Notes on Stepanian and Asa Brebner
By JIM SULLIVAN | March 20, 2007
Stepanian |
Singer/guitarist Eric Stepanian formed a band called STEPANIAN while he was in college in Delaware and then brought them to Boston when it was time to get serious. At least he tried: the other members weren’t into the move, so Stepanian came alone in 2003 and re-formed the group with bassist Michael Simon, drummer John Mansollilo, and saxophonist/flutist/keyboardist Adam Schertzer. They begin a month of Wednesday-residency gigs at the Paradise Lounge on April 4, celebrating their new Wait Out the Rain EP. Stepanian describes the band’s sound as “early Bruce Spingsteen meets Counting Crows and Ryan Adams. On the EP, it’s us getting more mature, more polished.” He’s been talking with labels, and a residency is also a showcase of sorts.
In other residency news, ASA BREBNER AND THE FAMILY JEWELS — Asa’s doo-wop group — have had a semi-regular Saturday-afternoon gig at the Plough & Stars, and on March 31 from 4 to 7 pm and 8 to 9:30, they’ll celebrate the release of a new CD. Meanwhile, Brebner’s art — including a sexed-up Barbie doll and a crucified Topo Gigio doll — is up at ZuZu, along with the work of Jon Strymish and John Nikolai. The restaurant had a last-minute art cancellation, and co-owner Nabil Sater gave photographer Nikolai the go-ahead to stage what he’s dubbed “4-DAY HANGOVER.” . . . And the RAGING TEENS are back together this week, playing a warm-up show at the Abbey Saturday before joining the BOURBONAIRES for a benefit for their late pal JON JOHNSON’s family at T.T. the Bear’s Place April 5. It’ll be a reunion show for the Bourbonaires, Johnson’s old band.
On the Web
Stepanian: //www.stepanianband.com
Asa Brebner: //www.asabrebner.net
Email the author
Jim Sullivan: jimsullivanink@verizon.net
Related:
June tunes, Boston music news: November 3, 2006, Various Artists: Accepted: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, More
- June tunes
Mark Twain once observed that it’s “better to be a young June-bug than an old bird of paradise.”
- Boston music news: November 3, 2006
Drop a 10-spot, walk into the Opera House this Wednesday at 7:30 pm, and you’ll find almost the entire line-up of headliners that played Bank of America Pavilion last summer.
- Various Artists: Accepted: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Pixies kick things off with, appropriately, “U-Mass,” and an A-list of alterna-indie artists (Modest Mouse, Le Tigre, Weezer, Ryan Adams, the Chemical Brothers with Beth Orton) all provide top-notch if familiar cuts.
- E-hanging out
Uh, we definitely didn’t download any of the albums illegally and therefore can’t tell you that Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is Spoon’s finest work and a contender for album of the year.
- Prolific
Ryan Adams’s transition from Whiskeytown frontman to solo artist wasn’t exactly smooth.
- Portland scene report: September 21, 2007
We feel bad for (most of) the paying customers, but hope that they, like us, have a newfound appreciation for what a badass Ryan Adams is.
- Junior miss
Former glam-rocker Jesse Malin’s 2003 solo debut not only offered proof that he could make it as a singer-songwriter — it was the best thing he’d put out.
- Willie Nelson
At a secure 73, Willie Nelson’s not about to change to please a hot young alt-country buck, his taut touring band, or the sizeable audience of hipsters they might bring along with them.
- Oh brother, where alt thou?
In the summer of 1995, Grant Alden was documenting “the tail end of the grunge years” as managing editor of a Seattle music weekly, the Rocket . Alejandro Escovedo, "Broken Bottle" (mp3 via MySpace) Drive-By Truckers, "Feb. 14" (mp3 via MySpace)
- Counting Crows
For hardcore Counting Crows fans, the California roots-pop band’s live shows have often been more revelatory than their albums, affording frontman Adam Duritz the opportunity to stretch his time-tested Van Morrison impression out to inhumane lengths.
- Boston music news: November 10, 2006
BOSTON ROCK OPERA — the grassroots local company famous for its once annual production of Jesus Christ Superstar — is no more.
- Less
Topics:
New England Music News
, Celebrity News, Entertainment, Music Stars, More
, Celebrity News, Entertainment, Music Stars, Ryan Adams, Asa Brebner, Nabil Sater, Counting Crows, Jon Johnson, Less