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thursday, september 2nd

lou barlow + the missingmen

wye oak

the unfamiliars

@ the middle east upstairs

saturday, september 4th

mg lederman (ex-victory at sea)

cd release show with

the wrong reasons

the beat awfuls

brant deatley

@ the plough & stars

sunday, september 5th

sweet apple

(w/j mascis on drums)

black helicopter

zombie radio

@ the middle east downstairs

sunday, september 5th

the milling gowns

what time is it, mr. fox?

faux ox

jaggery

@ harper's ferry

monday, september 6th

wallcreeper

@ charlie's kitchen

monday, september 6th

shellac

helen money

@ the middle east downstairs

tuesday, september 7th

tortoise

greg davis

ben vidas

@ the paradise

tuesday, september 7th

someone still loves you boris yeltsin

telekinesis

golden bloom

@ tt the bears

tuesday, september 7th

kele (from bloc party)

does it offend you, yeah?

@ the royale boston

wednesday, september 8th

hot hot heat

22-20s

hey rosetta!

@ the middle east downstairs

wednesday, september 8th

airborne toxic event (acoustic)

with the calder string quartet

@ the somerville theatre

thursday, september 9th

apple betty

this blue heaven

the backup factor

apollo run

@ tt the bears

friday, september 10th

i, pistol

black fortress of opium

the crushing low

@ precinct

friday, september 10th

the charlatans uk

sherlock's daughter

@ the royale boston

saturday, september 11th

school of seven bells

active child

@ the middle east downstairs

saturday, september 11th

neutral uke hotel (nmh covers on ukelele)

the michael j. epstein memorial library

@ cafe 939, berklee

saturday, september 11th

28 degrees taurus

magic shoppe (record release!)

@ the rosebud

saturday, september 11th

jamie lidell

@ the royale boston

friday + saturday

september 11th + 12th

the life is good festival

lots of bands, raising money for kids

over 2 days in canton, ma

sunday, september 12th

jarrod gorbel

(of the honorary title)

air traffic controller

@ great scott

sunday, september 12th

blondie

@ the house of blues

sunday, september 12th

vampire weekend

beach house

dum dum girls

@ the boa pavilion

monday, september 13th

dirty projectors

owen pallett (final fantasy)

@ the wilbur theatre

monday, september 13th

isobel campbell

mark lanegan

willy mason

@ the middle east downstairs

tuesday, september 14th

rush

@ the td garden

wednesday, september 15th

laura veirs + the hall of flames

the watson twins

led to sea

@ tt the bears

thursday, september 16th

of montreal

janelle monae

@ the house of blues boston

friday, september 17th

one happy island

kevin dunn

cotton candy

7:30pm @ the lily pad, cambridge

friday, september 17th

broken social scene

@ the house of blues

friday & saturday

september 17th & 18th

the 5th annual

viva la vinal festival!

with live performances from

audrey ryan, kingsley flood,

this blue heaven, bridget + the squares,

the international string trio, & justin shorey

6-10pm on friday + 12-9 on saturday

@ somerville community growing center

on vinal ave. in somerville's union square

saturday, september 18th

pavement

jenny (lewis) + johnny (rice)

@ agganis arena

saturday, september 18th

wavves

@ brandeis university, waltham

sunday, september 19th

thee oh sees

the human tail

thick shakes

@ the magic room gallery, brighton

sunday, september 19th

caribou

holy fuck

emeralds

@ the paradise

monday, september 20th

girlfriends

carnivores

weekend dads

@ o'brien's

tuesday, september 21st

superchunk

versus

@ royale boston

tuesday, september 21st

basia bulat

the acorn

john shade

@ tt the bears

tuesday, september 21st

sea wolf (alex acoustic)

sera cahoone

patrick park

@ the middle east upstairs

wednesday, september 22nd

phantogram

railbird

@ the paradise

wednesday, september 22nd

david bazan

the mynabirds

@ tt the bears

wednesday, september 22nd

field music

@ great scott

thursday, september 23rd

aloud (album release party!)

