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CHRIS CONTI

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Sound Session 2012 hits the streets

Rocking the block
The block is hot (like, stifling hot) and about to get hotter as the capital city's grandest music and dance festival — the eighth annual Sound Session — once again descends upon Downcity.

By: CHRIS CONTI | July 11, 2012

One-on-one with the master of the riff

Breaking Burr
Bill Burr is a busy man. The New England native now resides in Los Angeles, so I'm hoping he's on the East Coast when I'm instructed to call promptly at 9 am EST for a 30-minute phoner to promote his return to the Newport Yachting Center (limited tix still available at newportcomedy.com).

By: CHRIS CONTI | July 10, 2012

Skinny Millionaires back on the prowl with Easy Tiger

Full circle
When talking up Lil Rhody's indie-folk-Americana-blues explosion, be sure to toss the Skinny Millionaires in that conversation.

By: CHRIS CONTI | July 03, 2012

Doomsday Student are what they are

Apocalypse now
Drummer Craig Kureck, guitarists Steve Mattos and Paul Vieira, and vocalist Eric Paul comprise Doomsday Student, though the Heaven's Gate-inspired promo pic (with the quartet all sporting orange Pumas in place of the white Nike Cortez) prohibits visual identity.

By: CHRIS CONTI | June 27, 2012

William Moretti and his Denver Boot work moody magic

Close to the heart
Best bet of the week on the live circuit goes down on Saturday when the Denver Boot headlines a CD release party for their debut, 6 to 9, 7 . . . 12 .

By: CHRIS CONTI | June 19, 2012

Jonah Tolchin’s Criminal Man is a product of the environment

Straight outta Shannock
As if there was any question regarding the impassioned subject matter found on Jonah Tolchin's recent full-length debut Criminal Man , the 19-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist decidedly sets me straight during our interview earlier this week.

By: CHRIS CONTI | June 05, 2012

Jon Hope goes with the flow on Work In Progress

Poetry in motion
"It's all about expanding the brand for me in this day and age," says expert Rhody lyricist Jon Hope while recalling his multimedia promotional endeavors since we last caught up.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 29, 2012

Fairhaven makes it epic on Plan A

From Cumberland to Cali with love
I never imagined Fairhaven's arena-sized piano-pop rock sound could get any more "mature and polished" than the swooning anthems on their 2010 debut Origins , but that's how Fairhaven lead singer Alan Connell described the new album, Plan A , when he sent a copy my way a few weeks back. He wasn't kidding.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 22, 2012

Welcome back, Broadcaster

Here they go again
Local indie rock greats Broadcaster may have finally come out from under the proverbial (and literal) black cloud that followed them around for most of last year.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 15, 2012

Raindance are ready to rage

Blood makes noise
Post-punk quintet Raindance returns with a new EP titled New Blood .

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 08, 2012

Vudu Sister’s new CD; and Girls Rock! RI hits the ’90s

Wild weekend
There are two big shows of note to squeeze into your stacked Cinco de Mayo social calendar this weekend, starting with the Vudu Sister album release show on Friday, followed by a stellar lineup of local acts covering '90s-era classics on Saturday when Girls Rock! Rhode Island presents "Cover Grrrls."

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 01, 2012

The Tower & the Fool are all fired up for How Long

Nothing to lose
"We don't really have a plan for the band. All we are concerned with at the moment is writing songs that we love and having some fun. If it takes off — great, and if it doesn't, no one is going to be upset.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 24, 2012

Volcano Kings’ trippy soundtrack for Trash Can City

Death-defying
Pawtucket-based instrumental syndicate Volcano Kings celebrates its full-length debut release, 11 Ways to Avoid Death in Trash Can City , with a hometown throwdown next weekend at the News Cafe.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 17, 2012

Here they come: the Small Factory reunion show!

Happy to see
For those of us continually pining and praying for more early '90s indie-rock reunions (Archers of Loaf, the Promise Ring, and the Afghan Whigs all on tap this year!), we just scored a big one on the local front ...

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 11, 2012

The General Assembly’s State of the Union series

Building a bridge
Don't worry, we ain't talking politics here.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 03, 2012

The Rice Cakes take the WBRU Rock Hunt title

And the winner is ...
A jam-packed crowd rocked out at the Met on Friday, and the highly-appreciative bands clearly fed off the energy throughout the evening.

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 27, 2012

Off the Couch: From Shaolin with love

Wu-Tang wordsmith GZA hits Firehouse 13
On THURSDAY (the 22nd) head to Mardi Gras in Cranston and welcome back hard-rock quartet KANERKO ; Al, Kev, Nick, and Anthony just returned from a goodwill trip to Kosovo where they rocked out for our troops — nice work, guys.

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 22, 2012

Six Star General get into the groove on Splinter

Psychedelic embrace
Six Star General continue to crank out top-shelf indie-rock records, and their eighth studio effort, Splinter , finds guitarist Kyle Jackson, drummer Dan Ulmschneider, and bassist/vocalist Mark MacDougall peaking hard through concise and potent bursts of stoner sludge."

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 14, 2012

The 2012 WBRU Rock Hunt semi-finalists, Pt. 2

More March Madness!
Two walkoff winners dominated the opening round of the 2012 WBRU Rock Hunt semifinals last weekend, with the Rice Cakes and URI alums Kingston 530 advancing to the final four.

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 06, 2012

The 2012 WBRU Rock Hunt semi-finalists, Pt. 1

March madness
March is upon us (already?) — let the 'BRU bracketology commence!

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 01, 2012

Dirty Hank and Reason tap the bottle and hit the mic

Blooze brothers
Local lyricists Dirty Hank and Reason revel in drunken debauchery all over The Monty Brogan EP (Poorly Drawn Recordings), released just last week and currently up for grabs as a free download through multiple sites (check the end of these words for links).

By: CHRIS CONTI | February 21, 2012

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