bradley's almanac - a boston music blog

boston area shows of note:

thursday, august 21st

yndi halda

caspian

irepress

@ tt the bears

friday, august 22nd

varsity drag

lump

charcoal lavage

jake and the jakes

@ o'briens

friday, august 22nd

obits (ex-hot snakes/rftc)

viva viva

dead cats dead rats

sunday morning music

@ the middle east

saturday, august 23rd

the soft drugs

higgins

the toothaches

drama queens

@ pa's lounge

saturday, august 23rd

amo joy!

franklin bruno

(from nothing painted blue)

one happy island (ep release!)

@ the lily pad

saturday, august 23rd

newbury comics / unnatural axe

30th anniversary bash

the meatmen, queers, nasties,

unnatural axe, sleazies

@ the middle east down

sunday, august 24th

don cabellero

ponytail

irepress

@ harper's ferry

tuesday, august 26th

the final installment of...

neil cleary's 'doozy'

a guest-packed august residency

@ the lizard lounge

wednesday, august 27th

liz phair performing

'exile in guyville'

@ the paradise

wednesday, august 27th

xiu xiu

prurient

@ the paradise

friday, august 29th

liz phair performs

'exile in guyville'

@ the paradise

monday, september 1st

the juan maclean

@ the middle east downstairs

wednesday, september 3rd

ryan's smashing life presents...

justice of the unicorns

tigers & monkeys

spanish armada

wild business

@ the middle east

friday, september 5th

silver jews

hallelujah the hills

who shot hollywood

@ the middle east downstairs

saturday, september 6th

my morning jacket

@ the bank of america pavilion

saturday, september 6th

matt pryor (get up kids)

kevin devine

mike fiore (faces on film)

@ harper's ferry

sunday, september 7th

ryan adams & the cardinals

@ the bank of america pavilion

tuesday, september 9th

paul weller

@ the berklee performance center

friday, september 12th

mission of burma

in-store performance

7pm @ newbury comics, newbury st.

friday, september 12th

buffalo tom

as part of the boston arts festival

@ christopher columbus park

saturday, september 13th

wfnx disorientation 2008

the kooks, flogging molly,

alkaline trio, rogue wave,

and more to be announced

@ bank of america pavilion

sunday, september 14th

lymbyc systym

this will destroy you

arms and sleepers

@ harper's ferry

monday, september 15th

lagwagon, mxpx,

only crime, & tat

@ harper's ferry

monday, september 15th

sunset rubdown

@ the middle east

monday, september 15th

james

@ the paradise

tuesday, september 16th

a place to bury strangers

@ the paradise

thursday, september 18th

the walkmen

@ the middle east downstairs

friday, september 19th

sigur ros

@ the bank of america pavilion

friday, september 19th to

sunday, september 21st

all tomorrow's parties

with my bloody valentine, low

built to spill, mogwai, shellac,

polvo, yo la tengo, lilys, autolux

dinosaur jr, mercury rev, & more

@ the catskills in nyc

saturday, september 20th

mike viola (solo)

(1st of 3 weekly residencies)

with guest blue and their

band, the major labels

@ the lizard lounge

saturday, september 20th

noah & the whale

@ toad

sunday, september 21st

the low lows

magic magic

ryan lee crosby

@ tt the bears

monday, september 22nd

the broken west

@ the middle east

monday, september 22nd

oxford collapse

love as laughter

takka takka

@ tt the bears

monday, september 22nd

mogwai

fuck buttons

@ the wilbur theatre

tuesday, september 23rd

writer dennis lehane

(release day for 'the given day')

@ the coolidge corner theatre

tuesday, september 23rd

weezer

angels & airwaves

tokyo police club

@ the tsongas arena

tuesday, september 23rd

cut copy

the presets

@ the paradise

wednesday, september 24th

joan as policewoman

@ the middle east

wednesday, september 24th

low

tulsa

@ the museum of fine arts boston

saturday, september 27th

mike viola (solo)

(2nd of 3 weekly residencies)

@ the lizard lounge

saturday, september 27th

built to spill

performing 'perfect from now on'

dinosaur jr.

