Single Review: “Take This Rose” by Joeyi

A classical pianist and music teacher, Connecticut native Joe Infurchia has turned to songwriting and just released his first single, “Take This Rose.”  The refreshing pop number harkens back to a time of innocence in courtship and love that has become a unicorn in today’s Tinder world.  “You were so darn pretty,” Infurchia sings, “that I just… Continue reading Single Review: “Take This Rose” by Joeyi

The Road to Slothfest, Part II: An Interview with Deathcrown

Editor’s Note: Deathcrown is another out-of-town band that will be playing Slothfest 2017 at Bleachers in Bristol on Saturday, July 29th.  Let’s give them some stories to take home, Connecticut! Introduce the band to AltCtrl: who are you, where is home, and what were you drinking when the band was formed? I’m Mikael Parks, but many call… Continue reading The Road to Slothfest, Part II: An Interview with Deathcrown

Book Review: A Drink with Shane MacGowan

Much like the usual millennial, I came to know of Shane MacGowan through a random YouTube search. It was a video list of rock stars that should be dead, but aren’t. There were of course the expected culprits; Ozzy Osbourne, Nikki Sixx and Keith Richards. But then they mentioned this guy from an Irish group… Continue reading Book Review: A Drink with Shane MacGowan

The Road to Slothfest: An Interview with West Virginia’s Disillusion Effect

Editor’s Note: Disillusion Effect will be playing Slothfest 2017 at Bleachers in Bristol on Saturday, July 29th.  Let’s give them a warm welcome, Connecticut! Introduce the band to AltCtrl: who are you, where is home, and what events led up to the formation of the band? We are Disillusion Effect from the rolling Appalachian Mountains… Continue reading The Road to Slothfest: An Interview with West Virginia’s Disillusion Effect

Album Review: One Master’s Lycanthropic Burrowing

One Master is one of the leading dark lights in USBM at the moment. For well on 15 years, they have been churning out vicious and malevolent music that isn’t for the weak or false. Their newest album Lycanthropic Burrowing (set for release 7/14/17 via Eternal Death Records) conjures up a maelstrom of serrated riffs, pounding… Continue reading Album Review: One Master’s Lycanthropic Burrowing

Baldwin’s Choice: Magma

It’s satisfying to know that there’s a progressive rock band out there that takes the negative tags associated with the genre and runs with them. French progressive band Magma have answered critical statements like “pretentious,” “bombastic,” and “pompous” with a “hell yes we are” defiance since the early 70s. And they remain to this day… Continue reading Baldwin’s Choice: Magma

Thrift Store Shopping Tips and Tricks, Goodwill Edition

My finds: two nice summer dresses, one casual summer dress, one fall dress, one short sleeved shirt, one pair of shorts, sticky notes, a picture frame, a unopened Pack n Play sheet for my friend, and a "leaf tablecloth."

Second-hand shopping has been a hobby of mine since I was a teenager back in ol “Mecca of the Universe” Branford, Connecticut.  My stepmother Gina and I made regular pilgrimages to the Homemaker Thrift Shop to see what treasures we could uncover, chasing the thrill of finding a great pair of jeans for $5 or… Continue reading Thrift Store Shopping Tips and Tricks, Goodwill Edition