Joey Batts' vehicle for community good is returning for its EIGHTH (!!!) year to New London and the Oasis Pub. Our man, N.M.E. the Illest has helped curate a killer crew from the local scene and beyond to help raise awareness, funds & donations for the most needy people of Connecticut.
Expect sets from: Meech, Joey Batts, James Joyce 'The Squatch' & White Cheddar, Trev Michaud, Stryfe & N.M.E. the Illest, Stars and Beyond, Muggsy, Suave Ski, and Kamoflauge
Interview By Jeffrey Thunders
Stephanie, how the hell are you?
Considering the current state of affairs in the nation and around the world -- some days are heavy but in my own universe things are going pretty well.
Sonorous Rising has quickly become one of the hottest bands in the state, in these uncertain times. What do you attribute your rise in popularity to?
There seems to be a recurring theme to the feedback we receive after shows. Unique and unsuspecting are constant descriptors. It’s a combination of the instruments used as well as the sounds within the music. Often you find a guitarist playing lead in a band whereas with us Effa takes that role with this wild electric piano and then I come out with my obscure electric solid body ukulele with a metal zone pedal cranked through a Marshall, along with my brutal vocal stylings and people get very intrigued. Then they start paying attention to our drum and bass combo. Orlando can wail on that bass, always paying attention for the right places to emphasize and compliment what the other instruments are playing. Then our drummer, who happens to be the nephew of New London’s Liz Larson of The Liz Larsons, is a treat all by himself. Sometimes I don’t think he knows how talented he really is but the audience sure does. Then our sound is hard to pinpoint which others tell us is refreshing, often. We are coming from so many musical influences & backgrounds and let our music come out naturally, never trying to mimic a sound, which is proving to be a fruitful method for Sonorous Rising.
Ben and Nancy of the Rivergods will be joined by Steve Elci!
Passion! Harmonies! Singer songwriters! The Rivergods are an original Americana/roots act based in southeastern CT that has played its own original heartfelt harmony-rich music throughout southern New England since 1997. The Rivergods are fronted by husband and wife songwriters Ben and Nancy Parent, whose lush harmonies and unique, individual songwriting styles anchor the band. The Rivergods perform both acoustically as a duo, and as a full band. The Rivergods have released seven albums since 2000. Nancy has also released a solo album of her own material, “Vision of Angels.” For this show, Nancy and Ben will focus primarily on material they have written over the past two years during the pandemic, with some older favorites sprinkled in. Joining them will be longtime friend, collaborator and occasional songwriting partner Steve Elci on percussion and backing vocals.
Covid precautions: Proof of vaccination (or a recent test) and masks are required, and, sadly, our famous refreshments will not be served. Bring a water bottle!
Michael Slyne has been involved with a number of local bands over the years -- from the loud and heavy fuzz of Snow Orphan and Ferocious Fucking Teeth -- to the Americana/psychedelic rock of Brian & the White Birds -- and currently leads the ever-evolving stylings of Slyne & the Family Stoned, in addition to improvising solo or with friends. Slyne -- armed with a guitar, effect pedals and a 4-track tape machine -- creates a collage of eccentric sounds that blend punk, noise and drone... building an atmospheric dissonance that truly takes you on a journey and surely showcases his musical and artistic ingenuity.
From Slyne's Bandcamp page: "Slyne leads a group of punks and freaks and lovers and misfits and drifters and soul searchers and jazz cats and pseudo pop queens and tone benders - they try and make a glorious racket"
I recently asked Slyne some questions about his creative process, effects and gear, recordings -- and what he's got coming up. Check out the interview and make sure you get to Oasis this Saturday to catch Slyne & the Family Stoned! More on that below! --Meghan
