Music
by Matthew Dube | Aug 6, 2009 | Music
Geography plays an integral role in Joe Pernice's debut novel, It Feels So Good When I Stop. While the majority of the protagonist's real-time action takes place on Cape Cod, most of his flashbacks—a large part of the intertwined narrative—occur in...
by Gary Carra | Aug 6, 2009 | Music
Sure, there are occasional bright spots. But by and large, the steady sterilization of the music biz is as depressing as it is obvious. It's almost overwhelming at times, and there's seemingly no one to turn to.But… wait… look. At The Elevens this...
by Jeremy D. Goodwin | Aug 6, 2009 | Music
Billy Bragg has veered off-and-on, for more than 25 years, between a full-band approach and the pointed clamor of his solo electric guitar. He's toggled between topical protest songs and gritty, non-romanticized ruminations on relationships. But in the end...
by Jennifer Burwell | Aug 13, 2009 | Music
John Boilard and Michael Swiatlowski have booked over 200 concerts in their hometown of Palmer, but they are not your usual booking agents. For one, they don't make money on the shows they organize; currently, all door money is split between the venue and the...
by Advocate Staff | Aug 13, 2009 | Music
Cedar Hill RefugeesPale Imperfect Diamond(Cedar Hill)Think bluegrass music is predictable? Check out Pale Imperfect Diamond, the brainchild of Jack Clift and John Carter Cash. With help from icons such as Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart and Randy Scruggs, they put...
by Gary Carra | Aug 13, 2009 | Music
The Flyer rollercoaster and Dinosaur Den may remain extinct, but thanks to the recent purchase/renovation by the Iron Horse Entertainment Group (IHEG), the hills of Holyoke will once again be filled with the sounds of music.As oldies DJ Phil D recalls, in addition to...
by Advocate Staff | Aug 13, 2009 | Music
Elvis Presley loved Hawaii, so why shouldn't his impersonators? This week the Majestic Theater in West Springfield presents Elvis… A Hawaiian Holiday, starring Elvis tribute artist Ray Guillemette, aka A Ray of Elvis. The show features Elvis' beach and...
by Advocate Staff | Aug 13, 2009 | Music
Shall we welcome back Green Arrow, Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter? Well, no, it's not that Justice League, but the punk band of the same name returns to the Northampton stage on their "Bridezilla Reunion Tour." Why Bridezilla? Because (returning)...
by Tom Sturm | Aug 20, 2009 | Music
In rock 'n' roll, the idea of the "supergroup," incorporating several big players into one team sort of like an all-star game does in baseball, probably began with The Yardbirds or Blind Faith. The concept is not by any means new, and in the Pioneer...
by Matthew Dube | Aug 20, 2009 | Music
The members of Valley band Whyte Kastles boast some impressive tours of rock duty on their resumes: Sebadoh, Deluxx, Feathers, Sunburned Hand of the Man. The quartet—guitarist/vocalist Bob Fay, guitarist Greg Petrovato, noisemaker Conrad Capistran and Amanda...
by Gary Carra | Aug 20, 2009 | Music
Many was the flashback experienced at the original Woodstock. And goodness knows what the hell you saw if you ate that tainted brown acid, but rumor has it you could travel through time as easily as Back To The Future's Marty McFly.For this, the 19th installment...
by Rachel Holliday Smith | Aug 20, 2009 | Music
Justin Coen joined his first band at age 13 while growing up in Springfield. After that, he "played in a slew of rock bands," put out some albums and toured around the States and Canada. But what he loves most isn't power chords or loop...
by Tom Sturm | Aug 20, 2009 | Music
Around this time last summer, the editorial staff of The Advocate (including James Heflin, Kendra Thurlow and me) was deeply immersed in what I've come to call the "2008 Easthampton Beard Summit," a perhaps unlikely collaboration with the editorial staff...
by Gary Carra | Aug 27, 2009 | Music
It may be called MySpace, but it sure seems to be featuring a lot of Western Mass guys of late. Two area bands of note were featured in recent promotions by the internationally-renowned social networking site this month.The first, Dinosaur Jr., was tapped to perform...
by Matthew Dube | Aug 27, 2009 | Music
The Valley arts community lost a caring and ardent supporter last week when Flywheel member David Banigan-White (pictured above with daughter Charlotte) passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at his Easthampton home on Sunday, Aug. 9.David was instrumental in the...
