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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

Just a short stab of randomness to follow, covering Film School, Pinback, Adam Franklin, the Descendants, and regrettably, author Robert Jordan.

From here on out, I'm hoping to make these miscellaneous posts shorter but more frequent... although I may have made that vow before. We'll see how the plan pans out soon enough...

I can't help but loudly declare my infinitely growing love for Film School's just-released third album, "Hideout", to anyone that'll listen. I snagged it on a trip to my local disc shop last Tuesday (along with the new Pinback, but more on them next), and as much as I dug their 2006 self-titled sophomore effort, this one is just leaps and bounds above it. They may wear their influences on their sleeves (MBV, Swervedriver, Swirlies, even early pre-programming New Order), but those influences are so right in my wheelhouse, and so masterfully incorporated into these new songs, that I cannot resist instant obsession. It feels not at all like an appropriation of a sound, but a love letter to it; not derivative, but instead a logical extension of what was going on 15 years or so ago. Hasn't left my car cd player since I unwrapped it, and I find myself, for the first time ever, wishing my commute was a little longer. Whatever trials and changes the band has gone through over the past couple years (a mugging, stolen equipment, a major lineup overhaul), it has resulted in one hell of an album.

Here's a taste, track two from "Hideout", just one of many great songs to be had there...

Mp3: Film School - "Lectric"

Buy the album here for just ten bucks. Film School plays TT the Bears in Cambridge on Wednesday, October 24th. Get your tickets here, and do it quick.

As Pinback fans know, their latest Touch & Go full-lengther, "Autumn of the Seraphs", also came out last week (pre-orders got a bonus EP), and its fantasy-flavored artwork is either a "love it or hate it" kind of a thing. Me, I'm into it, but that's probably my old D&D characters talking. Anyone who knows much about singer/guitarist Rob Crow will find it unsurprising that the cover art was drawn by fantasy artist Michael Sutfin, who's done a bunch of work for Magic: The Gathering and World of Warcraft trading cards.

As for the songs found inside said packaging, well, after my effusive praise of that Film School disc, this is going to sound repetitive: I think it's Pinback's best. I may have said exactly the same thing when 2004's "Summer In Abbadon" came out, and I was as sure of that as I am that this one's even better. They've both expanded their sound and retained whatever makes them Pinback: The restrained energy, the percussive bass/guitar interplay, the vocal tradeoffs and overlaps, the warm production, the undeniable catchiness. It's all there, and while a clunker or two has traditionally marred their previous discs, I haven't found one here yet. Hell, even the three songs on the bonus EP, which surprisingly came with the copy I bought at Newbury Comics, are keepers (and in the fine tradition of Ride's "Going Blank Again" and Ted Leo's "Living With The Living", the album's title track is not on the disc itself, but instead on the EP).

"From Nothing to Nowhere", the lead-off track, was the first song to hit the web in advance of the album, courtesy of Touch & Go...

Mp3: Pinback - "From Nothing To Nowhere"

... and MySpace recently premiered the video for it. More newness: The excellent Pinbackfreak fansite has pulled together a Pinback FAQ, so check it out or add to it if you're able.

The band will be touring extensively in support "AotS", hitting the Roxy in Boston on October 10th, with, amazingly, MC Chris opening up. Yes, MC Chris, frequent Adult Swim/ATHF collaborator and all around geek-rap genius. A reason to get there early, if ever, if ever a reason there was.

Oh, and by the way, the Touch & Go Anniversary video clip featured Pinback a few weeks back, with Rob doing the (modest and reverent) interview thing and the band performing "Non-Photo Blue" and "Syracuse". Go watch. 3,4, cha-cha-cha.

And, most importantly: Rob Crow cut off his mighty beard. Total transformation, back to the Crow of olde.

I'm still kicking myself for missing former Swervedriver frontman Adam Franklin's show here in town a few weeks back, which launched a short tour with Hopewell. Check out BV for many more of his dates to come in October.

Something that made Mr. Franklin even more admirable in my eyes: Billy Corgan asked him to be play guitar in the so-called Smashing Pumpkins "reunion" earlier this year, and Adam declined. Proving both that Corgan has good taste in co-guitarists, and that Adam is a very wise man to stay away from that mess.

Idolator tipped me to CMJ tipping us to the fact that Descendents/ALL bassist Karl Alvarez suffered a heart attack last month, and while he's recovering, the bills are mounting. There's a Kyle Alvarez Benefit Page set up at MySpace, where you can donate or get details on upcoming benefit shows (including one in Colorado on September 29th) that'll also raise funds to help the man out.

And because I don't think I've ever shared it on the 'Nac, here's a band I used to be in covering a Descendents song, which originally appeared on the Coolidge Records "Homage" compilation...

Mp3: Snowplow - "Cheer" (Descendents cover)

Aside from the Pinback and Film School dates mentioned about, here are a few Boston-area shows you'd be wise to pick up tickets for soon-ish...

The Lucksmiths, The Ladybug Transistor, Still Flyin', & One Happy Island team up for a night of pure pop-goodness at TT the Bears on Thursday, September 27th (tickets). Gonna sell out, mark my words.

Sucktastically, I'm gonna be out of town when +/-, Sleepyhead, Moools, and my pals in the Broken River Prophet all play together at the Middle East Upstairs on Saturday night, September 29th (tickets). So kindly go in my place and let me know how it is, k? I can already guess that your report will be solidly on the positive side, so it's just a matter of degrees.

Buffalo Tom will be at the Somerville Theatre on Friday night, October 26th (tickets). BT singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz has a new blog, by the way. It allows him a place to share his thoughts uninterrupted, replacing his now-dead forum, which was constantly sullied by a couple of, shall we say, overly-enthusiastic baseball fans.

Lastly, I was both completely shocked and deeply saddened to wake up this morning and learn that author James Rigney, known to readers as Robert Jordan, passed away yesterday at the too-young age of 58 after a battle with cardiac amyloidosis. I first read the news on fellow fantasy author George RR Martin's blog, and it has since spread across the web like balefire. The server that hosts Jordan's own blog is buckling under the weight of commiserating fans, but you can read how his cousin announced his passing here.

I've been reading his "Wheel of Time" fantasy series since the first book, "The Eye of the World", was published in 1990 (on the recommendation of a wise college professor at UVM), and while I was often frustrated by the ever-lengthening story (it was originally supposed to be 6 or 7 books, I believe, but number 11 came out in 2005), the overwhelming number of characters, and the infrequency of new volumes, I never expected we'd lose the man before he could finish off his life's masterwork. I honestly looked forward to the day, whenever it would come, that I could read the entire tale, start-to-finish (and while speculation is that we may still get that chance, it does nothing to lessen the blow). But what I really looked forward to was what might come next, with new tales on a clean slate, if he ever chose to do that. He provided my imagination with so many hours and hours of escape... I owe the man a great debt. Such a huge loss to fans of truly epic storytelling, and such sad day.

posted by brad at 1:10 PM | direct link |