photo by Kylie Shaffer
The Hotelier has announced their return with a new album, Goodness. The Massachusetts band has shared a video trailer for the album—featuring new, acoustic music—that tells a story of a young woman wandering a city, ultimately leaving it to meet a group of nudists. Watch it below.
The Hotelier’s last album was 2014’s Home, Like Noplace Is There. Goodness will be out in May on Tiny Engines.
Words and Photos: Ben Herchenroether
On one snowy winter night, an impressive crowd gathered at JP’s Magnolia Loft. Those who braved the weather were treated to a gem of a show at the third edition of Weird Folk Fest. All four bands fall loosely under “folk music” but that’s just the starting point. The sources of these weird sounds were several ukuleles, a few upright basses, a trombone, a harp, and others. Local act Nosy Mangabe performed and hosted, and they’ll be hosting Weird Folk Fest’s 4th installment on February 21 at Out The Blue Too.
Do you ever get the feeling that you’re being watched? Boston’s own Quilt churns that paranoia into an eerie vignette with the video for “Roller”, dressing mundane moments and fleeting disturbances in oddly reassuring retro cinematography. It’s the perfect balance of choreography and creepiness. Check it out below.
[Update 2/17]: “Roller” is the second single off Quilt’s upcoming album Plaza. To celebrate the LP’s release, Quilt will be performing at the Museum of Fine Arts on February 26. Tickets can be found on the museum’s website.
There’s no holiday we love more over at the Allston Pudding HQ than Presidents Day. For one thing, the holiday is vague as hell. It’s also forgotten in the big list of holidays kids look forward to. Then there’s the absurdity of how to spend it. Do we flip through photo books of old presidents? Do we hole up in the library and read autobiographies? Are we supposed to make valentines and mail them to the White House since the holiday falls immediately after Valentine’s Day? Should we send our condolences to all the could’ve-been presidents, past and present, who never made it past primaries?
Instead of fighting the confusion, we dove straight in to the holiday with help from some of our friends. Given this year is an election, it’s natural to wonder which presidential candidate you will vote for. But which would you date? Speedy Ortiz, Kal Marks, Palehound, Kid Mountain, Ghost Box Orchestra, and more transcribed their dream dates (with one legit piece of fan fiction making the cut).
But first, the rules:
Alas, say hello to your 2016 presidential candy-dates.
(Please note that all political opinions are those of the individuals interviewed, not necessarily of their respective projects as a whole or of the Allston Pudding Team. AKA politics are divisive, but everyone can get along and engage in music and democracy — especially when it involves candy!)
By now you should all know how we feel about Tall Juan at AP, but for those who don’t, lets do a quick recap. I first met the lanky Argentinian when we filmed a video with his mentor Juan Wauters in Lower Allston about a year in a half ago around the time N.A.P. came out, you can watch that session HERE.
A few months later, Tall Juan returned to Boston to play with Free Pizza at their final show at Whitehaus, you can watch that entire show HERE, captured by local artist/filmmaker Zack Lanoue. This time, Tall Juan was the front man of his own project, and Juan Wauters was behind the drum kit, with Bufu Records head honcho Ben Katzman shredding the bass. The show was a banger, and later that night (after a few too many high life’s), I was in fan-boy mode chatting with Tall Juan, and we decided to film a session the following morning at Whitehaus. To this day, it was the earliest we’ve ever filmed an AP session, it was a scramble for sure, but we pulled it off with the help of legendary filmmaker Mathew Volz running the lights. Watch that session HERE.
Last summer, Tall Juan was due back in Boston to play with his new (and current) line up at Club Bohemia for a KLYAM/BUFU hosted show. This time around, we decided to take advantage of the nice weather and film a stripped down acoustic song on a canoe along the Charles River. Watch that video HERE.
