One of our favorite artists, Mike Savino, a.k.a. Tall Tall Trees, has just launched a campaign on Pledge Music to raise money to sponsor the making of his new album. Like many independent musicians, Tall Tall Trees makes his own way, relying on his talent, his sense of adventure, and the good people around him to make the life of …
The JFK Assassination. | 50th Anniversary.
November 22nd will mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. As we close in on this woeful date, many people and news organizations have been looking back at the events of that day and the ensuing chaos that ended in the swearing in of President Lyndon B. Johnson and the death of Lee …
…Not Kansas.
Americans across the country know very well what it’s like to be outmatched and put down by the forces of nature. Man’s conquest of nature has forever been at the core of the ways of men. Epic weather disasters, like our recent acquaintance Sandy, are now frequently occurring realities in our lives, whether we like it or not. In an …
The First Act: Anjimile.
I have been most eager to share this particular installment of The First Act with you, dearest Quiet Lunch readers. I am distinctly enthusiastic about the music being made by the young, talented, and driven new artist, Anjimile. A Northeastern University student and Texas-native, Anjimile came into my world abruptly and unexpectedly on a cool September evening at the Middle …
Yogurt Smoothness | Live Show Review.
I hopped off the T in Cleveland Circle last Friday night and headed to Roggie’s Bar to see a band I had only heard of the day before: Yogurt Smoothness. The experimental rock duo came to my attention via Twitter when they contacted me about their Boston show and sent me some music. Now, there is simply too much music …
The Dexter Series Finale was JUST Right. *Spoiler Alert*
Like millions of other fans, I watched the series finale of Dexter on Sunday evening. However, unlike the vast majority of those fans and nearly every media outlet, I thought it was an excellent finish. In the following paragraphs I will put forth what will likely be a socially suicidal defense of what I felt was a well-written, well-executed final …
The First Act: Little War Twins.
When I first met Gaetana and Trick of the Little War Twins outside the Middle East in Cambridge for our interview, I was immediately struck by their visible passion and enthusiasm for making music. Throughout our very delightful and informative conversation, it became clear that their passion for music is not only rooted in their own desire to do what …
The First Act: We Avalanche.
One idyllic Saturday afternoon in May, I was wandering around Harvard Square, taking in the Cambridge air and following my ears from one street musician to the next. As I casually ambled along, I came upon a hat shop called Goorin Brothers, where, to my great surprise, there was an acoustic trio in the window display serenading the patrons and …
The Newport Folk Festival 2013. (RECAP)
Two weeks ago I attended the Newport Folk Festival for the 12th time in my life. As an editor at the Quiet Lunch Magazine, it was supposed to be my duty to provide excellent journalistic coverage for our dear readers. As a veteran attendee, I really have no excuse for not snapping a few pictures, but I have to be …
Introducing Eugene…
Shwood, an Oregon-based company specializing in handmade eye wear made from sustainable materials, wants to introduce a new friend by the name of Eugene. The Eugene is the latest frame style from Shwood and boasts a sleek silhouette and that classic 1960’s bold look. Each frame is made by hand and is available in both Walnut and Dark Walnut wood. The Eugene is available with either a Grey Carl Zeiss or green G15 polarized lens (which …
The First Act: Solo Sexx.
I have never been so happy to sweat so profusely in a smelly basement as I was last weekend when I saw Solo Sexx, a Massachusetts-based female rap duo, perform at the Cantab Lounge in Central Square in Cambridge. I felt so empowered by their spirited performance that by the end of their set, I was ready to tear off …
Quiet Lunch Magazine ‡ July 15th, 2013. – July 31st, 2013.
In the 42nd issue of Quiet Lunch Magazine, we offer you the answers to Life, the Universe and Everything. For those of you who do not understand the reference, please proceed to the nearest library and check-out all five volumes of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams. Seriously. To stimulate your minds as you sit at …
Exposing Democracy’s Underbelly: The United States of Complacency.
Since I first started writing this article, the Edward Snowden real-time spy story has progressed from celebrity-style media coverage to an international diplomatic fiasco. There is no easy way to assess the situation or the man, so following the wise advice of my late grandfather, I am taking a few steps back and observing the situation from the most macro …
The First Act: Tristan Omand.
