Backstage Blogger Interviews Richie Havens

Richie Havens' digital artwork is already on display at the Narrows, and he'll be playing our beloved stage on Friday December 7.

Will you be there?

Last I checked, tickets were still available. More info at http://www.ncfta.org/.

In celebration of the return of the wonderful Mr. Havens, we interviewed him about his art, his music, his life.

How does one produce digital art, and how did you become interested in it?
Digital art has been legitimized by the international art world and gives rise to thousands of stylistic approaches to modern artists... The computer as the palate allows many young artists to express themselves in conventional and unconventional ways...The Wacom pen tablet allows one to use a digital stylus to draw with a pencil or a paintbrush/palate knife, etc., directly onto digital surfaces to be printed on canvas, art papers or fabrics. I was fascinated by the different mediums available to me that allowed me to experiment.

As an artist, how does it differ from your painting and sculpting?
I am able to use different programs to prepare and create models so much faster for sculptures I have always wanted to do. As far as painting goes I am able to work with interactive color.

Let's talk music...who are the backing musicians you'll be bringing with you this visit, and how do you feel they add to your sound?
I am traveling with a cellist and a guitarist... 3 of us ... who are in themselves incredible musicians...who are what I call "feelers"... I only know the first two songs I am going to sing and they are able to use their senses to figure out what's coming...Between us we create an organic atmosphere song by song.

You do a cover of the Gary Wright song "Love is Alive," which was a follow up to his hit "Dream Weaver." Why did you choose this song?
I didn't choose. "Love is Alive" was a song I have wanted to do since it came out... It chose me... Any song that stopped me in my tracks was a song I responded to by learning it and sharing it immediately with the audiences I sing to... Those songs educated me on many levels...

You seem to be a very positive individual. Were you always this way, or is it something you developed over the years?
I was always that way, because I was under the impression that we all are a part of the "Great Becoming".. which meant, we are living in the ongoing history of the world we live in...Nothing is finished; we are in the throes of creating this world... Everything man has ever witnessed was a "FIRST"... and we are creating more firsts every day.

What are your future musical and artistic plans?
I feel that I too am in the world of "FIRSTS," so the songs I sing will always reflect the "The Ongoing" and allow me to chronicalize our human story... forever :)

Tim O'Brien Dirty Linen Cover Guy

Narrows alum Tim O'Brien is the latest cover guy for Dirty Linen magazine. To read an excerpt from the article, click here.

That's Tim, on the foreground right, playing the Narrows in January 2006. On the left is the legendary Danny Barnes.

Narrows Alums On Americana Radio Chart

Just checking out the latest Americana radio chart (http://www.americanaradio.org/).

The following Narrows alums are either on the chart or are just bubbling under:

Mary Gauthier
Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez
Red Stick Ramblers
Jim Lauderdale (read a review of the recording on americanaroots.com by clicking here)
Pieta Brown
Chuck Prophet
Duncan Earl Walters
Peter Mulvey
Ana Egge
John Sebastian

Did I miss anybody?

Some of those and Narrows alum Lori McKenna are on this chart from americanaroots.com.

Cosmic American Music

Opener Danielle Miraglia and headliner Sarah Borges goof around before the show

Wasn't it Gram Parsons who coined the term Cosmic American Music? If so, Saturday night at the Narrows started perfectly with Gram's group The Flying Burrito Brothers blasting through the speakers, via a new CD from recently discovered recordings, warming up the growing crowd.

From Mississippi John Hurt to original tunes written by a young woman from Taunton, MA, it was Cosmic and American all the way.

The show began with newcomer Danielle Miraglia, out of Revere, MA, expertly plunking the strings and singing the blues.

After a break, it was headliners Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, on the road for much of the year, returning to Sarah's home area for Thanksgiving. The band was tight and loose, energetic and quiet, then punk-rock roaring loud. Their set consisted of originals, covers of old punk songs, and even a Charley Pride number.

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles rip this joint

Savoy Brown's Kim Simmonds "On the Record"

Savoy Brown makes its annual visit to the Narrows this coming Friday. As you may know, Savoy Brown was doing the British blues thing long before it became fab.

Just did an email interview with guitarist/vocalist/leader Kim Simmonds. Here it is:

During your last visit to the Narrows you played with such joy. Is it always fun these days?