meat puppets

@ the orpheum

sunday, september 28th

the bird and the bee

willoughby

@ great scott

sunday and monday

september 28th and 29th

ratatat

@ the paradise

thursday, september 30th

boston spaceships

(gbv's robert pollard)

big dipper

@ the paradise

thursday, september 30th

say hi

jukebox the ghost

@ the middle east

thursday & friday

october 2nd & 3rd

baltimore round robin

29 bands playing in a circle,

non-stop, one song at a time,

with you in the very center

with dan deacon, beach house,

creepers, the death set, adventure,

and everyone listed here

@ mass art

friday, october 3rd

death cab for cutie

@ agganis arena

friday, october 3rd

the fratellis

airborne toxic event

electric touch

@ the orpheum

saturday, october 4th

mike viola @ friends

(3rd of 3 weekly residencies)

@ the lizard lounge

sunday, october 5th

old 97s

@ the wilbur theatre

sunday, october 5th

pinback

@ the paradise

monday, october 6th

the wedding present

the jealous girlfriends

@ the middle east downstairs

monday, october 6th

fleet foxes

@ the somerville theatre

monday, october 6th

stereolab

monade

@ the paradise

tuesday, october 7th

liam finn

the veils

@ the paradise

wednesday, october 8th

wire

@ the middle east downstairs

thursday, october 9th

chuck ragan (of hot water music)

ben nichols (of lucero)

tim barry (of avail)

with guest jesse malin

@ the middle east

saturday, october 11th

the feelies

@ the roxy

sunday, october 12th

the residents

@ showcase live, foxboro

sunday, october 12th

the notwist

@ the roxy

sunday, october 12th

jamie lidell

@ the paradise

sunday, october 12th

against me!

ted leo & the pharmacists

the future of the left

@ the wilbur theatre

monday, october 13th

tv on the radio

the dirtbombs

@ the wilbur theatre

tuesday, october 14th

cold war kids

@ the paradise

thursday, october 16th

ben kweller

whitley

@ the paradise

thursday, october 16th

jonatha brooke

glen phillips

(from toad the wet sprocket)

@ the wilbur theatre

friday, october 17th

hallelujah the hills

wonderful spells

capstan shafts

@ tt the bears

friday, october 17th

jonathan richman

with drummer tommy larkin

@ the somerville theatre

saturday, october 18th

ra ra riot

walter meego

the morning benders

@ the middle east

sunday, october 19th

the spinto band

frightened rabbit

@ the middle east

monday, october 20th

magnetic morning

(adam swervedriver & sam interpol)

julie ocean

springhouse (w/jack rabid)

@ great scott

tuesday, october 21st

minus the bear

annuals

sylvie

@ the wilbur theatre

tuesday & wednesday

october 21st & 22nd

billy bragg

@ the somerville theatre

wednesday, october 22nd

yeasayer

@ the paradise

wednesday, october 22nd

lyle lovett & john hiatt

(acoustic, on stage together)

@ the orpheum

thursday, october 23rd

lykke li

@ the paradise

thursday, october 23rd

deerhoof

experimental dental school

@ the middle east down

friday, october 24th

fujiya & miyagi

@ the paradise

sunday, october 26th

broken social scene

land of talk

@ the wilbur theatre

monday, october 27th

matthew sweet

@ the paradise

wednesday, october 29th

legendary pink dots

@ the middle east down

thursday, october 30th

of montreal

@ the orpheum

friday, october 31st

the rumble strips

birdmonster

@ tt the bears

friday, october 31st

david byrne

performing the songs of byrne & eno

@ the wang center

saturday, november 1st

henry rollins (spoken word)

@ the orpheum

monday, november 3rd

coldplay

@ the td banknorth garden

sunday, november 9th

the hold steady

drive-by truckers

@ the orpheum

tuesday, november 11th

deerhunter

times new viking

the vivian girls

@ the paradise

wedneseday, november 12th

kings of leon

we are scientists

the whigs

@ the orpheum

tuesday, november 18th

m83

school of seven bells

@ the middle east down

thursday, november 20th

bishop allen

@ the middle east

saturday, december 13th

neil young

wilco

@ the dcu center, worcester

visit tourfilter for more shows

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

So Tonight, It Begins...

I make no predictions, I have no expectations. Us Red Sox fans may be made from sturdy stuff, but let's hope we don't have to find out exactly how tough we are. Oh, my achin' haaaht!

(beware, children, there be swearin' ahead!)

