Boston’s Digital Awareness is crafting live concert effects

“Our goal is for people to think that the band and the visual are a homogenous package — you would think that the band and the visual go together at every single show,” says Harley Spring, one of Digital Awareness’s four members.

Get Starting Point

A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Since forming in 2021, Digital Awareness has transformed from a novelty of the Greater Boston music scene to a key component of it, splashing color across venues like the Lizard Lounge, Crystal Ballroom, the Sinclair, and the Paradise Rock Club. (Though you’re most likely to find the team experimenting at the 4th Wall in Arlington, an after-hours performance space located within the Capitol Theatre). This Saturday, Digital Awareness heads to Deep Cuts to curate visuals for a single release show by Boston shoegaze group Paper Lady, who are on the precipice of sharing their new tune “Silt.”

What that unveiling will look like depends on which member of Digital Awareness is leading the experience at Deep Cuts. Just as every musician wields their flair onstage, the self-described “visualists” of Digital Awareness are artists in their own right, each with their own preferred techniques. Member Nate Scaringi, who is colorblind, tweaks elements like lighting and brightness to align with a performer’s energy level. Spring, on the other hand, aims to supersize the experience, asking “What would a fan in the back of the stadium want to see?”’

Some nights, the results resemble waves of static that cycle through the rainbow; at other events, the visuals mimic an abstract painting in flux, like an installation at a contemporary art museum. Every show is a delicate balance of adding depth without becoming a distraction to the audience or the musicians (some of whom wear sunglasses onstage).

“We try to remember that we aren’t the show — we’re a dimension of it,” explains Scaringi.

That dimension is quickly expanding. Spring is pursuing a business degree that will help Digital Awareness solidify its presence in Greater Boston, and the team has been reaching out to local venues about taking on a larger role in booking Digital Awareness shows, which would allow them to fully curate the bands on each bill. The opportunity would allow the team to curate show lineups and flaunt their vision on a more regular basis, further bridging the local music and visual arts communities.

“We want to be driving the ship for the night,” Spring concludes. “We’re at a point now where we can make that leap.”

GIG GUIDE

Hippo Campus find themselves smack dab between Boston University and Northeastern on Friday, as they bring their “Flood” tour to MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Across the street at the House of Blues, Boston-born funk group Lettuce visit their home turf on Saturday, while New York duo Phantogram wade through shadowy electronic rock from their album “Memory of a Day” on Monday.

On Friday, Rhode Island’s Roomful of Blues bring their 50-plus-year history and ever-evolving lineup to City Winery. R&B crooner Raheem DeVaughn shares his suave catalog at early and late shows on Saturday, while jazz singer-songwriter Jazzmeia Horn recreates the sauntering vocals of her record “Messages” at the winery on Monday.

Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis visits the Sinclair on Saturday to support his 2024 solo album “What Do We Do Now”; the show was originally scheduled for last November, but was postponed due to unspecified health issues. Another notable frontperson, CHVRCHES’s electro-pop leader Lauren Mayberry, flaunts her fiery solo debut “Vicious Creature” on Tuesday at Royale.

Blues giant Shemekia Copeland brings her legendary vocal prowess to the Center for Arts in Natick on Saturday. The New York artist’s 2024 record “Blame It On Eve” earned three Grammy nominations in various American roots and contemporary blues categories last weekend, highlighting the breadth — and impact — of her sound.

Celebrity Series of Boston hosts the tenth anniversary of their Stave Sessions at Crystal Ballroom throughout the week, starting with ethereal vocalist Courtney Swain on Tuesday and an appearance from string quartet Owls on Wednesday. Acclaimed cellist Seth Parker Woods continues the festivities on Thursday, while graceful New York brass quartet the Westerlies complete the annual sessions next Friday.

TD Garden hosts its first concert of the year on Thursday when Tennessee singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini brings her October record “PATTERNS” to the arena. Ballerini’s currently expanding her fan base outside of country music via the current season of “The Voice,” where she serves as a judge alongside John Legend, Maroon 5 vocalist Adam Levine, and Michael Bublé.

Jordana’s poppy number “We Get By” receives an orchestral makeover, courtesy of Calvin Brown and The Gold Tone String Quartet. SPANG

NOW SPINNING

Jordana with Calvin Brown and the Gold Tone String Quartet, “We Get By.” This poppy cut from Jordana’s 2024 album “Lively Premonition” receives an orchestral makeover, courtesy of Calvin Brown and the Gold Tone String Quartet. The live recording with the Virginia-based ensemble maintains the airy cadence of the original version, yet offers Jordana’s vocals a sturdier springboard for soaring over the new arrangements.

Connecticut singer-songwriter Frank Viele blends folk, blues, and pockets of revved-up rock on his new album “The Trouble With Desire”. Donato Biceglia

Frank Viele, “The Trouble With Desire.” “These dark days, they’ll expire,” Frank Viele assures listeners on “I’m Not Scared of the Thunder,” a downtempo but defiant standout from Viele’s new album. “The Trouble With Desire” kneads the Connecticut artist’s smoky vocals into his natural blend of folk and blues, while leaving room for pockets of revved-up rock like “Lofi Goodbye.”

Waxahatchee’s twang touches down immediately on “Mud,” an outtake from her most recent record, “Tigers Blood”. Kevin Morby

Waxahatchee, “Mud.” Waxahatchee’s twang touches down immediately on “Mud,” an outtake from her most recent record, “Tigers Blood.” Missouri artist Katie Crutchfield slings her attitude against a backdrop of banjo, walking the line between assertive and self-effacing on this hooky Americana ditty.

BONUS TRACK

Whether you loved Sabrina Carpenter’s single “Espresso” or can’t stomach caffeine because of its ubiquity, it’s due time to recognize the songwriter who helped serve up the pop megahit. Amy Allen, the Maine-raised graduate of Berklee College of Music who co-wrote “Espresso,” took home the Grammy Award for “Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical” last weekend. Allen’s other songwriting credits span work with superstars like Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, and Selena Gomez.

Victoria Wasylak can be reached at vmwasylak@gmail.com. Follow her on X @VickiWasylak.

[ad_1]

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}

[ad_2]