bradley's almanac - a boston music blog

boston area shows of note:

sunday, september 7th

ryan adams & the cardinals

@ the bank of america pavilion

monday, september 8th

mates of state

the cool kids

tim fite

(free, but students only)

5:30pm @ northeastern university

tuesday, september 9th

paul weller

@ the berklee performance center

wednesday, september 10th

'what the fluff?' fest

comic book art exhibit opening

somerville community access tv

5-8pm, 90 union square, somerville

friday, september 12th

mission of burma

in-store performance

7pm @ newbury comics, newbury st.

friday, september 12th

buffalo tom

@ the boston arts festival

6pm @ christopher columbus park

saturday, september 13th

rogue wave (in-store)

@ newbury comics grand opening

8:30pm in norwood, ma

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

juliana hatfield (full band)

hayden

@ the brattle theatre

sunday, september 14th

lymbyc systym

this will destroy you

arms and sleepers

@ harper's ferry

sunday & monday

september 14th & 15th

james

unkle bob

@ the paradise

monday, september 15th

lagwagon, mxpx,

only crime, & tat

@ harper's ferry

monday, september 15th

sunset rubdown

@ the middle east

tuesday, september 16th

a place to bury strangers

sian alice group

neptune

@ the paradise

thursday, september 18th

bell x1

wild light

@ the paradise

thursday, september 18th

the walkmen

@ the middle east downstairs

friday, september 19th

sigur ros

@ the bank of america pavilion

friday, september 19th

the swell season ('once'/frames)

bill callahan (smog)

@ agganis arena

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

wye oak

@ cafe 939 @ berklee

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

wednesday, september 24th

gemma hayes

sydney wayser

@ great scott

friday, september 26th

ben folds

missy higgins

@ the orpheum

saturday, september 27th

mike viola (solo)

(2nd of 3 weekly residencies)

@ the lizard lounge

saturday, september 27th

julie doiron

mount eerie

calm down, it's monday

@ massart

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

panther

e*rock

@ the paradise

tuesday, september 30th

boston spaceships

(gbv's robert pollard)

big dipper

@ the paradise

tuesday, september 30th

say hi

jukebox the ghost

@ the middle east

wednesday, october 1st

chromeo

treasure fingers

@ the paradise

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

sbach

@ the paradise

monday, october 6th

the wedding present

the jealous girlfriends

@ the middle east downstairs

monday, october 6th

fleet foxes

frank fairfield

@ the somerville theatre

monday, october 6th

stereolab

le loup

monade

@ the paradise

tuesday, october 7th

liam finn

the veils

@ the paradise

wednesday, october 8th

lucinda williams

@ the orpheum

wednesday, october 8th

the opening night of

carrie fisher's one woman show

'wishful drinking'

@ the huntington theater (bu)

wednesday, october 8th

allison moyet

@ the wilbur theatre

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

les savy fav

passion pit

@ 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

janelle monae

@ 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

needy visions

@ tt the bears

friday, october 17th

jonathan richman

with drummer tommy larkin

@ the somerville theatre

saturday, october 18th

asobi seksu

the broken river prophet

@ the middle east

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

prototypes

@ the paradise

sunday, october 26th

scars on broadway

the duke spirit

@ 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

hotel cafe tour

with rachael yamagata, meiko,

thao nguyen, samanatha crain,

and jenny owen youngs

@ the paradise

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

matt and kim

best fwends

@ the middle east

monday, november 3rd

coldplay

@ the td banknorth garden

wednesday, november 5th

conor oberst +

the mystic valley band

@ the roxy

thursday, november 6th

the decemberists

loche lamond

@ the orpheum

friday, november 7th

"my name is bruce"

area theatrical premiere

with director/star bruce campbell

@ a boston-area theatre (tbd)

sunday, november 9th

the hold steady

drive-by truckers

@ the orpheum

tuesday, november 11th

deerhunter

times new viking

the vivian girls

@ the paradise

wednesday, november 12th

the sea and cake

@ the middle east down

wednesday, november 12th

kings of leon

we are scientists

the whigs

@ the orpheum

thursday, november 13th

nicole atkins & the sea

salt & samovar

@ tt the bears

thursday, november 13th

scarce (cd release!)

wheat

triplethick

@ tt the bears

tuesday, november 18th

m83

school of seven bells

@ the middle east down

thursday, november 20th

bishop allen

@ the middle east

friday, november 21st

robyn hitchcock

performing 'i often dream of trains'

@ the somerville theatre

saturday, december 13th

neil young

wilco

@ the dcu center, worcester

visit tourfilter for more shows

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Mp3s: A Long, Live Weekend

My six day break sadly over, I'm back at work playing catch-up. My ears are still filled with the sounds of the two shows we played, thanks to the merch-table discs I snagged and the live recordings I've been editing down to share.

Picastro, The Broken River Prophet, and LOOK IT in Brooklyn on Saturday, A Northern Chorus and Sianspheric back here in town two days later. Charlene played both nights, and there wasn't a let-down among the lineups.

I taped everyone on Saturday night at Williamsburg's Trash Bar except Brian Bonz (they were last, and I was loading out), as well as a new sorta-super-groop called LOOK IT. They were up first, and I was too preoccupied setting up to tape it, which I regretted almost immediately. It was their very first show, and they've got a nifty pedigree: Cindy Wheeler of the Caulfield Sisters on guitar/vocals, Andrew Deustch (singer/guitarist of Home) on keyboards/vocals, unmistakable flutist Suzanne Thorpe from Mercury Rev, and Dave Janick from Company on drums. Seems this is a little side project for Cindy until the Caulfield Sisters return to action in September, so who knows if we'll hear more from 'em.