The "joy" is always there. It's a blessing. Tough to hold on to if you take it lightly. I try to not make it "work" which this business of being a traveling musician can quickly become. Therefore I take less gigs so that the ones I do play, I can give 1000% to the audience and to the music. I can't give any less...it's the way I'm built.

What recordings are you listening to these days? Any recommendations?

I like listening to the artists I grew up with. All the old blues and rock records are still fresh to me. I like people like Mose Allison and Tony Joe White and Dion and so forth. Older artists that still make great new music. I've been also listening to The Smiths lately which will tell you just how crazy my tastes are!

How about your recording plans?

I'm currently recording my next solo acoustic CD tentatively entitled "Out Of The Blue" for release next May. I have the songs written but now I'm waiting on a special Martin from the Martin factory and also I've been promised a couple of newer Guilds so there will be a guitar shoot out in my studio soon....may the best guitar win.

Solo performing versus playing with a band...any preference? The positives and negatives for each.

I was surprised to hear James Taylor talking of the difficulties of putting on a one man show. I would have thought it was second nature to him. There is a real challenge to standing on stage alone with just an acoustic guitar. I love the challenge. With a band you can relax on stage and just let it happen (if the band is good)...you can't relax just by yourself. Of course on the upside there is a wonderful solitary vibe that goes along with traveling and playing alone which appeals to the Celt in me.

What kind of gear do you use, and why?

I use Gibson guitars because they give me a beefy sound and one that exemplifies the "UK blues sound" that I am apart of. I was also using Marshall amplifiers for the same reason but recently I've switched to a Dailey amplifier that has much the same characteristics as a Marshall but with hand made components etc.

What's your favorite kind of audience...quiet and attentive, or kind of rowdy, shouting out requests, that kind of thing. The Narrows has both, and in-between.

For solo acoustic performances I like an audience that's not too quiet because then I may get too self conscious. Attentive but responsive I suppose is what I mean. As regards the band shows...I don't mind...quiet is good...boogie loud is also good...crazy maniacal is also good!!! Really, with the band, there is nothing better than a loud, ready for the moment audience.

What are your long-term future plans?

I intend to keep being a traveling musician until I'm.......really old. It keeps me healthy and inspired. I also draw and paint every day at home (as well as practice the guitar) so even if I wasn't a professional I would still do those things. More and more I am grateful for the ability and blessing that have made me able to make a living at doing what others consider a hobby.

I will continue to record band and solo records and with luck, I intend to live to a ripe old age!

Narrows Newgrass

Newgrass banjo-man Tony Trischka brought his virtuosity to the Narrows Friday night. Part of his "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular" tour.

And Opening for Sarah Borges Saturday Is....

photo by Claire Folger

Opening for Sarah Borges Saturday night is a new face to the Narrows: Danielle Miraglia, out of Boston way.

Your BSB has never seen or heard her, but let's see what others are saying:

From Jon Sobel, Blogcritics.com: "Danielle Miraglia's country/folk/blues sound descends in large part from Mississippi John Hurt, and she is a worthy carrier of that guitar-picking tradition. Her voice, reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt's, is strong but vulnerable, feminine but never precious, with a gutwrenching catch to it..."

From the Patriot Ledger: "Her husky alto is both engaging and world-weary."

From Performing Songwriter:"Folk fans in the Northeast are already hip to the talents of Danielle Miraglia, and with her latest release, Nothing Romantic, it won’t be long before the rest of the country takes notice as well."

Best Music Magazines and Websites

Your humble BSB has been thinking about reading material recently, as happens when he has a few days off from his day job.

What do you read in terms of music publications? Not necessarily folk/Americana music, but also in general. Here are my thoughts on a few publications and websites. Love to get your thoughts, too.

Rolling Stone--Still the grandaddy of them all in my opinion, and http://www.rollingstone.com/ is pretty good. Of course the magazine is geared for folks younger than the BSB, but it's still a good way to take the pulse of the nation. Plus, for all you political folks, it's as lefty as ever. Not enough coverage of the folk/Americana scene (pretty much none), but we're an elitist group anyway.

No Depression--A folk/Americana magazine that drives the BSB nuts with its refusal to follow standard American punctuation. (Message to No Depression editors: In the USA, the period always goes inside the quotation mark.) Other than that, it's pretty much the bible for the kind of music we feature at the Narrows. The articles are way too long for me though. (Message to No Depression editors: Leave the best and cut the rest.) I like to read the advertisements, too, because they're often about upcoming releases. Great reading for the treadmill!

