Ink and Riffs: Deep sea horrors and fantastic worlds

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com. 

“Into the Drowning Deep” (Audiobook)
The audiobook version of this deep-sea horror, written by Mira Grant, had me hooked (no pun intended), right from the beginning as we’re introduced to a found-footage style recording of an attack by mermaids. Yep, that’s what’s happening here.

The story follows Tory Stewart, a sonar specialist who becomes obsessed with mermaids after her sister's disappearance. Tory's sister Anne worked as a reporter for Imagine Entertainment. While filming a mockumentary about mermaids, the crew of Imagine's ship Atargatis vanished. Tory vows to discover the truth about what happened to her sister, and when a second scientific expedition is commissioned to discover what happened, she joins up without hesitation.

Needless to say, things will not go as planned.

The delivery of the story by Christine Lakin is absolutely perfect. Lakin does the different voices effortlessly and really captures the feelings of the story, whether that’s love, sorrow, or bone-cutting fear—especially that last one. I’ve been turned off by lackluster narrations in the past, and this one had the opposite effect. A solid listen to a truly terrifying tale.

“The Hunger and the Dusk” (comic)
I’ve been a fan of fantasy for years, so when I saw the cover of this IDW title, I had to read it. So before I get into G. Willow Wilson’s awesome story, let’s talk about the amazing artwork by Chris Wildgoose.

The art is so damn good, with every color on the palette, laid out to create beautiful, detailed scenes that always capture the attention. I especially liked the diverse character designs, from the clothes to the creatures to the weapons. You can tell Chris is a fantasy aficionado.

Now, onto the story. In a dying world, only humans and orcs remain—mortal enemies battling for territory and political advantage. But when a group of ancient humanoids known as the Vangol arrive from across the sea, the two struggling civilizations are forced into a fragile alliance to protect what they have built.

The tension is high in this series, as humans and orcs fight not only the Vangol, but each other, as they strive to maintain the uneasy peace. This is shown in the relationship between Callum Battlechild, who leads The Last Men Standing, and orcish healer Tara, who both have to speak for their respective races and make this alliance work—because the fate of all rests in the balance.

I recently finished the first volume of the series, and cannot wait to see what happens next.

“Ben Huchenson” (music)
After hearing singer-songwriter Ben Hucheson’s new single “Almost There,” I decided to check out his self-titled 2022 album. Trust me, this one is worth listening to.

Ben’s got an amazing voice, and delivers a lot of stories over the 12 tracks, from a treasured relationship in “Thinking About You” to “Poison,” an upbeat, high-energy tune that warns of someone to watch out for. “Faith” is a really powerful song and my favorite off the album.

The music is really catchy, an easy-listening folk sound that puts one at ease in some tracks and gets the feet tapping in others. I can easily see Ben on a stage, the audience singing along with each song.

Ben’s been singing for some years now, and described as “wise beyond his years” by Julianne Regan (All About Eve). I think that sums it up perfectly. Ben sings with the voice of a seasoned traveler, but with the energy of someone in the early stages of their journey. The stories in the songs are instantly relatable and delivered in a way that you can’t ignore—and you really shouldn’t, because this is one musician to keep an eye on.

Ink and Riffs: Vampires, ghosts and debut albums, oh my!

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to. Send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com. 

“Impact Winter” (Audiobook)
I came across this audiobook series one day and thought “Why the hell not?” And damn, am I glad I did.

From executive producers of The Walking Dead and Travis Beacham, the writer of Pacific Rim, this Audible Original is set in the near future and seven years since a comet hit the earth and blotted out the sun. The world is a dark, frozen landscape. And then, beastly creatures emerge and take over. Can they really be vampires?

This series includes an absolutely amazing cast, plus great music and sound effects. The voice cast is really good, and clearly experienced. They really dive into their roles and owned them right from the beginning. The music, which includes full songs from different bands, sets the scenes perfectly and the sound effects paint a very complete picture.

The story is very well-written and the twists and turns keep you hooked. I’ve finished the first two volumes and am currently on the third one now, and really looking forward to how the story ends.


“Say Something” by Ashley Elle (Music)
Ashley Elle’s first EP, released last December, came to my attention through my Blackout Collection playlist. “Conditions” was on the playlist and I decided to check out the rest of the album.

Ashley has such a great voice and it really flows through songs like “They Always Come Back” and the title track. This folk/pop artist has released a number of singles since 2021 and “Say Something” is her first album release, so I suppose it’s fair to say she’s still in the early stages of her music career. If this album is any indication, she’s got a bright future ahead of her.

