The Valley Advocate: Music

Art in Paradise: And a One and a Two
Polka: it's a whole other world.
By James Heflin

Behind the Beat: Friends in Rock

Brian DiPippo wasn't too sure he wanted to jam with co-worker Lynn Simonds when the two discovered...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes, Stornoway, and Disquiet
By Advocate Staff

So Glad He Made It

The literally heart-stopping adventures of Northampton singer/songwriter Roger Salloom
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: Body Of Work

Local notables head out to Transperformance XX; rappin' with Skid Row's Rachel Bolan.
By Gary Carra

Art in Paradise: Sustained Executive Achievement
The recording industry wants your help in protecting its profits.
By James Heflin

In the Van with the Band

The flash and dazzle of touring barely make up for the danger and discomfort.
By Mark Roessler

Behind the Beat: Acoustic Alchemy

Magic. That's how guitarist Joe Belmont and flutist Sarah Swersey describe the first time they made...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Ry Cuming, The Stone Coyotes, and Gitar
By Our Readers

Sounds Under the Stars

A celebration of music and friends at Campout Fest in Palmer
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: Doctored Vocals

Chris Barron bounds back from voice-threatening injury; Stone Coyotes' Turn to celebrate.
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts

Eilen Jewell, Black Helicopter, and Rusty Belle
By by Advocate Staff

Behind the Beat: DIY, Together

Ampere
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: Bus Stop

Aaron Lewis looks to reopen a local school; Mazz dips back through the decades.
By Gary Carra

Art in Paradise: Kids' Rock for Haiti
Bill Childs starts a new label with the benefit compilation
By James Heflin

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Teenage Fanclub, Eli Paperboy Reed, and Ghost Quartet
By Advocate Staff

Behind the Beat: Vinyl Junkie

Brendan Rule, aka DJ Andujar, is a music evangelist. The Holyoke-born Greenfield resident is one of...
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: KISSing Up

Big Shot moves beyond Billy; Stuntmen Bourne to be mild?
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Watcher, Flying Lotus, and Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse
By Advocate Staff

Behind the Beat: Blues from Greenfield

Shamus "S.P." Hogan's inspiration for playing the blues mirrors that of countless players before him:...
By Matthew Dube

Soulfighting Man

Springfield poet and activist Maurice "Soulfighter" Taylor accentuates the positive.
By Matthew Dube

Behind the Beat: Paper and Fire

For most bands, there's a moment that comes, while jamming or writing or performing live, when things...
By Matthew Dube

Behind the Beat: Back for a One Night Stand

Fistah was born thanks to a naked ass. Back in 1994, Northampton's legendary Unbandﾗguitarist/singer...
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: Steamtrain Keeps A-Rollin'

Aloha Steamtrain is Iron Horse-bound; this week brings "Tower" to the people of Great Barrington
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Rangda, Crystal Castles, and James Blackshaw
By Advocate Staff

Art in Paradise: The Art of the Empty Gig
Sometimes no one is the best audience.
By James Heflin

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Blitzen Trapper, Perfume Genius, and Mission Man
By Advocate Staff

They Be Sometimes

"It's weird. We don't even have to talk," says guitarist/singer Ernie Senecal of his partnership with...
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: The Lewis Expeditions

Aaron's arsenal and audience expand with new hunting reality show; your chance to play Jerry's MDA Telethon.
By Gary Carra

Nightcrawler: The People "Spoke"

Cityblock series officially redubbed Bike Night; Greenfield Arts Elective pairs award-winning authors with genre-jumping audio.
By Gary Carra

Nightcrawler: Hallowed Be Thy Thane

"Crazy bastard" wanted for new metal project; the end of the (Route 63) Road...house
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts

Serena Maneesh No 2: Abyss in B-Minor (4AD) According to lead singer Emil Nikolaisen, Serena...
By Advocate Staff

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Harlem, Mingus Big Band, and Jesca Hoop
By Advocate Staff

By Any Other Name

Band moniker maneuvering aplenty at Greenfield Rockfest; Gretchen fetchin' dollars for St. Jude Hospital.
By Gary Carra

Behind the Beat: Punching the Clock

"Love is such an over-used topic in music, but I've never written love songs much. I'm interested in...
By Matthew Dube

Art in Paradise: De-evolution at Last
Devo is back when we need them most.
By James Heflin

Behind the Beat: From Ether to Earhole

"Hell, yeah, we're an actual conduit!" exclaims Conduit guitarist and singer Seth Allison. "From the...
By Matthew Dube

Recess Rock

Local "kindie" band R.O.C.K. is set to rock socks off at its CD release party.
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Jonsi, Harper Blynn, and Mystery Jets
By Advocate Staff

Live from Palmer

Palmer musicians and music lovers are a resourceful lot. Faced with a dearth of traditional venues,...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: The Fall, Pavement, Dream Syndicate
By Advocate Staff

Herd About This New Venue?

