Shane Handler

Hot Buttered Rum: Well Oiled Machine

Shane Handler February 2, 2006 No Comments

Even though they’re better known for their touring vehicle- a converted bus powered by recycled vegetable oil and biodiesel – and recently dropped the “String Band” from their moniker, there’s no hiding who Hot Buttered Rum really are. With their aptly titled second full length studio album, Well-Oiled Machine, the roots-grass band goes where fellow pickers like Yonder Mountain String Band have ventured before, successfully churning acoustic bluegrass with folk.

Jeff Tuohy : Breaking Down The Silence

Shane Handler January 30, 2006 No Comments

The debut, produced by Aaron Katz (Percy Hill), surfaces with the radio pop of Jason Mraz mingled with the more introspective songwriting of Mason Jennings.

Ok Go / Controller Controller : Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT 1/25/2006

Shane Handler January 27, 2006 No Comments

A Wednesday night and a blizzard is basically a promoter’s nightmare, but book a couple of derelict bands in a small venue and surely the promoter’s loss will be the audience’s gain. Reinventing the word tacky with their 70’s Lacoste formal fashions of paisley patterns and heinous ties, OK Go proved they weren’t all a bad fashion statement, while giving the small showcase lounge at Higher Ground something to shout about.

East River Pipe: What Are You On?

Shane Handler January 24, 2006 No Comments

Take the outlandish theatrics away from the Flaming Lips and you get the bare-boned lo-fi twisted pop hymns of East River Pipe. The man behind the New Jersey namesake is none other than F.M. Cornog, whose spacey voice clearly provokes the question holding the title of his latest release

The Slip / Apollo Sunshine : Southpaw, Brooklyn NY 12/30/2005

Shane Handler January 9, 2006 No Comments

With a recent Boston Phoenix nod as "Best New Band" and the Boston Herald placing them on their “5 Things To Change The Face Of Boston Arts and Entertainment” list, Apollo Sunshine was more of a co-bill than a true opener for fellow New Englanders, The Slip.

Cat Power: The Greatest

Shane Handler January 8, 2006 No Comments

With enough Best of 2005 album lists to make even Sufjan Stevens blush, there

The Darkness: One Way Ticket (Richie Edwards Interview)

Shane Handler January 3, 2006 No Comments

With 2003

Michael Franti and Spearhead : Live in Sydney

Shane Handler December 30, 2005 No Comments

Recorded at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia, the energetic 10-song performance showcases work featured on his last two Spearhead studio albums.

The Spin Doctors

Shane Handler December 21, 2005 No Comments

Nice Talking To Me sounds like the same band you played hacky-sack to, but with a new found vigor and a contemporary flair. Still, second chances are hard to come by and rock reunions are typically better received at the twenty year mark instead of just a decade – just ask Motley Crue and Duran Duran. So we put drummer Aaron Comess on the hot seat and threw a few questions his way.

Living Things: Ahead of the Lions

Shane Handler December 20, 2005 No Comments

On their Steve Albini produced debut, Ahead of the Lions, Living Things rekindle a Stooges/MC5 riot rock energy with them, that muscles up whatever glam inklings their Marc Bolan side wants to reveal. Like most cheap riff living bands, Living Things offer little in the way of lyrics, but many meat servings in the way of balls to the wall guitar hero riffs that would fit into “School of Rock 101. “