WEDNESDAY: Dan Mangan + Blacksmith
Dan Mangan is a two-time JUNO award winning & two-time Polaris Music Prize listed musician and songwriter hailing from the city of Vancouver, Canada. Club Meds is the fourth LP offering from Dan Mangan, and the first under the moniker “Dan Mangan + Blacksmith”. The new namesake is timely, as this album is indicative of a new beginning, of sorts. “Blacksmith” is Kenton Loewen, Gordon Grdina, John Walsh (and often Jesse Zubot, JP carter and Tyson Naylor). Many of these musicians have played with Mangan for years, but there’s a reaffirmed cohesiveness or communal sensibility that merits the marquee amendment. Blacksmith brings an unmistakable character to Club Meds; a stark glassy edge that swells and sways like a roaring ocean. Through a haze of analog feedback loops and synths, the band’s performances breathe deeply and steadily. At times, Club Meds evokes images of subtler American-underground innovators like Blonde Redhead or Steve Reich. At other moments, it hits emotional pay-dirt reminiscent of British scene-survivors like Peter Gabriel or Radiohead. Heated moments, heavy discussions and long, sweaty sessions delivered what is no doubt the most mature song-crafting to come from Mangan and his collaborators to date. Also performing: J.E. Sunde and Astral Swans.
Sounds Like: The Head and the Heart, Bon Iver, Of Monsters and Men
THURSDAY: Duncan Trussell Family Hour (SOLD OUT)
Duncan Trussell is a stand-up comedian who currently stars on Syfy channel’s Joe Rogan Questions Everything. Duncan’s popular podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour, is known for its blend of humor, fringe ideas, eclectic guests, and great interviews. He regularly tours the country as a stand-up comedian and has performed at Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal and the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin. In addition, Duncan has appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time, and Comedy Central/Funny or Die’s Drunk History. Duncan is a fixture on the LA comedy scene and a regular at the legendary Comedy Store. You may have seen him on Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time playing a pro-meth protestor, or briefly glimpsed his name flying by on the credits to an old episode of MAD TV. In addition to these credits Duncan is also a recurring guest on the Joe Rogan Experience, and co-hosted the very popular Lavender Hour podcast from 2010 to 2012 with Natasha Leggero.
FRIDAY: The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band bridges genres and eras with an intensity and effortlessness few contemporary artists possess. And their new album So Delicious elevates the trio’s work to a new level. Produced by Rev. Peyton, So Delicious offers the band’s most diverse collection of songs buoyed by the Rev.’s supercharged six-string virtuosity – a unique style of fingerpicking inspired by his Delta blues heroes, but taken to new, original heights. The fifth full-length original album by the group – which includes Breezy Peyton on washboard and supporting vocals and Ben Bussell on drums and supporting vocals – is their debut on Yazoo Records, a label known for the historic reissues of blues and other old time American music that are the bedrock inspiration for the Rev.’s sound and approach.
“Raise a Little Hell” is a new track on the album that stages the set’s first video and lays out the band’s live modus operandi, thriving on Bussell’s and Breezy’s chugging beat and the Rev.’s resonator guitar riffs. The song was inspired by a show at a folk festival, where one of the promoters – struck by the Big Damn Band’s raucous, juke joint power – told the Rev., “Y’all sure raise a lot of hell.” “I said, ‘Naw we don’t,’ ” the Rev. recalls. “And then I thought, ‘Well, maybe we do raise a little hell.'” Rev and the Big Damn Band will spend Friday night “raisin’ hell” at the Turf Club, so be sure not to miss out. Opening up the night will be locals Marah in the Mainsail.
Sounds like: Th’ Legendary Shack*Shakers, Scott H. Biram, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
SATURDAY: Sidewalk Chalk
With the release of its sophomore album, Leaves, Sidewalk Chalk continues to lead the contemporary evolution of hip-hop, soul, and jazz. The band’s roots are firmly planted in Chicago where all eight members bring their respective talents together to update a sound first heralded in the Native Tongues-era but never so musically diverse. The group’s unique arrangement allows them to incorporate numerous styles seamlessly: an MC and female vocalist; a trio of keys, bass, and drums; a horn section with trombone and trumpet; and a tap-dancer. Sidewalk Chalk has created a live show that captivates a variety of audiences. The group has already shared stages with ?uestlove, De La Soul, Action Bronson, Jean Grae, Hiatus Kaiyote and other notables. Individually, band members have acted as musical director(s) for Brother Ali, toured with Jazzanova and played behind Buddy Guy and Talib Kweli. Sidewalk Chalk was named “Most Outstanding Group” at the 2012 Chicago Music Awards, and its MC represented Chicago at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China.
Also performing: Dichotomy is the result of combined musical influences to create music that is diverse and unique. It bumps like hip-hop, yet tells a story like classical music. It’s heavy and soulful, yet other-worldly and electronic. Dichotomy fuses genres to create its own signature sound of pulsing rhythms driven forward by melody. Southside Desire is Femme-fronted soul, homegrown and destined to serenade the city with the next wave of rhythm & blues. Angelic harmonies ride under heated croons, summoning the soul and disco hits of yesteryear while projecting from the depths of today. The songs are all original, bringing neo-soul to a new standard with a wall of golden voices and a thick, unstoppable groove.
SUNDAY: The Juliana Hatfield Three
The Juliana Hatfield Three has reformed to make a second album twenty-one years after their first, Become What You Are, was released on Atlantic Records and secured a permanent place in alternative rock history. With its radio hits, “My Sister” and “Spin The Bottle”, Become What You Are was an influential force of uncompromising, original, melodic guitar pop/rock. In the intervening years since 1993, Juliana Hatfield’s musical output has never slackened; on various major and independent labels, she has released an average of one album a year, solo and with other projects. My Love was recorded with the original lineup of Todd Philips (drums), Dean Fisher (bass), and Hatfield (guitars, vocals, keyboards, and percussion) at Nuthouse Recording in Hoboken, New Jersey. Tom Beaujour (Nada Surf, Guided By Voices, Minor Alps) engineered and co-produced. Todd Philips has had a successful career in the film industry in L.A. and has also recently been touring as the drummer for the Lemonheads. Dean Fisher has been playing music in the Boston area, most notably with Tanya Donelly, and Dylan in the Movies.
Sounds like: The Breeders, Liz Phair, Belly, Throwing Muses
MONDAY: The King Khan & BBQ Show
The pioneering rock’n’roll legend that is The King Khan & BBQ Show are releasing their first full-length album in over 5 years, Bad News Boys, this Spring on In The Red Records. Bad News Boys is riddled with 13 hits that will take you on a rock & roll journey. The King Khan & BBQ Show’s formula of mixing timeless classic rock’n’roll melodies and harmonies with pure butt shaking savagery has hit the nail right on its head once again. Get lost in the romantic ballads about love and loss. Get pummelled in the gut with their return to classic floor punching hardcore. Get all loosely goosey with their true R&B Gospel salvation/salivation and feel the Holy Spirit deflower your holiness. Get crushed by the crunchiness in their celebration of crunch. Just get! Got it? Good!
Sounds like: Black Lips, Shannon and the Clams, The Dirtbombs, Thee Oh Sees