st. claire

old jack

with special emcee

poet/author james caroline

@ church of boston

thursday, september 23rd

stars

wild nothing

@ the house of blues

thursday, september 23rd

!!! (chk chk chk)

fol chen

@ the royale boston

thursday, september 23rd

bettie serveert

meandjoancollins

the painted lights

@ tt the bears

friday, september 24th

eels

@ the royale boston

saturday, september 25th

teenage fanclub

@ the royale boston

saturday, september 25th

james

ed harcourt

@ the paradise

sunday, september 26th

come (reunited!)

wussy

@ tt the bears

sunday, september 26th

mr. sister (debut album release!)

coyote kolb

tallahassee

@ great scott

sunday, september 26th

mates of state

@ the paradise

monday, september 27th

rogue wave

midlake

peter wolf crier

@ royale boston

tuesday, september 28th

lcd soundsystem

sleigh bells

@ the orpheum

tuesday, september 28th

best coast

male bonding

@ the middle east downstairs

wednesday, september 29th

quilt

paper castles

toothache

@ the lilypad

wednesday, september 29th

foals

esben + the witch

@ the paradise

thursday, september 30th

mc frontalot

@ tt the bears

thursday, september 30th

menomena

suckers

@ the royale boston

thursday + friday

sept 30th + oct 1st

built to spill

revolt revolt

pretty & nice

@ the paradise

friday, october 1st

the tallest man on earth

s. carey (of bon iver's band)

@ the somerville theatre

friday, october 1st

ra ra riot

chikita violenta

we barbarians

@ the royale boston

saturday, october 2nd

gayngs

(with bon iver's justin vernon)

glasser

@ the paradise

saturday, october 2nd

film school

the depreciation guild

static of the gods

night fruit

@ tt the bears

sunday, october 3rd

the xx

@ the orpheum

sunday, october 3rd

tom tom club

caravan of thieves

tony castles

@ the paradise

sunday, october 3rd

lost in the trees

@ tt the bears

tuesday, october 5th

the vaselines

jeffrey lewis

@ the paradise

tuesday, october 5th

chapterhouse

ulrich schnauss

@ the middle east downstairs

tuesday, october 5th

ratatat

dom

@ the house of blues boston

wednesday, october 6th

gorillaz

@ agganis arena

wednesday, october 6th

the hold steady

wintersleep

@ the royale boston

thursday, october 7th

the walkmen

a.a. bondy

blood feathers

@ the royale boston

friday, october 8th

death

@ the middle east downstairs

friday, october 8th

fountains of wayne

marshall crenshaw (solo)

@ the paradise

friday, october 8th

bell x1 (acoustic)

@ the brattle theatre

saturday, october 9th

paul f. tompkins

@ the brattle theatre

sunday, october 10th

deerhoof

xiu xiu

father murphy

first show @ the paramount!

sunday, october 10th

miike snow

@ the house of blues

sunday, october 10th

primus

mucca pazza

@ the orpheum

tuesday, october 12th

ingrid michaelson

@ the house of blues

wednesday, october 13th

dead kennedys

@ the paradise

thursday, october 14th

the thermals

cymbals eat guitars

@ the paradise

thursday, october 14th

the morning after girls

the lovetones

the december sound

ghost box orchestra

@ tt the bears

friday, october 15th

nick lowe + his band

graham parker (solo acoustic)

@ the somerville theatre

friday, october 15th

jimmy eat world

@ the house of blues

friday, october 15th

bowerbirds

death vessel

@ tt the bears

friday, october 15th

belle + sebastian

@ the wang theatre / citi center

saturday, october 16th

deerhunter

real estate

casino vs. japan

@ royale boston

sunday, october 17th

the henry clay people

the dig

@ tt the bears

monday, october 18th

greg dulli

(afghan whigs/twilight singers)

first-ever solo tour

with opener craig wedren

(of shudder to think)

