MUSIC: Revival 2013 Comes Back To The Columbus
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
One of my favorite moments of 2012 was Revival at The Columbus Theatre. It consisted of all acts that have roots in Providence taking hold of both the main and upstairs stages for a sold out weekend that will always be etched into my memory. To celebrate the one year anniversary of the re-opening of the glorious theatre, Revival returned with a bang. Along with acts playing both stages, you also had a boatload of talent playing Tony's Barber Shop put on by The Port located on the left side of the building. There was so much going on that I need to clone myself a few times to actually cover every little detail, but I did my best. Once again this past Saturday, The Columbus Theatre was the place to be.
Kicking things off in the Barber Shop, King Sickabilly & His Full Moon Boys brought that trademark rockabilly sound that The Creative Capital has come to love for over a decade. You can't go wrong with rhythmic numbers like "Holy Ghost Revival", "Foolish Foolish Fool" and "Song For A Lost", purely timeless music that always brings a lot of energy. There's a reason why King Sickabilly is considered a legend around these parts, it's because he can rock it like nobody else on any given night. Go see him the next time he rolls through your favorite music venue, I promise you won't regret it.
Next up at the Barber Shop was another one of the most talented songwriters in New England with Dan Blakeslee. You can't help but love his charm and storytelling, his kraken adorned guitar is pretty cool as well. "Valentino", "Sirens & The Oxbow", "Songs To Bring Me Home" and "Girl From Baltimore" encompassed a short and sweet performance. Dan has currently been working on a new album titled Owed To The Tanglin' Wind with The Columbus Recording Company and you can get yourself a copy this April. It should be one of the best albums of 2014 and I can't wait to give it a listen.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOver in the main theatre following a wonderful introduction from Columbus Cooperative & Low Anthem member Bryan Minto, The Rice Cakes took things over for another spectacular performance. With "Halloweenie", a new song in "Hay Fever", "Push & Pull", a version of "Floor Boards" with Roz Raskin on the grand piano and the hit "Yellow Fields", this amazingly talented trio brought out something truly breathtaking. The Rice Cakes have also been working on a new full-length album with The Columbus Recording Company that will be out next year, it very well could be the landmark record of their career.
Joined by ex-French Kicks member Lawrence Stump, Pixels played on the upstairs stage that was at full capacity. "Pepsi Queen", "Leave To-Day", "Oh Boy Lichtenstein", "Je Ne Sais Quoi" and "She Loves You American" were highlights of the best set I've ever seen these guys play. It seems that Andy Davis' guitar gets louder and louder and Queen Melba on drums gets better and better, Pixels straight up killed it. They have a bunch of new songs in the works so expect another one of their signature cassettes to be available soon.
I headed back to the Barber Shop where Haunt The House lead by Westerly musician Will Houlihan had a full band with him for a memorable performance. It was so packed you could hardly move, but it was one of the top experiences of the night. "Burial Waltz", "Arrow", "Black Butte" and "Pity Creek" were my favorite songs from Will's new incarnation. Haunt The House is one of those musical projects that has been gaining quite the buzz around Rhode Island lately. Will's genuinely heartfelt lyrics will enthrall you, please check it out.
I walked back in to the main theatre to see one of the marquee acts of the night in The Low Anthem. When the first song you hear is "Pepsi Moon", you know it's beautiful music that's some of the best Providence has to offer. "The Early Morning Of The Air Hockey Fire", "Apothecary Love" with local rockers The 'Mericans, the baseball classic "I Always Wished I Could Be Like Ozzie Smith" with The 'Mericans, Noah Chevalier, Andy Davis & Last Good Tooth's Alex Spoto, A minor reunion with Jocie Adams for a vintage number "This God Damn House" and "Dreamin' Drunk" highlighted an experience that seemed more like an old-school style revue than just a band playing songs. I couldn't put my finger exactly on it, but it seemed that there was a lot of significant meaning behind The Low Anthem's exhibits on stage. I loved every minute of it and at an occasion like this, why not go all out? The Low Anthem will have a new album out this Spring, from what I hear it'll be their most dreamy record yet.
It's not everyday that you get to see an all-star band play for the first time, but Happiness was abundant on the upstairs stage. With Ravi Shavi's Rafay Rashid joined by Deer Tick's Chris & Dennis Ryan along with Ian O'Neil, you didn't know what songs they were going to play but you knew it was going to be groovy as hell. Vintage old school rock & roll that reminded me a lot of Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, this fearsome foursome kicked major musical ass. It was as if Rafay's swagger invaded everyone else's inhibitions on stage through osmosis, a great display of energy flowed throughout the upstairs like a river. Even at one point Minto got in on the action with his harmonica and Samson Kartaoui read a poem. So wonderful, inventive and cool at the same time, I hope Happiness plays again soon and often.
The last act of the night at the main stage and rightfully so, The Felice Brothers were absolutely brilliant. "Butch Cassidy" began quite the display of rock & roll and going right into "Honda Civic" they took things to a whole new level. Keeping the rhythms at a fever pitch with "Run Chicken Run" and then after a while things got intimate with "I Got What I Need" with James & Ian Felice on stage as a duo. A great ending of their performance with the Mike Tyson ballad "Cus' Catskill Gym" had people yelling at the top of their lungs, non stop dancing right near the guardrails was as if the love of music became contagious. With a frenzied crowd, The Felice Brothers came back for an encore of Neil Young's "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World" that capped off a wild experience. If you ever get the chance to see The Felice Brothers live, do yourself a favor and check them out. There's a reason why they're one of the biggest up and coming rock & roll bands out there today, once you see them live you'll know why.
Very much deserving of being the final act of Revival 2013, Tapestries graced the upstairs stage for what last year's attendees will call "The Joe Fletcher Slot". With Mike DeCosta showcasing his impeccable songwriting talents, Seamus Sullivan proving that he deserves the be in the conversation of who the best drummers in Providence are, Jeremy Joubert flirting with a heightened sense of distortion on lead guitar and newcomer Chris Periera being the backbone on bass, the emotional originality of Tapestries couldn't be touched on this night. A captivating display included "Gardenvision Pt. 2", "Repeat", "Great Mapping Out", "The Fear", "Eye Contact" and a rarity in "Mama Mary" that had DeCosta playing solo with his baby blue guitar. Revival 2013 was just good as last year, and a few people even said it was even better.
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