Lina Tullgren is a rare gem that us Bostononian’s are lucky to call our own. Her debut EP, Wishlist, first caught our attention in 2016 with it’s nostalgic melodies and warmly honest lyrics. Nearly a year later, Lina was kind enough to a play a track off the album as well as a new track titled, “Red Dawn”.
Catch Lina at Brighton Music Hall, June 9th, as well as The Lilypad on June 11th and watch our session with her below:
Trump refuses to acknowledge June as the month that we celebrate LGBTQIA folx, but the homos and allies at Allston Pudding are here to remind you that we’re here, we’re queer, and there’s a menagerie of wicked gay events happening in Boston that aren’t the Pride Parade!
Last Saturday, we saw Boston’s own queer folk-punk Evan Greer highlight non-binary and trans artists at a special edition of Break the Chains, the semi-monthly all-ages, all gender, radical dance party. Brooklyn riot grrrl legends The Shondes, along with local acts like Steph Barrak (who donates their proceeds to the much-loved Girls Rock Campaign!!!) and up & comers Self Titled rocked Make Shift Boston. But if you fricked up and missed this sick gig (or just simply couldn’t make it), AP’s got your back. This handy list of events during June is sure to gay up your day and queer up your year:
1. Monday, June 5 at Trident Booksellers & Cafe — Queering Literature: A Pride Panel
This discussion panel about writing queer lives in both fiction and nonfiction features Chris Castellani, Garrard Conley, Kelly Ford, Catherine Guthrie, Brontez Purnell, and Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich.
2. Wednesday, June 7 at Hard Rock Cafe Boston – Pride Week Family Night Event
Their first ever family friendly drag show on the Cavern Club stage, featuring kid-friendly activities such as face painting and more. $5 Suggested Donation to benefit Boston Pride. 2017 Hard Rock Boston Pride T-shirts for sale, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit The Imperial Court of Massachusetts. 6:30 – 9pm.
3. Thursday, June 8 at the Midway Cafe — Hammydown plays before Queeraoke
The queer af Northampton, Mass.-based singer-songwriter Abbie Morin is touring ahead of her July 21 garage pop release, Pizzaface. Listen below and catch Hammydown this week at 8pm. Tickets are $5.00, show is 21+.
4. Thursday, June 8 at the Midway Cafe — Queeraoke’s 5th Annual Boston Pride FUNdrager 90’s Throwback Bash
This pride edition of Queeraoke kicks off with a lip sync battle for a prize, followed by dance sets from DJ Moxie & DJ Summer’s Eve, and co-hosted by Pride’s own Queen LaTina. Most creative 90’s costume contest with cash prizes. Photo booth, theme drinks, door prizes, goodies and giveaways! A $10 donation benefits Boston Pride, Boston Black Pride, and Boston Latinx Pride.
5. Friday, June 9 at Bella Luna Restaurant and Milky Way Lounge — Dyke March After Party/Pride Kick-off
Come for the designer pizza, the vegan entrée, the cosmic cocktails, and dance your way into Pride weekend with DJ MaryAlice. Tickets here.
6. Saturday, June 10 at Copley Square — Stonewall Warriors Anticapitalist, Trans-Liberation Contingent
Not tryna partake in a parade that’s endorsed by big banks, cis/white men, and the BPD? The contingent at Boston Pride seeks to bring necessary anti-capitalist voices to Pride as a direct challenge to the “Stronger Together” rally.
7. Saturday, June 10 at The Sinclair — Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Queer Ascension ft. Tygapaw
DADT Boston, Evlv Tech, and Houseboi have joined forces to bring you Pride debauchery, with 6 DJ’s, 6 stage dancers, and a very healthy serving of kings, queens and in-betweens.
Tickets here.
8. Saturday, June 10 on the corner of Lagrange and Tremont St. — Esme Women’s Block Party
The self-acclaimed “Largest Lesbian Block Party in New England” follows the Boston Pride parade from 2 -7pm, with an official after party at Candi Bar.
9. Saturday, June 10 at 12 Channel St. — Books for Queers: Read with Pride 2017
Donate a queer book and help LGBTQ+ and HIV+ folks behind bars in South Bay House of Correction read with pride for Pride Month this June. Drop off your book donation at Boston Pride Festival at the Black & Pink’s booth on June 10th from 1-5pm. You can also drop off your books at B&P’s office throughout the month of June. More info here.
10. Saturday, June 10 at Controversy (Upstairs at Machine) — Pride with Mizery, Oompa, Medino Green & Teasha
This edition of Boston’s Weekly LGBT Hip-Hop & Reggae Party highlights Boston pride and Boston talent. From 10pm-2am, featuring DJs Frenchy & Begbick with MC Athena Khan.
