Author Archives: electricbella

Spark it up…..12.31.13

Hope everyone has had a happy holiday season, it has been a busy one on my end, but I wanted to be sure to come back and drop my picks for New Year’s Eve! If you are like me and have had your New Years’ of past run the gamut from clubs, to house parties, to church, to work, I have to say my favorite way to spend New Year’s is at a concert. It provides space and place to drink and dance with all your friends, and no cheesy midnight champagne toast, which is never worth the extra $50+ that some places will charge you.

Now my SPARKS for New. Year’s Eve:

Tuesday 12.31.13

Discotheque Burlesque | The Beehive | Boston | Ticket Link Featuring The AB’s w/ Sinclair Jennings

The Beehive in Boston’s South End reminds me of a hip French Bistro complete with red velvet curtains and plenty of bubbly on the menu. On this last night of the year you can choose to enjoy the evening with a full buffet by Executive Chef Marc Orfaly ($125), or just come for the show itself ($85). Aaron and Amy Bellamy lead the AB’s featuring the soulful Sinclair Jennings on vocals. Expect plenty of soul, r&b and funk jams to dance your way into 2014. A burlesque show by Calamity Chang, Lil’ Steph, and Stormy Leather rounds out this evening sure to invigorate you for a fantastic 2014!

Bad Rabbits w/Bearstronaut | Sinclair | Cambridge | Ticket Link

2013 Boston Music Award winners for Artist of the Year, Bad Rabbits, join Electronic Artists of the Year, Beartronaut for a slamming New Years at the Sinclair in Harvard Square. Both groups are sure to bring their “A” game for the hometown crowd as they rock and funk your way into 2014. It’s going to get hot in there, so come prepared to sweat! A pre-show prix fixe meal by Executive Chef Matt Cunningham in the adjoining restaurant is sure to dazzle and give the necessary energy for a fun filled evening to come! Unfortunately, the show is already sold out, but you may get lucky on Stub Hub, Craigslist, or a friend with extras!

Soulive w/the London Souls | Paradise Rock Club | Boston | Ticket Link

The epic soul, funk, jazz trio will continue its tradition of ringing in the New Year at the Paradise on Commonwealth Ave. over the course of two nights. Expect special guests and familiar faces in the crowd, as there are many who return to this bumping party year after year. With opening tunes by the rockin’ London Souls this night will literally have your soul smiling as we traverse into the New Year. One night not enough to shake you out of 2013? Start the party Monday night and make it a double header!

So I have been checking out the year end ‘Best Of 2013’ lists on several websites, here are a few of my favorites:

Top 10 Releases of 2013 – The Brain Trust

Best Music Videos of 2013 – Refinery 29

Top 50 Albums of 2013 – Pitchfork

Top 10 Music Videos of 2013– The Brain Trust

I have to say no list covered everything, but I do agree that music videos made a comeback in 2013! And the one who did it best BEYONCE!!!

Spark it up….11.30.13

So it has gone from winter back to summer, fall and winter again, ahhh New England weather. Last few weeks were kind of crazy and I found myself at a show almost every night, highlights include the DigBoston DigThis Awards release at the Sinclair featuring Moe Pope and Quills, and STLGLD his side project with the Arcitype, one of Boston’s hottest producers. Great times and vibes. Nightmares on Wax surprised me at the Dise with a full band, dopeness, and John Robinson and Mr. Fritz held it down at Mindspray at the Middle East upstairs.

Midweek I checked out the up and coming electronic label HNDMD as it reached into its bag of favorites and began curating a monthly night at the well loved Central Square dance mecca Middlesex lounge. Founders Nick Garcia and Brad Vautour (aka Twistyknobs) both threw down at the event, bringing a fresh and playful perspective to the electronic scene in Boston. I’m definitely looking forward to the next event on Dec.18! This past weekend I headed south to Miami to work The Rockers Movement Miami Reggae Festival. It featured reggae acts from all over the world, Gondwana (Chile), Natiruts (Brazil), Midnite (Virgin Islands), Black Slate (UK), Tiken Jah Fakoly (Ivory Coast), and others. While Stephen Marley (Jamaica) was the only Marley on the bill, he brought along his entire Miami massive of about 60 family members and performed with Damian, Julian and Ky-Mani! It was definitely a treat, and thousands of pounds of food donations were collected just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, one love!

A few sparks to get you through the holiday weekend.

Saturday 11.30.13 Jen Kearney & the Lost Onion | Church | Boston $12 dos | 9pm | 21+

Jen Kearney’s music is definitely not genre specific. She can do it all! She effortlessly floats between funk, soul, r&b and wherever else the music takes her. Backed by one of the tightest backing bands out there, her songwriting makes her stand out, a female Donny Hathaway riding a Prince groove. Catch her tonight at Church in the Fenway, where she will soothe souls and get you swinging.

