The New England Music Awards & Artist Conference

Saturday April 13th, Noon to 5pm and 7pm to 11:30pm
The New England Music Awards & Artist Conference
The Lowell Memorial Auditorium
Lowell, Ma

The Artist Conference takes place from Noon to 5pm and is totally free to the public!

The Artist Conference will feature guest speakers, panel discussion, and Q&A sessions covering many of the topics most concerning to the independent musicians/artists of New England.

Beginning at Noon on Saturday April 13th

Getting a beat on the future of the industry/keeping time with an ever changing model...
Opening/Info/Welcome

Keynote Speaker: 
Noel Ramos

Session I @ 12:45pm
Bringing Your Beat to a Wider Audience
(making your band viable/attractive to potential managers/booking agents/talent buyers)
w/ Phil Simon & Megan Sabella

Session II @ 2:15pm
Staying On Beat with the Changing Industry,
(dealing with legal issues, publishing, licensing, and ownership of your music)
w/ Tony Timpano & Shannon Sadowski

Session III @ 3:15pm
Marching to a New Beat in the Social Media Age
(marketing, promoting, and advertising your band online, using websites, youtube, facebook, twitter, etc.)
w/ Ryan Spaulding, David Avery, and Mike Cusanelli

***New England Musicians' Merch Mall***

& special performance by Tabula Rasa
(Bryan Worley, Jeffrey Lipsky)

And later that night...

The 2nd Annual New England Music Awards
7:00pm to 11:30pm

For one night, the entire music industry of New England will come together to celebrate! And for one night, The Lowell Memorial Auditorium will transform itself into the biggest nightclub in New England! Finally - a chance for every musical act in New England to meet all their Facebook friends!

Hosted by The Rock Babe, Suzanne Tonaire;
w/ live performances by:

The Luxury
http://www.theluxuryband.com/

Adam Ezra Group
adamezra.com

Hot Day at the Zoo
hotdayatthezoo.com

Winner of the 2012 RJL Memorial Fund Battle of the Bands
Jessica Prouty Band
jessicaprouty.com

The Alternate Routes
http://thealternateroutes.com/

Sarah Blacker
www.sarahblacker.com

Air Traffic Controller
http://airtrafficcontrollermusic.com/

The Veayo Twins
http://theveayotwins.com/

...and a special performance by Doubtful Guest featuring Siobhan Magnus.

Tickets for the all ages event are $10 and $15 and can be purchased online or at The Lowell Auditorium Box Office
http://www.lowellauditorium.com/NEMA.htm

Hotel reservations can be made at:

Lowell/Chelmsford Marriott
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosll-courtyard-boston-lowell-chelmsford/?toDate=04%2F14%2F13&groupCode=NEMNEMA&fromDate=04%2F13%2F13+&app=resvlink

enter rate code NEMNEMA for a discounted stay

Guests may call 800.321.2211 and reference the New England Music Awards Room Block at the Lowell Courtyard by Marriott to make their reservations at the group rate. They may also book directly online using the link above.

Also,

The UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center
http://www.acc-umlinnandconferencecenter.com/hotel-accommodations-en.html
reference the NE Music Awards when booking.

Mapping out "Routes"

This just in,

The Alternate Routes have announced a few tour dates as the seasons comes to an end,  and the dates they have announced seem to also have a bit of  a higher purpose. The money generated from these east coast tour stops will be used to fund and finish the recording of their lasted CD,

according to them; "this video should say it all"

Rebooting the "Mission"

The band Mission Hill has been a staple on the Boston music scene (and well beyond) for quite some time, and while all it's members remains intact and continue to tour,  performing all the songs that have established them as a band on the cusp of greatness. Only the name of the band has changed.

The new CD is called "Head on a String" by Adam Jensen (front-man for the band). The disc contains five original tracks that have picked up right where the act has left off,  it also reinforces and delivers the message that there is no change in Adam's ability to write insightful and catchy lyrics as well as collaborating with the band when creating all the necessary musical arrangements that have made so many of Adam's songs in the past radio ready. Head on a String is no exception here.

The first single "Monster" which can currently be heard/seen on youtbe  (lyrics included) plays like a turning  point of sorts with respect to Adam's writing style. The words are as desperate as they are honest. and while the other tracks on the CD brilliantly show off the bands music that their  fans have come accustom too, the tracks are also delivered with a much deeper introspective look into Adam's maturity as a songwriter. Lets not forget that back in 2010 Adam Jensen won an LA Music Award for "Songwriter of the Year". hopefully someday the Music Awards of his home city will wise up and embrace him in a way he deserves.

Head on a String, the new CD by Adam Jensen contains everything Mission Hill fans are looking for. and it not only shows Adam at the top of his game but it's also a qualifier to list Adam Jensen as one of Boston's most prolific and talented songwriters.

check out the new CD on iTunes, where it currently sits at #8 on the Top Singer/Songwriter Album download list.

Enjoy!

The Best CD of 2012

Perhaps It's a risk labeling a CD with only 3 tracks on it "The Best CD of the Year" but the risk I'm taking appears to be true to form with the risk that Abbie Barrett and the Last Date seem to be taking with last year’s release of The Triples Vol II, a 3 track CD and the 2nd in a series,  with Vol. I released in late 2011 and Vol. III set to drop some time in 2013 (I'm eagerly awaiting this) , these 3 Vols. are a trilogy of tracks producing  a complete album released in 3 parts. 3 CD's each with 3 tracks. A brilliant idea.  And for this reason, along with a few others; The Triples Vol. II by Abbie Barrett and the Last Date is The Drop List’s best CD of 2012.
 
