Shearwater and Hospital Ships. October 19th, 2008 at Cafe 939 in Boston, MA. Photos by Cassandra Marino, words by Melissa Galindo. Last Sunday the aroma of espresso creations hung in the air while Shearwater tuned up and prepared for their set at Cafe 939 at Berklee. The slightly crowded stage barely held all five musicians and their abundant instruments. The anticipation from the crowd was evident in every twitch and shuffle. Having never seen Shearwater before, I was not prepared for the performance to come. From the first note sung to the [...]
The Grownup Noise, locals from Boston, make some excellent folk/rock music. I especially enjoy their response on their Myspace as to what they sound like, which I'll let do the talking for them. Sounds like: Stupid question, I mean, is this really a good question for anyone? Even if you do sound like someone else, what musician wants to admit it? But here goes... half the members from R.E.M., 1989ish era (you get to choose which ones) are out at a show and end up getting called on stage to play an encore with Bill Frisell, [...]
Well, I don't know quite what to say. Would y'all believe that Under The Rotunda turns two years old today? It's hard to believe I've been writing and keeping this thing going for such a long time, but let me tell you -- it's only getting better. On my last birthday I talked about the website has grown, and this past year has been pretty explosive. Under The Rotunda now consistently features interviews , awesome concert photography (along with show reviews ), and internet radio [...]
Sorry about the confusion with my start time last night...I was hoping I'd make it on time to the show, but I was about 40 minutes late, as you may have heard. But it's okay, because this was due to seeing Mirah live (review coming Friday), and she was great. Anyway, thanks to all who listened to the abbreviated show! Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue (from Blood On The Tracks ) Bob Dylan - Shelter From The Storm (from Blood On The Tracks ) Joe Pug - Hymn #101 (from Nation Of Heat [...]
In presidential politics, in politics in general, there are different kinds of endorsements. Former presidents and their cabinets, congressmen, governors, and ex-military officers all generally support one candidate or the other publicly. Some find themselves on the stump or careening through the talk show circuit fomenting their candidate's ultimate aspiration of ascending to the oval office. Media outlets, be they mainstream or otherwise, will also generally opt to rubber stamp a nominee. Newspapers, pundits, and bloggers typically engage in this practice. Celebrities and musicians are also no [...]
Joe Pug. October 18th, 2008 at the Paradise in Boston, MA. Hailing from my hometown of Chicago, Joe Pug made his first appearance to a Boston crowd this past Saturday night, opening up for Railroad Earth. I was never free to make it out to one of Joe's shows in Chicago at Schubas or the Hideout -- perfect venues for his music -- although I really wish I had been after finally seeing him perform. He plays with all the honesty and sincerity that his songwriting displays and requires, and it's [...]
Tonight's show will have gobs and gobs of brand new music, including the new Of Montreal and others. Check it all out from 9-11 PM EST tonight right here on the Berklee Internet Radio Network.
Citay. October 12th, 2008 at the Middle East Up in Boston, MA. Photos by Jaymes Leavitt. Last Sunday night, Citay brought their infectious energy to the Middle East Upstairs in Boston. The band's lineup is fairly fleshed out these days, featuring six musicians. It's a good thing that this is the case, because they would never otherwise be able to reproduce the magnificent layered sound that defines Citay's music. When they have all three guitars playing similar lines, harmonizing with each other and strongly grooving, it creates a dense, [...]
Deerhoof. October 17th, 2008 at the Metro in Chicago, IL. Words by Will Pierce. Photo credit here (not from this show). I have seen the tears and music of love; they are called "Deerhoof". Deerhoof played the Metro Friday night. They were pretty standard: i.e., incredible. Their ability to put on an enrapturing performance is just silly. Beautiful, dangerous, warm and silly. Just silly. Don't ever let anyone tell you that Deerhoof are "inaccessible". They are not making noise to piss off, baffle and alienate [...]
The Mountain Goats. October 13th, 2008 at Park West in Chicago, IL. Photos and content by Malora McIntosh. So everyone knows the Mountain Goats right? Little bit of folk, little bit of rock and a lot of stories to tell. Every song follows a clever narrative with the energy of their music as a main character in every tale. And there was soooo much energy! Even when they were standing still, the Mountain Goats seemed to [...]
