Indiecent Exposure

We caught up with the Matchstick Architects as they waited for the first shipment of CDs of their latest effort, "All That's In Between," to arrive. I don't know about you, but I LOVE that "new LP smell." We spoke with Dar Maloney and Tom Conklin (Diane Davis was unavailable) about the what the guts of the music are made of. Answer: raw stories. In addition to busting out the discs at their CD release party this Saturday, they'll be helping First Fridays Artswalk break new ground as they inaugurate the addition of live music to the collection of arts offerings in Pittsfield, Mass. The Matchstick Architects are (from left), Diane DDD, Tom Conklin, and Dar Maloney (submitted photo). First Fridays ArtswalkThe Matchstick Architects, LiveFriday, August 5, 2016, 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.33 Dunham Mall, Pittsfield, Mass.Free AND THEN: CD Release Party, "All That's In Between"The Matchstick Architects, LiveSaturday, August 6, 2016; 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.Whitney Center for the Arts42 We

To be perfectly honest, there's just not much I can say about the Whiskey Treaty Roadshow that either hasn't already been written, isn't about to be said (check for an article in an upcoming issue of Relix), or you aren't going to hear in this interview. Torey Hannah and Billy Keane generously talk with us for well over the 20 minutes they said that they could spare on a practice night, so thanks, gents. Mainly, they're good people. And their love for what they do comes through. When you combine those things in front of an audience, you've got magic. What I can do is provide you with links to some really good local coverage and beyond. And give you more ways to contact these guys individually and collectively than you're every gonna need. Check out their website and Facebook page for information on their debut release, "The Heart of the Run," recorded live at the Shire City Sessions in Pittsfield, Mass. Three from Whiskey Treaty Roadshow to prime you for MASSGathering Oh, and we spin THREE tun

We've been away too long, I know (hangs head in shame). It's been a brutal couple of months, that's all I can say. Fortunately, we're facing a New Reality now that spring is finally here. Dayne Herndon, the mind behind the musical project, Starseed, joins us to talk about his latest release. In this fascinating conversation, we hear how a life-long search for understanding has added another dimension to his musical expression. Normally, I write the show notes and edit/alter whatever bio a guest sends me. In this case, Dayne provided an extremely well-written, comprehensive back story and description of his work. I have decided to print his entire submission here, as paraphrasing his words would only degrade the quality of the information. I have applied no editorial mojo to the following selection, so please note that his words should be considered an augmentation of the interview. Dayne on Starseed My name is Dayne Herndon; I'm a 22-year-old electronic music producer and jazz guitarist. I produc

BOOM was formed by local musicians Tom Conklin, Sandy McKnight, Dar Maloney and Liv Cummins, and MCLA student Allison Gregory, as a way to promote and advance original bands and singer-songwriters in the Berkshires.   "BOOM" kickoff event features ten local music artists Berkshire Organization for Original Music (BOOM) has scheduled their kickoff event, the Big BOOM Bash, at The Whitney Center for the Arts, on April 29.  Between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., a reception will be held, followed by a party and concert from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.  Admission is free, and all are welcome. Food, and a cash bar, will be offered, along with the original music covering various genres. “We’re reaching out to not only musicians, but business people, public servants, and anyone else who cares about the artistic and economic welfare of the community,” explained McKnight, who formed a not-for-profit called CAT (Columbia Arts Team) 14 years ago with Cummins. “We were living in Hudson, NY until recently,” added Cummins, “and

With "The Next Step," North Adams filmmakers Joe Aidonidis and Augusta Rose launch an odyssey that will span boundaries that are geographical, technological, financial, and deeply personal. "The Next Step" Not to Be Taken Lightly The focus of their lens is the determination of a young woman scheduled to travel to Australia this Spring to undergo a procedure not approved in the United States to regain more of the mobility she had before the loss of both her legs above the knee as a teenager. That young woman, Clara Gardner, is a close friend of the filmmakers, a fact that adds a personal dimension to the project that facilitates the storytelling in some ways. On the other hand, Augusta knew her before a drunk driver cost Clara lost both her legs in 2008—there's no use even in pretending that objectivity is a remote possibility. When one of your best friends becomes the raw material for your art, emotional dynamics may shift in unexpected ways. Additionally, Augusta and Joe are a couple. The intensi

