March 2009 Archives

Still basking in the afterglow of Graham Parker's solo show at Tupelo last night, I asked a friend, "Why can't a room like this make it in Lowell?" Come May 1st, we may all have a chance to find out when Hot Day at the Zoo christen the"Friday Night Concert Series" at Gemstones, Lowell's hottest new night spot. Upstairs from the Blue Shamrock, Gemstones is an ultra cool room with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, a huge stage, and a 300+ capacity complete with free VIP seating. Gemstones Live, the brain child of Hot Day mover and shaker Mike Dion, has one clearly defined purpose: to revitalize the live music scene in Lowell. That is the kind of singular vision necessary for any, successful venture. Under the wing of his own production company, Emerald City Productions, Dion hopes to re-establish downtown Lowell as a viable venue showcasing local, regional, and national touring acts.

Besides HDATZ on May 1st, Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion play Gemstones on May22nd to celebrate the release of their much anticipated new CD Year of the Ox. The fun continues when Boston based HI8US bring their soul laden "groove pop" to Gemstones on May 29th. While the Village Smokehouse dabbles in live music on Thursday and Mickey's tries to figure out whether it's Mexican or Irish, sports bar or music room, Friday nights at Gemstones may be THE music haven we've all been hoping for. Best of luck Mike!

To break up the doldrums of a gray, cold March, I recently showed the Malcolm McDowell narrated Beatles documentary The Complete Beatles to my eighth grade music class. Back in 1962, sound recording was still fairly primitive and I always marvel at George Martin talking about how Please Please Me was recorded in one day, one session: no mixing, no overdubs, no bouncing. The process simply consisted of setting up a few microphones and recording a performance.

In 1987, the Canadian based Cowboy Junkies took their hypnotic, dreamy, slightly narcotic songs to the Holy Trinity Church in Toronto, where with ONE microphone they recorded the infamous Trinity Sessions album in one night. Now, with more than 15 album releases, Trinity still shows the Junkies at their very best. Two years ago the band chose to re-record the entire album at Holy Trinity. With special guests Ryan Adams and Natalie Merchant lending their voices, the decision paid off and the Junkies released Trinity Revisited in an attempt to recapture the spirit and magic of the original. The result is proof enough just how well the songs stand the test of time.

Friday, April 3rd, you can get your Junkies fix when Margo Timmins, brothers Michael and Peter and bass player Alan Anton (all original members) play at the Nock Middle School Auditorium in Newburyport. Show starts at 8:00PM.

With every aspect of her life in disarray, alt country singer/songwriter Tift Merritt ended up in a tiny studio flat in Paris hoping the change would do her good. Sleeping along side her piano, she claims, were the best nights sleep she ever had. By the time she arrived back in Texas, most of the song ideas for her 2008 release Another Country, were sketched in her notebook. Parting ways with roots label Lost Highway, she signed with Fantasy Records and began recording the tracks for Another Country. The result was a beautifully intimate collection of songs with a restraint not found on her previous two releases: 2002's Bramble Rose and the soulful Tambourine from 2004.

For years Tift Merritt has been just under the radar. But with a voice that rivals both Linda Ronstadt for power and Emmylou Harris for frailty it's a wonder she isn't a household name. Something tells me she likes it better that way.

Tift plays Passim in Harvard Sq April 12th at 8:00. You won't be disappointed!

One near 60 degree day and I'm reminded just how much I HATE BASS. And that's coming from a bass player! Gone are the days when the bass part moved as a counterpoint to a strong, well crafted melody; subtle and unnoticed until it was taken out of the mix. Now you're lucky if you get the root AND the fifth out of any boom car stereo's 150 decibel assault on the senses. What bothers me the most is the advertising campaigns looking to boost the testosterone levels of every young adult male between 16 and 25. Check out some of the neighborly slogans of the biggest car audio manufacturers:

JL Audio: "Be Very Afraid."
Kicker: "You deserve a beating...Kicker's loudest, meanest subwoofer ever!"
Lightning Audio: "Sonic submission."
Boss Audio System: "Turn it down? I don't think so."
Cerwin-Vega Mobile Audio: "Shake the living, wake the dead."
Orion High Performance Car Audio: "Be Loud. Be Obnoxious."

