Kung Fu play with funky discipline on new Joyride CD
Kung Fu’s latest CD Joyride is packed with hard driving funk. It’s the kind of CD that will keep listeners moving from the dance floor to listening mode. Many moments find this band delivering lively, danceable music. Other moments find them shining as true musicians, offering a plethora of notes that dance, spiral, sing, or soar as these finely disciplined players take their sound in any direction they choose.
John Hall to present New England Blues Summit on Cape Cod
John Hall, known for producing blues festivals at the Marshfield Fair these last 21 years, will present the New England Blues Summit at Cape Cod’s Resort And Conference Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts on May 13, May 14, and May 15. Judging by the activities and artists lined up, this could be the year’s biggest blues event in our six state region.
Ontologics prove masterful on Drones From Home
Ontologics’s sophomore album Drones From Home finds the multi instrumentalist duo laying down all sorts of funky grooves, metalish guitar parts, and a whole lot of other magic all their own. Bulbous grooves, penetrating melodic phrases, and other worldly vocals are the order of the day for Ontologics.
Chris Trapper offers a lot on Symphonies Of Dirt & Dust
Chris Trapper’s latest CD, Symphonies Of Dirt & Dust, feature his smooth, soft, plaintive voice reaching across the soundscape with an ethereal quality. There is a dreamy quality to many of the easeful, mellow tracks here. His voice is a thing of beauty that seems to be coming to us from another, loftier, plain of existence. On his hookier tracks Trapper sings with that larger than quality that we associate with the larger names in the music. It certainly doesn’t hurt that producer Jason Meeker keeps the sound flowing smoothly throughout this musical journey.
Frank Viele Band rocked Spot Underground in Providence, RI
Frank Viele Band played a lively set at the Spot Underground in Providence, Rhode Island last Saturday night. Coming off of two wins in the New England Music Awards the previous week, Viele and company seemed emboldened by their latest recognition. They play several songs from their latest full length CD, Fall You Way, which, incidentally, won a Producer Of The Year award for their producer Vic Steffens at the same awards show.
Roots Of Creation offer much melodic joy and positive uplift with Livin Free
Roots Of Creation’s latest CD Livin Free is another offering of their grand, glorious sound. Horns, guitars, keyboards and a whole lot of other instrumentation create fun, upbeat waves of melodic joy while wrapping themselves around amicable reggae and ska grooves.
Fifth annual New England Music Awards was a dud
The fifth annual New England Music Awards was a tedious affair. The sounds system at Blue Ocean Music Hall was terrible, often dropping singers or instruments out of the mix or having them too low. The hosts were boring as hell, unless you don’t mind a pseudo-island Rastafarian with dreadlocks lecturing you on how you need to enjoy your life. Yeah, it got that bad.
Samantha Farrell creates beautiful music in her September Sun album
Boston’s Samantha Farrell certainly knows the sound she’s looking for in each song she composes and records. On some, she sounds like a traditional folk artist with just an acoustic guitar and vocals. On others, Farrell reminds of early 20th century jazz chanteuses. Yet, her earthy vocal, advanced techniques, personality, and songwriter prowess hold her entire September Sun album together, despite the various genres and musical elements she borrows from
Jamie Lynn Hart soars on the strength of amazing voice with The Let Go album
Jamie Lynn Hart’s latest CD The Let Go builds upon the success she has had with her previous vocal driven pop-rock CD. Hart’s powerful but smooth voice allows her to cruise through or belt through each of these 11 songs with equal aplomb. Driving rock, lovely ballads, mid tempo sultry blues, Hart makes these elements all hers with a voice that never lets go of the ear.
Bobby Radcliff on track to sell out Nelson’s Candies’ show April 15
Bobby Radcliff is on track to sell out his show at Nelson’s Candies/Local’s Café on tax day, April 15. That is just two weeks away, if anybody is looking to grab up the last four or five tickets. Radcliff is one of the biggest draws at the candy shop blues venue in beautiful Wilton, New Hampshire
