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Jon Hope goes with the flow on Work In Progress

Poetry in motion
"It's all about expanding the brand for me in this day and age," says expert Rhody lyricist Jon Hope while recalling his multimedia promotional endeavors since we last caught up.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 29, 2012

Fairhaven makes it epic on Plan A

From Cumberland to Cali with love
I never imagined Fairhaven's arena-sized piano-pop rock sound could get any more "mature and polished" than the swooning anthems on their 2010 debut Origins , but that's how Fairhaven lead singer Alan Connell described the new album, Plan A , when he sent a copy my way a few weeks back. He wasn't kidding.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 22, 2012

Welcome back, Broadcaster

Here they go again
Local indie rock greats Broadcaster may have finally come out from under the proverbial (and literal) black cloud that followed them around for most of last year.

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 15, 2012

Raindance are ready to rage

Blood makes noise
Post-punk quintet Raindance returns with a new EP titled New Blood .

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 08, 2012

Keynote’s Richard Collier is opening doors

Stage struck
When many people dream of a career in music, visions of selling out the Dunk or Gillette Stadium come to mind. Richard Collier has these same aspirations, though he's envisioning them from another angle.

By: JOHNNY GWYNN | May 08, 2012

[R.I.P.] Adam Yauch and the Beastie Boys

Revenge of the Nerds
ADAM YAUCH, a/k/a MCA, was likely inspired to pen those words, that appear in a tossed off couplet in the middle of what would wind up being one of the band’s final singles, by his immersion in the world of illness.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | May 08, 2012

Vudu Sister’s new CD; and Girls Rock! RI hits the ’90s

Wild weekend
There are two big shows of note to squeeze into your stacked Cinco de Mayo social calendar this weekend, starting with the Vudu Sister album release show on Friday, followed by a stellar lineup of local acts covering '90s-era classics on Saturday when Girls Rock! Rhode Island presents "Cover Grrrls."

By: CHRIS CONTI | May 01, 2012

The Tower & the Fool are all fired up for How Long

Nothing to lose
"We don't really have a plan for the band. All we are concerned with at the moment is writing songs that we love and having some fun. If it takes off — great, and if it doesn't, no one is going to be upset.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 24, 2012

Volcano Kings’ trippy soundtrack for Trash Can City

Death-defying
Pawtucket-based instrumental syndicate Volcano Kings celebrates its full-length debut release, 11 Ways to Avoid Death in Trash Can City , with a hometown throwdown next weekend at the News Cafe.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 17, 2012

Here they come: the Small Factory reunion show!

Happy to see
For those of us continually pining and praying for more early '90s indie-rock reunions (Archers of Loaf, the Promise Ring, and the Afghan Whigs all on tap this year!), we just scored a big one on the local front ...

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 11, 2012

The General Assembly’s State of the Union series

Building a bridge
Don't worry, we ain't talking politics here.

By: CHRIS CONTI | April 03, 2012

The Rice Cakes take the WBRU Rock Hunt title

And the winner is ...
A jam-packed crowd rocked out at the Met on Friday, and the highly-appreciative bands clearly fed off the energy throughout the evening.

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 27, 2012

The Roots Hoot offers an intimate musical experience in Peace Dale

Bringing it all back home
Richard Buckner, the roots rock vagabond, is pacing the floor and checking his gear.

By: BENJAMIN GOULET | March 21, 2012

Six Star General get into the groove on Splinter

Psychedelic embrace
Six Star General continue to crank out top-shelf indie-rock records, and their eighth studio effort, Splinter , finds guitarist Kyle Jackson, drummer Dan Ulmschneider, and bassist/vocalist Mark MacDougall peaking hard through concise and potent bursts of stoner sludge."

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 14, 2012

The 2012 WBRU Rock Hunt semi-finalists, Pt. 2

More March Madness!
Two walkoff winners dominated the opening round of the 2012 WBRU Rock Hunt semifinals last weekend, with the Rice Cakes and URI alums Kingston 530 advancing to the final four.

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 06, 2012

The 2012 WBRU Rock Hunt semi-finalists, Pt. 1

March madness
March is upon us (already?) — let the 'BRU bracketology commence!

By: CHRIS CONTI | March 01, 2012

The first class: The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame's 2012 inductees

Ocean state hit parade
Rick Bellaire, one of the organizers of the new Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, says he sees it all the time: locals unaware that a prominent, national act has Rhody ties.

By: PHOENIX STAFF | February 22, 2012

Dirty Hank and Reason tap the bottle and hit the mic

Blooze brothers
Local lyricists Dirty Hank and Reason revel in drunken debauchery all over The Monty Brogan EP (Poorly Drawn Recordings), released just last week and currently up for grabs as a free download through multiple sites (check the end of these words for links).

By: CHRIS CONTI | February 21, 2012