Chris Conti

Latest Articles

White trash heroes

Arab on Radar are back on the attack
It is official — iconic PVD noisemongers Arab on Radar are back on the grid and about to end their eight-year hiatus with a nationwide reunion tour beginning this weekend in Easthampton, Massachusetts, followed by a stop at AS220 on July 3.
By CHRIS CONTI | June 30, 2010

'Fun guy rap'

Long overdue Romen Rok debut worth the wait? Absolutely !
I emailed Edgewood-bred lyricist Romen Rok last week following the release of his highly-anticipated full-length platter Absolutely ! and asked just how he would describe his brand of hip-hop to the casual listener: “Fun guy rap” was the response.
By CHRIS CONTI | June 16, 2010

Steady business

Poorly Drawn People's Reason and Falside remain in motion
"Poorly Drawn People has some new members, and a new way of doing biz."
By CHRIS CONTI | June 02, 2010

Living in the Now

Shryne’s ‘honest but polished’ pop-rock
There’s no denying the ongoing presence of what we’ll call melodic pop acts here in Rhode Island, bands comprised of guys in their mid-20s with a serious knack for penning sugary-sweet hooks and harmonies.
By CHRIS CONTI | May 12, 2010

Beats, rhymes, and Li(f)e

Sage Francis balances despair and hope on new album
Cult-status indie wordsmith Sage Francis digs deep and blows the black mold off the diary on Li(f)e (Anti-), while enlisting an impressive roster of indie-rock songwriters.
By CHRIS CONTI | May 05, 2010

Band of brothers

It’s a Bash! tells the Neutral Nation story
Acclaimed local director David Bettencourt immortalizes Providence-via-Attleboro punk pioneers Neutral Nation in his latest documentary, It’s a Bash! .
By CHRIS CONTI | April 28, 2010

’Bru Bracket-Busters

You Scream I Scream and Santa Mamba get to the finals
Part 1 of the 2010 WBRU Rock Hunt semi-finals is in the books, with Santa Mamba and underdogs You Scream I Scream advancing to the finals, and this weekend six more bands will vie for the two remaining spots.
By CHRIS CONTI | March 24, 2010

Tuneful throwdown

The 2010 WBRU Rock Hunt semi-finalists, Pt. 1
"The WBRU Rock Hunt is not designed to find the best 'alternative rock' act — we're out to find the best live act looking to earn more exposure along with some pretty cool prizes."
By CHRIS CONTI | March 17, 2010

Into the groove

Funkatronic kick out the hybrid-fueled jams
The 2010 Best Music Poll nominees announcement is fast approaching, but we do know all of the '09 victors will return to defend their titles, including jazz/funk reigning champs Funkatronic, who are looking for a three-peat.
By CHRIS CONTI | April 12, 2010

Straight outta Tallahassee

Kyle Campol’s Imadethismistake
Tallahassee transplant (via Toronto) Kylewilliam Campol absolutely loves to call Rhode Island home, having moved here last May to further his career as a musician and establish the world headquarters for his post-punk outfit Imadethismistake — a move some homegrown cynics may consider ass-backwards.
By CHRIS CONTI | March 04, 2010

Bringing it all back home

In the studio — a former pasta sauce factory in Central Falls — with the Low Anthem
"Pull around back, head up the fire escape and knock twice, someone will let you in."
By CHRIS CONTI | February 24, 2010

Focus group: Labeless Illtelligence

CasUno and ESH the Monolith streamline the cipher
It's NBA All-Star Saturday and Labeless Illtelligence representatives Chris Andrews and Tyler Edwards, better known as CasUno and ESH the Monolith, settle in for one last marathon studio session at Edwards's East Providence apartment (dubbed FrESH Ear Studios).
By CHRIS CONTI | February 17, 2010

Smoothed out on the R&B tip

Mary Bee and David Gonzalez’s Fiesole
"Seeing Mary Bee interact and talk on a daily basis is totally different from hearing Mary Bee sing — it's like night and day," writes producer David Gonzalez.
By CHRIS CONTI | February 05, 2010

Bring on the major leagues

Fairhaven are officially on the hunt
There ain't enough lighter fluid in your Bic to keep pace with Fairhaven's piano-driven anthems on their full-length debut Origins.
By CHRIS CONTI | January 27, 2010

Tight but loose

Jangly + angular = Glowkid
I had never come across the adjective "jangular" until I visited the Glowkid website.
By CHRIS CONTI | January 20, 2010

Shout it out!

