The bands with the most buzz in the blog bin will rock Great Scott’s socks off this Sunday to help raise funds for WTBU, the “beat of Boston University”. Look for the two Worcester wunderkinder (and Burning Mill Records labelmates) Golden Girls and Dom to serve up fuzzed-out, acid-washed houseparty pop. Count on Quilt, who recently got nominated for “Best Garage/Psych” band by the Boston Phoenix, to bring some folk flavors. Ecstatic Peace’s the Lord Jeff can play it loud or soft and rock either way, while Jamaica Plain’s Turtle Ambulance will Ja-Maic’ you crazy with his island rhythm-influenced, sample-saturated instrumentals. It’s a great bill (and there may even be some surprise additions, so stay tuned) for a great cause. Great Scott – 1222 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston MA 02134 – 18+ – 5 bux – 8pm

Facebook event page 

Golden Girls 

Quilt  

Dom

The Lord Jeff

Turtle Ambulance

–Mike Gutierrez

The Low Anthem dug their heels deep into the New England folk rock music circuit with cleverly crafted musical arrangements and a well-articulated sound that vaulted them into an all-inclusive global kudos. This trio turned quartet stands at the forefront of an abundant arsenal of off-beat instruments, which they employ to resonate the musical byproducts of their inventively framed themes. On the brink of their inaugural U.S. headlining tour, Jeff conversed with us about hitting the road, new additions, the weight of kinship and a followup record. The Low Anthem will be touring New England through 17-24.

Deli: Can you talk to me about the European Tour you guys just got back from?

Jeff: Sure. European touring is really great for an American band, at least speaking from my own experience. We’ve had just a great time in Europe. We have been over there four times now and each time has been really special and we’ve had great shows. On this last tour, we played a lot of great theaters, like Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, which is one of the most beautiful theaters I’ve played in. As well as the great music hall in Belgium called AB and a great one in Amsterdam called the Paradiso, an old converted church that’s now a music venue. It makes it so much easier to put on a great show when you are playing in a venue that has a certain character to it, you know? It really helps for the show and for the performance. We’ve had great tours in Europe and we will be going back again in August to play the festival season there.

Read the whole interview by Alexandra Johnson HERE

Singer/songwriter, Margaret Glaspy came to Boston three years ago on a grant from the National Foundation for the Advancement of Arts. Since then, she’s been rocking the folk scene, regularly headlining at Club Passim, who has just given her an Iguana Music Award. As she settles into a Tuesday night residency at the Lizard Lounge for April, Glaspy talked to the Deli about the Boston scene, finding her voice as a songwriter and the power of acoustic music.

DELI: You come from California?

Margaret Glaspy: Red Bluff. It’s this tiny little town in northern California, kind of conservative and…interesting (laughs). We were definitely the weird family.

DELI: How so?

MG: It was definitely a small town vibe, lots of cattle and county fairs and rodeos and stuff…not that all that stuff isn’t great but we were kind of on a different path.

Read the whole interview by Jason Rabin HERE

Burlington’s most promising, The Cush, are playing their "final local performance for the foreseeable future" tonight at 9pm at The Monkey House as well as another "final performance" tomorrow night, same time and place. This writer is sad and maybe a little heartbroken to see The Cush saying goodbye, but I’m sure I speak for the city and state when I wish them continued success with their unique take on the dreamy alt sound. The Cush are releasing their third full-length album, Between The Leaves, April 20th (expect a review soon). Playing alongside The Cush for both dates are some of Burlington’s best. Friday will be Lowell Thompson and Cave Bees. Saturday is Mark Lind and Ryan Power.

—Will Ryan

On the road recently with Trevor Hall and John Oates (yes, Thee), Jer Coons is coming home to Vermont tonight, playing at Higher Ground in South Burlington.  Jer has been consistently touring over the last year, playing to full venues from Florida to Madison, WI.  He’s picking up fans in every city he shows his shining face – and it’s well-deserved. He’s been working his ass off, and his show (and band) are tighter than ever.

Yeah, it’s pop, but it’s damn good.  No need for anyone to get embarrassed, Jer’s music challenges fans of all ages and genres to just try and have a bad time.  Check out the video for his single, "Legs" here.  His last show here was sold out, so if you haven’t yet – GET YO’ TICKETS NOW!  It will be an early show, like most at higher Ground these days – doors open at 7 p.m.  Taylor Carson will open.

