Cambridge, MA - When audiences give performers a standing ovation, sometimes it feels obligatory rather than congratulatory. In the case of the four actor/musicians performing in "Woody Sez" at the American Repertory Theater in Harvard Square, the applause and accolades heard at Wednesday’s press opening were not only well deserved, they were rewarded with an encore.
Quincy, MA – Sonny Ochs has been producing concerts for a long time. A polite reporter doesn’t ask a woman her exact age. But since it’s well known that she participated in the first of many musical events dedicated to her brother Phil in Greenwich Village, New York City, in 1983, let’s just say 28 going on 29 years. She started organizing the shows herself the following year.
Only two words can describe Rangda’s performance at Church of Boston on Wednesday: mind melt. This super-trio of guitarists Sir Richard Bishop (Sun City Girls), Ben Chasny (Six Organs of Admittance), and drummer Chris Corsano (Bjork; Jandek) have been gigging together since their 2010 EP release False Flag (Drag City), though this collaboration has been a long time coming.
On tour following the release of her third album, Tramp (Jagjaguar; 2012), singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten still manages to maintain an intimacy with her audience that is reminiscent of the type of show you might expect at the small bars and neighborhood venues where the Brooklyn-based musician got her start. Such was the case at her appearance at the Paradise Rock Club on Thursday.
Somerville, Mass. - Photo essay of the 6th Annual HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands on Saturday.
After going from lawyer to folk singer to minister, the Rev. Fred Small is back in Cambridge, singing. This time his concert is not going on the road and there will be only one a year. The proceeds will benefit the fund for diversity and accessibility at his congregation, First Parish in Cambridge (Unitarian Universalist).
While Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray and a handful of Democratic Senators were busy outflanking their Republican colleagues on the right in the we hours of the morning of May 27 by crafting the most conservative immigration measure to hit the state in a good long time, Zac de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine was equally busy spearheading a musical boycott of Arizona, where the most draconian immigration law in the country (SB 1070) has already prompted significant outrage.
Capitol/EMI is the smallest of the so-called Big Four major record companies. Like the other majors EMI been bleeding money over the last several years, but EMI has been bleeding talent as well, having lost signature acts such as the Rolling Stones and Radiohead since their 2007 purchase by private equity company Terra Firma. Rumor has it that Queen is talking to other labels. And EMI just lost a suit over downloading to Pink Floyd, an act that has been with the company for over 40 years.
It is difficult to peruse any avenue of pop culture these days without running across a video, a review, or at least some commentary on Lady Gaga. She’s everywhere. Granted she scored five top ten singles in 2009. And, truth be told, her opening performance at this year’s Grammys with (Sir) Elton John was captivating, if overblown.
