Hey look, here’s some music stuff that happened last week.
1/26/17 - Fractal Cat Album Release “The Tower” at 89.7 WTMD
Baltimore’s quintessential psychedelic phenomenon known simply as Fractal Cat, converged upon WTMD’s studios in Towson Thursday night for the unveiling of their new album “The Tower”. This was WTMD’s first official on-air cd release and by the looks of things I’d have to say it was a major success! The crowd packed it’s way into the moderately sized “venue” (complete with merch table and beer kiosk) eager with anticipation for the band to take the stage. It was getting so crowded that some of the audience gave up trying to find a good view (only half the stage is elevated) and decided to enjoy the show by way of the large TV monitors provided in the back. Moments before curtain, local radio hero Sam Sessa took the stage and gave a fantastic introduction which brought the simmering crowd to a full rolling boil. Fractal Cat sounded fantastic! Between the high-end system provided by WTMD, and the guru-level engineering talents of Frank Marchand the band couldn’t have sounded better. With the mix so firmly taken care of, the band was free to leave everything on the stage - each member playing their heart out and creating a sonic experience that washed over the audience in what I can only describe as perfect. I feel proud for the Cats in what was an amazing way to celebrate the culmination of all of their hard work up to this point. My guess would be this is only the beginning however, and that you’ll be hearing the name Fractal Cat much more in the very near future.
1/27/16 - Melancholia Cafe - Maura Tull // Ryan Mathew Teter // James Von Lenz
Do you ever feel sad? Lonely? You ever find yourself stuck at the bottom of a carton of Ben & Jerry’s contemplating the painful mysteries of your existence? Well Friday Night’s Melancholia Cafe was the place for you. Lights tinted blue, we opened up the stage at Joe Squared to three of Baltimore’s saddest songsmiths and a night of tearjerkers to drink yourself numb to. Harpist and siren of sadness Maura Tull returned to Joe’s for the second time to open the show; brilliantly performing a set of gloom ballads that truly transformed our quaint little pizza basement into the Melancholia Cafe - a place where dreams never come true yet refuse to die. Following Ms. Tull was local legend and ivory keymaster Ryan Matthew Teter. Mr. Teter is a wonderfully talented songwriter - one whose sense of lyrical intelligence perfectly accompanies his melodic pop-sensibilities, and who’s poignant material can break even the coldest of hearts. Lastly we were joined by James Von Lenz who broke out the most nihilistic and upsetting songs in his repertoire - his crooning vocals and smart chordal arrangements being the perfect way to close out the evening... and reopen a few bar tabs. We drowned the night away with whiskey and tears - the words of Bobby Mcferrin being the only reprieve given to our denizens of despondency.
That’s it, see you next week.
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