Fil Pacino
The New England music scene is already buzzing with exciting news:
We caught a couple of sets by Fil Pacino when we went out for a holiday dinner at The Dogwood in Jamaica Plain. Not only did Fil Pacino play a few originals from his last album and several scintillating covers, he informed the audience that he has a new CD of original music coming out in March. One of those new songs really jumped out at us for its airy guitar melody. That is certainly one CD to keep an eye out for. (No relation to film actor Al Pacino). http://www.filpacino.com/
I met, in person, for the first time, upright bass player Craig Akin when he played with Steven Pelland at Mr. Pelland’s CD Release party last month at The Ballroom at The Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, Massachusetts. Turns out, Akin plays with his own four piece outfit called Roosevelt Dime that has a fun, six song EP titled Red Shoes. With banjo, drums, electric guitar, Roosevelt Dime make an impression with their rock-roots sound. https://www.facebook.com/RooseveltDime/?fref=ts
The Conniption Fits of New Hampshire have released a single called “Misinformed Informant.” It can be heard and purchased on SoundCloud. The song is catchy, pop-rock material. http://www.conniptionfits.com/
Tequila Jim has released a raw demo he titled Lost Along The Way. His handlers describe it as “intensely personal songs expressing true feelings of love, pain, redemption, and hope, incorporating diverse genres and textures of acoustic folk, rock, and other unique influences.” Metronome Magazine of Boston says “This is an album that needs to be experienced by purveyors of 60s and 70s psychedelic folk rock.” BillCopelandMusicNews.com agrees. The atmosphere on the CD is alluring and the guitar work is gripping. Many other fines touches makes this album jump out of the stereo speakers and grabs the listener’s ears. Let’s hope Tequila Jim upgrades the quality of his packaging.
https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tequilajim1?_ga=1.168359905.1397080146.1478610063
Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards announced that they will be one of Folk Alliance International’s official showcasing artists this year. For those of you who have not been following, Laura Cortese is world touring violinist based in the Boston area. She formed her four piece Dance Cards with cellist Valerie Thompson from Goli. The dance cards is original American folk on fiddle, cello and upright bass. All four of them everyone sing. They tour internationally at folk venues, festivals, rock clubs, and any place that will have them. Cortese writes most of the songs before the four arrange her material together.
http://thisislauracortese.com/
Laura Vecchione, whose latest CD Love Lead has been turning heads in the music industry, will be playing a big benefit concert at TCAN (Center For The Arts Natick) on May 13th. All proceeds going to Family Promise, an organization that gets homeless families in the Metro West area out of poverty. www.LauraVMusic.com
Have you caught Sarah Lovell’s live feed on Facebook? She has a sort of informational live discourse as she gets down to brass tacks with down to earth language we can all understand. She tackles all sorts of life issues, relationships, respect, self-esteem, and whatever else pops into her active, fertile mind. She’s also amusing and entertaining. https://www.facebook.com/neuromuscular12?fref=ts
The third Annual Hugs For Lizbeth Winter Concert will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2017. This yearly concert and fundraiser for local musician Alan Arena’s finance Lizbeth C. Granfield to help pay the cost to keep her home accessible as she battles Huntington’s Disease. https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/sxj6
That’s about it for now, folks. I hope you’re all having fun playing with your new Christmas gifts and enjoying your New Year. Peace, love, hope, and forgiveness to all mankind and Keep On Rocking In The Free World.