How ya feelin' these days? Nah, not me either. Maybe it had something to do
with that damn election. Maybe there's just something completely wrong with the
idea of a GW mandate. Maybe we should have all spoken up a little louder. Well,
one way to drown your troubles is to dip into a healthy batch of local rock and
roll, which is easy for me cause I have an abundance right here, most of which
I'll be getting to over the next month or so.
Bob "Snakeshaker" Angell & Blues Outlet: I Feel So Good!
(Wing Chun)
OK, so it's a little strange to call a blues disc I Feel So Good,
because, frankly, the blues is all about feeling bad. But Bob Angell's new
disc, recorded in part down at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, is a
celebration, not a wake. His robust songs and vocals ripple more with
enthusiasm than kingsnake moan, more crisply energetic than Delta down. On the
ebullient "Nach'l Boy" and the foot-tappin' "Olneyville Stomp," Angell's
R&B-flecked blues feel like classic Rhode Island-styled blues. Elsewhere,
the blues is a little more offbeat, like the Hooker-esque "Loneliest Man In the
World" and the Lenoir/Dixon number "Voodoo Music."
Longtime harp dude Robert Marsella sounds like he's had lifetime doses of Big
Walter Horton, which is a great thing. Kelly Knapp's assistance on lead and
harmony vocals give the record a lighter touch in places, which offsets
Angell's growly approach nicely. The rhythm section of Vinnie Earnshaw and Jack
Moore is seasoned, unobtrusive and, therefore, effective. Angell's guest
recruits also help keep the energy high. Local heroes Duke Robillard, James
Montgomery, Dan Moretti, and Paul Geremia all come up with solid performances
when their number is called, especially Moretti who, not generally accustomed
to blues, does a skronkin' sax solo on "That's What I Mean By Love."
Produced by Bob Angell and Steve Rizzo, and engineered by Rizzo at Stable
Sounds in Newport, I Feel So Good provides a nice lift when life's blues
have got you down.
holiday: Words That Rhyme (Melanie) (www.holidaytheband.com)
Uh-oh. Is the local scene turning pop-punk? Well, first, would you be
surprised? I mean, hell, we can't get away from it no matter how far we run. As
for holiday, let's look at the evidence. First, you have the band's sound. It's
aggressively melodic, with self-referential lyrics that wouldn't sound out of
place on the soundtrack, to say, American Pie 7. You also have pretty
tight performances and good propulsive arrangements, plus a loose, comic, and
casual presence, all of which should add up to our own version of those damn
pop-punks, the likes of which I won't name here. But a more thorough
investigation of holiday's excellent new Words that Rhyme reveals a much
more multidimensional band, one that respects the pop music of the '60s and
'70s as well as the '90s. In parts, you can hear the echoes of great, gritty
pop writers like Elvis Costello, Ray Davies, and Mitch Easter in addition to
more modern punk-pop references.
But holiday is more than a pop band. Formed at URI a couple of years ago, the
band obviously has a special camaraderie. Led by quivery-voiced lead singer and
guitarist Titus DosRemedios and flanked by guitarist Dylan Ryder, drummer Nick
Talarico, bassist Steve Cicchelli, and keyboardist Glen DesLauriers, they can
play and write well enough to be truly charming. While their songs might not
plumb sublime depths of melody and meaning, they're the perfect antidote to
boring, self-indulgent, big-riff rock. Neaten up the edges on this baby and,
given the current musical climate, who knows?
Dead Flowers: Live in the Garden
Another cheekily titled disc, only this one, a melodic pop set, actually feels
pretty blue. The duo of Scott McGillivray and Dave Borges have a pleasantly
dour sound, with melancholy vocals and a sad, strummy quality that recalls the
dark side of some Uncle Tupelo and the Silos. Songs like "Backing Into County"
and the opening "Finding Francis" have a sweet sonorous quality, while the
five-minute "Oh Hollow" gets transcendent in its second half, with some decent
guitar work and a soaring female voice as it fades. Though I don't have the
details, the recording is excellent, better than many studio records I've
heard. McGillivray's lyrics are clear, meaningful, and poetic, another unusual
quality. (Too many artists consider lyrics as throwaway sections between guitar
parts.)
But there's a pop song at the heart of just about every tune here; in some
places like Borges's "Sad Flag" and the brisk closing track, "Working Man," the
band demonstrates a more obvious flair for the Beatles or Kinks influences. In
other places it's not quite so obvious. But it's uncovering the pop band
underneath Live in the Garden that makes discovering Dead Flowers an
exhilarating exercise.
WANDERING EYE. "Fuzzbox Radio," a program that airs on Fridays from 7
and 9 p.m. on WALE (990 AM), will be sponsoring a benefit for the Irish Freedom
Committee at the Green Room on Saturday. The group, which is not affiliated
with the IRA, provides aid to Northern Ireland political prisoners. Performers
include the Street Dogs (featuring ex-Dropkick Murphy Mike McColgan), the USM
(ex-Meat Depressed), local punks Paraplegics, and Jay Allen, among others.
Chris Daltry and the 'Mericans play tonight (the 21st) as part of
AS220's Quiet Music Series. Poem Rocket, another pretty cool band, shares the
stage. On Friday (the 22nd), Chris will be at White Electric with Joel
Thibodeau of Stringbuilder. The real news that night, though, is the
homecoming gig of Honeybunch, who return to town after a stint in
Portland. Also, this might be the last time to catch a show at the current
White Electric, as there are plans in the works to relocate.
The Young Ones will play a free show at Jake's on Saturday (the 23rd),
so tell your friends. It's bound to be a crazy night of kickass rockabilly. If
you're not up for that, you can head over to Stone Soup to catch Marshall
Crenshaw. Yeah, you read that right. Marshall will be playing an acoustic
set at the Mill, an event that has the makings of something pretty special.
And don't forget the Wild Card DJs on Friday at the Custom House for
your boogie pleasure. Great tunes, great price -- free.
E-mail me with your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.
Issue Date: November 22 - 28, 2002
