The Persian Claws from Burlington, Vermont deliver a heavy dose of stripped down, powerful rock and roll. With a garage punk-rock sound steeped in late 1960’s surf styled riffs, these troubadours of raw rock and roll power have delivered a dangerous set of tunes with their album, Caged and Unreleased. [...]]]>

The Persian Claws

The Persian Claws from Burlington, Vermont deliver a heavy dose of stripped down, powerful rock and roll. With a garage punk-rock sound steeped in late 1960’s surf styled riffs, these troubadours of raw rock and roll power have delivered a dangerous set of tunes with their album, Caged and Unreleased. You can purchase their album by visiting them on Bandcamp. If you dig solid, well-crafted punk rock, go see the Persian Claws live.

This soundcentury podcast features: Hotrats – I can’t Stand It – Chain and the Gang – For Practical Purposes (I Love You) – The Persian Claws – Novacaine > Dirty Knees > Ghostified – Big Pimp Jones – The 258th Style Mastered – Soul Sugar – First Come
**Filler music – Mellow – Rivolizione Sessantanove

The whole festival has got a really laid back vibe and lot’s lot’s of really good music. [...]]]> Very pumped to head back to this years second annual Free Range Music Festival taking place in Belfast, Maine on Saturday April 30th. Last years festival was super cool. This year will be sure to rock again.

The whole festival has got a really laid back vibe and lot’s lot’s of really good music. All kinds of little cafes, bars and theaters host bands throughout the day and night. You can just bounce around and check whoever you want out. Hillytown, a music blog about indie rock in Maine, released a 2011 Free Range Music Sampler. You can listen to it below.

There are going to be some killer performances this year. The classic Michael Hurley will be there. That alone is reason enough to not miss it. I featured two of his songs in my recent podcast featuring “Hot Day at the Zoo.” But, I think I am most excited about the Rattlesnakes from Portland, Maine. These guys sound really good and I am looking foreword to catching them live. Here are some tunes by the Rattlesnakes.

The folks over at Sarathan Records, a very hip record label based out of Seattle, WA, recently got in touch with me to let me know about Jason Spooner. A successful songwriter, Jason Spooner hails from Maine, but now tours all over the states.

I unfortunately missed his recent performance at [...]]]>

Jason Spooner

The folks over at Sarathan Records, a very hip record label based out of Seattle, WA, recently got in touch with me to let me know about Jason Spooner. A successful songwriter, Jason Spooner hails from Maine, but now tours all over the states.

I unfortunately missed his recent performance at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, Maine. I heard it was an amazing show. But you have another opportunity to catch them live in Maine when Spooner and his band rock out the Brian Boru Pub in Portland, Maine on St. Patty’s day. Go check them out if you can.

The song, Black and Blue from the album The Flame you Follow, that I have featured in this post is available as a free download on the Jason Spooner website.

Turn the volume up just enough so you can still hear the wind rustling through the leaves, crack open a cold one and set aside some time to have a listen to The Days Weight.

It’s sobering music that digs down deep into the darker corners where the shadows lurk. [...]]]>

The Days Weight

Turn the volume up just enough so you can still hear the wind rustling through the leaves, crack open a cold one and set aside some time to have a listen to The Days Weight.

It’s sobering music that digs down deep into the darker corners where the shadows lurk. Rays of sunshine may trickle down through in the form of lofty, weightless piano, guitar and shining mandolin work, but it remains steeped in shadowy soul.

Slightly western with an indie-rock attitude, this entire album breathes vintage, timeless rock and roll.

You can learn lots more about the Vermont based band, The Days Weight on their website. Stay tuned into this band and try to go see them live if you have the opportunity.

This Soundcentury Podcast features: Roy Budd>Love is a 4-Letter Word – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club>Science Killer – The Days Weight>Runaround>The Game is Over>Drowned – Beastie Boys>Fibonacci Sequence – Boris Gardiner>Funky Nigger

I am yet to catch a live show by Bangor rockers, The Sweet Terror, but I am quite sure that the band can deliver an edgy, powerful performance. They remind me of a classic post-punk Echo and the Bunnymen.

The Sweet Terror have been busy recording this past year and [...]]]>

The Sweet Terror

I am yet to catch a live show by Bangor rockers, The Sweet Terror, but I am quite sure that the band can deliver an edgy, powerful performance. They remind me of a classic post-punk Echo and the Bunnymen.

The Sweet Terror have been busy recording this past year and will soon be releasing a brand new album. This podcast features a few of these newly recorded tracks. The band will be out playing live shows soon featuring this new material.

Visit The Sweet Terror on Facebook to learn more about this Bangor, Maine based rock band.

This Soundcentury Podcast features: Frank Black – Seven Fingers>Insidious Rays – Itsy Bitsy – The Sweet Terror – Daisy Cutter>Bird Song>Sharks>Magicians Assistant – Superchunk – Learned to Surf (acoustic version)>World Party – Private Revolution.

