POP TONES

This Tiny Desk Concert with Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso is rightfully going viral. Like many, this was our introduction to these artists. What we found is that the studio versions of these tracks are good but mostly modern, digital beats and definitely inferior to this band. We’re not sure did the arrangements here but they are stellar with various folks doing solos and with key changes, etc. We suppose some smart A&R person is going to quickly put a record out from this recording. Dum dum dumbai indeed!

Wrote this back during Trump's first term. Didn't really do anything with it but it's time to dust it off. Still rings true. Bob Carino created the music. I wrote the words and performed them.

We've been busy lately and have neglected this blog but fear not bc we're back. One of the things we've gotten into is Andrew Hickey's mindblowing podcast, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs. You may think you know a lot about rock n roll but we guarantee you will learn a ton more from this podcast. The original episodes dealing with the early influencers to what would become rock music and the early artists who created the genre are explored in this book, Volume 1 of the history. Get it here, you'll be glad you did!

This is an important article that does a good job of putting our current predicament into historical perspective.

The worldwide debut of High Tide is in two short weeks! Get your tickets here: https://www.exploretock.com/thetavernattheredlioninn/event/446077/november-16th-high-tide-wsg-comedian-laurie-ferraria

Oh boy, we’ve featured Riton and Kah-lo before but Fake-ID takes the cuteness, Sassyositude funk to a new level of must-have classic dance. Really universal but a sure anthem for college kids everywhere.

This track owes something to Fergie’s London Bridge but that tune was from 2006 and it’s 2023 so time to dance to a slightly slurred declaration of who’s the next big thing.

Heard Evan last night at the local Open Mic. Hello? This guy is dope. His voice and overall style puts him on today’s musical pulse for sure. We’ll keep watching Evan Phillips and expect great things!

Summer party time is in full swing and you will be hearing this while watching hips shake and bodies dance. Enjoy.

Our good friend and veteran goth vocalist Athan Maroulis is back with his band Noir for this new track Fallen. The striking video highlights contrasting black and white angels for an elegant visual to this dark dance track. Check it out!

We last saw the Jay Psaros Band during their Christmas concert. Always fun to see a band with full on funky and tasty chops galore. This show will at the ultra pro Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, Mass. We believe it's also a celebration of a new record by Jay and the band. So many good reasons to go. See you there!

There’s a new artist on the scene who we know something about. He comes from our town and unlike 99.9% of the kids from here, he decided not to pursue college instead entering a program in NYC to learn music production. A year later Walter the Producer, as he calls his musical self, has been offered a two record deal at RCA. Not too shabby. He’s got the listens and likes to take seriously. Give it a listen. We could be on the precipice of a great career.

We were recently turned on to this exceptional podcast and we're blown away by how deep Andrew Hickey goes. The Velvet Underground episode alone does very deep right back to the origins of John Cage avant garde and intellectual approach to music and sound. What does it have to do with the Velvets? Check it out and know that John Cale was a performer in one of his most famous mammouth long concerts. We highly recommend you check out A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs

Another anthem about California that would sit nicely side by side with Phantom Planets' classic California. This time the protagonist is leaving the state and the dreams of a younger self which he has found to be an illusion and by leaving, he regains what he feels to be his true self. The recording is excellent, the songwriting and performances are top notch and while this will surely be their closer, we're anxious to hear more. Those in the area can catch the band at the Jungle in Somerville on April 8th.

We've known Brian Montanaro for a few years and enjoyed his local performances. He gets such crystal clear guitar sounds combined with such a rich voice. We're reminded of Jeff Buckley here but Brian has his own unique vision and point of view. Check him out!