>GREETINGS ALL!
*** Here's a Valentine's song I'd like to share with you again.
https://bostonlovesmusic.com/track/2577941/st-valentine-live
*** This February 14th, Valentine's Day, Paramount Pictures releases "One Love", a Bob Marley biopic. When I first saw this ad on TV, I thought, "It's about time!". I can't wait. Hopefully it's good, but usually these picts are meh. I'm still going to try to see it!
*** 2 Special Open Mics for February
Mon. Feb 5th at Porter Belly's, feel welcome to bring your Bob Marley covers to celebrate his birthday on 2/6. On Wed., Feb 14th, Val. day, come to Ward 4 to celebrate Valentines Day, or the lack of, or lean it towards Bob's reggae again, since that's the day the movie is released!
***Here's my quick little Bob Marley story... When I was 17, I severely disobeyed my mother by sneaking out on a school night to drive to Giants Stadium to see the Grateful Dead. I had tried to lie and say I was sleeping over a friend's house, but it didn't work. She grounded me for the whole summer to not see any concerts, AND I had to paint the bottom exterior of our two story home, all summer! Well, when I was painting my penance, I decided to see what this Bob Marley guy was all about. I had a small boom box and purchased the cassette, "Talkin' Blues". I'll tell you now that this is a fantastic album, but at the time, I felt it was a tough listen because I didn't know how to listen to reggae! I had it on repeat, but never got the bug until a few years later when a college friend told me that I needed to focus on the bass. A-ha! As a kid growing up playing guitar, and radio being so guitar focussed, I initially found reggae to be boring... until that moment when I let my ears begin with the bass as the focal point, and then sense all the other instruments surrounding it. Amazing. As well, the Talkin' Blues album is the epitomy of a tight band. It consists of live recordings at a radio station during their early 70's tours. Impressive.
*** Some new open mics have popped up in our area.
Check it out: https://bostonlovesmusic.com/open-mics
Have a great February. Punxsutawney Phil suggests an early spring!!!
~ Tim
>UPCOMING
Lowell Winter Fest, Feb. 16 & 17
Lowell WinterFest returns to Downtown Lowell on February 16th & 17th! This beloved annual event will feature two days of exciting activities and attractions for all ages, including live music, performances, art and, of course, the soup competition. * Bands include: xtine and the intents, the evolutionists, sons lunaris, old rochelle, alligator wine, the funrazors, dis-n-dat, deamon chilli
More information will be posted on the Lowell WinterFest Facebook page, and www.LowellWinterFest.com
>MUSIC BIZ
*** N.E.R.F.A. 2024
Registrations are now open for the conference. November 20-24, 2024 at the beautiful Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland, Maine! Early bird prices through February are $275!
https://tickets.nerfaconference.org/e/nerfa-2024
>RELEASES (from our scene)
Check out these new releases by our Porter Bellys Open Mic'rs.
...from "Heavy Metal Joe"
Artist: Closeline
Song: Rust
About: Boston based Post-Hardcore band with heavy pop-punk influences. We met on Craigslist. Sometimes we're heavy, sometimes we're not. Our first single "Rust" now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4aSBbY8lqK8ho1lAoCxhUe?si=dJcGI5OQRyeqHVSadGAb5Q
...from Melissa Mao
Artist: BAM BOO
Song: In Arms
Release date: February 16 (2024), on all streaming platforms
Pre-save on Spotify: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bamboomelissamao/in-arms
About: "In Arms" is a song that mourns failed friendships—the kind where late-night talks about white picket fences turn into, well, no talks at all. The breadth of distorted guitars and heavy-hearted vocals communicate that some relationships just can't be fixed.
BAM BOO is a new project started by Tim Ye and Melissa Mao
...from Tom Anderson
Punk folk dream song inspired by Keats poem, “The Eve of St. Agnes".
