Songs for Wednesday // Jeannot, RayLand Baxter and more

Words // Adam Sharp

'Tire Swing'- Jeannot
This song manages to be breathtakingly gorgeous and heartbreaking all at once. So, basically, perfect.
Website: http://www.facebook.com/Jeannotmusic

'Driveway Melody'- RayLand Baxter
Two and a half minutes of fun, summertime rock & roll.
Website: http://www.raylandbaxter.com/

'Hey Love'- Miner
You'll need 55 seconds to love this song. Maybe less. Either way, you'll love it.
Website: http://www.thisisminer.com/#!index/mainPage

Hey Love - Miner

'Los Angeles'- Northern Youth
I’ll never tire of people talking/singing/writing about that feeling
of home (and the search for it) in passionate ways.
website: http://www.facebook.com/youthmusicband

Los Angeles - Northern Youth

'Weekends'- Tiger Waves
This song sounds like summer.
Website: http://www.tigerwaves.com/

'Old Friend'- Sea Wolf
You won't do much better than listening to this song while taking in a sunset.
Website: http://www.seawolfmusic.com/

New music: Jacob Augustine - Bikini Island EP

Words // Scott Pingeton

As you've probably gathered, I've been hopelessly out of touch these past few weeks.  I'm finding it difficult to find any time to discover new music, let alone edit and post the 5+ live recordings I have ready to go (promise I'll get those done soon).  But sometimes great things fall in your lap, and today was one of those times.  A tweet from Jacob Augustine lead me to his bandcamp page, and one of my favorite new music discoveries in the past few months.

Augustine is based in the "northern woods of Maine", and his songs reflect the timbre of that part of the country. Music for deep woods meditation, paddling on a glass-still pond or sunset on the rocky shoreline.  Traditional folk is the common thread, around which experimental arrangements are woven. 

"Bikini" starts with slow, chanted vocals before opening up into a rousing harmonica and guitar stomp.  "God's Guns" features rhythmic percussion and a Middle Eastern melody, but Augustine's dynamic vocals are the highlight.  In fact, throughout these four varied songs, it is the lyrics and delivery that keep knocking me on my ass.  Augustine delivers each line with such passion, whether hushed or fervent, that I can't help be mesmerized. 

The EP, which clocks in around 23 minutes, ends with "Marathon Caribou".  It's a breathtaking song, fully orchestrated with strings and haunting doubled vocals.  It will draw comparisons to Bon Iver, and is more than strong enough to stand up to those comparisons.  This is one of the most accomplished EPs I've heard this year, Jacob Augustine is definitely a songwriter to keep your eye on.

Name your own price and grab the Bikini Island EP is available on Augustine's bandcamp page now.  You won't be sorry.

Songs for Wednesday // The Lighthouse and The Whaler and The Antlers and more

Words // Adam Sharp

'Venice'- The Lighthouse and The Whaler
You need a song for a summer mix? Here it is.
Website: http://thelighthouseandthewhaler.com/

'The Park'- These United States
People should really be talking about this song more- it's one of the finest I've heard this year.
Website: http://www.theseunitedstates.net/

'Drift Dive'- The Antlers
Dreamy and hazy, sure, but also light and refreshing. Like sitting in the heat and drinking a cold beer.
Website: http://antlersmusic.com/

'Welfare'- Tom Eddy
Tropical vibes, finger snaps and falsetto crooning sound so damn tremendous during the dog days of summer.
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Eddy/157745187623506

'Knives'- Lemolo
Guys and girls: this new Lemolo album is one of the best I've heard this year. You need it in your ears.
Website: http://lemolomusic.com/
bandcamp: http://lemolomusic.bandcamp.com/track/knives

'July 4, 2004'- Jason Anderson
This is my favorite song I've ever 'found' on the internet. By far.
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Anderson/64170803880

Mixtape: That Summer Feeling

Kitchen Sessions 26 // Delta Saints - "Jezebel"

Kitchen Session 26: Delta Saints - Jezebel from Kitchen Sessions on Vimeo.

Review: Bowerbirds at The Met, 6.21.12

Words and Photo // Brian Hodge

The Bowerbirds perform at The Met in Pawtucket RI - June 21, 2012

Bowerbirds - Tuck The Darkness In

The Bowerbirds have perched a lofty and unique place in today’s musical landscape, nesting a home in the unfettered space close to Bon Iver (they recorded their aptly-titled The Clearing at Vernon’s Wisconsin April Base studio), but in a fashion all their own.

Or, as Phil Moore puts it in “This Year,”: “We’ll find a clearing in the forest of our hearts.”  So the group has successfully found a clearing in today’s independent folk scene, a favorable position on full display in a recent Rhode Island performance.

To begin, Moore solely took the stage in a style befitting his tunes – simply and sincerely. Moore initially dipped his toes into The Clearing, namely “Walk The Furrows” and “Sweet Moment.”  His versions, reminiscent of a simple coffeehouse set, was an excellent introduction to the evening. with Moore’s falsetto croons carrying easily throughout the club.

Soon, he was joined onstage by Beth Tacular and percussionist Yan Westerlund.  They quickly launched into “House of Diamonds,” the subtle-but-stellar opener from 2009’s Upper Air.  Tacular, backing multiple Korgs, sweetly supported the live arrangements throughout with perfectly placed vocals and fulfilling piano parts.

The three quickly squelched any questions of how their lush arrangements would translate to the live setting.  With a bit of creativity and tacit talent, the performance – as good ones do – rekindled the records, without simply recreating or reflecting them.

The group continuously kept The Clearing on shuffle, bending “In The Yard” into a fuzzy affair and snapping “Stitch the Hem” into a quicker, calypso-sounding serenade.  Westerlund, perfectly steady throughout, capably kept the whole thing buoyant with a breezy backbeat. The trend continued with a wistful version of “Northern Lights,” the tune bouncing brightly on Tacular’s brisk piano.

“Island Dweller,” a protest song from a heretofore-unknown side project also kept things interesting, with Moore’s electric guitar carving out a different-in-a-welcome-way look for the group.

But the Bowerbirds are at their best in the comfortable, middle tempos and bright, mid-range melodies.  They closed the evening with the wonderful “Tuck The Darkness In,” as Moore’s  allusion to time as nature’s incessant swindler ringing sincerely in the audience’s ears.

--

Basia Bulat beautifully opened the evening.  The Canadian singer-songwriter made an impressive Rhode Island debut, smoothly shifting between attractive folk melodies to tunes on pop music’s alluring border.  

Her musicianship was immediately apparent, breaking out an autoharp, a turn-of-the-century American harp, and ending the evening with swift fingerpicking on a ukulele.  It is, of course, one thing to trot these instruments out, but Bulat handled them all with equal aplomb.  Expect to hear more from her in the future.