11. Sunday, June 11 at 1 Perkins Street, between South Huntington Avenue and Centre Street — JP Block Party
Over 2,000 LGBT women, trans and non-binary folk, drag queens and kings, rescue dogs, and friends of all ages take over Perkins Street for a fun-filled outdoor afternoon. Free from 1-2 pm, with special activities for kids big and small. After 2pm, admission is $15 (cash only) and supports the Community Fund. Beer tasting from 1-3pm with Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer (local lesbian owned!). From 3-4pm, the 5th Annual Divas, Dogs & Drag Show, featuring available-for-adoption rescue dogs (thanks to PAWS New England) showcased by celebrity drag queens and kings. Then from 4-8pm, the street morphs into one giant dance floor with DJ LeahV aka “The People’s DJ.”
12. Monday, June 12 at Aeronaut Brewery — Queers with Beers: Pride Month Edition
Hang out, drink local beers, hang with queers, meet some new folks, and celebrate Pride Month together. External food and/or non-alcoholic drinks welcome, and two pianos in the back are open to anyone who wants to play! 21+, food vendor TBA.
13. Friday, June 16 at Sonia (10 Brookline St.) — Palehound Album Release Show
Every Palehound show is a lil’ celebration of queerness, but this time our hometown heroes drop their new album, A Place I’ll Always Go at this all ages show. Stove and Halfsour open. Tickets here.
Photo Courtesy of TheLastGekko
Photo Courtesy of TheLastGekko
Tim Gagnon: Alright, how’s the morning after treating you all?
Jeremy Stanley: It was the strangest thing — I woke up with the Golden Girls theme song stuck in my head.
Tim: Hmm… I’m still wearing that Miller Lite/“This Is My Flower Crown” hat. Please help me.
Corwin Wickersham: My brain is fried from scrolling through pictures for hours on end. I need to learn better discipline and take less.
Tim: No, Corwin, take more. Become the photo… let’s start with highlights and low points of Friday.
George Greenstreet: Let’s not mince words: the organization was an absolute disaster.
Tim: Damn, ok, we’re just getting into it then.
Corwin: I was trying to decide all weekend how much can we chalk up to new location/first year struggles vs. dropping the ball. The place was so fucking packed and I’ve never seen such impressive bathroom and foods lines… that was never as much of an issue at the old location.
Jeremy: Friday was almost completely a low point for me. It seemed like the festival was still being put together by the time gates opened. No one — not even staff — quite knew where anything was — perhaps a function of the festival’s first go at the Harvard Athletic Complex.
George: Agreed. Obviously some of the issues of certain areas getting congested and uncomfortable clumping in crowds are things that they can adjust as the grow into the new spot, but the long lines and credit card systems going down (which of course contributed to the long lines) were all basic things they should have planned for.
Jeremy: Simple things like signage could have alleviated a lot of the issues.
Tim: Let’s discuss festival logistics a bit later. For now, what about the music itself?
George: The music got better as the night went on. Chance and Sigur Rós were both excellent performances that made the experience well worth it. Bon Iver and Sylvan Esso might have been good if we were able to hear anything.
Tim: Personal highlight related to music: Sigur Rós, which was every bit as angelic and Icelandic as I could’ve ever dreamed it’d be. And Chance, obviously, although I showed up super late. Other highlight sorta related to music: somehow ending up in VIP with a cup of wine in hand before Migos. The low of the day: uh, the Migos set.
George: Migos was just lame. It’s a replacement that didn’t really service the Solange fans there and they didn’t even have the hottest member of the group (Offset) in attendance.
Tim: WHERE WAS OFFSET??? I heard someone near me genuinely ask if “there were three Migos,” which was hilariously sad on multiple levels.
George: For a hype hip hop crew, their total lack of stage presence was really disappointing.
Jeremy: Bon Iver was incredible, even if the crowd didn’t seem to be into it and the sound was not nearly as loud as the other stages. The performance of “Skinny Love,” a crowd favorite no one really expected him to play, was timed so well to a burst of rain that my first thought was, “seems fake.”
Corwin: The sound was definitely an issue if you weren’t up near the stage. I wasn’t THAT far back from Bon Iver and it was totally background music.
George: I’m just going to get into sound for a second while we we’re on the topic. File whoever decided to have the red stage sound like that under “baffling decisions.” Anyone standing behind the sound board tent ended up with muffled enough sound to kill the performance.
Jeremy: Is it because the Blue and Red stages could have had sound bleed issues? That’s my only theory – if you stood far back enough at the Blue stage, you’d get fragments of sound from the Red Stage.