But the real killers are Sony's "Disturb the Peace" and Pioneer's "Disturb, Defy, Disrupt, Ignite".
Brilliant...just what every male teen needs to hear.

One thing is for sure: it's no longer about the music; it's all about the power...to disturb. And that in and of itself is disturbing. Hate to sound like an old fart, but something needs to be done. Otherwise, this is only the beginning of what could prove to be one long, hot summer.

I've always had a soft spot for musicians who sacrifice fame and fortune to remain true to their own creative vision. Back in 1977, Rickie Lee Jones was waiting tables in LA when she met fellow beat musicians Chuck Weiss and Tom Waits. Barely in her 20s, she had the reputaton for being both streetwise and sophisticated. She became romantically involved with Tom Waits who once proclaimed, "You can learn a lot about a woman by getting totally smashed with her" referring to Rickie Lee. With the rocketing success of her self titled debut album, an instant radio hit with Chuck E.'s in Love and with her infamous white beret/black bra picture gracing the cover of Rolling Stone, it appeared that Rickie Lee Jones was destined for super stardom. Yet, despite a series of solid albums, Rickie Lee was never able to capture the popular success of her first record. Four albums later and ten years after her debut, the mysterious one released the critically acclaimed Flying Cowboys which produced a minor college radio hit with Satellites but which was modestly received by the general public.

April 15th, Rickie Lee Jones swings into the Tupelo Music Hall for an intimate night of music. The cozy, relaxed atmosphere that has made Tupelo a favorite spot for many touring musicians should provide the perfect backdrop to hear the "Duchess of Coolsville" performing songs from her 30 year career. Don't miss this one!

They covered Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive on their respectable second album Fashion Nugget and again used the same dead-pan, tongue in cheek tone for their interpretation of Bread's Guitar Man on their 2004 release Pressure Cheif. Love 'em or hate 'em, Cake brings their quirky blend of rap, funk, rock and country, (often laced with a solo trumpet line), to the LMA on Wednesday, May 27th. Cake is touring in support of a new record, which according to songwriter John McCrea, will be featuring a lot more piano based arrangements and a departure from the sound normally associated with a Cake record.

Nice to see the Auditorium steering away from the usual tribute band and country acts which have dominated the concert schedules of the past three or four years at this underutilized jewel of a venue. Still wish they'd get a little more creative in their booking strategies: a solo Elvis Costello show?; k.d. lang?; Boz Scaggs or any other big name not able to sell out a 15,000 seat venue but perfect for a modestly sized 3000 seat LMA? Is a vision of the Auditorium playing in the same leauge as the Orpheum or the Portsmouth Music Hall that much of a stretch?

On a separate note, while the powers that be shell out all kinds of $$ for a new city slogan, I'll forever remain enamored with the one that graces the side of my new trash barrel.

With the release of their first full length album, If You Don't Mind, the Bella Birds continue to develop their signature indie-folk style with seductive harmonies, creative instrumentation and clever arrangements. I've always been a fan of bands with more than one lead vocalist and Pam Craven and Zack Root admirably share the spotlight throughout the album. It's the vocal harmonies, however, that grab your attention and make you want to listen further. During the chorus of Craven's Watchtower, the two voices blend beautifully, though somewhat eerily, as the descending melody melts over sweeping, minor guitar chords. Drummer Chris Forgione drives things forward without ever becoming distracting keeping the focus where it should be: on the vocals.

The Bella Birds celebrate the release of If You don't Mind at the Egg Roll Cafe in Lowell on Thursday, March 5th. Music starts at 7:30. Should be a cool show, especially while sipping on a bubble tea or a rasberry sake.