Freak Scene #7: Odds Are Arrives with 'Port of Call'
A Guide to Music in Western Mass. (and sometimes Connecticut)
In this week's Freak Scene, Greenfield's Stephen M. Kerr takes us on an unconventional musical journey as Odds Are, West Springfield punks the Difficult present the results of two practices on their new EP and there are some cool shows coming up at the Institute for the Musical Arts in Goshen. Plus, the video for a song from Bridget Kearney's upcoming solo LP.
When I wrote that all sounds and styles are welcome here, Stephen M. Kerr quickly put me to the test by sending over an album that is basically a style unto itself. The Greenfield singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist comes at songs from various angles on Port of Call, his latest release under the name Odds Are. A jazz musician with classical chops (or vice versa?), what Kerr is doing on these 17 tracks fits most readily into the idea of alternative folk, defined as broadly as possible. Kerr is the sole musician here, accompanying his vocals with musical arrangements that vary from lightly strummed acoustic guitar to a chiming music box, harmonizing with prismatic layers of his own voice or, on “eddadö,” bird-like cooing and using his lips and fingers to make a burbling sound.
Port of Call | Odds Are
17 track album
His approach on Port of Call is eclectic enough that the through-line is Kerr himself, rather than a particular musical or lyrical theme (though there is an aquatic motif connecting a number of these songs). He opens the album with the title track, playing a lulling acoustic guitar part over the sound of waves on a beach and seagulls. On the next song, “Ok Ok Ok,” he spends a minute or so repeating the title in a round of overlaid vocal harmonies before ending the tune with a flamenco-like flourish on guitar. Later, “Bottom of the Sea” could almost double as a lullaby, with Kerr singing in drowsy tones, while “Magic Things” contains just a hint of bossa nova in the interplay of guitars and a stripped-down beat.
Odds Are is just one of Kerr’s projects. He also makes music under his own name, and with another pseudonym, Cooney Thatcher. Among Kerr’s plans for 2024 is Connecticut River Ballads, a project inspired by Woody Guthrie’s 1941 album Columbia River Collection, which dovetailed with dam construction and other public works in the Pacific Northwest. “I love the songs from that collection, but I'd like to turn the inspiration on its head and approach it from a more 'deconstructive' place, as dams are removed across the country to restore healthy ecology to river systems,” says Kerr, who received a $400 grant from the Mass Cultural Council for the project. “So, thematically, I'll be exploring the Connecticut River and its surrounding ecosystem from a standpoint of revitalization not for human needs, as dam projects are, but for a more holistic eco-forward ethos.”
The Difficult Make Things Easy on New EP
West Springfield punk duo the Difficult describe their new release, Two Practices EP, this way: "We had two practices and then we ate." OK, but where? What did they order? Based on the album cover, it might have been tacos? Jake and Shane Difficult made the most of those two rehearsals, honing five sharp-edged songs full of power-chord guitar shrapnel, propulsive drums and hooky vocals. There's a thread of social commentary strung through these tunes: "Don't Look" scoffs at the head-in-the-sand mentality of those who refuse to engage critically with what they're taught, or hear, or read; while the ultra-catchy "100 Dollar Haircut" mocks scenesters who prize style over substance: "It costs a lot to look so bored," Jake Difficult sneers over a crackling riff. There's no wasted energy on these songs, which total up to slightly less than 10 minutes. If this is what the Difficult sound like after two practices, imagine what they'll be up to after a couple more.
IMA concerts
The Institute for the Musical Arts, the Goshen organization dedicated to supporting women in music, has a strong slate of spring performances booked for the Big Barn. Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares presents Sara Serpa/André Matos Duo with Dov Manski March 30; tickets are here. June Millington, the IMA co-founder and seriously great guitarist (who I've written about here, here and here), performs with Toshi Reagon May 18; tickets are here. Betsy Rose plays May 25 with the IMA student band Failed Perfection opening; tickets are here. Don't forget about the IMA's summer programs for girls and young women: there's more information here about this year's offerings.
Bridget Kearney Calls Security
Bridget Kearney has a connection to Western Mass. in the sense that she plays bass, sings and writes songs in Lake Street Dive, which started off on Signature Sounds. Also, the group's manager lives here. That's enough for me to post this video for her recent solo song "Security Camera," which has been stuck in my head for a solid week now. The tune puts a wistful spin on the idea that someone is always watching, and so maybe there's a record of those ephemeral, meaningful moments that used to end up lingering only in our memories. It's a surveillance-culture meet cute that's smart, heartbreaking and hooky as hell. Kearney's new solo album, Comeback Kid, is out April 12 on Keeled Scales.
Next week: We have a surprise from Hadley, plus, heavy jazz with Vimana.
To submit your music for coverage consideration, send a note to erdanton at gmail or reply to this email. Check out these guidelines first. You can find previous issues of Freak Scene in the archive. (Freak Scene is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.)