This seven-track album showcases a lot of Ashley’s versatility within the genres. “Falling” has a pretty upbeat sound while “Save Us” is more mellow. “October” is one of my favorites. This has a very layered folk sound that drew me right in. That’s something I really like about this album—the music really varies song to song, and we see the range that Ashley works with.

Overall, this album has a lot to offer, and I hope there’s a lot more to come.


“Grammaton Punch” (Comic)
I’ve talked about this comic before in a previous Citywide Blackout episode, back when it was first released. Written by Miles Gunter, with art by Briane Andan, colors by Lee Loughridge and letters by Taylor Esposito, this limited series is available on ComiXology and definitely worth reading. Here’s a look at the story.

“Born on an eclipse, Van Nguyen has the ability to see ghosts that feed off the energy of unsuspecting adults. Unfortunately being "extra" makes him a target for these evil spirits but what he soon realizes is- Van can fight back.”

This series is sharp, witty and very human in its delivery. Van is a great hero, not because he’s always winning, but because he has plenty of challenges that he has difficulty overcoming. You feel a lot for the guy, especially in one part that you need to see for yourself.

The art is just brilliant, with a wide range of colors, varied and unique designs for all the characters and detailed scenes that are worth a second look. I loved all the designs for the ghosts and each one stood well on its own.

“Grammaton Punch” is a great—and often dark—ride into a world where punching ghosts in the face is just plain awesome.

Jeff Michaels talks about returning to music and charting new paths

Jeff Michaels of the Jeff Michaels Band is an old friend from our days in Boston. It’s been a while since we spoke and there’s a lot to cover, so let’s get to it!

Curtis, Max and Jeff talk all about their days in the Boston music scene and some of Jeff’s favorite venues to perform at. Jeff goes into a long break he took from music and the old friend who got him back to it. He shares some personal stories that are captured in his songs, especially “Luckiest By Far.”

While some musicians will opt for the crowdfunding, Jeff received his support from the State of Massachusetts and talks about all that he was able to do with the cash. He also goes into his relationship with fellow musician Scott Barkan and what he brings to the musical table.

Jeff shares some plans for the future, which include lots of new music, as well as his thoughts on getting back on stage. We also talk about how after 20 years, he remains relevant as a musician.

Opening this episode is an excerpt from Jeff’s single, “Lost in the Night” and closing out the show is “Luckiest By Far.”

Ink and Riffs: Life is Strange comic, Titanic history, and Samantha Marie’s new EP

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com.


Life is Strange: Forget Me Not (comic)
I’m a big, big, BIG fan of the “Life is Strange” video games and eagerly read the comic series that was released through Titan Comics in 2020. In 2023, the company released a four-issue series that that follows “True Colors,” the most recent game in the series, which is what I’m writing about here. 

In the new series, “Forget Me Not,” Alex Chen and Steph Gingrich are on the road together, living their dream as a band, converting an old bus into their mobile home and playing gigs all over. But their plans change when they meet Lily, a girl with the ability to take people’s memories—and all she wants is to give them back and find her family.

Storytelling is definitely a core strength of the LiS series, and “Forget Me Not” carries this well, creating a world with depth, feeling and purpose. It was cool getting to see the artistic journey of Alex and Steph and the various challenges they encounter, such as dismal crowds and asshole label execs. The girl is more than a story element—we learn a lot about her and feel for her when we discover how her powers have devastated her life.

Art-wise, I really enjoyed the look of the comic. It has life to it, and the detail in the different scenes, such as Alex and Steph’s mobile home or the clubs they play at. The clothing designs are also well thought out and helps to show the personalities of the cast. In all, this series is a strong continuation to “True Colors” and definitely worth checking out.

A Night to Remember (book)

Regarded as a classic recounting of the final night of the Titanic and rightfully so, “A Night to Remember” combines exact details with powerful emotion to take readers to that fateful night in 1912.

Written by Walter Lord, the book opens the night of April 14, 1912, when the ship declared to be “Unsinkable,” struck an iceberg. Two hours later, the ship seen as the height of shipbuilding and luxury was at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

I’ve long had a fascination with the story of Titanic and this book provides a wealth of information that I was before now unaware of. Reading this, I’m transported back to that fateful night, amongst the passengers as they try to save themselves from the doomed ship. The book follows passengers in third, second and first class as they respond to the unthinkable and eventually come to terms with the reality filling the decks and halls of the great ship.

One thing about the book is that it’s the result of a lot of research and interviews with survivors to help set the scenes. We’re given precise details and scenes that really paint a picture of what is happening, from the moment of the iceberg to the survivors trying to determine their fate. The result is an accounting of this historic milestone and a book not to be missed.