Caught Team America this past Saturday, and it is by far the funniest film of the year. I swear, my stomach still hurts from laughing constantly throughout. Takes no prisoners (hell, it just blows 'em up), crosses every line, the jokes go from low-brow to high-brow, from vomit-launching to veiled social commentary, and back again. And the swearing. Oh, the glorious, unrestricted cussin'. I laughed every time they said "Cockbag!". I'm so easy!

This movie could only have been made with marionettes, even using some of their inherant limitations to poke fun at itself. While it takes aim at all sides of the "America as World Police" argument, and also skewers every action film cliche it can, it is particularly brutal to outspoken Hollywood celebrities. Sean Penn, Matt Damon, Helen Hunt (?), Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Samuel L. Jackson (?!), George Clooney, Danny Glover, Janeane Garofalo, Martin Sheen, Michael Moore (natch), and especially Alec Baldwin are trashed and torn apart (some literally).

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have always found easy, generally deserving targets in South Park (Phil Collins, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Mel Gibson, etc.), but this time around their attacks seem so far over the top that the over-sensitive might bristle at a perceived imbalance. Admittedly, I felt a little of this... the targeting of the so-called left is more pointed and far more obvious than the overall criticism of over-enthusiastic flag-wavers and right-wing hawks. In the end, though, it doesn't matter... it's all just funny as hell, no matter which side you fall on. Both sides could find something about Team America that supports their beliefs... and they'd both be wrong. Or right. They'd also be talking about a marionette movie, so they'd sound pretty silly if they tried.

And the music... oh, man. Genius. Hysterical new songs, and the ressurection of my favorite song from the South Park series. Not gonna blow the surprise, just go see it. I double-dog dare ya not to laugh. A lot.

"Freedom isn't free! No, there's a hefty fuckin' fee!"

Speaking of T.A., and Mr. Sean Penn, you've probably read his unfortunate letter to Matt & Trey in response to their recent statements about voting (that there's "no shame in not voting ... if you don't know what you're talking about."). Here's part of what he had to say to them...

"I do mind when anybody who doesn't have a child, doesn't have a child at war, or isn't or won't be in harm's way themselves, is encouraging that there's "no shame in not voting" "if you don't know what you're talking about" (Mr. Stone) without mentioning the shame of not knowing what your talking about, and encouraging people to know. You guys are talented young guys but alas, primarily young guys. It's all well to joke about me or whomever you choose. Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world. The vote matters to them. No one's ignorance, indcluding a couple of hip cross-dressers, is an excuse.

All best, and a sincere fuck you,

Sean Penn."

Now, I can understand where Penn is coming from, but his poor choice of words, and even poorer timing (as a target in Team America, it can only appear that he can't take a joke, and maybe he can't) come off as knee-jerk and just plain silly. If anything, it helps Parker & Stone prove one of the points (if there really are any) of the film. You'll know what I mean.

They responded to Penn in Salon yesterday...

According to Stone, "when you read it, the letter comes from such a high place of arrogance, you know, [deep, serious voice] 'You guys are young guys! If you don't have children, you can't say anything about anything!' And the whole voting thing. All we ever said was that we thought that uninformed people should not vote -- on either side of the political spectrum. It doesn't matter who you're gonna vote for. If you really don't know who you're gonna vote for, or are uninformed, or haven't really thought about it? Just stay home. Don't let people fucking shame you into going to the polls."

They're wrong, though... if you don't know who you're gonna vote for, are uninformed, or haven't really thought about it? Well, don't just stay home... how hard is it to spend a couple hours surfing the web, visiting both candidates' sites, their supporters, hell, just talking to your friends. Ignorance isn't an excuse, at least not this time around. In any other election, the differences between the two major party candidates might be small enough that abstaining makes a strange sort of sense, or that voting for a third party like Nader seems a wise statement. Not anymore. The political gulf is too wide, the basic beliefs too different. A side needs to be chosen.

Speaking of which, the documentary on John Kerry's time in Vietnam, and the aftermath in which he protested, called Going Upriver, is available as a completely free download. Here's a direct link to a torrent file if this site's link proves too slow. I've grabbed it at home and plan on watching this week... I've heard only great things.

So not only did George Bush's hometown paper, deep in the heart of Texas, decide to endorse John Kerry this time around, but they're standing strong under a barrage of whiny Republican letters and death threats. Their stance is inspiring, as are the letters of support amongst the negativity.

Huge gearshift here...

