Alternative Current Alive And Kiciking Rock is not like it once was, and it may be even better than before. ps. 10
See Also: From adult films to concerts, The Strand theater is back! pg. 5
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
CONTENTS What’s current in the Current?
3. 5. 7. 9. 11.
This Week On Spotify Anberlin and The Black Keys make appearences on this weeks Editors Picks.
The Grand Finale - The Vans Warped Tour With the final tour begining in June, we take a look back on Warped and what it has done to the industry, and an entire generation.
Must Visit, The Strand This historic venue in Providence, Rhode Island caught our eye this week for all the right reasons.
Sophomore Slump?
Borns’ new album is both hit and miss, but is it mostly just miss? We don’t know what to think just yet.
Still Rock and Roll to me
From Buddy, to Jimi, to Cobain and Auerbach. How has rock changed, and is it going to go away any time soon?
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This Week On A must listen playlist personalized for you, from the editors. This weeks Editor’s Picks includes Tame Impala, The Black Keys, and Anberlin. TITLE
Elephant Just Got To Be White Unicorn Hipster Shakes Everything Is Alright A Whisper & a Clamor
ARTIST
Tame Impala The Black Keys Wolfmother Black Pistol Motion City Soundtrack Anberlin
About Us:
About the Editor:
Alternative Current is a magazine created for the sole purpose of drawing the eyes of those who grew up around the alternative music scene. Growing up around certain music makes it a staple in your life and it is our mission statement to make readers (and listeners) want to continue to keep alternative music alive and beating.
Tyler Hetu is a Senior at Lasell College, majoring in sports communications. While his interest lies in sports, he has found himself knee deep in music as well. A true Paramore fanatic, Tyler’s been emerged in the alternative music scene well before the current stars were a thought. Growing up to Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, and Panic! At The Disco, his interests are deeper than most and havent wavered through the change from adolesence to teenager to adult.
We’ve got you covered when it comes to looking for the new stuff, reading a behind the scenes story, or getting the review on an album you’ve been on the fence about. So while you jam out to Blink-182 for the millionth time, make sure to check us out and see where your roots grew. You might enjoy what you have been missing.
This Weeks Cover: We chose to put Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons in light of their recent single ‘Whatever it Takes’ being #1 in the country three months.
What I’m Listening To Now: Dope on a Rope by The Growlers has been on repeat for days. I’ve also been revisiting Jimmy Eat World’s ‘Bleed American’ album on occasion. As always, I have been streaming Paramore’s ‘After Laughter’ too. All of them I’ve been loving. I’m still waiting on an Against The Current album this year, though.
HOTO OF THE ISSUE
Setting Sail
Paramore have recently capped their third annual Parahoy! Cruise, which happens the first wekeend every April. The cruise ship leaves Miami and embarks on a four day round trip to the Bahamas.
Hayley Williams (front) and Taylor York (behind) playing this past wekeend.
Final Ride: Warped Tour to end in 2018
How To Get There: Drive (From Boston, MA): I-90 to I-84 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours Train: 2 hours 30 minutes (including walk and bus) A staple in the alternative rock scene since 1995, the Vans Warped Tour has been a summer must for both the die hard and the casual fan. Every artist that played at Warped made it to our Walkman or IPod one way or another, making the calling for its final tour a very special one to me. The rise of Blink-182 and the emergence of groups like Paramore and Jimmy Eat World and Avenged Sevenfold are ones to be remembered, and are a permanent reminder of what Warped will live on forever.
