In an effort to bring this blog to as many people as possible, we'll now be cross-publishing on both Local Band Review and WailingCity each week. For those of you who are new readers, I'll be highlighting some of my picks each week. Hopefully people will find the information useful and will be motivated to get out to see some shows, which is the blog's reason for existence in the first place.....
On Friday night, Daphne Lee Martin will be playing at 33 Golden Street in New London, doing her first show in the area since setting out on tour to support her new album Frost. After a month on the road, this will be a homecoming celebration, and Daphne will have her full band as well as some special guests. I'm sure Frost will be available to purchase at the show too. Also on the bill will be The SmokeyBarrel Band, from Newport, and Amy McCarley, from Huntsville, Alabama. Amy recorded her latest album, Jet Engines, in the former home of country legend Jim Reeves in Madison, TN. It was recorded live with a handful of overdubs, and although it hasn't been released yet, it is available for pre-order on her website. The Smokey Barrel Band lists their musical influences as the Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead, Jack White, the Band, Neil Young, and the Rolling Stones, and it looks like they are getting ready to release their first single. Friday's weather forecast is for “ice pellets” (!), believe it or not, but after what we've already been through this winter, it'll probably be no big deal. Think spring! The show starts at 9 pm and cover is $5.
Also on Friday night, local roots/folk/rock quartet Dogbite will be appearing at Steak Loft in Mystic. Dogbite has a busy couple of months ahead, as they are playing a lot of shows in the next 8 weeks. That's OK, because these guys also have a lot of material, so you never know what to expect. They play a wide variety of styles and even sing in three different languages. Hugh Birdsall (guitar and vocals), Micky Williston (guitar and vocals), Jim Fitzgerald (upright bass), and Kevin Salley (drums and vocals) released their first album Ruff Mix ten years ago, with the follow-up, Joyride, coming out in 2009. I think I heard talk of them recording new material, so hopefully it won't be too much longer before we have a new one to listen to. The band will play from 7-10 pm and there is no cover.
On Saturday night, Fatal Film, the Recordettes, and The Gallows Cadence will all be playing at the Oasis Pub in New London. Fatal Film recently released a new album, produced by Jason Banta, called simply Fatal Film. The album has already received accolades, including a rave review by Jack Rabid in The Big Takeover (you can read it on the band's website). Fatal Film has been traveling around between New York and Boston regularly, and they also taped a Live Lunch Break show for the Day newspaper a couple of weeks ago. I'm thinking you will definitely want to pick up a copy of the CD for yourself if you haven't already done so. Saturday's show will be the debut performance of the Gallows Cadence, whose members are vocalist/guitarist Dayne Duranti, bassist Thomas Johnson, drummer Peter Egner, and guitarist Jason Gilbert. They describe their sound as “soulful punk rock”. Brooklyn garage/pop band the Recordettes have been to New London before, about 5 months ago, when they played 33 Golden with the Lost Riots, Fatal Film, and John Paul Keith and the One Four Fives. That was a great show, and I bet this one will be too. Order of bands looks to be the Gallows Cadence first and Fatal Film last, but you'll want to see them all anyway. Cover is $5 and shows at the Oasis usually start after 10 pm.