And finally, a few months later, Tall Juan was set to embark on his first month-long U.S. tour, and I was fortunate enough to join him on the road for the second leg of the tour. It had always been a dream of mine to document a rock n’ roll tour, so needless to say, it was an experience I will never forget. Check out Tall Juan’s new music video for “I Don’t Know What To Do” comprised of footage from the tour:
Tall Juan is currently on tour with Juan Wauters, including a stop at O’briens this Sunday (2/21), only a coward would miss it!!!
2/20 – Hadley, MA @ Tubecats
2/21 – Allston, MA @ O’Brien’s Pub w/BEEEF
2/22 – Providence, RI @ Aurora
2/24 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
2/25 – Asheville, NC @ Ben’s Tune Up
2/26 – Atlanta, GA @ 529
2/27 – Jacksonville, FL @ Rain Dogs
2/28 – Miami, FL @ Gramps Bar
3/1 – Tallahassee, FL @ Warhorse Whiskey
3/2 – New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
3/3 – Birmingham, AL @ Seasick Records
3/4 – Nashville, TN @ The Stone Fox
3/5 – Chicago, IL @ The Hideout
Somerville’s Eternals bring an air of sunniness to their brand of pop rock. Harboring undertones of funk, their latest single “Raised By Wolves” comes to us four months after October’s single, “Out Of Context,” and two years after their debut self-titled EP.
Measured drums and carefully timed bass riffs create a thick undercurrent on top of which lovely, poetic lyrics float. “You’re the one that I want at the end of the night when nobody else is around,” sings Stephen Konrads. The song is careful not to overwhelm itself in sentimentality–the instrumentation works to offset the emotion in the lyrics.
Eternals will release Isn’t That Anyone this coming spring, but we have “Raised By Wolves” to hold us over until then. Having collaborated with Boston musicians in the past–including members of Passion Pit–Eternals are not lacking for inspiration or connection with the local scene.
Their music places emphasis on form and structure, which is evident in their theatrical, sweeping melodies. The personal minutiae–the chord changes, the modulation, the seamless inclusion of synth–are what make “Raised By Wolves.” A chunky, yet delicate guitar solo breaks up the song about a third of the way through, before transitioning back into the rhythmic, Americana-informed riff that takes up the rest of the song. A unity of genres, “Raised By Wolves” is a promise of greater things to come from Eternals.
You can listen to the song below, and be sure to catch them playing at Cafe 939 with Brooke Waggoner on the 16th. You can grab tickets here.
Multi-instrumentalist Tennessee born singer-songwriter Julien Baker has announced a tour in support of her 2015 break out record Sprained Ankle. The tour which makes local stops in Massachusetts at the Sinclair on April 24th and Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s 3s Artspace on April 23rd is a step up from her first trip to the area last December. Check out our review and photos from that show here and the rest of Julien Baker’s tour dates along with her single “Sprained Ankle” below.
Kevin Morby has released the first track from his newest solo record Singing Saw due out on Dead Oceans April 15th. The track “I have been to the mountain” is the first from the former bassist of psych-folk outfit Woods and Babies co-founder since 2014’s Still Life. A handful of tour dates across Europe and the U.S. accompanied the release including a June 19th date here in Allston at Great Scott. Check out the video for the track in which Morby said is “…dedicated to and inspired by the death of Eric Garner” below.
Look, we took a month off to recoup from our year end special, I gave my dad an Allston Pudding sweatshirt for Christmas (which you can totally buy here if you want to feel comfortable forever), and he came back from the break with an ultimatum.
“I want to pick the song for our first column back and interview you or I’m out,” he said on a throne made entirely of pudding cups in our basement.
“Did you buy all the Snack Packs in the tri-county area just to pull this off?”, I asked. “It doesn’t matter… no one is going to believe this exchange ever happened.”
“I want to play you some Mr. Mister,” he said.
“That is literally one of the stupidest names I have ever heard and I lived through 311 and brokenCYDE,” I said. At the same time, the pudding cup throne was so overpoweringly dope and I put my dad through enough young person music he didn’t understand in 2015, so I caved.
