Friday, March 26, 2010

Insect Guide - Free EP

UK shoegaze/experimental musicians Insect Guide are giving away their latest EP "Dark Days & Nights" for free! Or if you believe in supporting talented small-label artists, after you download it, you can pay whatever amount you think is fair for this interesting 3-song offering. Follow this link for some cool new music, in any number of listening formats, and enjoy. And check out their site for UK tour dates and other info.

And check out their free cover of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" - A unique take on a massive Top-40 hit, with dark undertones and a Cure-like vibe. ♫

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Angels & Airwaves - Free Album

I have both of the previous albums by this side project of Blink-182's Tom DeLonge, and I played the hell out of them. I can't believe Angels & Airwaves are offering their new full-lengther "Love" as a "pay only if you want" mp3 download! If you enjoy Mr. DeLonge's voice, and feel-good rock music, or just want to be taken back to the fun days when Blink-182 ruled the airwaves (but with a slightly more mature & sophisticated sound), I highly recommend "Love". So download it for free, pay whatever you feel is a fair price, and check out the band's 2010 tour dates. ♫

In-Blog Play:

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Volcano Playground - Free EP

If you are looking for some cool new music, check out Volcano Playground. And if you like their sound, you can get their 5-song EP "Waiting" for free!

Go here to find the songs and the album artwork. You don't need to be a member of the MediaFire site to download the songs, and it's a snap to transfer them to your MP3 player once you're done.

Tell us whether you like Volcano Playground, and let us know what new music you've recently come across that you think we might like too. ♫

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Christopher Anthony Cote - Album Release

Today our old pal Christopher Anthony Cote (of The Johnnies and other fame) has released 2 albums of his fantastic early (2004-2007) recordings.

From his MySpace bio: "Award winning composer Christopher Anthony Cote began his career in music as a musical theatre composer. After several years as resident composer and music director for Seacoast Repertory Theatre's youth stage, he left to start his own company, Dinosaur In A Dish Youth Theatre, with his girlfriend, playwright Adi Rule. After eight years, the small but successful company went out of business after Christopher & Adi's long relationship ended. In the wake all this, he began writing introspective pop songs, which began a gradual move way from stage music, to cultivating a deeper understanding of popular song. Christopher was a believer in the artistic potential of musical theatre, and now focuses his creative energy on contemporary pop. As might be expected, his songs, both musically and lyrically, have a theatrical and classical influence, but with a restraint that is often lacking in most contemporary musical theatre performance. He is currently working on recording his debut full-length album, to be issued on his private label Hippo Posthumous Records."

We have heard Christopher play these songs live many times over the years, in venues both public and private, and think that many of you would enjoy them as well.

Here are links to the download pages for each album:
So if you love local music, supporting the arts, or the man himself, rush on over and get Christopher's music while it's hot off the digital presses! And check out his current stuff on his page.

And see him live on St Patrick's Day at The Coat of Arms in Portsmouth, NH from 12:30 - 3pm and Master McGrath's in Seabrook, NH from 5 - 10 pm!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Streamlining

There is going to be a change to how we do business around here at Not Lame Minus.

While we've enjoyed providing links to nationwide family fun, as well as relating our travel tales, nights on the town, and other musings & rambles about things like beer & coffee, the main focus has always been music. So starting today, Not Lame Minus will focus on being a music blog.

Rob and Jay both have their own blogs, Christopher has relinquished his music review guest spot here to focus more on his own group and solo endeavors (and with much success!), and Brian does the bulk of his writing about the Boston Bruins & movies on his Facebook page. I also have been keeping an individual blog for both music and non-music related stuff, so with all of that mayhem going on, Not Lame Minus will be our group place to promote and talk about the music we love.

The local music listings section will continue with up to the minute live music dates, because I truly believe in doing what I can to assist in the success of the music I love, even if it is merely listing and pointing out the times & places where others can experience it. Also in the mix you will find the occasional concert we will be attending by more familiar acts. We will continue to feature and talk about (and provide links to) our friends who perform music, to make it easy for you to 'find the good stuff'. And of course, we will recap our experiences whenever we attend a show or festival.

Thanks for the occasional drop-in, and we hope you approve of the spring cleaning that has hopefully resulted in a less scattered and more satisfying destination for some light reading and musical nudges.

In-Blog Play:

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Cambridge & Somerville Nights

Last night all five (Brian, Gavin, Jay, Rob and I) Not Lame Minus guys got together in the Boston area for dinner and a few beers...

