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Seven Days Blogs: Solid State Music Blog

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

So, About All Those Fun Shows at Parima …

It seems things at Parima are devolving faster than anyone expected. As Joe Adler, now-formally the talent buyer at the doomed Thai restaurant/music joint, writes today, the upcoming music calendar has been pretty much wiped clean, from now until the Pearl St. haunt closes in mid-September. All but a few shows have been canceled — including Burgundy Thursday tonight and the entirety of this weekend's slate. The full list of canceled shows is below. In other news, fuck.

Canceled Shows

Thurs, 8/4 - Burgundy Thursdays with Joe Adler featuring The Beerworth Sisters / Dusty Jewels / Don & Jenn
(Singer/Songwriter / Main Stage) 8:30pm, $3

Fri, 8/5 - Kelly Ravin with Lisa Marie Fischer opening
(Blues Rock / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Fri, 8/5 - Second Agenda
(Rock Hop Rebel Folk / Main Stage) 10pm, $3

Sat, 8/6 - Modern Grass Quintet ‏
(Bluegrass / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Sat, 8/6 - Squid City / Project Organ Trio
(Jazz / Rock / Main Stage) 9:30pm, $5

Sun, 8/7 - Queen City Bossa
(Bossa Nova / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Thurs, 8/11 - Eric and Matthias
(Singer/Songwriter / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Thurs, 8/11 - Burgundy Thursdays with Joe Adler featuring Carrie Ferguson / Bill Buyer / Chris Lewis / Tim Berry
(Singer/Songwriter / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Fri, 8/12 - Last October
(Acoustic/Folk / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Fri, 8/12 - Charley Orlando with Steve Hartmann opening
(Jam/Soul/Rock / Main Stage) 9:30pm, $5

Fri, 8/12 - African Party
(Acoustic Lounge) 11:30pm, $5, 60/40 (doors at 11)

Sun, 8/14 - Sarah Louise Pieplow / The Wendigos
(Punky Folk/Garage Rock / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Wed, 8/17 - Too Tight Trio with Kip Meaker
(Blues Rock / Main Stage) 7pm, $5

Thurs, 8/18 - Burgundy Thursdays with Joe Adler featuring Phil Yates & The Affiliates / Jimmy Ruin / Chris Jenkins / UMMA / TBA / TBA
(Singer/Songwriter / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Sat, 8/20 -  Matt Graham Quartet
(Jazz / Main Stage)7pm, $3



Wed, 8/24 - Too Tight Trio with Kip Meaker
(Blues Rock / Main Stage) 7pm, $5

Thurs, 8/25 - Burgundy Thursdays with Joe Adler featuring Robin Reid / James McSheffrey / Clara Berry / Kevin Greenblott / TBA / TBA
(Singer/Songwriter / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Fri, 8/26 - Ragged Glory
(Neil Young Tribute / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Fri, 8/26 - Funkwagon with Dr Ruckus opening
(Funk/Soul / Main Stage) 10pm, $5

Sat, 8/27 - Clara Engel
(Blues/Experimental / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Sat, 8/27 - Bobby Messano Band with Midnight Jones opening
(Blues / Main Stage) 10pm, $5

Fri, 9/2 - Black Mountain Symphony
(Progressive Folk / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Fri, 9/2 - Roots Center Benefit featuring TBA
(Main Stage) 10pm, donation

Sun, 9/4 - Zack duPont's "Let's Make A Record" Sessions featuring The Bob Wagner & Brett Lanier Duo and Maryse Smith
(Singer/Songwriter / Acoustic Lounge) 7pm, $3

Wed, 9/7 - Too Tight Trio with Kip Meaker
(Blues Rock / Main Stage) 7pm, $5

Thurs, 9/8 - Burgundy Thursdays with Joe Adler featuring Robby Hecht / Raph Worrick / Hillary Reynolds Band / Voices2
(Singer/Songwriter / Main Stage) 8:30pm, $3

Fri, 9/9 - Small Change
(Tom Waits Tribute / Main Stage) ‏7pm, $3

Sat, 9/10 - Jen Berger (Acoustic Lounge) 7:30pm, doors at 7pm

 

Sun, 9/11 - Zack duPont's "Let's Make A Record" Sessions featuring Nuda Veritas and Paper Castles
(Singer/Songwriter / Acoustic Lounge) 7pm, $3

Mon, 9/12 - Mildred Moody's Full Moon Masquerade featuring TBA
(Main Stage) 10pm, $5

Wed, 9/14 - Too Tight Trio with Kip Meaker
(Blues Rock / Main Stage) 7pm, $5

Fri, 9/16 - Triage
(Jazz / Main Stage) 7pm, $3

Fri, 9/16 - Red Hot Juba
(Hot Countrified Jazz and Blues / Main Stage) 9pm, $5

 

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Daaaaa-a-ay-trotter!