In "Penny Land" a new film being filmed in the Berkshires by Billy Hahn, a young man drifts aimlessly through life dreaming about striking rich by betting on the shady world of penny stocks. As his dream becomes an obsession he creates a stock scheme that could destroy himself and everyone around him. In this episode (actually our first INDIEcent episode with a filmaker, I think...) we speak with Billy Hahn, director, producer and writer of "Penny Land." The film is being filmed and produced locally, with local cast and crew, at very recognizable locations. In addition to helping support the film through its Indiegogo crowd-funding site, fans of Hahn and the actors are connecting with the project through its Facebook page. "Penny Land" writer and director Billy Hahn. After attended the School of the Visual Arts in New York City, Hahn went to work on independent feature films and commercials. As a production assistant and property master, he worked with the likes of Neil Patrick Harris, Ed Asner,

This episode, we speak to Joe Aidonidis, half of Anonymous Animal, who discusses music and music technology, as well as some of his work in video craft. Anonymous Animal opening for And the KidsFriday, November 20, 2015, 9:00 p.m."The Garage," The Colonial Theatre111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201GPS Location: 42.4462000, -73.2539000 And the Kids Rebecca Lasaponaro, Hannah Mohan, and Megan Miller of And the Kids ; photo courtesy of the ban Recently called one of “the Western Mass. indie scene’s brightest creative lights” by Pitchfork, Northampton, Massachusetts’ And The Kids recently released their debut full-length album, Turn to Each Other (Signature Sounds). Turn to Each Other is more than an album title: it’s a statement of fact for the band, whose bond—as musicians, friends and creative foils—is as tight as they come. The album features 11 tracks full of ringing guitars from Hannah Mohan, knotty rhythms from drummer Rebecca Lasaponaro and bold accents from synthesizers and percu

Justin Hillman performs at the release party for "Have I Not Found You Yet," at performs at the Whitney Center for the Arts, November 20; photo by Carly Rae. Berkshire-born musician Justin Hillman released his third album, "Have I Not Found You Yet," in September, but, lucky for us Alt-Folk fans here in the Berkshires, scheduling challenges placed the CD release party on the calendar Friday, November 20, at the Whitney Center for the Arts in Pittsfield. Justin Hillman—CD Release Partyw/Ryan Hommel's Optical ShopFriday 20 November 2015, 7:00 p.m.Whitney Center for the Arts42 Wendell Ave 01201 Pittsfield, MA, USopening for Ryan Hommel's Optical ShopThursday 03 December 2015, 7:00 p.m.The Parlor Room at Signature Sounds32 Masonic St. 01060 Northampton, Mass. From his website: "Have I Not Found You Yet," by Justin Hillman is available at Amazon.com. Northampton, MA, based singer-songwriter, Justin Hillman, comes home to his Americana roots with the release of his 3rd album, Have I Not Found You

Common Folk Artist Collective and FNProductions present “Monster Smash 2015” featuring Arc Iris, Superhuman Happiness and Smash Frequency in an eclectic musical event Saturday Oct. 31, at the Elks Lodge, 100 Eagle St., North Adams, Mass. Superhuman Happiness, led by Stuart Bogie, will help the lost find their groove this Hallowe'en; photo by Tatiana McCabe Monster Smash 2015Hallowe'en Night!6:00 p.m. Pre-party at The Parlor CafeComedian Angel OrtizGames, food, handmade instrument making & more!303 Ashland Street, North Adams, Mass.7:00 p.m. Costume parade to the Elks Lodge100 Eagle St., North Adams, Mass.,Buy Tickets Online Monster Smash, Hallowe'en Night, presented by Common Folks Artists Collective and FN Productions Arc Iris returns to North Adams after bringing their brand of Space-Glitter-Doowop across the nation, stopping at the Greek Theater, and Preservation Hall. The classically trained composer Jocie Adams is joined by Zach Tenorio-Miller on piano, Robin Ryczek on cello, and Ray Bell

Lexi Weege slips between sultry ballads and upbeat love songs with ease. ADVISORY: Explicit language. We spoke with Lexi Weege, the jazz songstress who recently released her second album, "Sweet Moon." The album was all recorded live and on tape and released digitally and on vinyl on September 13th following a release party at the Parlor Room at Signature Sounds with The True Believers. Like Lexi's music, our conversation is raw, inspired, and unfiltered. Some adult language is used. Listen as we cover her album, analog recording techniques, the state of women in the arts industry, and more. From her bio: Born in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts wielding a Shure SM58 in her hand and red patent leather heels, Lexi Weege has been creating music her entire life, flirting with just about every singer’s role, from polka-dotted Big Band vocalist to glitter-haired, bloody-nosed rock front-woman. Lexi has refined her sound to a silky barroom jazz that tips respectful hats to the likes of Billie