George: They had a much better sound system on the stage next door and people filling the entire area to see sets on both. Why not just route the sound from the Red stage through the Green stage’s system and let people who aren’t up front and actually hear?
Corwin: That’s not a bad call. One thing I thought was done well: the comedy arena.
Tim: I only got to see Eugene Mirman do Bob’s Burgers songs, but also… I got to see Eugene Mirman do Bob’s Burgers songs, so I’m good with how I spent my limited time in the comedy arena.
Jeremy: The arena is one place I’m sad I didn’t spend too much time in (and then got trapped there for a brief moment when I did. More on that later…)
George: Hannibal Buress was a festival highlight for me
He really embraced the odd situation for a comedy festival. His Migos jokes at the beginning almost made that trash Migos set worthwhile!
Tim: I still think about his Young Thug bit, like, every other day, so I wish I saw that in person.
Jesus Vio of BUFU’s own Free Pizza was kind enough to share two tracks off his upcoming solo album titled, “Dutch Science”. While we know Jesus for his tightly crafted, dance-inciting jams that often include odes to our fine city, he now resides in Nashville where he has been developing new music, writing poetry, and producing Zines. Needless to say, we’re pretty excited to see what will come next from the busy musician.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesusviorocknroll/
Instagram: jesus_vio
Bandcamp: https://jesusvio.bandcamp.com/
Jesus will be touring in the Northeast in June with a full backing band as well as reading poetry, cranking out Zines and spreading general good times. Check out the video below:
Hi all,
Here’s a basic outline I just came up with for the Boston Calling preview intro:
[insert cheeky opening lines on how Boston Calling’s high class former location at City Hall Plaza has been swapped for our rat-infested backyard where Regina’s Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts are the only two recognized forms of sustenance]
Here’s a classic Boston Calling situation: some hot up-and-comer or low-key favorite has just finished up their set. Emotions are running high, but you’ve got another hour until your favorite act of the night is on. The crowd scurries across City Hall Plaza and on walks… a gigantic bummer that you’re now sorta trapped into seeing. For us, it was Twenty One Pilots in 2014. For you, it was possibly also Twenty One Pilots (sorry, we’re just not over that Twenty One Pilots set yet.)
With a bigger space comes an opportunity to fit in a third stage, which solves most of the dreaded “hate-watching a set because there’s nowhere else to move” situations. While no more than two stages will be active at once, music fans of different persuasions will no longer have to sit through something they’re not into. People who weren’t aboard the “Bad and Boujee” train with Migos will be able to watch Mac Demarco smoke all of the Viceroys or whatever his bit is these days. Feeling a little too hype for the folky stylings of Brandi Carlisle? Danny Brown thankfully performs around the same time. Not looking to hear Weezer play the hits from later-day hit albums like… uh, Raditude? Time to get ratchet at Major Lazer then! (which is by no means a criticism… it’s 100% this writer’s plan)
There are problems in the overlaps (and, in some cases, lack thereof.) The decision to run Mumford & Sons unopposed for nearly two hours is, by far, the most glaring. Unfortunately, Sigur Ros will have to accept a large dip twenty minutes into their set for Chance the Rapper (if any headliner this weekend should run unopposed, it’s him), but overall, the multiple stages are a major step in the right direction for the festival.
— G.G.
Considering the fact that many first saw Moses Sumney open for Sufjan Stevens, my favorite extraterrestrial songwriter that graciously decided to take human form to play his songs about states and sexual ambiguity, a fair amount of hype has seemingly followed the LA-based singer/producer for a while. Luckily, Sumney’s one of a few rising artists I can think of who could conquer the challenge of being memorable on a tour where Sufjan tearfully played Carrie and Lowell front to back (fun fact: Sufjan’s tears have reportedly been able to heal minor wounds and some chronic ailments)
Taking stage with little more than a guitar and his array of vocal pedals, Sumney unfurls his world of sound like a one man a cappella group (sans any painfully relevant pop hit mashups, although a Prince cover is not out of the question.) While his production is phenomenal on record, Sumney’s vocals really take center stage live; his ethereal falsetto, percussive looping, and liberal use of autotune are absolutely transfixing. Whether the robotic build of “Worth It” or more organic slow burn of “Plastic” is more your speed, you mind find yourself actually dropping a few tears into your $9 beer over sheer vocal beauty.
— T.G.