by Advocate Staff | Aug 27, 2009 | Music
1991- Woodstock: The Performance Peace1992 – Beyond Karaoke1993 – Dick Clark Look Park1994 – Rock and Roll Heaven1995 – Way Off Broadway1996 – Night at the Opry1997 – Tuesday Night Fever1998 – Oy Vegas1999 –...
by Gary Carra | Sep 3, 2009 | Music
What it was: a lifelong fan/fellow musician speaking to a world-class player who inspired his craft and pushed the instrument they both play to previously unheard levels of proficiency.What it probably sounded like to a casual observer for the first 20 minutes: a...
by Matthew Dube | Sep 3, 2009 | Music
Valley resident Michael Barrett wears a great many hats: musician, producer, visual artist, promoter, producer and DJ. His current musical focus is noise outfit Belltonesuicide, a band now entering its second decade. The group, inspired by ultra-prolific experimental...
by James Heflin | Sep 3, 2009 | Music
The band Sylphid creates airy soundscapes full of wobbly electronic sounds, snippets of static, bells, and droning chords. At other times, more conventional instrumentation enters the mix, though still in dreamy style. Their intriguing, slightly disorienting...
by Advocate Staff | Sep 3, 2009 | Music
The Beastie BoysIll Communication (reissue)(Capitol Records)As a latecomer to Beastie Boys fandom, I never got around to buying all their albums. I knew lots of tracks from Ill Communication, but I didn't experience the entirety of the disc until this reissue...
by Tom Sturm | Sep 10, 2009 | Music
This weekend, thousands of hours of diligent rehearsal, ounces of reed-moistening saliva and kilograms of rosin culminate in the staging of the Five College New Music Festival Weekend, which features four concerts in three days. Coordinated by University of...
by Matthew Dube | Sep 10, 2009 | Music
"Rock God Dave" LeClair is a firm believer in the idea that humor does, in fact, belong in music. His former long-running trio, Rock Gods From Chicopee, was known for its comically-twisted, often bizarre subject matter delivered joyfully over power-poppy,...
by Advocate Staff | Sep 10, 2009 | Music
CAVOBright Nights Dark Days(Reprise)It's a little difficult to sort out whether CAVO is a rock band or a pop band. The singing, though skilled, is breathy and smacks of contrived emotion. The dirty-toned guitars play with ascending octave runs like you might find...
by Advocate Staff | Sep 10, 2009 | Music
Sunn O)))Monoliths & Dimensions(Southern Lord)The seventh album from Sunn O))) serves as both the culmination of the duo's massive guitar drone sound and a surprising departure. The aptly titled Monoliths & Dimensions features four tracks that last...
by Gary Carra | Sep 17, 2009 | Music
There is no "line" for him to monitor in Vegas or elsewhere… and he doesn't have to worry about anyone taking a dive or shaving points.But for all intents and purposes, Big E talent buyer John J. Juliano, Jr. is in the handicapping business. And...
by Advocate Staff | Sep 17, 2009 | Music
Miles OkazakiGenerations(Sunnyside)The new album from jazz guitarist and composer Miles Okazaki is an ambitious nine-song suite that was recorded in a single continuous take. Featuring three saxes, electric guitar, bass, and drums, Generations conjures a hypnotic and...
by Gary Carra | Sep 17, 2009 | Music
One of the region's fastest ascending female-foursomes, Antigone Rising, has a new member at its helm.Valley fans got a sneak peek at powerhouse vocalist Nini Camps, who was "sitting in" for then-singer Cassidy at the time, when Antigone opened for The...
by Michael Cimaomo | Sep 22, 2009 | Music
If you ever find yourself in Cambridge on a Saturday afternoon, be sure to stop by The Plough and Stars pub on Massachusetts Avenue. Odds are you'll see singer/ songwriter Josh Lederman, who's been holding down a seat there since his days with popular...
by Michael Cimaomo | Sep 24, 2009 | Music
What's the best way to top getting voted Grand Band Slam winner for best new band in 2008? If you're local drummer Bill Nacewicz, the answer is: form another group and win the same award again in 2009. As part of the band God the Robot, Bill and his fellow...
