Posts Tagged alternative
show preview: WHEAT at the Middle East Club, Cambridge, Mass. on July 7, 2016
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on May 26, 2016
Wheat is one of my favorite bands. sweet and a bit melancholy indie rock. thoughtful arrangements and gorgeous arrangements. Don’t miss this show at The Middle East Upstairs on July 7, 2016. The band’s currently working on a its sixth album. check out my interview with Brendan Harney and Scott Levesque.
here’s a snippet of a new song posted a few days ago:
Wheat is: Brendan Harney; Scott Levesque; Luke Hebert; Tim Hebert
discography:
Medeiros (1997)
Hope and Adams (1999)
Per Second, Per Second, Per Second … Every Second (2003)
Everyday I Said a Prayer for Kathy and Made a One Inch Square (2007)
White Ink, Black Ink (2009)
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music review: James
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on March 21, 2016
In 1994, James catapulted into the U.S. spotlight with the cheeky, yet layered single “Laid” from the album of the same name. The band formed in the 80s in Manchester, England. Part of the 90s Britpop wave along with The Stone Roses, Charlatans UK, Blur, Oasis, Happy Monday, Pulp and The Wonder Stuff. I adored Britpop back in the 90s. It was my heart. In 1997 the band released its seventh album Whiplash with the wonderful songs “She’s a Star” and “Tomorrow.” I giddily interviewed bassist James Glennie in 1997 as contributing editor/writer for the Boston zine Instant Magazine.
In the 90s James was one of my favorite bands. When one of my favorite bands returns with new music, I become nostalgic and also apprehensive. I analyzed the words to every song. Cerebral lyrics ranged from self-improvement to politics [google “Sit Down”] . Heartbreaking, comforting, making me feel less a one-off weirdo. If you could wear out a CD I did. Several times over. Seven remains my favorite James album. Favorite songs [many of them!] include: “Sometimes”/ “Say Something”/ “Born of Frustration”/ “Sit Down”/ “You Can’t Tell How Much Suffering (On A Face That’s Always Smiling)” / “How Was It For You?”/ ”Out to Get You”/ She’s a Star.”
Many bands will remain synonymous with the 90s alternative/ indiepop/indierock/Britpop days, many popular 90s-era bands and artists are touring [Smashing Pumpkins, Liz Phair, Belly, Jesus Jones, Radiohead] and some never stopped. Some put out new material sporadically. Is it a comeback or a continuation after a brief hiatus? That’s difficult to say. Musicians generally keep writing, keep recording, keep performing. I thought that James hadn’t released anything since 1997. But that’s not true. The band took a break in 2001 and reformed in 2007. Somehow I missed some of those other James albums such as Millionaires [1999] and The Night Before [2010]. My relationships with music publicists vacillate. Also we know how fickle music consumers can be. Marketing and music sales have dramatically. I still like [or appreciate] many bands I liked in the 90s but it was a different time, a different decade and will always remind me of my 20s when I was insecure and figuring out a path. I’m still questioning myself and my choices.
So now, over 32 years after signing to Factory Records in 1982, James released its fourteenth album Girl at the End of The World on March 18, 2016. This electronica/ indie-rock album soars on the opener “Bitch” with its wah-wah guitar and the slow-burning “Attention” — a call to arms with its bold urgency—as well as the optimistic “Nothing But Love.” Then “To My Surprise” rouses and burns. Gentleness and Tim Booth’s subtler vocals blend with a funkadelic keyboard-based beat on “Dear John.” The best song “Catapult” features an upbeat attitude, deep riffs and a vaudeville arrangement. The current single “Girl at the End of the World” is a good one with its distinctive James-y wave. Another stand-out is “Move Down South” with its haunting beats and thoughtful lyrics about our relationship to the environment—“too late we’re all responsible/ too late to hold a wake/ we’re all drilled out..” Ah James. Be still my heart. Shatter my soul.
–review by Amy Steele
Girl at the End of the World
BMG
release date: March 18, 2016
purchase at Amazon: Girl At The End Of The World
James Discography:
• Stutter (1986)
• Strip-mine (1988)
• Gold Mother (1990) (re-released in 1991 as James)
• Seven (1992)
• Laid (1993)
• Wah Wah (1994)
• Whiplash (1997)
• Millionaires (1999)
• Pleased to Meet You (2001)
• Hey Ma (2008)
• The Night Before (2010)
• The Morning After (2010)
• La Petite Mort (2014)
• Girl at the End of the World (2016)
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show preview: The Zombies at Wilbur Theatre Boston on October 6, 2015
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on October 5, 2015
British psychedelic pop legendsThe Zombies will release a new album–Still Got That Hunger [The End Records]–on October 9.
