A week ago I posted my second list of some of my favorite songs. I stuck to nationally and internationally known bands, even though I’m a local greater-Boston/New England based music journalist, to insure they were songs everybody would recognize. Just the other day I had a realization that the younger generation would sum up with the expression “Ah-duh!” Since it is my job as a greater-Boston/New England music journalist to introduce people to new music from my local scene, I thought I would shift focus. Now I have come up with what will be the first in a series of lists of songs from my favorite local artists. Ah-duh! Favorite songs by local artists:
“Foghorn” by Erinn Brown. Brown composed this haunting tune around a series of clever twists and turns in the music. She also has a voice that can handle the tone and timbre needed for this eerie tale of being marooned, in more ways than one. Cellist Daniel Rowe creates a haunting backdrop here.
“Leap In The Dark” by Julie Dougherty. It seems, at first glance, like a simple song anybody can relate to, but further listens reveals more in depth knowledge of being paralyzed by fear.
“To Give” by My Silent Bravery. This is just a fun song that pulls you in with its sweet rhythms and pleasing voice then uplifts your mood with its positive, up beat message. I just feel good as a human being every time I hear this.
“Gasoline Can” by The Collisions. We all know people like the guy this song is about. They burn bridges everywhere they go and subsequently find they have fewer places to land. Scarier still, they seem to know exactly what they’re doing. The raw emotion of the song feels like vintage punk from the 1970s.
“I’m Going Down” as performed live by classic rock-blues cover band Common Knowledge. The song is always a high point of this New Hampshire band’s shows. With bass player Bill Ingalls handling the lead vocals, this band does justice to the Freddie King recording.
“Georgia On My Mind “as performed live by Mama Kicks. New England’s most popular and respected cover band perform a beautiful rendition of Ray Charles’ timeless classic. The players finesse the hell out of each musical note and lead vocalist Lisa Guyer is a New England treasure.
“Damn Your Eyes” by Lisa Guyer Band. That‘s right. Guyer gets in twice. Wanna make something of it? Too bad. She is a powerhouse vocalist that I’m very familiar with. With incredible assistance from Barry Goudreau, Guyer nails the raw emotive power of this song and her vocal work is so hot it’s on fire.
“Funny Ha Ha” by Starr Faithfull. Jodee Frawlee’s killer guitar work and fetching vocals are fulfilled here by her clever songwriting techniques. You can feel the immense talent of this power trio as they take you through the twists and turns of their original number, and they take the curves up on two wheels.
“Scroo Cooking‘” by Lisa Marie. The ubiquitous blues chanteuse has a lot of fun with this metaphorical tale of cooking, some of which takes place in the kitchen, some of which takes place in other rooms.
“Brilliant Chameleon” by Stefilia’s Stone. Carrie Rowan and Adrienne Fawkes apply their beautiful voices well to the grooves in this clever, hooky duet.
“Devil In The Rhythm” by Delta Generators. Lead vocalist Craig Rawding belts this one with true bluesy abandon. Guitarist Charlie O’Neal drops dollops of delicious, greasy slide work all over the rambunctious beat.
“My Old Garage” by Don Cambpell. Campbell hit’s the nail on the head in this common tale of a married man who has control over only one part of his house, his garage. Married male homeowners everywhere will see eye to eye with Campbell on this one. His handsome vocal and affectionate feeling in the music will make you feel right at home, albeit in the garage.
“Man Down” by Alley Stoetzel. I only heard Stoetzel sing this once, last summer at Smoken’ Joe’s BBQ & Blues in Boston. Stoetzel chose Smoken’ Joe’s fifth anniversary party to debut the startling good new material from an upcoming E.P. Her masterful control over all things vocal in this eerie, moody murder song was amazing. She created a wide swath of emotion with rangy vocal gymnastics.
“Rollin’ And Tumblin’” by Tokyo Tramps. Those really nice blues musicians from Japan hit the blues rumble sound just right in this feisty number.
“Tiger Suit” by The Everyday Visuals. Chris Pappas is blessed with an odd, smooth timbre and the players crank out an unusual spiral of notes that feel rooted in 1960s experimentation. You wonder if these guys are high on some really good shit or if they’re from another galaxy.
