Jimmy Dority |
• While we at Wax Tabs like to zoom in on the fringes of the music scene here in Portland, there's no glossing over the epic GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD STOPOVER festival that went down last weekend, which basically turned the Eastern Promenade into its own island carnival. Whether you attended, worked, or got the hell out of town, you'll have to acknowledge the ambitious, masterful work by Lauren Wayne and the STATE THEATRE. Of course it's perfectly acceptable not to be thrilled by the practice of tons of people storming your city for a sweltering weekend in August, but in an economy dependent on a tourism that seldom involves the arts scene, the Mumford and Sons show represented a strong step in a direction that will ultimately help the local arts. It's also encouraging to see several Mainers initiating a postmortem discussion to help clear up the inevitable difficulties of putting 15,000 people on one rolling hillside in 85-degree weather for eight hours, so that if we do it again, it can go even better.• The tireless local musician Jimmy Dority is pulling out all the stops for his ambitious and spectacular pop orchestra project this summer, and we're pulling for its success. Titled JIMMY DO RIGHT AND THE POP GO BOOM, Dority has written, composed, and arranged a 12-song album of pop orchestral fare, which he intends to perform and record live over two sessions at the acoustically delicious venue Mayo Street Arts the evenings of September 28 and 29. While Dority has a couple records under his own name, you're probably familiar with his work in the bands Foam Castles, Over a Cardboard Sea, and Lovers of Fiction, or from the Tin Pan Alley revival musical direction in last summer's production of The Threepenny Opera by Lorem Ipsum (of which this writer is a member). What we like about this latest project is its holistic production values: it draws from a wealth of local musical talent, an underused concert venue, and Dority's own remarkable skills as a collaborator, composer, and musicologist. Learn more about the Pop Go Boom and consider donating to his campaign at indiegogo.com/popgoboom.
• It's hard to describe our delight at the discovery of BASEBALL, the raw, primitive punk duo from Brunswick. Their five-song demo #0 is a blast of dissonant meditations and, that's right, dysphoric baseball metaphors. Way worth a listen at hesouttathere.bandcamp.com; consider seeing them August 19 at the recently relocated Bombshelter, Brunswick's avant-garde arts venue (brunswickbombshelter.wordpress.com).
Related:
The State Theatre: This is actually going to work, Kastaways and cut-ups, Photos: The Kastaways, Maine’s first all-mascot band, More 
- The State Theatre: This is actually going to work
There's no question that the reopening of the State Theatre has people in this town pretty damn excited. As photos of the reconstruction have leaked out, the fever has built, often almost completely irrespective of that bands that have so far been lined up to play its stage.
- Kastaways and cut-ups
Watching the Kastaways practice, it quickly becomes clear that this band is all about the Clam. Sir Nigel the Rat might be the frontman and attention hog. Herman might be the lead-singer and actual hog. Spike Porcupine and Pete Puffin might even provide the band's true musicality.
- Photos: The Kastaways, Maine’s first all-mascot band
April 14, 2012
- Carson Kressley in Damn Yankees
This year marks the Ogunquit Playhouse's 80th season of breezily sophisticated, classic American musical entertainment.
- Summer’s freeze
Among the newsiest of the chord changes in Maine music this fall, the oddball proprietors at ETERNAL OTTER RECORDS are launching a new monthly series at Zero Station, the finest forgotten little cubbyhole in Bayside.
- Review: Knuckleball!
For a film that's centered around such a silly-looking pitch, Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg's documentary is packed with considerable drama.
- Power pop, radio rock, and more
NOW IS NOW frontman MITCH ALDEN has plans for a solo release. The party's scheduled for January 21 at RiRa. Expect some seriously upbeat power pop.
- Looking back on 2010: Maine goes red
There were big wins, big defeats, encouraging signs, and disappointments. Here's a look at what Maine enjoyed — and endured — in 2010.
- Robyn at the State Theatre, January 29
With each of her three 2010 Body Talk EPs armed with a single-of-the-year contender (in the just-slightly-ironic, pop-chart-averse blog-critic sense), it's been hard to ignore Swedish pop star Robyn's status as in indie icon these past 12 months.
- Americana tours and the next heavy-rock thing
Looks like Portland's THIS WAY will be the only Maine band featured as part of the NEW ENGLAND AMERICANA FESTIVAL , playing April 1 at the Boston club Church.
- Iron & Wine at the State Theatre, April 18
Iron & Wine evoke summer in my mind.
- Less
Topics:
New England Music News
, Baseball, Baseball, State Theatre, More
, Baseball, Baseball, State Theatre, State Theatre, Less
