Inspired and Inspiring — Bleu’s new album comes to life
July 18, 2009
Unfortunately it’s not all that unique of a story — amazing band gets signed to a big label, releases an album and then gets dropped right as their next album is about to be released. Or in the case of two of my favorite Boston bands in the late 1990s — Talking to Animals and Splashdown — the labels produced each band’s first album but never released them. Not that I’m still bitter or anything.
So to see Bleu release A Watched Pot this week (July 14, 2009) is nothing short of inspired and inspiring. Back in 2005 he was all set to share the album with the world but found himself dropped from Aware/Columbia Records along with other artists and employees during a label “reorganization.”
A lot of musicians would understandably have just given up. But Bleu worked to get those songs back from the label so he could eventually release the album elsewhere (Artist Garage/Fontana Distribution). And it’s all finally happening for him today. Amazing and awesome!
A Watched Pot is a gem of pop rock awesomeness — eleven songs of awesomeness to be precise. Read the full tale of how “A Watched Pot” finally came to life on Bleu’s community site.
Listen to A Watched Pot then buy it!
And it doesn’t matter if you can’t get into his music (though I’ll never understand why) — everyone should buy this album to support someone who stayed true to his creative pursuits.
Bleu is sharing his adventure to bring A Watched Pot to life at YouTube, Ning, Facebook and Twitter — the least we could do is give a little something back. Buy A Watched Pot digital downloads at iTunes or Amazon.com. If you buy the album from Newbury Comics website, your CD will be signed by Bleu (while supplies last).
Music video for “Come ‘N Go”
See Bleu in Boston on July 24th
Bleu called Boston home for a while during and after attending Berklee and then he relocated to Los Angeles in June 2006. His Farewell to Boston show included the first time the rock and roll spectacle known as Bang Camaro performed on stage. Here are some of my photos from that night.
He will be back in town to celebrate the release of A Watched Pot on Friday, July 24th at TT The Bear’s Place joined by Hooray for Earth, Air Traffic Controller and another favorite band of mine, Count Zero. Get there early — Count Zero goes on at 9.
Sooz is a concert photographer and Exploit Boston! publisher. Follower her and Exploit Boston! on Twitter.
Bleu at TT The Bear’s Place, November 2006, Photo by Sooz
Live Review: Brian Webb at Club Passim on July 17th
July 18, 2009
I first saw Brian Webb at a NEMO Showcase at Club Passim in April 2002. He backed up Rachel McCartney and she reciprocated during his set. After the show, I purchased The Evolving CD and it’s been in my music circulation ever since.
In 2003 I began seeing him regularly at Club Passim until a few years later when he was diagnosed with Chrohn’s disease and decided to play fewer shows and return to school. Friday night, Webb returned to Club Passim and, as always, he brought some of the finest Boston musicians to join him onstage. Tonight, Sean Staples (of Session Americana and about 78 other bands in Boston) joined him on stage.
Donning a “Don’t Mess With Rhode Island” t-shirt (you’d think it was texas but the teensy RI was smack dab in the middle of the longhorn state) and his personable and appreciative attitude Brian Webb opened with “Walk Alone.” People who had never heard the song before laughed after the opening line “You drive me crazy, maybe cause’ you are” causing Webb to briefly stop and laugh, saying that it would be, by far the most humorous line in the song.
After failing at what Staples referred to as “witty Passim banter”, Webb admitted that his life was now consumed by what he thought the audience would find too boring: being a math teacher and his four month old son. After some “oohs” and “ahhs” Webb trustingly allowed his iPhone to be passed around the sold-out club so everybody could see the photo on the screen. His iPhone even returned to the stage before he started the next song.
The evening continued with great renditions of “Perfect ‘lil Imperfection”, “Joshua”, “45″, “Dirty South”, and “Saved by Love” (with Webb on the banjo). Requests from the audience included “They Are Not My Own” and “D’Julliane.” The set ended with “Leaving Atlanta” and the encore “Oh Lord” which featured Webb with a slide borrowed from a generous audience member.
Intermixed throughout the show were Webb’s sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and affable relationship with the intimate Club Passim audience — as if he were in your living room amongst a group of friends. The night included stories of the Rhode Island school system, his friendship with Sean Staples and Passim’s Matt Smith (who was responsible for the shirtless photo of Webb in the Club Passim calendar –retribution for Webb’s out-of-date website).
Regardless of his old materials, Brian Webb was in fine form. Looking around, everybody had a good time and both Webb and Staples were enjoying themselves. Mike Evin who opened the show playing his first of a two month tour brought his own piano (yes, a piano) in his car from Montreal, Canada. With an a capella song about watermelons, a childhood ode to soapbox racing and a tribute to receptionists, “Rockin’ Receptionst”, he warmed up the audience with his charm.
However, this was Webb’s night at Passim. A relative rarity. While I’m sure he will be an excellent math teacher, I hope it doesn’t prevent him from playing one or two shows a year at Club Passim. They are events that shouldn’t be missed.
Nicholas Peterson (@npeterson on Twitter) is an internet marketing and communications strategist specializing in nonprofit and arts organizations.
Photo of Brian Webb courtesy brian-webb.com.
Someone turned the lights back on?
July 17, 2009
Things are percolating once again at Exploit Boston! This time around the focus is on concert photos and videos.
If you’re around Boston on Saturday night (July 18th), there are two must-see events. First up is a reunited Ms. Pigeon with special guests Old Jack, Reverse and Eric Salt and the Electric City at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. Doors open at 8:30 and it’s 21+. Buy a ticket right now at Brown Paper Tickets and be one of 105 people there!
Over in Somerville’s Union Square, Shawn Wolf Wortis hosts his epic (4 days after) Bastille Day A-Go-Go at Precinct. It’s a night of New Orleans rhythm & blues featuring Vudu Krewe All-Star Mardi Gras Band with special guest singers Jen D’Angora, JJ Rassler, John Powhida, Jordan Valentine, Asa Brebner, Mick Mondo, and Al Janik.
Dan Nicklin (Old Jack) at Church on June 25, 2009. Photo by Sooz.
