• The first weekend at the STATE THEATRE is being lauded as an unmitigated success. Even a fire alarm going off during MOE.'s show Saturday night couldn't put a damper on anyone's experience. For the open house on Sunday, there was an actual line down the block of people waiting to get in for a free look-see at 1 pm before the doors opened, and the crowd was stronger than ever for JACOB AND THE HOUSE OF FIRE's set that closed the night out. Word from the door was that more than 1800 people had walked through the doors by 7 pm, which makes it likely they hit 2000 by night's end.
• JASON SPOONER's new disc, Sea Monster, drops on Tuesday, though he's not here in Portland for the celebration. Spooner and the trio are still on tour, and reports are that things are going well. Four songs from the new disc went into overhead rotation at Starbucks last week in over 11,000 stores nationwide: "Crashing Down," "Time Is Running Out," "Seed In The Ground," and "Wishing Well." Spooner also got an invite to do a solo open for JOAN OSBORNE at the 900-seat Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
• OLAS, the flamenco-influenced group featuring CERBERUS SHOAL's CHRISS SUTHERLAND and TOM KOVACEVIC, along with CONIFER's LEIF SHERMAN CURTIS, are ready to release their first album, La Perla. The first local chance to grab it is November 12 at Mayo Street Arts.
Related:
The State Theatre: This is actually going to work, Power pop, radio rock, and more, Livening up 2010: Many bands, all over town, More 
- The State Theatre: This is actually going to work
There's no question that the reopening of the State Theatre has people in this town pretty damn excited. As photos of the reconstruction have leaked out, the fever has built, often almost completely irrespective of that bands that have so far been lined up to play its stage.
- Power pop, radio rock, and more
NOW IS NOW frontman MITCH ALDEN has plans for a solo release. The party's scheduled for January 21 at RiRa. Expect some seriously upbeat power pop.
- Livening up 2010: Many bands, all over town
It was about the experience in 2010. Whether it was the sweaty, riotous, arm-over-your-buddy's-shoulder type of concert or the ruminative, head-plodding sort, concertgoers in town (and away) had much to immerse in.
- Robyn at the State Theatre, January 29
With each of her three 2010 Body Talk EPs armed with a single-of-the-year contender (in the just-slightly-ironic, pop-chart-averse blog-critic sense), it's been hard to ignore Swedish pop star Robyn's status as in indie icon these past 12 months.
- Americana tours and the next heavy-rock thing
Looks like Portland's THIS WAY will be the only Maine band featured as part of the NEW ENGLAND AMERICANA FESTIVAL , playing April 1 at the Boston club Church.
- Iron & Wine at the State Theatre, April 18
Iron & Wine evoke summer in my mind.
- Silent lucidity
After a brief stint of un-Googleability, the Lucid have gone back to being known as DOMINIC AND THE LUCID .
- Review: The many tentacles of Jason Spooner's Sea Monster
Jason Spooner is an amalgamation of John Prine and John Mayer — great songs and great hair, all in one package. Their aesthetics are similar, too. Sure, there are important and wounded songs in the bag, but these guys aren't afraid to have a good time, either.
- Sean Mencher rockabillys out
Rockabilly vet SEAN MENCHER and his RHYTHM KINGS have started a new second-Saturday series at the Dogfish Bar & Grille on Free Street (the old Taverna). Starts at 8 pm, even. How civilized.
- Photos: Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents at TT's
Photos from Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents at TT's
- Thrones + Christian Mistress + AoK Suicide Forest at Geno's, October 10
Probably the most beautiful thing about a metal show is that it's the only place you can catch dozens of people emphatically nodding Yes .
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New England Music News
, Music, Moe., Joan Osborne, More
, Music, Moe., Joan Osborne, Joan Osborne, Jason Spooner, Jason Spooner, Chriss Sutherland, Chriss Sutherland, Leif Sherman Curtis, Leif Sherman Curtis, Less
