Pop Music Blog

By Providence Journal Arts Writer Rick Massimo

February 2009 Archives


Rhode Island represents at SXSW

4:04 PM Fri, Feb 27, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Darren Hill over at Ten Pin Management (and a former Raindog) tells me that nine artists currently or formerly from Rhode Island - She Rides, Howl, Deer Tick, The Low Anthem, Sage Francis, B. Dolan, Prolyphic, Elvis Perkins In Dearland......

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Song of the Day, No Particular Reason Edition

12:31 PM Fri, Feb 27, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Just dig it. "Panther Dash," The Go! Team......

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Randy Bewley, 1957-2009

12:22 PM Fri, Feb 27, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

The Pylon guitarist suffered a heart attack while driving yesterday. "Danger," Pylon (via Crooks & Liars)......

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I learn the most awesome things from my e-mail

11:00 AM Thu, Feb 26, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

For example, did you know: IT IS NOT A SPAM, but if you received that message second and plus time JUST CLICK DELETE button and have a nice day. Don't feel bad, please understand original Scarlett's family very desperate to......

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Wednesday afternoon = Billboard chart time!

4:51 PM Wed, Feb 25, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Billboard sez Taylor Swift's Fearless stays at number one; Charlie Wilson's Uncle Charlie debuts at number two; Morrissey's Years of Refusal is the other top-20 debut at number 11 and Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You drops to 16.......

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Song of the Day, New Supergroup Edition

12:02 PM Wed, Feb 25, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

That's former Smashing Pumpkin James Iha, Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, Fountains of Wayne bassist and songwriter Adam Schlesinger and, yes, Taylor Hanson. "Kind of a Girl," Tinted Windows via C&L Late Nite Music Club......

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Song of the Day, Multiple Choice Question Edition

12:34 PM Tue, Feb 24, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

a) Personality too warped to get a band together? b) Personality too awesome to get a band together? c) Sad commentary on the simplicity of AC/DC's music? d) Awesome commentary on the simplicity of AC/DC's music? e) All of the......

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Elton John, Billy Joel together again at Gillette

12:05 PM Tue, Feb 24, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Elton John and Billy Joel are heading out for another duet tour, and they're coming to Gillette Stadium, in Foxboro, Mass., on Saturday, July 18. Tickets are $179.50, $99.50 and $54.50 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. They're......

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Wednesday = Billboard Chart E-mail Day!

4:09 PM Wed, Feb 18, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Billboard sez the Grammy Awards were the big factor in sales this week, and who am I to argue? Not with Taylor Swift regaining the number-one spot with Fearless, Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends making......

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URI Songs of Social Justice series showing on PBS

1:34 PM Tue, Feb 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

The Songs of Social Justice honors colloquium brought some of the country's most politically committed musicians to the University of Rhode Island in the fall of 2006. Late last year, some of the highlights of the series were released on......

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Song of the Day, Louie Bellson Memorial Edition

11:54 AM Tue, Feb 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

The great jazz drummer was 84. Sometimes, drums are all you need: Drum solo, Louie Bellson, 1957......

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Song of the Day, Estelle Bennett Memorial Edition

3:01 PM Fri, Feb 13, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

The Ronettes singer was 67. Ronnie Spector's Web site says, "To My beloved sister, Rest in peace, You deserve it." The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame says, "In less than a decade, the Ronette's created a ground-breaking sound and......

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No Ozzfest this year

5:21 PM Thu, Feb 12, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

It's official, according to blabbermouth.net. Ozzy Osbourne is currently in the studio in Los Angeles co-producing his tenth studio album with Kevin Churko. The new CD is the rock and roll legend's follow-up to 2007's "Black Rain" which debuted in......

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Woops.

11:20 AM Thu, Feb 12, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Rick Massimo    Email

Those closer to the stage than I at last night's Barry Manilow concert say that he said "Speaking of Preparation H, I think I'll sit" rather than "I think I'll sing." I'm not sure I got it wrong, but it......

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Hey! The Billboard chart e-mail just came in! Hooray for The Fray!

4:00 PM Wed, Feb 11, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

The new Billboard album chart sees The Fray at number one for the first time with their self-titled album. It's their first number-one disc and it hits the top of the chart for the first week. Bruce Springsteen's Working On......

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Grateful Dead interview online

3:55 PM Wed, Feb 11, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

They reflect on their upcoming tour, politics and more with director Danny Clinch. Bob Weir on the Dead's fans: "My theory all along, or for the longest time now, has been that they're kindred spirits. They're like us; they're people......

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Bogus Explanation Watch

3:48 PM Wed, Feb 11, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Dave Matthews Band saxophonist LeRoi Moore, who died in August from injuries suffered in an ATV accident in June, was not included in the tributes to music-industry people who died in 2008 during Sunday's Grammy telecast. Per TMZ, the explanation......

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John "Crawlin' Snake" Mac

3:37 PM Tue, Feb 10, 2009 | | Comments (4)
By Rick Massimo    Email

Providence-based rock and blues musician John "Crawlin' Snake" Mac (born Juan Maciel) died on Sunday night after a long illness. Fellow musician Andrew Jaswell called Mac in an e-mail "one of the most outrageous, flamboyant people I have had the......

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UPDATED: Rhythm and Roots returns

5:04 PM Mon, Feb 09, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

The Rhythm and Roots Festival will return to Ninigret Park, in Charlestown, on Labor Day weekend, festival organizers announced Monday. The festival, which brings roughly 10,000 people to Ninigret Park over three days annually, was in danger of having to......

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Harley wins second Grammy

10:11 AM Mon, Feb 09, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Seekonk-based children's singer-songwriter Bill Harley won his second Grammy Award yesterday in ceremonies at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Harley won in the category of Best Spoken-Word Album for Children for Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live, a compilation......

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Jon Jones Update

3:45 PM Fri, Feb 06, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

His parents e-mail to tell me that he is still in the hospital, actually. Tonight's fundraiser is at Jimmy's Saloon, in Newport; there's another one coming up Valentine's Day - more details as I get them, but Joyce Raskin says......

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Springsteen too?

4:33 PM Thu, Feb 05, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Sure enough, even Bruce Springsteen was using recorded tracks at the Super Bowl. He really sang, though. Apparently this is supposed to make a big difference. "The Super Bowl performances are all on tape," (Super Bowl producer Hank) Neuberger said.......

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Song of the Day, Lux Interior Memorial Edition

11:46 AM Thu, Feb 05, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

The singer of The Cramps was 60 (the linked story is wrong). If you ever heard them, you were never the same. Here's one relatively tame example: "Ultra Twist," The Cramps But for my money The Cramps hit their quintessence......

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Song of the Day, Memorial Three-Fer Edition

7:00 AM Tue, Feb 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Trying to stay away from the most obvious choices: "It's the Truth, Ruth," The Big Bopper "Donna," Ritchie Valens OK, this IS an obvious choice, but the video is too great: "Peggy Sue," Buddy Holly......

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Song of the Day, Bleah Edition

11:51 AM Mon, Feb 02, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Sickness. Bad sickness. I'm back, but just barely. Here's Bruce Springsteen's Super Bowl halftime show, Part I: Here's the last bit, with "Glory Days": And if you don't have that much time, here's the best 20 seconds, to watch over......

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