The story arc of Boogarins, a psych pop group firmly rooted in the ‘60s, follows a familiar trajectory: two musicians meet in high school, record an album in their parents’ basements and begin to find aboveground success. This story comes with a few international wrinkles, though. More
18 years deep into the life of a band, there will inevitably be challenges. More
After just a few minutes of chatting with the classically trained Canadian singer/violinist Owen Pallett, it quickly becomes clear that the elaborate baroque pop he makes is emblematic of his passionate, creative and still very pragmatic perspective. Also a renowned composer and arranger, Pallett’s time since his last effort, 2010’s “Heartland,” has been more diverse (and busy) than most artist’s careers.
When New Hampshire-born Will Sheff, frontman of veteran folk rockers Okkervil River, returns to Boston to play The Sinclair on Saturday, he’ll once again be performing in a mid-size venue to fans, relatives and old friends. This time, though, he’s returning to New England in support of an album inspired by his hometown, Meriden, New Hampshire, and his youth. “The Silver Gymnasium,” a nostalgic autobiography of a ten year-old Sheff in 1986, continues Okkervil River’s legacy as introspective, niche, career musicians. If Okkervil River don’t ever break mainstream — and if Sheff has a say, they may not want to — this album does put the frontman’s small town on the map. More
While in the depths of a cold Boston winter, some up-and-coming bands want to warm you up with sets of rowdy, beer-soaked garage rock songs. Chicago-based rockers The Orwells, which opens for Arctic Monkeys on Feb. 6 at Agganis Arena (also with Deerhunter, 7:30 p.m., $45, all ages), is all the buzz after its raucous set last month on “Letterman.” They’re not alone, and if a few choice labels have some say, we may be in for another garage rock revival. Raw, fuzzy rock and roll featuring guitars front and center is the sort of music that breeds camaraderie, and it’s not surprising that many labels focus on the rowdy genre of rock. Check out six other garage rock acts coming to Boston soon — and the labels that helped develop them. More
When Harvard-educated ethnomusicologist Danny Mekonnen began an Ethiopian pop-inspired group at 25, he knew that he wanted the music to appeal to all audiences — inclusive of both the do-it-yourself punk scene in Boston and jazz fans alike. Eight years later, after gigging at art spaces in Jamaica Plain, rock clubs in Boston, folk festivals across the US, Bonnaroo, and performances in Ethiopia, Debo Band returns to its roots. The 11-piece band begins a four-week residency at Cambridge’s Lizard Lounge on Thursday night to iron out material for a follow-up to its NPR-acclaimed, self-titled 2012 debut. More
