The Scene – May 6th, My First Writers in the Round

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Sully

Writers in the Round

Writers in the Round

Wednesday the 6th I motivated myself to head down to Tazza Cafe for their twice monthly acoustic night, Writers in the Round. Hosted the first and third Wednesday of every month, it features four local songwriters trading tunes for an evening of stellar music. I arrived earlier than expected, I was actually making haste on my way as I thought I was going to be late, upon realizing the song writer’s were still sound checking and hashing out some details I sought a familiar face in Daniel Chase. We had met at Record Store Day, and informed me of the night, he noticed me first and we stuck up a conversation. Between his introductions and my own I was able to meet all the gentlemen playing that evening and chat a bit, I ordered myself a sandwich and relaxed before the music. The songwriters for the evening consisted of Chris Rosenquest, Kris Hansen, Nicky P, and Daniel Chase. It was apparent some of these gentlemen have been at this a while, and know each other quite well, plenty of good natured ribbing happening as they took to the stage. Continue reading →

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The Scene – May 2, To The Wheelhouse, Yet Again

Posted on May 10, 2009 by Sully
The Attic at The Wheelhouse

The Attic at The Wheelhouse

Gravity Works at The Wheelhouse

Gravity Works at The Wheelhouse

See what I meant about how I wished The Wheelhouse was offering season passes this year? I was heading back down to South County for another Saturday show, this time It was to enjoy the jam rock styles of Gravity Works and The Attic. A common theme, I was intending on finishing up the previous Saturday’s show , but last minute decided to make the trip, having seen both bands in the past month I knew it was going to be a great show I shouldn’t miss. I arrived fairly early, and at the door, didn’t notice anyone other than the bouncer in the live music section, not even band members. Once inside I realized the crowd was packed into the bar section, Celtics vs Bulls, playoff game 7 had entranced the masses. When asked I’ll say my favorite basketball team is the Celts, with the disclaimer, really I don’t follow basketball, and last time I was up on the Celts, Bird and McHale were the stars. Formerly an obsessive Red Sox and Patriots fan, after the whirlwind of the early and mid 2000s, my sports obsession has been satiated. Actually, I try not to watch either any longer as my heart and blood pressure just cannot handle the stress. Continue reading →

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The Scene – Pending Write-ups

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Sully

I’ve seen a lot of good music the past week plus.  I’ve been so busy with work, as well as getting out to shows that I’ve fallen behind on what I’ve seen drastically.  Sunday will probably be another crazy day teathered to my computer typing for your amusement.

What I’ve seen

May 2 – Gravity Works and The Attic at The wheelhouse

May 6 – Writers in the Round at Tazza Cafe (Nicky P, Chris Rosenquest, Kris Hansen and Daniel Chase)

May 7 – Sound Sessions Search round 14 at the Black Rep featuring SEXCoffee and Fungus Amungus (VOTE HERE)

What I’m Seeing

May 8 – Chrisy Gavin, Funkatronic and The Muve at AS220

May 9 – Kyle Nicholas and Andrea Belanger at The City Cafe

Keep your eyes and ears peels, lest you miss great shows.  Call my cell if you want to meet up.

Peace, Love and Song

Sully

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Tunes Around Town – Shows May 6th – 9th

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Sully

Lots of good shows this coming weekend, starting early on Wednesday this week:

Wednesday May 6th

Thursday May 7th

Friday May 9th

Saturday May 9th

By far not an all inclusive list of the happenings in the area, give me a heads up if I missed your show.

Peace, Love and Song

Sully

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The Scene – April 26th, Slightly Stoopid and The Roots

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Sully
The Roots at URI

The Roots at URI

Captain Kirk, dodging my camera

Captain Kirk, dodging my camera

Yes friends, I went to a hip-hop show on purpose. Those who know me best know that I have had a disdain for all things hip-hop for a very long time. Generally, I would say it comes from how I abhor its violent and materialistic messages, which are much removed from my peace-loving hippie nature. As I’ve gotten older, my musical tastes have broadened, I’ve become much less stubborn and and more open minded to different genres of music. The closest to hip-hop that I listen to would be G. Love and Special Sauce, and only recently (past 6 months) been listing to that cat. Living with my brother, a hip-hop fanatic, for the past few years certainly forced my exposure to rap and hip-hop, and can no longer instantly turn off my eardrums at the sound. In college and beyond I have had the reputation to bring music I dig wherever I go, and hijack the sound system at any given party or BBQ, replacing what ever is playing with something I’d like to hear. The Roots are familiar to me only in name, as many friends have raved about their music for years, professing “Sully, its not like the shit hip-hop you hate, you might like it.” I’m a Libra, stubborn, and I’ve been known to threaten to break knuckles if you try to replace my Beatles or Donovan or any other Folk or Jam band playing in my CD player with hip-hop or rap. Continue reading →

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The Scene – April 25th, Heading Back to The Wheelhouse

Posted on May 3, 2009 by Sully
View of the Bay from The Wheelhouse's smokers deck

View of the Bay from The Wheelhouse's smokers deck

April 25th I made my way down to Narragansett towards The Wheelhouse for Funkatronic, The Choos and the eagerly anticipated return to the stage of The Law. I arrived early and snagged a parking spot practically in front of the venue, with plenty of time to catch up with my cousin Katie at the bar. As Funkatronic was sound checking we ordered a round and caught up a bit. Apparently she and Brendon (Low B) had spent the day before in New York and didn’t arrive back until 5am, leaving them both about 4 hours of sleep with which to function, ouch. Earlier that day I had been at Zig Zag’s grilling and checking out band practice, but the aroma of freshly fried potatoes and malt vinegar filled the air, awakening the sleeping giant that is my appetite. I was doing fine suppressing the beast with a $1 Coors Light (not my normal choice but can’t beat a buck), until the gentleman to my right Bob received a platter of chicken fingers and french fries. I sarcastically accosted him “Do you know what you’ve done?!?!” for furthering my appetite and proclaimed I must now order my own basket of fries to satiate the beast within. Continue reading →