Donna The Buffalo inspires Picadilly Pub talent buyer; fiddle-laden family fair in Enfield; Adrian is anything but antiquated.
By Gary Carra

Nightcrawler: Bollocks to Practicing

Big Bad Bollocks celebrate two decades of debauchery; new discs from the Killville camp.
By Gary Carra

Behind the Beat: A Man of a Thousand Shows

Chris Dooley is a one-man force of nature. The Holyoke resident has produced, promoted, played in and...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Trembling Bells, Ratatat, Gabor Szabo
By Advocate Staff

Getting Rude

Australia's Rudely Interrupted turn "disability" upside down.
By James Heflin

A Summer Romance

Springfield's Mark Mulcahy launches another avant garde opera with cartoonist Ben Katchor.
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Sweet Talks, Delorean and LCD Soundsystem
by Advocate staff

Behind the Beat: Electric Youth

Ah, mercurial youth. Northampton-based Lux Deluxe are so early in their musical journey that they had...
By Matthew Dube

Not Quite Finished in This Town

The rise and fall and rise of Mal Thursday
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: West Side Story

Annual Taste sews some high profile sounds into its weekend of savories; pig roasts with purpose; a local Pearl Jam connection.
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Rolling Stones, Holy Fuck, and Mainly Lanes
By Advocate Staff

Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys

Some people think that our Hawaiian president just isn't American enough. On the other hand, Hawaii...
By Tom Sturm

Behind the Beat: Fiesta Forever

Chris Rea and Ray Keane see the birth of Keane's son the morning after their first jam session as a...
By Matthew Dube

Metallic Clouds and Pink Robots

Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne (pictured in his "man-sized plastic bubble") may be one of the oddest...
By Tom Sturm

Roger, Wilco

Fans of Wilco can get a healthy dose of the band (and related side projects) when it comes to the Valley...
By James Heflin

Family Fun
The only music festival in Massachusetts that also features hot air balloons (and balloon rides) returns...
By Michael Cimaomo

Nightcrawler: Mal Functions

Noho notable Mal Thursday returns to front two local reunion shows; breaking Summerwind news.
By Gary Carra

Behind the Beat: Dream Songs

Valley band Oweihopsﾗsinger/songwriter and guitarist Michael Metivier, drummer and multi-instrumentalist...
By Matthew Dube

Art in Paradise: Are We Not Men?
Hertz and Devo: a battle for musical soul
By James Heflin

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Cindy Blackman, Krokus, and The New Pornographers
By Advocate Staff

Sweet Apple Solution

Area rock vets Dave Sweetapple and J Mascis help a friend rock away the blues.
By Matthew Dube

Art in Paradise: Welcome the Ruckus
Hip-hop from the hills offers unexpected pleasures.
By James Heflin

Behind the Beat: Damaged Goods

"My dream bill would require a time machine and several venues," says longtime Valley rocker Mike Dumont,...
By Matthew Dube

The Rare and Wonderful Treefort

One of the best and most elusive Valley bands is discovered playing an amazing May Day gig at The Basement in Northampton.
By Mark Roessler

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Joanna Newsom, Bourgeois Heroes, and Vivian Girls
By Advocate Staff

Nightcrawler: Marching To A Different Beat

Tommy Lee trades the drum throne for turntables; Caravan of Stars books more shows.
By Gary Carra

Nightcrawler: Summit Meetings

Summit View kicks off summer concert series; Barely Legal returns with back-to-back gigs.
By Gary Carra

Punks Not Dead

Stars realign for local punk luminaries The Marshes.
By Matthew Dube

Meet Paul Hansbury of Treefort

Conversations with the Valley's greatest songwriter, no longer living in the Valley.
By Mark Roessler

