#western ma

[dustedmagazine]

bobbie — Lessons (Orindal)

bobbie’s songs coalesce out of stardust, bright pinpoints of synth sound twinkling against a velvety dark backing of narcotic vocals, guitar strums and the steady thump of drums. The songwriter, bobbie shuster, breathes soft phrases into the mic, their voice quickly swallowed by an iridescent hum. The music soothes and envelopes. It is very calming and very beautiful.

bobbie comes from Northampton, MA, just down the road, part of that community’s freak-folk scene. They made one record before this one, 2003’s Rhododendron on locally based Flower Sounds. The song, “Rhododendron” turns up late in this second record’s sequencing, sounding notably more defined and emphatic than the rest of the material, with ricocheting snare shots and the burble of psych guitar. So, perhaps bobbie is letting the forms blur a little at this stage in their career, turning hazy songs into rapturous atmospherics, as on slow-dawning “I Could Call You,” with its trebly sparkle and tidal undercurrent of swelling sounds.

bobbie plays an Omnichord on these songs, a lesser-used instrument akin to a synthesized autoharp. The shimmer of folky autoharp transmutes itself into interstellar vibrations, giving bobbie’s music a lulling dream-pop sound. The artist’s partner in all this, engineer Felix Walworth of the band Florist, animates these effervescences with percussion. His drumming pushes even ephemeral cuts into slow, nodding motion.

And yet, there’s real pleasure to be had in watching these cuts take shape like pictures in the clouds, the swell of electronic sounds accumulating into melodies, then sputtering out like sparkler trails. The title track follows a clean, slumberous melody through magical forests of tone; the point is not so much the construction of the song as the entrancing spaces it moves through. 

Jennifer Kelly

[tarottchotchkes]

We always check out this beautiful tree - so helped by the black factory building behind it. It was a gray day - but the color still comes across in the photo.

[quirkymarshmallows93]

Chicopee sky at dusk a day apart (12/28 & 12/29, 2022)

[johnnytorresprowres]