Really, really psyched to read that the Cure will be reissuing their first album, Three Imaginary Boys with lots of extra tracks, and even a few I didn't know existed, on December 9th. It's never been released in the U.S., and my vinyl copy melted in the "big burn of '92", so I'll be glad to have it back with bonuses. From Bitchfork, the tracklist...

Disc 1: Three Imaginary Boys
01 10:15 Saturday Night
02 Accuracy
03 Grinding Halt
04 Another Day
05 Object
06 Subway Song
07 Foxy Lady
08 Meathook
09 So What
10 Fire in Cairo
11 It's Not You
12 Three Imaginary Boys
13 The Weedy Burton

Disc 2: Rarities 1977-1979
01 I Want to Be Old (demo - previously unreleased)
02 I'm Cold (demo - previously unreleased)
03 Heroin Face (live)
04 I Just Need Myself (demo - previously unreleased)
05 10:15 Saturday Night (demo - previously unreleased)
06 The Cocktail Party (demo - previously unreleased)
07 Grinding Halt (demo - previously unreleased)
08 Boys Don't Cry (demo)
09 It's Not You (demo - previously unreleased)
10 10:15 Saturday Night (demo - previously unreleased)
11 Fire in Cairo (demo - previously unreleased)
12 Winter (studio outtake - previously unreleased)
13 Faded Smiles (studio outtake - previously unreleased)
14 Play With Me (studio outtake - previously unreleased)
15 World War
16 Boys Don't Cry
17 Jumping Someone Else's Train
18 Subway Song (live)
19 Accuracy (live - previously unreleased)
20 10:15 Saturday Night (live - previously unreleased)

Wow. I can only hope the future reissues, like 1982's Pornography, contain half that much treasure.

Gothamist talks to rockstar Ted Leo about NYC. A great little read. (thanks TRJ via CW)

Fans of good sci-fi, don't forget to set the TiVo: This coming Sunday brings the two-part Farscape mini-series that fans were hoping for. Titled "The Peacekeeper Wars", it promises to wrap up a bunch of loose ends (the biggest being the abrupt death/abduction of the two main characters), and will no doubt leave a few open for followups. I'm damn glad we get at least these four more hours with the characters. I found the Farscape bandwagon late, but devoured every episode (the great and even the not-so-good ones) furiously once I jumped on. Sunday is the two-hour first part (airing three times in a row, starting at 9 o'clock), and Monday is the two-hour conclusion.

One of my favorite Sealab 2021 episodes is "All That Jazz", in which Captain Murphy gets stuck under a soda machine and gets befriended/tortured by a scorpion. Well, someone went and wrote down every flavor of jazz-inspired cola available from the machine, including John Cola-trane, Dave Bruberry, and Fizzy Gillespie. Aces.

I heart Jessi Klein from VH1's Best Week Ever. Look, she blogged the presidental debate over on CNN.

X-Box Gamers rejoice: HALO 2 is finished. Done. Gone Gold. Shipping November 9th. Bring it.

If you're like me, you enjoy the magic that is a perfect piece of cheddar cheese. Well, here's my new favorite: Grafton Village Cheese, and it's from my own home state. You can find it in most Whole Foods stores, or in finer cheese shops... but order it direct, it's cheaper. MmmmMMM... cheeeese...

So, it's safe to say that I've got an interesting evening ahead of me... I somehow got invited to this. Two hours of free snacks and Johnnie Walker drinkin' after work. This promo-fest "features a guided whisky education led by a qualified Johnnie Walker Ambassador. You'll have the chance to sample some of the extraordinary single malts used in Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch, and learn everything you need to know about the exquisite blend." Whisky and I don't have much of a relationship, but maybe that's about to change. Edumacate me, oh J.W. Ambassador!

And whaddya know, when it wraps up at 8 o'clock, we'll conveniently already be in a South Boston sports bar (sorry... spohuuts baaahhh) for the first pitch in game one of the Sox vs. the Yanks. Yes, I know a Southie bar for such a big game may be a risky proposition, but I'm soooo up for it. Plus, won't have to drive anywhere after the free whisky action. Might as well get a buzz going before the stress settles in to stay for a week or so. The emotional scars of last year are still with me, and I'm not sure I'm ready to relive it. Everyone else can do their part and 'keep the faith'... me, I'll be over here in a fetal position, waiting for a big pin-striped anvil to drop. I know, I know... I'm weak, but I do so fear for my sanity...

posted by brad at 2:51 PM | direct link | rss (1 :2) | |

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