Dirty Linen--Another folk/Americana magazine. I don't receive this in the mail at this time, but I used to read it every now and then after purchasing it at the newstand. Pretty good, but No Depression is better. Update 11/23/07: Disclosure: Dirty Linen once gave me a positive review for a CD I co-produced and had a track on.

Blender--This is a guilty pleasure. It doesn't look like it would be a good magazine for us elitists, but it has more coverage of stuff we're interested in than you might imagine. Yes, yes lot's of hip-hop, but also indie rock, which is not far from folk/Americana. The latest issue has Jay-Z on the cover (I wasn't exactly sure who he is), but also a listing of the 100 greatest indie-rock albums of all time. Hmm, let's see....the #1 album is "Slanted and Enchanted" by Pavement; #7 "The Velvet Underground" by the VU, an album that featured "Pale Blue Eyes"; #21 is "The Modern Lovers" by Massachusetts guy Jonathan Richman & his crew; #30 is Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"; #97 is "Rock 'n' Roll" from Narrows alums The Mekons; you get the picture. Overall a fun magazine, unless you're so elitist that only something sanctioned by NPR will do.

npr.org/music--This site does the sanctioning. Great cross-section of musical genres. I don't read this enough. Maybe I'll make a vow in the New Year to do so. Currently features an interview with Narrows alum Eric Anderson.

Revolver--okay, this is a metal magazine that has an approach way below my personal standards. But--if you have any interest in the metal scene, this is pretty good. It has surprisingly good interviews mixed in with the stupid stuff. And its CD reviews are interesting. If your life is way too serious, this may be the magazine for you! I think it's fun to read about various musical genres, and this is my way of staying in touch with metal. Now, I just need to get magazines on jazz, classical and hip-hop and I'll be all set!

folkalley.com--An online magazine I check regularly. Not enough content, but it's quality stuff worth a look every week. Made to order for the Narrows' audience.

mog.com--Sort of like Blender, except on-line. A musician in one of the groups playing the Narrows made me aware of this site. Worth a visit every couple days. Occasional coverage of folk/Americana artists.

pastemagazine.com--I became aware of this after it was referred to by Narrows alum Sarah Borges (Sarah is playing the Narrows Saturday night). Haven't spent much time on this site, but it looks like a nice mixture of music genres. I should read this more often.

aolmusic.com--I rarely look at, but a friend says it's a quick way to follow the music trends, if you care. I do care, so I'm going to look at this one more.

americanaroots.com--I've written many reviews for this site, so I'm partial. It's the most ambitious on-line Americana magazine that I've found, featuring podcasts, reviews and interviews. It comes out of San Antonio, Texas so it seems to have a slant for the Lone Star State at times, but that's fine with me. When I wrote for it, I provided a Northerner viewpoint. They're constantly revamping the site, trying to make it better, so if you haven't visited in awhile you'll notice a different look. Their reviewers are all volunteers, by the way, so they may be looking for somebody who can write who digs the music.

radioandrecords.com--One of the important magazines for the world of radio. It does have sections about Americana and Triple A (Triple A is the format for WBOS in Boston; open to folkie/Americana stuff, but not really hardcore).

americanaradio.org--A weekly chart about who's getting the airplay in the folk/Americana scene. These are the Narrows' folks! Btw, according to musicians I've spoken with, being successful on this chart doesn't mean you can afford to buy a new car.

wumb.org--This is for Boston's WUMB radio, an important station to us folks at the Narrows. You must visit this site! I even set up a link (I'm too lazy to do this for every entry). I particularly like to read the playlist archives to see which Narrows' artist is getting the most airplay.

fmqb.com--Another important radio publication that is worth checking out, particularly to learn about new releases. Doesn't really cover folk/Americana but does venture into this territory in its writing about the Triple A format.

billboard.com--Still critical for those of us who care about charts. Its charts are based on sales, so it's a good way to take the pulse of the nation. The Eagles and Led Zeppelin are in the top ten in terms of album sales this week, btw. All is not lost! Now if we could only get Tim O'Brien, Sarah Borges, Eilen Jewell, Richie Haven and other Narrows' alums on the chart, then the world would be a much kinder place!