by Gary Carra | Sep 24, 2009 | Music
Forgive David Foster if he wasn't nearly as disgusted, amused or intrigued as everyone seemed to be over Guns N' Roses finally releasing Chinese Democracy late last year. For starters, he's never really been a big Axl guy. And even more to the point,...
by Advocate Staff | Sep 24, 2009 | Music
Antje DuvekotThe Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer(Black Wolf)The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer is one of the best records of 2009. It is moody, introspective, dark, exquisitely crafted and brilliantly produced by Richard Shindell. Duvekot plays the tightrope...
by Tom Sturm | Sep 24, 2009 | Music
The name Ralph E. Carroll doesn't necessarily evoke an overwhelming urge to "throw the goats" into the air in a gesture that screams rock 'n' roll; that's why this traveling crooner decided to go with Eddie Holly, a moniker that evolved...
by Mark Roessler | Sep 24, 2009 | Music
"This song is Copyrighted in U.S., under Seal of Copyright # 154085, for a period of 28 years, and anybody caught singin it without our permission, will be mighty good friends of ourn, cause we don't give a dern. Publish it. Write it. Sing it. Swing to it....
by Matthew Dube | Sep 24, 2009 | Music
Led by dual songwriters Matt Hunter and Peyton Pinkerton, Valley-based band New Radiant Storm King has been blasting its brand of angular, anthemic indie rock for two full decades. The two longtime friends—who both also sing and shred guitar in their...
by Advocate Staff | Sep 24, 2009 | Music
Singer/SongwriterElla Longpre/ Dust SaviorHometown: Northampton, California, MichiganYear formed: 2007Ella Longpre (vocals, guitar, keys, other)What’s the name of the last song you wrote?It’s called “don’t you mercy mercy me,” and...
by Advocate Staff | Oct 1, 2009 | Music
Ad Frank & the Fast Easy WomenYour Secrets Are Mine Now(ArchEnemy)His music is catchy and clever, but from the sound of it, Ad Frank would make a lousy boyfriend—almost every track on Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women's new album is a case against...
by Tom Sturm | Oct 1, 2009 | Music
Easthampton has spawned a number of music stores in the past few years, and the most centrally located is probably Cottage Street's Rhythm Section. Originally focused on carrying drum and percussion products, the store has expanded its inventory to include...
by Matthew Dube | Oct 1, 2009 | Music
It turns out Valley band Problem With Dragons really do have an issue with the mythical creatures that inhabit their moniker."We just have a problem with dragons," says guitarist, songwriter and lead singer Robert "Robo" Ives. "Show us someone...
by James Heflin | Oct 1, 2009 | Music
It's always entertaining to watch the Grand Band Slam process unfold. First, readers nominate their favorite bands—lots and lots of readers. That stage offers an in-depth look at the farthest corners of the Valley's enormous population of musicians,...
by Gary Carra | Oct 2, 2009 | Music
Around these parts, local blues-pop-rock practitioners Group Deville have built a reputation for being almost as classic—and certainly as classy—as the iconic Cadillac that inspired their moniker.The veteran Valley band celebrates a decade of delivering...
by Advocate Staff | Oct 8, 2009 | Music
The following is the schedule for the October 10, 2009 Grand Band Slam concert to be held at Max Cap in Chicopee. There will be three stages at the event: one outside and two indoors. RAIN OR SHINE! Note: this schedule is subject to change. Check back often...
by Tom Sturm | Oct 8, 2009 | Music
I suppose that in some ways it's only logical that people who can't hear are fascinated by music. Think about it: music is a thing that most of us take for granted, a powerful, deeply meaningful and continuous presence in our lives, a soundtrack to good times...
by Gary Carra | Oct 8, 2009 | Music
Many is the musician who has been celebrated in this very column. In fact… hey… it's a music column, people. And your friendly neighborhood Crawler can't think of a single instance in more than a decade of scribing it when it did not highlight a...
by Advocate Staff | Oct 8, 2009 | Music
Benjamin CarrSums(RasB Music)Vermont-based musician Benjamin Carr knows his way around a drum kit. And as it turns out, he knows his way around the recording studio, too. After providing percussion for several New England acts (including Mo Ambesa and Soul Design),...
by Advocate staff | Oct 15, 2009 | Music
The Mountain GoatsThe Life of the World to Come(4AD)The latest Mountain Goats album features Bible verses in place of song titles, but this isn't some simple profession of faith. While the songs are shot through with shards of biblical poetry, they're also...