Honestly, all you need to know about Mr. Mister is that they did that “Broken Wings” song, this photo exists, and I have absolutely no idea what prompted it. Enjoy. Maybe. Probably not.
Tim: Okay, do I have to play the “dad” role here? Do I have to talk about melody the whole time?
Dad: [laughs] You jerk. Yeah, I’m asking the questions this time and, since I always critique your music, you get to critique mine.
Tim: You’re gonna regret this.
Dad: I’m going to be honest: if you asked me for a great 1980s song, I’m not sure this would have made my top 5. All I did was look up the top rock song this week in 1986 and this was it. Have you heard Mr. Mister before?
Tim: I actually had to listen to this song once through before it became sort of familiar, so sort of.
Dad: Okay, fair. I listened to it a few times and watched the video though when I realized, “Holy cow, this is, like, a perfect song to represent the 1980s.” But before I go into that, I wanna hear your impression of the song itself.
Tim: My immediate reaction was this sounds like a Toto ripoff. Like, some “Africa” or “Rosanna”-level shit in this chorus. The first few times I heard it, I was like, “Hmm, Kyrie, must be another ‘80s song about a woman,” but then I looked up the lyrics a bit and “kyrie eleison” is apparently a Greek biblical phrase that means “Lord, have mercy.” Did you know that?
Dad: Yeah, I looked the lyrics up too. I didn’t know… the song is essentially a prayer! I couldn’t believe it; I was shocked.
Tim: This is the most anti-‘80s rock thing I’ve ever heard. He’s talking about wanting to grow old, follow some clear life path, and there’s zero Satan worshipping.
Is this, like, subliminal Christian rock?
Dad: [laughs] Yeah, these guys were, like, Christian rock pioneers, I’m guessing. Like, all these lyrics about an “old heart”, “the soul and the soft machine”… actually, what’s a soft machine? Wait, I’m not sure if I wanna go there.
Tim: Woof. It just sounds like bad 6th grade poetry. Like, when you have to write a poem for a class assignment and you’re forcing it. I’ll give it to them though: the lyrics weren’t a home run, but it’s catchy. That key change towards the end kinda did it for me.
Dad: Yeah, it’s classic arena rock for sure. I took notes too and I noticed listening to it now that it had all the typical elements of an ‘80s rock song: those synthesizer layers with the “doot-doot-dee-doo” that sounds like Beverly Hills Cop, gregorian chants in the middle with the “ohh ohh ohh’s”, and the big arena chorus. That was the thing with ‘80s rock like Bon Jovi and Van Halen: they were made for being drunk or high in an arena.
Tim: Oh yeah, especially with all of that goofy ass clapping. It’s just so nerdy, like if you presented me all of the elements of the prototypical ‘80s synth rock anthem, this is what you’d get. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear this at some sports game or arena, but I wouldn’t be real upset to hear it either.
Dad: So not a very deep song in your book, huh?
Tim: No no no, the singer seemed like he was going for depth with this song. If anything, I think he took himself a little too seriously.
Dad: But you gotta admit, the guy could hold a tune. I mean, he was screaming and he still held it.
Tim: He definitely carried it to anthem status, but man, he’s like the number one offender of trying to be Bono or Sting’s lovechild here. Like, he’s non-stop brooding in the video, strumming and looking off all pissed off, which is kind of silly considering they were playing in an empty arena.
Dad: Yeah, what is it with ‘80s bands playing in empty arenas in their music videos? I noticed that when we reviewed the Van Halen video…
Tim: Oh man, I was going to ask you the same thing! I mean, I know live videos are probably harder to film, but seriously, put in the effort!
Dad: It just seemed so typical back then watching MTV, but it’s so fake. Like, what is real, guys? Did we really go to the moon?
Tim: [Laughs] Hella deep. And the singer’s doing all of David Lee Roth’s spins and high kicks too! What’s with every ‘80s band doing high kicks?
Dad: Hmm, I noticed the kicks, but not the spins. They did that?
