Want to rock out this weekend? Here are a few local shows to check out
This week, we feature three different bands coming to the area, all with a unique take on rock ‘n’ roll but each with its own stylistic niche and devoted coterie of fans. All three of these bands are on national tours, but this weekend marks their only New England date, and all three offer reasonable ticket prices that won’t break the bank. Music fans know there a few things in life as joyful as discovering a new band whose music entices you, and hopefully some music lovers take the opportunity to investigate one of these groups this weekend.
Let’s look at the music and history of The Silos from New York City, coming to the Narrows Center in Fall River on Saturday; Chicago’s Fruit Bats, headlining Royale in Boston on Friday night; and Magic Beans, the Colorado quartet performing at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke all weekend.
The Silos in Fall River
The Silos were formed in 1985 when Cuban-American singer/songwriter Walter Salas-Humera teamed up with musician and producer Bob Rupe. Their sound was a precursor to some of the Americana, rootsy country-rock and folk-rock we’re hearing today. Contemporary fans might liken their work to that of The Drive-By Truckers, or Jason Isbell, for its literate storytelling, and unexpected twists and turns. By the time of their second independent record, 1987’s “Cuba,” The Silos were making waves on the national scene and were voted that year’s Best New Artist in the Rolling Stone Critics’ Poll. That earned them a record deal with RCA and led to a national tv appearance in 1990 on Late Night with David Letterman. Rupe left the group that year, and since then Salas-Humera has carried on with a changing cast of musicians.
About a year ago, The Silos released their latest album, “Family,” on the Sonic Pyramid label, their ninth label so far. Counting compilations, The Silos now have 18 albums out, and Salas-Humera has also released a handful of solo albums. He has also performed in the trio The Setters with fellow rockers Alejandro Escovedo and Michael Hall. “Family” is the band’s first record since 2011’s “Florizona,” and its overall theme deals with people coming together and appreciating each other. Salas-Humera is also a talented painter who specializes in animals, and the video for their single “My Favorite Animal” features his paintings, in a jaunty rocker that celebrates diversity. There’s a more recent video for the single “Colorado River,” a rootsy country-rocker about a trip down that raging river and its rapids.
One of the standout story-songs on the latest Silos record is “The Spanish Man,” an engaging tale about “growing old and staying young.” And the urgent rocker “Love and Trust and Friends” can rank with the best of The Silos from their 1990s heyday. Salas-Humera is one of the country’s most singular songwriters, and its not just that his lyrics take unexpected directions, but his infectious singalong choruses don’t always resolve where or how you think they will. This tour is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the “Cuba” album, and will feature tunes from that record, as well as favorites from the band’s long history.
(The Narrows Center is located at 16 Anawan St. in Fall River, across from Battleship Cove, and the show begins at 8 p.m., with all tickets $25. Check narrowscenter.org, or call 508-324-1926 for more information.)
The Fruit Bats in Boston
The Fruit Bats are the folk-rockin’ outlet for Chicago songsmith Eric D. Johnson, which he formed in 1997. Music fans know Johnson from his work with the folk-pop group Bonny Light Horseman, and he’s also played in the rock band The Shins. Just last week, The Fruit Bats released their 10th album, “A River Running To Your Heart.” There are some Americana shadings to The Fruit Bats' latest, but it is more indie-pop, shimmering melodies and Johnson’s warm tenor vocals crafting soothing lo-fi sounds.
The chiming guitars and keyboards behind “Waking Up in L.A.” make it one of the Fruit Bats’ most intoxicating new numbers, and the buoyant love song "Rushin River Valley" has already been released as a single. The new album is a feast of melody, and the gauzy ballad "It All Comes Back" is the latest cut to be released as a single.
Johnson has used The Fruit Bats to create some really offbeat projects, such as in 2021, when they delivered a full-length album which was a cover of Smashing Pumpkins’ iconic 1993 album, “Siamese Dream.” And of course, Bonny Light Horseman is one of the more inventive folk-pop groups out there. The Fruit Bats is his first musical outlet of note, however, and the Boston show promises to contain numerous indelible moments.
(Royale is located at 279 Tremont St. in Boston and the Friday show begins at 7 p.m. with H.C. McIntire opening. Tickets are $29.50 in advance or $35 at the door, through axs.com. Check boweryboston.com or call 617-338-7699 for more information.)