The Warm-Up 1: Pro Wrestling GRIND “Overkill 2023″ - 2/24/2023

Mane Event (Jay Lyon & Midas Black) (5-2) vs Travis Huckabee & Mike Skyros (0-1) Mane Event Last 3: Violence Is Forever d. Mane Event - All We Are - 12/31/2022 Shook Crew d. Mane Event - Celebration Day - 10/28/2022 Mane Event d. Brick City Boys - Electric Crown - 9/30/2022 Skucks Last 3: Mike Skyros d. JD Drake - All We Are - 12/31/2022 Chaos Dragons d. Skucks (DQ) - Sinister Urge - 12/2/2022 Jay Freddie d. Travis Huckabee - Celebration Day - 10/28/2022 The Mane Event rattled off 5 straight victories across the first year of GRIND and sit at the top of the tower despite a two match losing streak to the Shook Crew and Violence Is Forever. They have the chance to right the ship against Mike Skyros & Travis Huckabee. We know both are formidable in their own right, we saw them go to the wire with the Chaos Dragons of Logan Black & Angelo Carter before Manders interrupted the proceedings. As the GRIND tag team ranks continue to form, will the Mane Event keep their perch at the top, or will Skyros & Huckabee skuck up the system? Delmi Exo (5-2) vs Brooke Valentine (0-1) Delmi Last 3: Emi Sakura d. Delmi Exo - All We Are - 12/31/2022 Delmi Exo d. Trish Adora - Celebration Day - 10/28/2022 Travis Huckabee d. Delmi Exo - Electric Crown - 9/30/2022 Brooke Last 1: Willow Nightingale d. Brooke Valentine - Come And Get It - 5/27/2022 Delmi Exo has been one of the standard bearers of the GRIND singles scene, sitting at #6 of the top 10 and victorious in 3 of her last 5.  In her last bout, she fell just short to Japanese legend Emi Sakura, but earned the respect of the veteran in the process.  Both Delmi and Brooke competed in parallel against different opponents at Come And Get It and now have the opportunity to lock horns.  Brooke chases both her first victory and a huge victory in her quest to topple a pillar of GRIND.  Which Queen will remain on the board when the smoke clears? Andy Brown (0-2) vs Danny Miles (0-0) Andy Last 2: Perry Von Vicious d. Andy Brown - Sinister Urge - 12/2/2022 Jay Freddie d. Andy Brown - Fear Of The Dark - 9/4/2022 Andy Brown quickly punched a return ticket to GRIND in a hellacious 30 min bout against the  now-champion Jay Freddie at Fear Of The Dark.  After stepping to Perry Von Vicious and taking the worst ride of his life (his words), he now gets to welcome the dangerous and decorated Danny Miles to the Emerald Ring.  Miles has over 15 years of international professional wrestling experience as well as a wealth of BJJ experience that will serve him greatly in the world of GRIND.  Will the granite hands and incredible speed/power mix of Andy Brown topple the battle-tested Dreamcrusher or will Danny Miles take his first step in going the distance in GRIND? Perry Von Vicious (6-6) vs. Ryan Galeone (0-1) Perry Last 3: Perry Von Vicious d. WARHORSE - All We Are - 12/31/2022 Perry Von Vicious d. Andy Brown - Sinister Urge - 12/2/2022 Rip Byson d. Perry Von Vicious, Logan Black, O’Shay Edwards - Celebration Day - 10/28/2022 Galeone Last 1: Logan Black d. Ryan Galeone - Overkill - 1/21/2022 After a series of hot and cold streaks in GRIND, Perry Von Vicious appears to have found his footing, notching victories in his last 2 bouts.  That footing will be valuable, it will be needed, because Ryan Galeone has had the last year to think about his debut loss at the first Overkill event to Logan Black.  With a three win streak, Perry could find himself in the Grand Championship conversation.  Subsequently, Ryan Galeone could find himself more frequently in Pro Wrestling GRIND if he is able to take down the Human Monster Truck.  In a true heavyweight clash, which of these masterful monsters will fall first? Rip Byson (7-3-1) vs ZPB (0-1) Rip Last 3: Gary Jay d. Rip Byson - All We Are - 12/31/2022 Jay Freddie d. Rip Byson - Sinister Urge - 12/2/2022 Rip Byson d. Perry Von Vicious, Logan Black, O’Shay Edwards - Celebration Day - 10/28/2022 ZPB Last 1: BEEF d. ZPB - Celebration Day - 10/28/2022 A decorated tag team, a storied rivalry, it was just a matter of when these paths would cross.  In another life, Rip Byson & ZPB were multi-time Tag Team Champions.  They’ve also fought all across the Northeast corridor.  Now, the ZPByson story comes to GRIND.  ZPB has been clawing his way back into the picture since returning to the states, stepping to BEEF on short-notice at Celebration Day, a bout that caught the eye of Ripper.  Ripper finds himself in a rebuilding stage and a return to the Pulaski may just be what the doctor ordered for Rip, but few know Rip better than ZPB inside the ring.  Which of these warriors will emerge the victor in this Aristoclash? Ryan Mooney (5-4) vs Ichiban (0-0) Mooney Last 3: Anthony Henry d. Ryan Mooney - All We Are - 12/31/2022 Ryan Mooney d. Kevin Blackwood - Sinister Urge - 12/2/2022 Jay Freddie d. Ryan Mooney - Electric Crown - 9/30/2022 Ryan Mooney showed in September that he was ready for a step up in competition, defeating Alec Price and Rip Byson in the Emerald 12 before falling short in the semifinals to Jay Freddie.  He was tested in December by two of the best kickboxers in professional wrestling and split the difference, defeating Kevin Blackwood and getting blown out by Anthony Henry.  Mooney now steps to the debuting Ichiban, who he will see a lot of this weekend, as they collide the following day at Blitzkrieg Pro on opposite sides in trios action.  Will Ryan Mooney get back on the winning trail or will Ichiban notch win #1? Jay Freddie (10-1) vs Bryan Keith (0-0) Jay Last 3: Jay Freddie d. O’Shay Edwards - All We Are - 12/31/2022 (V2) Jay Freddie d. Rip Byson - Sinister Urge - 12/2/2022 (V1) Jay Freddie d. Travis Huckabee - Celebration Day - 10/28/2022 (Grand Championship) Since debuting with a loss at You Better Run to Rip Byson, Jay Freddie has been untouchable in Pro Wrestling GRIND.  10 straight victories, 2 successful Grand Championship defenses, the inaugural Emerald 12 winner, Jay Freddie is the man in GRIND and there’s no denying it.  But Jay finds himself in unfamiliar waters, as he faces the debuting “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith for his 3rd championship defense attempt.  Bryan Keith has been riding a rocket to the moon over the past year, multiple big debuts and multiple big victories across the country.  And now in the Emerald Ring, Bryan Keith has the chance to do the unprecedented, to break the ungodly 10 match streak and end the Grand reign of Blue Thunder on his first night in GRIND.  It will require the perfect calibration and the perfect shot.  Will Bryan Keith’s aim be true or is Blue Thunder roaring his way to V3?

[johnthestitcher]

STORM!

After 3 days of 90+ temperatures, a storm blew through western MA and the temp dropped 20 degrees!

[petalsf0rarmor]

do you live in new england? let's be friends! like this post 💓

[a-moody-cutie]

honestly need more friends in the western MA area. I just want to do cute shit and get drinks and make connections with new people. it’s super difficult when you have opposite schedules of everyone you’re close with.

[tchotchkesandwhatnot]

Summer mornings in Hadleytown.