Monthly Archives: March 2026

Single Review: The Mucks – “Need Your Love”

Posted on by

photo courtesy of BJF Media

Single Review of The Mucks: “Need Your Love” (Flip Flop Records)

“Need Your Love” is a broad-appeal, alt-influence, guitar-based rock and roll song that carries anguished energy from beginning to end, embedded in lead vocalist’s Michael Dunn’s tunefully pained wail. Dunn is joined in The Mucks by Kieran King (bass), Conor McGuire (guitar), Scott Johnson (guitar, vocals), and Max Kendrick (drums, vocals).

image courtesy of BJF Media

The jangly guitar is key to the mainstream-friendly alt-rock vibe of “Need Your Love,” resulting in a song that’s well-suited to the college rock scene but carries all the elements of a tune with crossover appeal. The subject matter that’s so aptly captured by the lyrics is the realization of the weakening of a long-distance relationship. It’s delivered poignantly and on-point – both musically and vocally – to the extent that it’s likely to resonate with a broad swath of potential listeners. However, even if the subject matter doesn’t elicit memories of a personal experience, this raw, emotional, guitar-rich single is sure to strike a chord with mid-tempo rock fans.

photo courtesy of BJF Media

Looking Ahead

It seems that The Mucks’ future is uncertain. Last summer, a few months after this single dropped, the band shared these Instagram posts: first, announcing that the band taking an indefinite break; then, highlighting a parting of ways with a band member. If you dig this song – and it’s a great song! – you may want to follow The Mucks on Facebook or Instagram in order to be connected with the band if/when they reemerge.

Single Review: Orianthi – “Attention”

Posted on by

image courtesy of Frank Roszak Promotions

Single Review of Orianthi: “Attention” (Woodward Avenue Records)

Last summer, Orianthi released her Some Kind of Feeling album. I previously reviewed a couple of the earlier single releases from that album – “First Time Blues” and “Some Kind of Feeling.” Well, a few weeks before the album’s release, Orianthi dropped another single, “Attention,” which I’ll review here.

Of course, with any Orianthi release, you can count on some kickass guitar. And, as I’ve grown to expect, some monster hooks on the singles. “Attention” is an uptempo, insistent, catchy guitar pop-rocker with the nifty vocal “You’re so predictable, you do it every time. Drunk-checkin’ on me in the middle of the night. You know, you know, you know what you pull me through. You just want attention; I’m done thinkin’ bout you.” That’s just some cool – and singalong-able – lyrics!

If you listened to the Orianthi songs I reviewed last year, then you’ll know what to expect when I say “Attention” has the pop-rock sensibilities of “Some Kind of Feeling” and the coolness of “First Time Blues,” wrapped up in an uptempo classic guitar pop-rock package. I really dig this song, and if you like guitar, pop-rock, and/or cool, hooky songs, you’ll enjoy “Attention” as much as I do.

Album Review: The Dogmatics – Nowheresville

Posted on by

photo by Nicole Tammaro Photography; photo courtesy of Knyvet

Album Review of The Dogmatics: Nowheresville (Rum Bar Records)

The Dogmatics are masters of a style of garage rock that’s absolutely swimming in monster hooks. Catchy songs. Low-fi. It’s a crunchy, raucously satisfying meat ‘n potatoes musical combo meal. And Nowheresville, the band’s recent full-length release – its first in nearly 40 years! – is a massive helping of raw, rockin’ comfort food. The fivesome behind this gamey but tasty collection of rock tuneage are Jerry Lehane (vocals, lead and rhythm guitar), Peter O’Halloran (vocals, lead and rhythm guitar), Jimmy O’Halloran (bass), Tom Long (drums), and James Young (vocals, backing vocals, mandolin).

The album kicks off with “Key of B,” a fun, energetic, lyrically silly yet earnest ode to one of a rocker’s most important, life-altering decisions. And with that, The Dogmatics set the tone for this entire raw, rockin’ collection.

Some of the songs are garage rockers that share some punk rock DNA. “You’ve Got What I Want,” for example, has such a raw, energetic feel. “With a Scarlet Letter,” meanwhile, adds a more nuanced rhythm while remaining just as gritty and rough.

cover photo by Mary Lou O’Halloran; cover design by James Young; image courtesy of Knyvet

Other songs – “Rainy Nights,” for instance – have a more country aura filtered through an Americana-rock lens, kind of Eagles-ish. “Con Job,” too, leans that way, though it’s more of a hillbilly-ish rocker – rockabilly? – while if you listen to the lyrics, you’ll be sure to never be caught alone in a dark alley with the songwriters. It is a wicked cool song… with a little extra wicked.