It’s A Gift (29A Union Square across from the Citizen’s Bank)  is in threat of being shut down due to finances. The store sells artwork and crafts by adults with physical and mental disabilities. During the Somerville Open Studios May 1st and 2nd, It’s A Gift will have silk-screening in the store. Community members may bring in clothing or buy vintage clothing or a t-shirt ($5 or less) to have an image by one of our artists printed on them for $10.

In the evenings is where they need musicians to volunteer their time and talent to saving the store. It’s a Gift will be having a Save Our Store fundraiser concert as a Somerville Open Studios after party. Starting at 6:30pm on May 1st and 2nd musicians can play a 30-45 min. set each. As an extra incentive for musicians, they can make a silkscreen of a band image/logo so that the musicians can make t-shirts,etc. If the image is brought in at the Somerville Open Studios they can have it ready with in a couple weeks.

For more info email the editor at: needitor@thedelimagazine.com

–The Deli Staff

It must be tough to have an apostrophe in your band’s name – but I guess that’s how you weed out the articulate from the people who don’t care.

I care, and you should. The Day’s Weight will be playing with Delta Spirit and Movers and Shakers tomorrow night, Thursday, April 8th at Northeastern’s afterHOURS club. The show starts around 7:30 p.m.

If The Day’s Weight strikes a familiar chord, it’s because they played to a sold out room at The Deli’s Boston launch party last November.  Though Pat McDermott and Kyle Toomey grew up together playing music in the outskirts of Boston, the band officially hails from Burlington, VT. The two have gathered a strong assortment of musicians from LA to Berklee, and have basically brought together some serious sound.

Dark but refreshing, The Day’s Weight bring the old west to Indie rock.  McDermott’s voice defines the band’s persona – a voice steeped in sexuality and somehow familiar.  Each song successfully tells a story, and they’ll make sure to drive it home. I think they’ll impress the Delta Spirit crowd – which means it’s worth being on time for this show.

–The Deli Staff

This Thursday through Saturday nights, there will be a benefit show for local musician Ray Neades at Church. Sadly, Ray passed away this past December, far too early at the age of 42. If you did not know Ray, he was perhaps most well known for fronting an AC/DC cover band by the name of Beefy DC. He got so much joy from playing music.

I saw his band perform at Paradise one night and after his set I asked him how he was. His face beaming, he told me he how he had always wanted to play that room, and that he felt like he was on top of the world.

At the time, I worked with Ray at Guitar Center. Outside of performing music, he was honestly one of the funniest people I have ever met in my life. He made my workdays so much better with his sense of humor. He told the kinds of jokes that I retell to people over and over again. He had such a big heart, filled with life and love of music.

The proceeds from the shows will go to help his family alleviate some of the expenses related to Ray’s death. The shows feature a large cast of local musicians coming out in support of Ray and his family, including Jenny Dee and the Delinquents and Andrea Gillis. You can get more info and buy tickets HERE

RIP, Ray. We will miss you.

–James Houlahan

Deli contributor and freelance photographer Michael Spencer will be having an opening for his new exhibit Sublime Instance on April 6th at 8 PM at Christopher’s (the restaurant next to TOAD). He will be showing thirteen photographs from his work at festivals, local shows and other musical adventures. He’s phtographed, Moe. (above), Jesse Dee, Treat Her Right and many others. See more of his work HERE

Christopher’s 1920 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA

— The Deli Staff

Freezepop has made a name for themselves by proving that pop song structures applied to infectious dance rhythms and video game inspired synth melodies produces phenomenal music. And the crowd at their sold-out matinee show on Saturday, March 27th at Café 939 is proof that the system is working splendidly well.

Café 939, a small performance space at Berklee, supplied a great atmosphere for the rare all-ages show. The high-ceilinged, open space housed the band’s background screens which flashed pop-art logos and minimalist graphics throughout the show. Even before the band began to play, members Liz Enthusiasm, Robert John “Bananas” Foster, The Other Sean T. and Christmas Disco Marie Sagan joked and bantered with the audience. The band is known for their close connection to fans and even responded to an audience member who called out, “Freezepop rules!” that that should be the name of their new album.