@ the brattle theatre

monday, october 18th

bad religion

the bouncing souls

@ the house of blues

monday, october 18th

the drums

the hairs

@ the paradise

monday, october 18th

phoenix

two door cinema club

wavves

@ agganis arena

tuesday, october 19th

massive attack

thievery corporation

@ the orpheum

wednesday, october 20th

the pains of being pure at heart

yuck

eternal summers

@ the paradise

wednesday, october 20th

helmet

@ the middle east downstairs

sunday, october 22nd

gary numan

rasputina

playing 'the pleasure principle'

@ the paradise

saturday, october 23rd

local natives

the ruby suns

union line

@ the house of blues

sunday, october 24th

woven bones

frankie rose & the outs

@ tt the bears

monday, october 25th

the corin tucker band

hungry ghost

darren hanlon

@ the paradise

wednesday, october 27th

a sunny day in glasgow

candy claws

@ great scott

wednesday, october 27th

black prairie

(members of the decemberists)

sarah jarosz

@ the middle east upstairs

thursday, october 28th

the tt's halloween bash

with members of mean creek + campaign

for real time (as talking heads)

john powhida (as todd rundgren)

preacher roe (as guided by voices)

@ tt the bears

friday, october 29th

frightened rabbit

plants and animals

the phantom band

@ the paradise

saturday, october 30th

hallelujah the hills

magic magic

boy without god

@ great scott

sunday, october 31st

florence and the machine

the smith westerns

@ the house of blues

monday, november 1st

blonde redhead

pantha du prince

@ the paradise

monday, november 1st

social distortion

lucero

frank turner

@ the house of blues boston

tuesday, november 2nd

junip (jose gonzales)

sharon van etten

@ the royale boston

tuesday, november 2nd

black mountain

the black angels

@ the paradise

wednesday, november 3rd

the dandy warhols

blue giant

@ tt the bears

wednesday, november 3rd

land of talk

suuns

little scream

@ tt the bears

thursday, november 4th

through sunday, november 7th

the international pop overthrow

4 nights @ pa's lounge

thursday, november 4th

matt + kim

javelin

@ the house of blues

thursday, november 4th

blitzen trapper

@ the paradise

friday, november 5th

guided by voices

blitzen trapper

@ the paradise

sunday, november 7th

drivin 'n cryin

@ tt the bears

monday, november 8th

clinic

the fresh & onlys

@ the paradise

tuesday, november 9th

the morning benders

@ the paradise

thursday + friday

november 11th + 12th

sufjan stevens

@ the orpheum

thursday, november 11th

shearwater

horse feathers

damien jurado

anais mitchell

@ the house of blues

thursday, november 11th

deer tick

@ the royale boston

thursday, november 11th

mumford & sons

cadillac sky

king charles

@ the house of blues

friday, november 12th

bottomless pit

black helicopter

chris brokaw

@ the middle east downstairs

saturday, november 13th

roky erickson

@ the royale boston

saturday, november 13th

grinderman

(nick cave, warren ellis, + more)

@ the house of blues

sunday, november 14th

elizabeth mitchell (of ida)

and friends

(a children's show!)

4:30pm @ club passim

sunday, november 14th

man or astro-man?

@ the middle east downstairs

monday, november 15th

la roux

@ the house of blues

tuesday, november 16th

a night of springsteen covers

with chris keene (mean creek),

corin ashley, dave aaronoff,

brendan little, hilken mancini,

the dirty truckers, drew o'doherty,

and more to be announced

marking the release of the new

6-disk 'darkness on the edge of town'

box set @ tt the bears

tuesday, november 16th

the posies

brendan benson

aqueduct

@ the royale boston

wednesday, november 17th

cornershop

@ the middle east downstairs

thursday, november 18th

kate nash

@ the paradise

thursday, november 18th

bear in heaven

@ the middle east downstairs

friday, november 19th

township

the lights out

the organ beats

@ tt the bears

saturday, november 20th

delorean

lemonade

@ the middle east downstairs

wednesday, november 24th

idlewild

happy hollows

@ the middle east downstairs

thursday, december 2nd

director/actor kevin smith

@ the house of blues

saturday, december 4th

peter hook + the light

play joy division's "unknown pleasures"

@ the royale boston

saturday, december 4th

killing joke

@ the paradise

visit tourfilter for more shows

Three posts in four days?! What th'?!

