Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1174142
by Jay Psaros NEW MUSIC FROM INDUSTRY VETERANS 54 Greetings, music lovers! Jay Psaros here and welcome to the 2019 Fall edition of "The Beat," where we write about all things music on Boston's best shore, the South Shore! I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer season. Although the long sunny days spent beachside may be falling behind us, the cooler air is quickly bringing in a great Fall music season. With Fall, comes a re-birth; a time of reflection and rest, which gently sets the stage for new beginnings and forward movement. In this edition, I will be sharing a couple of acts who are doing just that. They are setting the stage and laying the ground work for new material to be released in the coming months. I will also be talking about a very special music program that caters to the musical student within, both young and old. First up, I'd like to talk about the band Blacktop Strut. A five-piece based out of Hanson and Pembroke, Blacktop Strut consists of members Meghan Donofrio (vocals), Erin MacKenzie (vocals), Dylan O'Neil (guitar), Brendan Craig (drums) and bass duties being shared between Alex Clegg and Dan Smith. I caught up with Meghan over the phone recently and she shared her excitement about what's in store. The band currently has six songs all ready to go, with another six or so on the way. Their hope is to release an album within the year. I had the pleasure to preview two of their original tunes, "Save the World" and "All Out." In their song "Save the World," Blacktop Strut blends rock and R&B with pop sensibilities. Meghan's voice soars above a groovy band, complimented nicely by Erin's tight harmonies. As the song struts on, the band finds themselves taking the reins as they merge into a heavy extended bridge which dips into some prog-rock and even some metal influences. Their next single "All Out," starts out with some tasty slide guitar, perhaps showing a touch of Southern Rock influence. When the drums and guitar riffs kick in with the vocals, I can't help but think of Black Sabbath meets Alabama Shakes with a touch of Adele. As Meghan and Erin sing "I've been there before, I won't do it again, I'm all out," one can easily picture themselves speeding away in an old- school muscle car with no intention of returning to the scene of the crime. Filled with attitude, grit and soul, Blacktop Strut is on their way to making a great record sure to get your engine started. Catch them October 18th at The New World Tavern in Plymouth and get familiar with their sound at the Blacktop Strut Soundcloud page! Next I'd like to talk about Hull's Lindsey Buck (and The Lindsey Buck Band.) It wasn't until recently that I began hearing about Lindsey Buck but what impresses me is the honest and genuine vibe that comes through in her music. Some recordings make it very clear in regards to what a musician will sound like in a live environment. Lindsey and her band have done just that: paint an honest portrait of their sound, vision and vibe. Lindsey and her band have been releasing a single every couple of months since January of last year. Their latest single "Wild and Free" is delightfully DIY. Self recorded by her and the band, "Wild and Free" is a feel good summer tune filled with a pleasantly rebellious spirit; gentle and carefree. The video that accompanies the song is as fun and carefree as the song itself. This attitude, so clear in the recordings, is largely by design. Lindsey's generous and inclusive spirit is very evident in the way she presents herself. She was very eager to "give credit where credit is due," talking more about her wonderful band than herself. Her wonderful band includes local guitar slinger Danny Coyle, drummer Donald Forrest Williams and bassist Mitch Hanley. Although Lindsey often