Tristan Omand is not just another guy with a guitar. And he is certainly not just another singer-songwriter. Tristan Omand is a folk singer in the purest sense of the term. Driven by a deep understanding of the history as well as his own personal love of the folk genre, Tristan writes and performs music that combines human experiences with …
Tall Tall Trees in Central Park.
When I think of the banjo, I imagine a black and white film of an old man wearing a straw hat, sitting on a porch, chewing on tobacco, strumming a banjo, and singing about how his woman left him, or about heading out west to look for work. The instrument has a rich and lengthy history, but has only been …
of Montreal Review: 5/21 Show at Paradise Rock Club, Boston.
If I tried to explain what happened tonight at the Paradise Rock Club, I would not be able to do so. I have seen of Montreal perform many times, several of those times at the Dise, but tonight’s performance tops them all. I did not attend the show as a journalist or as a Bostonian or as a woman or …
The Land of Profitunity.
Well that’s nice. I’m trying not be angry, but I’m going to fail. College graduates are largely unemployed or underemployed. The majority. The studies are there, the articles have been written. The evidence is out there. The kids aren’t making much money, if at all. I see this article on Huff today and my blood is boiling with rage. The government …
Chasing Amy.
National Poetry Month came and went, but during the month we sought out one of our favorite poets to ever construct a prose, Amy Lawless. Armed with her trusty voice recorder and genuine intrigue, our Editor at Large, Matia Guardabascio, met up with Lawless at Select Cafe in Roslindale where they discussed her origins, her writing process, and her new …
Treat Me Right or Treat Me Not.
When considering the reproductive rights issue that has been stirring up political controversies, particularly since the religious right has gained sway in state governments all over the country, I can’t help but wonder if reproductive rights are only a women’s issue. Most conversations about reproductive rights in this country are concerned with abortion and other pregnancy related issues, therefore the …
The First Act: Native Bells.
Have you ever listened to a song that made you feel like you could be either raging it, or sitting quietly pondering life, the universe and everything? “Lost in the Sky” by Native Bells is such a song. It’s the kind of song I blast in my headphones without regard for the health of my ears or the musical taste …
The First Act: Midnight Poncho.
On the night of December 21st, while most were preparing for the end of time, I was driving to rural Connecticut for a solstice gathering at the home of Midnight Poncho. After a long journey on various obscure county roads, I arrived at the home base of Luke Benjamin, the main man behind Midnight Poncho. Photo by Matia Gaurdabascio. …
Hit or Miss: Asteroid Caught on Tape!
The nerd returns with a short, low-res video of a 3-mile-long asteroid caught on tape by NASA passing by the Earth a week ago. The asteroid, Toutatis, was only 4.3 million miles away from us at its closest point. But fret not, dear readers, it will not hit us. Toutatis will make its way around the sun before swinging by our neighborhood …
Mountain Crashing.
It’s that time again, everyone, to get your nerd on! Today at 5pm two probes that have been charting the Moon’s gravitational field will conclude their mission by crashing into the side of a mountain… on the moon–where else!? NASA will be streaming the event live starting at 5pm (EST) this evening and will be providing commentary throughout the live …
Karma is a Real…
Some say karma is a real bitch; others say it’s just some fib, so don’t worry about it. Well, for all of you naysayers out there, here is a shining example of what’s known as “instant karma,” where, in the moment of your foulness, you get exactly what you deserve. I invite you, people of the internet, to view this …
From the Fire to the Barrel: The Story of the Marshmallow.
Once upon a time there was a marshmallow and all the children loved him. They used to roast him by the campfire and make s’mores, and add him to their hot chocolate and watch him melt. And the marshmallow loved amusing the children, for the heat never hurt him. There were always a thousand more of him at the ready, …
The Sky is on Fire.
Every so often the people of Earth have the opportunity to be cosmically reminded of our place in the universe, which is to say, we get to witness a cosmic event. Today, December 14th, is the last good night of the Geminid Meteor shower. According to NASA (yes, they still exist), the 13th will be the peak night, but there …
STILL HERE.
Artist Scott Patt‘s project STILL HERE is a ponderous display of how man deals with existence through art. While this video is brief, Patt discusses the inspiration for his artwork and gives the viewer a first-hand perspective of his creative process. His project, STILL HERE, is currently on exhibition in New York at the Winston Wächter Fine Art Gallery, where …
The First Act with Cotton.
