Gets to be this time of year and everyone's whining about how fast summer is flying past. Well, you can slow it down, or at least go out with such a bang that you'll feel like it's been Summer forever. Follow my lead -- spend the entire weekend in Salem, hanging at the Salem Jazz & ... more »
Isn't it amazing how in nature and social life, loss can hit you hard, but over time is often replaced with new and exciting things? A few recent changes in the music scene on the North Shore: We lost The Edgewater last Fall; and more recently, Fats Hammond -- the amazing band featuring ... more »
Into the homestretch on the Spring fundraiser for Salem Jazz & Soul Festival, and hoping to see all of you there! I think you know that this is a fabulous cause, but besides getting an amazing night of jazz, soul, blues and dancing, let me remind you where all the hard work and money goes ... more »
For those of you who actually follow my musings on the music and art scene around the North Shore and Boston, you’ve probably noticed I haven’t written much this winter/spring. Think I’ll make up for that now. I haven’t just been laying low though, I’ve actually been neck deep into ... more »
Well, my (sometimes) caged bird, Pedro, a small parrot with a big voice, doesn't really sing and he doesn't really talk. However, he'd be the first to tell you that caged birds do sing, and the ones in residency at Kitty O'Shea's every Monday night in March and probably April can sing ... more »
FRIDAY NIGHT -- This Friday is hopping with music, and I could list off at least 4-5 excellent options, but most don't need any extra love. They draw automatically. One is special to be sure -- Dwight & Nicole's CD Release Party. 8pm at Somerville Theater in Davis Square. ... more »
So, I was gonna help my friend Scotty get the word out on this funky thing he's doing at the Gulu Gulu in Salem tomorrow night - FRI 12/04 and we made plans to meet last week at The Old Spot so I could "interview" him about it and catch some great music by Headshaft. Only, I'm not good at ... more »
....I can't read dates. Radio Scottvoid's S.C.E.N.E. night at Gulu Gulu is DECEMBER 4, not this Friday. I'll send another reminder after Thanksgiving Day. ...I completely forgot to mention the Boston Horns will rip up Ryles this Saturday Nov. 14. And, while Ben Zecker is off ... more »
...Los Sugar Kings are playing a new North Shore Spot on Thursday night-- Fibber McGee's on Cabot Street in Beverly. They're hoping it'll be a good place to play regularly, but it won't be a weekly thing like we got too used to at Edgewater. So, get out this Thursday to Fibber's and get ... more »
Maybe you've heard, maybe I'm harbinger of the sad news, maybe you think you don't care, maybe you should, maybe you didn't take advantage of all it brought to the Salem music scene, maybe you'll never know what you missed. The Edgewater Cafe, a staple of Salem's nightlife for the past 7 years ... more »
If you love hearing great horn sections like I do, this month is heaven for you. Some amazing performances are happening all over the city, indoors and out. The Boston Horns celebrate 10 years of grooving with shows in Salem and Johnny D's in Somerville's Davis Square. Los Sugar ... more »
A lot happening this weekend, but assuming the weather is going to be as sweet as it is on this fine Sept Friday, I highly recommend getting yourselves outdoors for all of the cool and FREE festival fun. Music will be filling the air and the sun will be shining and......Did I mention music ... more »
Okay, GIVE AND GET. Salem's Knights of Columbus Hall (KoC for us hip people) has a few very cool nights coming up. Sat. Sept. 19 is the fall fundraiser for Salem Jazz & Soul, and in mid-October, another ultra-cool night to be disclosed later is on the books (such a tease), but the first ... more »
Friday night's cooking this week. My GPS is set for 1 Washington Street, Gloucester, which is the Blackburn Performing Arts Room located upstairs from the Blackburn Tavern in Downtown Gloucester. Sea Monsters are bringing their smoking rock & soul show to the North Shore second week in a row ... more »
In residency on Mondays in August, you've got two more chances to check out the LYLE BREWER TRIO at the Atwood in Cambridge. I was hanging there last night and it was some beautiful music. Just turned 24(?), Lyle's in demand, playing in many bands these days -- Sarah Borges & the ... more »
What's up People? I'll tell you what's up ...at this very moment.anyway. Artists Row in Salem is a great place to hang. Watch people, be watched, look at art, create art, have a few refreshing beverages, a bite to eat, some ice cream, strike up a weird or relevant conversation (I prefer ... more »
Last week I wrote about a cool website -- Northshore Tonight that helps spread the word on live music across the Northshore. I ended up chatting with the guy who created and runs the site, Richard Mandelbaum. Richard's much like me, not a musician, but a huge music fan who enjoys letting ... more »
Hanging and listening to Fats Hammond last night (10 years and the guys are still so amazing to hear and watch) and learned of a short notice gig you really should go check out this Thursday. Boubacar Diabate and some version of his band, Sambalolo, are playing at Bangkok Paradise on ... more »
Lately, I've gotten bad about checking the resources out there for gig info, and I am one of the last holdouts on becoming a Spacebook junky, which has become a major way for bands to get the word out. Good ol' direct emails still work best for me, not sure about the rest of the world. I dig ... more »
Here are a few music options for the week. It's just a smattering, and I'll send more if I get a chance. Before that though, a reminder -- Wednesday evening 6:30 p.m. at Salem City Chambers, 93 Washington St. across from Red Lion Smoke Shop and Salem Cycle. The Council is holding a meeting ... more »
Hope your 4th weekend was as sweet as mine! Started it on Friday at the Orchestra Morphine show at Precinct. It was the 10 year anniversary of the tragic loss of Mark Sandman, one of the coolest poet/songwriter/musicians ever. If you're not familiar with Sandman and his bands, Treat Her Right ... more »
Back at home from Africa and catching up on all the great music and art I've missed for the past few weeks. There was some interesting art and creativeness in Tanzania once you looked beyond the cookie-cutter shmalzas being sold at every turn, but the music scene was lacking. We did stumble on a ... more »
Charlotte and I are still wandering around Tanzania and Zanzibar, heading to Amsterdam in a few days, and while this trip has been AMAZING, really amazing, the only good music we've caught so far was a couple of drum circles around a fire on the beach in Zanzibar, SO PLEASE go out this week and ... more »
Good music this past Friday y'all. After working late to clear the decks and start a nice long vacation, I swung by Bull McCabe's in Somerville Union Square to hear a little of Erinn Brown and Band. Nice little space, used to be the legendary Tir nO Nog. Erinn sounded great. Wish I had the ... more »
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest was awesome this year. The city still struggles along, but man, they have spirit, and the music scene still kicks ass. Charlotte and I met some really cool people and soaked in some awesome music at the fest and in the clubs all night. You ... more »