We here at Bang-A-Song are so pumped to see Harry and the Potters kick of their summer tour here in Gloucester at the Sawyer Free Library on Friday night at 7pm (Facebook Event Page). They’ll have copies of their new album “Lumos“, their first in eight years(!) which we recorded and mixed here over the last year. The album is magical (what would you expect!!!) and possesses quite a lot of insight into today’s world as related through the world of Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione…..and Ron…speaking of which, let me share a story. One night the Potters were sitting around our 133 year old piano talking about the sixteen song record we were about to embark on and voila….a 17th song seemed to arrive fully formed: “Where’s Ron“. Joe is an amazing piano player and Paul is an “ideas man” non-pareil. Within an hour the song was written and we tracked it the next day, culminating in a duet with Kimya Dawson. With credit to the Potter Puppet Pals, check out the video here.
Tag Archives: in the studio
In The Studio/New Releases: Spring 2019
Spring is coming on at Bang-A-Song, so let’s talk about what has gesprungen here!
In The Studio:
John Jerome is back for more. Jon Butcher produced and produced. Second Balcony Jump made their third record. CRUNCHTIME didn’t rush it. Koi Wolf slathered a lamb in Texas hot sauce. Lisa Manning made us cry. Telamor had me channel Thunders. Hemway had me channel the Wind. The Dazies expanded an ep to an album. Geoff Small employed many 7ths. Allen Estes brought some beautiful acoustic guitars down. Glympses brought some beautiful electric guitars down. Rob McLocklin practiced his Kowloon set. Suriel tracked into the night. Mr. Fox captured Medusa on tape. Bradley Royds transferred a 39 year old cassette. The Lebarons were good. Sunset Taxicab started a ride. Mari Martin sang on the Elvis mic. Kim Blisard edited the dance. Mike Parsons brought the 90’s back in the form of Neon 90’s. Dan King prepped for the return of the Monday Night Jam.
New Releases:
CRUNCHTIME had their CD Release at a Midway Matinee: Outsourced b/w Situation Out Of Control. You can stream and buy here.
Keeping up with his single-per-month club,Telamor released “Rattle My Cage” (with Tony Goddess on guitar), “Friday Crazy Night“, and “Beautiful To Me“. (Available on all music services.)
Matt Rhodes has released “Into The Black” as well as its official music video which can be found here.
Glympses released their official video for the track “Medicine Man“. Check it out here!
Second Balcony Jump released “Take This Ring” featuring John Jerome.
Jones Creek‘s new 4-song EP “Whiskey and Women” is available on Spotify and all music services.
Tony pitched in some guitar flourishes that Paul Sanni used in a Woodstock documentary trailer. Check it out here.
In The Studio/New Releases: Fall/Winter 2018
Thanks to everyone who was working at Bang-A-Song this fall. A lot of new albums were released since we last updated you, and we’re happy to recommend them! Dig in….
- Jon Butcher‘s new LP is entitled “360°” and is available on Amazon, Apple Music, and Spotify.
- Second Balcony Jump’s first single in 2019 is called “Cut To The Lip” and features a vocal performance from Emily Grogan.
- Willie Alexander and The Fishtones have released “Aqua Vega” in full on BandCamp for your listening enjoyment.
- Suriel’s debut LP is entitled ‘Blank Slate’, and it’s not only one of the 7 Best Hip Hop Albums in Boston (according to WBUR), it’s also available on Amazon Music and all of these streaming services. (And I neglected to mention his new official music video for ‘Real Life’! Drat!)
- The 77 Everythings have tried to prove themselves wrong by naming their new album “Nothing’s Perfect“.
- Glympses new self-titled full-length can be blasted immediately on Spotify, with Faith, Time, Love. (And check out the official music video for “Medicine Man”!)
- The Disgraceland Players put some tracks down to accompany new episodes on Spade Cooley, Big Lurch and Rick James. (Season 3 kicks up in February…subscribe!)
- Telamor released a new single entitled “Communication Breakdown” on Spotify and all the streaming services.
- And because we’re impatient, and excited, Matt Rhodes will release his full length solo LP “Slightly At Sea” on January 25th. (ACTUALLY, NOW IT IS OUT!!! Check out “Slightly At Sea” on CDBaby, Spotify, and Apple Music. And…the album’s official music videos here.)
- Morgan Minsk has released a new Official Video for ‘I Emerge’. It’s gorgeous.
- Quentin Callewaert has released a new video entitled ‘Water Music in D Major’ featuring his regularly lovely fingerpicking sounds.
- Cables and Lines has released a new music video for “Meadow”.
In The Studio:
Koi Wolf made their amps howl. Kim Blisard came to dance. Over the Bridge crossed into Studio C. Northwest Fox recorded a few more tracks before setting sail. Crunchtime crunched. The Dazies started a new EP. Safety played it dangerous. Quentin Callewaert kept us young. Toby Mountain made a difference. Second Balcony Jump cut their Third record. Harry and the Potters cast their mixes. Satch Kerans swung into C. The Instigators finished what they started. Jones Creek paddled through the overdubs. Sound Harbor held a class. Meg Griffin voiced a podcast. Joe Wilkins cut a rhythm section. John Jerome got going on the next one. Lisa Manning waxed poetic. Matt Smith spent some time in Studio C. Amanda Mena crooned some tunes.