The call for the end of Warped Tour is unfortunate but predicable. With declining ticket sales over the last few summers and the rise of other summer tours like Lollapalooza gaining traction it is bittersweet. The historic platform for aspiring rock bands starts hits the road for Ponoma, California on June 21st and will conclude in West Palm Beach, Florida on August 5th. Legendary groups such as Simple Plan, All Time Low, Sum 41, Taking Back Sunday, and Bowling For Soup return for one last time as they tour the United States this summer. In a statement issued by the Warped Tour Website, creator Kevin Lyman had a lot to say on the final ride, but hopes that this summer will bring more people back to Warped. “I truly look forward to seeing as many of you as possible during this final cross country run, and getting to thank you for your support on this wild adventure. Until then, take care and be safe.” - Tyler Hetu
Hotel (per night): Super 8 Hartford: $72 57 W Service Rd, Hartford, CT 06120
Hiton Hartford: $178 315 Trumbull St, Hartford, CT 06103
Goodwin Hotel: $289 1 Haynes St, Hartford, CT 06103
Food: Woody’s specialty hot-dogs: $ 915 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103
Agave Grill mexican eatery: $$ 100 Allyn St, Hartford, CT 06103
Max Downtown fine dining: $$$ 185 Asylum St, Hartford, CT 06103
Activities: Connecticut Science Center (250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103): Open 10AM to 5PM XL Center (1 Civic Center Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103): Time varies Bushnell Park Carousel ( 1 Jewell St, Hartford, CT 06103): 11AM to 5PM For further information on going to Warped Tour, contact The Connecticut Office of Tourism (860-500-2300) or visit vanswarpedtour. com
The Revival of The Strand
From plays to adult films, the long history of The Strand Ballroom Theatre has finally found its calling - as an intimate music venue in Providence. by: Tyler Hetu
Photo credit: DJoyBeatcom
There is always something special about the high arching ceilings of theatres. Gold painted molding with artisanal paintings are stained into the curved ceilings, chipped and cracked from years of careless cleaning. The ceiling of The Strand Theatre, in Providence, Rhode Island has these high ceilings and faded French artistry that replicates its origins as a vaudeville theater in 1915. Now, it’s a music hall and it’s the music hall in Providence. As a frequent member of the Providence music scene, The Strand (also widely known as “Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel”) is fresh off major renovations that took three months out of its 2016 schedule. The renovations show, as now the upper balcony has more comfortable seating, LED screens, and for performers a larger stage, updated dressing rooms, and restrooms. On top of that, it got rid of its main bar for five bars. That’s right, five. The former dive is now the heart of Providence’s music scene and a hub for performers who are on their way up. It is also perfect for those who prefer the more intimate venues, holding just under 2,000. After standing through Explosions In The Sky, rocking out with Young The Giant, and singing along with CHVRCHES at The Strand I knew this former adult film and movie cinema had transformed into one of the best venues in New England. It’s loud, it’s tight, and you don’t have to bring your binoculars to see your favorite artist in the nosebleeds. The small crowd feeling gives exactly what I looked for in a venue – Not having to worry about scoring the cheapest ticket and not being able to see the show. Instead, the cheapest ticket landed me a view that passed expectations by a landslide, and it didn’t even break the bank. Or you could dive a little deeper into funds, and you could score general admission for a standing room only show and end up in the second “row”. There’s no way to go wrong at The Strand. It’s small, full of energy, and has been rebirthed into a new age of performers. In the future, cross your fingers that you’ll see “Lupos” or “The Strand” next to your favorite artists’ name on their next tour announcement. Because if you do, you’re in for a good night. Visit The Strand at 79 Washington St, Providence, RI 02903 and at thestrandri.com for tickets to upcoming shows.
Featured Review
Blue on Madonna By: Tyler Hetu
Garrett Borns’ sophomore album Blue Madonna is all the bit of glamour and synth that makes us swoon, but it has us feeling something we arent’t quite sure just yet.
If you’re listened to the radio in the last year or two and watched any television commercials, you have definitely heard of something made by Garret Borns. His 2015 Dopamine album’s lead single “Electric Love” was catchy enough to find itself onto commercials, most notably with Southwest Airlines, and it snowballed him into the American Top 40 list and into commercial success. But does Borns’ latest album “Blue Madonna” have the same punch as its predecessor? The 26-year-old synth-pop and heavy falsetto star was able to make the perfect mix or pop, funk, and rock into one of the best albums of the year in Dopamine. With music that screamed festival’s names, it showed a likeness to MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular and Tame Impala’s Currents and Lonerism. In short, it was that freaking good, and a voice that reminds me a lot to that of Passion Pits’ Michael Angelakos does not come around often. However, the second iteration in Børns the catalogue of music brings a change of pace that is now the norm in music. The second album feels much like a Lana del Ray album, which makes a lot of sense considering she was featured on the albums first song “God Save Our Yong Blood.” A song that seems to drag on and on is followed up by one of my favorites of the album, “Faded Heart”. It’s upbeat tempo is addictive, and it’s chorus is one that you can scream on the backroads in the summer. Another masterpiece is “Iceberg”, possessing a perfect mix of guitar riffs over a mesmerizing looped beat, and Tension that is way too short for my liking. Both have that finger drumming on the steering wheel feeling that most of the album lacks, making them automatically songs that I want to come back to and put on playlists. “Bye-Bye Darling” also may sneak into your playlist if you’re into the sappy middle school dance sounding songs with addictive and addictive, which is a feeling that I have with the song. The albums namesake “Blue Madonna” is another favorite, not overpowering in any way but also not lacking anything. It’s groovy, it has a catchy beat, and it’s a song that you can blare as you make that evening sunset drive home. While I would 100% buy this album for its cover art (it’s Børns standing in what looks like a suit straight out the 70’s in front of television props), only latching onto a handful of songs on a 12 song CD is a turn off. While multiple listens of Blue Madonna might change my mind, the knee jerk reaction is one of rejection. The second run through for Børns was a leap of faith, but a learning lesson in that. Next time, expect Børns to cash in bigger than his rookie album.
Judges Scores: Metacritic: Boston Globe: What We Rate:
67 80 60
Stream Blue Madonna on Spotify and Youtube now!