Sunday 12.1.13 Bill Cosby | Wilbur Theatre | Boston 5pm & 8pm | $45-80

Everyone’s favorite dad cruises through Beantown to drop some pearls of wisdom and deliver some good ole fashion storytelling and jokes (minus the profanity). Though occasionally criticized for his socio-political opinions, his stand up nights are all about comedy and life. Though his Boston shows are currently sold out, if you are fortunate enough to find a ticket on StubHub, scalper or Craigslist, let us know how it goes down. For those not able to make it, on Sunday TVland will be airing an all day The Cosby Show Marathon followed by a screening of Cosby’s first TV special in 30 years, Far From Finished. Get that popcorn ready!

My musical family has tragically lost a few of it’s loving souls in the last week. What was echoed time and time again, was their love of music, and their appreciation for the community and camaraderie. We are one big family, and we support one another. To those who are grieving my heart and love is with you, and music will be there to help get us through.

I will leave you with the Soulection mix by Jo Def that I have been rocking all week, really loving the Sade sample on the track Swim!

Blessings, Electricbella XoXo

Spark it up…

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It’s cold out now with the first snow to hit sometime tonight*#!?!! Thankfully the show schedule in Boston this week is full and bumpin’ which means I can dance some heat into my body.

My SPARKS of the week:

Tuesday 11.12.13 (What a date! You know that means the night is going to be crazy, right?!!)

HEISS Album Release Party for Ascencio(N) | Music Ecology @ Wonderbar | Allston $5 | 10pm | 21+

Frank Heiss is a legend, truly! He has chosen one of the most auspicious dates of the year for the release of his new album Ascensio(N), a follow up to Awake(N). The night promises to bring you on a musical pilgrimage of sonic proportions. Come ready to dance and ascend.

Website | Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter

Wednesday 11.13.13

Omar Sosa Afri-Lectric Sextet | Regattabar | Cambridge $25 | 7:30pm | All Ages

One of New England’s renowned jazz clubs, Regattabar, located in the Charles Hotel in the heart of bustling Harvard Square is host to multiple Latin Grammy Nominee Omar Sosa. Born and raised in Cuba, Omar Sosa is a premier Latin Jazz composer, blending Afro-Cuban sounds with European classical composers, and American jazz contemporaries. Catch him and his sextet here before they head off on the European leg of their tour.

Website | Facebook

Thursday 11.14.13

Star Slinger | Brighton Music Hall | Allston $15 | 9pm | 18+

The wonderful folks at MMMMaven are bringing UK dj/producer Star Slinger and his uber soulful and danceable remixes and originals to Allston. Get ready to sweat and bust some moves to get you through the work week! Definitely looking forward to this tasty treat in Rat City!

Website | Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter

Friday 11.15.16

Binary | Wonderbar (downstairs) | Allston $10 | 10pm | 21+

BeanDream Productions starts its monthly dance party this week! Leading off will be their resident DJs B3RAO, Convoi, and Mikey Maags. Head downstairs to start the weekend off right with some house, electro and funk. And trust their twitter hashtag doesn’t lie #aintnopartylikeabeandreamparty!

Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter

Saturday 11.16.13

Nightmares on Wax | Paradise Rock Club | Boston

If you like to groove as much as I do, you will work it out with me on the floor at the Dise. With one of the longest running underground parties in Ibiza, the UK born producer knows how to keep the floor thumping. Add to the show Boston Music Award winning dj Rain, and it’s gonna be hot. Get you tickets soon, because I hear they are going fast!

Website | Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter

Sunday 11.17.13

Mind Spray featuring John Robinson | Middle East Downstairs | Cambridge

Mind Spray is a hip hop showcase/open mic bringing together some of the rising MCs and producers in New England. Hosted by the lyrically smooth GreyScale, this month’s show features NYC legend John Robinson (Lil Sci of Scienz of Life). A seriously talented rapper whose flow and lyrics are both entertaining and thought provoking, he can also boast that he is the only MC to have a full album produced by the prolific MFDoom. Also, on the bill is last event’s winner and recent XXL spotlighted Mr. Fritz who is definitely on the come up both locally and nationwide. With a producers showcase sponsored by HEY WTF Records, and judges from Underground Hip Hop, Tall Boy Industries, and The Brain Trust, who are producing the event, it is the perfect way to round out a busy week.

Website | Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter

If I could be in two places at once, here are some shows I would hit:

Tuesday 11.12.13- Alan Evans Trio @ Church

Sunday 11.17.13: Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar @ TD Garden (Would love to have gone, if only for the drama alone, but I have a strict no tix over $40 rule unless its a festival or PRINCE!)

Want to leave you with some tunes. Here is a BIG tune from musical maestro Mad Professor, who I had the pleasure to see @ Great Scott in Allston a few weeks ago:

Leave me a comment and let me know what are you thinking of checking out, I will definitely say hi!

Bless up!

– Electricbella XOXO