Pi Valley Faves, The Sun Parade march into the Berks for TWO shows this month. PLUS:  Kris Delmhorst—TONIGHT at the BarN ALERT: Consider PREPARING for the possible landfall of Hurricane Joaquin while we have plenty of time.. Singer and guitarist Chris Marlon Jennings relates the band's creation story and talks about the ongoing development of their creative process. The Sun Parade helps And the Kids kick off the opening of Wind-Up Fest here in NoCo, opens for Dr. Dog at MASS MoCA, and curates a micro festival at Gateway City Arts with their friends Great Smokey and Xenia Rubinos. "Heart's Out," by The Sun Parade; 2014; available at BandCamp. “Based in Northampton MA since 2011, The Sun Parade has been steadily creating a buzz in New England and a grassroots following of fans across the country. In 2012 The Sun Parade released a full length LP “Yossis” and the single “Need You By My Side”, a regional hit voted the #1 song by WRSI 93.9 The River. In 2014, they released the joyful pop EP “Hear

She's driving over 400 miles to sing for you. Just for you. We spoke with Suzie Ungerleider, eponymous member of Oh Susanna, about her new album, "Name Dropper," which is a triumph of creativity, community, and collaboration. You'll fall hard for her infectious laughter and optimism. Powerful medicine (along with the aforementioned community and collaboration) in her fight against breast cancer, diagnosed just in time to interrupt the final stages of the release's production. In addition to our conversation, we play "Wait Until The Sun Comes Up" and "1955." Saturday, September 266 pm doors, music at 7 pmThe BarN1401 Green River Road, Williamstown$10 donation, 100% goes to the artistBYOB From her bio: Suzie Ungerleider began performing as Oh Susanna in the mid-1990s, crafting a persona that matched the timeless qualities of her music, sounds that drew from the deep well of early 20th Century folk, country and blues, yet rooted in her finely-honed storytelling skills. This Canadian songstress

Visiting poet and host at the Word X Word Festival, Telfer is a complex guy I had the privilege of speaking to Robbie Q. Telfer at length before he arrived in the Berkshires for his fourth year participating in the Word X Word Festival. Due to circumstances beyond my control, that conversation did not air while the Festival was still in play. But the lateness of the hour doesn't dull the keen observations he makes, nor will his inspired descriptions of the interactions between poetry and life be any less brilliant. Enjoy this, the first in an occasional series on the Visiting Poets. Robbie Telfer has performed and taught in hundreds of venues and institutions around the world. A co-founder of the Encyclopedia Show, he's been an individual finalist at the National Poetry Slam. A member of the internationally renowned teaching artist collective Project VOICE, he's been in two documentaries (from HBO and Siskel and Jacobs) for his work at Young Chicago Authors where he organized the world's largest tee

UPDATE: This performance has been postponed until Sunday, September 27th 6-8 p.m. due to rain! Creatures of Habitat interact with spaces and objects. It would be even cooler if they could time travel, too...oh, wait, they kind of do that... Stefanie Weber's Creatures of Habitat Physical Poetry Public Performance Project will appear Sunday evening 6:30-8:30p September 13th in the Morningside Community School parking lot. We spoke with Stefanie Lynx Weber about the open rehearsal of this three-part exploration that takes place in Pittsfield. We came away thinking that the audience is at risk of being exposed to perception-expanding sensory input. We began our conversation talking to Stefanie about her background, and were interested to hear that she has been dancing since she about three years old, spending much the first two decades of her life at the Terpsichore Dance Center in in Pittsfield. A journey to Tennessee helped spark the connection between the environment and performance, which has

Bazaar Productions presents Fringe Music, a new free music series that will bring new, innovative music to the Berkshires on the first Friday of every month as part of Pittsfield’s First Fridays Artswalk. The arts organization is taking a hiatus from its normal summer offering, Berkshire Fringe, a festival that combines theater, music and art, to provide a more focused musical experience. Co-artistic director Peter Wise says, "Previously, we had a music series going on at the same time as a theater festival, and workshops, and all of this stuff crammed into a couple of weeks... but this is a great chance to showcase one thing at a time, and we're really looking forward to that." Peter Wise, Sara Katzoff and Timothy Ryan Olson are the co-artistic directors of Bazaar Productions, whose Fringe Music series begins this Friday; photo courtesy Bazaar Productions. This Friday’s show features Eleonore Oppenheim, a renowned bassist who will be playing works from her upcoming debut solo album “Home.” Her p

