Meadowbrook mixes it up this season – 3 new shows announced

UPDATE:
Staind, Shinedown & Chevelle set for July 10
Steve Miller Band/Doobie Brothers confirmed for August 16
Tickets for both shows on sale Saturday, May 9.
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In what’s shaping into a wonderfully diverse summer of entertainment, Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion announced three new shows Tuesday.
Rounding out Bike Week, which so far includes a Brad Paisley/Dierks Bentley double bill (6/14), [...]

Conniption Fits – A Heaping Helping of Perspective

When it comes to trios, there’s power and finesse. “A Heaping Help of Perspective” marks the Conniption Fits’ first outing as a three-piece (guitarist Tuck Stocking left after 2006’s “Airplane Rides”), and fortunately, they opted for the latter.
For their second album, the Fairlee-based band eschew crushing chords for tasteful guitar figures and expert singing, while [...]

Local Rhythms – There Oughta Be A Law

If you’re going to pee on my leg, at least tell me it’s “Rain” – not the Beatles.

Big Days For Soul Octane Burner

Through steady gigging at Electra, Imperial Lounge and the Claremont Moose Hall (where they perform Saturday), Soul Octane Burner built a solid area following for the roiling music they call “redneck metal.”
But until recently, the band hadn’t recorded a CD of original material.
To put it mildly, things are moving a bit faster these days.
In addition [...]

Local Rhythms – Give It Away

Record Store Day was by most accounts a fabulous success.  I stopped in a bit late for Pariah Beat’s free set, but with enough time to snag some cool vinyl.
I also left with some unplanned purchases.
Norwegian rocker Ida Maria’s single, “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked,” is in heavy rotation on Sirius [...]

Fools Play On

“Back then it wasn’t called “indie” – it was called stupid to have your own record company.” – Mike Girard, Fools lead singer

Local Rhythms – Record Store Day

Music business news is giving me whiplash.
Take the RIAA lawsuits.  Last December, the industry organization announced plans to stop going after fans, focusing instead on Internet service providers.
But they’re milking all they can out of their ongoing cases.  A UNH student was initially sued for sharing 7 songs but, her attorney recently told the Union [...]

Local Rhythms – 5 Years Down the Road

I began writing “Local Rhythms” in April 2004 equipped with more curiosity than actual knowledge.
Even if no one read my dispatches from the area arts scene, I reasoned, I’d find something to do on the weekend.
Five years later, I’m still looking for the heart of Saturday night – or any other day of the week [...]

Idiot Wind, or It’s Alright, Ma – I’m Only Pooping

I think I found a music story to go with the picture of Lenin’s exploding ass.  OK, it’s a stretch, but you gotta admit, both of them are funny as hell.  Besides, both Lenin and Dylan can be described as revolutionaries with (how do I put this delicately?) posterior problems.
It seems the Bard of Minnesota [...]

Local Rhythms – Green Mountain Home Companion

After a Sunday morning awash in news of lost jobs, foreclosures and other tales of economic despair, a thought occurred to me: what would Mickey Rooney do?
“Let’s put on a show!” he’d shout with a smile, and rally his pals to lose their blues.
Inspired?  Look no further than Woodstock, where the 12th annual community “Green [...]