Rodrigo y Gabriela at the Orpheum!

Photographic Evidence

and Thoughts on Shows

by Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez

Sold Out Show

The Orpheum

Boston - 04.23.12

Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero have been playing guitar together for more than fifteen years and it shows with each jaw-dropping performance. Their acoustic, nylon stringed instruments produce a unique sound which is not easy to classify; encompassing influences from both rock and world music.

from the new album Area 52

Rodrigo y Gabriela brought the band C.U.B.A. on the road with them on the Spring 2012 tour in order to showcase the thrilling and dynamic hybrid of metal, latin and jazz featured on their new album Area 52. The record contains nine of Rod and Gab's favorite songs from their own catalogue re-arranged and recorded in Havana with legendary producer Peter Asher and a 13-piece Cuban orchestra comprised of some of the country's finest young players. The new album was mixed by Rafa Sardina, one of the leading studio musicians in the Latin music world, and arranged by London-based pianist, composer and arranger Alex Wilson. Recording took place in the Miramar district of Havana, Cuba, at Abdala Studios, founded by the Cuban folk hero Silvio Rodriguez, as well as at Rod and Gab's studio in Ixtapa, Mexico. Other players on the record include: drummer John Tempesta (The Cult, Testament, White Zombie), sitarist Anoushka Shankar and drummer Samuel Formell (Los Van Van).

"As a fan: They far and away exceeded my expectations of their live show. They are one of the most engaging acts I've seen in some time. They easily drew in the audience and made them part of the show. The addition of the Cuban band added some amazing layers to what they do with their guitars," - photographer Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez.

And what about shooting an event at the Orpheum? "What an amazing old theater! The sound is fantastic and there isn't a bad seat in the house. The staff was very friendly and I felt very welcome as a photographer there. Great experience all around," said Gonzalez. "The audience was one of the best parts! Every person in that place was completely into the show. Right up to the upper balcony (I traveled the entire theater). They were constantly clapping and dancing. Honestly, one of the most high-energy audiences I've seen in ages. Everyone had a great time and it was a great buzz spilling out from the theater at the end. And it was a really cool crowd too. Very eclectic. Old, young, hipsters, all different races. And it was sold out...

Rodrigo Y Gabriela
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Inspired by Maurice Sendak - Meet Foolish Ida

Inspired: Music at Work

Sounds You Need to Hear

Boston's Sarah Rabdau as an inspired & grown "Ida"

Call it impeccably disappointing timing, but in reflection - perhaps there is no good time for one's literary heroes to die... Boston Singer/Songwriter Sarah Rabdau has created a song cycle and side project, titled Foolish Ida, was inspired by the book "Outside Over There" by Maurice Sendak - who just died this month after suffering a stroke. The work was in process long before Sendak, 83, passed away.

"Sometimes I feel like Maurice Sendak gave birth to my imagination. His books could transform bedrooms into jungles filled with monsters, and open windows into dark worlds filled with goblins and baby snatchers. And why were these images so appealing to young children and adults alike? Because they told the truth. Each one of us has a sadness that cannot be explained, and a darkness that we try and keep at bey, even as children. We all want to run away to a land faraway and save ourselves. Sendak's gift to us all was to let us."

Sarah Rabdau’s new side project Foolish Ida will release the first EP of two on May 19th at Café 939. It should be a special night of music.

Growing up with an artist mother meant that books read to young Sarah Rabdau were often chosen solely for their illustrations. Like many children, Maurice Sendak's books were a staple. He could realistically portray the thoughts of a child growing up in an adult’s world by weaving complex emotions with frighteningly beautiful illustrations. Among his books, Sarah’s favorite was Outside Over There; a story about Ida, tasked with watching over her infant sister while her father is away at sea. One day, while playing music and not paying attention, goblins sneak in through the window, steal Ida's sister away and replace her with an ice changeling. The rest of the book follows Ida as she ventures into Outside Over There in search of her sister. Foolish Ida continues the story, as Rabdau imagines how the events of the book might have forever changed Ida, shaping her decisions and relationships into adulthood.