Did I miss anything? Please leave your suggestions in the comments area.

Happy T-Day. Hope to see you Friday night at the Tony Trischka show.

Update 11/23/07: I ran into a guy who suggested pitchforkmedia.com and expectingrain.com.

Dar Williams on Concert TV/Thoughts on Jools Holland

Your humble BSB was perusing the free on-demand stuff on Comcast when I came upon a notice that Narrows alum Dar Williams is featured on concert.tv in November.

At this writing, haven't seen the show, but it's apparently from Ms. Williams' new DVD of a performance at the Bearsville Theater.

It's probably on Cox as well, since they also carry concert.tv.

If you see the show, please leave a review in the comments section.

Btw, I've watched those Jools Holland music shows on cable. While I know I should like this rather unconventional program, since it features a kind of round-robin of major artists (Kinks, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Tom Petty and many others), I am now declaring it nearly unwatchable. It's very much for a UK audience and I find the much-celebrated Jools nearly incomprehensible when he speaks. It was interesting; now it's annoying. Plus the shows seem to be at least a decade old.

Am I wrong?

Josh Ritter: Somewhere in the UK

I happened to be perusing mog.com when I came across a write up by a UK mogger, as it were, about a Josh Ritter show apparently in the UK (I didn't see a mention where).

The celebrated Josh Ritter, as you probably guessed, is a Narrows alum.

Without further ado, here's the concert review.

Fotos: Greencards and Tripping Lily

Thanks to Herb T. for stepping up to the plate and emailing some photos in from Saturday night's show starring the Greencards with openers Tripping Lily. Your humble Backstage Blogger forgot his camera.

A couple of the Greencards up top, and pretty much all of Tripping Lily down below.

Nice to see young 'uns making roots music, huh?

Featurette on Eliza Gilkyson

Came across a little featurette on Narrows alum Eliza Gilkyson on folkalley.com.

She's played the Narrows a time or two but is not on our current schedule.

Of course that changes all the time.

For all you oldies fans, her dad Terry wrote "Greenfields," which I think was a hit for the Brothers 4 or somebody. He also wrote "The Bare Necessities" for Disney.

Anyway, the feature on Eliza is here.

Random Ramblings from Your Backstage Blogger

Your humble Backstage Blogger, aka BSB, has been nosing around a bit, looking for scraps of info to pass along to the readers.

Here we go:

• The guitar auction benefiting the Narrows should begin on Wednesday on Ebay. A wonderful benefactor has donated many beautiful guitars for this auction, which is likely already creating a buzzzzzz among guitar aficionados. If you've attended a Narrows' concert recently you may have picked up the flyer so you can purchase a guitar at the minimum bid price. Keep an eye on http://www.ncfta.org/, the Narrows website, for more information over the next 48 hours or so.

• While your BSB missed the Friday night show with Donna Jean, formerly of the Dead, I did emcee the Greencards' show on Saturday night. Good crowd showed for the first-time appearance of this highly acclaimed Aussie/Brit roots ensemble. The opener was a Cape Cod group of youngsters called Tripping Lily, who charmed the audience with their songs and personalities. Both the Greencards and Tripping Lily look to be folks in their twenties, more or less. It's great to see that today's roots movement is being driven by young musicians (Think of Ollabelle, Uncle Earl, the Mammals--all kids in the eyes of your BSB).
  

• But the old guys (and women) get the job done too. Tony Trischka, coming to the Narrows on Friday, has a terrific new CD out this year. Your humble BSB has toiled at his real job with "Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular" on the CD player a time or two. Very tasty stuff. Your BSB believes one doesn't have to be a bluegrass fan to dig it.
  

• Parking for a visit to the Narrows is usually not a big deal. It was a bit challenging on Saturday night because--we hear from a reliable source--that our friends at the Battleship Massachusetts held a sleep-over on the Battleship for youngsters.

• Don't forget the elevator fund. Last I checked we raised about $15,000 for the $40,000 last-stage-of-the-project. Go to http://www.ncfta.org/ for more info.

• New suggestion: If you bring it in, please take it with you. A member of the audience suggested this awhile ago. If you bring bottles etc. to the Narrows, kindly take them with you for final disposal. You don't have to--we have trash barrels etc. But, remember, clean up (and everything else except for the music and art) is performed by volunteers.
  

