“I’m looking for something that’ll…break through. You know?” James Woods’ Max Renn yearns in David Cronenberg’s 1983 cult classic Videodrome. Oh, how things have changed. In today’s day and age, we’ve drowned in media. It’s swallowed us. We’re nothing but a bubble amidst one infinite, engulfing abyss. Intimidated? You should be. With each passing second, you’re losing opportunities to take advantage of a culture that’s moving ahead and at an exhausting rate. You could very well be alone…left behind…abandoned. Terrified yet? Yes? Well, that’s more like it.

-Michael Roffman
President/Editor-in-Chief

Color Radio – “Quiet House”

Camping in the woods alone can often be a nerve-wracking event. The woods are already scary, but imagining what’s outside the safety of your tent can lead to a long night.

CoS Interview with Childish Gambino

Donald Glover has had quite a few great past years. From his work with the Derek Comedy Troup, to his roll as Troy on Community, he now reps his brand of swagger with Childish Gambino. In this interview, the comedian/rapper talks about aliens, his favorite love song, and cracking the right jokes.

Ducky – “Windup Bird”

For Babs, the mirror had two faces. For Ducky, well…

High Places – “Sonora”

Bloody, muddy, and dreamy: just be thankful you don’t live in this neighborhood.

M + A – “Bam”

It’s wild what some clever editing and wildly inventive music can do when combined. You can thank the house music genre.

No Cover: Life Behind the Scenes

The people of No Cover bring forth a montage of what life is like on the set. Between their director always demanding “quiet on the set”, a group of actors with a sense of humor, and a huge appreciation for plaid, this certainly shows what the No Cover life is truly all about.

Pterodactyl – “School Glue”

“They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you… my only son.” So, apparently Jor-El is Pterodactyl’s leader.

PYYRAMIDS – “That Ain’t Right”

Here’s how Timothy Leary’s arts & crafts time went. Warning: Wear your sunglasses.

Seventeen Evergreen – “Polarity Song”

If only all trips to the local thrift store were this exciting. Or, maybe not.

Talkdemonic – “City Sleep”

If you’re waiting impatiently for Paranormal Activity 4, the wait is over…

“We listen to music to understand what we do, and we do music to understand what we listen to.” Those are the words Italian electronic pop duo M+A, comprised of 19-year-old Michele Ducci and 22-year-old Degli Angioli, use to explain the “why” of what they do. The “what” result of that precept will be seen when their debut, Things.Yes, is released November 8th by Monotreme Records. CoS has an exclusive preview of the effort with the premiere of the album cut “Yes.pop”.

Cool and airy electronic chimes plink over a fusion of clipped rhythms to create the dreamy yet danceable atmosphere of the track. Chopped vocals from Ducci and instrumentation from the pair keep it catchy and fresh, illustrating why the band has drawn comparisons to established acts from Phoenix to Panda Bear. Check the track out for yourself just below.

M+A – “Yes.pop”

For a further sampling of what to expect from the young duo, head over to RCRD LBL to hear the track “Liko Lene Lisa”. Things.Yes is out worldwide on November 8th from Monotreme Records and will be available on CD, LP, and as a digital download. The complete tracklisting is below.

Things.Yes Tracklist:
01. Yeloww
02. Yes.pop
03. Liko Lene Lisa
04. Sommer
05. Bam
06. Blå
07. (we)
08. Bergen.jpg
09. Adidas
10. Ly

However, NoHo (I get to call it NoHo because I go to school in the next town over) has much more to offer than just lesbians. Dubbed as the #1 Best Small Arts Town in America by author John Villani in 2000, it’s pretty amazing what this non-metropolitan area has been able to provide to its community: a competitive scholarly environment, a flourishing art scene, cool consignment stores, coffee shops, top-notch restaurants, art-house theaters, and the opportunity to see some of the greatest acts in music today.

There are a handful of music venues that showcase smaller names in music only known to the locals at places like The Elevens (Celtic, folk rock) or the hard-to-find Basement (free jazz, lounge, blues).

Then there’s the other side of the scene, the side that brings in talents familiar to the masses. First, there’s Pearl Street, a two-stage venue, with one downstairs for smaller acts or electro dance parties, and the other (the “Ballroom”), fits more mainstream flair. I’ve been there a few times and have caught acts like Cat Power (I think she was slightly tipsy, but nevertheless gorgeous) and Stars, and others that I can’t recall at the moment, but you get the idea of what type of crowd Pearl Street attracts. It’s definitely the most alluring to the many college students in the area.

Next is the Iron Horse (pictured below), a music club situated on a small side street in downtown NoHo that’s easy to overlook, even when a show is going on. It’s a favorite to the older generation (30-something or 50-somethings) of the town because the shows are generally geared towards the coffeehouse crowd — those that usually sit pensive in old wooden chairs. This isn’t the case all the time though, but the two shows that I have caught (American Music Club, Girlyman) and the upcoming shows suggest the same. If you ever get the chance to see a show at the Iron Horse, try to get there early because you don’t want to be caught standing. Awkwardly placed pillars obstruct the stage just about everywhere and you will most likely spend the evening bobbing your head from left to right; not because you will be feeling the beat of the drummer, but because you’ll be constantly trying to get a decent view.

The granddaddy of all the concert venues in NoHo has to be The Calvin Theater, an ex-movie theater revamped into a grand music monument designed to hold a crowd much larger than one would expect by looking at its moderately sized, yet decadent entrance. The theater’s name is displayed in large, block white lettering on an oversized and protruding marquee during the day, but once dusk hits, bright blue bulbs illuminate the Calvin name.

The interior is just as posh as the exterior. As you first step into the theater’s lobby, you will instantly understand how important the theater has been to the town’s music scene over the years, attracting big names such as B.B. King, James Taylor, Lucinda Williams, and many more on the same playing field. Promo posters from the theater’s biggest shows of the past line the lobby’s walls and it’s startling to think that so many important artists came to such an overshadowed town.

What makes NoHo so special is that it’s so unlikely. With Boston just an hour and a half east and New York City three hours south, no one is to blame for the town’s elusiveness to the rest of the world. In lieu of this, the area that downtown NoHo is in happens to be polar opposite to the town’s busy and noisy atmosphere. It’s nestled in the rolling hills of the Holyoke Range in the Pioneer Valley — a fertile farmland and pastoral area that typically attracts tourists looking for outdoor adventure and a break from city life struggles. But if it’s music that you’re searching for and you happen to be in the Valley, NoHo won’t let you down.

Matt Krefting w/ Thurston Moore (Live @ The Calvin Theater)

The Calvin Theater
19 King St.
Northhampton, MA
Phone: 413.586.8686

Upcoming Events:
07/10 – Mix 93.1 welcomes John Tesh Live in Concert
07/17 - Aurelia’s Oratorio
07/18 - Aurelia’s Oratorio
07/31 - Billy Bragg, Mike and Ruthy (of The Mammals)
08/02 – The Avett Brothers