Filthy Lucre: Part II

Public Image Ltd. swings through Hamp on a leg of its first U.S. tour in 18 years.
By Tom Sturm

Behind the Beat: Automatic for the People

Like the old Baystate Hotel music venueﾗeventually reborn as Sierra GrilleﾗNorthampton's...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Iggy and the Stooges, Kevin Burke and Cal Scott, and Joe Bonamassa
By Advocate Staff

Art in Paradise: Turn Off, Tune Up, Unplug
The acoustic guitar may yet get its due in the rock world.
By James Heflin

Behind the Beat: Palindrome Rock

Robert Robinson started the band sore eros a decade ago in Enfield, Connecticut, as an outlet for his...
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: Mountain Men

Tim Eriksen drops four discs between now and July 4; Mountain Park summer schedule takes shape.
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Sitting Next to Brian, Tim Eriksen, Kleenex-Liliput
By Advocate Staff

Behind the Beat: A Tower of Toothpicks

Greenfield's Steve Koziol is a funny guy. Sharp and astute, he is one of those musicians with a unique...
By Matthew Dube

Art in Paradise: DIY Paradise
Flywheel is back, and Easthampton is better for it.
By James Heflin

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Barbara Lynn, Kaki King, and Owen Pallett
By Advocate Staff

Behind the Beat: A Dream in Sound

On stage, Amherst-based experimental musician Jack Callahan transforms into what he refers to as a...
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: (Nitro) Nine Lives

Nitro Nine members reassemble with new name and purpose; Men At Work frontman talks shop.
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Crooked Still, Foxy Shazam, and Spoon
By Our Readers

Nightcrawler: Testing Their Metal

Heavy music in New England; gearing up for Strange Creek; Cantara keeps it local.
By Gary Carra

Behind the Beat: Unquantifiable

A Troop of Echoes jam a lot of different influences and styles into their brand of "saxophone and snarly...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Chris O'Brien, Yeasayer, and David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
By Advocate Staff

Behind the Beat: Wild Horses Roam

Most bands' live sets are met with the usual variety of responses: a polite round of applause; vague...
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: Going to Extremes

The Gary Cherone interview
By Gary Carra

From Here to Dakar

The Senegal-America Project visits the Academy of Music with a globe-spanning tale to tell.
By James Heflin

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Liars, Joanna Newsom, and Various Artists
By Advocate Staff

Nightcrawler: Christ, You Know It Ain't Easy

Losito leaps from Lennon to Jesus; a must-see show for Negative Creep fans.
By Gary Carra

Art in Paradise: Swing Like A Belgian
Nashville's John Jorgenson wrestles with the demands of Gypsy jazz and comes out on top.
By James Heflin

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Rafter, The Flaming Lips & Star Death and White Dwarfs, and The Suitcase Junket
By Advocate Staff

Behind the Beat: From Street to Stage

Bella's Bartok comes from the streetsﾗliterally. Its members were busking in Great Barrington...
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: Big Night for Little Red

Chris O'Brien's happy homecoming; Spouse in the house for April Fool's Day
By Gary Carra

Behind the Beat: No-Frills Thrills

When Amherst band The Frills needed help naming their soon-to-be-released debut album, they turned...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Girls, As Yet Quintet, and Jamie Kent
By Advocate Staff

Graph Charts Its Course

The band Graph likes to call Whately's Fillin' Station Diner home, using it as a centralized base of...
By Matthew Dube

Art in Paradise: Get On Your Boots
Girl Howdy and the vintage country scene
By James Heflin

Nightcrawler: Record Timing

Platterpus packs it in; some Bitch-ing CD release parties.
By Gary Carra

The Last Record Store

Valley-based Turn It Up! remains a successful outpost of old-school music-buying.
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Ted Leo and the Pharmacist, Patty Larkin, and Hot Chip
By Advocate Staff

Nightcrawler: Rebel Rousers

Dredi frontman contributes to anti-war anthem; a tribute to Chesnutt.
By Gary Carra

A Bustle in Your Hedgerow

The Primate Fiasco takes on "Led Zeppelin IV" and wins.
By Mark Roessler

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: James Keyes, Lisa Bigwood, and Joy Kills Sorrow
By Advocate Staff

Behind the Beat: Two Dudes in a Room

"I was kind of considering that me playing music and recording music was kind of over with, that that...
By Matthew Dube