Poetry and Story Slams, Workshops, and Special Guests at Great Locations Make This a Can't-Miss Festival     WordXWord uses spoken word, poetry and storytelling in shared space and time to celebrate diversity and creativity, empower the individual, foster understanding and empathy, and make real human connections. All WXW programs are free and open to all. WordXWord Festival lasts through August 23. Founded in 2009 by Jim Benson, WordXWord is a week-long spoken word/poetry festival held each August in the Upstreet Cultural District of downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The festival creates a transient community of visiting, nationally recognized spoken word artists; local poets; and enthusiastic audiences in celebration of diversity and the creative use of language. Festival activities take place in a variety of borrowed spaces in partnership with business owners and key cultural partners. Events include Poetry and Story Slams featuring local performers; Young+Brave, an evening showcas

Join Red Room Radio Redux tonight for an hour of Shakespearean wordplay Red Room Radio Redux presents "Open Your Ears!" for one night only, Wednesday, July 29 at 7pm, in The Barn"Open Your Ears!" at 1401 Green River Road in Williamstown, This presentation, done in the radio play style, includes accompanying music and enhancing sound effects. PLUS: Berkshire Author and Educator tour their own backyard to visit hidden, and not-so-hidden, gems Solos, sonnets, and scenes from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Henry V, and As You Like It, are the pathways "Open Your Ears!" travels to explore the role of the prologue in Shakespeare's works. Lightheartedly staged by volunteer community performers, the show is a breezy 45-minute romp in a cozy, casual setting. Admission is free, and donations to a Berkshire-area literacy program are gratefully accepted. "Outerborough," by Todd Reynolds (featuring eight composer/collaborators); 2011 "Outerborough," Reynold

"Passage" finishes its residency at Millbrook School—journey continues in Pittsfield. Merging original sound, virtuosic physical performance, and questionably accurate historical reenactments, "Passage" focuses an often humorous lens on the Canadian Arctic, a hotbed of political unrest with a tragic past and an uncertain future. As an ensemble theater company, Kickwheel has spent the past year writing, devising, generating, and exploring diverse source materials including researched accounts, news reports, letters, and interviews. Upon completion of the residency in Millbrook, Kickwheel will return to its Berkshire home in August for another work-in-progress showing of the piece in Pittsfield, MA. “As theater makers creating new work, the feedback we receive from our community is a huge part of our creative process” says "Passage" director Sara Katzoff. “Reactions to these first public showings will inform how this project grows, evolves, and changes.” Kickwheel Ensemble also plans to premiere "Pass

"You Are Nowhere" left audiences open-mouthed; "Send for the Million Men" and "Tarzana," as well as gallery installations, film events, and works in progress yet to come. Mass Live Arts (MLA) is a festival of experimental theater and performance at the Daniel Arts Center at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. ADVISORY: Explicit, potty-mouth language throughout much of this episode, MLA is dedicated to presenting large-scale bold new works of contemporary performance in the Berkshires. MLA is also committed to fostering the creation of new American works through development residencies culminating in work-in-progress showings. This residency is for highly-talented companies or performing artists in need of space and time to create new work. What can I say? Ilan Bachrach, artistic director of MLA promised I'd be blown away by "YOU ARE NOWHERE," and that's exactly what I was. I know that more mind-bending work is to come out of the 2015 Mass Live Arts festival. Listen

When Jeb Barry began recording over 40 songs for what was to be a double cd, he began to notice a common theme of small town despair and tragedy. He realized a lot of the songs were about hard times in a small milltown, much like the one he was born and raised in, and much like the towns he traveled through during the past few years seeking to establish a solo performer and songwriting career. Many of the songs were directly related to that small, long gone milltown, with few prospects and fewer rewards, or the people who live in them. He discovered in his travels that there are more than a few of these depressed towns in the United States. And each one has its own stories to tell. Controlled Exposure—Rhythm Express The Rhythm Express: Ammoye Evans, Aria Zenua, Gavin Hope, Bobby Hsu, Everton Paul, Michael Arthurs, Selena Evangeline, BK, Magdelys Sav, Jesse Dubmatix King, William Carn, and Shane Forrest; photo courtesy Rhythm Express. Facebook page Rhythm Express, "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"