A trying year politically delivered an incredibly strong year in music. With excellent albums by some established favorites like Guided By Voices and Superchunk as well formidable releases from rising acts such as Twin Foxes, Darklands, Ovlov, and Kal Marks we had plenty of sonic splendeur to keep us chugging along. In our first installment of 2018 in review we take time share some our favorites of the year. Most of these are available on Bandcamp, so if there something here that lands in your wheelhouse please consider supporting these artists in any way you can.
*Photo above taken at AS220 in Providence by Eleanor Dean
This Sunday we proudly present Rhode Island Freak-Out, a full day of music, vendors, food, and refreshment at Pawtucket’s News Cafe & Parking Lot. At first our intent was to attempt a full day show that would incorporate some of our favorite acts from Providence, Boston, and beyond. We weren’t sure how or if it would actually come together. However, once we started to reach out to these acts, we were taken back by how accepting and enthusiastic they all were of the concept of the little pipe dream we’ve coined, Rhode Island Freak-Out. Motivated by some of our favorite Live music experiences and the desire to bring together as many musicians, artist and music obsessives in one place at the close of summer. With all proceeds from this event going to our performers this event and the ones that follow (we hope) will be a way to celebrate and support the local music community. Below you will find a brief guide to this years event, performers, and a playlist to get you prepped for what is sure to be a special day. We look forward to seeing friends, old, new, and yet to be made. Respect the space and most importantly each other.
1:30 Rye Pines 
7:30 Black Helicopter
10:30 Kal Marks
It was in the spring of 2014 when I had the good fortune of being introduced to Providence’s Twin Foxes through the bands 3-song demo release, but that’s all it took, really. The 3 tracks on that EP were played relentlessly and for good reason. Twin Foxes were able to give nods to seminal 90’s guitar bands like Built To Spill, Jawbreaker, and with the pop sensibilities of Superdrag, all while managing to deliver something wholly original, beyond those heavy weight influences. Over the next few years Providence’s self-described heavy indie rock outfit delivered a couple of notable releases 2015’s self-titled EP and last year’s split with fellow Providence noise rock concern , Darklands. Both those EP’s found the band pushing their sound into more dynamic directions while fronter, Jared Mann delivered impressive songwriting rife with wit, introspection and alluring melodies.
With the end of our calendar year upon us, many of us blogging types turn to cast a gaze over the past 12 months and deliver a year end recap. It’s been a few years since we completed this exercise, but with a year as strong as 2017 was, the opportunity to spotlight the releases and artists that one could’ve found clamoring from the AGP offices in the past year was too good to pass up. We have compiled the 25 songs below that ended up in heavy rotation on our turntables as well as on the various streaming platforms we frequented this year. You’ll probable notice the bulk of favorite tracks have origins in the American Northeast which speaks volumes about those artists, labels like Disposable America and Exploding in Sound Records, not to mention the thriving scenes in Allston, Northampton, Brooklyn, and Providence.
I first discovered Providence’s Twin Foxes in 2014 when I happened upon their their 3 song demo. I was immediately taken by the trio’s penchant for earnest lyricism, gigantic pop hooks, and their noise rock prowess. Since then the band has continued to impress with a self titled EP in 2015 and this years excellent split with Darklands . On February 9th Twin Foxes will issue their debut full length, Sleeping On The Attic Floor and tonight the band will play Noise For Toys |PVD. Earlier this week I caught up with Twin Foxes’ fronter Jared Mann to talk about the new album, the Providence scene, and his lack of a bad Christmas sweater.
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