by James Heflin | Oct 15, 2009 | Music
Four years ago, Easthampton-based Red Door Exchange were on the cover of the Advocate, just after releasing their first full-length recording. After touring to support that album, the band went on a lengthy hiatus, but they're back with a new album called August....
by Tom Sturm | Oct 15, 2009 | Music
Adam Greenberg is no stranger to the Valley. He's done his time living here and playing in several area bands with the likes of Jose Ayerve and Henning Ohlenbusch, to name a couple. Now Greenberg hangs his hat in the Big Apple and gigs under the moniker Senator.A...
by Michael Cimaomo | Oct 15, 2009 | Music
Thanks to the Valley's status as home to numerous institutions of higher learning, there is a treasure trove of college radio stations just waiting to be discovered deep in the far reaches of your FM radio dial.Serving the Springfield area is WSCB (89.9 FM). This...
by Matthew Dube | Oct 15, 2009 | Music
Attending an Eric Hnatow show is like placing a quarter into one of those toy-dispensing supermarket vending machines: you never know what plastic egg might come spilling out—a spider ring, a super-bouncy ball, a temporary rub-on dinosaur tattoo.While...
by Advocate Staff | Oct 22, 2009 | Music
Yo La TengoPopular Songs(Matador)Yo La Tengo's Popular Songs opens with the promise of something new. "Here to Fall" features dramatic, swooning strings pitted against processed organ drones, a thrilling combination of '70s soul swagger and modern...
by Tom Sturm | Oct 22, 2009 | Music
Having begun as something of a randomly assembled, overtly casual supergroup, World's Greatest Dad has gradually transformed into something really, really cool. Having just won the Advocate's Grand Band Slam award for Folk (which hardly describes them), WGD...
by Gary Carra | Oct 22, 2009 | Music
Like any aspiring musician with a newly pressed studio effort, Shelburne Falls' Seth Glier has dreams of gold and platinum. He's just looking to obtain his precious metal without leaving a trace of a carbon footprint."There's so much waste that gets...
by Michael Cimaomo | Oct 22, 2009 | Music
After finding inspiration in the winding waters of the Connecticut River, 12 songwriters compete in Greenfield for a $300 first prize and bragging rights as the 2009 winner of the Connecticut River Song Contest finals. In a live concert featuring all the nominees,...
by Gary Carra | Oct 22, 2009 | Music
Considering that he often parades around stage in full-length multicolored jackets, used to play a triple-necked guitar that had a body in the shape of heart, and generally executes otherworldy compositions, licking as if he actually had a third arm—the words...
by Gary Carra | Oct 29, 2009 | Music
Singer Doron Monk Flake wishes there was a simple trick he could share with his fellow musicians for landing such treats as an opening slot for Living Colour/Saul Williams Halloween night—as he and his merry band of Nutmeg State funk rockers The Smyrk will do...
by Amy Littlefield | Oct 29, 2009 | Music
For a small college, Smith supports a booming music scene. On Thursday nights once a month, the Goldstein Lounge in Smith's campus center vibrates with laid-back coffeehouse stylings served up by a mix of artists. The Thursday-night series, dubbed Jittery's...
by Advocate Staff | Oct 29, 2009 | Music
DestroyerBay of Pigs(Merge)When we last saw Destroyer, Dan Bejar and his merry men were stuck in the stylistic cul-de-sac of Trouble in Dreams, an album that spun familiar variations on their glam rock sound. This new EP, released digitally and on vinyl, breaks that...
by Matthew Dube | Oct 29, 2009 | Music
This year's Valley Advocate Grand Band Slam singer/songwriter winner Ella Longpre has been honing her craft for almost as long as she can remember. The Northampton songwriter and multi-instrumentalist remembers being a young child, gazing wistfully at an...
by Matthew Dube | Oct 29, 2009 | Music
Before launching into the opening song of his new band's debut show on a recent Tuesday night at The Elevens, Matt Silberstein took a moment to thank those friends who had turned out to see them play. More importantly, he acknowledged the one who couldn't make...
by Gary Carra | Nov 5, 2009 | Music
When he's not making gold records, he's splattering the silver screen with a high-grossing horror flick he's either written, directed or both.While it is admittedly becoming less and less novel for today's artists to tackle such hybrid careers, shock...