 

I’ll start by qualifying my selection with this simple statement; This girl can write a song! And she is without a doubt one of the better talents kicking around! Her lyrics are stylized, smart, aggressive, and the music is spot on.  With just 3 tracks; Abbie puts on a brilliant display of ability incorporating  all her influence and musical talent. Is it pop? folk? or is it rock? perhaps roots? or a touch of blues? all with a progressive dash. whatever it is, it’s awesome and if the country ever heard this, Abbie Barrett and the Last Date would be selling out venues coast to coast. a bold statement. yes, i know. but I'll stand by it! 

Track 1 "Perfect Math" is a masterpiece of lyrical genius, demonstrating a wisdom and word play unlike anything i have ever heard. required listening for any wanna be female songwriter out there. Track 2 "Soldier" rocks with a bit more aggression while blurring the barriers between the aforementioned genres. closing out this 3 track gem is a tune called "Kingdoms and Castles", a soft pop waltz like track with gorgeous vocals that ramps up to a rocking climax and is best described with one word; "perfection"

There is simply no vulnerability in Abbie's words. yet it’s her influence and this clever writing style which I gush over that also makes her impossible to pigeon hole (I've said this before).  

My theory is this; The current generation of musicians out there have been exposed to over 50 years or popular music, and by hearing everything from Chuck Berry to The Decemberists, as well as all that is in between; Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Nirvana, U2, and Pink Floyd, its no wonder that a song writer like Abbie has emerged and fine-tuned such an ability that goes right to the source when the art and the act of penning a song come to bare. while deep with in the last track "Kingdoms and Castles" the line comes; "so why is she haunted by things she will never retain", not true in Abbie's case, she has retained it all and is using it to its fullest potential.

I love what this woman is doing with words! She’s is a bold enigma and it is both her guts and mystery that is certainly evident in many of her songs. And not just with the songs from last year’s CD. Just give a listen to "Start a Fire" and "Disappointing You" from her debut CD, and you’ll get my drift.  Yes, Abbie Barrett is one of the best songwriters out there, a total diamond in the rough and without a doubt;  a songwriting ability that not only separates her from the rest of the pack, but has her miles ahead of them. 

My choice (hands down) for The 2012 CD of the Year is; 

The Triples; Vol II by Abbie Barret and The Last Date

check it out! 

 http://www.abbiebarrett.com/Home.html

RocK!

Nemes Comes Home!

It's been quite a while since Nemes has played to the hometown crowd of Worcester Mass, but it looks like the wait is over. On Friday Night, Jan 4th, 2013 Nemes comes home! and with many stories to tell when they perform live at Ralph's Diner,

 Since their last hometown gig, The band has toured the east coast on two separate occasions, they have shuttled from Boston to The Big Apple almost on a monthly basis stopping for gigs in Hartford, Connecticut and Albany NY along the way, and thats just the first chapter of their story.

In January the band released their first full length CD "Don't Flush Me" and on Feb 2nd, 2012, Nemes was nominated at The New England Music Awards for "Best New Act".

In March they jumped in the van and took their live show to the annual SXSW Festival and Music Conference in Austin Texas where they impressed the masses and returned to the area with not only a broader fan base but their song "Blue Rose" also earned them a shot at $25,000 in the Mello Yello "One Track Find" contest when they landed on the Top 5 in a nationwide search, an event they entered into while in Texas.

 In April Nemes caught lightning in a bottle when they decided to cover, record, and videotape the Nirvana song Heart Shape Box. Within 48 hours of uploading the file to YouTube the video had received close to 100,000 hits and in the social media age the video also landed on hundreds of shared Facebook pages.... even the Nirvana Facebook page dropped the Nemes cover in front of their 14 Million fans, and the Nemes story continues....

In May the band was offered to open the sold out show at The Bull Run in Shirley Mass. for the fusion rock act Rusted Root a band with over 3million records sold to their credit, and not only did Nemes hold their own with a rare acoustic performance but they have also been asked to do it again on Dec 30 when Rusted Root returns to The Bull Run for a special holiday event!

The halfway point of the Nemes stories in 2012 takes a more serious turn as their dedication and passion for their craft comes to fruition;

In June the band signed with the indie Boston record label; Sugarpop Records and almost immediately they followed this by entering into an exclusive music Lic agreement with OurStage.com  and quickly found themselves on the agencies website Top 40 list of favorites.

 The first half of 2012 was a fast paced ride for these guys, and while the bands story is still unfinished, they continue along at break neck speed as one of the regions fastest rising bands and one of its most prolific performers.

On Saturday January 4th, 2013, in Worcester Massachusetts, at Ralph's Diner,
Nemes; Comes Home!

Sharing the stage with them night will be two other area favorites
The Farmer Union Players and Hard No. 9

Also appearing on the bill is Dressed for The Occasion . a band that is no stranger to Nemes, for the last 6 months both acts have been sharing the stage all over New England! 

I just love the Ladies!

i have decided not to number them, here is a random list of the ladies (of late) that are certainly worth a listen! check'em out!

Abbie Barret and The Last Date; Words and lyrics are brilliant and deliver a clear message.. i can give as good as i get!

Antje Duvekot; a true poet and a wonderful story teller!

Sarah Blacker; The 3 words that best describe her are; vocals, vocals, and vocals. just listen!

 Shea Rose; a stage full of talent, and a cross over sensation waiting to happen.

Grace Morrison and The RSO; with a lot of strings behind her she holds her own out in front very well.

 Nicole Frechette; A country pop act from southern Connecticut? who cares where she is from, it's good!.

 Ashley Jordan; At 19 she is a songwriter who is years ahead of her time, when she finally writes a pop song, watch out!

 Liz Longley; Although she left New England back in July, she still hits the trifecta every time w/ lyrics, vocals, and music.

 Sarah Borrello; "Loud, Furious, and Sexy" and those are her words..but either way, her music is fearless.

 and then there is Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, rapidly rising! nuff said!