Venue Etiquette: When an audience breaks my heart who is right? Columns by Brian Carroll - December 2, 2015January 21, 20160 A few months back I posted about a show I attended at a large venue here in Boston where the entire experience was impacted negatively by those in attendance and the venue's lack of attentiveness to what was going on. Talking, cell phone use, lights on during the opening act, and the wonderful persistent "shhh-ing" by audience members in a reaction to people carrying on full conversations (its a vicious cycle people causing noise pollution to alleviate the noise pollution that is bothering you...). You can agree or disagree and head on over and read that HERE if you so feel inclined. A couple weeks back I had a somewhat similar experience at a venue here in town that I admittedly, absolutely
Red Line Roots’ Top 15 Records of 2015 Columns by Brian Carroll - December 1, 2015January 21, 20160 It's quite simple really. I don't suppose there is much explanation needed. These are the 15 records that made the most impact on me personally in the year. The records I constantly played, the ones containing the songs I played over and over again. The ones that really hit me. In no particular order: Here you go... John Moreland – “High on Tulsa Heat”: Moreland came my way via the “Joe Fletcher Railway”…so much great music seems to filter my way out of Nashville via Mr. Fletcher, so to Joe, thank you sir. John has a way with self-deprecation sadness that is absolutely brilliant. He is just plain f*cking fantastic…when I think of “THIS is the music that I truly love”,
New Video Series “Duets” from Red Line Roots Columns by Brian Carroll - October 26, 2015January 21, 20160 For 2 years I was the co-host of a residency called 'Roots in the Round'. The idea was simple, my co-host and I invited 2 people from two completely different bands to join us on stage for a night of collaboration and improvisation. There was no set list, there was very limited preparation, and a whole bunch of "watch my hands for the changes, the song is in A". More often than not the result was something special. People have a chance to shine when they are out of their element and creating something new with musicians they are not used to playing with. Likely, a testament to the talent level of the guests we asked to join us but
Heart-wrenching Beauty: Songs to Make You Feel Columns by Brian Carroll - October 16, 2015January 21, 20160 I get a bit strange this time of year. Call it all Hallow's Eve closing in, the fact that I'll be another year older come November, the way the planets are aligning or seasonal affective disorder, as much as I love the fall a blanket of melancholy usually drapes itself over me this time of year. Don't get me wrong, in some ways I welcome it. The air is cool and the nights just have this indescribable feeling to them...but I digress. I find myself listening to and searching for more music that actually makes me feel something. Personally, for me that feeling or emotion that I seek out is heartbreak, sadness, or longing. So, here are 5 tunes that
Hacienda/For the Sake of the Song Team up to Pay Tribute Columns by Brian Carroll - October 7, 2015January 21, 20160 Paying tribute to the songwriters and musicians that influence our work is nothing new to many in the Boston folk/roots community. For a number of years now, Patrick Coman and his For the Sake of the Song series have payed tribute to the likes of Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, John Prine, Jason Isbell and a plethora of other songwriters. More recently, Coman has teamed up with songwriter and Hacienda Group collaborator, Jay Psaros. The Hacienda Group is a music collective formed on Boston's South Shore bringing many elements of the music business together under one roof. Video shoots, artist collaboration, recording sessions and more all fall under this create umbrella in a really great and unique setting. The two songwriters and creative
Matt Smith Celebrates 20 Years at Club Passim Columns by Brian Carroll - September 30, 2015January 21, 20160 Chances are if you are reading this blog right now I do not need to explain why this is important. I have been lucky enough to consider Matt Smith not just a guy who books artists, runs sound, fosters community, and wears about 1,000 other hats at the best listening room in the country but he has also become a dear friend and someone who has been incredibly supportive of this music publication and also me as an artist. The thing is, is that last sentence likely rings true for hundreds of other folks. Matt is a true gem in the music community around town and the fact that he has been here hoisting up others for 2 decades now,
CHECK IT: Nate Taylor Live on WMFO Columns by Brian Carroll - August 31, 2015January 21, 20160 Today we say goodbye to our first month of EBASS/Red Line Roots collaboration for the Songwriter of the Month. Not only did I get the opportunity to feature a new songwriter in August, a songwriter that was also “new to me”, I got to see him perform live at one of EBASS’s events at Gallery 263 in Cambridge. I am a firm believer that live is the best way to really experience an artist. In recorded form you can overdub, edit, mix, effect, and more to a track. Making it completely different from what you might expect from seeing an artist with just their instrument and their voice. Luckily for us, our August songwriter of the month Nate Taylor recently The session
Haunt the House Self Titled Release Now Streaming Columns by Brian Carroll - August 31, 2015January 21, 20160 Haunt the House is many things. A trio, a 5 piece, a solo songwriter playing his songs. I am yet to find a group or artist in any one of those capacities that can move me emotionally with their music the way that the songs of Will Houlihan do. His songs are pure brilliance, beauty and suffering in the same breath. Bessie Bessin adding a layer that really elevates the sound to feel larger than a 3 piece and the blending of her voice with Houlihan's is pure perfection. Amato Zinno holds is all down on the low end, switching from plucked bass notes to bow, back and forth, whatever the song calls for most...and when the three of them sing
Pre-order “In the Blazes” by Aaron Lee Tasjan today…and Listen to “The Trouble with Drinkin'” Columns by Brian Carroll - August 26, 2015January 21, 20160 I first heard of Aaron Lee Tasjan only a few months ago…4 to be more precise, but in that short amount of time the impact the songwriter has had on my own creative process, my writing, and how I enjoy music has been substantial. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to me that a new record from him will become a quick favorite of mine…I mean, I did say “ This is a guy that everyone should be paying attention. to I absolutely and wholeheartedly f*cking love this EP…you go get it now…” about his last EP after all. Tasjan has a dry humored wit. He delivers genius lines with a cool hand and a straight face approach. It almost makes
New Partnership: EBASS & Red Line Roots Present the Writer of the Month Columns by Brian Carroll - July 23, 2015January 21, 20160 I have been keeping a faint pulse on a great new initiative in town presented by songwriter Hailey Magee called EBASS...E-base, E-bass (like the fish?) had me intrigued, but nonetheless (and its bass like the instrument for the record), the community of up and coming songwriters around town she has fostered in an extremely short amount of time has been truly impressive. Hosting a slew of events to get people together, swap CDs, gigs, songs and even giving a few artists live performances during the events has proven to be very fruitful not just for Hailey, but the entire population of songwriters around Boston. I have been keeping tabs and in touch with her and trying to figure out a way