Ryan Montbleu at The Oasis Coffeehouse in Waltham on January 9th
December 22, 2008
Ryan Montbleu is playing at The Oasis Coffeehouse in Waltham on Friday, January 9th at 7:30pm. This is not a typical live music venue. Similar to Club Passim, it’s alcohol-free and all ages. The coffeehouse is located inside the First Presbyterian Church of Waltham. Ryan’s music is a mix of Americana, folk, blues, ragtime, 70’s R&B and soul. In other words: good times. Tickets are $15 and will no doubt sell out quickly since he plays in bigger venues these days. Grab your spot at Brown Paper Tickets.
Photo credit: VickieVictoria at Flickr.
Grab new music from Session Americana (online until January 2nd)
December 22, 2008
Session Americana has been playing another epic weekly Tuesday night residency at the Lizard Lounge. It’s always a good time. Though lately it seems like word is getting out to a lot of new people unfamiliar with the tradition of listening at Session Americana shows. The guys sit around a table of ambient mics — this is not a plugged-in loud, rock and roll experience. But it is an experience. Awesomeness is hearing an americana-inspired version of Prince’s “Pop Life” and “Raspberry Beret.” Not to mention the band’s own “Beer Town.”
I’m hopeful that they can start future shows with a before-things-start reminder to the crowd that the volume will only get so loud, so if people are there to talk and not listen to the band, it’s not going to go so well. Last week they did an impressive job of playing louder than usual — but really, this is a listening event. They are not there to provide background music to your bar conversation. Go to a nondescript local pub or somewhere on Landsdowne Street for that. If you are going to your first Session Americana concert because you heard about it here, please (please) wait until the band takes a break between sets to talk loudly.
Free MP3s from Session Americana
If you’re curious to hear what Session Americana has been up to, they’ve got four new songs available for free download on their website until January 2nd. If you like what you hear (how could you not?!?!), go to their web page about the songs and click on the Paypal donate link to send them $5 or $5,ooo.
Photos from the 21st Annual Boston Music Awards at the Roxy
December 9, 2008
I wasn’t sure what to expect at this year’s Boston Music Awards. Instead of a live music and awards event open to the public, this year’s festivities were private, invite-only at The Roxy on December 7th. In a Boston Globe article leading up the event, Chip Rives (whose company, TRP, produces the event) said that the event would likely return to being open to the public next year. There were three rooms with live music — a lot more (live music) than previous years. The awards ceremony was reduced to announcements-only with a few exceptions: Donnie Wahlberg and Jordan Knight accepted New Kids On The Block’s award for Oustanding National Act; Billy Beard spoke briefly after being awarded the Unsung Hero award (immensely deserved, by the way); and Ernie Boch Jr. talked about being dissed by John Sykes from VH1’s Save The Music so he set up a foundation called Music Drives Us with $2M of his own cash.
Below are a bunch of photos I took at the Boston Music Awards plus the list of winners with links to all their websites. If you’re a band in one of the photos and you’d like permission to use the photos, send a note.
21st Annual Boston Music Awards: Event Photos
21st Annual Boston Music Awards: The Winners
Act of the Year (National) – New Kids on the Block
Album of the Year (National) – Who Killed Amanda Palmer – Amanda Palmer
Song of the Year (National) - This Lonely Love - Juliana Hatfield
Act of the Year (Local) – Girls Guns and Glory
Album of the Year (Local) – Absolute Value – Akrobatik
Best New Act – The Low Anthem
Best Song of the Year (Local) – One and One – The Great Bandini
Female Vocalist of the Year (Local) – Sarah Borges
Female Vocalist of the Year (National) – Amanda Palmer
Male Vocalist of the Year (Local) – Eli “Paperboy” Reed
Male Vocalist of the Year (National) – Al Barr (Dropkick Murphys)
Outstanding Americana Act of the Year – Girls Guns and Glory
Outstanding Blues Act of the Year – David Maxwell
Outstanding DJ/Electronic Act of the Year - Baltimoroder
Outstanding Folk Artists of the Year – Miss Tess
Outstanding Hip-Hop Act – Termanology
Outstanding International Music Act of the Year – Zili Misik
Outstanding Jazz Act of the Year – Grace Kelly
Outstanding Live Act of the Year – The Camp
Outstanding Metal/Hardcore Act of the Year - Doomriders
Outstanding Pop/R&B Act of the Year – Jada
Outstanding Punk Act of the Year – Big D and the Kids Table
Outstanding Rock Act of the Year – Wild Light
Outstanding Singer/Songwriter of the Year – Marissa Nadler
Outstanding Tribute Act of the Year – Joshua Tree
Producer of the Year (Hip-Hop/R&B) – Matty Trump
Producer of the Year (Rock/Pop) – Ed Valauskas
College Band of the Year – Bearstronaut
Humanitarian of the Year – Chad Stokes Urmston
Unsung Hero Award - Billy Beard