Thanks to Yulia Price on violin, Ethan Mackler on bass, Patrick Gaulin on drums. And thanks to Cynthia White for her cover art (Artwork used with permission ©Cynthia White). Lyrics and music ©2023 Tom Anderson
>UPCOMING SHOWS (from our scene)
| Artist Name | Gig Date | Venue Name | Venue City | Start Time | End Time | Cover Charge Price, or FREE? (ex. $10, or ex. FREE) | Additional info, if needed |
| The Acemakers | 02/03/2024 | Morse Tavern | Natick | 9:00 | 12:00 | Free | |
| The Nick Haddad Trio | 02/08/2024 | Cook Restaurant | Needham | 6:00 | 9:00 | Free | Fantastic food! |
| Digit Parka | 02/12/2024 | The Jungle | Somerville, MA | 7pm | 10 | Free / suggested $5 | Doors at 6pm. With The Slackademics | Digit Parka | Will DePiano |
| The Nick Haddad Trio | 02/15/2024 | Lookout Farm | Natick | 6 pm | 9 pm | No Cover | Family friendly farm with newly renovated Taproom, featuring their own, farm brewed beers and hard ciders that go great with all their dishes, like the popular, Honey Butter Fried Chicken Sandwich, or their mouthwatering BBQ Plates. And don't forget their signature Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie! |
| TIMKO | 02/16/2024 | Tommy Doyle's | Newton, MA | 8:30pm | 11:30pm | FREE | |
| The Nick Haddad Trio | 02/17/2024 | The Red House Restaurant | Cambridge / Harvard Sq | 6:00 | 8:00 | Free | |
| The Nick Haddad Trio | 02/22/2024 | Hearth Pizzeria | Needham | 6:00 | 8:00 | Free | |
| TIMKO | 02/25/2024 | Donohue's | Watertown | 7pm | 10pm | FREE | |
| The Allertones Trio | 02/26/2024 | Waterfall Bar & Grill | Canton | 8 pm | 11 pm | No Cover | Ward 4 regulars Larissa Glass, Thom G. and Scott Feldman |
| The Nick Haddad Trio | 03/02/2024 | Trillium Brewery | Canton | 6 pm | 9 pm | No Cover | Plenty of free parking, super fresh beers and wood fired pizzas in a spacious, super chill venue! |
| The Nick Haddad Trio | 03/22/2024 | Waterfall Bar & Grill | Canton | 8 pm | 11 pm | No Cover | These folks know how to pour a proper Guinness! |
| The Allertones Trio | 03/28/2024 | The Lodge Bar & Grill | Randolph | 8 pm | 11 pm | Free | The wings are killer! |
| The Allertones Trio | 03/30/2024 | The Biltmore Bar & Grill | Newton Upper Falls | 8 pm | 11 pm | Free | The bourbon steak tips are the bomb! |
| Acemakers | 03/30/2024 | J&G Hillside Grill | Stoughton | 8:00 pm | 11:00 pm | Free | |
| The Acemakers | 04/26/2024 | Horse Thieves Tavern | Dedham | 8 pm | 11 pm | Free | Horse Thieves Tavern is "a modern interpretation on a traditional New England tavern – located in historic Dedham Square. It is a place where locals and travelers mix in a warm and inviting atmosphere that serves hearty and healthy regional food and drinks." |
| The Acemakers | 04/27/2024 | The Lodge Bar & Grill | Randolph | 8 pm | 11 pm | Free | The Lodge Bar and Grill is a cozy neighborhood tavern with a large, 34 seat bar with multiple, high top tables, perfect for watching live music. The menu consists of traditional New England fare from fried clams, lobster rolls and mouthwatering steak tips and burgers. Their Buffalo Chicken Mac 'n Cheese is a favorite, not to mention the Sweet and Salty Wings! |
| The Nick Haddad Trio | 05/04/2024 | The Chieftian Pub & Restaurant | Plainville | 9 pm | Midnight | Free | The Chieftain is fashioned after a traditional, Irish Pub and features an outstanding menu of Irish and American dishes. Their seafood plates are the house specialty, along with “Mary’s Irish Bread”. You'll be served an award winning Pint of Guinness and if the stout is not what you’re looking for, there are 16 other draughts, along with a selection of bottle beers, well priced good wine and delicious cocktails. |
| The Nick Haddad Trio | 05/09/2024 | The Villa Restaurant | Wayland | 6 pm | 9 pm | Free | The Villa's "Bar Door Pizza" is a concept based on the long-standing restaurant, The Villa in the village of Cochituate. Bar Door Pizza offers the same square pizza many rave about and their 15" subs will leave most diners with left overs! The topping options are endless and the ingredients are always fresh and made in-house. The Villa has been serving prime, Italian dishes for over 70 years, and their homemade Clam Chowder is always on the menu! |
| Double Bill / The Side Hustle Band and The Acemakers | 05/18/2024 | American Legion - Nonantum / Post 440 | Newton | 8 pm | 11:30 | Free | Multiple pool tables and inexpensive beers and drinks, along with a large dance area. If you've ever been to the Post's Wednesday night, Blues Jam, you know this downstairs room is the perfect place to rock! |
>>> If you have a show in January or beyond, and want it listed in the next email blast, follow the next link to fill out the form.
https://bostonlovesmusic.com/gig-submissions
I welcome any feedback on if this process was easy and if you felt it added value to your gig promotions. Thanks in advance!
>OPEN MICs, (Hosted by TIMKO)
Mondays…
at Porter Belly's Pub, 338 Washington St., Brighton, MA 02135
Wednesdays…
at Ward 4, 277 Auburn St, Newton, MA 02466
Thursdays…
at KofC (Knights of Columbus) 23 W. Foster St., Melrose, Hosted by TIMKO (3rd & 5th), Mark T (1st) ., Johnny O.(2nd & 4th)
For further details and more area open mics, visit: https://bostonlovesmusic.com/open-mics
***ABOUT
This newsletter is intended to connect our evolving Boston area open mic community, including 6 degrees of separation. Compiled by Tim Kochanski, aka, TIMKO . www.timkomusic.com