Just like Wesley Willis a few weeks ago , my post today is on an artist that brings laughter into the world. MC Hawking is an absurd hip-hop project, featuring a Stephen Hawking-sound-alike talk box rapping. If you've never heard it before, you'll surely enjoy rhymes such as "We sketch out in the full moonlight, MIT punks dying left and right" or "Time to give a Newtonian demonstration, of a bullet, it's mass, and it's acceleration". Hilarious. MC Hawking - All My Shootings Be Drivebys (from A Brief History Of [...]
Since I just played a whole bunch of Berklee bands on the BIRN the other night, it's only fitting to mention one of them today. From their website: In less time than it takes to make a baby, This is How Rumors Get Started have independently recorded their debut EP and toured the US and Canada. Their story began in the fall of 2005; Phillip-Michael (Vocals/Guitar) asked Annie (Bass) for a bite of pizza at a friend's party and it wasn't long before the two began writing together. After a year of trading demos over the internet, [...]
Thanks to all who listened! The Peasantry - Tie Off Before You Out Go (from Don't Harm Barbara Gorden EP ) The Peasantry - Look At Her (from Don't Harm Barbara Gorden EP ) Elizabeth & The Catapult - Waiting For The Kill (from Elizabeth & The Catapult EP ) Elizabeth & The Catapult - Momma's Boy (from Elizabeth & The Catapult EP ) Matt And Isom - Jesus In The Air (from August Jesus Depression ) Matt And Isom - Math Equation (from August Jesus Depression ) Voxtrot - [...]
Pepper Rabbit. October 8th, 2008 at All Asia in Cambridge, MA. Words by Wayne Whittaker. A band like Pepper Rabbit does not belong in All Asia. No matter what the venue claims, it does not have an atmosphere conducive to thoughtful music. But the group, compiled of members of various other local bands behind singer-songwriter extraordinaire Xander Singh, found a way to blend the bar-rock atmosphere with the pop-influenced compositions of Singh and company. Drummer Luc Laurent (Clatter Clatter) played double-duties, adding some textured keyboard parts, supported by Shay Spence's [...]
Tonight will be a special show of "Under The Rotunda Live", featuring nothing but music from Berklee musicians. All of the bands and artists I'll play tonight have at least one member that attended (or is currently attending) Berklee College Of Music. And I'll bet there are more people than you realized that went to school here, so tune in. Check it all out from 9-11 PM EST tonight right here on the Berklee Internet Radio Network.
[Disclaimer: Yup, this is a music blog. But, as some of you know, burritos are a passion of mine (second to music, of course). So please excuse the brief lapse from music coverage as I discuss a burrito joint in my search for the best burritos in the land. I know, I'm silly.] Taqueria Aranadas is a dive-like joint located in a strip-mall in Chicago suburb Des Plaines. But I've never been one to care for appearances, and I decided to give it a try. For starters, the price is right: just [...]
31Knots newest album, Worried Well , came out in August via Polyvinyl. It's an awesome record, but I'm going to let the press release do the talking: In an era where underground rock morphed into indie rock and indie Rock has become the new platform for rock stars and flash-in-the-pan buzz bands, 31Knots is neither. This is, depending on your vantage point, a blessing or a curse. Have they been marginalized by writing songs too intense and impossible to pigeon-hole? Or are they a cult band that becomes more meaningful with each passing trend in which [...]
The Dodo's October 10th, 2008 at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago, IL. Photos and content by Malora McIntosh. Those who know them by name don't take them lightly. "They are amazing," I heard one fan earnestly proclaim. [...]
Before an explosive show last week at the Paradise here in Boston, I sat down with Evan Mast to talk about all things Ratatat. They've come a long way since their days of opening for Interpol -- although, honestly, that's a pretty good start, isn't it? Evan met Mike Stroud at Skidmore College in upstate New York, but it wasn't until years later that they started making music together. "I ended up moving to the West coast for awhile, Mike came to New York [City], and by the time I got to New York -- we ran [...]
Talkdemonic. October 7th, 2008 at Schubas in Chicago, IL. Photos and content by Malora McIntosh. If there is one band that embodies everything that is good about music, it is Talkdemonic. There are just two people on [...]
Under The Rotunda
Monday Music – 28 May 2012
Bison - Quill
