200 Sometimes I think there should just be a genre of music called "feels". Its not folk, its not jazz, its not rock n' roll with a gentle and subtle edge. It just makes you feel. Thats exactly what the new track from Providence's Chrissy Stewart does... There is a sensuality to the groove on this track. There is no hurry, there is no need to get to the end of track. It's about living and breathing in the moment. Spinning with eyes closed within the waves of deepening, buried keys and flowy, but purposeful bass. Stewart's voice on the chorus is an undulating, cascade of vibe bottled up and ready for you to consume. I feel like I could just lay my
Video Premiere: Cold Chocolate “Down the Line” Music Features by Brian Carroll - May 8, 20200 The evolution and metamorphosis of a band or artist is an inevitable thing. Particularly with those to whom creativity seems to flow like a raging river and who's veins are filled flush with soul and vibe. Cold Chocolate is one of those bands. Over the years the adapting and growth of the self described "genre bending Americana band" has seen waves of straight acoustic, firey bluegrass, jam infused rock and even a folkier side. But today we get a different vibe. An electric pulse (literally and figuratively) that overtakes you and, quite bluntly, forces your ass to move to the groove. Currently consisting of Ethan Robbins on guitar and vocals and Ariel Berstein on percussion and vocals, the band often has
A Legend Shutters Its Doors: Great Scott (Allston, MA) Announces Closure Music Features by Brian Carroll - May 1, 2020May 1, 20200 A large void will be vastly obvious when the dust of COVID-19 finally settles and we are again allowed to see our favorite bands out in public and not through our handheld screens again. "It is with a heavy heart today that I announce that Great Scott will not reopen" the posting starts on Allston rock venue Great Scott's Facebook page from general manager Tim Philbin. The message continues, recapping a 44 year run as one of the staples of places to catch a live show on this side of the Charles and just outside of the Fenway area. A venue constantly giving up and coming acts a shot at a real stage while playing host to touring acts that may not
Festivals May Be Cancelled…But Music is Not Festivals Music Features by Brian Carroll - April 30, 20200 This has been a rough week for New England summer time festival lovers. In the span of just a few short days, Newport Folk, Green River Festival and Otis Mountain Get Down has all made announcements about their cancellation. The messages may differ slightly. The size of the three above mentioned fests may also differ in size, but the message is clear. Be it groups of a few hundred or a few thousand, the intelligent and responsible decision to make is to put off the events for this year and come back twice as strong in 2021. All that said, festivals typically mark a very important time for artists. In general, they come with a higher pay opportunity for artists, between the
Peep This: Izzy Heltai “Portland” Music Features by Brian Carroll - March 27, 20200 I knew I needed more music and songs in this current time of global crisis. I didn't know I needed more sadder and slow tunes...ok, thats a lie. I always need more of those. Izzy Heltai brings the goods with "Portland". A beautiful trickle of electric guitar notes flow from his fingertips. Cascading down the fretboard. A tribute, a love letter, an opening of an artist's heart to bare all. Heltai sings "anxiety in these winter months, makes it hard to breathe and get up" and it strikes right to the point, honesty and candor. Heart on the sleeve, or an open chest unveiling the beating rhythm of the current times. Not much more to say. This is another notch in Izzy's
Singled Out: Liv Greene “New York’s Arms” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - March 17, 20200 There is the striking of a perfect balance between authenticity and doing your damndest to create something beautiful. When the pieces of that fall into place, its a beautiful thing. Something that can melt your heart and make your foot stomp. A light twang that dances back and forth with lilting highs. Liv Greene's "New York's Arms" dances that line in eloquent magnetism. Give it a listen. Who: Liv Greene From: Boston Track Name: New York's Arms Latest Record: Every Bright Penny due out May 8 (debut album) What About It: “I wrote 'New York’s Arms' about change. I was meditating on the cliche of people moving to a new places for new beginnings, and how it’s only a cliche because of how frequently it
Show You Should Know: Krista Baroni at Reach Arts (Swampscott, MA) March 13th Music Features by Brian Carroll - March 2, 2020March 2, 20200 There are some artists who I will always hold a special place in my musical heart for. Many of them share something in common, and a lot of the time that thing is Dirt Floor. And just before I was heading into work with Eric on a project I was able to see the magic that was unfolding with Krista Baroni and the songs they were recording. Baroni released her last record "The Alabaster Girl" with much critical acclaim from publications in New England, all the way to the other side of the pond. It was speckled with chords and progressions and strumming patterns that are far beyond my own reach in terms of creativity. In looking back at my initial
Holy Shift…2nd Shift Music Series 2020 Schedule Is Stacked Music Features by Brian Carroll - February 13, 2020February 13, 20200 I was sitting, restringing my guitar and oiling my frets listening to Caroline Spence's "Spades & Roses" the other evening and entered her website into my browser on the off chance she was making a New England run anytime soon. Sure enough, there are a few dates in there on her way up the East Coast. DC, NYC and wouldn't you know it: Waltham, MA (was still hoping for a Vermont date...perhaps?). I then took a look at the music series she is performing as a part of...one we have covered in the past: 2nd SHIFT Music Series in Waltham, MA at the Charles River Museum. And wow... A little history: Begun in the Spring of 2016 as a showcase for diverse musical