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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

And awaaaaay we go...

Hell of a live music week ahead here in Boston, what with the Silver Jews / New Radiant Storm King show on Sunday, Editors and Stellastarr* on Monday, Th' freakin' Faith Healers on Wednesday, and a Billy Bragg solo chaser to wash it all down on Thursday. Depending on which big city you live in, the week after SXSW can end up being pretty busy, what with bands booking shows after their fest appearances. I've been stockpiling my extra stamina, but I'm sure glad I'll be sitting down for Billy Bragg at the end of it all.

First up? The Silver Jews on Sunday. Now, as fortunate as I feel to see finally the Joos, I'm just as excited to catch openers New Radiant Storm King in the wake of their latest album, 'The Steady Hand'. NRSK's Peyton Pinkerton (he also of The Pernice Brothers) is pulling double duty that night, handling guitar in this touring version of the Silver Jews, and playing first will be Allston's own Ketman.

The Weekly Dig's Michael Brodeur speaks with lead Joo D.C. Berman, and writes a bit about his poetic side, in this week's issue.

Monday night brings Editors back to town after their excellent (and very sold out) show at Great Scott a couple months back (download it here). Their night at the Roxy is the very first stop on their co-headlining tour with Stellastarr*, who are themselves traveling in support of their new single 'Love and Longing' off the 'Harmonies for the Haunted' disc...

Stellastarr* - 'Love and Longing' (mp3)

Also out (or out soon) is the 'Sweet Troubled Soul' EP, which has three mixes of the song, including the one that ex-Pumpkin James Iha did a few months back...

Stellastarr* - 'Sweet Troubled Soul (Iha Mix)' (mp3)

Doesn't look like the show is sold out yet, but I'd wager that when the doors open on Monday night, that'll no longer be the case.

Haven't got your tickets to see Th' Faith Healers on Wednesday at the ultra-tiny PA's Lounge in Somerville? Well, first off, you're frakkin' nuts. They were (and likely still are) a feral live act, something their recordings hint and old anecdotes back up. I didn't get to catch 'em them back in the early 90s when they toured the States with Stereolab, so I'm more than a little jazzed that I get to rectify that, and at such a small space no less. It will, no doubt, be an insane evening.

Last I knew, tickets were still available at PA's Lounge, cash-only and in-person. Just ask the bartender. PA's isn't set up to hold tickets, or take credit cards, or save spaces and such, so get yourself over there in the evening and grab 'em. Stacie from The Critique of Pure Reason, who set up the show, has graciously said that desperate out-of-towners who need advanced tickets can contact her at tickets--at--thecritique--dot--org, and she can do limited mailorder, but this is strictly a favor for people who are driving from far away.

The show is 18+, and it'll cost you a mere $10 (21+) or $13 (18-20). Opening up is the long-dormant Bright, and doors are at 7PM on Wednesday, March 22nd, which is earlier than usual for PA's. For directions to PA's, see their website.

For a list of other upcoming Critique of Pure Reason-presented shows, check their schedule. This evening they've brought the one and only Nikki Sudden to PA's along with Thalia Zedek and Kahoots.

Something else for Th' Faith Healers fans out there: WFMU's Brian Turner will welcome the band into the studio on Tuesday, March 28th between 3 and 6pm eastern. You can listen online, and it'll be archived sometime thereafter right over here (where you can also find saved sets from The New Pornographers, Deerhoof, Calexico, and many more.

That brings us to Mr. Billy Bragg on Thursday night at the Somerville Theatre. He's out solo in support of his beautiful new 9-disc (7 CD / 2 DVD) box set, 'Volume 1', and I'm thrilled to see just him and his electric guitar this time around. Didja catch him on Conan O'Brien a couple nights back? He performed 'A New England', and it was the nice tease for next Thursday. If you missed his appearance, it's of course on You Tube already. For a mind-bending comparison, catch him playing the same song many, many years ago on the BBC's 'The Tube'.

One show I'll be missing, but seriously wish I wasn't, is Buffalo Tom & Crown Victoria's Bill Janovitz appearing tomorrow night, Saturday the 18th, as part of Session Americana at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. Bill himself describes it as "a take off of the Irish pub sessions, a few musicians gathered intimately around a table and playing traditional covers. Except for (Session) Americana, well, they play country, soul, rock & roll, standards, etc. We might put in an old Irish tune seeing as though it is the day after St. Patty�s. For notes on the musician regulars and other details, see the website."

Even though a batch of tickets sold out in less than an hour (the Lizard ain't huge), there's still a way to get in: Rougly 60 wristbands will be given out before the show, starting at 7:30pm. Your guess is as good as mine as to how early people will start lining up for those, but if you're so inclined, don't take chances. Just show up real early and grab dinner at the Cambridge Common upstairs.

There have been some great new shows announced in the past few weeks, so heads up Bostonians:

The New Pornographers on April 10th
Pinback on May 6th at the Paradise
Mogwai on May 14th at Avalon
Sigur R�s also on May 14th at the Bank of America Pavilion

About that New Pornographers date: It's some Jack Daniels sponsored thing being co-promoted by the Weekly Dig, and I'm not sure yet where it is or what you have to do to get in. Details will be here soon, supposedly.

As much as I was bitchin' that Mogwai skipped Boston on their first go-round, now that they are finally coming in May, I actually hesitated gettin' tickets. After service charges, they'd be more than $25 each, and that's hard to swallow for a budget-conscious boy. But once I picked up their new one, 'Mr. Beast', and listened to it loudly on the way to work, while driving along a rain-splattered Charles river on a foggy early-spring morning... well, I had no choice in the matter. It's a gorgeously powerful album, already far outshining their previous one, and it's giving me serious goosebumps. Suffice it to say, I clicked and ordered my Mogwai tickets within 10 minutes of getting to the office that morning, dollars be damned. Can't put a price on seeing those songs live.

And Sigur R�s? Well, they've officially graduated to venues that are larger than I want to visit. I'll hold my memories of past shows very closely. Pinback at the Paradise, though? I'm very there. Just gotta stop by the box office to avoid those pesky service fees. Better not sell out by then...

Got lots more to write about, but I'm going to post this sucker before I get too carried away... work beckons, etc. Hopefully I'll be able to fire off another missive this weekend, but if not, I'll be back with that live Serena Maneesh set on Monday.

And lastly, a reminder: You can enter the Blondie ticket/cd giveaway thing I'm running until Monday morning, so read my previous post for details and drop me an email...

posted by brad at 10:54 AM | direct link |