First off, thank you all for reading the first letter and for being here for round 2. Means a lot. Extra thanks to the few that wrote back. Great to hear from you!
So my sister Sarah and I just returned from a trip out to California to visit our brother Joshua Eden. It was a week full of tacos, hanging with big trees and writing songs. Before we arrived it had rained. Everything was vibrating green. Hopefully Maine ain't too far behind.
And now we are announcing another Review at The Press Room on Wednesday April 23rd. This night will feature Kenya Hall, Sarah Boyden and New Hampshire native Gina Alibrio! Yes, it's a school night, but it starts at 7pm, and can you really say no to these three incredible women backed by The Finestkind? I don't think so.
New Music from Sarah Boyden
Sarah's debut single “Faith Through The Wrong” is available wherever you stream music. Her follow up, “Tattered Shirt,” another song penned by Connor Garvey, comes out on April 2nd. This lovely tune is a dedication to our Mom, who would have turned 85 on the release day. You can presave the song here!
In this section I'll highlight a few things of note, but if you want to know all the local live music happenings, I highly suggest following Portland Noise. They have the most comprehensive calendar since the back pages of The Phoenix (minus the personals).
Nov•el
Kate and I went to Nov•el to see Whit Walker, Plague Dad and Dan Blakeslee at this sweet spot on Congress Street a few weeks back. Great vibe, lots of books, beverages, games, and an intimate performing space in the basement. I sipped on a high quality negroni, listening to some folk-punk-protest music from these guys. Kate also checked out a bingo burlesque night recently. Something for everybody.
Launch of Filthy Records
This new venture from Jay Caron, god.damn.chan and DJKTF is an “anti-streaming, pro-music label”. Can't wait to see what they are cooking up. Sign up for their mailing list here.
Dave Gutter & The Illuminati Live at PHOME
Gutter celebrates the release of his new album The Music Industry Is Trying To Kill Me on April 18th. Psyched to put my ears on this new record! Tickets here.
Clifford Cameron hosts Jazz Sessions at Blue
A weekly Wednesday night staple that is hosted by a rotating cast of local players; Clifford Cameron takes the reins on April 2nd. I played a few Friday Funk Nights with him at Maine Craft (RIP). He is one hell of a musician. Follow him, and go hear him play!
Live Nation Aims To Build 3k Cap Room Next To Merrill
If you haven't heard, music's biggest corporate monopoly is trying to build a room adjacent to our city-owned theater. My take on it runs parallel in some ways to the recently announced Back Bay Fest. I love the idea of a festival of that scale coming to the area, as well as a larger room (just not Live Nation…), but neither of these projects address the logistical impact of traffic and parking. Both would be better suited in different locations, like say a festival at Cumberland Fair Grounds or Thompson's Point, where infrastructure already exists and it wouldn't be privatizing public land. Or build a new venue in Westbrook or Biddeford to expand the state's access to great live music rather than cramming it all on the peninsula.
The fest is a done deal but the Live Nation room is not. Two overflow rooms at City Hall were full of concerned citizens at a recent planning board meeting. Word is there will be another meeting scheduled soon. Follow Maine Music Alliance for updates.
That's all for now. Stay sane, stay creative. Catch you around the scene.
Hey, hey! Dan Boyden here, writing to you cause I’m launching this newsletter (frequency TBD) to share with you what I’m up to, musically and otherwise, what’s cooking at Finestkind Music, and to share other happenings around the Portland scene. If this ain't for you, no worries. There's an unsubscribe button below.
This landed in your inbox cause, well, you're a great human that I appreciate. And with the current state of the world, I'm finding comfort in connection with my community, particularly outside of the social media landscape. My other solace is in making music These letters will mostly be about those two things: a way to connect with you, to share snippets about new sounds and some opportunities to feel some collective joy.
Here it goes….
I'm starting to come out of hibernation. Been a winter of swinging a hammer and laying low. I just returned from the Hudson Valley after tracking the new Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds album. We also played at Levon Helm Studios again. One of the many perks of performing there is I get to sit behind his drums. If you haven't been, I highly suggest taking a pilgrimage to this mecca of music.
You can also find me every Tuesday at Oxbow in Portland playing with Damn B from 7 to 9. Come for a beer and some fries from the Duckfat Frites Shack and to hear some killer instrumental hip hop/vibe/jazz band with Stu Mahan, Kyle Friday, Tyler Quist and Charlie Sichterman on drums. Yup, I get to play everything else for a change. It's a vibe.
Now for the BIG announcement…
The Finestkind Review Live at the Waldo, April 12th
Mark your calendars, we're taking the show on the road! Spread the word up and down the coast, The Finestkind will be joined by three incredible artists: Kenya Hall, Dominic Lavoie and my sister Sarah Boyden at the historic theater in downtown Waldoboro. Tickets are available HERE!
For this review show we have Stu Mahan on bass, Max Cantlin on guitar, Tyler Quist on keys, Emma Stanley on trumpet and Brian Graham on sax. Come hear this stellar band perform behind three incredible featured artists.
New Releases from Finestkind Music
The debut single from Sarah Boyden “Faith Through The Wrong” is out on Bandcamp HERE. It'll be available on all streaming services next Friday.
A raucous roots rendition of a song penned by Connor Garvey, the track features Dawson Hill on piano and Josh Duym on guitar. Imagine if Jon Cleary and Derek Trucks backed Bonnie Raitt on a run-away train-beat song. Yeah, it's fun. Recorded at Stu Mahan's studio in Damariscotta, Mahan also mixed and laid down the low end on this thumper.
Scene & Heard:
Here are some happenings around town that you should check out! I'll be behind the kit for a few of them.
Tonight! Red Eye Flight Crew: The Lonely Hearts Club Ball at PHOME, Feb 14th:
Portland's favorite party band is back with another love song fueled dance party. These shows sell out. Hope you got your tix already. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.
The Merch Table at 144 Fore St, Feb 22nd
The brainchild of drummer Ryan Curless (Spose, Wolff Sisters, Dave Gutter), this is an event for all Maine music fans. From 12 to 2 pm at Austin Street Brewery on Fox St, there will be a music merch flea market. This is also guaranteed to be a great hang. Put it in your calendar. Hopefully this will be a recurring event.
Kenya Hall and Suzie Assam at Blue, Feb 22nd
If Kenya is singing, then you go. It's good for the mind and the soul. Same for Suzie. Enough said. Tickets here.
Dominic Lavoie, Cilla Bonnie, Is She? at Oxbow, Feb 28th
Lavoie and Full On Voltron have assembled a stellar line up to celebrate the release of their new album, Round Trip. Scoop the album now from bandcamp here or at the show. It is another incredible work of art, musically and visually, from the Madawaska man and his band.
Get there early for Cilla Bonnie and Is She?, two incredible musicians, writers and singers. I started playing with Is She? last year. Her music is ethereal, imaginative and fresh. Also Cilla is a BAD ASS but you probably already knew that. Tickets available here!
Bess Jaques
I recently caught Bess at Frog & Turtle in Westbrook. She's a fantastic musician. You can hear her regularly at Blue in Portland and on the grand piano at the Lincoln Hotel in Biddeford. Go check her out!
Hi-Fidelity Brewery
This tucked away spot on Anderson St. has a full calendar of music and a great vibe. Some regular events include a weekly original open mic on Mondays as well as Groove Space, an open jam hang on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays hosted by Space Fog Collective.
So there you go, a sample of what's in store with these letters. And being a letter, this is also an invitation to write back at finestkindmusic@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you.
Keep your head up. Keep loving each other. See you soon,
