New England Music News

Boston music news: May 4, 2007

Notes on Chris Mascara and Berklee's new internet radio presence

By JIM SULLIVAN | May 1, 2007

Chris Mascara

Chris Mascara has been thinking about musical genres and labeling, particularly as they pertain to himself and his band, MASCARA. The singer/guitarist and his mates were riding home from practice recently when drummer Matt Graber said, “I hate it when bands too readily label themselves.” Bassist Bo Barringer said he’s been calling Mascara “glam-prog.” Chris, a Boston Rock Opera vet, tells me he winced at that but then realized it was okay — if he could define the terms. He likes “the dramatic delivery and unabashed showmanship” of glam and the “Sonic Youth, Syd Barrett” side of prog. What other qualities does he favor? “A big rock canvas. Gritty, literate confessions. A distinctive guitar sound. A voice echoing Mercury and Buckley.” Mascara — band and man — have been lying low during the winter, but they’ll re-emerge to play the Abbey Lounge on May 17 with, he says, “a new line-up, new songs, and new battle scars.” Said scars include changes in Mascara’s line-up, an IRS audit, and Chris’s hospitalization for severe asthma. The plan is to get a few gigs under their collective belt and then hit the studio by mid summer, “while the material is still fresh for us.” Right now they’re shopping for a producer, an engineer, and a studio.

On April 30, BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC launched four non-commercial Internet radio stations at www.thebirn.com. There are more than 30 shows in every genre: music from alumni, Berklee concerts and lectures, and much more. It’s locally produced but worldwide in scope. Spokesman Nick Balkin is counting on Berklee’s large international student population and its “big presence internationally, in Japan, Europe, Latin America” to bring in a worldwide audience. . . . And local hard-rockers TILL WE DIE are releasing their full-length debut CD, Pressing On, June 19. They’ll celebrate with a CD-release gig at Avalon June 23 at 5 pm. Tim Koukos, the head of their label, Screaming Ferret Wreckords, likens them to early Godsmack.

On the Web
Chris Mascara: //www.mascaramusic.com/
Berklee College of Music: //www.berklee.edu
Berklee Internet Radio Network: //www.thebirn.com/

Email the author
Jim Sullivan: jimsullivanink@verizon.net

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