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CHRIS CONTI

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Interview: The Wippets

The Wippets got a fever, and the only prescription is: More washboard!
One chance encounter during a trip to New Orleans back in 2003 illuminated the bulb for the Wippets' Matt Martin and Tony Depoto, two East Bay musicians seeking inspiration during the annual Jazzfest.

By: CHRIS CONTI | August 18, 2010

Craft service

Big Rush on the grind
The business model adopted by Pawtucket-via-Albany rapper Big Rush is simple: paying bills-via-rhyme skills.

By: CHRIS CONTI | August 11, 2010

Uninformed brilliance

Bill Burr earns raves for his rants
July 29, 9:40 am ET. Acclaimed standup comedian Bill Burr is running late for our scheduled half-hour phone interview, where we plan on talking up his upcoming appearance in Newport, along with any other topic lobbed at the red-headed, "shockingly Caucasian" pride of nearby Canton, Massachusetts.

By: CHRIS CONTI | August 14, 2010

Three the hard way

MakeupBreakup: Scents , drugs, and rock'n'roll
MakeupBreakup co-founders Michael Lamantia Jr. and Alexander Laorenza (aka Zan) have no delusions of rock 'n' roll grandeur; in fact, they genuinely couldn't care less what you or I or anyone else thinks about their music.

By: CHRIS CONTI | August 10, 2010

Turning it up

The Coming Weak mean it, man
It's hard to believe the Coming Weak have been in business for only three years, now considered alt-rock veterans around these parts and known for their consistently precise and energetic live set.

By: CHRIS CONTI | July 27, 2010

Back to the scuzz-rock future

Ming Toro is straight outta the Bucket
The self-titled EP debut from Pawtucket-based quintet Ming Toro (Bucket Republic/75orLess Records) will take a few dozen spins to settle in (or better yet, burrow), but when it does — and it will — prepare for a mighty regeneration of scuzzed-out post-punk.

By: CHRIS CONTI | July 21, 2010

Block-rocking beats

Get ready for Providence SoundSession ’10
The sweltering summer of 2010 (quit crying — summer was nonexistent last year) is about to get even hotter with the return of the capital city’s biggest bash.

By: CHRIS CONTI | July 14, 2010

Life in the fast, loud, and hard lane

The Jesse Minute shut up and play
What a year thus far for Providence-based quintet the Jesse Minute.

By: CHRIS CONTI | July 07, 2010

White trash heroes

Arab on Radar are back on the attack
It is official — iconic PVD noisemongers Arab on Radar are back on the grid and about to end their eight-year hiatus with a nationwide reunion tour beginning this weekend in Easthampton, Massachusetts, followed by a stop at AS220 on July 3.

By: CHRIS CONTI | June 30, 2010

The Devil makes them do it

Digging deep with the Benedictions
"Americana, on the rocks" is the official tagline for the Benedictions, steady cooking since forming just 16 months ago (more on that in a minute), led by a familiar name on the folk circuit in G.W. Mercure.

By: CHRIS CONTI | June 24, 2010

'Fun guy rap'

Long overdue Romen Rok debut worth the wait? Absolutely !
I emailed Edgewood-bred lyricist Romen Rok last week following the release of his highly-anticipated full-length platter Absolutely ! and asked just how he would describe his brand of hip-hop to the casual listener: “Fun guy rap” was the response.

By: CHRIS CONTI | June 16, 2010

Steady business

Poorly Drawn People's Reason and Falside remain in motion
"Poorly Drawn People has some new members, and a new way of doing biz."

By: CHRIS CONTI | June 02, 2010

Welcome to Chateau Rex

A new day rising for Coma Coma
75orLess Records strikes again with another stoner-rock scorcher in Chateau Rex , courtesy of Coma Coma.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 26, 2010

Poetic chaos

A Troop of Echoes spend Days In Automation
The melodic noise collective known as A Troop of Echoes will unveil their full-length debut Days In Automation next weekend at AS220, hosting their album release party alongside an impressive gathering of local support.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 19, 2010

Living in the Now

Shryne’s ‘honest but polished’ pop-rock
There’s no denying the ongoing presence of what we’ll call melodic pop acts here in Rhode Island, bands comprised of guys in their mid-20s with a serious knack for penning sugary-sweet hooks and harmonies.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 12, 2010

Beats, rhymes, and Li(f)e

Sage Francis balances despair and hope on new album
Cult-status indie wordsmith Sage Francis digs deep and blows the black mold off the diary on Li(f)e (Anti-), while enlisting an impressive roster of indie-rock songwriters.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 05, 2010

Band of brothers

It’s a Bash! tells the Neutral Nation story
Acclaimed local director David Bettencourt immortalizes Providence-via-Attleboro punk pioneers Neutral Nation in his latest documentary, It’s a Bash! .

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 28, 2010

Monster math

Nature/Nurture return with EP002
New Bedford-based instrumental specialists Nature/Nurture strike back with a new release and an added guitarist, bolstering their complex yet concise angular jams while continuing the N/N tradition of composing monster math rock by-the-numbers — literally.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 21, 2010

The final four

The Wandas hit the ground running at the ’BRU Rock Hunt
From Yiddish speed-rhymes to Latin funk, the 2010 Rock Hunt finals once again delivered a musically diverse and thoroughly-entertaining show at Lupo’s last Saturday.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 14, 2010

Breakfast of champions

Slipping into Surprise Me Mr. Davis
The Slip have been a fixture on the jam band scene for 15 years. Over the past six years, the Slip’s core members — bassist Marc Friedman, guitarist Brad Barr, and his brother Andrew behind the kit — along with pianist Marco Benevento and singer/songwriter Nathan Moore occasionally whip up a little something on the side they like to call Surprise Me Mr. Davis.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 08, 2010

Hello, we’re Johnny Cash

Stacked all-star tribute/benefit at the RISD Auditorium
The Nave Gallery in Somerville kicks off its month-long salute to the Man in Black next week.

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 31, 2010

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