Canadian Analog Set: Finally, the news I've been waiting for (and waiting to share)... American Analog Set has found a home for their best album yet, and it's the Canada-based Arts & Crafts label, host to Broken Social Scene, Stars, Feist, & more. It was only a matter of time before someone released that record... it really is AmAnSet at their best, perfectly encapsulating everything I love about 'em, and coming closest to capturing what they can do in a live setting. The production is just warm, crystal clear, and all-together enveloping. And there's not a single sub-par song on the thing, it's just all substance and no filler. Seriously, 'She's Half' is probably the most beautiful song Andrew Kenny & Co. have ever written.

I know, I know... painful for those who haven't heard it. It's easy for me to say it's worth the wait, but you can just get yourself to NYC and queue the whole thing up on the jukebox at Commonwealth, at the corner of 5th Ave & 12th st. in Brooklyn. Or grab one song from the record as AmAnSet's site, along with an older live recording.

The album, titled 'Set Free' will be out on September 20th in North America, and elsewhere that same month. You can check out the artwork here, and check here for the evolving fall tour plans are being made. I can't f'in wait, not just to see them live again, but to hold 'Set Free' in my hands.

Once & Future Kingsbury: Also out on September 20th: The fifth full-length from North Carolina's Kingsbury Manx, called 'The Fast Rise and Fall of The South'. I'd hoped they were at work on something new, since their website has been dead quiet for awhile, so I'm glad to hear it's about ready for release.

Targeted Marketing: Here's that new Flaming Lips song, called 'Mr. Ambulance Driver', from the soooo-indie-blog-friendly Wedding Crashers soundtrack. Hell, it almost looks like this decade's version of the Pretty In Pink soundtrack.

Shelf Space Solution: Pretty cool online sale going on over at the Kill Rock Stars site. Buy a cd, they'll throw another random one in for free. Now, the cynic in me assumes this is simply an excess inventory-purging gimmick, and that you'll end up with some crazy-ass unknown lower-than-lo-fi freebie, but I trust KRS too much. Besides, the odds of you scoring something worth hearing (at least once) is pretty high over there. Oh, and all vinyl is $1 off, too.

Fair & Balanced: 'Empty Room', the first official single from L.A.'s Marjorie Fair, is really growing on me. I've got a slightly uncontrollable tendency to hold it against a band when the first time I hear about them is from one of their promo-people... it's gotta be really good outta the gate for me to jump on board. This place ain't never gonna be a major label marketing platform, despite the crushing weight of the all the random packages and emails I keep getting.

Marjorie Fair's sound is pretty slick, to be sure, and the first song I'd heard by them (titled 'Waves', mp3 available right here), was a little too-much-so for me. Not quite enough punch in their polished-pop. It was the new Katamari Damacy-inspired clip for 'Empty Room' that kinda won me over, though... the video's a bit over-earnest, but the song's got a hook that grabbed me. Judge for yourself...

Marjorie Fair - 'Empty Room' video (Windows 300) / (Quicktime 750).

For the bandwidth challenged, there's also a little tour sampler page with a stream of 'Empty Rooms', and another video for 'Waves', as well as content from their former-tourmates The Dears and the Shout Out Louds.

From Under the Stairs: I kinda lost track of comedian Chris Elliott... haven't though about him in a long time, actually. Not since he voiced Dogbert on the short-lived Dilbert cartoon. Well, he's back in mind as I find out that he's got a new book called 'The Shroud of the Thwacker' out in October, and he'll be doing a promo-tour for it. His Boston stop is at the Coolidge Corner Theater on October 12th.

