TALENT ALL OVER
Boston’s best name their Bust Out picks
Bust Out Boston!'s Celebration of Womxn in Boston Music, which runs Wednesday through Sept. 23 at the Burren, pulls together an astounding set of artists. How good is this lineup? The Herald has featured about a dozen of the acts playing the fest in the past year.
Obviously, we already have our favorites so we thought we would ask a few of the aces to let us know who they were looking forward to checking out. Here's some advice on who to see by some of the best musicians in Boston.
Destiny Claymore of Dark Matter
One half of the hip-hop duo Dark Matter, Claymore sings like an angel and raps like a Tasmanian devil. Start out with the pair's song “Misfit,” where Claymore spits out fast and furious rhymes over a dreamy beat.
Claymore on must-see acts Cruel Miracle and Oompa: “Dark Matter and Cruel Miracle have known each other for a while, as (former frontwoman) Sadie Vada is from Brockton too. I can't wait to hear what they sound like now. It's been forever and I love their sound. With Oompa, she's that dope rapper I hear about all the time. She has real skills.”
Carissa Johnson
Johnson writes songs somewhere between hardcore fury and tight, smart power pop. She's won everything you can in this town — Boston Music Awards, the Rock 'n' Roll Rumble — and deserves to win more.
Johnson on must-see act Melissa Ferrick: “I hope everyone sticks around for Melissa. The honesty and transparency in her lyrics are incredibly inspiring and uplifting. I've been impacted by her bravery as a writer and we've all been impacted by what she's stood up for regarding artist rights in the current music industry.”
Susan Cattaneo
What kind of songs to do you like? Rock? Folk? Country? Honky-tonk slow-core? No problem. Cattaneo can deliver any style you want (she's been teaching songwriting at Berklee for over a decade). Oh, she can also sing and lead a crack band.
Cattaneo on must-see act Lily Black Band: “If you like your punk music with great melodies and lyrics and a kickass frontwoman, you have to check out the Lily Black Band. They're a young, talented group, and it's been so exciting watching them come up in the music scene. Both Lily and Liam Barry, drummer and son of fabulous musician Mike Barry of Pooka Stew and Super Genius, are incoming freshmen at Berklee as well. I know they recently opened for the B-52s, and I can't wait to check out their set.”
Abbie Barrett
Barrett is an unsung Boston hero. Yes, she's well-known and has won awards. But it is time for her success to catch up with her talent. Her live show is a blast; her songwriting chops encompass bar band heaven, delicate folk and cool indie rock.
Barrett on must-see act Aubrey Haddard: “I'm really excited to check out Aubrey, whom I had never heard before. In putting together the Bust Out Boston Spotify playlist, I had the chance to listen to her song `Charley' — amazing voice and amazing guitar.”