Tim: Yeah, the singer pulls away with his bass and starts twirling around at one part. I feel like I’d screw up my bass parts if I kept spinning like that.
Dad: True. And I don’t get why we wore tight blue jeans and white sneakers back then.
Tim: That look is still popular today. It’s either always been around or is coming back, but that’s a fashionable look.
Dad: You’re kidding me. Yeah, that look and those super long jackets were real popular in so many ‘80s videos. Like that one with Ricky Sanboro, uh, Santora?
Tim: Rick Santorum? Like, the shitty politician?
Dad: Yeah, he just dropped out! I meant the guy from Bon Jovi…
Tim: If we’re doing call outs, can I call out the keyboardist? His jacket is, like, right before they went on the empty stage, they pulled that dude from his other job as a movie projectionist. That is the goofiest red jacket and he’s passionately clapping, even though it’s coming from the synthesizer. He’s not even using his instrument.
Dad: What about the guitarist and his mullet?
Tim: Oh yeah, that was bad too. It looked like Mom’s haircut back then.
Dad: Yep, that looked like Mom on stage.
Tim: I think the drummer was the only one who looked like he could be in a cooler band than that hair-style wise. Like, he was too cool for them.
Dad: Yeah, he had that strand of hair in his face and looked all pissed off.
Tim: Exactly! Last note on the video though: what was the timeline of events in that video? Like, they were on the beach, empty stage, on a pier with a drunk accordion guy, in a limo, at a radio press thing, pushing the limo, back on stage… Was that the life of Mr. Mister?
Dad: I looked that up actually! They filmed that while opening for Tina Turner, so it was filmed in Florida and was probably them doing ordinary things on tour.
Tim: Dang, they played with Tina Turner? Good for them. I don’t know, it’s a catchy song, but it just epitomizes the ‘80s too much. They just seem like a very dramatic, brooding group of dudes with parts of this video and “Broken Wings”.
Dad: Alright then, on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being “oh my god, what a great song!” and 10 being “oh man, my ears are bleeding”, what are you going with?
Tim: Oooh, that’s different. I was expecting you to make me rate it between “Mac Demarco”, “bar song”, or “beach song”.
Dad: It’s a broader range here. I want you to really define your distaste or like.
Tim: It’s gonna be a 5.5 for me. Honestly, it would depend on where I heard this. If I was a little drunk at a sporting event and this came on, I’d bob along and like it. But some parts of it are so overwhelmingly cheesy and ‘80s that shows its age. It represents the ‘80s and that’s its job at this point.
Dad: So would any Allston band cover these guys?
Tim: [Laughs] Oh man, I can’t picture anyone in the Allston scene covering this, but I do think a lot of people give ‘80s music shit when, in fact, I see some influences carrying through today. So yes, while I think this may be a bit on the cheesy side of things, I think ‘80s bands with synthesizers weren’t so bad.
Dad: Hmm, yeah. Agreed.
Tim: But yeah, I’m just pandering to you and any other Baby Boomer readers we’ve gained now…
Boston-based blues-rock outfit Sand Reckoner is no stranger to the importance of a strong live show, malady cialis but a recent emphasis on studio efforts shows the duo turning over a new leaf. “Designer”, buy the first single off upcoming album Haunter, see takes a measured approach to performance-ready energy, starting slow and building into a heavy blues stomp with a roughed-up garage edge. It’s a sound that the band refers to as “ghost rock”, described by guitarist and vocalist Jonathan Lesh as “a more eerie version of psychedelic blues rock”. He explained what the track means to the band via email:
“In the earlier years, we were more focused on our live show and playing around the city as much as possible, but have since shifted our energy to studio work. We love playing shows, but it’s hard to stay connected to a band if you don’t love their recordings… We reflected upon all the time, sacrifices, and emotional energy we’ve put into this band over the last 10 years, and decided we needed to make something that truly reflected it all… Two and a half years later, Haunter is finished.”
Stream the track below, then keep your eyes peeled for the full album within the next month.
