Tag: live music

0 PREVIEW | The Boston Calling Festival | City Hall Plaza | 5/25/13-5/26/13

May 20, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Music News · New 'n' National · Rockin Rose Reports

PREVIEW | The Boston Calling Festival | City Hall Plaza | 5/25/13-5/26/13

By: Cassandra Chernin

Next weekend, direct in the middle of the city, Boston will host ‘Boston Calling’ – the first official music festival this town has ever seen. The brain-child of Brian Appel and Mike Snow formally of WFNX and the Boston Phoenix, ‘Boston Calling’ will feature everything from locally renowned Bad Rabbits to Grammy award winning band fun.

While other festivals pack in the acts what truly drew me to this festival was the 18 spectacularly picked artists. Each band or group is quality. The organizers of this festival (helped by the National member Aaron Dessner) picked artists that might not have the big name value but each act has a very special something. So, I’ve picked my top 5 favorites – but go see every band at ‘Boston Calling’ – it is sure to be something special.

Band: The Shins:
It’s relatively simple. Natalie Portman said it in Garden State, and I’ll say it again: “You gotta hear this one song. It’ll change your life. I swear.” While members have changed, lead singer James Mercer remains, and even after a brief (5 years!) interlude with Broken Bells, it is simple: The Shins are back. Their new album, Port of Morrow, really captures James’s lyrical prowess. I’ve heard rumors of lack luster performance, but I refuse to miss the band that coined ‘Australia’ and of course, ‘New Slang’.

Song: Simple Song
“I know that things can get really rough / when you go it alone / don’t go thinking you gotta be tough / and bleed like a stone. Could be there’s nothing else in our lives so critical / as this little home.

Band: Dirty Projectors
If you take the chance to listen to an average Dirty Projectors record, you’ll fall in love. The first song I ever heard wasn’t the oldest record from this eclectic band that has released seven full length albums but after hearing ‘Temecula Sunrise’ – I was hooked. With their pop influenced indie rock and memorable performances, you shouldn’t miss this group.

Song: Swing Lo Magellan
The album came out mid-2012 to considerable praise. You could hear this ease and please song in any time era, in any mood, and fall in love.

Band: Bad Rabbits
With their first full length LP released a mere week ago, these Boston natives on the way to stardom. This might be the last time they play a relatively small show – if they hit TD Garden next I wouldn’t be surprised. A genre bending R&B group, American Love is a great collection of lyrical and beat genius. You can’t help but dance to every tune. Bad Rabbits are also renowned for their on stage presence. You live in Boston, go to see them. That’s all.

Song: Dirty.
It might be ridiculous, it might be a newer song but this is a crowd pleaser to the end of time. I’m ready to dance, are you?

Band: Youth Lagoon
Wondrous Bughouse arrived in late February, early March to amazing reviews and critics alike agreed: this was an album to be remembered. With haunting songs, I’m incredibly excited to hear this album not in my headphones cramped at my desk working and zoning out on the MBTA but full in color, live, and let the sounds just wash over me.

Song: July
Not from the new album, but The Year of Hibernation song that has filled my dreams.
“If I had never let go, then only God knows where I would be know / I made a bridge between us then I slowly burned it / Five years ago, in my backyard I sang love away / Little did I know that real love had not quite yet found me”

Band: fun.
I’m going to say what everyone else isn’t going to say because fun. is just so mainstream and they won on the Grammys, etc. I’m so pumped to hear fun. live. Not only did I grow up with The Format (lead singer Nate Ruess former and catchy project), but I love when everyone knows the lyrics to every song. A crowd makes a show and this crowd is sure to be on point. Yes, some called the new album forgettable, but some called it special and I’m going to vote with them. There is just something about pop-punk with catchy choruses that just gets me. Sorry.

Song: Carry On
I reflect on what I said above. This song is going to be pure epicness: how can you end a show but not with chanting lyrics and guitar solos? I’m not sure.

I’m lucky to start “my music festival summer” off with ‘Boston Calling’ and the incredible line-up. Honorable mentions go to Andrew Bird, Portugal The Man, and MS MR.

0 Live and Local | School For Robots, Ryan Jackson Troika, Strange Changes | Precinct | 5/9/13

May 14, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Live and Local · Rockin Rose Reports

Live and Local | School For Robots, Ryan Jackson Troika, Strange Changes | Precinct | 5/9/13

Photos by: Anne Cook

SCHOOL FOR ROBOTS

RYAN JACKSON TROIKA

STRANGE CHANGES

0 New ‘n’ National | The Airborne Toxic Event | House of Blues | 5/10/13

May 13, 2013
Rockin Rose
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New ‘n’ National | The Airborne Toxic Event | House of Blues | 5/10/13

By: Stephanie Rose

The crowd was packed at the House of Blues and every time the music stopped they roared in anticipation for The Airborne Toxic Event to take the stage.