As of this morning, it’s looking like the storms will end before anyone takes the stage, but rain’s effect will likely be felt through the festival. In short, it’s gonna be muddy. There simply isn’t enough time for a field to properly dry after two days of rain and, while Harvard’s carefully manicured grass will likely survive a band like Whitney’s set, the Migos turn-up will be another story. If you value dry feet, bring some decent boots. If you don’t, bring some sneakers that you’re okay with getting messed up. Either way, prepare for a squelchy weekend. — G.G.
Solange’s last-minute departure from the Friday lineup at Boston Calling crystallized the strength of this one-two punch on the Red stage. Amelia Meath’s vocals and producer Nick Sanborn are the perfect match, sure to make the crowd get moving.
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly four years since Boston saw a Bon Iver show. In that time Justin Vernon has blown up the band’s sound to get away from the acoustic folk roots. It’ll be a can’t-miss set, because who knows when Bon Iver will be back? The one-hour gap between sets might be unbearable: pack a fidget spinner (or better yet, don’t) – J.S.
Festival Capacity: more than 30,000
Comedy Arena Capacity: not anywhere near 30,000
Let’s face it: there will be people upset that they’re missing Hannibal Buress’s comedy set this weekend. If the comedy tent’s too packed, consider the folk stylings of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Their sound, in one descriptor, is “whiskey soaked,” which is what you’ll want to be after being turned away from Hannibal. The expected eruption of “oh-oh-oh’s” during “SOB” will hopefully drown your actual sobs.
— J.S.
The dark clouds lingering over the West London headquarters of Mumford & Sons look tepid compared to the plumes of vape smoke circling inside.
Banjoist Winston Marshall and multi-instrumentalist Ben Lovett have spent the last sixteen hours looping the same Tiësto set from several Tomorrowlands ago, letting a formidable tower of emptied Stella Artois cans and Tesco bags full of cooled nacho cheese form around them. Marshall’s eyes are completely bloodshot, in part due to a legendary night clubbing with the lads that ended passed out damn near into the afterlife at a McDonald’s at 7 AM. He’s also been spending most of the evening glued to his laptop, cobbling together a set that finds the logical connections between trance, hardstyle, and a twenty minute banjo solo.
Lovett takes a generous hit from a bong fashioned out one of their Grammy Awards, temporarily distracting himself from fidgeting with his Adidas tracksuit or his new MIDI keyboard. Their father, Marcus Mumford of celebrated folk act Mumford and Sons, is not aware that they have ditched their standard issue bowties and suspenders for the tracksuits. He is certainly not aware of the fact that his sons are trying their hand at a DJ career in private.
Sure, their debut DJ set at Royale might appear to be a quaint gathering compared to the masses gearing up for their full band set at Boston Calling, but to the duo, the Royale set is far more than just one of the most curious after-parties to grace the festival weekend. It is an edgy revision for a pair of sons contractually obligated to refer to their dad as “Marcus Mumford of celebrated folk act Mumford and Sons.” And, potentially, it may be their one chance to taste the sweet wine of self-fulfillment after only being allowed to drink the diluted alcohol from their father’s post-show spittoon bucket every night for the past decade.
There are certainly enough anticipated after-party shows to sate the diverse crowds of Boston Calling, but if all it takes is an underdog story to set one apart from the rest of the pack, then sigh no more, friends… two little lion men will, at long last, be braver than they were at the start. — T.G.
By Steve Instasi
Cult Fiction‘s single, “Coffee” sounds something like a hardcore hypnotism for caffeine addiction. The track’s tongue in cheek nature is the perfect introduction to this gang of pals before they release the full tape that they have just finished recording.
The band includes Haley Ladd, Nicholas Regan and Paul Dunne (Dinoczar), and if you are digging the track premiere today, you can catch them on Monday, May 29th at Zuzu with The Cavemen, Hot Tramps, and Johnnie And The Foodmasters.
Northampton’s LuxDeluxe takes the buoyancy of electropop and collides it head-on with the lethargy of Americana. To celebrate the release of their LP Let’s Do Lunch on Old Flame Records, LuxDeluxe will be playing at the Middle East Upstairs on May 27th.
“What you need is more than I’ve got,” vocalist Ned King sings on “What You Need,” the opening track on It’s A Girl. King’s voice is strained, but not painfully so — there’s a confidence behind the words, though they admit defeat. The song opens with glittering synth, punctuated by Jake Edwards’ drumming. The song builds until it’s dialed back with some violin, further complicating the tapestry of sounds LuxDeluxe weaves with each song.
LuxDeluxe makes use of vintage instruments on many of their tracks; particularly so on It’s A Girl. The clavinet, as well as vintage guitars, basses, and even amps, lend themselves to creating a wistful, dated sound. Their upcoming release Let’s Do Lunch was recorded entirely on a Tascam cassette recorder, according to the band’s website.