One of my favorite songs on the record, “Nothing to Be Learned,” is a pure melody-driven, roughly-produced, guitar-based pop-rocker. Its catchy rhythm and persistent rhythm guitar line helps it feel as if it’s more energetic than its actual pace dictates. Cool stuff, dudes! And if this is your favorite Dogmatics’ sub-style, “I Can’t Get Over You” is another song you’ll love, with a similar hooky-rockin’ delivery.

My very favorite song on the disc is an instant classic as much because of its lyrics as its tunefulness. “No Likes No Comments” is one of the rawest songs on the album, from a production standpoint – though that nifty guitar solo is in a production sweet spot – but the social media-referencing lyrics are so damn clever. The main line of the chorus, “No likes, no comments, no one cares,” is inspired by itself, but the cherries on top are the more inventive lyrics like “I snapped and I chatted, I tikked and then I tokked. My grams had lotsa instas, but everybody balked.” Poor Threads didn’t even warrant a mention. The song is the silliest on the record, which isn’t an easy task on a disc that opens with “Key of B,” and it’s a lot of fun.

The record ends with a couple balls-to-the-wall rockers, at least in context of the record as a whole. Fast energy. Raw feel. Faster tempos. Indeed, “Library Girl” and “Ball Me Out” are a great offramp from this cool disc. Also, they’re strong indicators that a live Dogmatics is like to be an all-out rock ‘n roll party. I mean, the whole album suggests that, but in case you weren’t paying attention, these last two tracks make sure you notice how cool it would be to catch these guys live!

And if you want to catch a live Dogmatics gig, there are a couple in the Boston area in the next week or two. Just check out the “Shows” tab of the band’s website for more info and to see new performances as they’re added.

Live Review: Brit Floyd at The Vets

Posted on by

photo by Luca DePalo

by Luca DePalo, Contributing Blogger

Brit Floyd

Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Providence, RI

March 1, 2026

On a chilly Sunday night in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, rockers gathered at The Vets to celebrate the legendary music of Pink Floyd with a performance by Brit Floyd on their The Moon, The Wall and Beyond tour. The two-and-a-half-hour set was filled with classics, deep cuts, and fan-favorites that were performed note for note by the 9-piece band.

Having performed over 1,000 shows since the band’s launch in Liverpool, England in January of 2011, Brit Floyd has circled the world, has sold out tours across Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East, and has performed concerts at some of the world’s most iconic venues, including London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, the historic Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, NYC’s Radio City Music Hall, and too many other venues to name.

photo by Luca DePalo

This night was more than a tribute to the legendary founders of the original band – Nick Mason, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Syd Barrett and David Gilmour – but a celebration of their work that still stands as iconic today.

While walking in, I and many others in attendance could just feel a rush of excitement in the air. The venue, built in the 1950s, carried a charm that blended perfectly with the anticipated audience. Conversations echoed, laughter filled the aisles, and every passing second seemed to build toward something… that thing being unforgettable.

As the lights began to dim, the band stormed the stage, opening with the lighter track, “In The Flesh?”, instantly signaling the promise of performing The Wall. The slow, steady build of the intro created a buzzing tension throughout the venue, and perfectly pulled in the audience.

photo by Luca DePalo

Following the first track, classic hits were played from the record such as “Another Brick In The Wall, Parts 1 & 2,” the guitar shining “Hey You,” and the groovy “Young Lust.” Not only did the first set cover tracks from The Wall, but also 1971’s Meddle and 1987’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason, creating the perfectly balanced set. After a 20-minute intermission break, the audience was ready for more power!

Instantly, with the lights slowly turning off, the band kicked into “Breath (In the Air),” starting off the Dark Side of the Moon set. This set included plenty of songs from the album like “Money,” “Time,” “Us and Them,” and many more.

But nothing compared to the performance of the song “The Great Gig In The Sky.” Female vocalist Jessie Lee Houllier absolutely crushed the track; it’s not an easy one to tackle at all, yet she delivered the soaring vocals with confidence and power, earning her one of the loudest standing ovations of the evening.

photo by Luca DePalo

Now with the mention of Jessie, I can’t forget to name the current lineup. Although the lineups have changed every once in a while, Brit Floyd in 2026 is: founding members Damian Darlington (guitar and vocals), Ian Cattell (bass and vocals), Rob Stringer (keyboards and vocals), and touring members Randy Cooke (drums), Rhiannon Dewey (saxophone and percussion), Shannon Fayth (backing vocals), and Lisa Melfi (backing vocals). Every band member contributed to recreating the iconic sound of Pink Floyd’s studio work, which would not be possible with just five members.