• Our buddies Louie Leeman and Cheap Sneakers are opening for Savoy Brown in the final hours of November. Make sure you arrive early enough to catch Louie and the crew. Solid musicians who know how to entertain. Special salute to the group for helping your BSB at a charitable event put on by the Providence Rotary back in September.
  

• From our "Would Hank Have Done It This Way?" Department--Bob Dylan, Jack White and others have put music behind Hank Williams Sr. lyric sheets that may have been with the Hankster when the 29-year-old "stepped on a rainbow" (as Kinky Friedman would put it) more or less on January 1, 1953 in the back of a Caddy. More info from Paste magazine.

• Nice to see Kinky on Robert McNeil's "Do You Speak American?" on PBS. Kinky was on a segment about talk deep in the heart of Texas. Btw, I notice some people call Robert "Robin." Anybody know what's up with that?

• A belated farewell to Porter Wagoner, who died recently. He never got the respect he deserved from us hipsters until the very end of his life. We elites embraced his last CD which came out earlier this year. Your BSB has yet to get an earful, though. It's called "Wagonmaster." When your humble BSB was growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Wagoner's show used to come on to the TV. We, of course, got up from our chairs and changed the channel. Mostly because he dressed in rhinestone outfits and slicked his hair back in a rather odd way to our eyes. Porter, btw, helped make Dolly Parton a star.

• Speaking of opening acts, don't miss Mark T. Small opening for Johnny Winter in January at the Narrows. He puts on an energetic show and is very swift with his fingers on the fretboard.
  

• Wanna work off the turkey and stuffings? Come to the Sarah Borges show Saturday after T-Day. An energetic time is guaranteed for all!

That's it for now. Hope to post some photos from the Greencards show soon.

Read All About It!

Eilen Jewell Releases EP

It's already starting to get added onto Americana format radio stations across the nation: A 5-song EP from Narrows' fave Eilen Jewell called Heartache Boulevard. Her most recent full-album release, by the way, Letters from Sinners and Strangers, did extremely well on the Americana chart.

For more info about the EP, click here.

Donna Jean Musical Photo Montage

This Friday Donna Jean and the Tricksters come to the Narrows for their--kind of--2nd visit.

Donna Jean, formerly of The Grateful Dead (and a back-up singer for Elvis), came to these shores awhile back with a different band set-up.

Interesting factoid: Donna Jean sang back up on Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman."

Anyway, a nice fan put together a musical photo montage of Donna and the group. Might be a nice way to get a feel for what they do, if you're unfamiliar.

Click here.

Crooked Still Worth A Mil

Saturday night the Narrows welcomed roots youngsters Crooked Still for the first time.

It was a packed house, maybe a sell-out, which we were surprised at since the group really hadn't worked the area much, other than playing at Summerfest in New Bedford a couple years back.

But Crooked Still showed why a lot of the crowd was willing to travel from Boston--some even attending the group's show the preceding night in Beantown--to hear them play.

They were charming, funny and experts at their instruments. Most of all the evening was just good-old-fashioned entertainment, roots-music style.

Some Crooked Still news: their fab cellist(above, left)--the only string player to ever get a full scholarship from Berklee College of Music--is leaving to focus on another project. So the group is being re-configured over the next few weeks.

Cowtown's Elana Returns/So Do New Riders

Not yet posted:

January 12
Elana James

This show is a lock! Guaranteed to warm up a January evening. Violinist Elana was in the fabled string jazz group "Hot Club for Cowtown" that played the Narrows and toured with Dylan. Is it folk? Is it jazz? Is it Western Swing? The answer is: yes, all those and more. www.elanajames.com.

$18, $20


January 25
Bettye LaVette

USA Today says "LaVette's chill-inducing performance is without question one of the finest you'll hear all year." She's recognized as one of the finest soul singers. Learn more by going to her website: www.bettyelavette.com. By the way, we've spelled her first name correctly. It is Bettye.

$22, $25

January 26
Roots of Creation

Jam banders unafraid to let their freak flag fly as they boogie through all sorts of funky rhythms. Every time we have these folks in, we love them even more. www.rootsofcreation.com.

$10, $12


February 8
New Riders of the Purple Sage

A seminal country rock band that used to be a Jerry Garcia side-project. Get your tickets early for these psychedelic space cowboys! www.nrpsmusic.com.

