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CHRIS CONTI

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Local flavor

Andrew Martin serves up fresh Ocean State Sampler
Local journalist and acclaimed hip-hop scribe Andrew Martin has corralled a flavorful roster of Rhody-based rap talent on the Ocean State Sampler , 10 exclusive tracks available for free download.

By: CHRIS CONTI | December 30, 2009

Local heroes, ’09 edition

From Suicide Bill & the Liquors to Roz Raskin & the Rice Cakes
The Rhode Island music community flourished in 2009, with new full-lengths from the Coming Weak, California Smile, and the pride of Cranston West and official big-leaguers Monty Are I, who released Break Through the Silence in September.

By: CHRIS CONTI | December 22, 2009

Pouring it on

Six Star General’s raucous Take Your Teeth Out
Like most of us around here, 75orLess Records founder and Six Star General frontman Mark "Slick" MacDougall would like to put 2009 to bed.

By: CHRIS CONTI | December 16, 2009

Pop music for picky people

Stalemate’s eclectic ways
Lincoln-based quartet Stalemate host their CD release party at the Blackstone on December 23 in honor of their sophomore effort, We Will Carry You Out to Sea .

By: CHRIS CONTI | December 09, 2009

High tide

Thrashing surf-rock from Cliffs & Bangers
Newport’s Cliffs & Bangers bring their lightning-rod brand of surf-rock to the 201 this weekend behind their spring ’09 release Short Tracks No Brakes , and the downtown crowd better be prepared for some hair-flailing headbanging.

By: CHRIS CONTI | December 02, 2009

Brand new funk

Broken Ground launch their Sneak Attack
Evan Hanson and Brendon Bjorness-Murano, better known as lyricist 90Sevan and beatminer/composer Low B, teamed up just seven months ago to form Broken Ground.

By: CHRIS CONTI | November 24, 2009

From kidneys to kittens

Killdevils frontman Jacob Haller’s Mistaken Identity
The Killdevils have been kicking around the area to much acclaim over the past six years.

By: CHRIS CONTI | November 18, 2009

Thinking person’s metal

The Empire Shall Fall rise up on Awaken
Jerky’s Bar continues its hot streak of delivering quality live acts spanning all genres, and next weekend the hardcore metalheads will descend upon Richmond Street for a fistful of metalcore bands, including the much-anticipated return of former Killswitch Engage/Seemless frontman Jesse Leach.

By: CHRIS CONTI | November 12, 2009

Monsters of rock

Heavenly hardness from Chinese Stars and Six Finger Satellite
Full-lengths from local rock icons Six Finger Satellite and the Chinese Stars provide a decimating double-dose of kinetic madness.

By: CHRIS CONTI | November 10, 2009

Running with the Devil

Making a connection with Brown Bird
The surge of locally-harvested folk/roots/Americana acts flourishing in Rhode Island continues.

By: CHRIS CONTI | October 29, 2009

Antonio’s Trattoria

Comforting elegance
The Knightsville section of Cranston is an undeniable haven for Italian home-cooking, where legendary portions (Marchetti's), chic hotspots (Caffe Itri and L'Osteria), and marquee chef/owners (Tony Papa's) have successfully rubbed elbows along a suburban Cranston intersection. But don't forget the little guy on the corner -- Antonio's Trattoria.

By: CHRIS CONTI | October 21, 2009

Newport’s rock royalty

The diePods — straight outta the City by the Sea
If 75orLess Records CEO (and Six Star General bassist) Mark MacDougall decided to host an East Bay Desert Sessions, the diePods would be the 3 am headliner.

By: CHRIS CONTI | October 21, 2009

Real Guitar Heroes

Zing go the strings at the Colonel’s Super Dooper Guitar Party
Johnny "The Colonel" Maguire's legacy is carved in stone around these parts, from his shredding with the Amazing Royal Crowns to his Lucky Diamonds and, most recently, a re-gathering of his beloved Cobra-Matics crew.

By: CHRIS CONTI | October 13, 2009

Lights, camera, action rock!

Monty Are I — from Cranston to Island/Def Jam
Keep the Cristal on ice until further notice from Steve Aiello, lead singer/guitarist for Monty Are I, who just released their "official" major label debut, Break Through the Silence on Island/Def Jam.

By: CHRIS CONTI | October 07, 2009

On the town with ProTown

Hip-hop heads fill the Bucket
Last Friday, a hip-hop showcase courtesy of upstart label ProTown Records, founded by Provy rap vets Romen Rok and DJ Al Bums (among others), invaded the Grant Building in Pawtucket, and the showcase was a rousing success.

By: CHRIS CONTI | September 29, 2009

Doing what comes naturally

Tallahassee make timeless old town music on Wolfe Moon
Tallahassee make timeless old town music on Wolfe Moon

By: CHRIS CONTI | September 22, 2009

Whiskey. Beer. Rock 'n' roll!

Girl Haggard and Hank Sinatra Jr. join forces and raise hell
Country-fried rawk quartet Girl Haggard have already achieved the goals founder Aaron Jaehnig drafted up when the bigman bassist and bartender-about-town formed the band with Hendersonville, Tennessee native Mandy Allan back in January.

By: CHRIS CONTI | September 15, 2009

Review: California Smile | Roof Came Off House

California Smile's magnificent controlled chaos
"There isn't any presupposed concept to our music," says California Smile keyboardist/piano man Victor Mansella while promoting the band's upcoming sophomore release Roof Came Off House (Limbus Infantus). "The music is intended to take the listener on his or her own adventure."

By: CHRIS CONTI | September 08, 2009

In the red

SEXCoffee amp it up on The Morning After
A handful of Phoenix readers questioned the parameters of what exactly defined a "Breakthrough Act" in our recent Best Music Poll, decided in dominant fashion by alt-rock quartet SEXCoffee. What exactly constitutes a band playing together for six years as finally "breaking through?" Well, it isn't titled "Best "New" Act," if that helps.

By: CHRIS CONTI | September 02, 2009

Up for the challenge

Rhythmafia: a new breed of mashup
Rhythmafia have been on the scene for about four years, and in that relatively short time the Providence natives — Rob Cinami (drums and backup vox), Jamie Kearns (guitar), Zack Chagnon (bass), and frontman Sam Montes — have successfully delivered a blatantly unique sound through the course of three albums.

By: CHRIS CONTI | August 25, 2009

Special delivery

The subtle genius of Norm MacDonald
For the last two decades, comedian and SNL alum Norm MacDonald has been firing off on pop culture and sharing life observations with his disarming deadpan delivery and signature subtleties through a stoner Canadian accent and nasal drawl.

By: CHRIS CONTI | August 19, 2009

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