Showing posts with label Worcester. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Worcester. Show all posts

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Club/Event Notes Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009


Thursday, Michael Thibodeau and Roger Lavallee join Duncan Arsenault at the Dive; Wormtown Trading brings Hot Day at the Zoo back to Tammany Hall; Mythology joins Bog of the Infidel at Ralph’s for metal night; Matt Shwachman’s singing solo at the Blackstone Tap; Brooks Milgate is with a Pony for my Birthday on the bill at Nick’s; and Hustle Simmons spins tunes at the Fifth Amendment.

Friday, deep punk blues meets crazy funk with a killer horn section in Clutch Grabwell, hitting the Cannery with the Ten Foot Polecats; Bret Talbert is at the Stoggy Hollow in Connecticut; The Flo plays a set of Beatles music at Beatnik’s; T’s back with Ed and Dave at Greendale’s; Bobby Vee performs at the Hanover Theatre; Allman Brothers tribute the Peacheaters are with Fennario at Tammany Hall; Worcester’s Got Talent Hip Hop Showcase is out in Nashua NH at the Amber Room; Into the Mouth of Hell Tour brings Trivium into the Palladium; 7 Minute Stagger headlines Sully’s Birthday Bash at London Billiards with Old Cold Faith; Rose Colored Glasses returns to the Wheelock Inn; Naysayer, Fire and Ice, Backtrack and more join forces at QVCC; Lamp Attack headlines Hungerpalooza with From here to Zanzibar at Clark; Dental Plan does duty at Ralph’s with Bovachevo and Cure for Static; Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse joins Mass Elite at Copperfield’s; it’s cabaret night with the Speakeasy Combo at Nick’s; The Cosby Sweaters return with the Jell-O puddin’ to Biagio’s; the Age of Punishment makes it an ‘80s night at the Raven; Hunter Foote sings at Fiddler’s Green; and the Dave Rivers Group jams at the Lucky Dog.

Saturday, Touched rocks Forty’s; Andy Cummings opens for Amy Allison at Nick’s; Olox the Terrible, Renegade and Chatty Mattie spit the bill at the Raven; the Island Castaways pay tribute to Buffett at the Cannery; New Pond Fondle joins New Pilot at Tammany Hall; the New Pale Bluesmen debut at the Blue Plate in Holden; Mourning the Dead joins Nemecide at Ralph’s; Bill McCarthy sings at Junior’s Pizza; Go Gadget Go rock Beatnik’s; The Ten Foot Pool Cats headline Gilrein’s; Vermont singer songwriter Tom Woodbury gets the Green Rooster Coffeehouse series going again; Dr. Gonzo performs in Andy and Linda Levy’s cozy living room at 4:30 to raise money to save Petey the Wondervan. It’s potluck, so bring a dish. You can find more info about this on facebook. Also, bluegrass band Southern Rail plays a special dinner concert to celebrate the release of their long awaited disc, On the Road From Appomattox, at St. Michael's Church in Bedford. It's $15 for a show and home cooked bean supper. visit southernrail.com.

Sunday, the Boston Blues Challenge is happening at Johnny D’s in Somerville.

Other Events:

On Friday, opening night for the play “Big Maggie” is at 7 p.m. at the Hibernian Cultural Center.

On Saturday, the Worcester State College Chorale has its 20 year reunion at the college, with a meeting of old and new members – a concert to happen at some point in the day.

Keep in mind, it's National Shelter Week, so please consider donating food, supplies and money to your local animal shelter. They appreciate it more than you can imagine.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Musical Masonry - Ray's got a new disc out

You can trace Ray Mason's gritty, down in the dirt rock and roll sound to one thing: his 1965 Sears Silvertone guitar. OK, that might be a slight exaggeration, but as Mason says, "I try to base my sound on good songs and a guitar that sounds like a guitar."

His new disc, Like Bugs Chewing on Paper (now how Mason-like is that?), isn't a drastic departure from his past efforts, and if you're a fan, you wouldn't want it to be. With out of left field lyrics, pure rock 'n' roll riffs and an honest delivery, Mason keeps the spirit of bands such as the Kinks and the Stones alive. "These are songs that remind me of listening to the AM radio," says Mason. "Three minute blasts that bring back feelings of summer, heartbreak...all those good things."

Mason credits producer Jim Weeks (not the one from Little Big Wheel, though he's a talented bugger) as having a major effect on his new disc. "His relentless creativity is mind-boggling to me," says Mason. "Couldn't have done it without him. He knows the way I think and I know he knows this. "

He started his first band in Holyoke in 1966, calling it The Gladiators. Mason gobbled up records, and had been doing so for years, holding myself in his room listening to music for hours on end. From the late '60s through 1980, he played bass in a variety of bands in Western Massachusetts, including the Buck Rogers Movement, The Fourgone Conclusion, Seagull, The Sailcats and Signal. During that time, Mason has stockpiled quite a few songs of his own, and decided he needed an outlet for them. In the early '80s, he self-released at least five cassettes (yup, cassettes) and then later a single on his own Captivating Music label. His first full-length CD, Between Blue & Okay, came out in 1994 and 11 more followed. In 1985, he and Jim Armenti also started the Lonesome Brothers in 1985, producing seven CDs.

