Karmin, Rural Electric, Bluebird (the movie), etc

 

Man, could Karmin be any cuter? Possibly, but that would enter a level of cuteness heretofore unheard of by humankind. So the about-to-explode pop duo, featuring the Nebraskan Amy Heidemann and the Old Town native Nick Noonan, are taking a huge step next month — not only is their new album coming out, but on February 11 they’ll be the  musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Yes, Karmin is going to be on SNL. With Zooey Deschanel. Old Town High School, you’ve certainly got someone to be proud of.

In other, more strictly local news, the Waldo County indie rockers Rural Electric have finally put out a follow up to their wonderful 2007 album, “The Road To Hell Is Paved.” The new album, “Fess Point,” is a louder, slightly less twangy affair, with driving guitars and piano in place of the jangly, R.E.M.-like sound of the first. Lead songwriter and singer Alan Gibson’s vocals are reminiscent of Ira Kaplan from Yo La Tengo, and sometimes, in places, Bob Pollard of Guided by Voices. It was recorded right in Searsmont, Maine, and it’s a clean, crisp sounding effort. For as low of a profile as this band keeps around the state, it’s a shame that Gibson’s songs aren’t heard by a larger audience – fans of everyone from Billy Bragg and Paul Simon to Sonic Youth and, yes, Yo La Tengo and R.E.M. would do well to seek out this album. You can buy a copy Saturday night, in fact, when Rural Electric plays a CD release party with Maine-via-Boston band Ponies in the Surf, set for 7 p.m. at the Aarhus Gallery on Main Street.

And finally, I’m sorry that I didn’t get this in sooner, but I heard about it just as it was too late to get it in ahead of time. Last weekend, auditions were held at the University of Maine in Orono for a new movie, titled “Bluebird.”  It’s set to be produced, written and directed by Kennebunkport native Lance Edmands and Kyle Martin, two of the people behind the Sundance Film Festival hit “Tiny Furniture.” Shooting is expected to begin in the next two months, in and around Millinocket, and the description on the Facebook page reads as follows: “In the frozen woods of an isolated Maine logging town, one woman’s tragic mistake shatters the balance of the community, resulting in profound and unexpected consequences.” Ooh! Exciting! If the turnout for last weekend’s audition was any indication, the film will be full of Mainers. I’ll keep you updated with more information, as it comes around.

Emily Burnham

About Emily Burnham

Emily Burnham is a Maine native, UMaine graduate, proud Bangorian and a writer for the Bangor Daily News, where she's worked since 2004. She reports on everything from local bands to local food to all the cool things going on in the Greater Bangor area. In her quest for stories, she's seen countless concerts and plays, been lobster fishing, interviewed celebrities, hung out with water buffalo and played in a ukulele orchestra. She's interested in everything that happens in Maine.