“Circus Wheel” by Jen Thayer. Thayer’s tale of being unable to let go of a bad man who just makes her hot is honest, intense, and direct and the circus themed keyboard line feels more ominous each time I hear this song.
“Religion” by Beyond Blonde. Lisa Markovich is expressive and vibrant as she tells off the kind of people who want to spoon feed us their own take on matters of faith. She also builds a powerful vocal arc here.
“Little Drummer Boy” as recorded by Don Campbell. Campbell’s take on the traditional Christmas song adds a rocker’s edge to things.
“A Folk Singer’s GPS” by Tom Smith. Smith is endearing and hilarious as he dispenses his humor about life’s funny and unexpected twists and turns. He sums up these life changes with one overly familiar word: Recalculating.
“Ja Ja Opobo” by Bellevue Cadillac. This song, inspired by a true Nigerian king exiled to the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, is amusing and endearing. The rhythms too are irresistible, infectious, charming.
“Long Way To Harlan” by Geoff Bartley. Bartley shows his compassion for the coal mining community of eastern Kentucky in his song. After coal mining, moonshine is the biggest industry in those parts. There’s a sense of adventure and intrigue as Bartley describes how the shiners run by night with their headlights down. Lauck Benson’s banjo, Kimber Ludiker’s fiddle, and Bartley’s Resonator instruments give this song a great vintage feel as you picture the shiners carrying out their clandestine but economically necessary missions.
“Sweetie Pie” by A Ton Of Blues. The call and response moments in the chorus are the pinnacle of this song’s warm embrace of old blues idioms.
“The Reverend” by Travis Colby. Colby’s ode to his beloved friend and fellow musician/composer Jerry Paquette is called “The Reverend.” Colby has an earnest, soulfulness in his vocal as he sings of the straight-talking, two-fisted musical genius from the north country. Colby’s organ is a steady cool of chords while his guitar work blasts off into a spasm of talent, expression, and precision, like how he learned it from ‘the reverend.’ This one rocks blues guitar, blues organ, blue piano, and blues groove with a fierce determination that indicate it must be a joy to see Travis Colby Band tackle this one in their live gigs.
“Mystery Train-Tigerman” by The Reverend Jerry Paquette live. Paquette plays like an undiscovered Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughn. He has the kind of guitar power that most guitarist can only dream about. Rooted in blues and other rootsie material, the Rev. Paquette plays it real and is one of the world’s best guitarists.
“Pennies” by Kayla Ringelheim. “Pennies” sprawls in gracefully with self-restraint in Ringelheim’s soft, poignant vocal approach. This turns the song, especially during the chorus, into an irresistible, infectious gem. Gentle piano and a light touch of synthesized strings keep the listener engaged, ushering the listener right up to that sweet, memorable chorus.
“Hey Joe” as recorded by Joyce Andersen. The violinist tackles the Jimi Hendrix version of “Hey Joe” in her own special way. It is definitely one of the coolest sounds this reviewer has ever heard when Andersen begins the assertive low end rhythmic intro on her electric violin. She nails the twisty hard rock groove before pressing out some fine bits of melodic phrase sooner after. She also fabricates an electronically enhanced male vocal to duet with her, making it sound similar to the familiar Hendrix timbre. Andersen has a field day when she gives this old Hendrix sound quite a workout.
“Heavy In The Levee” by Cheryl Aruda. Aruda is soulful, spiritual, and she just belts like the best of them.
“Billy” by Three Day Threshold. It’s the story of a truck driving clown, his name’s Billy, and he’s gay. That should give you an idea of the rambunctious hillbilly fun that this country-punk-rockabilly Boston band has with this original. It’s also a highlight of the band’s live show.
“Over The Rainbow” as performed live by Elle Gallo. Gallo closes out all of her live shows with this timeless classic. She infuses it with hearty fulsomeness as the song relates to key themes in her life.
The above list was just an off the top of my head random thought up thing. If you don’t see your name and your song or your favorite local band’s song on it, it only means I didn’t come up with it during a random search of my memory. The list was written in no particular order. I only hope I have given a good sampling of what is available to music listeners in our own special New England music scene, possibly the best music scene in the country.