"Is that too many," says Mason. "Yikes."

Turning 60 next year, Mason has no plans to slow down on writing and recording. Already armed with 11 new tunes for his band to record, he's got the the framework and lyrics for 18 more. Mason appears solo at the Harvest Cafe in Hudson on Saturday, July 25 from 8-10 p.m. You can also find out more about Mason, and his band the Lonesome Brothers, at myspace.com/theraymasonband and myspace.com/lonesomebrothers.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Club Notes, April 23, 2009

Tonight, Thursday, Tammany Hall is hosting the Pulse's Worcester Music Awards; Duncan Arsenault's always got something cooking at The Dive; and Go Gadget Go opens for the mighty Flock at the Lucky Dog Music Hall.

Friday, Rose Colored Glasses rocks the Kaz Bar on Route 20; Therefore I Am joins Transit and Canada's Confide upstairs at the Palladium; Jim Devlin sings at the Irish Times; Hat On Drinking Wine (which has a new album out available for download at www.myspace.com/hatondrinking) does Assumption College's version of Relay for Life; Bill McCarthy strums his acoustic at Greendale's; Katrin sings at Block 5; The Change Up's on the bill at Ralph's; Zack Borer and the Dave Rivers Group share the bill at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; the legendary AC/DC tribute Touch2Much is back in black at The Raven; The Demisers, The Wandas, Traphiq and New Pilot make it an awesome night of pop at Mill Street Brews; The Weight of Gravity's landing at Spiritual Haze; and Skullfunked and Uncle Billy's Smokehouse open for Ernie and the Automatics at Tammany Hall.


Saturday, Cathy's Clown heads out to Watertown to play the popular Boston Swing Dance series at the St. James Armenian Church; World in Arms joins the lineup, which includes Back of Tha Neck and Few And Proud, at the all-ages venue QVCC; Dan Burke's leading the Orange Ocean at The Dive Bar; Hallelujah The Hills joins Hey Now Morris Fader, The Wandas and Werewolves at Ralph's; the Cassevettes return to the Dive Bar; Torbin Harding's down at The Q; Leaving Eden rocks The Raven; No Alibi returns to one of its favorite spots – Greendale's; MojoSonic's filling The Rose Garden; The Jennifer Lee Band is always warmly welcomed at the Whistle Stop; Clamdigger's slipping on its rubber boots at The Nines; Jason James is ripping it up at The Galway Bay; Andy Cummings sings cover tunes at Vincent's.


Other events:

Hymn to Earth – Photography by Ron Rosenstock is on display at Alternatives Unlimited through May 31. Garden in the Woods in Framingham opened for the season last week.
On Thursday, modern, jazz and ballet students put on a Spring Dance Concert at Holy Cross's Fenwick Theatre at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Assumption College is putting on a performance of the Fantasticks at the Hanover Theatre; there's a fund raiser with local comedians at Hotel Vernon.

On Saturday from 2-4 p.m. there's an author signing and reading at Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster with Michael Presutti, whose new book is Last Words, in which a bio-terror virus lets loose on the world. Humans and animals are infected, and the world is filled with terror and madness. Apparently this collection of short stories will “haunt you long after you've finished it,” so if you enjoy being tormented by such things, it's the perfect read. Also Saturday, in honor of Autism Awareness Month, children's author Christopher Tremblay talks about and signs copies of “Beyond the Dragon,” an autism awareness sports book for kids, at Barnes and Noble in Worcester from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.


Also, has it been three years already? The Wine Vine on Highland Street (right near the Sole) is celebrating its three year anniversary with an event on Saturday evening from 5-8 p.m. The festivities include a grand wine tasting and food pairing with a visit from Chef Chris Palios. Palios is from Sofia's Tuscan Grille and will be demonstrating how to make food exciting every day with his new line of locally made and hand-crafted spices (which are available exclusively at the Wine Vine). Crystal Brook Farms owner, Ann, too will be on hand. This master cheese maker will be talking about her specialty goat cheese line. Also, special offers, a free rose and baguette to the first 50 customers, as well as prizes and gift baskets.


The Wine Vine, which is also sponsoring the Pet Rock Festival (buy any bottle with an animal theme and 5% goes to Pet Rock) is also sponsoring a wine dinner with the Sole Proprietor on May 4 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the Wine Vine's Tasting Loft. Tickets are $59, and feature a six course dinner with Dominic Mercuria, the “wine guy.” Dinner includes cheese, antipasto, shrimp, clams casino, salmon, flan and much more, each course paired with the perfect bottle. Visit http://www.winevine.org/.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Club Notes (and more) Thursday, April 16

Pictured: All That Remains, part of the Metal and Hardcore Fest at The Palladium this weekend.

