James Orr CD Release Party with Thomas Paul at Linen Building

The industrial art space and party house that makes its home in the Linen Building is an impressive spot to celebrate the release James Orr’s new CD, Thicker Than Thieves. Last Saturday, the building opened up to an eager crowd dressed to the nines for the white necktie performance. Of the 300+ that gathered, many came for the music, some to schmooze, all to sip and chat near red balloons and toast to the just-released-achievement by James Orr. Songwriter Thomas Paul opened and got fancy night rolling.

Thomas Paul

Quick wit is a trait impossible to miss during any conversation with Thomas. That clever quality stings even sharper throughout his lyrics, uniting with haunting riffs to get under your skin and leave your soul trembling if you have a heart at all. His smooth pipes—many compare Mr. Paul to Jeff Buckley—and slick finesse on guitar are deliciously addicting. It is the proficiency you would expect from a musician who has been playing for a solid twenty years and is so devoted to his craft (teaching guitar lessons that encourage a new generation of musicians).

Thomas has an album soon to be released, too, so keep your ear to the ground about his own CD release party. Come see him every Monday and Saturday Brunch at Red Feather and Wednesdays with the Bill Coffey Big Band at Pengilly’s. Continue checking his website for an up-to-date list of new shows every week (including Thomas’ big birthday bash at Pengilly’s on February 27).

James Orr

As the one-man-band starts looping a string of lyrics on two separate mics over an acoustic guitar, the repeated melody stirs up the crowd, packing them in a cluster by the stage. Orr has only just begun, now mixing a series of chords on a set of keys, warping them through a nearby synth and nudging one electronic pedal after another. Having recorded that loop, he moves on to weave in the ping-shwop-bwa echo of a steel drum. Then layering in more beats clicking from a drum pad, he loops in more of his low-to-mid range vocals, guitar chords and keyboard ditties, thereby filling the Linen Building with the thick sound of a full, electronic indie-rock band. Good reason for his CD’s title, Thicker Than Thieves.

James’ looping and layering techniques are well-support by a degree in engineering, and as the musician says himself, “(result) in a live show that is stimulating for both the eyes and the ears.” His mellow sound is soft, intriguing and good fun—the perfect soundtrack material for a traveling scene in an independent movie.

Preview Thicker Than Thieves and buy it at James Orr’s website or The Record Exchange today.

Just Think Local Tunes: Go Listen Boise at Record Exchange and Neurolux

The popular “Just Think Local” push is influencing forces beyond restaurants, bars, coffee houses and retail stores. Thanks to refreshing events like this live and local series, it is also reaching out to help recognize our artists and musicians about town. New art galleries and music festivals are opening all over Boise and many bring in exclusively local talent. Go Listen Boise was created in part by Ali and Travis Ward of Hillfolk Noir and is aimed at promoting the Boise Music Scene for it to be more “positive, supportive, collaborative and creatively rich and gratifying.” By supporting these concerts born in Idaho, we are supporting our friends and loved ones. Let’s keep Boise bred art in high demand.

Tim Andreae

The full night on Thursday included two shows and six acts. It is a recipe that Ali Ward and other Go Listen Boise creators hope to continue in all their events: one all ages concert followed by “a more rockin’ bar room show.” Their inaugural all ages show was free and acoustic at Record Exchange. Also, it was lucky enough to have the always fresh, inventive and endearing Tim Andreae kick off the evening. Tim is the sort of musician that is increasingly more rare: one who visibly enjoys his work. Thanks to his humble enthusiasm—as well as craftsmanship—makes it a reward to see him perform. An artist’s attitude and perspective affects their craft, and that un-teachable truth works for Mr. Andreae’s benefit every time. On his guitar or in his lyrics (or on concertina while tap dancing), and will take a risk without blinking, knowing it will be overall worthwhile. If you ever get the chance to bob along to his sing-song rhythm, please notice how Tim Andreae’s music speaks to make a difference. It is wholly to his credit as a craftsman and a human being. We could use many, many more of his kind. Too many miss the point entirely. Tim gets it. You can read it on his face as clear as day.

Kris Doty

With her undeniable and irresistible charm, it is no wonder Kris is such a crowd-pleaser. Thankfully, her musicality backs Ms. Doty up right away and the humanity that bleeds out of her ever-so-warped songs—elegant yet rugged, sharp and brash but hearty and sweet—leaves everybody thirsting for a longer set. Her rich strum-pluck-pick pattern mixes with impeccable contrast to her distinct vocal pattern, one having precision comparable to a flamenco dancer’s stomps, claps and castanets. Kris Doty’s folk sound is the frosted ice sculptured formed off of a hot springs sulphurous steam on a sunny January afternoon. No wonder she is beloved in Idaho.

Travis Ward

Slipping into a backwoods-Appalachian-style-blues-folk sound, Travis Ward completes the acoustic half of the first Go Listen Boise concert. His enchanting mid-range vocals trap a listener like a deer crossing the path of a pick-up and its headlights, but just as he eases into a melody he simmers into a slight grating finish that stings like the last sip off a satisfying India Pale Ale. A finger-picker whose music is thick with lyrics like Grandma’s stew—and pointed at the same era, Travis sings about hard times, pine boxes, dirt roads, and barstools (don’t forget zombies, either) in a mood and pace just upbeat of Tom Brosseau.

The First Ladies

So far Go Listen Boise has been a tasty night of acoustic solos. As promised, the energy and noise picks up to a rockin’ second half at Neurolux, beginning with The First Ladies. This fun four-set on guitar, drums, bass and keys put together lively, danceable beats, progressive chords and plenty of potential.