In The Studio/New Releases: Summer 2018
It took us until the last day of summer to stop tracking (and swimming) and rocking (and sweating) long enough to bring you the news about who’s been at Bang A Song working, and who’s put their new Bang A Song stuff out for your listening pleasure.
New Releases:
- The new long player from The Only Things is available at Bandcamp and Apple Music.
- John Jerome released his self-titled album this summer, and if you’re lucky enough to have caught him at Harbor Loop, at the Bluefin Blowout, at The Rhumb Line, on North Shore 104.9 (you get the idea), then you should have a copy of the CD by now. If you do not, you should check it out on Spotify.
- Alexandra and Josh recorded and released The Colour Lilac on all platforms (Itunes | Amazon | Spotify | CD Baby) and they held a proper record-release party to celebrate the accomplishment!
- Second Balcony Jump released the second single from the album “Get Up”, and it’s a smooth and saxy piece entitled “Blind“. And if you’re in the mood to bang a little, the third single “Do It Again” features choice performances from Kinetik, DJ Slipwax, and Heavy Stud. I mean, that’s just stacking the deck….and we like it!
In The Studio:
- Leo Ciaramataro found the groove and caught it on tape.
- Jon Butcher started his next solo record.
- The Disgraceland Players shot two more episodes.
- Telamor worked on LP 7.
- Satch Kerans overdubbed and ran his band.
- Wilson put the finishing touches on his debut LP.
- The Rockport ensembles cut their end of the year songs.
- Sten Bowen cut drums.
- Kinetik cut his thoughts.
- 2nd Balcony Jump cut more music for film.
- Bad Moon Rising ran their sets.
- Geoff Small compressed and limited.
- Quentin Callewaert played beyond his years.
- Matt Rhodes record mixed.
- The Instigators took the initiative.
- Glympses recorded used their own gear.
- Jay Harris soloed sweet solos.
- Koi Wolf bellowed.
- Henri Smith ran through the repertoire.
- 77 Everythings recorded everything they had.
- Harry and the Potters made Wizard Rock believers of us all!
- Jones Creek got us high.
- George Hall brought the jam to BAS.
- Stoker added fuel to the fire.
- Corey Wrinn recorded solo.
- Northwest Fox recorded band.
- J. Grimaldi cut John Jerome on country.
- Willie Alexander brought Astral Weeks.
- Mike Francis projected his soul.
- Over the Bridge auditioned a drummer.
In The Studio / New Releases: March/April/May 2018
In The Studio:
- The Glympses committed their visions to tape.
- Jon Butcher began an acoustic record.
- Quentin Callewaert played like an 80 year old master.
- Achers put their pain to music.
- Second Balcony Jump took the leap.
- Kavika Babson beat a beat.
- Cables and Lines strung up a full length in a a matter of days.
- John Jerome breathed a sigh of completion.
- The Lebarons brought MONO back.
- Matt Rhodes mixed a record we’ve been waiting for for 10 years.
- Wilson worked.
- Sir Be brought the biznezz.
- Kinetik beat the MPC.
- Concrete Constellation set their sound in stone.
- Mari Martin made arrangements.
- Kenny Chambers Four mixed five.
- Telamor brought us more.
- Renee and Joe recorded a live one.
- Simon Ritt transferred tapes of Johnny Thunders and his Daughters.
- Geoff Small went big on overdubs.
- Alexandra and Josh started their next record.
- Satch Kerans opened up the vault.
- 77 Everythings recorded everything for an album to be mixed.
- Kim Blisard edited a choreography arrangement.
- Adam Taylor took us to Disgraceland.
- Willie Alexander used some of his road case credit.
- Pat Conlon transferred Buck White.
- Instigators agitated for a mix.
- Alexandra Grace recorded her string arrangements.
- Rick Gadbois got down to his tracks for once.
New Releases:
- Proving Ground Music has released the first single from Second Balcony Jump called “Get Up” from the forthcoming album of the same name. Available on Reverb Nation, Spotify or Apple Music!
- Check out Wilson781 and his new music video for “Ghetto Dreams” off the ‘Rise‘ EP.
- Pete Koeplin drummed out a Sten Bowen score for both the trailer and for the new film ‘A Thousand Miles Behind‘.
- New music written and produced by Sir Be: “Same Road” featuring Soul Rebel is available on Sound Cloud.
- Morgan Minsk’s new album “Praise” was released on May 11th. You can hear it here on Spotify.
In The Studio/New Releases: Summer 2017
Hot Fun In The Summertime at Bang-A-Song:
In The Studio:
- Telamor spread musical amor.
- The Night Trippers recorded well into tomorrow morning.
- Renee and Joe mixed their record which should be available on vinyl in a matter of moments.
- Willie Alexander continued the collage.
- The Marconis transmitted rock.
- Ally Doody doodled.
- John Jerome let it be known.
- Lisa Manning waxed some stanzas.
- The Only Things cut their next LP.
