CLOUD COMBUSTION

Jay Period - WAKULLAH

JAY. is an entrepreneur, designer, and musician along with numerous other titles. While building community through artistic and practical means, JAY. has remained genuine through all forms of expression masterfully over decades of creation and content. In 2023, JAY. released a trilogy of albums known as YOU (IM SORRY), RAMPAGE JACKSON CALL 999, and soon to be released WAKULLAH.

As per rule of thumb, I will be focusing primarily on the upcoming album. I cannot stress enough how these albums are intentionally connected, evolving from first to last in an introspective and engaging manner. As I see it, the process of WAKULLAH is very streamlined. That being said, picking songs to cover on cloud combustion was a very difficult and lively challenge.

The first two tracks, (“She Said,” “Down Bad”) represent heartbreak and confusion with a flawless persona that simply cannot be replicated. On tracks like “Groove” and “Hood Demon,” JAY. transforms previous sorrow into elegant rage. There is something stunning I find in artists who can take moments of disaster, and convey such moments into beautiful art. Not only that, JAY. depersonalizes his works to be accessible and for the community simultaneously.

Following “Hood Demon,” “Down On My Knees” has shown clarity and a semiironic sense of growth as well. In general, composition and authenticity are valued in WAKULLAH equally. There isn’t much left I can say, so remember the trilogy and see you next time.

felt “off”. Neptune kind of ground to a halt around 2012.

After so many years, it was great to see the Neptune lineup of Jason, Mark Pierson, and Dan Boucher back in action at the Midway. This lineup of the band was the longest lasting and definitive configuration. It felt pretty astounding that after not playing for seven or eight years, Neptune sounded as tight and hammering as ever. It was a wonderful walk down memory lane, but at the same time they sounded so alive and vital. I hope they decide to keep playing and record new material.

Socially, this show was a class reunion for various Boston music weirdos who saw each other a lot at shows from the late 90s up until about 2010. The show sold out early, and though it was frustrating that a lot of people couldn’t get in, a kind of party developed on the sidewalk outside the Midway during the course of the night as everyone caught up with old friends.

Rong, a younger band, who sit at the intersection of hardcore, noise rock, and metal, played a really excellent set before Neptune, and also brought out a younger crowd, so the Midway was full of both young and old Boston music weirdos, which was great to see. Hive Mind Brass Quintet was a five trumpet free improv group, and seeing Salem’s noise kingpin Andrea Pensado play is always cathartic.

What an excellent night.