RICH AND LAYERED: The Saints shine on Kindermusik.
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When Tom Thumb, aka Andy Arch, last put a record out, it was a solo acoustic outing, bedroom folk music, one guitar and one voice. I’m not sure what happened between then and now — I guess Tom made some musical acquaintances — but his new album, Kindermusik EP — is a full-on band effort and a really good one at that. Surrounded on all sides by bassist Josh Goldman, drummer Justin Kehoe, and singer/keyboarder Molly Seamans, Arch is totally comfortable in a band context. His sound, still quiet but with an innocent, rootsy growl, recalls bands such as American Music Club, Wilco, the Saddle Creek stable, and on occasion Yo La Tengo. That is, it’s plainly indie rock with a hefty standard of quality. Goldman’s drums are beautifully tracked and captured, as is Seaman’s electric piano. The songs, rich and layered, resonate with depth and texture without sounding unnatural or too polished. “Growing Boy” opens the album, and it holds all the charming characteristics Mr. Thumb and the Latter Day Saints can muster: delicate, passionate vocals, strong lyrics, peaceable melodies, and periodic rockin’ interludes. You can gleam deep down, perhaps, that Arch still longs to be a quizzical ghost-cantor a la Palace’s Will Oldham, and he’d actually get close if his songs weren’t so damned complete. “Dark Rooms” rumbles passively, thanks to Goldman’s shuffle and Arch’s pretty, arpeggiated guitar motif. Ditto for “ ’78” and the sweetly harmonized “Preach.” By the time you get to the closer, a cover of Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” some 27 minutes and seven tracks in, you realize you’ve just listened to a really special collection of songs.
Recorded and mixed in two days at the Sea Road Church in Kennebunk, Maine, and mastered impeccably by Chris Cline, Kindermusik EP is a highlight of the year and a must for fans of indie rock. Catch ’em before their success catches you by surprise. You can check out some songs at tomthumbmusic.com, and I’ll keep you apprised of local gigs.
In the meantime, if you’re feeling inspired you can see the band Monday night at the Red Door in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with Ponies in the Surf and Hans York. (Call 603.373.6827.) The record is out this week on Three Ring Records of San Francisco.
Casting call!
The local music folks at 75orless have temporarily put aside their live promotions and decided to focus their energies on a CD compilation. Scheduled for release sometime this summer, the label is looking to involve as many local bands as possible. They’ll press a bunch of copies, give some to the bands, and send the rest out as promos to magazines, Websites, and music blogs. They say it’s a great way to get some super-cheap exposure and we’d have to agree. All copies will be hand-designed, silk-screened, and numbered. It's free to participate and 20 bands will be selected to contribute one track each. All genres are welcome and everyone retains the rights to their music, no questions asked. All 75orLess asks is that your song was recorded and/or released in 2006. Emailinfo@75orless for moredetails. When your questions are answered, send all submissions to the organization: ATTN: SUMMER COMP, 23 Laurel Lane, Warren, RI 02885.
Wandering eye
You can catch DIANE BLUE & THE STELLAR DWELLERS at the Hi Hat, Davol Square, Providence, on the first and third Thursday of each month. Diane’s band — Chris Stovall Brown on guitar, Steve Burke on keys, Thom Enright on bass, Vinny Pagano on drums, and Klem on saxophone — really cooks and the venue’s just right for great blues and jazzy R&B. The music starts at 8 pm and runs till midnight and there’s no cover. Call 401.453.6500.
Stone Soup is already coming down to its big season finale. The next few weeks should be dandies. This Saturday it’s the inimitable SI KAHN, one of the great topical songwriters of our time and hysterical to boot. BILL HARLEY and ELLIS PAUL appear on May 20 and 27, respectively. Make it a point to get to the Soup in Pawtucket before they turn out the lights for the season. Call 401.457.7147.
On Friday at the Rocky Point Pub in Warwick, it’s modern rockers INTO OBLIVION. If you wanna stay there overnight you can catch more alt-rock with EMPTY BOTTLE on Saturday. Call 401.739.9800. Also on Saturday, you can eyeball a huge punk rawk show at Cats in Pawtucket. Beginning at 9 pm and costing only $5, you can hear THE LEFTOVERS, STERNS ’76, ENGINE ROOM, MUSTACHE RIDE, THE DOOSH BAGS, and THE GONERS. If you don’t like the whole three-chord thing, then FORTUNE, local “classic” rockers, are at Ri Ra in Providence on Saturday from 10 to 2 am. They’ll even play a traditional Irish song or two if you freebird nicely. Down south on that very same night, you can take in a terrific singer-songwriter double bill featuring JOANNE LURGIO and BECKY CHACE at the Courthouse Center for the Arts in West Kingston starting at 8 pm. [You didn’t hear it from me, but it’s BYOB.] Traversing the state — not sure if you can do it in time to catch both shows — but Chan’s presents a local favorite with a regional following: STEFAN COUTURE AND THE CAMPFIRE ORCHESTRA. Shows start at 8 and 10 pm. Admission is $10 for the first, $7 for the second, and $13 for both. Call 401.765.1900.
Email the author
Bob Gulla:big.daddy1@cox.net
