The Scrutiny Podcast – Episode 004 w/ Katrina Galore, Chris Barrett and Ruby Rose Fox

Episode 004 of The Scrutiny Podcast presented by Midriff Records and Indie Rock Ranger is sponsored by the Clicky Clicky Music Blog.  Check them out at http://clickyclickymusic.com/

Richard Bouchard and I continue our exciting and unfair exploration of the music scene here in Boston and beyond in the May edition of The Scrutiny Podcast.

After taking April off due to the chaos that befell our city we are back in force in May!  Thanks to the super talented Katrina Galore and E. Stephen Fredrick for hosting us at Torrent Engine 18 in Dorchester, MA (a part of town that’s not nearly as scary as people are having you believe), a beautiful former firehouse that they are in the process of re-proposing as arts space.   In addition, our panel included multi-instrumentalist and everyone’s favorite trumpeter Chris Barrett (Kingsly Flood /Eddie Japan) and singer/songwriter/bandleader/wunderkind,  Ruby Rose Fox.

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The Scrutiny Podcast – 003 w/ Luke O’Neil, Tad Mckitterick and Maxwell Nagel

Richard Bouchard and I continue our exciting and unfair exploration of the music scene here in Boston and beyond in the April edition of The Scrutiny Podcast.  Our guests for this episode are writer Luke O’Neil (The Village Voice, Esquire), musician Tad Mckitterick of the glam rock band Sidewalk Driver and owner/blogger of the brand new Indie, Bikes and Beer Blog Maxwell Nagel.  It’s our first annual sausage fest!

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Nostalgia Download!!! The Beatings Cover GBV!!!

We’ve been sorting through tons of disks and files, culling what will be the extra/bonus tracks  included on the upcoming untitled Beatings  remastered/reissued EP’s compilation due out later this year… and we came upon this gem.  If memory serves me, and it often doesn’t, this was somewhere around 2003/2004 after the  “Italiano” LP but before the “If Not Now, Then When” EP. The Beatings closed a headlining slot at the now defunct Continental, located off St. Marks in NYC with “Smothered in Hugs” by Guided By Voices.  The sound is taken from the booth which was close to the front, so the room sounds sparse.  But I don’t ever remember us not filling that room so I’m calling bullshit on the crowd mics.  I don’t know… maybe no one was there.  But I’d prefer to remember it packed… it’s a matter of pride, sue me.

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Midriff in Brazil

  Just a quick note but a really cool one.  Recently I was interviewed for the great Super8ito blog out of  Sao Paulo, Brazil by Diogo Antonio Rodriguez.  We talked about Midriff, The Beatings and my thoughts on the Boston music scene, past and present.  We discussed the differences and similarities between Sao Paulo and Boston.  We talked and talked.  It was a really great time and I want to thank Diogo for inviting me and preparing such thoughtful and insightful questions.  You can hear the final product at the link below.  Granted, if you understand Portuguese you’ll get a lot more out of it.  If you don’t, you can do as my Scrutiny Podcast partner Richard Bouchard did and give an impressed nod when he heard my name or a word he recognized.  I also got to pick a song and used the opportunity to introduce Brazil to the greatness that is Boston “Chimp Rock” giants,  Kudgel.  Super8ito!!! Check it out regularly.  Hopefully we’ll get down there soon and meet the awesome folks of Sao Paulo.

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The Scrutiny Podcast – 002 w/ Sophia Cacciola, Sabrina Boyd, Ryan Spaulding

Several months ago Richard Bouchard, former editor of the Boston Band Crush Blog, and I hatched a plan to record a series of  panel discussions with local and national music industry folks on topics that effected them directly.  It was the same conversations we were all  having late night at a party or after a show at the club.  These conversations can get heated, bitter, unfair and loaded and we weren’t sure that people would be willing to expose that side of themselves publicly through frank discussion. We found that they will.  By having honest and frank discussions we learn something new, validate a perspective we may not have had before and come to an understanding on the people and processes of a community we cherish.  Sharing is a wonderful and humbling experience and we are gonna do more of it.

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The Breen Machine Theme

My friend Mr. Pat Breen is a film maker who has directed a slew of music videos, none more important than MiniBoone’s video for “Brand New Thing”, if only because he cast me in it.  A few months back we posted my review of both the video and my performance (spoiler…. I’m awesome!).   Lately,  I’ve been of the opinion that Mr. Pat Breen  needed a theme song.  Something that he could put up there on his site,  Garbagetown, and would play when you entered.  Something to, I don’t know,  help pull people passing by the storefront in and drum up business.  So I made a deal with Mr. Pat Breen and it’s a deal I’m not sure he ever official agreed too.  If he directed no fewer than 2 , but with a possibility of more, music videos for Eldridge Rodriguez I would in turn write and record a theme song for him.  Well, Mr. Pat Breen…. I’ve held up my end of the bargain.

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Beatings on the Television

If you don’t live in the metro Boston area you probably/maybe have only a peripheral knowledge of “The Bubbler”,   the super informative music oriented and band profile  show hosted by Ryan Spaulding of the Ryan’s Smashing Life blog and aired on CBS’ MyTV 38 Sunday nights over the last few months.  We love the show and reviewed, profiled  and posted a clip (featuring me) a few posts ago.

Recently, the show aired a profile and extended interview with The Beatings, where we talked about the band and Midriff.  Since we announced it’s broadcast, we’ve been getting emails from fans and friends outside of MA asking where they can see the segment.  Here it is… for your consideration.

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The Midriff Records Year Long Residency Ends (in Tears)

Saturday December 29th marked the last of our (just short of) a year long residency at Radio celebrating the label’s decade plus  in existence.  Our year long, monthly residency celebrating a decade of indie/DIY indulgence came to an end.  It was a really wonderful year of shows (and sometimes exhausting. I played everyone of the nights… sometimes twice).  Our intent was to make each show different and special and we hope the folks who came out month after month enjoyed them as much as we did. Below is a full list of who came out and played with us as well as some press on some of the shows.  We also included some of  our favorite show posters.

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The Scrutiny Podcast – 001 w/ Anngelle Wood, Carl Lavin, Rob Potylo

Many, many… many weeks ago former Boston Band Crush editor, Richard Bouchard and I sat at Radio, bitching about certain constructs of the Boston music scene.  “Why are booking agents like…” and “Does Boston radio really need more…” and “Media?!?!… let me tell you somethin’ about local media”… we eventually evened out and realized how entertaining, cathartic and informative these sessions could be.  I’ve talked to out of state friends and participated in similar discussions all across the country.  Everyone in every music scene everywhere are having them.  Frank, honest, emotional, sometimes unfair conversations about music and the music industry are ubiquitous.

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Show Wrap Up: Our Show at Radio Benefits The Home for Little Wanders

We just want to thank everyone who came out to last month’s Midriff Residency show at Radio on Nov. 24,2012 and participated in our last two raffles. With help from our partners at Radio and their staff we were able to raise and donate $900.00 for The Home for Little Wanders, Safe at Home program in the memory of our dear friend and former Home employee and champion David P. Morris. It was a really great night.

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