On Thursday, the Matt Shwachman Band does the Third Thursdays series at the Worcester Art Museum; Wrighteous L joins the Hornitz and Soul Sex at Tammany Hall; Ralph's metal night contains Ravage, Armory and Zero Point; and a band called Bill is shooting scenes for its movie, opening for the Flock at the Lucky Dog.

On Friday, Lisa and Brett are singing tunes at Brian's in Northboro; Sean Ryan from Uncle Billy's Smokehouse is singing at Greendale's; Strange Design is a Phish tribute playing Tammany Hall – Strange Design recreates Phish shows in their entirety; The Joshua Tree pays tribute to U2 at Speakers Nightclub; Copperhead does modern country at The Cannery; Nowhereman Band is a new Beatles tribute playing PJ's; Leaving Eden rocks Jillian's; Goofyfoot's jamming TJ O'Brien's; Peter, Paul and Mary harmonize at the Hanover Theatre; get the Last Laugh at Irish Times; Necktie Party, The Cold Beat and more fill the bill at Ralph's; Tom Yates's group plays the Colonial Inn in Concord; Ken Macy sings at Block 5; Houndstone rocks JJ's in Northboro; Bill McCarthy's singing acoustic tunes at Al Fresco in Holden; Orrin Slips and Dani Reed open for the tour kickoff show by Shane Hall at Spiritual Haze; it's a reggae hip hop jam with Wrighteous L at the Lucky Dog; Lisa Wilson and Brett Brumby are out at Brian's in Northboro (which, by the way, has a great - and large - menu); Muck and the Mires are out at TT the Bears for their record release – the band is just back from London, and this is just about the closest they're going to get to Worcester for a while; there's a battle of the bands featuring Metro-west acts at the Westboro YMCA; and the 11th annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival kicks off at The Palladium, continuing throughout the weekend. Check their site for this one, but included on this jam packed bill are White Chapel, Rose Funeral, Toxic Holocaust, Aggressive Dogs, All That Remains, The Haunted, Lamb of God, Book of Black Earth and Napalm Death.

Saturday, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines are at the Bull Run in Shirley; Sonic Garden is apparently the ultimate Grateful Dead tribute, playing at the Lucky Dog, jamming after the DCU show as the actual Grateful Dead with Warren Haynes is at the DCU Center; Old School returns to Greendale's; Herra Terra headlines Ralph's; Gilmour's Breakfast pays tribute to Floyd at JJ's; Five Hole does covers at PJ's in West Boylston; and Cathy's Clown opens for the legendary Herman's Hermits and the Young Rascals at The Hanover Theatre.

Next Wednesday, Dope Sick Love, The Stop and more play a free show at the Lucky Dog;
Other events:

Winged Things, which is a show by Thomas Radcliffe, is on display at Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster through the end of the month. The Biennial 2009 opened at ARTSWorcester and will continue through May 29. This juried show features the best in painting, photography, works on paper, sculpture and mixed media in the area.

On Friday, the Worcester Pride Committee hosts a Casino Night at Castellana's Restaurant; and WCCA's 8th Annual Art Attack-Film, Music and Art Festival called “Art in Miniature” takes place at their studio on Main Street from 6-8 p.m. The event features video clips from the 100second Film Festival, miniature art works on display from Janeen Paul, James Washington, and Dana Wolfson, and short song and miniature forms performed by Pico Canto (piano and guitar).

On Saturday, Salsa Storm's hosting a club party at their studio at 7 p.m. with live music by Curubande Orchestra.

Saturday and Sunday, Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston hosts the annual African Violet Show.

The Tony-award winning Broadway play Doubt opens at Foothills Theatre this weekend.

And next Wednesday, April 22, Edwards' Emporium at 201-205 Main Street in Webster hosts the second annual Earth Day Expo from 5-8 p.m. This huge event includes exhibits, giveaways, food and lots more. And it's free.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Quick Hit: Dan Burke

Dan Burke, who was the featured guest on the Weekly Shuffle 91.3 WCUW Thursday, Jan. 29, is best known in this area as the frontman for The Orange Ocean. Formerly Walter the Orange Ocean, the "Walter" was dropped after its first disc - Restless or Sleeping - when guitarist Dan Hedley moved back to California. Burke and the band most recently recorded and released Caught in the Air, which featured hip-hopper trumpet player AfroDZak, guitarist Troy Gonyea and string arrangements by composer Joey Newman. Newman, in fact, was Burke's recent connection to some shows in some prominent LA clubs. Now, though Burke plays occasionally with the Orange Ocean, he's focusing on writing solo material, making his living as a fulltime musician. Burke's joined by a trio, which includes AfroDZak this Friday at the wonderfully funky Nick's on Millbury Street.