Written by: Hannah Holbrook   In a modest setting at the Middle East concert hall, local musician Julia Easterlin entertained audiences with unconventional harmonies and instruments. A recent phenomenon, Easterlin is gaining notoriety in Boston’s local music scene for her use of a loop station- a recording device that layers sounds on top of each other. Easterlin is notorious for her quirky renditions of songs such as Spears’ “Toxic,” and Pixies’ “Break My Body.” Last Friday, Feb. 10th, supporters crammed into the over-capacity venue in Cambridge to support the Berklee alumnus and her unconventional music style. The show had eclectic mix of opening bands including Colubus, The Fates and Colour. Many of the bands showcased stripped-down, folk-inspired songs, matching perfectly to the venue’s grungy atmosphere. Virtually everything about Easterlin contrasted with the setting. Her music, clothing style and general personality were a refreshing twist to the night’s events. Equipped with only her looping station and background drums, Easterlin wowed the audience with her innovative live-recording technique. Building layers upon layers of music, each song consisted of intricate harmonies and beats. Even listeners unaccustomed to her music style would appreciate Easterlin’s performance. She captivates the audience with her undeniable stage presence and raw vocal talent. The musician’s infectious dance moves created an atmosphere all music-lovers can enjoy. Among the set list were notable songs, “Whisky,” “Unison,” and “Go Straight Away.” “Whiskey,” a song reminiscent of Easterlin’s Georgian roots, was complimented by a killer saxophone solo from Easternlin’s childhood friend. Perhaps the best performance of the night, however, was Easterlin’s cover of “Toxic,” originally by Britney Spears. Performing completely a cappella, the singer gave a slowed-down version of the infectious pop song. The blues-inspired song was uniquely intimate and a truly memorable ending to Easterlin’s performance. Easterlin, a Boston resident, frequents local music venues and does occasional shows along the
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There may not be ‘no wow’ no more, but there certainly is a hell of a show.  Last Friday, The Kills, in support of their fourth album Blood Pressures, gave the audience of the Royale Boston an unforgettable night. Hunters, a 4-piece indie rock group from Brooklyn, NY, started off the night right. They almost felt like a throwback to original punk, having a lead guitarist reminiscent of Sid Vicious and a lead singer resembling a young Debby Harry. Their music was impressive; they sounded like a punkier Sonic Youth, or if the Vaccines sung less about winning girls’ hearts and more about breaking them. Next up was Jeff the Brotherhood. This band was two brothers, Jake and Jamin Orall, from Nashville, TN playing a few of their Dinosaur Jr.-esque garage rock tunes. Aside from their music, they were also pretty funny. At one point, both members had to pee so badly that the drummer just got up and went backstage. His brother’s response? “I’ll do this one solo”. And then there were the Kills. Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince descended to the stage as the audience nearly exploded in excitement. They proceeded to play through a 15-song set and a 4-song encore with incredible energy and precision. What really won me over though was how theatrical they managed to make their show. Prince probably demonstrated best how a great concert isn’t only about audial pleasure, but visual pleasure as well (for those of you who haven’t seen the “Let’s go Crazy” scene from Purple Rain, I advise you to change that). Behind the duo were two anonymous drummers, with handkerchiefs over their mouths like bandits, playing along in a similar style as the guys from Blue Man Group. Lighting tricks by the engineers even got their drumsticks to appear
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Love Dubstep? Win tickets to the EOTO show Feb 9th @ the House of Blues — tweet #WRBB to @WRBBRadio to win!