Audio Floss

Stand Up Lowell!

2009-11-19T16:36:53Z

"The Godfather of Boston Comedy" Dick Doherty and Joe Graham (JoeG) of Dick Doherty Beantown Comedy along with Gerry Murphy and Finbarr Sheehan owners of The Old Court Restaurant & Iris Pub 29 Central Street are pleased to announce the return of a premier stand up comedy club to downtown Lowell.

Dick operated the very popular comedy club Dick Doherty's Comedy 93 at the GRILL 93 in Andover for 8 years and Dick Doherty's Comedy Escape at The China Blossom in North Andover for 5 years and then"Dick Doherty's Comedy Escape" at the now defunct Doubletree Hotel (now a U Mass Lowell dorm ) for three years, Dick is very excited to be bringing his very successful Beantown Comedy Club format back to Lowell.They will be presenting one show a month in November, December and January and plan to do every other week after that. Several Dinner & Show packages will be available for the restaurant with appetizers and drinks available in the showroom. The club opens Saturday November 21st @ 9pm with Showtime, HBO, Comedy Central Star Robbie Printz along with Luke Hanbury and of course Dick himself. December 19th R-RATED HYPNOTIST Joey Devito a regular at The Grill 93 for years along with the Merrimack Valley's own Kyle Crawford and Laura Ficiciello, and coming in January Georgie of The Sopranos, Frank Santorelli

This Saturday, Nov 21st, 9PM at The Old Court Irish Restaurant and Pub

Robbie Printz, NATIONAL HEADLINER ~ A&E NETWORK'S, MTV COMEDY STAR Originally from the Boston area, Robbie began his assault on the national comedy scene in 1990 when he won the WBCN Comedy Riot. He then moved to New York and established himself as a solid young comedian through performances at all of the major comedy clubs and eventually several episodes of "MTV's Half Hour Comedy Hour". Robbie's popularity was sky rocketing and eventually led him to the West Coast and Los Angeles. Since moving to LA. in 1994, Robbie has performed in all of the major comedy clubs. He has also headlined an episode of "A&E's Evening at the Improv", and appeared in several nationally televised commercials. Robbie recently had the pleasure of opening for Aerosmith in New York at MTV's 10th Anniversary Special which aired in 14 countries and was seen live by an estimated 30 million people.

DICK DOHERTY "THE GODFATHER OF BOSTON COMEDY" with over forty five years in the entertainment business, Dick Doherty's illustrious career has taken him on a whirlwind tour around the nation and through time. From happy-hour folk singing in the early 60's to sold-out performances with his rock band "The Majority" in the mid 60's, to headlining shows at New York's renowned Copa Cabana Club in the 70's. "Dirty" Dick Doherty is back! Since his 1990 return debut at The Improv in Atlantic City, Dick has been performing to sold out crowds across the country. Variety Magazine says of Dick," Your mother would want to wash his mouth out with soap, and then take him home to feed him!" Dick chooses to maintain a naughty yet lovable format which continues to endear him to comedy audiences of all ages all around the world. As proven this past summer when Dick performed at such venues as The Fleet Center, Government Center and also in Hong Kong, China at the Convention Center at numerous sold out shows!!! Come see why Dick Doherty is here to stay.

This is guaranteed to be a great night of comedy, come early, eat, drink, and enjoy the show!

For reservations call 1-800-401-2221 or visit Dick online at beantowncomedy.com

Smothered and Covered

2009-11-18T16:33:06Z

Oh the long uphill struggle for stardom that rests on the shoulders of the "Cover band" almost all of them are reduced to weddings, private parties, proms, and the local bars. Good work if you can get it. for some they are a crowd favorite and can be quite popular on the local scene. But achieving breakout status, touring nationally, and becoming full blown rock stars is virtually impossible for many a talented musician who chooses imitation over originality.

However, there are recorded cases of such success and if one has the look and can replicate the sound, I'm here to tell you all that fame and fortune is waiting. All you have to do is pick an icon or a legendary rock band and just go for it.

On a number of occasions I have paid to see people impersonating Elvis, Elton John, Neil Diamond, and Rod Stewart. I have seen bands cover AC/DC, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles. We all know and love the songs. Suspending ones disbelief for a couple hours and buying your ticket to see a band performing the music of your youth can be great fun, and some of these acts are playing to packed houses.

