I got a package recently from Wind-up Records that included what I thought was going to be this week’s review — Finger Eleven’s “Us VS Then VS Now” (a CD/DVD new release which will be covered in the weeks ahead, I promise). But I was thrown a huge curve when I found two burned internal-use-only CDs of upcoming albums, Tickle Me Pink’s “Madeline” and Thriving Ivory’s self-titled debut, which came out on this past Tuesday. Just out of curiosity I threw Thriving Ivory into the computer and that’s when my jaw dropped, and I forgot about Finger Eleven.

Check out Thriving Ivory here
LUCKY'S CD REVIEW

When I last interviewed Ms. Minogue before her Winter Solstice show in Waterville, she spoke about this particular CD—“Celtic Pilgrimage” (Sounds True Records)—but I only recently received it in the mail.

I write my stories on Sunday morning early (so today is Father’s Day) and decided to take a break from the rock and pop that I usually cover to chat a bit about this spiritual, yet spirited, release that features her beautiful harp work as well as one of the sweetest, purest soprano voices out there now.

Sample Minogue here.
ON MUSIC

"Whenever we come to Maine it's an adventure. My very first gig, when I played at Bates when I was 18, I ended up ice climbing at 4 o’clock in the morning. For some reason, Maine brings out the adventurer in us!"

So said Grace Potter, keyboardist/guitarist and lead vocalist for the rock group known as Grace Potter and The Nocturnals. That group will be playing at the Skowhegan Opera House on June 27 with The Brew as opening act.

Potter was calling from her home in Waitsfield, Vt., and expressed genuine excitement about heading to the central Maine town that was the site of the "Empire Falls" movie with Paul Newman.

"This is so cool,” she said, "and it's going to be really fun — I've never been to the Opera House there but opera houses are always fun. We make the balconies shake a little, but other than that, it's going to be fun!"

Sample Grace Potter here.

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