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Music Monday: Boston Strong

Editor’s Note: Please welcome Nate Fritts to the Lacrosse All Stars! After spending a lot of time with Nate on the Rhino Lacrosse Camp Tour a couple summers back, we quickly came to respect his passion for all things music and immediately knew he would be our man for Music Monday. Nate hales from Portland, Oregon, played at Bowdoin College (NESCAC) in Maine, and now resides in Boston, MA where he researches concussions and brain diseases when he’s not laxing.
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First and foremost, I cannot say how thankful I am for the incredible response by the members of law enforcement surrounding the Boston Marathon attack last week. I never thought that just days later, the people responsible would have been identified, located, and brought to justice. As I sat locked in my Cambridge apartment on Thursday night and Friday watching the manhunt unfold, I was genuinely astonished at the effort put forth by multiple law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, local residents, and so many others that ultimately allowed Boston to breathe a sigh of relief on Friday night. All that being said, I’ve been in need of some good feeling songs now that the worst has passed, and that’s what I’m bringing to you today. Boston Strong.

Olly Murs – “Dance With Me Tonight”

Nobody can forget the sixth season of X Factor, but just in case you did, let me reintroduce Olly Murs. This UK-born pop star is best known for his appearance on the show (in both the sixth and eighth seasons, if you were wondering) and the single “Heart Skips a Beat” featuring college rap star Chiddy Bang. “Dance With Me Tonight” comes off his last album release, Right Place Right Time (2012), and is exactly that feel-good tune I was describing. I can picture John Travolta and Uma Thurman kicking their shoes off and twisting away to this one right now. The music video slightly bothers me with Olly’s ‘I almost look like Matt Damon’ thing, but it’s worth it for the song.

Iron & Wine – “Grace For Saints and Ramblers”

Let me introduce another lesser-known artist, Iron & Wine. Led by singer/songwriter Samuel Beam out of South Carolina, Iron & Wine first caught my ear with their folkier songs “Boy With A Coin” and “Dearest Forsaken,” both of which are worth a listen and remind me of something in between The Lumineers and Fleet Foxes. “Grace For Saints and Ramblers” is one of the more upbeat tracks off of his brand new Ghost on Ghost (2013), Iron & Wine’s eighth album. Be sure to explore the rest of this album and The Shepherd’s Dog (2007) if you like the sound.