This just in from the lads at Angioplasty Media and GPN's Matt Burr, Daytrotter's Barnstormer series is coming to Vermont. Specifically, the Old Lantern in Charlotte on Sunday August 28.

For the unfamiliar, Barnstormer is like a mobile mini-festival curated by music site Daytrotter that, as its name implies, storms through barns — or in our case, barn-like structures — in random locales around the country, bringing buckets of indie rock cheer where e'er they roam. The VT date features some seriously rad acts, including White Rabbits, Deer Tick (uh-mazing website, BTW), We Are Augustines, Blood Orange and Doug Paisley (no relation to country star Brad Paisley … I think). Ticket info is right here.

Here's a link to a sneak peek clip from Daytrotter that should give you a bit more of an idea what we're in for.

And here is a vid from White Rabbits:

 

  And one from Blood Orange, just cuz.

Blood Orange - Sutphin Boulevard from Blood Orange on Vimeo.

 

 

Friday, July 22, 2011

Parima to Close in September … Sigh.

Well folks, another one bites the dust. And this one stings.

I've just gotten off the phone with Parima talent buyer, Joe Adler, who informed me that the venerable Thai restaurant/increasingly killer music venue will close its doors for good in September. The building was recently sold to another local business, which, for now, will remain anonymous until it has had a chance to inform its employees and make a formal announcement. Adler did note, however, that the plans for the new venture do not include entertainment. What a waste.

Parima 185 Pearl St Burlington
Adler said a blowout farewell party is planned for Saturday, September 17 featuring Jen Hartswick, Nick Cassarino and host of other local favorites. "It will be the craziest party you can imagine," he promised.

I don't know, Joe, I can imagine some pretty crazy parties. Although, I've been to several wild shindigs at Parima in recent months. Over the last year-plus, the juke joint has gone from being a fairly awkward place to see a show to one of the more consistently entertaining venues in town. From his weekly Burgundy Thursday series and the monthly Full Moon Masquerade party to puling in big ticket acts such as the Barr Brothers and Marco Benevento and lining up great local artists week in and week out, Adler and company have created a welcome addition to our cozy little music scene. Parima's impending closure will mean a big, honkin' void for local music fans this fall.

"It's been a great ride," he said. Indeed, Joe.

Parima will close its doors in September, but there is still a full calendar on tap in the meantime, including two shows this evening: an early gig with Rusty Belle, Flightless Buttress and Tommy Alexander, and then a late night throwdown with Bonjour-Hi!, Lazerdisk Party Sex, Craig Mitchell, DJ A-Dog, Mushpost, Bass Culture and DJ Disco Phantom.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Ramble On

This just in from the folks at Ye Olde North End Ramble (July 30), the deadline to sign up to be involved, whether as a performer, host venue, volunteer or sugar daddy financier, has been extended to this Friday, July 15. You can pick up forms at variety of Burlington locations, including Radio Bean, Jamba's Junktiques and Viva Espresso. 

There is also now a Ramble Kickstarter page, which features the promotional video below. A nine-minute-long promotional video. Nine minutes. Seriously. Anyway, they need to hit a grand in the next 16 days. I'm betting they get there.

 

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Pickin' Daysies

Hey ho, Solid State.

It's time once again for your friendly neighborhood alt-weekly to compile the ballot for this year's Seven Daysies Awards. And, as we do most years, we're looking for ways to mix up some of the categories. This being a music-ish blog, I'm specifically looking for ways we can better represent the scene as a whole, and maybe introduce a few new faces into the winner's circle along side the perennial favorites — Higher Ground, Grace Potter, etc.

So, if you could, what categories would you add to our existing awards? Which existing ones would you eliminate altogether, or perhaps alter? Inquiring minds want to know.  

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Hearts of Gold


GDMC Benefit Cover Art The countdown on Langdon Street Café closing stands at t-minus three days and change, which … well, absolutely sucks. The quirky java joint is closing for financial reasons, and even after Boston-based circus punks Cirkestra draw the curtain for the last time on Saturday night, the cash-strapped café will long be dealing with the financial fallout of a rocky final few months.

