Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present indie/folk/chamber-pop quintet Winterpills, plus roots-rock/junk-folk trio Rusty Belle at Next Stage on Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 pm.
One of the most exciting bands to emerge from Northampton, MA in recent years, Winterpills plays haunting, delicate, dynamic music with shimmering melodies and aching lyrics. Critically praised as a mirror of sorrows and a beacon of hope, the music of Winterpills – true to the band’s name – is medicine for weary hearts.
Philip Price (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Flora Reed (vocals, keyboards), Dennis Crommett (vocals, guitar), Max Germer (bass) and Dave Hower (drums, shaken things) maintain their signature chamber-pop ambience while exploring new ground sonically and lyrically – dense rockers balanced by quiet hymns with an overall diversity in instruments and textures.
All of this backs the wandering words of songwriter Philip Price. A performer with a background in ‘90s powerpop (The Maggies) as well as solo-acoustic songwriting, Price formed Winterpills with Reed, Crommett and Hower in 2004, crafting a neat balance of heartrending lyrics, dreamy pop and hushed guy-girl vocal harmonies.
Winterpills’ music has been used in numerous television shows including the hit ABC show “Grey’s Anatomy” and the U.K. series “Skins.” MOJO magazine included their CD “All My Lovely Goners” in its 2012 top 10 Americana list. In October, 2014, Winterpills released their 5th full-length album, the archival cover’s project “Echolalia.” “I don’t know why Winterpills aren’t one of the most cherished pop bands in the world: Their songs are dazzling” – Rolling Stone “Wildly infectious tunes… Philip Price writes poignantly melancholic songs backed by a talented and innately dynamic band.” – No Depression
Unpredictable, original and raw, Amherst, MA-based Rusty Belle brings a fresh approach to a convergence of musical genres “like a musical patchwork quilt made from scraps of old, sewn with a new thread” – Vermont Musician. They coax very different, even huge, sounds out of a relatively small stable of acoustic instruments. Matt Lorenz, Kate Lorenz and Zak Trojano harmonize with intuitive strength while laying down a percussive layer of junk drums, classical and electric guitars and an odd array of melodic instruments. Some tunes offer harmonies reminiscent of ’60s folk, others country blues, and still others a plaintive, swinging melancholy – anything from a whiskey lullaby or a tiny tango to a rock anthem or a smoky blues, all featuring poignant, honest lyrics with a rustic, dusty feel.
Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. Tickets are $16 Advance / $18 At the Door. For information, call 802-387-0102. Advance tickets are available at www.nextstagearts.org, Turn It Up in Brattleboro and Offerings Jewelry in Putney. Katy’s will provide a beer and wine cash bar. For more information, visit www. winterpills.com, www.rustybelle.com, www.twilightmusic.org and www.nextstagearts.org.