The show itself was nothing short of spectacular. Freezepop brings an effortless energy to all of their songs: The music is loud and intense without ever losing the wry innocence and playfulness characteristic of the band’s sound and personalities. The 14 song set featured fan favorites like “Plastic Stars,” “Frontload,” and the indomitable dance opus “Less Talk More Rokk,” as well as new songs like “Magnetic” and “Lose That Boy” from their forthcoming untitled album.

Liz’s vocals were strong throughout, switching effortlessly from soft soprano melodies that faded into synth effects (notably in “Lose That Boy” and the mischievous nursery rhyme tone of “Stakeout”) to the more forceful crescendos needed for “Frontload” and “Lady Spider,” darker vocals evocative of the crooning malaise of Depeche Mode. The instrumentals were near perfection with Robert John “Bananas” Foster’s keytar playing functioning as that impeccable balance between showcasing his musical prowess and genuinely enjoying the experience of playing the music. Sean T’s guitar was spot on, especially in the rock-heavy “Brainpower” and “Get Ready to Rokk” where the solos evoked the F-Zero series’ race soundtracks. Christmas Disco Marie’s work on vocoder and synth, which she used to provide trance-esque distortion to Liz’s vocals, is a testament to her skills and seamless integration into the band.

Freezepop’s music is always a playful montage of sound, evoking video game music, infectious dance songs, 80s synth-rock and pop songs to create a sonic mélange that’s as appealing to the indie crowd as it is to electronica fans. Freezepop is set to tour the Northeast in April, so check their website for dates.

–Meghan Guidry

If you haven’t heard, Christopher Pappas of The Everyday Visuals has put together a glorious side project, Forest Fires. They release their debut album, Hark! And Other Lost Transmissions on the 15th. In celebration of the release Forest Fires has a residency at the Armory (Where the Deli Showcase #2 was at) featuring some of New England’s best folk and rock musicians. I’m not just saying this to be nice. This is one of the more epic residencies I’ve seen in a while. Take a look.

April 1st:
Tom Janovitz AKA Sodafrog(8PM)
Josh Buckley (The Guilded Splinters) (8:50PM)
Forest Fires (9:40PM)

April 8th:
Michael Wheeler (8PM)
Lady Lamb the Bee Keeper (8:50PM)
Forest Fires (9:40PM)

April 15th: (Official release!!!!)
Laura Cortese (8PM)
The Everyday Visuals (8:50PM)
Forest Fires (9:40PM)

April 22nd:
Oranjuly (8PM)
Will Dailey (8:50PM)
Forest Fires (9:40PM)

April 29th:
Rasmyth (My dad’s band!) (8PM)
Jesse Gallagher (Apollo Sunshine) (8:50PM)
Forest Fires (9:40PM)

http://www.artsatthearmory.org/ – 191 Highland Ave – Somerville, MA – Take the Red line to Davis and it is like a few blocks.
–The Deli Staff

Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling is a duo consisting of Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein. Self-described as, "loud, arty, minimalist rock working in the realm of proto-punk/new wave/no wave bands", Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling has an authentic energy and sound that is rarely seen around town that often.

They will be celebrating the release of their debut EP, The New Number 2 Saturday the 3rd at Church. Get more info HERE. The EP is stuffed with creative angst. I recommend this EP if you are sick of all the same old crap. It also is inspired by a sci-fi series, The Prisoner. Can’t get more awesome than that. Cacciola, Epstein and Epstein’s mustache had the time to answer a few Q’s about where the unique inspiration came from.

Deli: The new EP, The New Number 2 is based on/inspired by an old sci-fi show, The Prisoner. Can you tell as more about what inspired your take on the project? Why is The Prisoner so important to Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling?

Sophia Cacciola: Once I saw The Prisoner, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I first saw it right at a time when my writing was getting a little less introspective and more about exploring a murky, cinematic world centered around a moralistic, dark, strong-willed yet desperate character. Patrick McGoohan’s Number 6 fit this mold perfectly. The themes of the show: Big Brother, societal distrust of individuality, totalitarianism, the meaning of escaping, the construct of imprisonment, and identifying who actually dictates fate, are all topics that feel ever-urgent and worthy of thinking and writing about. So from there it just became obvious that this was what I wanted to do with the band. The rest, the visual imagery (black coats with white piping, etc.) as well as the name of the band, all just fell right into place.

Read more HERE

–Interview by Meghan Chiampa