To help out, the fine folks from the Golden Dome Musician's Collective in Montpelier and State and Main Records have put together a stellar new compilation, State and Main Records: Volume 1.5 — A Benefit for the Langdon Street Café. The download-only comp is a followup to the label's debut offering, State and Main Records: Volume 1, released in February to rave reviews — at least from me. After a few cursory listens, I'm finding Volume 1.5 just as entertaining.

You can grab the comp here, for a measly $10, proceeds of which go directly to LSC. To wet your whistle, here's a snippet, "Sticks and Stones," by Simple Heart.

State and Main Records - LSC-GDMC Benefit - 08 Sticks and Stones



 

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

B-Rock Obama?

This just in from 4-Word Presents: An open letter to the Prez, hip-hop style.

Signed, Nastee

 

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Time Flies

There is no possible way I could write with any sort of objectivity about the Lazy Songwriter, or the fact that today marks the tenth anniversary of the band's first show.

For starters, both of my siblings were in the band. I've known front man Arthur Adams since he was in, like, fourth grade. LS lead guitarist David Stockhausen would later be my partner in crime in my last serious musical endeavor, the Middle Eight — as was occasional LS contribtor Mike Duplessis. In fact, I basically just stole Art's band when he left for San Francisco and I moved back to town. And to be honest, were it not for the Lazy Songwriter, I may not have decided to return to Burlington at all.

During their heyday, I was living in Boston under the auspices of making my way as a songwriter. In reality, I was a bartender who spent far too much time on both sides of the wood — usually babbling about how I was totally gonna make it in music, man. Then promptly ordering another round. Or eight. Ah, Boston.

I came home to visit Burlington fairly often in those days. And when I did, I found myself incredibly envious both of Art's band and how much more of a community Burlington's music scene — and, specifically, the burgeoning little scene orbiting the then-new Radio Bean — seemed to be compared to what I had found in Beantown. Maybe I had just been looking in the wrong places. But the Lazy Songwriter and Radio Bean, generally, epitomized what I had hoped to find by moving away. So I came home. 

Aaaaanyway, as I mentioned, today is the tenth aniversary of the Lazy Songwriter's first ever show at (where else?) Radio Bean. In celebration, Adams has posted the entire LS canon on his website, Blammos.com. And, personal biases utterly intact, it's pretty great, especially if you loved that band back in the day. And really, for a supposedly laggard tunesmith, dude was pretty prolific. Enjoy.

And thanks, Art.  

 

Monday, May 02, 2011

Sigh …

Man, I hate being the bearer of bad news. And this is seriously bad news indeed. The following is an email that went out to various press outlets this morning from Meg Hammond and Ben T. Matchstick at the Langdon Street Café. 

To all the friends, family, community, and performers of the Langdon Street Café,  

After doing business in downtown Montpelier for six and a half years, the Café has faced a difficult decision.  Due to increasing financial difficulties and circumstances, the Langdon Street Café will permanently close its doors on May 28th.  This decision has not been an easy one for us.

We would like to thank everyone who has participated in the Langdon Street Café over the years—especially the Café’s founders and all of the employees past and present who have worked so hard and volunteered extra efforts to keep it going.  We would also like to thank our families, tenants, and volunteer crews who have helped reinvent the space numerous times.  A big thanks goes out to all the Café’s customers for feeling right at home, keeping us afloat, and for recharging our spirit.  Finally, thank you to the downtown business community and to the City of Montpelier for making this town the most brilliant little star on the map.

We will greatly miss hosting you at the Café.  Please come in and enjoy the Café throughout the month of May. Visit our website and Facebook pages where you can share your photos and stories.  langdonstreetcafe.com 

Sincerely,

Meg Hammond, Owner/Manager

Ben t. Matchstick, Booking & Events

 

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Northern Lights

You gotta hand it to Grace Potter and her merry band of Nocturnals, this is pretty friggin' cool.

