In The Studio: April/May 2017

It was a fertile spring at Bang-A-Song:

And let’s not forget to congratulate the artists who had new releases the past couple months:

New Releases: February 2016

February was a busy release month for Bang-A-Song artists (and we’re pregnant with some March releases, too), but just to make sure you can quickly add the latest tunes to your playlists/downloads/collections, here’s the rundown.

Graham Neill / Band of Wolves has released a new track and music video entitled “She Played”, and you can even see a bit of our own Warren Babson tracking the Wolves in the studio.  If this is the teaser track (featuring Megan McKenzie!), look out for the full LP!

Matt Minigell has a new single that drops in two days (Saturday, 2/27/16), entitled “Lucy” (b/w “Elivette”), and you’re going to want to head over to his BandCamp to pick that up.  Set your alarms!

*Edited: The video for his new single just dropped, too, and Bang-A-Song is part of the musical soundscape….

The ever dynamic Telamor released the ten-track LP “Outside The Lines” in February, and the whole thing is available on BandCamp, Spotify, and CD Baby, if that’s your kind of baby….!

We are derelict in having not noted the release of “Mostly Awake” from The Instinct late last year.  As compensation, here’s a review from Francis DiMenno in the Noise so you know that we’re not the only ones who like what these Gloucester punks are doing!  (Also streaming like crazy on Spotify!)

In The Studio: Oct/Nov/Dec 2015

Karen K and the Jitterbugs mixed some magic.  Matt and the Lower Standards cut another batch of soon to be standards.  Jon Butcher is this close to finishing his next album.  The Instinct finished their new record “Mostly Awake”.  Sandra Lee baked a melody.  Pocket Tanya channeled his inner Purple.  Renee and Joe married melody to tape.  Mexican Ape Lord went ape. Telamor recorded more.  John Jerome took us home.  Leo Ciaramataro practiced his strokes. Sophia Gadbois cut her college application.  The Poor Sports scored a hit. Graham Neill and the Band of Wolves howled into the mics.

In The Studio: June/July 2015

Mosse mixed.  Jon Butcher continued to travel Two Roads.  Telamor recorded more. Kenny Chambers consulted.  Harbor Walk updated their app. The Modern Kitchen swung.  Sandra Lee developed her originals.  Matt Bowie recorded with his Brothers (Instinct).  Renee and Joe recorded moe.  Satch Kerans finished his latest record.  The Instinct massaged their mixes.  Dan King and Russ Lawton grooved.  Alexandra Grace and Josh Cominelli cut acoustic demos.

I was asked to contribute a piece on Guster to the Boston Herald’s “Guestlisted:  Boston 101” series.  Here’s the lovefest that ensued….

In The Studio: May 2015

Jon Butcher jammed.  Lisa Manning performed poetry.  Telamor channeled Kanye. The Instinct mixed it up.  Mike Francis and Wren Sound created songs from thin air.  Hot Lemon squeezed out a mix. Pulp Free OJ squeezed out a senior project.  Don(na) Freylue started a track on acoustic.  Sonic Euphoria cut another collection.

Tony taught a Music Production and Engineering class through the excellent auspices of Sound Harbor.  Thanks to everyone who attended! Look out for more classes in June.

Also coming up in June:

Mosse is growing songs.  Jon Butcher is making magic, Spanish Castle style.  Sarah Kilborne is creating an audio calling card for The Lavender Blues.

In The Studio: April 2015. Upcoming: May 2015.

Here’s what went down at Bang-A-Song in April: The Heavy Denims rocked their roll.  Telamor recorded more. Don(na) Freyleue mixed the hits.  Satch Kerans mixed one of his.
Colin Rosso gave himself a beat and broke it down on the mic. The Instinct took LP 2 to the next level.  Geoff Small channeled Chris Bell (yes!).  Matt and the Lower Standards cut two soon-to-be standards. Lisa Manning cut 17 tracks for her fourth LP.  Soul Rebel Mike Francis and Wren Sound wrote some top lines. Jon Butcher showed us how it’s done.

Here’s what’s coming up in May: 05222015RockandRollFishTales

Monday, May 18thThe Goddesses help host Monday Night Open Jam at the Rhumb Line with an opening set at 9:30 and a closing set at midnight.  It’ll shake, it’ll rattle, it will likely roll.

Friday, May 22nd – Tony will be telling a story at the Gloucester Writers Center’s Rock & Roll Fish Tales event at Short and Main starting at 7:30pm.  Rock & Roll details will be divulged.

Saturday, May 30th – Tony will be hosting one of Sound Harbor‘s Spring Workshops at Bang A Song Studios. “In-Studio Production and Recording” will be a three hour workshop (1pm-4pm) for anyone who ever wanted a chance to learn record production by doing it: using microphones, mixing boards, effects and computer based digital audio workstations to make a recording. Reservations are $30, and you can sign up at soundharbor.org.