Shapeshifting (music)
The second studio album from singer-songwriter Samantha Marie is a really amazing collection of music. I had previously heard the single “aphrodite,” which caught my attention immediately with its beautiful instrumentation and beautiful vocals, and learning the album was out on Oct. 18 was a good day.

The seven tracks are soothing, but carry a message of navigating the world of mental health. One of my favorites is “shinjuku,” which opens with an elegant piano melody and quickly but smoothly moves through different elements.

“Aphrodite” creates an atmosphere of sound that draws you right in and wanders through a great assortment of music, with a blend of folk and pop sounds.

The album features some collaborations, with bectopia on “aphrodite” and Covey on “shinjuku,” and the chemistry is apparent on both. The integration between their different sounds is seamless and really enhances what each brings to the table.

“Shapeshifting” really shows Samantha Marie’s range as an artist and I’m eager to see what’s next.

Todd Hearon returns to music with a sonic trilogy

Todd Hearon

Music has always been a part of Todd Hearon’s life and following a brief break for other creative pursuits, he’s returned with a three-part album release and in this interview, we dive right into what this is all about.

The Texas-born songwriter goes into the story behind his most recent release, “Impossible Man” and how it follows his 2021 and 2023 albums, “Border Radio” and “Yodelady.” We also talk about his musical hiatus to go to grad school in Boston and co-found The Bridge Theater Company, an independent troupe in Boston’s Theater District.

Todd shares how his poetry and other writings blend with his music, and gives us the story behind Myrtle, his 1950 Gibson J-50.

Opening the interview is an excerpt from “Guillotine” and closing things out is the song “Looking Glass,” both of which are from the new album.

Dany Horovitz recaps on a truly memorable year

Dany Horovitz

Singer-songwriter Dany Horovitz is back for what has become a yearly check-in and man, there is a lot to talk about. 

Over the last 12 months, he’s released tons of music and we go into the songs and the stories behind them. Dany also talks about how he puts himself into his songs. We also give some previews of what he has planned for the rest of this year and into the next.

The last year has also seen a lot of memorable appearances, such as at the recent North by Northeast Festival and as a judge for the Juno Awards. Dany, Max and Curtis talk about what that was like and Dany’s experience getting to choose his picks for the Adult Contemporary Category.

Dany also shares some of the many artists he’s collaborated with and the amazing results of these musical partnerships. We talk a little business as Curtis asks about the stunning social media presence that Dany’s built since he started this journey just a couple of years ago.

Opening this interview is an excerpt from “Until the Seas Run Dry,” Dany’s newest single and bringing things to a close is “Roads and Roses,” one of our personal favorites.

Citywide Bytes-New on the music scene, Abijah Perry is making her mark

Since 2022, singer/songwriter Abijah Perry has been making some amazing music, including our personal favorite, “Love Overnight.”

In the newest episode of Citywide Bytes, she and Max talk about what got her into music, how she landed her mellow folk-infused style and how she’s defining and refining her sound. She shares how she fell in love with music and her choice to pursue it as a career.

Abijah also talks about the stories she’s sharing through her songs, future projects and the family influence that inspired her love of all things music.

Opening this episode is an excerpt from her single “Color Theory” and closing the show is the complete “Love Overnight.”

Tom of The Midnight Wrens flies through a seven-year band history

It was in 2017 when the original six members of The Midnight Wrens came together, and since that time, they’ve made some amazing music in the New England area. In this episode, band songwriter/guitarist Tom Powley joins us to talk about how the Wrens came together and their journey over the years.

Tom goes into their new EP, “The Songbird Collection,” a five-track EP that touches on different aspects with each song, and shares some of the stories behind the music. We also look at the band’s upcoming show on July 25 at The Word Barn and the release of a band-inspired IPA with Exeter Brewing Co.

Big thanks go to Sarah Blacker, who made the introductions that led to this interview.

Opening the episode is an excerpt from “Come Home” and closing things out is the full track “Mona Lisa,” both of which you can find on “The Songbird Collection.”

Sarah Blacker returns with her signature style with “Horizon Line”

Our next guest was among the first on Citywide Blackout, and so it’s fitting that she joins us for our post-hiatus interview. Singer-songwriter Sarah Blacker is back with a new EP, “Horizon Line.”

“Horizon Line,” Sarah Blacker’s new studio EP is described as a “raw, stripped down and vulnerable, just the way she wanted it to be.” Recorded (mostly) live and mixed at Boston Music Award-winning producer, Sean McLaughlin’s 37’ Productions studios, it was performed and co-produced by Blacker and her husband, Aaron Z. Katz (Percy Hill, the Dejas).