Magic Beans in Pembroke
The Boulder, Colorado, quartet known as Magic Beans has been delighting audiences since 2012 with a mix of funk, soul, rock and country elements. They’ve released five albums, two of which were live sets. Their latest album was last year’s “Unzipped,” an all-instrumental tribute to 1990s lo-fi and neo-soul.
Their 2021 album “Slice of Life” included music with vocals as usual, and numbers like the funk-rock “Sweet Thang” showed how much their rhythm section of drummer Cody Wales and bassist Chris Duffy builds a driving framework for the inventive lead lines of guitarist Scott Hachey and keyboardist Casey Russell. “Sharen is Karen,” from that same album, takes matters into more of George Clinton, space-funk direction, but it is a wildly engaging dance groove, and Russell’s keyboard figures evoke the irresistible allure of "Chameleons"-era Herbie Hancock.
Delve a bit further back into their catalog, and “Hanky Panky”, from the band’s 2018 “Casino Cabaret” record, works off a midtempo guitar chord progression, where the keyboard and synths take off in some exciting directions, all over an insistent rhythm. The only vocals in that song are the title, chanted now and then, but it is again, a ridiculously infectious dance floor groove. Fans heading to Soundcheck Studios this weekend better wear dancing shoes.
(Soundcheck Studios is located at 150 Corporate Park Drive in Pembroke, and the Friday & Saturday night shows begin at 8 p.m. Massachusetts funk band Arukah opens on Friday, while Rhode Island’s Guess method opens on Saturday. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, available through soundcheck-studios.com, or by calling 781-730-5233.)
Upcoming gigs: Brett Young, Joan Osborne, Adam Ezra Group
THURSDAY: Rock and reggae when Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad invades Brighton Music Hall. Brett Young sings at MGM Music Hall. Kranium gets down at Big Night Live. The South Shore’s Danny Gallagher Band headlines The Fallout Shelter. Songsmith Will Evans at the Spire Center. The folk trio of Bay State native Jake Blount, with his Michigan cohorts Nick Gareiss and Laurel Premo, harmonizes at The Narrows Center. Playin’ Dead returns to Soundcheck Studios. Texas songbird Jaimee Harris at City Winery.
FRIDAY: Joan Osborne takes over The Spire Center. Jangly alt-rock is defined by The Feelies, at The Sinclair. The Blood Brothers’ blues-rock – Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia – burn up the Narrows Center. The pop magic of Aly and AJ at MGM Music Hall. Brett Dennen sings at City Winery. The rhythmic stew of Lookie Lookie at Boston Harbor Distillery. Americana songwriter Robbie Fulks at Club Passim. Jon Yerden tops the bill at South Shore Folk Music Club. Magic Beans opens their weekend at Soundcheck Studios. Fruit Bats’ charmingly airy music arrives at Royale. Cupcakke raps at The Paradise Rock Club.
SATURDAY: Quincy’s Big Buttah Productions has a Music of Sinatra show at Braintree’s Moose Lodge 413. Comedian Steve Trevino – “America’s Favorite Husband” – headlines Memorial Hall in Plymouth. South Shore favorite The Fat City Band returns to The C-Note. Nickel Creek performs at MGM Music Hall. The indie rock quintet Summer Set warms up the Paradise Rock Club. It’s a reunion for the Verve Pipe at City Winery. The all-female harmonies of Della Mae will sound fabulous at The Crystal Ballroom. The Unknown Mortal Orchestra – the New Zealand pysch-rock outfit – headlines Roadrunner. The Adam Ezra Group always fun at The Spire Center. The Silos at The Narrows Center. Michigander – the nom de music of songwriter Jason Singer – is at Brighton Music Hall. Rochester, New York, indie rockers Joywave heat up Royale. Brazilian star Djavan at the House of Blues.
SUNDAY AND BEYOND: Sunday is packed with the British Pink Floyd Show, a multimedia tribute to the band, celebrating ’50 Years of The Dark Side of the Moon’ at the Orpheum Theater; while hard-rockers Black Dahlia Murder rumble into The Paradise Rock Club; country gals Annie Brobst and Raelyn Nelson sing at City Winery; and Roadrunner offers the electronica of M83. Tuesday night Built to Spill opens a two-night stay at The Sinclair. It’ll be a sizzling homecoming when Plymouth blues-rock titans The Delta Generators take over The Spire Center on April 28. Stoughton’s rock singer/songwriter/producer Mike Viola comes to City Winery on April 29, sharing the stage with Carsie Blanton.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: The Silos, The Fruit Bats and Magic Beans set to play local venues
