Freak Scene #48: New LPs from the Journals Kept and the Bargain
We dive into the latest albums from Easthampton's the Journals Kept and New Haven's the Bargain.
A Guide to Music in Western Mass. (and sometimes Connecticut)
This week in Freak Scene, we’re off to a roaring start for 2025 with new albums from Easthampton band the Journals Kept, and New Haven’s the Bargain.
New Hampshire indie-rockers the Princeton Reverbs Colonial had a moment in the late ’90s and early 2000s with a handful of releases balancing lo-fi sonics with art-pop flourishes. A couple of the band’s albums were conceptual, based on a story of an underwater colony populated by the dead, and the musicians often performed onstage accompanied by cardboard cutouts of characters from the songs. Good luck hearing any of it now: released in the pre-streaming era, most of the group’s music is not easy to find at the moment. Fortunately, some of their spirit survives in the Journals Kept, a successor project started by Princeton Reverbs Colonial founder Paul Vittum and latter-day member Faith Vittum, who now live in Easthampton.
After a cassette release in 2017 and a seven-song EP in 2022, the Journals Kept are back with Campfire, an album full of bright guitars and close harmony vocals. The sound here is anything but lo-fi — these 11 songs are robust and powerful, with a sense of urgency. Paul and Faith Vittum sing together in lockstep throughout, with her higher register just a shade quieter than his vocals to provide a sense of depth to the tracks. Paul Vittum’s guitar parts are vibrant, and he has cranked them up to the point where they crackle a bit, for a sound at once warm and brash. Bassist Les LeBarge and drummer Paul Pelis round out the lineup, anchoring the songs with tight rhythm parts.
The Vittums sing as though they’re stationary objects surrounded by whirling guitars on “Vibrate Your Mind,” and they sound like they’re bracing themselves against a strong current when the title track shifts into the chorus. Paul Vittum plays gritty wah-wah guitar toward the end of “Spectral Light Show,” and Faith Vittum adds texture with whirring organ parts on “Fighting Words” and wistful piano on “Family Portrait,” among her other contributions on keyboards.
Though Campfire has a maximal sensibility, the music is also deceptively subtle: the songs are of a piece, but there’s a lot going on just below the surface. The Journals Kept haven’t made a concept album here, and there are no cardboard cutouts, but their latest plays like more than just a batch of songs. Campfire feels like a collection of elegant short stories, made vivid with striking melodies and bold guitars.
The Journals Kept perform Jan. 18 at Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton, with Tandem Jump and the Library Band. There’s more information here.
The Bargain Return With a ‘Smile’
The most surprising thing about the position of Connecticut State Troubadour is that Frank Critelli is not the one who holds it. The New Haven singer, songwriter and radio host has been a mainstay of the local scene for decades, on his own and with various collaborators, including, since 2019, his bandmates in the Bargain.
Critelli, guitarist Muddy Rivers and mandolin player Shandy Lawson (augmented at times by Bobo Lavorgna on bass and Jim Stavris on drums) claim influences “from the Band to Metallica to Goethe.” That’s a tough statement to fully evaluate — so far Goethe’s early demos (on parchment?) haven’t turned up — but suffice to say the Bargain have a knack for tuneful folk-rock songs with occasional bite. The group has been releasing them at a rapid pace: Smile and Smile, the band’s new album, is the Bargain’s fourth LP since 2020.
The 10 songs here are catchy and easygoing, with Critelli’s voice front and center. He’s backed by growling electric guitar and harmony vocals on opener “Baby, You Tell Me,” while Lawson gets a chance to shine on mandolin on “Tell ’Em All” (which the Bargain released as a single in 2023). Rivers lays a blistering guitar solo in the middle of “Jamais Vu,” and adds squelchy ’60s garage-rock fills to the bluesy “The Muse,” which features a smart-ass vocal call-and-response as Critelli spins a story of infatuation fueled by a boozy kiss.
That’s the basic idea throughout Smile and Smile. It’s a collection of good-time songs from musicians who clearly enjoy playing together, and are good at it — but aren’t taking themselves too seriously.
This Weekend
Elucid, half of the New York hip-hop duo Armand Hammer, performs Sunday, Jan. 12, at Daily Operation in Easthampton. In a fateful turn of events, he shares the bill with Billy Woods, the other half of Armand Hammer. Will they also perform together? Tickets are here if you’re keen to find out.
Upcoming Concerts
TR3 featuring Tim Reynolds perform March 19 at the Drake in Amherst (tickets) and March 21 at Infinity Hall in Hartford (tickets). The Slackers are the Drake March 29 with Some Ska Band (tickets).
The Lonesome Brothers throw themselves a 40th birthday bash Feb. 23 at the Iron Horse (tickets). Ward Hayden & The Outliers are there April 17 with Swingin’ Steaks (tickets). Adam Ezra Group plays the Iron Horse May 3 (tickets) and Infinity Hall in Hartford May 4 (tickets). The Johnny Memphis Band celebrates its namesake’s 70th birthday May 15 (tickets). Della Mae are at the Iron Horse May 23 (tickets).
Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel and the Slim Jim Phantom Trio, led by the Stray Cats’ drummer, play April 18 at District Music Hall in Norwalk (tickets). The Del McCoury band is there May 9 (tickets).
Canadian throwback rockers the Surfrajettes play March 12 at the Space Ballroom in Hamden (tickets). A Rubblebucket show postponed from December is now scheduled for March 16 (tickets). Kool Keith and MC Homeless perform April 5 (tickets). Cold are there April 10 performing their albums 13 Ways to Bleed Onstage and A Different Kind of Pain (tickets). Nerf Herder share the bill with Diesel Boy April 12 (tickets). Youth Lagoon are there April 26 (tickets).
Next week: We’ll check out the latest from Springfield’s Rev. Dan & the Dirty Catechism.
Freak Scene is always seeking submissions. You can send music for coverage consideration to erdanton at gmail or reply to this email. Check out these guidelines first.
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