Yesterday morning, Higher Ground announced the lineup for this summer's Lake Champlain Maritime Festival, the annual nautically themed bash on Burlington's waterfront that GPN have traditionally played as a homecoming gig after a summer of touring the country. But this year, rather than blow into town, play a set or two and skeedaddle, they've curated an entire weekend-long festival-within-a-festival, dubbed "Grand Point North" — GPN, get it? And while the band is pulling in some serious marquee talent, the bulk of weekend will have a distinctly local flavor. Check the lineup:

Taj Mahal Trio, Deva Mahal, Fitz & the Tantrums, the Wood Brothers, Anaïs Mitchell & the Hadestown Orchestra (VT), Jessica Lea Mayfield, Hoots & HellmouthChamberlin (VT), Barbacoa (VT), Parmaga (VT), the Eames Brothers Band (VT), Lendway (VT), Maryse Smith & the Rosesmiths (VT) and Split Tongue Crow (VT)

Color me impressed. 

The fest runs August 13 and 14, with GPN headlining both nights. I'm told they'll split the two evenings roughly along genre lines, with the rootsier acts dominating one night and the louder, more indie flavored bands the other. Tickets go on sale this Friday.   

 

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Bonerama! (Or, What to do With Those Antsy Jazz Hands)

Top o' the afternoon, Solid State.

The fine folks from the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival held their annual press conference this afternoon to thank their long list of sponsors, ply the media with ice cream and give Bob Kiss something to talk about that doesn't involve Burlington Telecom. Oh, and also to announce the bulk of this year's lineup, which, while maybe not as top-heavy with monster marquee acts as in recent years, appears solid from top to bottom, including some undercard acts that could well steal the fest.

The big names likely need little introduction: Herbie Hancock, Bela Fleck and the Orginal Flecktones, Poncho Sanchez, aaaaaaaand … muthaflippin' viperHouse, who will follow Belizbeha's lead from last year's fest and get the band back together to relive some Queen City glory days. Rad. Trombone rockers Bonerama (pictured) and the Joshua Panda Band open that show at the Waterfront Groove Tent on Thursday, June 9.

Bonerama Also at the top of the docket, Bitches Brew Revisited, an all-star tribute to Miles Davis' groundbreaking 1970 record, Bitches Brew. The band features Vernon Reid, Graham Haynes, Marco Benevento and DJ Logic, among some other choice heavy hitters. Local improv jazz outfit — and a personal favorite — YoUSAy Placate open the Flynn MainStage show, which opens the entire fest on Friday June 3. The BDJF is also launching a contest inviting local artists to reimagine the cover art from Davis' landmark album. For more details on that, visit the BDJF site.

The BDJF always does well giving women in jazz their due. But, intentional or not, it seems there is an increased focus on lady songbirds this year, highlighted by a double bill at the FlynnSpace featuring vocalists Jay Clayton and Sheila Jordan on Tuesday, June 7. Other choice acts include vocalist Catherine Russell (6/8, FlynnSpace), ecelectic electro-acoustic outfit the Myra Melford Be Bread Sextet (6/9, FlynnSpace) and a MainStage double bill that will see renowned vocalist Roberta Gambarini share the stage with the Roy Hargrove Quintet on Saturday, June 11.

There's obviously much more to talk about, and in the coming weeks, we surely will. Most of the lineup and schedule info is up on the BDJF site. But there are still a few shows that have yet to be announced and should be made public within the next week or so. Stay tuned. 

 

 

Friday, April 08, 2011

2-Hour Contest: Starfucker

Wanna see Starfucker? I've got two tickets to give away to tonight's show at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge. To win, just tell me why you think you deserve to go in the comments section. Best answer, as judged by a panel of … well, me, wins. Be sure to leave your real name and email addy so I can contact you/have the band's management put you on the list. Contest closes at 2 p.m. Aaaaaand go!

 

 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

We've Secretly Replaced Split Tongue Crow With …

There's a theory circulating among culture pundit that the way bands become commercially successful these days is no longer via radio play or touring, but ad placements. There's some truth to the idea. Turn on the tube and wait for a commercial break, and you're bound to hear a hot new indie band or two being used to plug a Kia or Target superstore. In fact, music from every act nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Alternative Rock Album" category appeared in a commercial hawking something in 2010. 

Typically, ad folks will pull just a catchy tune from a band's catalog to suit their Don Draper-esque needs. But what if companies commissioned bands specifically to write, or rework an existing jingle?

Coffee giant Folgers recently put out a call for musicians to rework their well-known jingle for a chance at $25K and an appearance in a Folgers commercial. Rutland indie-folk outfit Split Tongue Crow answered the bell. Here's their entry:

  

Friday, February 11, 2011

Oh Snap

In my column last week, I left you with a riddle: "What is red and white — like really, really white — has 16 arms and loves you?"