Art in Paradise: Ode to an Oud

Weird instruments and unusual ways of tuning are getting easier to find.
By James Heflin

Nightcrawler: They've Got Umph

Umphrey's McGee showcases eclecticism at the Calvin; Nuggets Night mines '60s psychedelic gold at the Rendezvous.
By Gary Carra

Behind the Beat: Daydream Nation

The Original Cowards began life as the recurring daydream of a local sixth grader. "The band started...
By Matthew Dube

Behind the Beat: Flight of the Falcon

Jesse Smith grew up with sisters who could all sing the daylights out of an Irish ballad. Yet despite...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Beach House, Jason Collett, and Chris Pureka
By Advocate Staff

Nightcrawler: Happy Ending

Mark Sheehan goes from battle mode to Bowie; Henning O. heads up new open mic series.
By Gary Carra

Behind the Beat: Homeward Bound

Eddie Holly has lived a nomadic existence for the better part of the last decade, pursuing work wherever...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Vampire Weekend, Castanets, and Friends of Yours
By Advocate Staff

Nightcrawler: Kaya Comes Full Circle

Po' Girl to pound the pavement; Parrotheads party with a purpose.
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts
Reviewed this week: Titus Andronicus, Various Psych-Funk Artists, and Black Francis
By Advocate Staff

Nightcrawler: Mac Attack

Why Lindsay Mac approaches her instrument differently; Aaron Lewis interview, part two.
By Gary Carra

The Rainmaker Returns

Legendary guitar man Michael Chapman pays homage to a fallen friend.
By Matthew Dube

Art in Paradise: Viva Edison
Tom Ardolino offers fans a new release of his earliest efforts?on vinyl.
By James Heflin

Behind the Beat: Frightening Facial Hair

A lot of things can happen when a spouse leaves town for a couple of weeks, and few of them tend to...
By Matthew Dube

CD Shorts

This week: Orchestre Poly Rhythmo de Contonou, Postdata, and Michael Bulbe
By Advocate Staff

Art in Paradise: Spare a Recording, Mister?
In the midst of a difficult economy, local musicians have an even tougher time.
By James Heflin

Behind the Beat: One Band Under a Groove

Tidwell's Treasure's second Northampton gig turned out to be a fortuitous one: the East Longmeadow...
By Matthew Dube

Lewis' Expeditions

The Nightcrawler catches up with Staind singer Aaron Lewis.
By Gary Carra

Feed the Need
The Pioneer Valley has already proven its amazing capacity for giving in the wake of the local arson...
By Tom Sturm

Yes: Perpetual Change

The faces of Yes are surely chiseled into the Mount Rushmore of progressive rock, staring down from...
By Tom Sturm

Musical Alchemy

To many the practice of alchemy is merely the misguided medieval attempt to turn base metals into gold....
By Michael Cimaomo

Art in Paradice: Cornerstones

The Valley's longest-playing musicians keep on making news.
By James Heflin

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: 70s French Psychedelic, Chris Pureka, and Graph
By Advocate staff

Something Phishy

Why the region's most famous jam band became a victim of its own success
By Alan Bisbort

Nightcrawler: Yankee Candles

Josh Lattanzi rises from the shadows of projects past with The Candles; music community bands together for arson and Haiti benefits.
By Gary Carra

Trippy Phish Phacts
Are Phish Deadheads? How did they get their name? And other trivia...
By Alan Bisbort

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Broadcast & The Focus Group, Rusty Belle, and The Flaming Lips
By Advocate Staff

Sound Check: Levin Rising

Levin Schwartz is a busy man these days. In addition to teaching numerous music lessons each weekﾗboth...
By Matthew Dube

Nightcrawler: Daddie's Home

Cordelia's Dad founding member Tim Eriksen goes it alone; tribute to "Big Ray" attracts sizeable array of talent
By Gary Carra

Behind the Beat: Parlour Games

Vancouver's Parlour Steps is dedicated to the art of the single, trafficking in three-minute chunks...
By Matthew Dube

Art in Paradise: Sounds of Haitian History

Alan Lomax in Haiti
By James Heflin

Nightcrawler: One Last Shot

Shoot The Dancing Bear brings the love; Black Friday at The Elevens.
By Gary Carra

CD Shorts

Reviewed this week: Carrie Rodriquez, Various of France's finest young Gypsy-style guitarists, and Laura Veirs
By Advocate Staff