Truly, the only road to stardom for a cover band is the road that has already been paved by the act(s) they are trying to duplicate.

This brings me to your headliner. A cover band that is currently touring the country and with incredible success; "Get The Lead Out" (The American Led Zeppelin) is a total attack on the musical senses and a must see for Led Zep fans! A two-an-a-half-hour rock n' roll marathon featuring one Led Zeppelin song after another. Seven amazingly talented musicians will take the stage over the course of the evening to perfectly nail through the amps every popular tune from the original bands repertoire (that is no small number of tunes music fans, you'll hear all your faves), i also think it should be noted that GTLO actually takes 7 people to pull off on stage what the original 4 members of Zeppelin did, but perhaps that is what it takes to perform those songs to perfection and the goal of GTLO is to mimic the studio sound of the original recordings as well as breaking out songs which the original band never left on the stage back in the day.

So if you're a fan of Led Zeppelin, "Get The Led Out" is a must see show for you. Not only are they the best cover band I have ever heard, but they are in fact one of the best live shows I have ever seen!

and this just in; ; Get The Led Out ( The American Led Zeppelin) will be appearing live at The House of Blues on Friday January 22nd in Boston. so if ya can swing the price for the ticket in these hard times and enjoy drinking a $7 bottle of beer, then you are guaranteed to have a great time.

Stay tuned!

Ready For Takeoff

2009-11-14T03:32:58Z

The band is called "Air Traffic Controller" and their debut CD "The One" hits shelves and the digital downloads of the www on Dec 8th. The CD features 12 songs that are perfectly polished and incredibly radio friendly. The music and lyrics are smart, wonderfully catchy, and positively charming.

The first single, "Can't Let Go" is a hit song waiting to happen! and i'm not suggesting that anyone stop there, The One is without a doubt loaded with more than just a handful of memorable tracks.

While "Bad Axe MI" takes only one listen before you all hold up those cigarette lighters, close your eyes, and start chanting; "One more song, One more song" deeper tracks such as "More, More, More" and "God Has A Plan" will have you clapping your hands and toe tapping along from start to finish.

The debut CD by Air Traffic Controller is simply that good, and truly something worth listening to again and again.

Nominated by MTV as one of Bostons Best Breakout Artist of 2009 "Air Traffic Controller" is one band that is sure to be taking off soon, and as cliche' as this may sound; The Sky's the Limit!

Be sure to check out their live appearance on WMBR Radio 88.1 FM in Cambridge on Thursday, Dec 3rd at 4pm,

Stay tuned!

Roger Daltry with Paper Zoo at the House of Blues in Boston

2009-11-03T16:56:33Z

The semi-new Boston House of Blues will be getting another highline performer when the ageless Roger Daltrey performs on November 8th. Although Daltrey will be riding solo this time out, he won't be alone and will be accompanied by the band Paper Zoo. Paper Zoo which is set to release their new self-titled EP via Custard this fall. If you're not familiar with Paper Zoo, check out their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/wearepaperzoo
If you would like to see this show, tickets are still available through Ticketmaster. Ticket prices for this show are reasonable with a high of $70. Also available are meet and greet ticket packages which will run you around $310. But if you're a Who fan and enjoy the entertainment value Roger Daltreybrings to the stage, then meeting him just might be within your purchase.
So now the question becomes, what exactly will The Roger be playing, and will it be as good as his performances with his childhood friend Pete Townsend. If you're going to this show, we would love to hear your review. Comment back and let us know your thoughts

Pushing the Scene

2009-10-09T18:59:24Z

Kudos to Joe Graham, Lowell resident and host of WMBR's Thursday afternoon radio show Droppin Knowledge, for all his efforts to support and promote the Lowell music scene which seems to be happening everywhere except Lowell. Weekly guests from the area have included Jen Kearney, producer Bob Nash, Audrey Can't Die, and up and coming artist /songwriter Leo Blais.

In addition to the radio show, Joe is putting the finishing touches on a Lowell cable TV show, Local Anesthetic, which will be featuring live, in-studio performances and interviews from some of the Mill City's growing list of original artist musicians.

Next Thursday, October 15th, local tune smith Melvern Taylor and His Fabulous Meltones will be trekking down to the MBR studios for a live, on-air performance and the following Thursday, Jen Kearney will be doing the same. And once again, the Greater Boston area will be discovering something many of us already know: Lowell is a musical hot bed, a bona fide breeding ground, producing some of the best songwriters and musicians up and down the East Coast.

