Month: December 2022

Weird Phishes

Weird Phishes is exactly what it sounds like – the iconic melancholy
rock songs of Radiohead completely reborn as danceable, crunchy
jams. With full-album performances, unexpected mashups, and gluey
funk-driven improvisation, their jam-heavy take on alt-rock classics has
sparked unexpected energy in audiences across the northeast.
A quick glance at the band’s social media gives a glimpse into why this
unlikely mashup proves worthwhile. “Bought tickets on a whim
because I love both bands, had wanted to check out the club and
thought it would be amusing. I was not expecting such incredible
musicianship and thought that had gone into their set…it was one of
the best shows I’ve seen in years.” Said one user. “Clean, creative
mashups of a favorite album and great Phish selections. Great energy.”
says another. “Impossibly excellent show.”

In July 2019, Weird Phishes solidified their place in the New England
jam community, playing back-to-back afterparties for Phish’s
performances at Fenway Park. With a growing fanbase and an
ever-changing setlist, the band continued their breakout year with
several headlining performances in Boston and a fall tour to the
midwest, topped off with Phish afterparties in Providence and New
York, and the very last performance at legendary venue Nectar’s
before the pandemic hit. When live music returned in 2021, Weird
Phishes returned with a force. The band made its triumphant return
with a headlining performance at the inaugural Safe and Soundz
festival, and took a victory lap in their home city, selling out the
Aeronaut Cannery and performing at the legendary Paradise Rock
Club.

Chain Station

Chain Station is a 4-piece, high-energy, get ‘em out on the dance floor string band from Denver, Colorado. Their music is well-steeped in Americana roots, with vocal harmonies that are high, lonesome, and tight. Their picking ranges from lightning-fast to mountain mellow. They are a bluegrass band that would satisfy a picky old-timer and delight fans of newgrass, a delicate balance indeed.

They’ve become known for winning over crowds with creative, fun original songs that flow from the mountains, through them and right back to you. Pure Mountain Music! It’s obvious these guys love what they do, engaging their growing fan base with energy and stage antics that guarantee one hell of a night out.

The band’s highly anticipated new album “Backroads” went public May 11, 2019. The album “Where I want To Be” was released October, 2016. In 2015 a live album “Chain Up Volume 1” had a limited release and their debut studio album “Dancin’ With the Law” hit the scene in 2013. Chain Station has directly supported bands such as The Del McCoury Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Devil Makes Three, Todd Snider, Sierra Hull, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Fruition, Trout Steak Revival, The Railsplitters, Lil’ Smokies, Hot Buttered Rum, Deadphish Orchestra and many more.

This band has been living life through music and adventures together for eight years. Relentless gigging in and around their home state of Colorado, and the midwest and Canada has made this band of brothers one of the tightest, most professional ragtag pack of muppets on the scene today.

Miles Over Mountains

Hailing from McHenry, IL Miles Over Mountains plays a modernized style of progressive bluegrass covering a wide spectrum of genres, dynamics, and feeling. Their live catalogue draws from their studio albums “Five Star Heart Breaker” (2015), “Ballads & Burners” (2017), and “Work Harder Not Smarter” (2020).  A new release “Burn the Ships” is on the horizon as they are wrapping up a new full length album due to be out in late 2022. The band has been performing, touring, and making records since early 2014 playing an average of 150+ shows per year throughout the Midwest region and beyond.

The group features Phil Hoffman (upright bass), Caleb Peters (guitar), Sean Shiel (mandolin) and Pete Smith(banjo). Collectively the members of the group have thousands of shows under their belt, giving their songs, sound, and performances a musical maturity that echoes their collective years of passion and experience.

Opal Agafia

Opal Agafia, based in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, embodies the sounds of the Ozark Mountains: a little soul, a little roots, a little rock-and-roll, a little old-timey swing – and a lot of heart. Drawing from many genres, Opal blends the best elements of soul, blues, jazz, gospel, country, swing, and traditional mountain music into a sound that captures the past and boldly pushes ahead.

Opal’s voice is packed with power and emotion; her lyrics are sophisticated yet accessible. The band provides a consistently tight backdrop that pushes every song forward, compelling listeners to pay close attention, lest they miss a single minute of this show. The result is music that’s irresistible, no matter the listener’s background.

Opal, already a skilled songwriter, holds nothing back. She couldn’t if she tried. Every performance seems like their best of the year as the band’s commitment to their music shines. Watching them perform her dozens of originals – with a few covers and jams thrown in now and then – is riveting, as Opal soars at leading the gifted players, effortlessly displaying a commanding stage presence that is as rich as it is rare.