Craters of the Moon

Bringing back some sounds from the first half, here is another drop of folk, but now high-charged and bursting with big sound and a rugged discordant edge. The three vocalists make a silken, buttery base for the jagged instrumental landscape from two guitars, a bass and drums. Craters of the Moon are Richard and Linda Thompson as a quartet.

Speedboat

Now these headliners are an absolute wild ride on an electronic extravaganza express train. Luke Hayhurst, Zach Jones and Ben Mulkey create a futuristic machinal soundscape before the Neurolux Crown, plugging synth upon pedal via synth onto KORG and through keys, all enhanced by their portable lightbox. Once setup is complete, the three musicians are better Robots than humans, driven by wacko ambient force to make a hot power surge of electricity and performance. When the Speedboat dance party strikes up, it takes hard work to stay 2 kewl 4 skewl and stay seated.

Keep your eyes out for the next Go Listen Boise music series event (and save all your buddies stuck on the couch going limp by the light of their television). Everyone come on down!

Beats that Benefit: Charitable Concerts for...

...Idaho Black History Museum, Visual Arts Collective and Interfaith Sanctuary at Neurolux, Visual Arts Collective and Egyptian Theater.

Ah, December: Month #12 is thick with holiday feasting and fasting alike. It is the season fit for charitable concerts, too.

In Boise, December 18^th through the 21^st was packed with such fundraisers.

On Thursday the 18^th, three bands joined up with Boise States University’s Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society to support the Idaho Black History Museum.

Then, sixteen local bands made two nights of big at the Visual Arts Collective on Friday and Saturday for the Bah Humbug Music Festival. Jeremy Jensen arranged this fantastic event to support Sam Stimpert and Anneliesa Balk-Stimpert’s unique art space in Garden City, where attendance has been sadly low since the economic plunge.

Then the Egyptian rang loud to a sold-out house on Sunday for the 3^rd Annual Xtreme Holiday Xtravaganza. Curtis Stigers co-produced and co-hosted this variety show and benefit for Boise’s Interfaith Sanctuary for the homeless.

Arts and humanity love company as much as misery does. Human need is perfect reason to make art. Besides, it can be easier to drop a few bucks on a cover charge and some merchandise than say goodbye to a few dimes going into a red Salvation Army pail outside Albertson's. Making art does not necessarily require all that much, either. A band doesn’t necessarily need high quality speakers to make music, an actor doesn’t need a stage to tell a story and a painter doesn’t need a gallery. Art does need a little humanity, though, and an audience. Since nonprofit organizations have a ready cause and are supportive by nature, they can make good teams with artists and musicians, who can never have enough purpose, drive or projects. And let’s not forget how much the benefits help the organizations, their cause, and the individuals who depend on them.

Take the Idaho Black History Museum, the only museum of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Though it has the invaluable mission “to build bridges between cultures to explore issues that affect Americans of all cultures and ethnicities,” it somehow goes relatively unnoticed, unvisited and underappreciated. Open only by appointment, it is overshadowed by its neighbors, the Boise Art Museum and Idaho History Museum. Christine Acosta organized the benefit show at Neurolux with the intent to “help the Idaho Black History Museum be as accessible, well-staffed and, most of all, well-preserved for many future generations."

Some ticket sales from the Neurolux Benefit went directly to the museum, as well as merchandise sales from local band The Universal. Not to mention all the donated commitment, energy and talent from In The Shadow Of The Mountain, Kris Doty and Le Fleur. Beyond Le Fleur’s set, their drummer Bryan Hallowell also donated a promotional poster and flyer design for the event, with graphics and title inspired by the museum’s permanent collection, Invisible Idahoans. And of course, owner Alan Ireland gave up a Friday night at Neurolux, which Acosta appreciates too.

These musicians are working for free, essentially, and will do so because these are causes worth fighting for. Artists rarely pursue the most profitable endeavors anyway, but by giving up their work, they are fighting in their own way to save things that could be wiped out otherwise. Acosta notes, “It [Idaho Black History Museum] is just going to fade away…and then what’s going to happen? [Young artists] have some need to express themselves, dire need. Why not do it for somebody else?...If we don’t, who will? The government won’t. Rich people won’t.” After all, the people who have the least to give will often sacrifice the most. Musicians may not eat like kings or live comfortably every day, but thanks to all their work throughout one little weekend, three incredible associations might just have gotten enough recognition and support to get back on their feet.

Though we have passed the holidays and reached the New Year, these organizations and their causes still need attention. Just because a charitable concert or a donation may not seem en vogue in January, a remarkable museum is still overlooked, an extraordinary arts space is still taken for granted, individuals are still homeless and families are still hungry.

Sharing, appreciation and humanity count in bigger ways than a tax write-off—and really isn’t torture, either. Take the kids for a field trip at the Idaho Black History Museum and learn something new, take your date to a show at the Visual Arts Collective or bring a group of friends to volunteer at the Interfaith Sanctuary. Enjoy yourself and spread some love at the same time. And whenever you meet one of these artists who donate their work or see one of these bands play a set for free, take some time to thank them for caring.

Here are a few you can cheer on (and buy a CD from, if possible):

In the Shadow Of The Mountain

Kris Doty

AK-47

Le Fleur

ATTN

La Knots

Bonefish Sam

The Very Most

Centaral City Music Company

Idle Chatter

Floomdoorm

Low-Fi

Vonny Cal

Sleepy Seeds

Spondee

With Child

A Seasonal Disguise

How's Your Family?

Curtis Stigers

The Frim Fram Four

John Hansen

Thomas Paul

Rebecca Scott

The Rockafellas

Bindy Bowler

Ned Evett

The Divas of Boise

Steve Fulton

Dale Keys

The Moody Jews

The Darkwood Consort

Johnny Shoes Bill

Coffey Big Band