The Zombies formed in 1961 in St Albans, England. The band is led by Rod Argent [piano, organ and vocals] and Colin Blunstone [vocals]. The Zombies are known for “Time of the Season,” “She’s Not There” and “Tell Her No.”
http://youtu.be/hWW9AJzpWBE%20
discography:
Begin Here (UK) (1965) / The Zombies (US) (1965)
Odessey and Oracle (1968)
New World (1991)
As Far As I Can See… (2004)
Breathe Out, Breathe In (2011)
Still Got That Hunger (2015)
The Zombies play The Wilbur Theater on Tuesday, October 6.
venue info:
246 Tremont Street
Boston, Mass.
tour dates:
Oct 06 – Boston, MA @ The Wilbur Theatre
Oct 08 – Washington, D.C. @ Lincoln Theatre
Oct 09 – New York, NY @ New York Society for Ethical Culture Concert Hall
Oct 10 – Cranston, RI @ Park Theatre
Oct 11 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Oct 13 – Ridgefield, CT @ The Ridgefield Playhouse
Oct 14 – Munhall, PA @ Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Oct 15 – Kent, OH @ The Kent Stage
Oct 16 – Merrillville, IN @ Star Plaza Theatre
Oct 17 – Milwaukee, WI @ South Milwaukee PAC
Oct 19 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
Oct 21 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall
Oct 22 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Oct 24 – Beverly Hills, CA @ The Saban Theatre
Oct 25 – Sacramento, CA @ Crest Theatre
Oct 26 – Redding, CA @ Cascade Theatre
Oct 27 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
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show preview: Girlpool at Middle East Club October 5 and 6, 2015
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on October 4, 2015
I saw Girlpool a few months ago and was impressed by the two piece’s impressive and captivating performance. The pop duo formed in Los Angeles a few years ago and is a band on the rise with cool harmonies, lovely vocals and strange and thoughtful lyrics.
Girlpool is:
Cleo Tucker (guitar, vocals)
Harmony Tividad (bass, vocals)
Girlpool’s 2015 Fall U.S tour kicks off with two nights at the Middle East Nightclub– Monday October 5 and Tuesday October 6.
venue info:
472-480 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, Mass.
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Fall Tour: 90s shoegazers Ride
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on September 1, 2015
Ride now
Ride then
The band formed when the members were teenagers in Oxford, England in 1988. The band released several influential albums including 1990’s Nowhere and 1992’s Going Blank Again. They broke up in 1996, following the release of Tarantula.
Ride is:
guitarist Andy Bell
singer Mark Gardener
drummer Laurence “Loz” Colbert
bassist Steve Queralt
Tour Dates:
9/17 – 9:30 Club, Washington DC
9/18 – College Street Music Hall, New Haven
9/19- Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia
9/21 – Irving Plaza, New York
9/22 – Irving Plaza, New York
9/23 – The Stone Pony, Asbury Park
9/25 – The Riviera Theater, Chicago
9/26 – MidPoint Festival, Cincinnati
9/27 – Pygmalion Festival, Champaign
9/29 – Mill City, Minneapolis
10/01 – St Andrews Hall, Detroit
10/02- House of Blues, Cleveland
10/03- Paradise Rock Club, Boston
11/06 – Saturn – Birmingham, AL
11/07 – Fun Fun Fun Festival – Austin, TX
11/09 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
11/10 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
11/12 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
11/14 – The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
11/15 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
11/16 – Neptune – Seattle, WA
11/17 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
11/19 – The Republik – Honolulu, HI
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music review: Science and the Beat
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on August 27, 2015
You know how some days you feel cool and smart and pretty and two days later you want to stay in bed and feel like you’ve made too many mistakes in your life? You know how you feel moody and run with that moodiness into danger and other times into fun? Other times you’re skeptical and feel like you give everything and are honest and open and can’t trust anyone. This is the album for your every emotion. It’s what author Julie Holland, M.D. discusses in her book Moody Bitches. And let’s face it, we all get called bitches when we express ourselves in a way that someone disagrees with. It’s being simultaneously strong and vulnerable. The strong independent spirited woman who’s been fucked over and beats herself up and question herself at times self-assured and other times insecure. This is that album. This is the perfect catharsis for every bad date, every bad relationship and every love EVER.
Science and the Beat infuses varied sounds and energies. It’s the skilled duo of multi-instrumentalists Tasha Katrine and Rob Zilla that create the cool sounds and eclectic arrangements. Part of the goth industrial scene, the pair relocated to Boston from Seattle. Dark beauty always wins my dark heart over. Katrine sometimes snarls, sometimes exudes gentle regrets and always mesmerizes. Some songs are up “Falling Out” and some veer toward the mellow “Mean Streak.” On a song like “Sorry,” Katrine sings what all feel at times being headstrong and should we apologize for being outspoken? There’s the super entrancing, grooving “Never Letting Go” with its retro beats. On “Take It Back,” [“why should I take it back when you couldn’t keep your promises/ you couldn’t take the sting away/ never sleep at night without you” the mood gets reflective and the melody suitably dance-trance. On “Last Call,” it’s completely bold beats and intense, don’t mess with me vox. Great breakup/ workout/ stoner/ party/ female empowerment album.
Science and the Beat
Future Blue
Release date: August 21, 2015
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on tour: HANA to support Purity Ring on North American dates
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on August 26, 2015
electro-pop singer/songwriter HANA will commence her North American tour with a headlining gig on August 27 in Los Angeles. She’ll support Purity Ring at House of Blues in Boston on September 22.
