Mr. Timothy Charles Duane…ba doomp… was born on Labor Day, 1969, when Timi and Duane arrived at Charlie’s house with a song they wanted to play for him. The song, “I Can’t Wait,” was written for a guitar and two tubas but since there was a clarinet sitting around Duane figured out how to play one of the lines. Knock knock on Charlie’s door and there he is playing the piano, while simultaneously playing another clarinet, working on his … Read More >>
BIRD MANCINI: HESITATION & EMANCIPATION By Edward Morneau The following is a playful tug of war between a writer, me – who wants to explore big-ass motifs of musical history, influences, defining moments, time and endurance, philosophy and culture; and Bird Mancini – two gifted musicians and songwriters, notoriously private, devoted to each other as partners, writers and performers. The first thing I learned was how hesitant they were to bring forth the larger statements that intrigue me, but make … Read More >>
JIMMY HAROLD MASTERFUL MUSIC MESSIAH By A.J. Wachtel In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and Jimmy Harold gave rise to The Rat. Who would ever have thought that his hard work and vision would result in getting world- wide exposure and propelling the Boston music scene’s greatness into mythical heights of Biblical proportions? Hear the Word: Noise: I first met you in 1983 when Mickey O (The Beat Magazine/ Bunratty’s/ Harper’s Ferry/ Jasper’s/ Jumbo’s/ Sir Morgan’s Cove) … Read More >>
KINGDOM OF LOVE – EARNING THEIR KARMA by Harry C. Tuniese There are many directions that bring you home. Some start very young with parents, siblings, and friends encouraging uniqueness and experience. Some ideas may take and others may just drift on by (“What about your soul?/ I can’t hold on, but I can’t let you go!”). Positive good vibrations – taking nothing for granted – adds to the luster of each Life. Having seen Linda Viens in numerous band … Read More >>
MAGIC DICK and SHUN NG TERRIFIC TWOSOME By A.J. Wachtel It’s always a listening pleasure when an icon mixes it up with a star of the next generation and travels down an old path in a new, unexpected direction. Magic Dick, the legendary harp player from The J. Geils Band and younger guitar wizard Shun Ng flex their creative muscles together and take us with them on an elegantly enjoyable trip. Check out these tremendous talents talk about what’s behind their … Read More >>
BARRY GOUDREAU’S ENGINE ROOM by A.J. Wachtel Barry Goudreau is the ex-lead guitarist for the band Boston and is now slinging solos with Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room. This tremendously talented artist is one of the best six stringers around and his classic playing on many of Boston’s famous double lead riffs makes him one of the all-time greats. Goudreau is a guitar god and this is what he has in store for us mere mortals. Noise: Who’s in your new … Read More >>
photo by Jim Marchese Jim would have been 70 on December 2, 2018. My brother Jim Maxwell (1948-2018) knew that I looked up to him and I was grateful that he got me involved in music. When I was 14 he took me, along with his buddies, to the Murray the K shows at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre. These shows were basically a variety show featuring a lot of Motown acts mixed with the latest groups at the top of … Read More >>
PAJAMA SLAVE DANCERS by Eric Baylies The Pajama Slave Dancers ruled college radio in the mid-1980s. Songs like “Defreeze Walt Disney” and “Homo Truck Driving Man” were regional hits that also found their way across the world. Singer Steve Westfield has also played in different bands with Rich Gilbert (Human Sexual Response/ Frank Black), Joey Santiago (Pixies), Lou Barlow (Sebadoh), and Chris Colbourn (Buffalo Tom). After 35 years of on and off being one of the best bands in the … Read More >>