This week, I promised I would share the answer here on the blog today, as revealing said answer in print would violate the only real rule my eds have ever given me: not writing about projects with which I am involved … in the paper. Due to the wonders of Facebook, and the general closeness of life in a small community like Burlington, this almost feels anti-climactic. It seems there's already a decent buzz around the event in question. But a promise is a promise. So without further ado …

Q: What is red and white, has 16 arms and loves you?

A: The Ginger Snaps.

(smattering of applause and confused murmuring)

For more on this developing story, let's bust out an old-school FAQ, shall we?

Q: Um, OK. So, who, or what the hell are the Ginger Snaps?

A: So glad you asked! The Ginger Snaps are VTs finest/only all-redhead all-star band. They're playing their one and only show this Monday, Valentine's Day, at Club Metronome with Kyle the Rider and the Human Canvas.

Q: Wait … really?

A: Yes.

Q: All redheads? Are there really enough of you to make up a whole band? 

A: And then some. Though finding a drummer proved tricky.

Q: So, if you're involved, does that mean we've drastically lowered the bar on just what exactly qualifies as an "all-star"?

The Ginger Snaps A: Probably. I'm undoubtedly the weakest link. But the only reason I'm mentioning this at all is because the caliber of the rest of the band is pretty noteworthy. When you get people like Bob Wagner, Swale's Amanda Gustafson and Jeremy Fredericks, Heloise and the Savoir Faire's Rob O' Dea and That Toga Band's Tyler Minetti all on the same stage, cool stuff is bound to happen. Plus, we've got a pair of killer backing dancer/vocalists in Trena Isley and Myesha Gosselin. Next to those cats, my only real qualification for being in the group are my raven tresses. 

Q: Hold on a sec. O' Dea is bald, and Fredericks ain't a redhead.

A: That's not really a question, but I'll enlighten you anyway. Both O'Dea and Fredericks were gingers as kids. We have photographic proof. Once a ginger, always a ginger.

Q: Fair enough. So are you guys just doing Willie Nelson and Rick Astley covers? OhSnap

A: Not at all! We actually have a set of about 12 original tunes, written by gingers, for gingers. Some titles include "Everybody Knows the Beach Fucking Sucks," "Does the Carpet Match the Drapes," "Little Red Haired Girl," "Fetish" and "Sunblock Cockblock." We'll also probably toss in a love song or three to satisfy Cupid's bloodlust.

Q: Hey, Neko Case is a redhead, right?

A: Sigh …

Q: This is wacky. Who's dumb idea was this?

A: That's open to debate. Though the specific origins are unclear, what is known is that the idea developed between Bob Wagner and myself over way too many beers at Radio Bean last fall. Max Schwartz, late of the Jazz Guys, is rumored to have been an instigator as well. I maintain it was all Bob's fault, er, idea.

Q: $1000 question: Are you guys any good?

A: We'll see. At the very least, it'll be an interesting show. Plus, there is the very real possibility that this gig will be our collective undoing in Burlington. Do you really want to miss that? 

Q: Last question: What is the preferred nomenclature here? I mean, is it OK to use the term "ginger"?

A: Great question. Let's ask Tim Minchin:

 

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

You're the Best Around. Or, Smokin' Poll

Nothing rewards the tireless labors of love put forth by struggling musicians like subjecting their deeply personal art to the rigors of competition. Or in other words, the reader poll. For how else would one divine which band is "the best" in any given field from among the flood of musicians vying for our auditory headspace? Aside from, you know, actually listening to them, of course. But I digress.

Our friends over at the Deli New England have just such a reader poll on their website, designed to figger out, once-and-for-all-or-at-least-until-the-next-poll, just who, exactly, is the "Best Emerging New England Artist." The poll, which closes today, comprises a lengthy list of Yankee bands both relatively unknown and of wider acclaim. It also includes a fair number of VT acts: Villanelles, Rough Francis, Blue Button, Spirit Animal and Butterfly Starpower, among others.

