Quarantine Music, Part 3: Smoke & Mirrors Productions, Ravioli Musick, Addy Edward, and Si Ombrellone

Wow, halfway through Week Seven of COVID closures in the land of AltCtrl….  Here are some songs you can download when bandcamp waives its revenue share on Friday! Despite their name, Smoke & Mirrors Productions is a lot more than just smoke and mirrors.  The Florida recording studio is run by two members of The… Continue reading Quarantine Music, Part 3: Smoke & Mirrors Productions, Ravioli Musick, Addy Edward, and Si Ombrellone

Single Review: Phat A$tronaut’s “Rare Fruit”

New Haven’s Phat A$tronaut does it again with the single “Rare Fruit.”  With twittering flutes and a variety of distinct vocal stylings, the experimental soul band transports listeners from their mundane surroundings — living room couches, seats on the subway — to a magical dance party where everyone is happy and hip and dressed in… Continue reading Single Review: Phat A$tronaut’s “Rare Fruit”

Bone Church: Rolling Ahead at Full Speed with Acid Communion

Coming out March 13th via Ripple Music, Acid Communion will cement Bone Church’s place in the national underground scene.  The New Haven, CT rockers released a self-titled album in October 2017; this new one keeps the best aspects of their previous work while showing the band’s evolving songcraft. Kicking things off with “Heavy Heaven,” Acid Communion… Continue reading Bone Church: Rolling Ahead at Full Speed with Acid Communion

AltCtrlToob: What Is Best In Life? Doom Metal and Pizza

This edition of AltCtrlToob features a few of my favorite things: doom metal and pizza — and documentaries! Thanks to a heads-up from a member of the New England Stoner and Doom Music Facebook group, I checked out The Doom Doc the other day.  This chronicle of Sheffield, UK’s underground doom scene has been several years… Continue reading AltCtrlToob: What Is Best In Life? Doom Metal and Pizza

Grizzlor to Play Record Release Show, 9/23/2017

Everybody’s favorite bummed out noise rockers, Grizzlor, are having a release show for their excellent new album Destructoid on September 23 in New Haven at Three Sheets. Those who were wondering how the band would do on their first full length have to nothing to worry about, because they have shattered expectations. It’s easily one of the best records… Continue reading Grizzlor to Play Record Release Show, 9/23/2017

Album Review: Phat Astronaut Live

In a world that’s recorded to a click track and run through autotune… Where the sound of instruments is replaced with electronic imitations of the sound of instruments… One local band had the courage…. To release… A LIVE ALBUM… Recorded… At their FIRST SHOW. Okay, end movie trailer voice.  Seriously though, who does that?  Great… Continue reading Album Review: Phat Astronaut Live

Show Preview: VALIENT THORR, 7/10/16 at Cafe Nine in New Haven

For about 15 years, this rag tag band of Venusians-by-way-of-North-Carolina have been laying waste to stages worldwide with their high octane brand of punk n roll, which comes off like the MC5 jamming with Thin Lizzy. In fact, lead singer Valient Himself has been named as one of the top modern metal frontmen in another… Continue reading Show Preview: VALIENT THORR, 7/10/16 at Cafe Nine in New Haven