Event Calendar

Ken Reid's Shirt Tales

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:00 -0700

Ken Reid's Shirt Tales
YMCA Cambridge Theatre
Cambridge, MA

Comedian Ken Reid brings his fourth one man show back to the Cambridge YMCA Theater. A full length multi-media one man story telling comedy show show which will include a short history of the t-shirt and a longer history of Ken Reid. Ken will tell humorous, bittersweet and occasionally bizarre tales from his life, using his personal t-shirt collection as a gateway into his own personal timeline.

Ken was nominated by the Boston Phoenix as Boston's Best Comedian in 2010 and 2012. He has opened for Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman, Patton Oswalt and Bob Saget. He is also the regular Friday night host at the world famous Comedy Studio and has staged one man shows in the greater Boston area, and at the UCB in New York.

Ken will be joined by Chanteuse Niki Luparelli (http://www.nikiluparelli.com/) who will be opening the show as only a true entertainer can.

$15, 730 Show. $15 includes a limited edition event t-shirt with admission.

Tickets available here

More info about Ken available here

Single Day Event On: 5/19/2012

OPENSOUND: improvised and experimental music

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:00 -0700

Covers (three groups performing improvisations and familiar tunes)

Covers set 1: OK Chorale
Matt Samolis - flute
Forbes Graham - trumpet
Tom Plsek - trombone
Steve Norton - bass clarinet
Vic Rawlings - prepared cello

Covers set 2: Duck That
Angela Sawyer - voice, electronics, game calls
Josh Jefferson - reeds, game calls
Steve Norton - reeds, percussion, celesta, game calls

Covers set 3: De-votion
Vic Rawlings - electronics, guitar
Brendan Murray - synths, guitar
Steve Norton - percussion, saxophone, elec. bass
Chris Strunk - percussion, drums, vocals

duo:
D. Greenwood - handmade electronics
J. Starpoli - amplified trombone

trio:
Michael Rosenstein, electronics
Vic Rawlings, exposed electronics, speakers
Angela Sawyer, electronics

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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Third Life Studios
33 Union Square
Somerville, MA
(Almost at the heart of Union Square, on the segment of
Somerville Ave. coming into Union Square from Porter Square)

For directions and parking:
http://www.thirdlifestudio.com/directions.html

Doors open at 7:30. / music at 8:00 p.m.
$8 admission

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Opensound is a monthly concert series that explores improvised and
experimental music, bringing artists from disparate backgrounds
together for unique events in Somerville MA. The process of
improvisation combines the distinctive voices of its individual
performers. The music that results is often surprising, unconventional
and dynamic. It s not uncommon to hear music made of electronic
crackles, noisy multi-phonics, gurgling, hissing, quiet
vocalized gibberish, atonal noodling, bowed metal, blowing sounds,
post-everything harmony, and a thousand shades of hullabaloo.

You may also see video and dance cohabitating with buzzes, clicks,
drones, wooshes, and bleeps in a bizarre galaxy of pitch and spectra!

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Some Performer Bios

Multi-reedist Steve Norton is best known for his work with the 1990s
Boston-based band Debris. Debris was an ambitious, exuberant, puzzling
band that puzzled together serialism, free jazz and funk. Their music
is in equal measure exhilarating and exhausting. It was the
combination, in part, that burned Norton out about ten years ago, as
well as a need to attend to his job and family. Back in full force now,
at fighting weight, with drive and direction and reinvigorated sound,
he's steaming. Recent projects include the duck-call trio, Duck That,
with Joshua Jefferson and Angela Sawyer; Matt Samolis' Metal and Glass
Ensemble; a trio-without-name performing a stunning rendition of Steve
Lacy's "Tips," with Noell Dorsey on voice and Samolis on flute; and a
duo with Vic Rawlings, Symptomatic.

Composer / performer Jeremy Starpoli has been developing his unique
musical interests in the northeast United States for over two decades.
His original music explores our perception of the fundamental
parameters of musical sound (pitch, rhythm, dynamics and tone color) as
a basis for creating detailed worlds of sound in a variety of styles.
As a composer, Starpoli's interest in sound as a perceptual substance
motivates endless variations of musical material. As an performer,
Starpoli has over fifteen years experience performing on slide trombone
as well as a variety of bass strings and percussion instruments. Based
in Western Massachusetts, Starpoli has collaborated with many regional
and internationally-known musicians such as Joe McPhee, Jessica Pavone,
Dan Greenwood (a.k.a. Diagram A), Ben Karetnick, Cliff White, and many
others. He has performed with groups such his own RICEnsemble, the
Middletown (CT) Creative Orchestra, power-noise-core band Squidlaunch,
etc. His approach to the trombone utilizes a wide variety of
conventional and extended techniques, allowing for diverse sound-types
and moods. The music of J Starpoli is noisy and passionate at times,
at others it is textural or rhythmic or melodic, crossing many styles
and sounds in a constant exploration. Follow the sound.

