If It's Too Loud...

In our opinions, Madi Diaz is one of the most underrated musicians out there. Since discovering her in 2021, she always seems to be right on the edge of breaking out, and with her just released and excellent new album Fatal Optimist , that seems even more likely. I've been lucky enough to see her perform live twice now, but those have been huge festivals (Boston Calling in 2024 and Back Cove Music and Arts Festival this past summer). When I saw that she was playing the ultra small Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, I knew it was time to finally see her play a headlining set. Even before Madi Diaz took the stage, you could tell it was going to be a unique night. The stage was decorated kind of like a living room, with a semi-shag carpet, pictures, a small table and lamp, and vintage amps. Diaz started playing at 8:00 and didn't stop until around 9:30. It's easy to forget just how many great songs she has, and her new album is filled with them. "Why'd You Have to ...

I'm a huge fan of all of Jon Spencer's many musical projects, but especially Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. It's been just over ten years since I last saw JSBX, which was at the Iron Horse in Northampton. I've seen Spencer twice solo in recent years, but he's stuck to his newer solo work without delving into the classics. They've been great shows, but I was always hoping he'd squeeze in at least one classic song. As soon as it was announced that Spencer was not only going on tour with Kendall Wind and Macky Spider Bowman of The Bobby Lees as his backing band but would be playing songs from JSBX, Pussy Galore, and Boss Hog as well as his solo songs, I knew I had to go. One thing I always noticed with a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion show was that the show would be good for the first half, but not great. Then, about halfway through, it was like a switch was flipped and suddenly everything got amped up infinitely, and you were at one of the best shows you've eve...

There are a few factors that can lead to a disastrous live performance. A fully seated venue, tables and waitresses taking orders, an early start time, and technical issues can make any band give a bad show. On Sunday night at the Iron Horse Music Hall The Deslondes faced all of these and shone through. A seated venue might be a perfect place for The Deslondes to perform. Even their most up tempo songs still come across as laid back. It was still a bit tough, since they did remark that they do usually ask the crowd to stand up and dance at one point, and with all the tables, there just wasn’t enough room. A few couples did wander way in the back near the back bar to find some room to dance, but the majority seemed to be fine with just watching the show. Somehow the appreciative crowd was able to keep up enough energy despite the tables and chairs to keep the show staying lively. What might work out in The Deslondes’ favor the most is their complete Southern charm. How many b...