Music good music is almost always personal. More often than not, songs seek inspiration from memories, and records are rooted in real life experiences. It is this autobiographical element that attracts audiences time and time again; for listeners, authenticity is compelling.
For some inexplicable reason, The Newsroom has been a lightning rod for criticism and mockery since its premiere in June 2012. That could be due to the main name associated with the series: Newsroom is the creation of Academy Award and Emmy-winning writer Aaron Sorkin of The West Wing (1999-2006) fame, which certainly gave the series a level of hype above that of a typical HBO show. Although the show which will wrap up its second season on Sunday, with a third nearly confirmed is nowhere close to perfect television, it definitely isnt as awful as many reviewers and bloggers make it out to be. Structural flaws and script issues aside, The Newsroom remains an enjoyable, if at-times frustrating, show that has only continued to improve over time.
Bostons City Hall Plaza was transformed this past weekend, the usual unsightly concrete and brick monstrosity converted into a bustling, bubbling concert venue for Bostons own, second-ever music festival, Boston Calling. Last May, the plaza hosted Boston Callings inaugural show, which was a huge success despite long lines, wind and rain. This time around, the festival certainly exceeded expectations the September edition brought better weather, big crowds and an even broader range of some of the best acts in music right now.
Commuters, students and tourists who ventured into Boston last month noticed something a little different about the city: huge sculptures of colorful globes have been installed around Boston Common. These structures are a part of Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet, a unique public art project that opened in Boston on Aug. 15 and will continue through mid-October.
Following the success of her second studio album Halcyon (2012), Ellie Goulding on Aug. 26 released Halcyon Days, an extended version of the former, which features 10 new tracks in her signature ethereal indie pop style.
Eager concert-goers traveled to Bostons Paradise Rock Club Sunday to see Haim at a sold-out show. The band, who in recent months has generated a great deal of buzz for their unique sound and eclectic image, is comprised of sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim and their male drummer, Dash Hutton.
Bostons oldest professional theater, The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, is entering its 40th season this fall. Established in 1974 by Ron Ritchell and Polly Hogan, The Lyric Stage performed in the Community Church of Boston on Boylston Street. By 1991, it moved to its current location at 140 Clarendon Street.
For a band that just formed in 2010, Tedeschi Trucks Band (TTB) has been remarkably productive over the past few years. While their 2011 album Revelator (which won the 2012 Grammy for Best Blues Album) was a fine debut, it only hinted at the groups potential. In concert, the 11-piece blues-rock TTB is an improvisational force to be reckoned with, demonstrating a level of finesse and interplay between its members seen in few touring bands today. Fronted by husband and wife duo Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, TTB has clearly gained more experience in the past two years, and their progress is readily apparent on their second studio album, Made Up Mind. The groups recent release successfully harnesses the power and energy displayed in the groups live performances, resulting in a remarkable sophomore effort with excellent songwriting and tight structures an album that finally showcases their true capabilities.
After a wildly successful inaugural show last spring, the Boston Calling Music Festival returns to City Hall Plaza this weekend for round two. And the September edition of the two-day music extravaganza promises to be just as good, if not better, than the first.
