Rather than sit at home and worry about The Rapture, I decided to head back to Boston to check out the 18th annual Earthfest. It was such a nice day, I wasn’t going to judge, and I hadn’t seen the sun in so long I forgot what it was like to wear shorts. Meeting up with some friends, we made the trek down. This year’s lineup: up and comers Atomic Tom, 90’s rockers Sponge, video innovators OK Go and Live’s lead singer Ed Kowalczyk.
To be honest with you all, I didn’t see the first two bands due to
Earthfest 2011, DCR Hatch Shell, Boston, 5/21/2011
by J Frazzetta May 31st, 2011 | Concert Review, Emerging Artists, Music Festivals
We Used to Love Our Music
by Jason Lightner May 27th, 2011 | Music Opinions, Retail Music
Music as a personal hobby has become a different beast over the past few decades. It used to be that when you wanted a particular song or wanted to support a particular band, you ran out to the record store and got their album. We used to hang out in record shops; we'd talk to other people about what bands we preferred and what their message was. We used to love our music.
The marketing execs and music industry monkey-suit men grabbed music by the throat and took what used to be an art-form and battered it until it became
The marketing execs and music industry monkey-suit men grabbed music by the throat and took what used to be an art-form and battered it until it became
Weezer, Bank of America Pavilion, 5/19/11
by J Frazzetta May 24th, 2011 | Concert Review
Returning to Boston for a proper tour and not highlighting one of their albums, Weezer proved to be a ray of sunshine for a cold, wet evening. If you asked me in 2002 to describe Rivers Cuomo, I would have told you he was shy and clutched his guitar. In 2005, he was more spirited and engaged the audience more often and back in December he was jumping around and climbing on speakers.
A lot has changed in the last decade since Weezer reformed; now we see Rivers running through the crowd, throwing bottles of water on the stage,
A lot has changed in the last decade since Weezer reformed; now we see Rivers running through the crowd, throwing bottles of water on the stage,
Girl, I Wanna Take You to a Gay Bar
by Jason Lightner May 20th, 2011 | Music Opinions
No, I'm not going to be reviewing Electric Six, although that should probably be on my list of things to do. Instead, I'm going to tell a short story. You see, almost two months ago I went out with some co-workers and my girlfriend to a gay bar/club in Baltimore called Grand Central. It was an interesting night to say the least, but I won't be going into any of the more risqué details. Instead, I'm going to muse on the music and atmosphere of that night.
You see, I don't really enjoy going out to nightclubs, or
You see, I don't really enjoy going out to nightclubs, or
Explosions in the Sky: Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
by J Frazzetta May 17th, 2011 | Album Review, Music Opinions, New Music, Rock
The last time I was in Newbury Comics to pick up a new release I gave myself a challenge: pick a new release by a band you didn’t know anything about. I used some simple criteria: name, promo stickers and clerk recommendation. With a band name like Explosions in the Sky, a sticker that had reviews from Filter and Mojo, then a clerk mentioning it was a solid album from an instrumental rock band; it fit my criteria.
Explosions are a four piece from Texas and have been together since 1999. Unlike Mogwai or Tortoise, Explosions seem to stay
Explosions are a four piece from Texas and have been together since 1999. Unlike Mogwai or Tortoise, Explosions seem to stay