Her music shimmers and shines with strong vocals and gentle, dreamy beauty.
https://soundcloud.com/hanamusic-1/clay
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
08/27 – The Lyric Theatre – Los Angeles – CA^
09/02 – Rialto Theatre – Tuscon, AZ*
09/03 – Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX
09/04 – El Rey Theatre – Albuquerque, NM*
09/05 – Austin Music Hall – Austin, TX*
09/07 – Minglewood Hall – Memphis, TN*
09/08 – Marathon, Music Works – Nashville, TN*
09/10 – The Ritz Ybor – Tampa, FL
09/11 – The Fillmore Miami Beach – Miami Beach, FL*
09/12 – House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista, FL*
09/14 – Georgia Theatre – Anthens, GA*
09/15 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC*
09/16 – The Ritz – Raleigh, NC*
09/20 – The National – Richmond, VA*
09/21 – Rams Head Live! – Baltimore, MD*
09/22 – House of Blues – Boston, MA*
09/23 – Upstate Concert Hall – Clifton Park, NY*
09/24 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA*
09/25 – Midpoint Music Festival – Cincinnati, OH
09/26 – The Pygmalion Festival – Champaign, IL
09/29 – Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO*
09/30 – Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO*
10/02 – Knitting Factory – Boise, ID*
10/03 – Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA*
10/04 – McDonald Theatre*
^ Headline
* Supporting Purity Ring
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music review: Mishka Shubaly
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on February 15, 2015
Known as Amazon’s most frequently published Kindle Singles author, Miksha Shubaly can boast four bestsellers: a first-hand account of a disaster at sea, “Shipwrecked;” a mini-memoir detailing Shubaly’s transition from “drunk-and-drugged gutter dweller to sober ultra-marathoner “ called “The Long Run;” a true tale of online love gone wrong, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and “Bachelor Number One” about reality TV.
The third full-length album Coward’s Path [In Music We Trust] from Shubaly features dark, bittersweet songs and a wondrously layered journey through the depths of Shubaly’s psyche. It’s the perfect antidote to the forced fuzzy warmth and overindulgence of Valentine’s Day. He’s a superb wordsmith writing dark, bittersweet, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes brooding songs. The music and vox sound like The Pogues, Pavement and Lou Reed mixed together.
“Frankenstein Heart” is a bold and super-charged biting song about the devastation from years of drug abuse. “Taxes and Jail” is a detached, amusing anti-love song –“you won’t hear from me you’re beautiful/ because it’s your insecurity that keeps you around/ because baby you can always depend on me when you need someone to let you down.” Propelled by a grooving beat, “I Can’t Remember When You Were Mine” includes lines like “boxes and boxes of unlabeled crap/ if I die now they will never get unpacked” sung with deep dissonance. Dramatic, expansive string arrangements make “Ohio” a gloomy treasure. This might be another go-to for me on moody days.
“The title refers to a time in my life where I took the path of least resistance to the end of the line,” explains Shubaly. “In one of the first copyrighted blues songs from 1912, Lee Roy White says ‘the blues ain’t nothing but a good man feeling bad.’ Coward’s Path is the sound of a bad man feeling bad.”
Coward’s Path
In Music We Trust
out now
RECOMMENDATION: BUY
purchase at Amazon: The Long Run & Other True Stories: foreword by Jeff Bezos
purchase at Amazon: Bachelor Number One (Kindle Single)
purchase at Amazon: Thanks for Letting Me Crash
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NEW MUSIC: Yaarrohs; The Maytags; Moonbabies
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on December 4, 2014
Yaarrohs, “Wrestle”
ethereal prettiness. just the kind of electronic music I adore. dreamy. dark. mesmerizing energy. debut EP, Flesh & Blood out now. purchase at Amazon: Flesh & Blood
The Maytags, “Anthem”
The Maytags must be a lot of fun live. grooving, grinding, rootsy and swanky. The Des Moines, Iowa soul band–led by Dustin Smith who studied and played jazz in New York– has an EP NOVA out now.
Moonbabies, “The Ocean Kill”
boy-girl vocals and synthpop never sounded so good. a little bit 80s and retro, a little bit atmospheric and futuristic. definitely dreamy and luscious. Moonbabies upcoming album will be released in late spring 2015.
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DECEMBER TOUR: American Hi-Fi
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on October 15, 2014
Boston’s jangly rock-pop band American Hi-Fi will be performing three exclusive shows in December. After a semi-hiatus, the band released its fifth album Blood and Lemonade in early September.
12/10 – Los Angeles @ Viper Room
12/12 – New York @ Mercury Lounge
12/14 – Boston @ Brighton Music Hall
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About Me
covering mostly music and books. focus on alternative/indie and women in music, literature and the arts. feminist. vegan. mostly alternative, a bit bohemian. Masters in journalism from Boston University. BA from Simmons College.
Entertainment Realm by Amy Steele is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at entertainmentrealm.comCopyright © 2009. All writing, unless otherwise noted, by Amy Steele.
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