Tune in at 88.1FM or access WMBR on line at wmbr.mit.edu.

Dreaming Amy

2009-10-04T19:36:48Z

A few weeks back I headed to the One World Coffee House in Essex to celebrate with some old friends the release of their latest CD Bienvenue. Having played with two of the four band members some twenty years ago, I was invited on stage to sing some harmonies and play a little guitar. In an awkward moment, I declined the invitation. As anticlimactic as it was, within seconds of the start of the song, I knew I had made the right decision, my friend mistakenly thinking we had performed the song back in the day. I would have been lost. Last night at the Bull Run in Shirley, I was comfortably sipping my pint of Wachusett Ale, basking in the glow of singer/songwriter Amy Speace as she glided through one beautifully written song after the next, her voice carrying me far away from the troubles of the world. In my dreamy state, and in the middle of her newly written country waltz, I thought I heard Amy ask if anyone in the audience could whistle. Like they were offering me up for sacrifice, friends at my table, the table front and center of the intimate space, made it next to impossible for me to do anything except start whistling. Trance-like, I improvised my way through the verse, only to be encouraged by Amy to continue a second time through. And whether I imagined that she uttered the words I Love You in the middle of my solo or not, really doesn't matter. The spell was cast.

It's been a while since I felt so taken by a performer. But Amy Speace is about as real as they come: pure voice, pure beauty, and a flirtatious, country girl charm with city girl smarts that will reconfirm your faith in all things beautiful. One listen to her cover of Blondie's "Dreaming" and you'll know what I mean.

Amy's at Johnny D's on November 22nd. I can hardly wait.

Rufus Does Judy

2009-09-27T18:30:02Z

A few of my coworkers have started referring to the Market Basket on Fletcher Street as "the scary Market Basket." I'll admit getting in and out of the parking lot is always scary. And yesterday there was a scary looking dog tied to the rail inside the automatic door leaving the store. And then there's the scary realization that not everyone in this world should be having children.But hey, where else can you buy a bag of day old rolls for 65 cents or a roasted chicken for $3.99? And have you ever heard the guy who does the car alarm imitation? And when the Left Banke's 1967 baroque pop classic, "Pretty Ballerina", chimes from the ceiling speakers, don't you just have to smile?

Friday, October 2nd, master of the baroque pop genre himself, Rufus Wainwright, brings his evocative melodies, glitzy piano playing and his road weary voice to the newly renovated Portsmouth Music Hall. Son of Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle, his 1998 self-titled debut immediately separated Rufus from other second generation musicians with its poignant lyrics and sophisticated arrangements. Elton John called him "The greatest songwriter on the planet." However, on his 2007 release, Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, Wainwright paid homage to the Tin Pan Alley greats who came before him performing Judy Garland's 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall in its entirety.

The Portsmouth Music Hall continues to book some impressive shows as part of their Intimately Yours series and Rufus Wainwright is no exception. Should be a great show.

A New Low

2009-09-22T16:29:16Z

Was in line at the Rite Aid on Broadway in Lowell to buy my sister Andrea a 40th birthday card when the girl at the register told me they were taking 20% off everything in the store. With my bad habit of thumbing through the limited CD selection of mostly Spanish artists and the occasional "Abba's Greatest Hits", I had already noticed remastered copies of Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper, and Abbey Road. Fortunately, the $13.99 price tag prevented me from stooping so low as to buy CDs of the band who taught me everything I know about music and who provided me with endless hours of musical ecstacy from a middle of the road drugstore chain. I politely asked the girl, "Twenty percent off everything?" Before you could say Maxwell's Silver Hammer, I was bolting for the car tightly gripping my new copy of Abbey Road.

With my trusty AKG headphones snug on my head, I waited for the opening bass line of "Come Together" to start the evaluation process. Let's just say the hype is justified. Totally justified. Beautiful packaging aside, these remasters sound unbelievable. Crisp and clean. You will hear things you never heard before.

Just got back from my second trip to Rite Aid in twenty minutes. I'm now the proud owner of remasterd copies of Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt Pepper as well. And at $11.19 a CD, I may one day forget the fact that I bought them at a drugstore chain. The green apple on the Abbey Road CD, same as my long lost album of 40 years ago, is already helping.

