The Field Effect is an interesting band. I think what interests me most about them, as strange as it may sound, is how practical they are. The quartet isn’t dressed up in gimmicks, swayed by image, or even turned on by reverb or lo-fi. While all of those things grab my attention quite regularly, I have a great appreciation for a band that makes songs for people to listen to. And not just for “their” people to listen to, but for every person to listen to. The Field Effect achieves a clean and technical sound, but does so because each… click headline to Read More
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Down With Webster’s concert last Thursday taught me one thing I really should have known all along: I should never judge a book by its cover. Yet I did judge that book (or band) by their cover. Down With Webster, the hit Canadian band that has nothing short of earned their success, played at The Middle East in Cambridge last week as part of their American tour to a crowd of roughly 100 people. My friend Hanna and I were backstage to interview them and later rock out to their concert. Click the link to see our interview: http://youtu.be/HBv8_PbQWcE Before… click headline to Read More
It’s hard not to immediately like an album you can hold in your hands and admire, physically. After picking up Hit the Lights’ newest album, Invicta, in vinyl form, I was immediately in love. The album cover, the size of a brand new vinyl release fans have waited on for three years, it made everything more exciting to have it in my hands a week before the scheduled release date. It might have been the euphoria continually rushing about from their epic and brilliant set at the Paradise in Boston, but even still, this album had been set up to… click headline to Read More
Tall Heights, a local folk duo, comprising of a guitarist and a cellist (both gifted with top-notch vocals) came in to the studio to perform the entirety of their new EP, Rafters, out now on their site, and stuck around for a quick Q & A with The Upbeat Alternative DJs (http://tallheights.bandcamp.com/album/rafters). Tall Heights Interview by wtbu Interview by Natalie Frassica and Sam Gwizd
Tall Heights, a local folk duo, comprising of a guitarist and a cellist (both gifted with top-notch vocals) came in to the studio to perform the entirety of their new EP, Rafters, with The Upbeat Alternative DJs. Listen to it below. Tall Heights Session by wtbu Interview by Natalie Frassica and Sam Gwizd
On Saturday January 14th, the Internet came to the House of Blues in Boston in the form of The Dial Up Tour. YouTube stars LiveLavaLive, MeekaKitty, Nanalew, Olan Rogers, and musical acts Alex Carpenter and Jason Munday took the stage to perform a set of comedy, dancing, and singing. Deanna Archetto and Beth Brodsky got the chance to sit down with Alex and Jason before the show and talk about how they got from behind the video camera to up on stage for a 17-show tour all across the US. You can find more information about Alex and Jason at… click headline to Read More
A lot of people are talking about Drake’s new-released album Take Care. I have to admit when Drake’s first-album Thank Me Later released in 2010 I wasn’t convinced a teen actor from Degrassi could rap. But honestly, there’s a reason why Drake has gotten recognition in the rap scene. Now, the Toronto actor-singer-rapper has just released his sophomore album with cameos by Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Stevie Wonder. The long-awaited album, which leaked online before it was released, is finally here and Drake has come a long way from being “that kid from Degrassi.” In the song Marvin’s… click headline to Read More
By Livia Brown At first glance, the small studio apartment that houses Topshelf Records looks like nothing like an office. The walls they have built themselves sector off both their workspace and living space. The clutter of mail orders lines the hallway; a drum seat doubles as a desk chair. The do-it-yourself ethos emanates throughout the office where the two co-founders of Topshelf Records both work from. It dawns on anyone who walks in here that this is not an office: this is a home not only for its inhabitants, but a home for music. In an industry packed with… click headline to Read More
The local Boston rap juggernaut Retrospek has been challenging listeners to alter their perception of what “Boston hip-hop” really is since their inception in high school. Their sound is unique to them only, and, since their inclusion in the Boston Phoenix’s 2011 rap class, Retrospek has gained more attention from local and nationwide fans. Their electric influenced boom-bap production, provided by Rah Intelligence, is perfectly accented by the intricate and poignant rhymes of the two MCs, A. Spendcash and JuneLyfe. They came by WTBU’s studios to speak about their new found attention, video production, future products, and their influences in… click headline to Read More
Rani and Livia of PB & Jams interviewed Sam Siegler from Rival Schools about 90s bands, the hardcore scene, and Gene Simmons. Check out the transcript below: Rani: Can you state your name, what you do in the band, and if you were a ‘90s band, who would you be? Sam: Ok. My name is Sam Siegler and I play drums in the band Rival Schools. And…uh…’90s…if I was a band who would I be? Rani: Or ‘80s if that’s easier. Or 80s and 90s! Sam: Oh, well the ‘80s opens up a whole other thing! I mean, I don’t… click headline to Read More