In this interview, Curtis and Max talk about what went into this new production and her longstanding collaboration with McLaughlin, another mainstay in the Boston-area music scene. She goes into her recent release shows, including Club Passim, where she has played for years.

There’s some retro talk this time as we dive into promoting albums in 2024 and how Sarah has changed her strategy since releasing “The Only Way Out is Through” in 2009. Those of us born in the 80s will likely find a lot to relate to.

We’re opening the interview with an excerpt from the title track and closing things out with “Walk On.”

Dany Horovitz shares stories of love, loss, and life in “Free Times”

BONUS TRACK: Leezy talks about her battle with addiction and how it inspired “Sierra”

Singer-songwriter Dany Horovitz is back, and he has some big news to share. His debut album “Free Times” is now available! Dany joined me last fall to talk about his singles “Seasons Change” and “Moving On,” and along with these two songs, the album features another eight with an array of sounds and tales.

Dany and I talk about the response the album has seen from fans and music journalists in Canada, where he lives. He shares his poetry and how it ties into his music as well as the real-life connection behind the songs. Dany worked with some amazing people in bringing this album to life and he talked about the process. In addition to the album, a music video release for his song “Scar” was released and we go into how the two mesh.

Following our discussion, enjoy “Scar,” one of my favorite tracks from the album.


And in the second interview, Chicago-based artist Leezy dives into “Sierra,” a new single that takes us through her battle with addiction when she was 18. Leezy talks about how it all began and the work she put in to become sober a year later. Leezy's mother inspired the song, and was a pillar for the young artist as she sought treatment, and even had a brief role in the music video for “Sierra.”

As the episode comes to a close, check out “Sierra,” which shifts from a mellow tune to a rock-themed sound, matching the artist's battle.

Matt Jatkola shares a positive message with his debut album

Boston-based artist Matt Jatkola of JATK is back, and he has some big news to share—his debut album, “Shut Up and Be The Light” is set to drop on April 15 in CD, digital and vinyl format.

In March 2020, when everyone was avoiding hospitals due to the oncoming pandemic, JATK was headed directly into one. The songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist had just been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and the subsequent cancer journey, treatment, recovery, and everything else that has happened in the two years since shaped the album.

In this interview, Matt talks about his mindset two years ago and why making a new album was such an important goal. Matt worked with 20 different artists, and we look at who these people are and how he made such a massive collaboration happen. The album was recorded and mastered entirely from Matt's home and we see if this has become his new preferred method of music production.

Matt talks about his own way to “Shut Up and Be The Light” and how we can keep negative, toxic thinking out of our lives as well as what he hopes people take from the listening experience.

Following this, enjoy “Conscious Wonder,” one of the tracks off the new album. I genuinely enjoyed the diversity of sounds, and hope you do too.

A Heaven for Heretics” gives us a lifetime of tales in 10 songs

 

Kristian Montgomery is back, giving us more of his gritty, passionate, no-nonsense style that made “Prince of Poverty” such a hit. This new, 10-track album gives us an assortment of both styles and stories, something I’ve come to expect from this artist.

Kristian has always been brutally honest in his music, holding nothing back in the lyrics and giving his all with each tune. Songs like “I’ll Break Your Heart Again” could very well be autobiographical, such is the intensity and emotion of the vocals.

 

Let’s shift a bit to the style. Kristian blends country, rock, and some folk elements to give us a layered sound. While “I’ll Break Your Heart” again is a more mellow song, “Times Like These” is one move to and it’s defiantly a favorite. “Ain’t Got Nobody But Me” follows suit, and it’s a sound that I love to hear.

 

I really enjoyed the journey portrayed in “If I Live to See Virginia” and it’s this song that exemplifies Kristian’s journeyer type of music. You feel like you’re exploring someone else’s life and the details bring everything into sharp relief. Whether the trip is a physical one or of the soul, it’s an experience that’s hard to forget. 

 

“Peach” is the perfect closer for this album—high-tempo, with a foot-tapping, head-nodding melody. The album as a whole is genuine, skillful, and a real pleasure to hear. 

https://kristianmontgomeryandthewinterkillband.bandcamp.com/album/a-heaven-for-heretics

Debut artists share their journeys in the music world

Dany Horovitz

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Dany Horovitz joins me to discuss his recently-released singles, “Seasons Change” and “Moving On.” Both deal with the concept of moving forward from tough times, and Dany and I talk about the real-life experiences that influenced them. Dany launched his music career just a year ago and we look at what inspired him to take the tunes he'd been working on for years and share them with the world.