Blue Madonna album cover (photo: genius.com)
Jimi Hendrix
Turning The Page - A Ne In a day and age where generations follow the trends, rock music has seemingly been kicked to the curb by the current generations. The era of country, electronic dance music, and variations of rap have dominated house parties and radio stations to no extent. While you do hear rock music mixed in, it is easy to make the judgement that it has been squeezed out of the radio loop due to the general lack of interest. In 2014, Gene Simmons of Kiss proclaimed that “rock is dead,” and received a quick response from Dave Grohl that it is not. But who is correct? While there are some who join with the Simmons, many in the younger generation believe this is not the case. In fact, they think it is evolving.
“It isn’t foreign to mix that pop style into rock music,” said Braden Quinn. Braden, an occasional guitar player but frequent concert goer, is well versed in the genre. “He (Freddie Mercury) did was basically a pop star in a rock band, and when people who are making music now that are what we consider “alternative” are listening to their influencers I think it’s good to assume that the people they’re listening to listened to Queen as an influence at some point.” Braden has a good point. Queen have been instrumental in leading to the inception of subgenres like hard rock and alternative. Groups like My Chemical Romance and Nirvana cite them as major influences. But aside from being the influence of influencers, there is more to prove that rock music is not dead - but is changing. Radio has been a major part in the change of rock music. While we might never find another group like Led Zeppelin again, we now have leaders in modern rock that could very well mimic the legacy of them nearly 40 years later.
Dan Reynolds
ew Chapter In Rock Music One notable member of this change is Imagine Dragons, who have risen to the top of music charts over the last ten years. Citing Muse as one of their influencers (who have also taken a very electronic route the past decade) and the late David Bowie as two of a long list of influences, Imagine Dragons have repeatedly churned out radio hits with ease.
Yes, it it is easy to jump the gun with saying that Imagine Dragons have single handedly brought rock music back. But at the time it is impossible to say that the have not had a major influence in how listeners and musicians react over the last few years. Lynn adds that while he is an occasional guitar player, Imagine Dragons are an influence on how he plays.
Lead vocalist Dan Reynolds adds that Foster The People and Mumford & Sons as two groups that have brought the genre into the mainstream. Since 2008 Imagine Dragons have helped bring alternative rock back into the radio and to streaming, having just two of the most downloaded songs in streaming history (“Radioactive” is number one, “Demons” is number eight), they have also had the longest running stay at number one on Billboard’s top 100 and have had at least one song in the top 100 three separate times.
“I always feel like I end up palying what I know. Subconsciously I end up playing Imagine’s music but I improvise it just to entertain myself.” Fellow band member and roommate Caden Ross said that he explores all genres but he always keeps coming back to rock. “The foot tapping and head bumping beats of rap music is great and all, but nothing comes close to the sound of someone going nuts on the guitar,” said Ross over the phone. “I think you’re able to hear what the artist was inspired by easier in rock music.”
Bands like The Black Keys made waves over the last decade as “the final true rock band”, a basement duo band that seemingly overnight started playing sold out stadiums. After considering themselves too slow for crowds, they upped the tempo. Their sped up garage style and guitar riffs that reminds you of Hendrix stuck, and in four years won four Grammy’s (while being nominated for 13). They may still be on a hiatus since their last tour in 2015, but they’ll always play influencer in the regrowth of rock music.
“When people talk about rock music, they have a vision in their head...a band that comes from nowhere and takes over the culture.” While the growth has been silent but present, there is still a crowd that believes the rock and roll heydays are long gone. After the passing of Chuck Berry in March of 2017, music Steven Hyden was quick to make a comment. “When people talk about rock music, they have a vision in their head of a four- or five-piece band smoking cigarettes with leather jackets and tattoos... a band that comes from nowhere and takes over the culture. That’s u nquestionably over.”
No, the niche performers that Hyden described may never see this or next decade, but the narrow minded vision that a rock and roll group has to play the bad boy persona of chain smoking cigarettes in washed out leather jackets is like calling for the next Buddy Holly to only wear suits and glasses. Hyden continued saying “gone are the days of changing the world with three chords and the truth. Now you’ll need three chords, the truth, and an engineer’s ability to make your song sound like the radio.” The not so subtle shot at the advancement of technology in the industry shows the old schools opinion on what lies in the American Top 40 today, and that the synthetic sounds of pop and rap have dominated wavelengths. “Top 40 radio, which has always been for teenagers, is mostly devoted to post-rock pop and hip-hop. In 2016, rock is not teenage music,” writes Bill Flanagan in an op ed from 2016. “Rock is now where jazz was in the early 1980s. Its form is mostly fixed.” The decline of Jazz came in the 80’s, and is has now slipped into the classical section of most record stores. There may not be a clear answer as to the fate of rock music. While the transition to a new era has been a process that has taken almost a decade and a half, there is still people who will think that it is not the same from its ancestors that influenced generations. In an adapt or die industry, rock music has been given the ultimatum of going down in the ship it built over 40 years ago or building a brand new one. From what I have found, it sure seems like the new one is going to stay afloat for quite some time. I hope. Tyler Hetu