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White trash heroes

It is official — iconic PVD noisemongers Arab on Radar are back on the grid and about to end their eight-year hiatus with a nationwide reunion tour beginning this weekend in Easthampton, Massachusetts, followed by a stop at AS220 on July 3.
Arab on Radar are back on the attack
By CHRIS CONTI | July 02, 2010

'Fun guy rap'

I emailed Edgewood-bred lyricist Romen Rok last week following the release of his highly-anticipated full-length platter Absolutely ! and asked just how he would describe his brand of hip-hop to the casual listener: “Fun guy rap” was the response.
Long overdue Romen Rok debut worth the wait? Absolutely !
By CHRIS CONTI | June 18, 2010

Steady business

"Poorly Drawn People has some new members, and a new way of doing biz."
Poorly Drawn People's Reason and Falside remain in motion
By CHRIS CONTI | June 04, 2010

Living in the Now

There’s no denying the ongoing presence of what we’ll call melodic pop acts here in Rhode Island, bands comprised of guys in their mid-20s with a serious knack for penning sugary-sweet hooks and harmonies.
Shryne’s ‘honest but polished’ pop-rock
By CHRIS CONTI | May 14, 2010

Beats, rhymes, and Li(f)e

Cult-status indie wordsmith Sage Francis digs deep and blows the black mold off the diary on Li(f)e (Anti-), while enlisting an impressive roster of indie-rock songwriters.
Sage Francis balances despair and hope on new album
By CHRIS CONTI | May 07, 2010

Band of brothers

Acclaimed local director David Bettencourt immortalizes Providence-via-Attleboro punk pioneers Neutral Nation in his latest documentary, It’s a Bash! .
It’s a Bash! tells the Neutral Nation story
By CHRIS CONTI | April 30, 2010

’Bru Bracket-Busters

Part 1 of the 2010 WBRU Rock Hunt semi-finals is in the books, with Santa Mamba and underdogs You Scream I Scream advancing to the finals, and this weekend six more bands will vie for the two remaining spots.
You Scream I Scream and Santa Mamba get to the finals
By CHRIS CONTI | March 26, 2010

Tuneful throwdown

"The WBRU Rock Hunt is not designed to find the best 'alternative rock' act — we're out to find the best live act looking to earn more exposure along with some pretty cool prizes."
The 2010 WBRU Rock Hunt semi-finalists, Pt. 1
By CHRIS CONTI | March 19, 2010

Into the groove

The 2010 Best Music Poll nominees announcement is fast approaching, but we do know all of the '09 victors will return to defend their titles, including jazz/funk reigning champs Funkatronic, who are looking for a three-peat.
Funkatronic kick out the hybrid-fueled jams
By CHRIS CONTI | March 12, 2010

Straight outta Tallahassee

Tallahassee transplant (via Toronto) Kylewilliam Campol absolutely loves to call Rhode Island home, having moved here last May to further his career as a musician and establish the world headquarters for his post-punk outfit Imadethismistake — a move som
Kyle Campol’s Imadethismistake
By CHRIS CONTI | March 05, 2010

Bringing it all back home

"Pull around back, head up the fire escape and knock twice, someone will let you in."
In the studio — a former pasta sauce factory in Central Falls — with the Low Anthem
By CHRIS CONTI | February 26, 2010

Focus group: Labeless Illtelligence

It's NBA All-Star Saturday and Labeless Illtelligence representatives Chris Andrews and Tyler Edwards, better known as CasUno and ESH the Monolith, settle in for one last marathon studio session at Edwards's East Providence apartment (dubbed FrESH Ear St
CasUno and ESH the Monolith streamline the cipher
By CHRIS CONTI | February 19, 2010

Smoothed out on the R&B tip

"Seeing Mary Bee interact and talk on a daily basis is totally different from hearing Mary Bee sing — it's like night and day," writes producer David Gonzalez.
Mary Bee and David Gonzalez’s Fiesole
By CHRIS CONTI | February 05, 2010

Bring on the major leagues

There ain't enough lighter fluid in your Bic to keep pace with Fairhaven's piano-driven anthems on their full-length debut Origins.
Fairhaven are officially on the hunt
By CHRIS CONTI | January 29, 2010

Tight but loose

I had never come across the adjective "jangular" until I visited the Glowkid website.
Jangly + angular = Glowkid
By CHRIS CONTI | January 22, 2010

Shout it out!