Next up was The Broken River Prophet, and captain Adam Brilla's (he also of Lockgroove) rotating cast of collaborators keeps helping take his songs to greater heights. I say this having been one of them, making me not just an ex-BRP member, but a current-BRP fan. As much as I miss playing on the songs, I'm infinitely glad I get to stand in the audience and simply enjoy 'em. Adam & Co. need to get some recorded output together right now... I cannot wait to hear the stuff get a studio treatment.

Until then, here's the two songs that ended last Saturday's set. I believe these are BRP's first available recordings, aside from a demo over at their site...

(files removed on 10/1/05)

The Broken River Prophet - December Wolves (live)
(at the Trash Bar, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC 7/30/2005)

The Broken River Prophet - Chemical Solitaire (live)
(at the Trash Bar, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC 7/30/2005)

Charlene played right after BRP, but the recording is, shall we say, less than stellar. While we played well, I thought, the mix to my little microphone was fairly funky. So I'll spare you until later on this post...

Toronto's Picastro was up next, and I was in the perfect mental place to take them in, coming down from our set. Sparse, mellow, occasionally off-kilter songs anchored by an acoustic guitar and the haunting voice of Liz Hysen. As hard as I'm trying to avoid using the words 'Cat Power', and as sick as Liz probably is of hearing it, it's kinda unavoidable. Here's their entire mesmerizing set, and if you know the names of the two I don't, lemme know in the comments...

Picastro
live at the Trash Bar
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC
Saturday, July 30th, 2005

(files removed on 10/1/05)

01. No Contest
02. All Erase
03. Dramaman
04. Unknown Title 1
05. Unknown Title 2
06. I Can't Fall Asleep
07. Sharks

After a Sunday drive back to Boston, and not enough sleep that night, it was over to the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge for another show on Monday. Charlene was in the middle of a Canadian sonic sandwich, with A Northern Chorus opening up, and Sianspheric closing things out. This was the last night of a short east coast trip for those two bands, with ANC supporting their latest disc 'Bitter Hands Resign', and Sianspheric offering up their brand-new DVD/CD release, 'RGB'.

I'll save myself some writing, and just agree with what Frank over at Chromewaves had to say about seeing the two bands earlier this year: "Comparatively, if A Northern Chorus were the sonic equivalent of a gentle rainshower, Sianspheric were a tidal wave."

So, first, the cello-colored rainshower...

A Northern Chorus
live at the Lizard Lounge
Cambridge, MA
Monday, August 1st, 2005

(files removed on 10/1/05)

01. Prisoners Of Circumstance
02. Costa Del Sol
03. Subjects & Matter
04. Fragile Day
05. The Shepherd & The Chauffeur
06. Louder Than Love

The Lizard Lounge is so small that I was worried some of our Charlene songs would overwhelm... I mean, we're not exactly an all-out rock band, but sometimes Matt's guitar noise and my snare hits can threaten the ol' eardrums. We actually had free plugs at the merch table just in case, and they hopefully saved some unprepared patrons a good ringing. (That said, we were like church mice compared to Sianspheric.)

It's been a loooong time since the release of Charlene's self-titled debut disc back in late 2002, so these two live tracks will hopefully ease the wait for the in-the-works follow-up...

Charlene - Ripoff (live)
(at the Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA 08/01/2005)

(files removed on 10/1/05)

Charlene - The Way of Things (live)
(at the Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA 08/01/2005)

The studio version of 'Ripoff' (which you can download here) appears on that debut (although you'll notice the original's drum machine is replaced with, um, the far-less-precise me), but 'The Way of Things' is new and unrecorded. Hopefully you'll hear a studio version of it, along with a whole bunch more, before too long.

If our set didn't have people breaking out the earplugs, then Sianspheric's sent them scrambling. Seriously, I had some hi-tech plugs in, and it was still loud as hell. But in the best way. The layers upon layers of guitar wash, the cymbals and buried vocals (try to make them out here... good luck), the rolling bass lines... it all combined perfectly. The influence of their foot-pedal forebearers abound: Echoes of Slowdive, MBV, Spacemen 3, the fuzz of Flying Saucer Attack... I was more than impressed with the aural assault.

Supposedly there was a massively deafening thunderstorm outside while the band played on, but honestly, there's no way any of us would have known.

So here, for you, is their tidal wave. It's an absolute miracle that it didn't overload my little microphone...

Sianspheric
live at the Lizard Lounge
Cambridge, MA
Monday, August 1st, 2005

(files removed on 10/1/05)

01. Audiophone
02. To Myself
03. No Space
04. The Skids
05. Tous Les Soirs
06. All On Standby
07. Rave On, Full On
08. The Stars Above
09. I Like The Ride

It inspired me enough to pick up that 'RGB' CD/DVD, which just came out last week, and all of the songs from their set save one can be found on it. As I was starting to pull together this write-up, today's Chromewaves post appeared in my RSS reader. Who's it about? Why, Sianspheric, of course. Mystery & Misery also reviewed RGB a couple days back, too. So head over to those fine music blogs to read more.

More photos over at my flickr space. Big thanks to Petrina over at WZBC for putting together Monday's show. A memorable night if ever there was one.

(A little Almanac reminder: Posted live tracks remain up for at least a couple weeks, sometimes longer, depending on server space. If any of the artists shared here have issues with the posting of their live recordings, just let me know. My email addy is over in the left column.)

Labels: livemp3s