Picking Up Where Dizzy Left Off

2009-09-22T12:30:40Z

After playing in his native Cuba for nearly all of his adult life, jazz trumpeter extraordinaire Arturo Sandoval defected to the US in 1990 with his wife and child. His first American album, Flight to Freedom, featured supercharged bebop laced with Afro-Cuban rhythms. His explosive playing has dazzled audiences worldwide and he has shared the stage with mentor Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys to name a few.

Arturo Sandoval returns to Scullers Jazz club for three night beginning Thursday, October 1st. Even if you're not a jazzer, Sandoval is guaranteed to blow your socks off with his high octane, bebop flurries. Whether he's exploiting the trumpet's high register or flying all over the piano keyboard, Sandoval will leave you smiling for days with his virtuoso playing and his infectious passion and love of all things music.

I've seen Arturo Sandoval perform three times. Each time I've been reborn.

Together Again

2009-09-16T15:34:21Z

I'll admit it. I hadn't given much thought, if any, to country rock duo Loggins and Messina over the past twenty years, at least not until a month ago when a friend purchased six tickets to their reunion show at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester. I got turned off by Kenny Loggins' Footloose pop of the 80's and I never fully recovered enough to explore the Loggins and Messina catalogue. Big mistake.

After playing on the last Buffalo Springfield album, Messina went on to form Poco, predecessor of the country rock sound that took southern California by storm with acts like CSN and The Eagles following in their footsteps. A few years later Messina gave up the road and was hired to produce new comer Kenny Loggins. Sittin In, the duo's first collaboration, was billed as a Kenny Loggin's solo album with Jim Messina. Loggins and Messina then went on to become the most successful duo of the early 70's recording seven solid albums in five years.

Last night at the beautifully renovated Hanover Theatre, the pair rocked their way through all the hits including a twelve minute jam on "Angry Eyes" highlighted by dueling saxes and a ripping organ solo by keyboardist Gabe Dixon with Messina providing some tasty licks on his Fender Strat. Loggins was in great voice appearing shy and humble as he let the confident Messina take and hold the reigns. And there lies the source of the duos success: they complement each other in ways that reach far beyond their musical abilities. Messina provides the seriousness and the edge. Loggins, in return, provides the buffer for that edge.

I went to the show to watch an obsessed friend drool over Kenny Loggins. I left with a new found appreciation for one of the great duos of the last thirty years.

Intimately Jonatha

2009-09-11T20:59:27Z

Back in the late 80's a friend of mine was working as an assistant engineer at a Boston recording studio. One Thursday night he dragged me to Christopher's in Porter Square to hear a new acoustic duo he helped record promising they would blow my mind. They did. Song after song, harmony after harmony, great lyric after great lyric, I was completely captivated as I listened to the two voices weave in and out as they unraveled one story after the next. I kept leaning over to my friend asking, "Who are they again?" For some reason I couldn't get beyond the name. I kept hearing Jonathan and Jennifer until it finally hit me. Jonatha and Jennifer.

During the next few years I followed the two Amherst College grads to every coffee house in New England as they continued to push the boundaries of their particular blend of folk and pop. By the time their debut Grace and Gravity was released, I was a groupie. A few short years later they were playing to a sold out crowd at Johnny D's while the line of people trying to get in wrapped around the corner onto College Ave.

The other day I was in the Nashua Newbury Comics when I noticed a used copy of The Angel in the HouseJonatha and Jennifer's second release as The Story, selling for $3.99. If you haven't heard it, pick it up. For less than a coffee and doughnut you'll get enough personal insight to survive any family/relationship disaster. And then there's Duke Levine's masterful guitar work.

Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple. And that was only the tip of the iceberg of talented but often angry female singer/ songwriters who were grabbing all the hype during the 90's. Still, even at the height of her popularity Jonatha Brooke never received the same kind of attention even though her songwriting, most notably on her first two solo albumsPlumb and 10 cent Wings, was and is superior in every way.

Jonatha Brooke plays Tupelo for two shows on Saturday night, September 26th. Don't miss the opportunity to see one of the best in this intimate setting. You won't be disappointed.