They played a number of songs off their latest album Such Hot Blood blended with a majority of classic crowd pleasers. The amount of crowd interaction by the band was staggering as they played with their hearts and souls start to finish.

The Airborne Toxic Event get better and better every time they take the stage with their heartfelt performance and unpredictable stage antics. As frontman, Mikel Jollett, sang “Happiness” he leaned into the crowd holding a lucky fan’s hand for balance. It seems to be a habit now of Mikel’s, at least in Boston, to come off stage for the show.

“I feel like fucking spiderman right now,” exclaimed Mikel.

While fans could hear Mikel talking it appeared he had disappeared from the stage climbing up the railing and over to the balcony. At one point he was hanging from the ledge and lifted himself back up walking through the crowd back onto the stage. Early in the show all the members of the band played almost into the crowd at the edge of the stage with their hit “Does This Mean Your Moving On?” Mikel continued to show not only his own vulnerability but appreciation for the fans when he stated, “As an artist this is all we have, all our blood, sweat and tears go into this and I can’t tell you all how gratifying this is so thank you so much.”

The most unforgettable and intimate part of the night was their passionate cover of Magnetic Field’s “The Book of Love”. Mikel climbed into the crowd once again and sat on the barricade leaving fans in awe. As the encore concluded, each band member was given the spotlight with solos and fans screamed with delight. The Airborne Toxic Event is not only a band but a family, sharing smiles, hugs, and love not only with each other but with their fans.

Check out the interview Mikel did last week on Alternative Rock Radio below. The show brings you your very own mixed tape featuring the best of new, old, and local every weekday from 12-3pm.

Airborne Toxic Event Gets Passionate On New Album, ‘Such Hot Blood’ (klli.cbslocal.com)

0 Live and Local | Parlour Bells, The Luxury, The Year Million | T.T. the Bears | 5/9/13

May 11, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Live and Local · Music News · Rockin Rose Reports

Live and Local | Parlour Bells, The Luxury, The Year Million | T.T. the Bears | 5/9/13

By: Stephanie Rose

As eager fans filtered in on a rainy Thursday night to see three gifted and benevolent bands at T.T the Bear’s – it felt like home.

The bill featured the dark romancing of Parlour Bells, the dynamic rock of The Luxury, and The Year Million’s unique fusion of alt-indie rock. The night served up a delicious menu that satisfied the musical appetite of every person in attendance.

Photo by: Derek Kouyoumjian

Parlour Bells paralyzed the crowd into a dreamlike state with their intoxicatingly seductive performance. Glenn di Benedetto, frontman of Parlour Bells, channeled David Bowie with his magnificent cover of “China Girl” and captured the hearts of the crowd as they were taken back to a time of glam rock. They’re premiering their upcoming music video for their latest single “Bachelor Hours” at The Pill in Allston on Friday, June 28th.

The Luxury’s dynamic performance is unmatchable as they connect with each other on stage and the crowd in a whole new way for rock ‘n’ roll. During “Seven Stories” the energy was through the roof as smiling fans jumped up and down and screamed out lyrics. With two new members, the band debuted, “Nobody With You” and never missed a beat. “I’ll never stop making music,” said a sweaty and euphoric front man, Jason Dunn. Music runs deep in Jason’s soul.

The boisterous rock of The Year Million closed out the night and kept the crowd alive and present. Their modernized cover of Depeche Mode’s “Never Let Me Down Again” was a highlight of the set. The night’s performance was bittersweet however, as one of their members, Bjorn –Atle Reme, would only be in town for a few weeks and is headed back to Norway. It is a rare occasion to see them all together and clearly they cherished the stage time together.

All you could see was smiles and hugs being exchanged as the lights came on at the end of the show. As last call approached there was no question that every person was musically satiated and would sleep soundly tonight.

0 New ‘n’ National | James Blake | House of Blues | 5/8/13

May 10, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Rockin Rose Reports · Music News · New 'n' National

New ‘n’ National | James Blake | House of Blues | 5/8/13

By: Cassandra Chernin

Last night at House of Blues, I had the honor and privilege of seeing James Blake live. Blake has been renowned for interweaving the genres of soul music and electronic. He is an extremely well trained musician who studied music at Goldsmiths, University of London and has worked with R&S Records – this education is clearly seen through his show.