Forced Perspective: I've really been digging Morgan Spurlock's television follow-up to his Super-Size Me documentary, the month-in-a-new-life show called '30 Days'. The points raised about the objectivity and spontanaiety of the show in this editorial were a little worrisome, but Spurlock adequately counters the criticism on his blog here. I get an sincere vibe off the guy, and I'll be watching as long as he, his super-cool girlfriend, and his friends keep giving up months of their lives to share new experiences.

There's No Such Thing: I feel like a dork for living and blogging right here in Boston but not knowing about the Too Much Rock music site until now. I actually recognize host Sid Sowder, as we've been to tons of the same shows. He does a great job of photographing, reviewing, and sometimes video-clipping the stuff he checks out, including the Mary Timony show that we played a couple months back. Pictures are here, and there's tons more shows to see and read about. Glad to have finally found ya, Sid.

Curse You, Kimmel: Comedienne Sarah Silverman has a dirty, dirty mouth. And a concert film called Jesus Is Magic that's finally got a release date of early November 2005 (not-even-close-to-work-safe trailer here). Aces, a birthday present for me. In case ya didn't know, the movie was directed by multi-talented mastermind Liam Lynch, who's also currently working on the Tenacious D movie, 'The Pick of Destiny'

Get Into The Pond: Matt Pond PA gains a new album, but loses a member. The record's mixed, mastered, due out in September, and last I'd read was tentatively titled 'Several Arrows Later'. They'll of course be touring to support it, but not before they find someone to replace departing cellist Eve Miller. Know anyone who might be into that? Strings are a must, keyboards a plus. Details are at their site.

Something Hot: Greg Dulli's Twilight Singers continue to work on 'Powder Burns', their follow-up to 'Blackberry Belle'. Dulli and guitarist Scott Ford recently landed in New Orleans for overdubbing and guest appearances (already recorded are assists from Mark Lanegan and Joseph Arthur). Before it comes out, and touring resumes next year, we'll still be hearing their unreleased 'Amber Headlights' album in September, which was recorded and aborted before 'BB'. Keep an eye on Summer's Kiss for a tracklisting soon.

Zombies, Vampires, & Groins. Oh My: I love me some Mike Mignola comic book action. Hellboy and it's BPRD companions, along with all the other random things he comes up with. One of those things was The Amazing Screw-On Head, about a, well, a robot head that, um, gets screwed onto different bodies. And fights crime. Anyway, it was a freakin' funny read, and it's becoming a cartoon. From Variety via SuperHeroHype:

"Paul Giamatti has signed with Sci Fi Channel to voice the lead character in the animated series pilot Amazing Screw-On Head, from executive producers Bryan Fuller (Wonderfalls) and Jason Netter, reports Variety.

The cable channel last year quietly commissioned the pilot, based on Mike Mignola's comic book of the same name. David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon and Patton Oswalt also will lend their voices to the project.

Giamatti will voice Screw-On Head, a Civil War-era secret agent at the service of president Abraham Lincoln and an unsung hero who never made it into the history books. His special power is the ability to screw his head onto a variety of different bodies. Hyde Pierce plays Emperor Zombie, Shannon voices Patience the Vampire and Oswalt is Mr. Groin.

Cable executives hope to see a finished pilot by early next year."

Great voice cast + solid source material = High hopes. How perfect is it that Patton Oswalt is playing 'Mr. Groin'? I can actually picture him begging for that.

Poor Albert The Morphine Addict: A confession: I loved Little House on the Prarie when I was little. Watched every single one growing up, got totally freaked when Carrie fell down the well, was terrified by the bear attack, felt bad about the fool's gold, hated Nellie with a passion, and loved that Manly called Laura 'Beth'. Hell, I sometimes recall the Ingalls' childhood experiences more vividly than my own. Only my sister knew this secret shame, because she shares it.

