Moby - Free EP

Who doesn't love Moby? He's had a huge impact on music for well over a decade now, with his song crafting skills and sampling acumen, and has released many great songs (especially from the iconic album "Play") such as "Bodyrock", "Porcelain", and his memorable duet with Gwen Stefani on "South Side". Now he has teamed up with National Geographic to give away a 3-song EP for free. Grab it here, add it to your MP3 player, and enjoy an international superstar's new music for the low low price of taking in a deep breath. Tell us how you like it, and let us know what cool music you've recently discovered, whether it's local, free or both!

Wachusett Brewery - New IPA

Being an IPA lover, I was thrilled to hear today that my hometown microbrewery, Wachusett Brewery, will be introducing a new IPA in April called Green Monsta IPA. It will replace the popular Green Monsta Ale, but to my (and I am sure many future beer lovers') delight it will be nice and hoppy.

Behind the Brew: Green Monsta IPA from Wachusett Brewing on Vimeo.

Read the full article here, and stay tuned for a review soon...

Minor Tweak

We here at Not Lame Minus love music, that should be as plain as the day is long. We also love good beer. If you look back to the early days of this blog, it was about music, beer, travel, and the events that we five (Brian, Gavin, Jay, Rob & me) all shared, revolving around these things. So in the spirit of having more frequent excuses to write here, beer will go back into the rotation.

Look for the usual posts about good local music, free songs, and concerts that we attend together. Scattered throughout will be the occasional news and/or reviews of beers we encounter that we enjoy. And of course, we will continue to update the "Local Musician Dates" section at the top of the page for your live music event convenience! See you at the shows, or at a bar enjoying some great beers.

photo taken 05-17-10 by Ken

Almanac Mountain - Free Live EP

In case you missed your chance to hear Almanac Mountain perform live on Portsmouth, NH's community radio station WSCA 106.1 on Saturday March 5th, you now have a chance to download it free for your listening convenience and enjoyment. Why not grab theses five songs in their raw 'in-the-moment' glory, ready to be loaded onto your mp3 player of choice in several formats, and spruce up your springtime playlist with some quality local music. You won't regret it! And if you get a chance, stop back again and let us know which versions of the songs you prefer (and why): the live takes, or the studio cuts from the marvelous "So Many Seas" album and the "When in Nature" EP.

Local Music Saturdays

Spring has sprung, and it's time for great local musicians to come out of hibernation (or in some cases continue the year-round touring). If you are itching to be out and about on Saturday evening, why not take a drive and listen to some of our favorite artists, most of whom will be performing at this year's Wyman's Pond Music Fest!

• Shirley, MA - 7 pm: Elizabeth Lorrey and The Rafters will be sharing the bill at Shirley Town Hall (on Seth Chandler Road), also featuring Rhode Island's own Becky Chace. With three bands for ten bucks, and a double dose of music from two of this year's WPMF line-up, attending this show is a no-brainer.
• Portsmouth, NH - 8 pm: Almanac Mountain takes the stage at The Blue Mermaid. Hear cuts from his full-length album "So Many Seas", as well as old favorites and new songs. On an additional note, you can also catch Christopher performing traditional Irish music in two places in Seacoast New Hampshire on St. Patrick's Day (Thursday the 17th): mid-day at The Coat of Arms in Portsmouth, and in the evening at Master McGrath's in Seabrook (call ahead for times).

So do yourself a favor and get out and hear some great musical performances, as you enjoy your springtime Saturday night, supporting fantastic local artists, and making some good memories. And as always, please stop back here and tell us how you felt about the event, and to find future dates from the best & brightest of New England's various local music scenes.