Blake sits in a dim light, surrounded by fog, and strikes the piano. The stage is silent, enamored, and lost in the sound. And for the 90 minutes he plays and the crowd is taken on a journey.

“The shifting of beats, the intermittent bass, and Blake’s clear tremendous voice singing his melancholic lyrics semed to grip at the heart strings of every person.”

He doesn’t do dance. He takes this genre of music that spits out the now popular and mainstream dance floor hits and transforms it into a collection of eerie melodies. A song can continue on its slow beginning or change entirely – almost a dance beat. Blake manages to take an incredibly hard mellow electronic genre and creates a masterpiece of a show. Complete with soft and hard lighting, he was also joined by a drummer playing an electronic drum set and a guitarist who doubled on a synthesizer.

Photo by: Cassandra Chernin

James played multiple songs from James Blake and Retrograde including even CMYK a highlight that was a great interlude between the slower more mellow tunes. Every time a song ended, you never knew what was going to happen. Many shows follow a similar pattern highlights in the beginning and the end. You never knew with Blake what was going to come next.

As the night ended, Blake played “Retrograde” to roaring applause, crooning out the lyrics “You’re on your own / in a world you’ve grown / few more years to go / don’t let the hurdle fall” as the show came to a close. He returned quickly to play “The Wilhelm Scream” one of his most popular hits.

Finally, James Blake truly showed off his incredible talent as a musician and a singer – singing Joni Mitchell’s classic song “A Casie of You”. Alone on the stage, his voice carried through the House of Blues and wrapped everyone in a euphoric melancholy.

The crowd left House of Blues buzzing over the incredible performance and quality in James’s music. I without a doubt, will see him again soon.

James Blake – Retrograde (allnaturalbeats.com)
James Blake – Overgrown (franbotham.wordpress.com)
REVIEWED: James Blake – “Overgrown” (mattneric.com)
James Blake Performs ‘Retrograde’ on Letterman [Watch] (wxrt.cbslocal.com)
Digital Lion: The State of James Blake (frontpsych.com)

0 New ‘n’ National | Foxygen | Brighton Music Hall | 5/7/13

May 9, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Music News · New 'n' National · Rockin Rose Reports

New ‘n’ National | Foxygen | Brighton Music Hall | 5/7/13

By: Cassandra Chernin

“The lead singer of Foxygen is crazy.”

On a stunning May 7th, I headed over to the Brighton Music Hall for the first time to listen to Foxygen. I first heard their newest album, “We are the 21st Century Ambassadors for Peace and Magic” while sitting in my cubicle at work and was immediately hooked. Foxygen’s songs are reminiscent of another time, a retro-rock with psychedelic influences. It’s an album that you can be enjoying the background beats, and guitar licks so much that you have to listen a few times to even get the words (which are equally as important).

The opener was a band called Crumbs, hailing from Australia, whom I hadn’t had time to listen to before the show. They came on in matching creepy clown shirts with black lapels and buttons. The drummer (and lead singer) was rocking an ironic? red cowboy hat and the lead guitarist was rocking an impressive beard. You could tell Crumbs was influenced by the same retro-rock that had influenced Foxygen but hadn’t really figured out how to master their sound. In actuality, they will on this tour learn a ton from Foxygen and it’ll be great when the figure it all out. For right now, they tried to combine all the classic elements of the 60s and 70s and we were left with a ton of screaming and a band lacking in harmonic and musical elements.

Crowds started moving in after Crumbs left but still after a good forty minutes of stage changes, we were still waiting for Foxygen. The sold out show slowly filled to the brim and the heat started. An erie and Game of Thrones-esque intro song played as the stage darkened, and Foxygen emerged in all their 70s glory. The lead singer, Sam France, was wearing an impressive almost red velvet button down that flared at the pants, equally flared. Jonathan Rabo, his partner in crime, was sporting a super shiny button down and a top hat. They were joined onstage by Shaun Fleming on the drums, and two members from Crumbs playing guitar and bass.

France started the show, “This is the heartbreak 2013 tour. We are going to sing some song about emotions…and some about signs”.

He continued to ramble on about a cult and some witchcraft while the band worked to fix the broken bass. After a walk off and then a re-walk on (sans musical intro), Foxygen finally began.