Before ending sharp at 10:00, the band finished with the iconic track “Wish You Were Here” and the guitar shining “Comfortably Numb,” before coming back with an encore featuring “Run Like Hell.”

The night truly felt like a throwback to an era when albums were more like experiences than just entertainment. This music of the ’70s carried truth, depth, and clarity, still holding its boldness decades later. For a few hours in Providence, Brit Floyd didn’t just perform some covers of Pink Floyd, they transported the audience back in time.

photo by Luca DePalo

Looking Ahead

You can find upcoming Brit Floyd tour dates on the “Tour” page of the band’s website. The band will be in Boston tomorrow night, March 6th, one of four remaining New England shows before their tour takes them out of the region and, eventually, to every region of the U.S., so check out the calendar for concerts near you.

Meanwhile, Providence locals probably already know to check out the “Events” page of the venue’s website for upcoming performances spanning a variety of the arts at The Vets.

Album Review: Dave & Kristi – The Chickadees

Posted on by

photo by Misty Lyn Photography; photo courtesy of Dave & Kristi

Album Review of Dave & Kristi: The Chickadees

Dave Boutette and Kristi Lynn Davis, who perform as Dave & Kristi, have assembled an exceptionally varied, engaging collection of songs on their most recent album, The Chickadees. The duo draws from a variety of influences – swing, folk, rock, country – to create a signature song. At its core, Dave & Kristi are a singer-songwriter duo. For the most, Dave sings the lead with Kristi serving up the sweet harmonies; their voices are well-paired, with Dave’s slightly rough-edged yet well-enunciated and Kristi’s higher, sweeter, smoothing the rough edges when joining the melody and at other times offering a rich harmony.

The album kicks off with the cheerful, swinging “All Are Welcome Here,” as if from an old-timey traveling musical revue, and follows with the title track, “The Chickadees,” an alt rock-influenced folkabilly number with clever lyrics and phrasing that suggest an affinity for the Barenaked Ladies. The pair slows things down with “Soapbox Soliloquy,” an old-school country influenced folk number.

image courtesy of Dave & Kristi

“King’s Highway” features the two vocalists trading off a bit more and is driven by pickin’ guitar and fiddle, a good old-fashioned mid-tempo bluegrass-influenced banger.

“Truth or Consequences” is a song that’ll sneak up on you. It has a bit of a haunting musical backdrop with a semi-energetic vocal delivery and a whole lotta pickin’. Yeah, it’s a song about Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. That’s just plain cool. And that nifty little guitar line will worm its way into your brain toward the end. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

The influences don’t stop there. “We Swam in Rivers” is a richly-produced, full-throated ’70s folk-rock number.

The mid-point of the album is “Roll,” a favorite largely because of the intricate lyrics and energetic vocals.

Then, after the sweet “Who You Are,” Dave & Kristi launch into an energetic, clever dark Americana number, “Outlaw Polka,” a song so clever both musically and lyrically that it’ll be a fast favorite; even if you don’t usually like lyrically amusing numbers, the music is a fun, hook-filled romp that’ll reel you in. It’s a very Wally Pleasant-ish song, both in topic and catchiness, and even right down to Dave’s delivery of a few lyrics, notably in a mid-song bridge.

photo by Misty Lyn Photography; photo courtesy of Dave & Kristi

“Winter Embers,” next, is an uptempo ditty, a rich Americana number that blends energetic music with a slower, neatly blended mix of the duo’s vocals. “Pledging My Love” could be described similarly, though its vocals lean toward old-school crooning, and there’s some nifty ’50s-recalling guitarwork nestled into a mini-solo.

Penultimate track “You Chase Too Many Things” is a fiddle-driven, tunefully folky number with perhaps a hint of country, though mostly that’s due to the fiddlin’. It’s a song that’ll put a smile on your face, just in time for the melancholy of the album’s closing number, “Pulling from the Shore.” It’s a song that feels like goodbye. So long. A farewell that reminds you of how coolly Dave and Kristi’s voices blend.

The Chickadees is a great end-to-end listen. Even when it’s introspective and deep, there’s a cheerfulness inherent in the Dave & Kristi delivery style. So if you like well-written songs, cool duet harmonies, folk singer-songwriter based musical variety, or simply a collection of songs from which you’ll likely pull at least one or two favorites, it’ll be time well spent giving Dave & Kristi’s The Chickadees a listen.

So, what are my favorite tracks? Well, obviously “Outlaw Polka,” most likely followed by “Roll.” “The Chickadees” is clever. “Truth or Consequences” has a cool aura. But there’s really not a song on this disc that wouldn’t be one of my top four or five on any given day, depending on my mood. Give this album a listen and let me know what your faves are, maybe in the comments.