Bill
Whitsett thinks he isn’t an artist, but he’s wrong. “There’s a big art
scene here in Lowell,” he explains. “When I first came here people said
‘Oh you’re an artist, you fix guitars,’ but I don’t think of myself that
way. I’m a mechanic. Although I appreciate there’s a difference between
this and fixing an Oldsmobile.” More...
Imagine
the echoes of applause reverberating in the walls of an old café. The
mind conjures ageless melodies and envisions beat up hands dancing on
the neck of an old guitar. Throughout the history of American music
these timeless places, reminiscent of another era have always existed.
Such places call to mind ghosts of the past, creating a sense in a
present day visitor that they are stepping back into the far reaches of
history... More...
Terrestrial
radio may be in a crisis. MP3 technology has saturated our lives, and
Satellite radio has begun its quest to do to terrestrial stations what
cable has threatened to network TV. Ironically, the future of
terrestrial radio may lie in its past. What could save radio as a viable
medium is for it to give to its audience what they can’t get anywhere
else: #1 hit music that is likely not to be on your MP3 player, and the
stories and interviews to go with it.
More...
Leave it to the
enigmatic former Beach Boy Brian Wilson—composer of our permanent themes
of summer, architect of the musical spheres that lifted the craft and
technology of recording songs to a place in the sun, magician of harmony,
master of melody, poet of simple joys, collaborative surf rider of musical
tidal motifs of discovery and loss, broken child of inspiration, shaman of
introspection...
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We are living through an
amazing period of technological development. Just look around yourself as
you read this: email, the Internet, MP3's, and the computer itself, have
all exploded into our lives in recent years. And there are more
revolutionary changes to come; technologies so pervasive that you will
literally not be able remember how you were able to live without them -- that
is, how you're living right now.
If you’re looking for a good non-fiction book this summer, look here
first. Boston Beats contributing editor Matt Robinson has picked out nine
great summer titles on the topic of music, with a broad enough selection
that you’re certain to find something that piques your interest. And if
not, there’s always next summer…
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The Boston area
has one of the most active music scenes in the country. For many, the
heart of that scene is Cambridge, home to numerous live music clubs, and
the birthplace of the original House of Blues (may it rest in peace – for
now). For over 45 years, the...
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I cried
like a baby when I woke to the news: Johnny Cash died this morning.
After his wife June Carter Cash passed a few months prior, we all knew it
wouldn't be long before Johnny would join her, but like the passing of Ted
Williams, it did nothing to lessen the blow.
In the past two months,
Johnny looked like death, and a blood-sick media exposed every crease in
his face, every depression in his cheek, and every tremble in his hand.
More...