Sharks Come Cruisin' founder Mark Lambert is a Warwick native with a penchant for reworking and penning sea shanties from centuries past, often revised with rollicking punk flare — all thanks to the golden pipes of Quint, the shark-obsessed skipper in J
Sharks Come Cruisin’ corner the punk rock/sea shanty market
By CHRIS CONTI | January 08, 2010

Local flavor

Local journalist and acclaimed hip-hop scribe Andrew Martin has corralled a flavorful roster of Rhody-based rap talent on the Ocean State Sampler , 10 exclusive tracks available for free download.
Andrew Martin serves up fresh Ocean State Sampler
By CHRIS CONTI | January 01, 2010

Local heroes, ’09 edition

The Rhode Island music community flourished in 2009, with new full-lengths from the Coming Weak, California Smile, and the pride of Cranston West and official big-leaguers Monty Are I, who released Break Through the Silence in September.
From Suicide Bill & the Liquors to Roz Raskin & the Rice Cakes
By CHRIS CONTI | December 25, 2009

Pop music for picky people

Lincoln-based quartet Stalemate host their CD release party at the Blackstone on December 23 in honor of their sophomore effort, We Will Carry You Out to Sea .
Stalemate’s eclectic ways
By CHRIS CONTI | December 11, 2009

High tide

Newport’s Cliffs & Bangers bring their lightning-rod brand of surf-rock to the 201 this weekend behind their spring ’09 release Short Tracks No Brakes , and the downtown crowd better be prepared for some hair-flailing headbanging.
Thrashing surf-rock from Cliffs & Bangers
By CHRIS CONTI | December 04, 2009

Brand new funk

Evan Hanson and Brendon Bjorness-Murano, better known as lyricist 90Sevan and beatminer/composer Low B, teamed up just seven months ago to form Broken Ground.
Broken Ground launch their Sneak Attack
By CHRIS CONTI | November 27, 2009

Running with the Devil

The surge of locally-harvested folk/roots/Americana acts flourishing in Rhode Island continues.
Making a connection with Brown Bird
By CHRIS CONTI | October 30, 2009

Lights, camera, action rock!

Keep the Cristal on ice until further notice from Steve Aiello, lead singer/guitarist for Monty Are I, who just released their "official" major label debut, Break Through the Silence on Island/Def Jam.
Monty Are I — from Cranston to Island/Def Jam
By CHRIS CONTI | October 09, 2009

Whiskey. Beer. Rock 'n' roll!

Country-fried rawk quartet Girl Haggard have already achieved the goals founder Aaron Jaehnig drafted up when the bigman bassist and bartender-about-town formed the band with Hendersonville, Tennessee native Mandy Allan back in January.
Girl Haggard and Hank Sinatra Jr. join forces and raise hell
By CHRIS CONTI | September 18, 2009

Whiskey. Beer. Rock 'n' roll!

In the red

A handful of Phoenix readers questioned the parameters of what exactly defined a "Breakthrough Act" in our recent Best Music Poll, decided in dominant fashion by alt-rock quartet SEXCoffee. What exactly constitutes a band playing together for six yea
SEXCoffee amp it up on The Morning After
By CHRIS CONTI | September 04, 2009

Up for the challenge

Rhythmafia have been on the scene for about four years, and in that relatively short time the Providence natives — Rob Cinami (drums and backup vox), Jamie Kearns (guitar), Zack Chagnon (bass), and frontman Sam Montes — have successfully delivered a bl
Rhythmafia: a new breed of mashup
By CHRIS CONTI | August 28, 2009

Kollective soul

Singer/songwriter Kris Hansen and longtime pal Bob Giusti certainly are no stranger to the local music scene, having played out and hosted scores of gigs and all-star, open-mic jam sessions for more than a dozen years as Kris Hansen's Left Hand Band, a
Kris Hansen's ever-evolving sound
By CHRIS CONTI | August 14, 2009

Don't call it a comeback

Six Finger Satellite founder and frontman Jeremiah "J." Ryan has news for anyone assuming that the upcoming Six Finger Satellite mini-tour is a harbinger for some big 6FS reunion, following the recent release of Half Control on Load Records, original
Six Finger Satellite never left. And never will
By CHRIS CONTI | August 07, 2009

Feel-good hits of summer

Life is unabashedly beautiful for Wheat founders (and Taunton natives) Brendan Harney and Scott Levesque. That sentiment echoes throughout their latest release, White Ink, Black Ink (The Rebel Group) — which is surprising considering their track record
Wheat's strange beauty
By CHRIS CONTI | July 17, 2009

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