I have a particular fondness for New Jersey because I lived there for five years while I attended college at Rutgers. Not even the stench of industry or the obnoxious presence of Yankees and (especially) Giants fans could stop my heart from keeping a special little corner for the Dirty. One of the things I love most about New Jersey …
And Then There Was Lamp.
Every night at 10pm, the Eiffel tower lights up in a flash disco-like white lights for 10 minutes, adding even more luminescence to the famed city of lights. It is truly a sight to behold. Now you can bring some of that famous light into your own home with the Tour Eiffel lamp. Bent to the will of man-made ease, …
Camping Until It Yurts.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…” in a yurt. When Thoreau went to the woods, he didn’t have the advantage of having an easy to assemble home. Since Thoreau’s stay at Walden pond, an extended stay in the woods has become a whole lot more comfortable. A yurt is an eco-friendly, easy to assemble home …
The First Act with Dana Falconberry.
Welcome back, everyone, to The First Act. I hope you are all in good spirits! But if you’re not, and you need to be reminded of what it feels like to be uplifted, then listen to Dana Falconberry, and good spirits will be restored to you. I have found Dana’s music to be tremendously calming and ever so pleasant. The …
The First Act with Peter and the Wolf.
For the better part of two years I have been on a bit of a folk music binge. I usually feed my various music binges on recommendations from friends, as well as my own combing research. So when earlier this year a good friend of mine living in New York recommended a band to me, I listened. The band my …
From the Frontline: Heartless Bastards & Company.
On Friday I went to Royale Night Club in Boston to interview Dana Falconberry for my column, The First Act. After watching her perform her majestic and harmonious music, we met up backstage and had a splendid interview. You will get the full interview and more in the next installment of The First Act column. After our interview, the band …
Everlasting Cat Power.
Okay–I don’t usually start off a piece of writing with ‘okay,’ but I’m still digesting this strange and obscure evening as I sit here at my favorite bar writing. Okay–Maker’s on the rocks and Go. For the second time in a row at the House of Blues Boston, the venue and the crowd destroyed the whole show. She–Cat Power–was as …
He’ll Pencil You In.
Now THAT’S how you use a pencil! Wow. Prepare to be put into a state of such awe that you may never use a pencil ever again out of pure shame for not understanding its true potential. The artwork depicted here by Diego Koi may look like photography, but it’s not. No–it’s a drawing done in pencil. Through Diego Koi’s …
Painted Memories of Light.
If someone spilled pastel-colored paints all over Paris in the 1920’s, then it would probably look something like the Souvenirs de Paris by Leslie David, a graphic designer and illustrator who operates out of Paris. Souvenirs de Paris, or “Memories of Paris,” to put it in English, are literally black and white images of the famed city of light covered in …
The First Act with Hunter & Wolfe.
I would like to welcome you, dear reader, to the first installment of the newest column at Quiet Lunch Magazine: The First Act! This column, penned by yours truly, is a comprehensive music feature exclusively for small, local music acts… local to anywhere. Lesser known bands rarely get the press they need to expand their fan base and reach people …
Black Milk x Star Wars.
I am a purist. For those of you who are Star Wars fans, you know what I mean. For those of you who aren’t fans, you’re probably not reading this post, so it doesn’t matter if I explain what I mean. Like many Star Wars fans, I am always looking for some heady paraphernalia for decorative purposes or wear. Unfortunately …
Failing to “Coexist”.
Coexist is the second album to come from the UK-based band The xx since their self-titled debut album, which was released in 2009. This much anticipated second album keeps up the minimalist trend of their debut, however, it takes a new approach to keeping their sound minimal. Unlike the first album, where each individual track could stand alone as a …
The Romney Tapes — An Op-Ed.
In case you have been living under a rock for the last twenty-four hours, or hiking through a remote, wifi-inaccessible area, or simply avoiding the news (because it’s always bad) and the internet (because it’s always there), then you probably wouldn’t have heard about the leaked Romney video that went viral last night. A camera hidden from view at a …
Doodling a New Daye.
Quiet Lunch had the distinct pleasure of interviewing filmmaker Michael Daye, who has recently gained notoriety for his remixed portraits of famous authors. What started out as “a project between projects,” became “an exercise in exploring a different medium,” as Michael told us. Speaking about the “Doodling on Famous Writers” series Daye says, “By ‘defacing’ portraits of these esteemed writers …