Happy Birthday greetings to Listen Up! conspirator Lee Stewart. When I DJ'd at my college radio station I always played a couple tunes for my birthday pals: "Unhappy Birthday" by The Smiths and another birthday-related tune by Concrete Blonde called "Happy Birthday." Oh, the nostalgic memories!
posted by
sooz at 6:37 PM
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Dinner and Rose Polenzani on May 14th in Cambridge, MA
Rose Polenzani is playing a solo show at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge on Mass Ave in a couple weeks. Tuesday, May 14th at 8:30PM to be precise. If you'd like to join a small group of people for dinner upstairs at the Cambridge Common at 7:00PM, head over to the evite and click "invite more people" so you can invite yourself. Or email me and I'll do it for you.
Rose is an amazing singer/songwriter -- one of the best on the planet. And I do not use words like that lightly. Truly!
Rose Polenzani : Listening Room : Fell
posted by
sooz at 6:03 PM
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Ohio + music + me = your newest conspirator
[Thanks, Sooz for inviting me!] I'm originally from Cleveland, Ohio (yes, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), am the daughter of a blues musician, and now reside in Boston. I have bizarre taste in music: this is just the cassettes! You've been warned.
For my first post, I'd like to glorify the name of Ohio natives Over the Rhine. This band, hailing from (where else?) the Over-the-Rhine section of Cincinnati, has been churning out excellent performances for over a decade. At a Rhinelander Roundup fanclub meeting a few years back (after their annual Taft Theatre show, where Jane Siberry opened for them!), I scored a copy of OtR performing "Dancing Queen" with the Covington Symphony Orchestra. That's when I realized why they have such rabid fans. Not only is their folksy-pop carefully crafted and artfully performed, they have a sense of humor, too! And did I mention their singer Karin's voice makes me weak in the knees?
Karin Bergquist and her husband Linford Detweiler form the core of the group, with help from additional members here and there.
Recommended from the MP3 Attic: Thank You My Angel, Sleep Baby Jane and All I Need Is Everything.
Recommended albums: Good Dog Bad Dog (the independent issue, not the re-release), Besides (a b-sides compilation originally issued as a Rhinelander-only release) and The Darkest Night of the Year (a Christmas album you'd actually be willing to play year-round!).
Over The Rhine : discography : MP3 rarity of the month
posted by
Shannon Okey at 4:26 PM
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New Orleans funk, R&B and soul
Yesterday I attended Earth Fest at the Hatch Shell in Boston. I finally had a chance to see Bonnie Raitt live. What a performer! Jon Cleary, a singer/songwriter and piano player from New Orleans has been part of her touring band for the past year. He has a new album of his own: "Absolute Monster Gentlemen.". Alas, I can't find an MP3 on his website or his label's site. From what I heard yesterday, I'm sure the CD is fabulous. I've added it to my wishlist. He has a couple shows with his own band in New Orleans this week and then he's back on tour with Bonnie Raitt around the U.S.
Jon Cleary : Absolute Monster Gentlemenposted by
sooz at 1:46 PM
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Finally got a chance to see one of my favorite bands. Peabody played the Hard Rock Cafe last night. Steven Dennis is an excellent guitarist and Karen's singing reminds me of Natalie Merchant on a good day. Loved it when she called the Sellouts a "boy band, er I mean Man band".
At one point she sort of lost control of the band and they played a series of covers, with her trying to keep up, karaoke style. Probably one of my favorite "live" moments of all time.
I hope they come to a town near me...
posted by
Lee Stewart at 12:22 PM
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New England recommendations : jazz, funkadelic, pop
Some good bands on the local New England scene that are worth going to see live: Thaddeus Hogarth was in the Heavy Metal Horns. He is on his own now and has a unique jazz sound. Gruvis Malt is a funkadelic band from Rhode Island. They do big things musically from the smallest state. Jim might have a big ego, but his music is big enough to keep you entertained.
posted by
Michael Merline at 11:35 PM
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I?ll be out of town for a couple weeks. I?ll still be able to post here, though (they have music in New Orleans, right?). Shouldn?t stop you from helping out, though.
Speaking of out of town, Local Radio has a gig in some small town somewhere or other on June First. They?ve rented a bus to get their fans to the show, which is an excellent idea! For $10, you get transportation, beer to drink on the bus, a pre-release copy of ?A little Down? (a song from their upcoming CD) and memories to last a lifetime!
Local Radio : Frequency : Motorbike
posted by
Lee Stewart at 4:36 PM
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Lee is embarking on world travels for a while (perhaps with a few music recommendations for us along the way!) and Carey's computer is sick. It looks like we could use a few more informants! If you would like to join us, let me know.
posted by
sooz at 11:47 AM
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CD Baby is my favorite music store on and offline. Here are a few gems I recently and not-so-recently stumbled into:
Prozac for Lovers : A mellow lounge duo doing classic hard rock cover songs. Any sensible music fan needs this in their collection.
Melissa Ferrick : Listen Hard : The latest CD of Boston acoustic folk rocker -- one of my favorite musicians, too.
Two Loons for Tea : Blue Suit : Hypnotic pop. Reminds me of Portishead and Fiona Apple.
Skarlet O'Hara : And I Quote : Funky-acoustic rock.
The SIBL Project : Songs Inspired By Literature : Proceeds from the sale of this CD benefit programs that promote and/or teach adults and families how to read.
posted by sooz at 6:06 PM