The space inbetween

When you travel, when you travel as a band, when you travel as a couple and a band - there is a kind of bond that develops far beyond what you can develop if you only have one facet.

Americana On the Radio

There are a couple great radio shows in Boston that you should listen to if your into Americana, Alt-Country and Alt-Folk music here in Boston.

Doug Gesler - Lost Highways - On WMBR on saturday Mornings - 8am to 10am
Cousin Kate - Sunday Morning Country - on WZBC - on ( you guessed it ) Sunday Morning @ 10 to 12am

They both play a great mix of new and old, local and national music - I've found some great newmusic on both shows - and urge you to tune them in.

Have yourself a great day, start with some music.

The Rationales - A great band to catch while you can

The Rationales led by Dave Mirabella, are one of the best bands to come out of Boston in quite a while. With solid songwriting chops, Mirabella weaves emotional lyrics with melodies that remind me of old Replacements, Beach Boys. Although some members have moved about the Brothers Mirabella remain the core of this great band, and one you should see. With a Kickstarter effort to finance their new record, they are building a great buzz about them in Boston. They'll be at Rosebud Bar in Somerville Mass, on Thursday, October 21st

It's good to see more than telecasters

It seems more and more bands are moving away from the strict " I must play a tele to play alt country" mindset - that bodes well IMHO

January, it's cold in these here parts but the music is Hot !

While we'd love to be traveling to warmer climes, life dictates that we spend our time here in Boston relentlessly reporting on the music scene for all you folks and fans of americana music. First off, it seems that the term "Alt Country" has become about as passe as ording up a PBR at your local dive bar - I mean come on THREE bucks for a 16 oz PBR. My prediction - Schiltz 40oz'rs are the new PBR - if they could get the distributor to get more accounts - Schlitz would dominate in the alt country market.

Now, onto music, and yes, the late lamented "Alt Country" in Boston. It seems that Boston has always been a tough market for country music. The politics, demographics and general demeanor of us Bostonians does not lend itself well to the down home musicgenre of Country. Most music fans in these parts would lump Alt-Country right into the music that passes as country being churned out by the Nashville styling of model perfect boys and girls. My friends, of course they are wrong, alt country has more in common with punk and rockabilly roots than Billy Ray. So, many of the bands recently have moved away from the moniker "alt - country" and adapted the more respectable moniker of Americana.

So, with that in mind here's some Americana bands worth seeing, and yes we will even tell you about a few bands NOT worth seeing. My friends, a jam band that cloaks itself in the Americana label to garner a few more gigs or fans is just outright lame. Still, an all encompassing genre such as Americana music ( see the AMA charts for who is actually on the list - John Fogerty an americana artist, ok, I buy that. How about Nora Jones? It's this music fan's ( yes I am a music fan first and foremost, and a critic second, although a close second. I have a gold record on my wall, so I think it gives me the right to be a critic ! So, Americana music has become an umbrella for folk, rock, country, soul, and many other sub genre artists who have musical identity issues? I personally would like to see local bands step up to the plate and call a spade a spade, and an alt country band, an alt country band. You dont see punk bands pussyfooting around looking for a way to make there music more accessible to people who might be turned off by their moniker...

Yes and my list of best and worst of the boston music scene Americana bands will be forth coming - stay tuned...

Happy Holiday Shows in Americana Boston

It's been busy - what with the multiple celebrations and hootnannies that go along with all the hoopla. Hardly have time to stop and look at all the great shows and bands hucking their music out to the world in our cold, snowy town here. A couple good things coming up in the new year.

First the 3rd annual "New England Americana Festival" is coming up - no line up announced yet, but this series is a continuation of the Alt Country Extravaganza
that Mike MacDonald and the Widowmakers put on for the last two years. Mike Mac
was a pivotal member of the alt country community in Boston, and after his stint in the service, he has relo'd to the Austin Texas area, leaving a gaping hole in the
Alt country community in Boston. Mike's dedication to the music is second to none and he is missed 'round these parts. Let's hope that the 3rd annual lives up to the great shows that Mike was responsible for in the past - keep tuned - more to come on this

RIP Ray Neades

Ray Neades passed away earlier this week. A truly great person who was deeply involved with the Boston Music Scene, Ray played with Angry Johnny and the Killbillies among other bands. Ray was a great person, as well as a talented guitarist and a great all around human being. Anyone who knew Ray was touched by him, in a good way. This writer mourns the loss of a great friend.