After this, kick back and enjoy these two singles. Both have a different sound, and have a strong message to share.

LA artist XOHA is up next, and we dive deep into her debut single, “Outsider.” The track is honest and heartfelt, describing the often undiscussed inequalities in America. XOHA and I talk about what she's seen of these inequalities and how she crafted the lyrics. We also look at her unique musical style and the different influences throughout her life.

To close things out, enjoy XOHA's new single, “Outsider,” a standout song both for its music and the story.

 

Constellation Myths debut a new sound with “Everything and Time”

We're back in Boston for this episode, talking with the band Constellation Myths. Band members Josh Goldman, Justin Kehoe, and Molly Seamans share their past work and how it changed to this new Americana sound.

Josh and Justin have a lengthy career in the Boston music scene and talk about what they had to learn for this new project. Molly talks about how she came to be in the band and her own musical experience, which includes playing in the band Tom Thumb.

We also talk about the theme of the tension between city and country and how it's shown in the lyrics and the music, as well as when live shows for the band could happen.

Following this, I've got two of the band's songs for you—“It Would' ve Been Enough” followed by “Suffer.”

Prateek and I reconnect to talk about his new music's different directions

It's been a few years, but Boston-based singer-songwriter Prateek is back! A lot has been happening over the last few years, including the release of his debut album, “The Band’s All Gone,” a live recording at Q Division Studios. We also look at his newest single, “Wrong” and the difficult time from Prateek's younger days that inspired the song.

Prateek has been public about his struggles with mental illness, and in this interview we take a deep dive into it. He talks about how it's affected him as well as the help he's gotten. One of the takeaways from this discussion is that help is always available.

We also look at the last year and it's impact on the Boston music scene. Prateek talks about a year without shows and how he's moved his creative energies in new directions, including establishing a Patreon page and doing a number of livestream shows.

After this, enjoy two of Prateek's singles, “All The Stars,” followed by “The Gang's All Gone.”

Michael Jones talks new music, poetry, and his favorite horror movies

Musician Michael Jones is entering the world of music with his debut EP, “American Poet, Pt. 1.” Prior to this, he was the founder and CEO of the digital marketing company Pepperjam and he talks about this pivot to the world of music and how it's gone for him. One of his more popular songs, “This Is the Night,” is an apocalyptic party anthem and we dive into some of our favorite end of the world movies and shows, and he's seen quite a few.

Following this, enjoy Michael's newest song, “Real.”

The Grownup Noise strike out in new directions with “Lonely Days”

I've been a longtime fan of The Grownup Noise, so I was really happy to welcome back Paul Hansen (vocals, synth, guitar) to talk about the new album, “Lonely Days,” available in physical and digital formats. The band tries some new sounds in this album, and Paul goes into the different direction and what the end result was. He also talks about newcomer Max Weinstein and how the band befitted from his style.

Following this, I've got three songs from the new album—“I Get It Now,” “Lonely Days,” and “Tracing Back.”

Clare Cunningham talks new singles, virtual shows, and life in Nashville

From Ireland to Nashville, solo artist Clare Cunningham talks about the journey that brought her to the US and some of her favorite places to play. Clare’s latest project has been recorded at RCA studios in Nashville. The first single off the project “Heart Of Mine” is to be released July 3, and we talk about releasing new work in the pandemic age and her plans for the rest of the year.

Following this, I've got two songs from Clare, “Carry Me” followed by “Grey Lady.”

Sabrina Maria talks new music and past shows

Originally from the UK and now living in Italy, singer/songwriter Sabrina Maria has a new album out, “Life Is A Journey, Not a Destination.” We talk about her own journey as a musician from her days gigging and how she's evolved to the point where she is now.

Her new album takes the listener on a journey of positivity and hope with upbeat, motivating songs and she talks about the stories behind them.

Following this, enjoy the tune “Go Out There and Get It,” from the new album.

The music scenes in Los Angeles and Boston

Singer-songwriter Stephanie James has had quite the journey, going from Boston to Los Angeles a year ago. She talks about the move and what led up to it and some of her favorite times in Beantown. We do a deep dive into each city's respective music scene and how they stand out. She's also putting the finishing touches on her debut album “Unbreakable,” set to be released later this year and talks about some of the new directions she's going in. A single from the album, “Throw Me a Rope,” is set to be released May 8.

Big thanks to Nina Pickell for her help in arranging this interview. If you're an artist looking to take your career to the next level, Nina has the skills and experience to make it happen.

Following this, enjoy the NPR Tiny Desk acoustic version of “Throw Me a Rope.”