Eilen Jewell at the Precinct

2009-09-05T13:12:15Z

Last chance to catch The Eilen Jewell Band before they begin a European tour which has them playing eight shows in the Netherlands before hitting Belgium, Germany, and Spain. After a thirteen show jaunt through the UK, the band will finish up in Sweden before heading back to the States in November. Touring behind their latest release, the twangy Sea of Tears, the Eilen Jewell Band continues to wow audiences wherever the international back roads and main streets take them. Letters from Sinners and Strangers, their swanky 2007 release, found the band firmly esablishing themselves as masters in the over crowded field of Americana artists. Sea of Tears, however, finds the band paying homage to the country/folk rock sounds of the late 60's with long time EJB guitarist, Jerry Miller, ripping through one reverb laced lead after the next.

You can catch the Eilen Jewell Band tonight at the Precinct, former home to the Somerville Police Department. Sharon LeVesque opens with EJB taking the stage at 10:00. Promises to be a great show.

The Album Lives...Live!

2009-08-30T20:10:14Z

Steely Dan's Aja. Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. Todd Rundgren's A Wizard a True Star. As the summer concert season winds down, it seems that 2009 was, for many, a celebration and reclamation of the album, for fan and artist alike. Anyone lucky enough to catch Steely Dan's Boston show not only got to hear the jazz/pop sounds of Aja from the opening groove of "Black Cow" to the final notes of the radio hit "Josie", but they were also treated to a surprise performance of the Dan's guitar masterpiece, The Royal Scam. And so it was with Van Morrison, Aerosmith, Todd Rundgren, and several others who chose to resurrect their most ambitious studio projects and present them from start to finish in a concert hall setting. Anyone familiar with Rundgren's psychedelic cacophony of sound on 1973's A Wizard a True Star will realize that this is no small undertaking. Same holds true for Van Morrison's brilliant 1968 recording, Astral Weeks, which relied more on improvisation than studio wizardry as he took the listener to the back streets and sounds of Belfast. And of all the Aerosmith albums, none has quite the flow and continuity of the riff rocking, greased up pubescent sleaze of Toys in the Attic. Question is, if you could pick one album to hear from start to finish, live on stage, no matter where or when or how it was recorded, what would it be? Last album you listened to start to finish? Is this the last hurrah before the album meets the same demise as the dodo?

Hothouse Flowers Return to Tupelo

2009-08-27T16:19:53Z

Dublin's Hothouse Flowers return to the Tupelo Music Hall this weekend for two shows on Saturday and Sunday. Since their excellent debut People, which contained the breakthrough hit "I'm Sorry", the Flowers have released six more albums, all of which display the band's unquestionable musicianship as well as a talent for crafty songwriting. Former school mates pianist Liam O' Maonlai and guitarist Fiachna O'Broainain formed the band in the late 80's and continue to be the driving force behind the group's latest resurrection both on stage and in the studio. With a bombastic sound that melds traditional Irish roots music with an American gospel twist, the Flowers have always been known for their passionate live shows. Their follow-up CD Home, which landed the band two hits with "Give it Up" and "Movies", remains one of the most underrated albums of the early 90's, the band never able to build the enthusiasm in the States like they were receiving throughout Europe. Seems the Hothouse Flowers have found a loyal fan base in Londonderry; they've been playing to sold out crowds at Tupelo twice a year now for the past several years. Saturday night's show sold out weeks ago. Tickets remain for Sunday's performance. Should be a rollicking night of music. Incidentally, Liam O'Maonlai is releasing a solo CD, To Be Touched, in the coming months featuring guest performances by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from the movie Once.

Livingston Taylor Concert Review

2009-08-23T23:56:04Z

I had every intention of giving Carl Johnson's guitar every minute of my attention tonight, and thought it safe to entrust the early evening's entertainment to Livinston Taylor down at the Lowell Summer Music Series safe in the knowledge that I could effortlessly duck out at the intermission and be down at the Sky Box in Tewksbury in plenty of time. But you know what they say about the best laid plans.

Livingston Taylor, who I've had the pleasure to have seen several times before, never fails to bring a smile. His deft way with a tune, and immaculate fingerings running such eloquent chord changes through the heart of so many a standard, are something to be heard more than once. And he's always entertaining. Tonight was no exception, though still not, to that point, getting in the way of plans for an early exit... and then...

Liz Longley.

Like a bell her voice is--so true. Livinston has done this before, I'm told, and brought one of his Berklee students onto the stage to share it, but I can't imagine any like Liz. When the two of them brought the audience to its feet and the house down during their final duet on "Over the Rainbow", I had tears in my eyes, and a feeling of music in my heart like you can touch. With the top down and the stereo on 11 on the way down to Tewksbury, I knew I had chosen well.

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