Reader polls, generally speaking, are harmless enough. They don't really mean all that much beyond the victorious band being able to pad their press sheet with some snappy accolade. It's like high school superlatives for grownups. If Blue Button or Villanelles aren't named "Most Likely to Succeed" or "Most Likely to Marry Their High School Sweetheart," I doubt Jason Cooley or Tristan Baribeau will lose much sleep over it. (Eric Olsen on the other hand …)

My only real problem with this kind of electoral folly is that it tends to reflect less how a band is perceived by the local listening public at large than said band's campaigning prowess. For example, the leading vote-getters of DeliNE's current poll are Brothers McCann, a Boston-based roots-pop outfit with VT ties (they'll be at Red Square this Friday), and the Wandas, also Boston-based. As of this writing, the groups have tallied 1044 and 940 votes, respectively. Or, a whopping 46% of the total votes cast. The next closest band is Wally Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys (great name), followed closely by our own Blue Button, with 449 (10%) and 395 (9%) votes, respectively.

Are the McCanns and Wandas really that much more beloved in New England than the other nominated acts? Probably not. But they might be savvier than most. Both groups have links to the voting site prominently displayed on their web pages and have pimped the contest via other social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), making it easier for their fans to stuff the ballot box. In other words, they were more effective at motivating their bases than their peers. I don't mean to take anything away from whichever band wins — they're both polished acts, and a crafty marketing sense is important for working bands — but it seems a rather hollow victory when the results feel predicated less on sheer musical ability than PR acumen.  

Thursday, January 27, 2011

A Protopunk Guide to the Queen City

Rough Francis recently gave the folks at Fuel.TV a quickie tour of Burlington, highlighting their favorite haunts in and around the Queen City for a show called "Green Label Experience." Among the destinations were Nectar's, Manhattan Pizza, Radio Bean and, no surprise here, the Monkey House. Word is the band has a new release in the works that they hope to unveil this spring. In the meantime, here are the brothers Hackney getting all Lonely Planet, Burlington-style.

 

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Vacant Stares

GOSPEL ALBUM ART front cover The Vacant Lots are scoring some love around the Interwebs on the strength of their newly released Confusion 7-inch. I suppose that'll happen when you spend the summer touring with Sonic Boom's Spectrum, and then sign to a killer label (Mexican Summer). 

Following a Pitchfork Forkcast blurb earlier this month, today Pitchfork's sister site Altered Zones dug a bit deeper with some high praise for the local psych-duo as well as an MP3 of the vinyl single's B-Side, "Cadillac." Check it out

 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Discomfort Level

I'm still on a bit of standup comedy kick from Saturday's Higher Ground Comedy Battle. So here is a clip of Battle finalist Colin Ryan from a performance in November. This bit is a lengthier version of some material he performed at the battle this weekend.

 

Monday, January 17, 2011

And the Winner Is …

Hey, folks.

I had a great time judging the seventh annual Higher Ground Comedy Battle this past Saturday. I'll get into the nitty gritties in Wednesday's column. But long story short, I came away more impressed with caliber of our local standups than ever before. If it wasn't already, VT standup is legit. 

The winner of the battle was veteran standup and co-founder of the Vermont Comedy Club, Nathan Hartswick. Dude was on his game, taking the crown in the most closely contested final in memory. My ballot had first and fifth place separated by about four points — out of a possible perfect score of 30. It was close, and I wouldn't have had a problem with any of the finalists winning. Hartswick certainly deserved to win, but keep an eye out for Colin Ryan and Carmen Lagala as well. They both killed.

Congrats to Nathan and all of the comics who performed. It was truly a banner night for local comedy.

 

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Battle Stations!

This just in from Middlebury:

American Flatbread, 51 Main and Two Brothers Tavern are joining forces to host a monster Battle of the Bands in early April. The opening round of the town-wide showdown begins Thursday, March 31 and runs through Saturday, April 2. Bands selected to compete will each perform once on one of the three nights. Winners from each evening's rocking will advance to the final round, to be held Saturday, April 9, at which point they will fight to death, er, rock out for the right to be named the opening act at Middlebury College's annual Spring Concert. Middlebury's Student Activities Board has yet to announce this year's headliner, but it's a safe bet it will be kind of a big deal. Past performers have included the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Cake, Wyclef Jean and … Naughty By Nature? Really? Wow. Midd kids, apparently, are down with O.P.P. 

If you, or your friend's band that is really-really-awesome-and-ohmigod-you've-just-gotta-hear-them would like to compete, applications can be submitted at middbattlebands.com. But hurry. Applications are due by Wednesday, February 2.

The early favorite to win it all? Wyld Stallyns!

 

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