While gleefully watching Tom Brady dismantle the Colts’ defense (who’s deflated now, you rapscallions?), I bring to you October’s second installment of the weekly wrap-up! I promise, no more football references from this point on.
Rare Occasions Releases New Track
A band that occupies the space between alternative rock and punk, the recent Tufts grads released a new track this week on SoundCloud. A two-minute intense rocker, the track sounds like something from an aggressive, in-your-face Spoon (A fork? Or perhaps a sharp spork?). Titled “An Actuary Retires,” the song starts with a single jamming guitar and vocals. They are quickly joined by punctuated hits on the rest of the instruments before the song really gets rolling. The distorted vocals give the song extra attitude, and the track ends with an in-tempo whoop from a back-up vocalist.
Rare Occasions won the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest with their song “Dysphoric,” the same award (albeit in a different genre) that kick-started the career of then New England Conservatory students Lake Street Dive. Listen to the new track here.
Premiere of New Photocomfort Song
Local synth-pop group Photocomfort’s “Slow Dance” might be slow in tempo, but the energy that stirs beneath its surface is anything but typical of a song one might slow dance to. The song is patient, waiting to build throughout the track. It begins with only some echoic percussion taps accompanied by a mystical vocal line. Sparse instrumentation enters with the voice, a high synth and low synth in harmony, before slowly growing more complex throughout the track. “Slow Dance” is full of restraint, but you recognize the potential energy that’s there. Photocomfort played at CMJ in New York City last weekend, a music marathon we highlighted in last week’s wrap-up. Keep an eye on these guys.
WBUR Article Focuses on Closing of Local Arts Venues
In a recent article on wbur.org’s “The ARTery”, editor and critic Ed Siegel highlighted some Boston theaters and other fine arts institutions that are in danger of losing funding or performances. Siegel outlined the issues facing these mainstays of the Boston cultural scene and made some suggestions for how Mayor Marty Walsh can use his power to support the arts. The Wang and Shubert theaters, the Huntington Theatre Company, and the Colonial Theatre are all facing financial troubles.
Interested in learning more about this issue? Then join the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and other Bostonians at The Boston Latin School on Monday, November 2nd for a Town Hall Meeting. More information can be found here.
Music Festival, Boston Hassle Fest 7, Coming In Early November
For the seventh straight year, fellow local music blog Boston Hassle is organizing three days of music, this year from November 5th to 7th, with performances at the Cambridge Elks Lodge and Brighton Music Hall. Boston Hassle, an ardent supporter of local underground and “weird” music, has invited many local artists to perform this year. This group includes Screaming Females, Downtown Boys, and Flipper. Brave the cold and support local music! Do it!
New Found Audio Album
Local act Found Audio has released a full twelve-track album on their SoundCloud (find their audio here), their first release since 2011’s Chalk. The first track, Radiation, draws you in at first by featuring an electric guitar, lightly driving drums, vocals, and a keyboard that sounds like a sprightly organ. A banjo makes a guest appearance later in the song. I’m telling you guys, the banjo is in right now. If the avocado were an instrument right now, it would be a banjo.
Converse Sample Library Grows To Over 28,000 Tracks
Looking for samples to use in your music productions? Looking for samples that are also free? Then Converse, the same brand that brought you those shoes Larry Bird used to wear, has you covered. Converse has an online sample library of over 28,000 tracks recorded live in their own studios that you can use free of charge. They’ve got some pretty dope artists up there too, such as Cory Henry, the keyboardist from Snarky Puppy, the band that brought you this song.
Concert Coverage
Through Space and Time: Gardens and Villa
An Acoustic Evening: Lo Ya Tengo
Chatting With Artists
Local Spotlight: Yohannes (Formerly Royale The Band)
Diamond Thug Lands On Lovejoy Wharf
Premieres