$25, $28

Sheryl Crow Album Due Out In February

Sheryl Crow has a new album coming out in February. While Sheryl has never played the Narrows, we know there are Sheryl fans who go to our shows.

A musician on one of her albums, Jay Bennett, has performed at the Narrows. He used to be in Wilco.

More on Ms. Crow's stuff here.

Death in the Family

As you may have heard, tonight's show with Iris Dement has been moved to December 1.

The word is there was a death in her family.

Our condolences to her and her family. We look forward to seeing her December 1.

For more info regarding tickets, please visit www.ncfta.org.

The Eagles Whip Britney Spears (On the Chart)

Yes, they're only selling it at Wal-Mart, but The Eagles latest CD "Long Road Out of Eden" is pretty darn likeable. Some of your Backstage Blogger's friends refuse to go into Wal-Mart--but your blogger dares to venture where many will not in pursuit of music.

Quick story: I'm in Wal-Mart looking for the CD, which wasn't in the regular location for CDs from The Eagles. So I bump into a gentleman who asks "You looking for the new Eagles' CD? Me too."

Together, almost arm-in-arm, we paraded around the Wal-Mart in Seekonk until we--aha!--came upon a special display. My feelings that I had found a kindred spirit, however, were shattered when the guy asks "Do you like Chicago, too?"

Being the snob I am I, of course, replied, "I liked their early stuff, when Terry Kath played guitar for them." (Kath lost his life in an apparent accident with a gun early in Chicago's career.)

By the way (and the real reason for this blog entry): The Eagles beat out Britney Spears on the latest Billboard chart. Details here.

What your very humble Backstage Blogger wants to know: wasn't Britney's career pretty much over for now?

Maybe Britney is smarter than we think.

Ex-Ramones Manager Murdered

The news continues to be sad from the Ramones' camp...their ex-manager, who went on to a prolific career as a real estate agent "to the stars," apparently was murdered.

Interesting life, interesting career. Tragic end.

More here from Newsday.

1949 Woody Guthrie Performance Now Available

The Guthrie Archive has released a 1949 performance of Woody Guthrie, father of Arlo, grandfather of Narrows alum Sara Lee Guthrie, role model for Bob Dylan, and composer of "This Land is Your Land" among many other tunes.

To see the write up by the Guthrie folks go here.

To read a review that is somewhat critical of the release, click here.

IWAY Opening Cuts Travel Time to Narrows

The long-awaited opening of the eastbound IWay took place today.

In short, it means folks traveling 95N to 195E to, of course, the Narrows from south of downtown Providence will be shaving some time from their trip.

Your humble blogger traveled the new ramp and bridge today to get a firsthand look.

Currently, it's only for the eastbound hookup to route 195.

New England Bluegrassers Make Narrows Debut

Not yet in the schedule, but here on this very humble blog:


January 10
Judith Owen
British folk-rock guru Richard Thompson was so impressed by this Welsh folk-jazz chanteuse and songwriter that he invited her to perform on his tour, “1000 Years of Popular Music.” She's gotten rave reviews from the New York Times, the Boston Globe and others, and has performed on The Today Show. And she's married to funny guy Harry Shearer, with whom she's performed as well. www.judithowen.net.

$13, $15

Feb 9
Eric Lindell
The Washington Post calls him "a rock-'n'-soul man in the tradition of Van Morrison and Southside Johnny but with a twist: Lindell has spent the past seven years in New Orleans." Learn more at
www.ericlindellband.com.

$15, $17

April 5
Northern Lights
If you've followed the bluegrass scene over the past 30 years, you've heard of this group, which has received widespread recognition across the nation--even recording with Alison Krauss and Peter Rowan! Learn their history and who's in their latest version by visiting their website www.northernlightsband.com.

$15, $17

Vote In The Boston Music Awards

Narrows faves Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles and The Slip are up for Boston Music Awards, along with Narrows alum (she played at the Narrows just once we think) Lori McKenna, who had her major label debut this year, thanks to Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

Anyway, there are a bunch of categories, including metal (your humble blogger digs Killswitch Engage), and YOU can vote.

We, of course, urge you to support Sarah and her crew, The Slip and Lori McKenna (one of the good folks who has worked many years for her success).

Don't know why Narrows-most-recent-discovery Eilen Jewell wasn't nominated, since her latest CD did extremely well on the national Americana chart.

For more click here.