How just two musicians from Canton could create a six-song debut that sounds bigger than the sum of its parts is a little mind boggling. But We Are Public Radio have done it. In just a half-dozen tracks, singer-songwriter Andy Dolson and guitarist Patrick Boyle have created a polished album worthy of praise. The debut's quality boils down to heartfelt songwriting, contemporary melodic instrumentation and the crisp production value of Matt Goldman, a favorite amongst indie musicians. As a whole, We Are Public Radio's new release sounds a little like a mesh of David Gray, The Wallflowers and Lan...
Aliver Hall If you’re a fan of jam bands and Aliver Hall isn’t on your radar yet, you are blowing it big time. The group has been laying down its blend of progressive rock drumming and moving bass lines, mixed with dynamic and incisive guitar playing, all across NEO and outlying cities, much to the delight of fans. While the live show is the band’s bread and butter, it has taken advantage of the studio to explore a lusher soundscape and structures. Aliver Hall will be releasing its new record this month and is hosting a release party at the Beachland Ballroom on April 14 to celebrate. ...
February 2 - Akron - Annabell's How many musicians are there today? Thousands of post-college hopefuls record in their basement, packing into old vans, traveling across the country in search of a dream. Cellist/songwriter Christopher Bell started just the same way 5 years ago. He kept going, in car, on bike, in a canoe and even on foot, for over 650 shows in 5 years. This February Bell heads back out with two new albums, Live In Your Living Room and Christopher Bell on his self-described trip to ‘have a little fun, tell a couple stories and make them dance.’ Bell attacks the cello, in...
What do you get when you mix five guys and women’s footwear? Indie rock, apparently. Stiletto is a five-piece band out of the Akron area and members Chad Tisch, Mike DeCarlo, Ryan Chiera, Kyle Shave and Allen Cooper Gilleland have been playing together for six years. “I’ve been with Ryan ever since I learned how to play, so I’ve been with him for about 10 years,” DeCarlo said. “We sort of just met everyone through the local music scene when we were in high school. I think it’s been about six years with these five people.” None of the guys in the group had been playing ...
Vacancy filled He was a teenage Sex Pistol, and a 50-year-old Sex Pistol, too. Now he's a Philistine and he was "Born Running." Ed. note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2010 edition of Youngstown Pulse Magazine. By B.J. LISKO Youngstown Pulse Magazine LONDON — Same old shit. Glen Matlock doesn't get the credit he deserves. Never has. Years after leaving one of the most influential and crucial bands in the history of not only punk rock, but music in general, the Sex Pistols, Matlock wrote a book on it, re-joined the group for numerous tours, yet still your average Joe rela...
If you're looking for some local punk rock, look no further than the saucily name Ellen Degenerate. This Akron-based band's music is high-energy rock, perfect to head band and jump around to. Crazy bass lines overtake the songs and drumbeats go so fast at some points it feels like a steady buzz. Paradoxically, there's a cohesion in it's disjointedness that just works. Check out this reunion show in honor of local character Jake Digman's birthday. Weird Penis and First Offense open. Perhaps Jake will show his and be charged with his... ...
I have wronged Akron’s Shivering Timbers. On two separate, sigh-laden nights I watched them perform. Earlier this year I stumbled into Annabell’s after consuming what felt like half of the Matinee’s supply of Two-Hearted because Unnamed Girl A had said “blah, blah, blah…go away” a few hours earlier. Shivering Timbers played upstairs… I remembered that much. But I couldn’t for the life of me remember what they sounded like (or walking to my friend’s house and passing out on his couch, for that matter). So, this past summer, I made it my goal to catch them at th...
Though I can’t say anything extremely bad about Obits’ new album I Blame You, I cant’ say anything extremely good about it either. Single note guitar lines jingle over hushed drumbeats to create alt-rock nostalgic for the 60’s era British invasion bands. Walking bass lines tie everything together over the urgently strummed chords and occasionally the beat picks up, looping riffs ring out giving the band a surf rock feel. Anthemic vocals are shouted into the mic with more swagger than John Wayne taking out a hostile group of Comanches. If you’re looking for a band that doesn’t do an...
By Red Eyed Pirate They hail from Belgium, the country of Stella Artois and those tasty little waffles, but don’t be fooled folks. Cloon is more twisted and sadistic than Rasputin raping nuns in a preschool. Cloon’s self-titled debut is an eclectic mixtures of dirty guitar riffs, hellish bass lines and dank vocals that leave the listener wondering why these guys haven’t made it big on the rock scene already. They are a fucking talented foursome. Cloon’s opening track, “Non Believer,” begins with this bouncy, perusing bass line that sets the tone for the album. It’s a playfu...