“Keep Your Distance” is the first single off Let’s Do Lunch. Though the song is 1:57 long, it barrels ahead at full speed — bass and drums gallop together to form a heartbeat for the song. Caleb Rosazza’s punchy interjections on guitar recall Wilco. And if you come out to the show, you get to witness King’s dance moves in person.
LuxDeluxe has earned a reputation for their energetic live sets. Watching any of their music videos gives you a glimpse of what’s to come: King embodies the sensual rock star, gyrating his hips, leaning into each note, letting the music move him. And you can hear the confidence in their music: LuxDeluxe never take themselves too seriously, and even on the least lighthearted of songs, the effortlessness with which they play levels them with the audience. They let you in on the joke: they’re just a group of guys (three of whom are cousins) trying to make music and have a good time.
You stream their new track, “Start of Something” below and grab tickets for the show at Middle East Upstairs on the 27th here for $10.
Its collection of mechanical breakthroughs stand dormant on the site of the former Boston Manufacturing Company in order to “encourage and inspire future innovation.” The star exhibit this evening, however, is not the bells, lathes, gears or gizmos, but Australian duo Xylouris White.
Lutist Giorgos Xylouris and drummer Jim White create music that calls back to Cretan folk with the energy and enthusiasm many would associate with punk rock. It’s an understandable comparison given their jumps between tender ballads and thunderous bursts of controlled chaos. The set is certainly a powerful and churning affair, but it gives way to playful wanderings and experimentation. When they did choose to speak between songs, it was to ask for a fresh beer. But the crowd watched on in wonder, happy to be taken along for whatever was to unfold.
The two originally met in the late 80s/early 90s while Giorgos was on tour with his father, legendary lyra player Psarantonis. After moving to Melbourne, he became better acquainted with Jim’s band, the Dirty Three, and even sat in with the group several times. And it was only four years ago that the two began playing and recording together as a duo.
“It was very natural from the beginning,” says White. “As soon as we started playing together, it felt like there were all of these pathways opening up [to explore]. It was good an exciting.”
Their two records, 2014’s Goats and last year’s Black Peak, were produced by Guy Picciotto, with whom they’ve worked in satellite projects orchestrated by filmmaker Jem Cohen. And their appreciators-of-note have only grown with each record. The band is now signed to the iconic Bella Union and continues to tour with the likes of Kurt Vile, PJ Harvey and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
“It has to do with the personality of one another,” Xylouris adds. “And doesn’t have to do with the instrument, particularly. Like ‘Oh, you put a lute and drums together. Bravo! What a good idea.’ It’s not that. It’s who’s playing. Could be pheromones or whatever. It has to do with the aesthetics and the character and the personalities and the way everybody looks at music.”
The style that the two have developed is free of artifice. Not of gimmicks, but of a mutual appreciation of respective skill, histories, and a spirit of adventure. And goats.
“I think we’re goats, yeah. I mean, it’s obvious. But, you know…,” White trails off mid-laugh. “George thinks it’s a metaphor.”
“[Goats] decide to do stuff and they do it. Even if it’s dangerous. They are sure about it,” Xylouris describes. “The island of Crete is [high and rocky]. And there are goats everywhere. Whoever is farming goats has [a kind of pride] because they are free. To get the goats, you have to go with them all around the mountains to find them. And that’s like the style of life that we have as musicians. Our music, I believe, is like goats.”
The pair not only share this nomadic existence but emphasize a progression not dissimilar to the museum in which they sounded through. They draw upon the music of the past, with their eyes and ears fixed on the horizon and what it may or may not hold.
“What we’re doing drives us, takes us, to what we’re looking for,” explains Xylouris. “You find things. You learn things. And that’s the treasure.”
Xylouris White takes the Delta Blue Stage at 2:45 this Friday at Boston Calling before taking off on their European tour. “Goats” is available via Other Music Recording Co., and “Black Peak” is out now on Bella Union.
Latrell James remains consistently busy. Teasing us about a new project, continuing to flex his producer-muscle, most recently on instant Boston Hip Hop Classic, Mass Ave & Lennox by Avenue. He was also on that 24 in 24 Project that LFOD put out a little while ago.
He was also on that 24 in 24 Project that LFOD put out a little while ago. Latrell showed how distant he can remain while remaining ever present in the new Khary music video, where he was facetimed in.
In true Latrell nature, it didn’t take away from the art at all. Latrell will be back on stage on May 30th, this time at Brighton Music Hall opening up for DC native rapper, Oddisee.
Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm tix $18 in Advance.
Purchase Tickets Here