In Her DNA, Perhaps, But Not In Her Original Plans

Even the most studious listener would never know it, but Opal Agafia is relatively new to singing in public.

While a college student studying for a career in marketing, Opal began a songwriting collaboration with her mother, DeAnna Smith, an accomplished writer in other realms. Their songs reflect their deep roots in the Ozark Highlands, as well as their concerns about the current conditions and future of the region. They know their history, but they do not long for it so much as explore how it may shape the future. Their approach is both fresh and familiar.

Opal first performed on stage in January 2015, singing her originals and strumming guitar at a few local joints and smaller music festivals with musician pals and their bands.

In just a few months – cheered on by fans and fellow musicians who admired her work already – Opal Agafia developed a powerful live show backed by: fiddle, mandolin, dobro, acoustic/electric guitar, electric/upright bass, and drums. Together, they put on a high-energy show while taking care to keep the songwriting and vocals in the spotlight.

During that first year, Opal Agafia quickly became a standout in the Arkansas music scene, performing hugely popular sets at festivals such as Highberry and Hillberry, and packed shows at venues from Little Rock to Fayetteville’s George’s Majestic Lounge.

Spring 2016 brought the release their first studio album, “One Down, Forever To Go.” The group’s second album, “Share What You Own,” was released in June 2018 to enthusiastic audiences in packed venues along the album release tour route, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, and more.

With engaging new songs emerging, Opal has debuted many to appreciative live audiences, and it continues to pump out videos as well. The band’s fan base is an eclectic and broad blend of folks from all walks of life, stretching, where they have established successful tour routes filled with eager supporters.

Squeaky Feet

Squeaky Feet is an electrifying band guided by the infinite potential of musical improvisation. The sonic diversity attracts listeners with all types of musical tastes. Whether it’s dance, trance, jazz-funk, progressive rock, or metal, Squeaky Feet delivers something for everyone. The band specializes in cerebral and stimulating compositions, accompanied by relentlessly intoxicating grooves.

Squeaky Feet was conceived within the walls of Berklee College of Music. Its members relocated to Denver in 2018, and their hunger for greatness manifested into what the band is today. Comprised of Colin Shore (guitar/vocals), Greg King (guitar), Jimmy Finnegan (bass/vocals), Brian Keller (keyboards/sax/flute/vocals), and Kevin D’Angelo(drums), Squeaky Feet is poised for success.

Since the beginning, things have happened fast for Squeaky Feet. In 2022 alone, the band has shared the stage with acts such as Dopapod, Aqueous, Neighbor, and Spafford. During this time, they’ve also completed two national tours.

The next chapter for Squeaky Feet is an exciting one. They’re finishing the year by heading into the studio to record their first album. Keep your eyes peeled and follow them on all their musical expeditions.

Guavatron

Is it a fruit? Is it a band? Is it a transforming mechanized battle robot from another planet? Well we aren’t exactly sure but what we do know is that when this quartet comes together and plays it’s not something you want to miss. Based out of West Palm Beach Florida, Guavatron has been taking the southeast music circuit by storm with their smooth jams and hard-hitting peaks of musical ingenuity.

Gaining a loyal fan base through local shows and pop-up campsite sets at festivals, they have as of late been making the way to the top of lineups and opening for national touring bands such as Aqueous, Particle, Perpetual Groove, and The Heavy Pets. With an emphasis on improvisation, Guavatron creates a fresh sound at every show while keeping their roots of dance, rock, electronica, and funk involved.

Freekbass & The Bump Assembly

Freekbass, to the core, is an accomplished bass player with a particular passion for Funk. Yet beyond the instrument, he is also a producer, a songwriter, a teacher, a host, a superhero-geek, and a showman. His unique musical style, a blend of 70’s funkadelic, 80’s synth, electronic dance, and some old-school James Brown flavor, has become a vehicle for Freekbass to spread positivity, while also embracing his funk roots.

Freekbass put together a live band, “Freekbass & The Bump Assembly” and toured relentlessly, expanding his circles and reaching cities, coast to coast. His high-energy live shows led him to the festival scene, and he simultaneously did dates with the supergroup, Headtronics.

The current touring line-up for Freekbass & The Bump Assembly is a 6-piece wonder team that includes Freekbass on bass and vocals, drummer Dione Howard, Sky White on keys (Foxy Shazam), Sammi Garett (previouly Turkuaz), Reilly Comisar on vocals, and Nate Lewis on guitar. The friendships and wealth of collaborative musicianship in this group is apparent on stage, where infectious grooves meet nonstop-energetic performances.