They immediately changed from the calm band I had heard on the album. While there are full guitar solos and screaming on the album, the intensity Foxygen had on stage couldn’t be relayed into a recording. France was fantastic. His weird quirky hand motions, ability to change his voice from incredibly high, to super low as we are really shown in one of their hits “No Destruction”, and his interactions with the crowd made him in my mind, a perfect performer They played some “older” stuff from ‘Take The Kids Off Broadway’ which was made in 2011 with France and Rado during an NY trip that produced that slightly crazy and heavily influenced album by the Stones. Their full length album produced a much more refined sound that made Foxygen one of the bands to watch at SXSW.

Fans loved when they played “On Blue Mountain” as one of their first few songs. singing along with the chorus “I need it. I need it. I need it. I need it.”. The intro notes to their first single, “Shuggie”, came to roaring applause. The entire crowd at this point broke into a dance party during “If you believe in yourself you can free your soul” where the beat picks up and singing along.

France jumped around the stage, playing multiple instruments, sometimes singing, and sometimes just talking the lyrics. He had an immense stage presence, you were drawn to look at him, to watch him, and to really embrace who he was as a performer and a person. His jokes, proclaiming “Wait, guys, can you quiet down for a bit…oh wait no this is really loud,” before a full out jam session made him feel like your friend.

During one jam, France went to bang the cymbal as the drummer Shaun asked “What song are we playing” and purposely knocked over half his drum set. He played the rest of the song with half a set. Foxygen was a fun on stage.

Don’t forget their 70s influence: France continued to to preach that “It’s all about love, that’s the only thing that really feels real” despite his insistence that his heart was broken. After that proclamation, it was no surprise that the new song they played seemed to be more subdued and emotional. Lyrics included “don’t you know it’s not the same now” seemed to be about a particularly harsh break up.

The encore wailing encouraged the crowd to do some intense head banging by the crowd. Due to the schizo influenced stage performance by France and a fantastic sound from the drummer and the guitarist, Foxygen knocked this performance out of the park.

As Sam France didn’t heist to say, “We (as in you, and me, and the whole crowd) are the 21st century ambassadors of peace and magic.”

The Orwells Playing Brighton Music Hall On May 6 (klyam.com)
Song of the Day: Foxygen – No Destruction (kexp.org)
Foxygen – The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (blackcirclereviews.wordpress.com)
So, WTF Happened to Foxygen at SXSW? (boiseweekly.com)
Sweetlife Preview: Foxygen (rhymeetreason.com)

0 Live and Local | Sidewalk Driver, The Shills, Spacehog | Great Scott | 5/4/13

May 8, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Live and Local · Rockin Rose Reports

Live and Local | Sidewalk Driver, The Shills, Spacehog | Great Scott | 5/4/13

Photos by: Anne Cook

SIDEWALK DRIVER

THE SHILLS

SPACEHOG

0 Live and Local | Vending Machetes, Perhaps, Moniker and Bent Knee | Church | 5/3/13

May 6, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Live and Local · Rockin Rose Reports

Live and Local | Vending Machetes, Perhaps, Moniker and Bent Knee | Church | 5/3/13

Photos by: Anne Cook

VENDING MACHETES

PERHAPS

MONIKER

BENT KNEE

0 Alternative Rock Radio Show – 3/27/13 Edition

March 27, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Music News · Rockin Rose Reports

This Week On Alternative Rock Radio Show!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
This week on Alternative Rock Radio, bringing you your very own mixed tape via podcast! We’ll be featuring MORE local music by off of Electric Lighthouse Recording’s Spring Mix. After that, we will have brand new music by Kavinsky, The Strokes, and Icona Pop!

GOONS (LIVE ACOUSTIC AT SXSW 2013) – MONA

PARTNERS IN CRIME – THE STROKES

Catch the latest podcasts and news here: Alternative Rock Radio and Rockin Rose Reports!

0 Alternative Rock Radio Show – 3/20/13 Edition

March 20, 2013
Rockin Rose
· Alternative Rock Radio · Music News · Rockin Rose Reports

This Week On Alternative Rock Radio Show!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

This week on Alternative Rock Radio, bringing you your very own mixed tape via podcast! We’ll be featuring local music by off of Electric Lighthouse Recording’s Spring Mix, you’ll have to listen in to see who made the cut. After that, we will have brand new music by Vampire Weekend, Savages, and No Joy

LUNAR PHOBIA – NO JOY

LATE AT NIGHT – BUFFALO TOM

Catch the latest podcasts and news here: Alternative Rock Radio and Rockin Rose Reports!

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