Rabdau’s vocal delivery, fraught with emotion, intimacy, and fire, is the standout, as in her past musical offerings (Sarah RabDAU & Self-Employed Assassins, Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women). Yet with Foolish Ida, it’s not just her voice that shines, it’s the songs. Written with obvious love not only for Sendak but for Ida, the swirling pianos, punctuating organs, and cascading choirs paint a picture fit for the stormy pages of “Outside Over There.”

Foolish Ida / Tickets Sat 5-19 / Sarah Rabdau / Tw

RIBS - "Kiss" (NEW!!)

Celebrating New Music
by Nick Parker

This week brought us new single "Kiss," a sample of the upcoming "Russian Blood" EP by RIBS (May 22nd release). At RSL we often make a point of not repeating our coverage of any one act, but RIBS are a band unusual enough to warrant subsequent attention, partly because there are very few acts on the Boston scene who sound anything like them, and partly because they have always been so incredibly polished in their recordings. The sound is frequently metal heavy, but always retains a clarity that you might expect reserved for smoother genres.

live photos by Mark Jenko

Until we get hold of the whole thing we can only guess where RIBS will be taking us this time around. You can be sure it won't be to light and sunny climbs though. This is a band that, even in quieter and more reflective moments, remain dark where others flaunt their abilities. What we can see is that "Kiss" is a carefully thought out track, which showcases the kind of production mastery that has become a staple aspect of their work.

The burning question then, is how can we possibly expect RIBS to reproduce this kind of highly polished, highly processed sound live. I'll be very intrigued to see what they do on stage, and I'm a little nervous for them. That said, when I saw them last year at Great Scott, they produced the most elaborate light show I've ever seen by a local band, spanning the entirely venue with neon strip-lights, keyed by pads controlled by drummer Chris Oquist. It had a very disconcerting effect at the time, immersing the audience in the band's set to a degree they were certainly not expecting. Given that commitment to getting under our skin (even when it presumably required huge amounts of extra work by the band) suggests RIBS will do what ever is necessary to give these new songs the refinement they deserve.

NEXT SHOW: Friday 5/25/12

Russian Blood Live CD Release @ TT the Bears

w/ The Suicide Dolls

RIBS
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Brown Bird - Blood of Angels

Off Stage Music Video

New Clips of Favorite Artists

It's been a wild year of being discovered by audiences coast-to-coast for David Lamb (guitar, banjo, percussion, vocals) and Morganeve Swain (fiddle, cello, upright bass, vocals) of BROWN BIRD. Their reputation as one of New England's finest folk artists may no longer be adequate in describing their accomplishments these days.

A scalding set at last year's Newport Folk Festival, a series of howling, inspired, foot-stomping performances at SxSW (including a magical set at The Outlaw Roadshow assembled by RSL and the Counting Crows' Adam Duritz) and they even just recently wrapped string of dates with Yonder Mountain String Band.

There have been interviews, live sessions and jams all along the way. Today as we share this music video, the Providence duo find themselves about to embark on another ambitious endeavor - playing US dates with Duluth's red-hot Trampled By Turtles. Lightning in a bottle? This is it.

About the Video - The session was shot at DPerry Music’s studio in Boston, MA on May 5th. Great stuff here from Big Old Big One who have been thoroughly prolific - both in terms of the number of artists and breadth of stylistic productions they have managed over the last year. Clearly staying busy and working with the very best is something we can respect and praise at RSL. If you don't know Big Old Big One, get friendly and check out their video productions.

BROWN BIRD with TRAMPLED BY TURTLES

5/16 - Lawrence, KS - Granada
5/19 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
5/21 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
5/22 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Music Box
5/25 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ball Room
5/26 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue

photos of Brown Bird in Austin by Jon Shapely

Brown Bird
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