- Bliss brought the bliss.
- Mark Pelosi checked his grooves.
- Morgan Minsk was mixed.
- Simon Ritt demoed his demos.
- Wilson willed his songs to tape.
- Mike Francis rocked the mic.
- Concrete Constellations shot for the stars.
- Izzy Hall wailed on sax.
- Paul Jensen transferred reels.
- Sofia Gadbois recorded her next set of originals.
New Releases (Released, or Damn Close!):
- Chelsea Berry cut the final overdubs for her new record “Wanderbird” (MyBigCommerce)
- Megan Wolf prepped for the release of her new album “That Girl” (Listen)
- The Poor Sports released a new EP in June “Nobody Cares” (BandCamp)
- Josh Richard on Facebook tracked and mixed his new just-released LP “Cities and States” (SoundCloud)
In The Studio: April/May 2017
It was a fertile spring at Bang-A-Song:
- Jon Butcher worked at the Electric Factory.
- Telamor made their greatest hits hit harder.
- Poor Sports mixed their rich music.
- Toby Mountain had a mix before he mastered.
- John Jerome kept it local.
- Lisa Manning waxed poetic.
- The Instinct improvised.
- Sean Doane learned as he went.
- Crystal transferred.
- Meg Griffin and the Heavy Metal Horns cut an episode for Sirius/XM.
- Chelsea Berry taped a video.
- Gabe Rossi mixed Pete Stone.
- Nathan Cohen and the Rockport Chamber ensembles nailed it.
- Willie Alexander is God.
- Renee and Joe mixed it up.
- Mike O’Connell dropped on in.
And let’s not forget to congratulate the artists who had new releases the past couple months:
- Jon Butcher: 2 Roads East (iTunes)
- Telamor: Playlist (CD Baby)
- The Poor Sports: Better Place (SoundCloud)
In The Studio: February/March 2017
In The Studio at Bang-A-Song:
- Telamor polished their greatest misses.
- Ally Doody smoked some trax.
- Tae Kwon Flo chopped some lines.
- Simon Ritt demoed his future hits.
- The Goddesses sang bye bye to their country.
- The Poor Sports hailed Mary.
- Jon Butcher worked on the Electric Factory line.
- St0ker channeled Sleep.
- John Jerome came down the hall.
- The Marconis flipped their 45.
- Lisa Manning is a poet and she knows it.
New Releases touched by Bang-A-Song:
- “Dereliction” by Mexican Ape-Lord (available on YouTube)
- “Monster” by The Marconis (available from CD Baby)
In The Studio: December 2016 / January 2017
Megan Wolf (Electric Factory X)
Jon Butcher produced. Josh Richard mapped cities and states. Megan Wolf mastered. Telamor stormed the barricades. Ally Doody started writing. Tae Kwon Flo chopped some lines. Mike Francis rebelled. Kinetik Dialekt dialed it in. Renee and Joe started LP3. The Marconis transmitted electricity. St0ker stoked it. Lisa Manning tracked some stanzas.
New gear alert!!! Bang-A-Song is proud to announce the arrival of their new 130 year old 1886 Steinway A1 grand piano! It’s got 85 keys and plays better than a piano 1/10th is age! The bass is deep and tight and the highs have it all. Feel free to come check it out!
In The Studio/New Releases: Summer 2016
Dear Y’all,
Well, it’s been awhile but that’s summer in Gloucester….if we’re not in the studio cutting tracks were on the water kicking back….no extra computer time allowed! Still feels like summah here today but enough time has passed I think I ought to update….
- Meg Griffin hosted Henley Douglas for a taping of her SiriusXM show The Loft
- Sister Kathy recorded the Lord’s work
- Jon Butcher finished Two Roads East
- Nathan Cohen and the Rockport middle school recorded their songs and others
- Telamor cut album #5
- Ally Doody covered the hits
- Lisa Manning slammed more poetry to tape
- Band of Wolves were tracked
- Matt Wolz worked the plate
- Geoff Small made a big sound
- Sasquatch smoked some of his new songs
- Megan Wolf howled into the mic
- Stevie Wah wailed
- Henry Ferrini hired BAS mobile for the Charles Olsen anniversary event at Gloucester Writer’s Center
- Kenny Chambers fired 13 shots towards a new album
- Sandra Lee added Dave Brown to her mix
- Eric Cline and The Only Things made the studio so much sweeter!
- Wizard Cult transferred reels
- Jeff Keithline, Sal Baglio and Dave Mattacks channeled Bonham and the boys
Not surprisingly, there are some great albums that have had their toes in the Bang-A-Song pool for even just a little bit. (And even if their toes weren’t here recently, we’re still happy to push these great recordings. Here are some of the latest:
- Annabelle Lord-Patey crowdfunded and released her first full length album entitled “Polaris”. (“Polaris” on iTunes)
- Her pal and occasional partner in crime, Matt Minigell, released “Destructive Testing”. (“Destructive Testing” on Bandcamp)
- The Heavy Denims were working without a net. (“Without Annette” on YouTube)
- The Great Madness released their debut LP “Never Again”. (“Never Again” on Soundcloud)