Sharks Come Cruisin’ corner the punk rock/sea shanty market
Sharks Come Cruisin' founder Mark Lambert is a Warwick native with a penchant for reworking and penning sea shanties from centuries past, often revised with rollicking punk flare — all thanks to the golden pipes of Quint, the shark-obsessed skipper in Jaws .
By CHRIS CONTI | January 06, 2010

Local flavor

Andrew Martin serves up fresh Ocean State Sampler
Local journalist and acclaimed hip-hop scribe Andrew Martin has corralled a flavorful roster of Rhody-based rap talent on the Ocean State Sampler , 10 exclusive tracks available for free download.
By CHRIS CONTI | December 30, 2009

Local heroes, ’09 edition

From Suicide Bill & the Liquors to Roz Raskin & the Rice Cakes
The Rhode Island music community flourished in 2009, with new full-lengths from the Coming Weak, California Smile, and the pride of Cranston West and official big-leaguers Monty Are I, who released Break Through the Silence in September.
By CHRIS CONTI | December 22, 2009

Pop music for picky people

Stalemate’s eclectic ways
Lincoln-based quartet Stalemate host their CD release party at the Blackstone on December 23 in honor of their sophomore effort, We Will Carry You Out to Sea .
By CHRIS CONTI | December 09, 2009

High tide

Thrashing surf-rock from Cliffs & Bangers
Newport’s Cliffs & Bangers bring their lightning-rod brand of surf-rock to the 201 this weekend behind their spring ’09 release Short Tracks No Brakes , and the downtown crowd better be prepared for some hair-flailing headbanging.
By CHRIS CONTI | December 02, 2009

Brand new funk

Broken Ground launch their Sneak Attack
Evan Hanson and Brendon Bjorness-Murano, better known as lyricist 90Sevan and beatminer/composer Low B, teamed up just seven months ago to form Broken Ground.
By CHRIS CONTI | November 24, 2009

Running with the Devil

Making a connection with Brown Bird
The surge of locally-harvested folk/roots/Americana acts flourishing in Rhode Island continues.
By CHRIS CONTI | October 29, 2009

Lights, camera, action rock!

Monty Are I — from Cranston to Island/Def Jam
Keep the Cristal on ice until further notice from Steve Aiello, lead singer/guitarist for Monty Are I, who just released their "official" major label debut, Break Through the Silence on Island/Def Jam.
By CHRIS CONTI | October 07, 2009

Whiskey. Beer. Rock 'n' roll!

Girl Haggard and Hank Sinatra Jr. join forces and raise hell
Country-fried rawk quartet Girl Haggard have already achieved the goals founder Aaron Jaehnig drafted up when the bigman bassist and bartender-about-town formed the band with Hendersonville, Tennessee native Mandy Allan back in January.
By CHRIS CONTI | September 15, 2009

Whiskey. Beer. Rock 'n' roll!

In the red

SEXCoffee amp it up on The Morning After
A handful of Phoenix readers questioned the parameters of what exactly defined a "Breakthrough Act" in our recent Best Music Poll, decided in dominant fashion by alt-rock quartet SEXCoffee. What exactly constitutes a band playing together for six years as finally "breaking through?" Well, it isn't titled "Best "New" Act," if that helps.
By CHRIS CONTI | September 02, 2009

Up for the challenge

Rhythmafia: a new breed of mashup
Rhythmafia have been on the scene for about four years, and in that relatively short time the Providence natives — Rob Cinami (drums and backup vox), Jamie Kearns (guitar), Zack Chagnon (bass), and frontman Sam Montes — have successfully delivered a blatantly unique sound through the course of three albums.
By CHRIS CONTI | August 25, 2009

Kollective soul

Kris Hansen's ever-evolving sound
Singer/songwriter Kris Hansen and longtime pal Bob Giusti certainly are no stranger to the local music scene, having played out and hosted scores of gigs and all-star, open-mic jam sessions for more than a dozen years as Kris Hansen's Left Hand Band, a tight-knit jazzy/folky-type trio. Their 08 self-titled debut (at CDbaby.com and iTunes) zigged and zagged across acoustic blues and roots-rock, with Hansen's pen celebrating a second chance at life after the Scituate native battled a near-fatal brain aneurysm on the eve of his 24th birthday, as well as Hansen, drummer Giusti, and bassist/engineer George Dussault all becoming dads during the recording process.
By CHRIS CONTI | August 12, 2009

Don't call it a comeback

Six Finger Satellite never left. And never will
Six Finger Satellite founder and frontman Jeremiah "J." Ryan has news for anyone assuming that the upcoming Six Finger Satellite mini-tour is a harbinger for some big 6FS reunion, following the recent release of Half Control on Load Records, originally recorded in 2001 and remixed last year.
By CHRIS CONTI | August 05, 2009

Feel-good hits of summer

Wheat's strange beauty
Life is unabashedly beautiful for Wheat founders (and Taunton natives) Brendan Harney and Scott Levesque. That sentiment echoes throughout their latest release, White Ink, Black Ink (The Rebel Group) — which is surprising considering their track record with major and indie labels over their dozen years in the business.
By CHRIS CONTI | July 14, 2009