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The Scene – April 24th, Bill’s Bar’s 2nd to Last Night

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Sully
State Your Mind's CD Release Party

State Your Mind's CD Release Party

April 24th I set off to Boston after work to attend an eagerly anticipated triple bill, Greyspoke, The Effective Dose, and State Your Mind, at Bill’s Bar on Landsdowne Street knowing full well the Sox were in town. As I approached the Ho Chi Min Gas tank traffic began to screech to a halt, back in my old stomping grounds I turned to some familiar radio stations for the bumper to bumper crawl to span the remaining four exits of my highway journey. Once the Deejay began to chat I learned, not only were the Sox at home for the weekend, but the Yankees were their opponents, thus doubling Boston’s normal Friday night pandemonium. Taking the Mass Ave exit I quickly traversed the main drag to the Northeastern area, and secured my ever abundant free parking (when you know where to look) in the mythical area behind NU that does not require resident permit parking. Noticing all the changes my alma mater has gone through in the few years since I attended I was reminded I really do need to get my ass to town more. I picked up a 22, and made my way through the back alleys between Northeastern and Landsdowne, enjoying, reminiscing, and celebrating Question 2. As I crossed The Fens (part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace, a series of public parks), I could hear the roar of Fenway Park, and smell the sausages, pressed for time, or so I thought, I rounded the corner and was at Bill’s Bar. Much to my chagrin they hadn’t opened doors to the public yet, so I asked for Mike Rabito of The Effective Dose, who was holding my ticket, and waited on the street. When he arrived we caught up a bit, we share some close common friends, and chat quite a bit on-line, but I had yet to meet him. Parts of the staff had yet to arrive, so there was still plenty of time before the first act was to begin, I suggested we head back to The Fens and celebrate Question 2 some more, making sure to secure some street meat along the way. (PSA: Fenway Sausage vendors, carry Tums as well, you will make a killing!) Continue reading →

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The Scene – April 18th, I.U. Rounding Out the Night

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Sully
Sean and Travis of Innocent Uprising

Sean and Travis of Innocent Uprising

Kyle of Innocent Uprising

Kyle of Innocent Uprising

Right off the bat it was easy to tell they’d been practicing a lot this week, their songs seemed jammier and Kyle and Travis were working phenomenally off of each other. I returned to the stage area just in time to catch “Predictable,” one of my more favorite songs of theirs they rocked it hard.  Live, I.U. always plays hard and fast, pumping the crowd, I have heard some really good acoustic versions of this song as well.  The set defiantly benefited from Travis’ arrival, and quick lead guitar, but Kyle was poised and ready to fill out the songs with his rhythms and strum patterns, had he been unable to attend. Between songs they would all huddle making sure all were on the same page, Sean, as usual, addressing the crowd and getting everyones feedback, while getting them pumped, and laying his steadfast reggae vocals. Bobby, having fun, was bopping around on the bass with his new transmitter, bounding into the crowd and back to the stage with his busy bass lines. Zig Zag drummed with his rocking style and gave the back-beat his furious fills while maintain the song’s purpose. Next Kyle took lead vocals on his own composition “Show a Friendly Fist:” Continue reading →

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Surprise Tickets to Slightly Stoopid and The Roots

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Sully
Jenna, Melissa, Ashley, Tim and I at the Mews

Jenna, Melissa, Ashley, Tim and I at the Mews

Bros Droppin' Bombs

Bros Droppin' Bombs

At about 1:30pm yesterday my buddy Ashley called saying she and some of my other friends had two extra tickets to Slightly Stoopid and The Roots at the URI Ryan Center that night. Never turning down a good show and just having just become enamored with The Roots from their work on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, I set out to attend my first hop-hop show (on purpose at least). Tim and I made the trek down to South County and hit up the Mews to meet the ladies and get on our sauce.

The Legendary Roots Crew hit URI

The Legendary Roots Crew hit URI

Yesterday was originally intended to catch up on my blogging, but I got sidetracked with another show, and a great one at that. Lame excuse I know, but with the Heroes season finale tonight, you will have to wait for further updates later in the week.

Ok, customer finally came back from placing me on hold.

Peace and Love
Sully Out

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The Scene – Snookers at Night, April 18th

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Sully
Jay "Zig Zag" Mottle being a goof

Jay "Zig Zag" Mottle being a goof

After Record Store Day I headed to Zig Zag‘s to hang out for a bit and check out his additional music project. I chatted with Bobby for a bit during the practice and came to find out, Travis had other obligations that night and wouldn’t be around for the show, and earlier they had been practicing three piece arrangements for that evening. Enjoying the new band’s tunes but exhausted, I headed home and took a well deserved nap, a late Friday night of shows and an early afternoon show meant I was going to have to conserve energy if I wanted to make the Jose Docen, Harpoon and Innocent Uprising show that night. Emerging from dreamland I realized I had only about an hour to get down to Snookers, never having been there before, I harassed my brother for directions. Deciding a night on the town was more exciting than a night of on-line poker Tim came along as my navigator, rather than give convoluted directions through the back alleys of Providence to my destination. As we got closer to Snookers we started to play the “OMG Street Spot” game. It goes something like this: Continue reading →

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