Willy Mason -Kitchen Sessions - Boston, MA

Willy Mason is a musician's musician. He has toured with everyone form Mumford and sons to Radiohead and now he has scaled up to playing Kitchen Sessions. He has a sound that takes you back to a simpler time, his songs are deep yet whimsical which I believe fulfills a void in current music. Enjoy this video of Willy Mason playing a song his father wrote called "Tic Tac Toe" and visit www.kitchensessions.net for more great performances!

Willy Mason - Tic Tac Toe from Kitchen Sessions on Vimeo.

Kitchen Sessions // Golden Bloom - "If You Believe"

Words // Caroline McDonald

Under the moniker of Golden Bloom, Shawn Fogel came to Kitchen Sessions with an mess of curly hair and a sense of fun and humility that perfectly fit his effortlessly catchy hooks. The Kitchen Sessions space complemented his meticulous voice and understated acoustic guitar, giving something raw and undeniably appealing. Golden Bloom was quirky and kept us giggling in between songs. His music reminded me of Ben Kweller in that it was catchy but also poignant and true. His charisma shown through at Kitchen Sessions, making it impossible not to sit up and listen.

Kitchen Sessions // Tall Heights

Words // Caroline McDonald

Sometimes you hear two musicians come together in such perfect harmony that you involuntarily hold your breath to hear every bit of their music. That’s what happened to me when I first heard Tim Harrington and Paul Wright of the band Tall Heights. The Kitchen Session they performed captures the dynamic perfection they create together. It’s a synergy that’s often hard to catch in studio recordings, but you won’t miss it here. Emotive lyrics, Paul’s cello, and Tim’s guitar live alongside harmonies that compare to (dare I say it?) Simon and Garfunkel. If you need me, I’ll be wearing out the “play” button on these videos for the next few weeks.

Tall Heights - Somewhere I Believe

Tall Heights - Rafters

KS Issue #1: The Wooden Sky, Swear and Shake, David Wax Museum

Words // Scott Pingeton
Video // Steve Legare

As part of the partnership between Kitchen Sessions and Visible Voice, we'll be digging back into the KS archives and pulling out some of our favorite audio and video from past house shows.  This is the first in what we hope will be a series of monthly installments - and it features some incredible stuff.  Enjoy - and please let us know what you think in the comments.

KS #18: The Wooden Sky

The Wooden Sky is one of my favorite bands in the world, and I've made no secret of that fact over the past few months.  Gavin Gardiner's songs are so finely crafted, and the band so adept at conveying a feeling through music.  But what's so great about this band is that they can pull off an echo-drenched jam or a banjo-folk shuffle, a whisper-quiet folk tune or a stomping call-to-arms.  Or, for example, "Malibu Rum" from their fantastic new record Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon A Sun - a melancholy lament set against a breezy coconut-scented melody - perfectly evocative.  (website)

KS#21: Swear and Shake

I discovered Swear and Shake by accident, but I fell in love immediately.  I was at the BOMB festival in Hartford and was on my way between stages when they caught my ear.  A song or two later I was convinced I had to book them for the Newport Nightcap afterparty - which they agreed to do.  Kari Spieler's voice is other-worldly, and the band's mix of indie folk and pop is irresistible.  I am anxiously awaiting their debut LP, which will include "These White Walls".  This video in particular really captures the spirit of Kitchen Sessions - great music in an intimate space.  (website)

KS #1: David Wax Museum
This set pre-dates the Kitchen Sessions name - and in many ways it inspired what Steve and company have done since.  I was lucky enough to be there that night - a cold, rainy, miserable night in March 2010.  I didn't know David Wax Museum at all, but I left a lifelong fan.  Hearing these songs - many of which would not be released until nearly a year later on Everything is Saved - was a revelation.  This was pre-Newport Folk, pre-NPR Music...just four incredible musicians playing to a room full of strangers and blowing away every single one of them away.  House shows like these were the bricks in the foundation on which they continue to build greater and greater success.  (website)

David Wax Museum
Kitchen Session #1
March 30, 2010

Beekeeper
Beatrice
The Persimmon Tree
Unfruitful
(Banter)
Rosamar
Yes, Maria, Yes
Donkey In My Soul
Banter
Look What You've Done To Me
Carpenter Bird
Si Te Vas
That's Not True
Let Me Rest
Colas
When You Are Still
The Great Unawakening

Full set download: mp3 zip

Win The Entire Wooden Sky Back Catalogue (CD, Vinyl + Tank Top)

The Wooden Sky's fantastic new album Every Child A Daughter, Every Moon A Sun is out today, and to celebrate we have one hell of a giveaway!  The band stopped by the Kitchen Sessions house last November for a memorable show - but in their rush to get back to their Canadian homeland, they forgot to pack up their merch table.  Seriously, they left one of everything:

If I Don't Come Home, You'll Know I'm Gone (CD+Vinyl)
The Wooden Sky (CD+Vinyl)
Bedrooms + Backstreets EP (CD)
City of Light EP (Cassette)
Tank Top (Mens Large)

Steve offered to mail it all back to them, but they graciously suggested that he give it all away to fans - that's where you come in.  One lucky winner is going to win the ENTIRE package. 

Click here to enter

Also, do yourself a favor and get the band's new album - it is fantastic.  You won't be sorry.  Listen to a stream here.

Visible Voice and Kitchen Sessions join forces

Words // Scott Pingeton

Steve Legare started Kitchen Sessions, a house concert and video series in 2010, right around the same time I started Visible Voice - but our story goes back much farther.  Steve and I met in college where we bonded over a shared love of music.  A few years later we both found ourselves inspired to do what we love - share the music that we're passionate about.  I was there at the first Kitchen Session (David Wax Museum) and Steve was there for the concert that became the first post on Visible Voice.  Steve has gone on to shoot hundreds of live videos and host over 20 house concerts.  You can see his (and KS-cohort Maria Romero's) work on Paste.com, NPR Music, Pitchfork, The Voice Project and others too numerous to name.  Over the past two years Steve and I have collaborated countless times, but today we officially join forces.

What does this mean for each site?  Kitchen Sessions will become a permanent, recurring feature on Visible Voice.  That means you can count on lots more exclusive content - take-away shows, live video, audio recordings and lots more.  From now on, Visible Voice will host all KS videos, freeing up Steve to spend more time filming/editing and less time updating the website.  We also have some very exciting new projects in the works that we'll have more info on soon.  I think it will be a win-win for everyone.

This video may represent the genesis of both Visible Voice and Kitchen Sessions - a recap of the 2009 Newport Folk Festival, the weekend that inspired both of us to start our respective projects:

Newport Nightcap - Unofficial Newport Folk Afterparty

Visible Voice and Kitchen Sessions are excited to announce Newport Nightcap - July 30th in downtown Newport RI!

As the final notes of the Newport Folk Festival are reverberating across Newport Harbor, move the party to downtown Newport.  Relax in the upstairs lounge with food, cold drinks and intimate acoustic sets by local/national acts (artists TBA).  Then, move downstairs where Kingsley Flood (Boston) and Swear and Shake (NYC) will keep party going late into the night.  

TICKETS:
VIP (guaranteed spot + more): $10 buy here **limited**
General Admission: $5 at the door (if available)

DETAILS:
Saturday July 30, 7pm-1am
Gas Lamp Grille, 206 Thames St, Downtown Newport
Sponsored by Narragansett Beer

Kingsley Flood - I Don't Wanna Go Home
Swear and Shake - The Promise