Vic Rawlings (Boston- amplifier/ prepared cello, speaker elements/
exposed circuitry) employs a still and unstable sound language that
traverses from the visceral excess of the Laurence Cook Disaster Unit
to the extreme austerity of undr quartet. He has designed and built 2
separate instruments to realize this aesthetic, including extensive and
invasive cello preparations- some directly based on obscure baroque
instrumentation. The amplified cello is used as a resonant wooden
microphone. He also continually develops an electronic instrument from
the exposed circuit boards of sound processors, effectively producing
an analog synthesizer with a highly unstable interface. This
electronic instrument is realized by a flexible array of exposed
speaker elements, chosen for their often unpredictable and
idiosyncratic acoustic qualities. His solo performances deny
conventional assumptions about the use of time and refuse alliance with
dominant trends in improvised music.

More information available on the web: www.opensound.org

Single Day Event On: 5/19/2012

Le Blorr w/ Sand Reckoner @ Great Scott

Sun, 20 May 2012 17:00:00 -0700

Fenway Recordings Session #171 :: Le Blorr w/ Sand Reckoner @ Great Scott

Single Day Event On: 5/21/2012

2x IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Jim Hurst, JP

Tue, 22 May 2012 17:00:00 -0700

notloB Parlour Concerts welcomes Jim Hurst back to the historic Loring-Greenough House in Jamaica Plain.
Wednesday, May 23
Doors 7:30, Concert 8:00
Suggested donation $14 ($12 Tuesday Club members) plus $1 preservation fee.
A one hour lesson in a small group setting is available prior to the concert - https://www.facebook.com/events/297619016987265/

"Jim Hurst is one of the most versatile and tasteful guitar players I know. Whether he's flailing the rhythm for an old time fiddle tune, laying down a funky groove, or finger picking a beautiful ballad, his playing is both impeccable and creative. Accompanying this instrumental virtuosity is a rich and expressive voice with a surprising range." Mark Schatz

To listen to Jim Hurst is to be amazed by his tasteful and flawless performances. Perfect timing and tone and his unusual picking style has enchanted guitar players from the novice to his peers. It�s no surprise, then, that his musical mastery began with a musical upbringing paving the way for a winding and varied career path.

Born into a musical family, Jim spent his youth playing guitar under the influences of flat-picking greats Tony Rice, Doc Watson, George Shuffler, and Clarence White. But the finger-style playing of Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed was the �turn in the road� for Jim. This amalgam of impact defined his technique.

Using his early years to hone his style, Jim�s guitar work and harmony vocals for Holly Dunn�s Rio Band brought his talent to both the national and international stage. Then in 1992, going electric, he played guitar with Trisha Yearwood, touring extensively and appearing on numerous radio and television shows. He also performed with Travis Tritt, and Sara Evans, whose 1998 RCA release No Place That Far features Jim�s vocals and acoustic guitar work.

Craving to play more bluegrass, Jim joined Grammy-nominated Claire Lynch and The Front Porch String Band in 1995, during which time he teamed up with bassist Missy Raines. They began the duet Jim Hurst and Missy Raines while with Front Porch, but then broke off in 2000 to focus solely on their collaboration. Remaining faithful to their bluegrass roots, Jim and Missy explored other genres creating ground-breaking arrangements that wowed the bluegrass community. Their partnership resulted in two Pinecastle Records, Two and Synergy , receiving critical acclaim and garnering them IBMA Guitar and Bass Player of the Year for 2001 and 2002.

Desiring greater freedom to create his own musical path, Jim left the Claire Lynch Band in 2010 to embark on a solo career. Already seasoned with two solo recordings, Open Window and Second Son, his latest 2007 release, A Box of Chocolates, exhibits his deft guitar work and soothing vocals. His shows meet with rave reviews as he astounds his audiences with his brilliant playing yet makes people feel right at home with his humble congenial and funny persona. Jim is currently performing solo full time, both nationally and internationally, as well as teaching at camps and workshops in North America and Europe. Additionally, his highly sought-after talent has led to side projects with other bluegrass greats, most recently Rob Ickes and David Grisman. But his solo show, which allows his personal style and unique creativity to come through in spades, is what keeps his audiences mesmerized.

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Since June 2, 2007, notloB has presented close to 100 old-time, blue/newgrass, folk, Celtic and acoustic blues concerts to audiences throughout the greater Boston area. Our current venues are the historic Loring-Greenough House (built in 1760, 40 intimate seats, unplugged) in Jamaica Plain and the 175 seat Unity, near Davis Square in Somerville. The concerts are volunteer-run and not for profit. 100% of the patron donations go to the artists and production expenses.
https://sites.google.com/site/notlobmusic/

Single Day Event On: 5/23/2012

Destroy Babylon @ Beachcomber (Welfleet)

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:00 -0700

more info at: destroybabylon.com

Single Day Event On: 5/26/2012