And Your 2016 Big Reds Are… Music Features Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - January 6, 20170 I would love if at some point we get to a point where we can "host" a big old shindig for the celebration of the Big Reds, but sadly there are things like funding and sponsorship and such that logistically weren't in the cards for your old pal Red for 2016. I feel as though, the heart of the Big Reds is to tap the resource of the fans and your peers, the pulse of the community to really try and get an idea of who "the people" saw as having a big year, where is their favorite venue to take in music every night of the year, who just killed it as a performer and who put out a record
Summed up, Songs That Stuck: 2016 In Review, In A Few Words Music Features Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - December 29, 2016December 29, 20160 While I could theoretically write a novel about each of the artists and their songs on this playlist, I decided to take a slightly less conventional approach to my year end list. Rather than write ups, I decided to challenge the norm and try to sum up the songs on my year end playlist into a single phrase. That's right, a song with a multitude of words, rhymes, melodies, verses and so on, summed into into a single "couple word" phrase, based on how it made me feel the first time I listened to it in this polarizing year where we needed the music so much. So, here you go. These are 21 tunes from 21 artists in 2016 that simply slayed
Audible Euphoria: 7 Voices in Roots/Folk You Should be Listening To Music Features Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - December 15, 20160 The biggest set back about music these days is that there is clearly SO much of it. A vast, seemingly un-ending sea of sonic waves that carries you one way and away from another. You simply cannot hear everything in the world that is being created and many times you miss some of the most moving and impressive ends of the musical universe as a result. 2016 saw many of our old favorites introducing new music into the world and also initiated new found loves from some incredible singers, songwriters and musicians. We live in a world where it would seem nearly everything has "been done" or some artists are extending their influences into perhaps, overly influenced territory. So that when
Show You Should Know: Emily Mure, Aurora Birch, Dave Richardson at Gallery 263 (12/2) Featured Concert Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - November 29, 2016November 29, 20160 Its almost December...what happened to 2016? Both in a time sense and also, seriously what happened this year? But I digress. Music can help heal all of your sorrows and wounds to your heart and why take in one fantastic artist to help soothe your soul when you can take in three in one night? Right? Gallery 263 is a venue that presents artists performing songs in about as intimate a way as you can experience songs (aside from in your living room, which we also are fully supportive of here at RLR). The performances are mostly fully acoustic, unplugged and you are right up on the songwriter, hanging on every word. The shows we have caught there has been brilliant
Keep on keepin’ on: An Interview with J.P. Harris at Newport Folk Fest Interviews Music Features Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - November 22, 2016November 22, 20160 With Newport Folk tickets going on sale for 2017 next week it seemed due time to dig up this interview we did with honky tonk hero J.P. Harris at Newport this past July and finally transcribe it. Harris performed an absolute barn burner of a set on Friday to set the tone for the entire weekend to be a bit less traditional stripped down folk, and a bit more "raucous, dance your ass off and smile ear to ear" good ol time. We caught up with Harris and took a stroll through the meandering tunnels of Fort Adams, back to his (extremely impressively set up) touring van and talked about music, folk fest and the fine art of working with you
Fall Flannels: November Concert Preview Music Features Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - November 2, 2016November 2, 20160 There is a chill in the air and that means that the music at your favorite local haunt, spiced whiskey drinks (or straight up), hearty homestyle menus and layering up on flannel shirts, denim jackets and parkas is now in. Its November folks, winter is coming but we still have that last breath of Fall left to take in and you might as well take it in with a killer soundtrack at some of the best venues around New England. Let's check in, shall we? Early in the month sees a couple great shows going down both North and South of us up here in on the mount. Our favorite spot up in Burly celebrates its 16th Birthday this Saturday, so
Album Review: Glen Phillips “Swallowed By The New” Album Reviews Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - October 25, 20160 There are voices that you can often trace back to moments that define your life, creative or how you have grown as a human. The voice of Glen Phillips has been a constant thread in both my creative life and my day to day (I mean, I have one of the guy's lyrics engraved inside my wedding band). For as long as I can remember songs like "Fall Down", "All I Want" and of course "Walk on the Ocean" gave me a desire to be a singer and songwriter, even before I owned an instrument on which to write those songs. Winter Pays For Summer was the record I spun most in my college days, and songs off of Abulum
Waxing Poetic Times ‘Ten’: An Interview With Kerriann Curtis Interviews Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - October 19, 20160 We have previously made attempts (albeit somewhat feeble ones) to include other artists here on RLR. It is obvious the main focus here is music and things within the realm but taking a step back to enjoy and curate other arts is just as important. Be it photography, painting, sculpting, leatherwork or in this case poetry, I think it is extremely crucial to look at other forms of creativity and celebrate them just as much as we do music. Kerriann Curtis has been a friend for a while now. An avid supporter of independent music and writer for the Wordkrapht online music mag, she has been generous and kind in spreading the word about not only our Locals Covering Locals project
Peep This: Jenna Lotti’s “Drive” video Featured Videos Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - October 12, 2016October 16, 20160 Jenna Lotti is a "pop soul singer-songwriter" hailing from the Boston area. On the brink of releasing her sophomore EP Bad Habits, she has been hitting the Northeast and beyond and will celebrate the official drop of that album on October 20th at Thunder Road in Somerville, MA. Lotti recently released a video for the third track on the 5 song collection titled "Drive". Check it out. Musically the song (and collection) is fantastic. It has hints of soul and a 60s vibe, its catchy as hell. With the upstroke electric guitars and swirling synths, it just has the feeling that this was a well thought and intensely crafted arrangement (thanks to the efforts of producer Susan Cattaneo). I certainly have to give her
Trippin’ My Blues Off: Ron Gallo’s RG3 EP Reviews Uncategorized by Brian Carroll - October 12, 20160 I may be a bit late to the party on this one as the EP from Nashville transplant Ron Gallo was released 6 months ago, but I was feeling like I needed a pick me up and dug in hard this morning. This is the only way to truly dig into Gallo's 3 song trip of garage punk, overdriven bluesy sound. There is heart here. As of matter of fact, I am pretty sure the singer-songwriter spilled the contents of his chest out onto the recording studio floor with this latest release. The lead in track 'Young Lady, You're Scaring Me" has a killer riffing line and more energy than one could possibly comprehend. Gallo's signature high growl is ever present throughout