Todd Barry is pretty amazing. Just how amazing is something the comedian will gladly share in his standup act, via Twitter or on his new podcast, “The Todd Barry Podcast.” But his is a wryly charming and often self-deprecating brand of low-key, facetious megalomania. ... Read more

There is no official tally of standup comedians in Vermont. But there are a lot of them cracking up audiences around the Green Mountains. For proof, consider that roughly 100 comics — in addition to 20 or so improv comedians — will perform at the 2013 Green Mountain Comedy Festival, which runs from Wednesday, May 22, through Sunday, May 26, at venues in Burlington, Vergennes and Montpelier. ... Read more

If you skipped last weekend’s Waking Windows III festival in Winooski, you missed what might have been the coolest live-music event of the year in Vermont. Sure, Discover Jazz is exponentially bigger, boasts more star power and caters to a wider audience. And the Precipice, with a full year to plan — as opposed to, like, three weeks for its inaugural run last year — will similarly showcase great local acts and foster warm and fuzzy community spirit. Grace Potter’s Grand Point North is quickly becoming a blowout end-of-summer tradition, too. ... Read more

Have you bought your Waking Windows III buttons yet? If not, what gives? They’re $20 and get you into every show of the indie-rock hootenanny this weekend in Winooski. That’s like, 50 cents a band. You can’t afford not to buy one, really. (Note to WWIII organizers: You can make checks payable to Dan Bolles, that’s b-o-l-l-e-s.) ... Read more

(Self-released, CD, digital download)

Of all the many splendored offshoots of punk rock, pop punk and its moody cousin, emo, are typically its most confessional. In the case of the latter particularly, it’s practically the entire point of the genre — as if heartache, injustice and pain came into existence only when some disillusioned teenagers started fucking around with power chords in between bouts of drying their mascara-clad eyes with Hot Topic T-shirts. But I digress.... Read more

(Self-released, CD, digital download)

“Biography,” the first song on her new EP, Meaty Hooks, tells you everything you need to know about Burlington’s Nuda Veritas. Almost. “Let me tell you ’bout me / I’m a fan of originality,” she sings in the first stanza, backed by a chorus of bright, a cappella chirps and mouth clicks. She continues, cooing, “Avant-garde is my thing. / Fuckin’ weird is my specialty.”... Read more

Anaïs Mitchell is sitting cross-legged on the rolling lawn of her parents’ rural home in Vergennes, where she has spent the morning harvesting dandelions to make wine. Hip, multicolored Wayfarer sunglasses shield her eyes from the brilliant midday sun. She’s clad in shorts and a tank top that curves over a modest baby bump — she’s due to have her first child with husband Noah Hahn in late July. ... Read more

When it comes to the 2013 Higher Ground Comedy Battle, the old phrase “better late than never” comes to mind. Traditionally, the local standup comedy contest takes place in January. But due to some, let’s say, rumored weirdness surrounding this year’s battle that we won’t get into, the date was pushed back to this coming Sunday, May 5.

Whatever. It’s on. And if the trend from the last few years holds, it is going to be excellent yet again. ... Read more

(Self-released, CD, LP, digital download)... Read more

(Self-released, digital download)... Read more