I hopped in my car at 4:35, sped north up 495, banged a right onto Route 2 East, and pulled into Alewife around 5:30. Then, one quick Charlie Card charge-up & a short Red Line ride to Harvard Square found me on a bar stool next to Jay at John Harvard's Brewhouse.

I had one of their house Pale Ales (which is always good), and then on Jay's recommendation I tried the cask conditioned session ale they were featuring. A session ale is one that has a lower alcohol content so as to be fully experienced and enjoyed over a leisurely evening. This particular beer tasted like an exotic chocolate dessert, and even had a pleasant aftertaste, but it didn't quite fit in how an ale that is being imbibed during a night out with the guys should, so I only drank half of it. If I could remember the name of it, I'd love to have it down at the lake sometime.

Gavin arrived soon after, and as we caught up on things (I hadn't seen him since our group trip to Oak Bluffs last April with Brian) I happily returned to the house ale. A bit later Brian & Rob walked in after their trip down from New Hampshire seacoast, the five of us had one beer as a group, and then Jay headed home. The rest of us moved to a table and had dinner. Our waitress was a tiny elfin blonde with a big smile. I was instantly smitten (it's times like these when I wish I still lived in Boston). She was very friendly, and I couldn't stop smiling whenever she was around. What a fine enhancement to the convivial atmosphere! Anyway, I had the always excellent fish and chips with another ale, and the four of us fell into a comfortable eat & gab session, talking mostly about our jobs (or lack thereof), the economy, and the possibility of renting a house for a week this summer on either Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. It was great to just hang out like that for the first time in ages, with no time constrictions.

Then it was off to nearby Tommy Doyle's for another beer. We walked in, headed up to our relatively familiar haunt on the top floor (The Loft), but it was mostly a dinner crowd, so we headed down to the basement. The experience in this part of the bar was mixed: We scored a central circular booth and all slid in, and got served a round by a spunky wavy-haired brunette. I had a Harpoon IPA, but after the superior John Harvard Pale Ale, it seemed rather low-quality, which is odd, because I usually love that particular beer. The beer may have been lacking, but the view from our table was spectacular - a group of four thin yet curvy girls who had a hypnotic tendency to do a lot of animated posing and stretching as they talked to their goofy male companions. However the place was far too loud to truly enjoy the atmosphere, so we left after that one round. Gavin bid us good evening and headed home, while Rob & I hiked with Brian to the latter's car for a quick ride over to Davis Square.

We went right to Joshua Tree, a bright airy bar with many televisions showing sports and a very attractive bartending staff. We got seats at the door side of the bar, and alternated between rounds of beer and water (reflecting the ambivalence we felt about how long to continue the evening at that point). Our friend Erik popped in with a couple of friends after a bit (him having called me while we were in the car to see where I was in the city), and he split his time between us and his chums. He must have been in heaven (while we were all in hell): it was 80's Night in the dj booth... *UGH* The last thing I want to do while hanging in a bar in 2010 with friends, is hear the soundtrack of my junior high years. That being said, there were a lot of the better songs of the era, and Brian & I each got to observe and interact with our personal favorite bartenders from a previous visit. Alas gentlemen, no matter how intriguing, I think a "City Duck" is not allowed... (haha).

Anyway, after a last rally it was off to Redbones. We made a beeline for downstairs, and *shock of shocks* there were empty seats at the bar! I have been going there for nearly fifteen years, and this was only the 2nd time I'd been able to actually sit at the bar and interact with one of their cute bartenders. They had the delicious Opa Opa IPA on tap, so I ended the drinking portion of the evening with one of those fine ales and a mild flirtation with the brown curly haired bartender (a sexy 30-something with curves & a smile that matched her engaging personality). Finally, just before 1 am there was one last glass of ice water all around before we left, and then after we piled into his car again, Brian was nice enough to drop me at Alewife, saving me a tedious T ride before my long drive home. A fine ending to a laid-back yet kick-ass night with all of the Not Lame Minus crew!

Monday, March 1, 2010

The Gathering...


Friday will be the first 2010 gathering
of all five Not Lame Minus members!

Brian, Rob, Jay, Gavin & I are going to meet in Boston (or more accurately, Cambridge) for dinner, beer, catching up, and whatever minor mayhem a handful of buddies care to get into on a Friday night in The Big City. If you are in the neighborhood and care to raise a glass with us, or want to cash in a wooden nickel (to make that glass even lighter - haha), give us a call that night, and we'll tell you where we are at any given moment!

Recap of the revels to follow on Saturday...