In The Studio: March 2015

The Instinct trusted theirs and ours on the way to their 2nd Bang-A-Song recorded LP.  Donald Freyleue finished up a long awaited 2-song single.  Jon Butcher continued to drive his 2 Roads East.  Nate Weaver and Brittany Betts got their Bang-A-Saturday session in.  Telamor recorded some more.  Heavy Denims laid down the glam. Lisa Manning committed more musical poetry to tape.  PRAY for MOJO had their prayers answered.  Daniel Dye left the Miller Road Band back home in Ohio to record some solo songs.  Geoff Small made music for his Electric EarsThe A Train Orchestra swung back in.  The Absolute Gentleman mixed an absolute smash.  Willie Loco Alexander sequenced his big 10″.  Hot Lemon squeezed out all the juice from a long weekend session.  wrensoundChelsea Berry cut one and done in a fortnight. The Rockport Middle School Chamber Music ensembles brought the clarinets and cellos to record their original songs.

Finally, Bang-A-Song‘s own Warren Babson released a new record: Wren Sound. We might be biased but WE LOVE IT! Pick it up via iTunes here.

New Releases from Bang-A-Song: November 2014

Here’s a list of recent albums that we’ve had the pleasure of working on at Bang-A-Song.  Click the name of the artist to read more about the artist, or click the name of the album to download or purchase the album.

TelamorValentine to the Future and Straight Shots
Willie Loco Alexander and the RaztonesRaztonia Volume 1
Mara BettencourtEclectic Soul
Jon Butcher AxisExperienced
The InstinctFake It
Anna RaeHigh Stakes
Alien Psychology: Alien Psychology on Sound Cloud
Renee and JoeSteal You Flowers
Kenny Chambers and Electric Ears: Someday You’ll Be King

valentine to the futurestraight shotsraztoniamara bettencourt eclectic soulTHEINSTINCTFAKEITanna rae high stakes renee and joe steal you flowers someday you'll be kingelectric candyland

And although it wasn’t recorded at Bang-A-Song, it was recorded *impeccably* by Ed Valauskas at Q Division, and Sam and Tony are sprinkled throughout, so…a big shoutout for “Electric Candyland” from Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents.  The album smokes, the bonus tracks that accompany it will rock your socks off (and be familiar to anyone who’s seen the Dees live), and there are even some glam new tees at Dee Store.

In The Studio: Feb/Mar/Apr 2014

Dear Y’all,

With all the snowfall I didn’t even realize I hadn’t let you know what’s been going on at Bang-A-Song the past few months so here goes:

Willie “Loco” Alexander and the Raztones have finished tracking and begin mixing their new record this Friday!  Renee & Joe mixed another great song “Steal You Flowers” which was made available for Valentine’s Day.  Mike Francis from Soul Rebel Project and Mile 21 laid down vocals and guitars for many upcoming projects.  The Instinct laid down enough tracks to start their first full length.  Jon Butcher is cutting tracks for his latest (first?) theater production.  Daniel Dye and the Miller Road Band came in again from Ohio to start their next LP at Bang-A-Song.  Anna Rae used Bang-A-Song to film a Q&A with the engineers/mixers involved with her upcoming release.  Tom Hauck finished his new album “Valentine to the Future”, released it under the new band name TELAMOR and is now reworking his previous solo tracks with his new group.  Satch Kerans had a great session with Timo Shanko on bass and Leo Ciaramitaro on drums.  Pocket Tanya is this close to finishing the new EP.  Lisa Manning sequenced and mastered her new LP.  Tony and Warren cut tracks on spec for future use in Polish laundry detergent ads. Mara Bettencourt finished mastering and released her new album “Eclectic Soul”.  Alien Psychology achieved the rare feat of shredding their vocal chords with melody for their latest two tracks.  Sonic Euphoria came in from the cold after a many month lay off.  Watts held court at Bang-A-Song for the David Robinson 65th birthday surprise party afterparty.

In The Studio / New Releases: November 2013

In The Studio:

Lisa Manning continues to sing her poems to tape. Tom Hauck‘s record #3 is sounding more like record #1. Morgan Jackson is recording his French Horn audition for a plethora of university admission applications. Litehouse are polishing of three more sound captures. Rob Garfield is layering his latest. The Instinct are coming in for a one and done session. Clock Strikes 10 are running the sets in Studio B. BAS is going remote to record a Meg Griffin interview with Bonnie Raitt for SiriusXM. Willie Loco Alexander is going to cut live with the A Train Orchestra.

New Releases:

Mexican Ape-Lord is starting to drop jams on Youtube, and KBMG has released a long brewing EP.