So what exactly would compel me to even bring this subject up? Well, there's a cast reunion this weekend at some 'western' festival in Arizona. Not that I'd ever go to such a super-cheezy event like that or anything. I mean, not even if it was in Boston. And especially if Albert wasn't there. Wait, just forget I said anything.

Pronounced 'Ruh-vee-uh': After work a couple nights back, Amie, Nina, and I were in the mood to get outta town (well, at least I think Nina was), so we headed up the coast a few minutes north to Revere Beach and some bad-for-us food at 'world famous' Kelly's. Amie got the lobster roll, I went with the clam roll, and we finished up by splitting a swirly mixed soft-serve* cone. Soooo good. Surrounded by locals and seagulls, we sat on the beach boardwalk as the sun set behind us. Now if that ain't summer, I don't know what is.

(* Amie has forbidden me from calling soft-serve ice cream a "creemee". She thinks that's 'gross!', but I swear, that's what it's called in Vermont!)

Feeding My Fiction Addiction: Yesterday involved a quality-packed stop at my favorite comic shop. The latest (and always long-awaited) issue of Planetary (the origin of The Drummer!), a new Hellboy story, and AiT/Planet Lar's Black Diamond: On Ramp, and the first issue of the new Angel story, 'The Curse', which takes place after the finale of the Joss Whedon TV show. And no, you don't find out what happened after our heroes faced the minions of hell in that darkened alley. Joss is saving that for later... I hope. I'm a sucker for anything more from the Whedon-verse.

I've only read Planetary so far, but... wow. It doesn't matter how long I have to wait for each one, Ellis & Cassaday still have me by the throat.

July's Almost Here: After my comic store score, Amie and I headed to the Kendall for a preview of Miranda July's extra-engaging new film Me and You and Everyone We Know last night, and it's still in the forefront of my mind as I muddle through the workday. It's a movie about connections, assumptions, alienation, and the definition of art. About social awkwardness, old age, and growing up too early. Difficult subject matter that July presents effortlessly and beautifully. It's justly winning all sorts of awards, and Miranda's sharing her experiences on her movie blog, along with guest posts by her castmembers.

I actually first heard of Miranda July through her music, and I might even order one of her albums from KRS. Plus, y'know, free bonus disk sale.

Calendar Conflict: Next week, in addition to seeing Freaks & Geeks guy Paul Feig pimp his new book at the Coolidge on , I'll be... practicing with the band a whole lot. On July 9th, Charlene is playing a Saturday night show opening for Bettie Serveert at the Middle East Downstairs, so we've got some crammin' to do. As psyched as I am to open for them, I'm terribly bummed that I'll be missing the Walking Concert show that's happening across the river at Allston's Great Scott. Damn the unfortunate timing on that one. (and heads up, Brian, Schreifels & Co. will be playing NYC three days later)

Plans: Tonight I might stop in at the first Bostonist Happy Hour over at the Beantown Pub (been thinking about contributing to Bostonist since they started, but my busy schedule always scares me from making contact).

After the happy hour, I may head over to the Middle East for Mishima USA (no website, guys?!) who I haven't see in quite awhile, along with Duresse, the first band to have risen from the ashes of Wheat. Wheat fans should check out Duresse's demos page for four songs... there's definitely some familiar guitar traces in there (from ex-Wheat guitarist Ricky), who I believe is also handling vocals. I'm curious to see how they come off live.

Live mp3s on the 'Nac horizon: A full set from Pela, and a long-promised few from Crystal Skulls.

If I don't reappear here for a few days, enjoy the (hopefully long) weekend. Amie and I will be heading slightly south for the 4th, down to Newport, RI for some touristy adventures with the Neeners. Cannot wait. Ah, the fun of watching fireworks. Y'see how I tied that all together?

posted by brad at 4:03 PM | direct link |