Portland, Maine musician and songwriter Eric Bettencourt presents a catchy mix of soulful, pop-infused folk rock held together by well-written tunes and rock solid musical craftsmanship.

Bettencourt is a well-versed guitar player who moves around on electric, acoustic, lead and rhythm. He has got his hands full leading an independent label, [...]]]>

Eric Bettencourt

Portland, Maine musician and songwriter Eric Bettencourt presents a catchy mix of soulful, pop-infused folk rock held together by well-written tunes and rock solid musical craftsmanship.

Bettencourt is a well-versed guitar player who moves around on electric, acoustic, lead and rhythm. He has got his hands full leading an independent label, Shadow Shine Records and running a personal recording studio that also caters to local Portland bands.

Bettencourt is a distinguished musical force in the Portland music scene earning 1^st place in the Best Folk Act category and 3^rd place in the best album category with The Giraffe Attack Collection, in the 2010 Best Music Poll sponsored by the Portland Phoenix.

You can discover more about this exciting artist by visiting eric-bettencourt.com. This podcast features a collection of songs encompassing several albums released over the years by Bettencourt.

You can purchase his music through his website or by clicking here.

This Soundcentury podcast features: Hajime Tachibana – Moog Power – Date of Birth – Aim At El Paso – Eric Bettencourt – Delaney>Two Wine Glasses>Lost Weekend>The Plan>This Big House – The Kinks – Mr. Churchill Says

When you are traveling down an interstate going 70 mph, with two surfboards on your roof, and a bike hanging off your trunk, you are generally thinking about two things. The first thing is how long it is going to take you to get to where you are going and the second [...]]]>

Mudseason

When you are traveling down an interstate going 70 mph, with two surfboards on your roof, and a bike hanging off your trunk, you are generally thinking about two things. The first thing is how long it is going to take you to get to where you are going and the second is how cool it going to be to ride your boards and peddle your bike.

It is not until you look into your rearview mirror to witness your freshly tuned mountain bike floundering around on the hard pavement that you begin to seriously consider a third thing. Motherfu…..!!! and a couple more harsh ol’ words. My bike is screwed.

My bike took a hard tumble for sure, but lucky for me, no vehicles behind me to ground it up into further bike mince-metal. I just collected it on up, threw it on the back of the car again, much more secured of course, and was happy that my boards were all nice and secure. Thankfully, the waves were sweet and the water was pretty warm for Maine.

So, after a long day of riding waves, I popped into Roses, our local bike shop here in Orono, Maine, and had them do a little damage assessment. Pretty much all you can do. Well, just afterwards, I ran into Anthony Ambrosino from the local band Mudseason and he was all smiles.

You see, Mudseason has been booked at the Nateva Festival taking place in Maine this July 4^th weekend. Mudseason has been rocking central Maine for quite some time now, laying down a beautiful blend of jam-folky-funk-rock to a growing base of fans.

They are extremely excited about playing Nateva Festival on Sunday, and will have some special guest musicians joining them onstage, including Les Rhoda on the Sax. Check them out on this Soundcentury podcast and if you dig what you hear, keep an eye out for this band who have absolutely no plans on staying at home. Go see em’ live.

This Soundcentury podcast features: Jack McDuff – Downhome Style> LCD Soundsystem – Pow Pow> Speedometers – School Days – MudSeason – A Road to Nowwhere>Nowhere>Stomp – The Chakachas – Jungle Fever

Soulful, well-crafted lyrics are not easy to come by. Lyrics, which are both timeless and universal, are as beautiful as mist on an early summer morning and as rare as a rainbow in winter. Singer/songwriter and accomplished guitarist Jeremy Harple is a musician who knows how to write [...]]]>

Jeremy Harple. Photo by Strainephotography

Soulful, well-crafted lyrics are not easy to come by. Lyrics, which are both timeless and universal, are as beautiful as mist on an early summer morning and as rare as a rainbow in winter. Singer/songwriter and accomplished guitarist Jeremy Harple is a musician who knows how to write a song.

The Vermont singer-songwriter has written more than 300 original songs over the years and has played countless shows throughout the many music venues in New England.

Harple takes his lyrics and seamlessly blends them with witty, creative guitar playing. Countless audiences have witnessed Harple pick beautiful tight lines around the banjo or guitar, while laying down blues on the harmonica.

Kick back, relax and have a good listen to this talented musician from Vermont. His songs may only be known to small pockets of fans at the present time, but lyrics like these carry messages that will soon be heard far and wide.

Check him out on the fourth of July at Johnny Fest in Alburgh, Vermont. Visit his website to learn more about his music, as well as purchase some of his many recordings.

This Soundcentury podcast features – Jimmy Reed – Jumpin’ Jimmy – Jeremy Harple – What About Me>Bill Collector>Jericho “live”>Shadowtown>Barista – Bobby Bland – Going Down Slow

Jeremy Harple. Photograph by Strainephotography