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, March 25, 2008

Tuesday Morning Miscellany

Things mentioned and linked below include Swervedriver, Retribution Gospel Choir, Film School, The Night Marchers, Sea Wolf, The Jealous Girlfriends, Slowdive/Mojave 3's Neil Halstead, Rogue Wave, Nada Surf, Billy Bragg, Elbow, Sigur Ros, Ida, R.E.M., New Radiant Storm King, The Mountain Goats, Sebadoh, Silkworm, "The Wire", and Kids in the Hall.

New Boston area shows of note, from ye olde left hand column...

HELL YES. The Swervedriver reunion tour is officially hitting Boston, on June 10th to be precise, at the Paradise. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, March 29th, at 10am.

Alan Sparhawk's trio, Retribution Gospel Choir, plays the Middle East Upstairs on Thursday, June 19th. Their just-released debut full-length is a brilliant slab of crunchy Neil Young-inspired guitar goodness, letting the Low frontman get his rock on in the best way. The disc even has gritty reworkings of a couple Low songs, including "Breaker" (which sounds more like Low's live version than Low's own recording, and features Mimi on guest vocals) and a rhythmically transformed "Take Your Time". Love it, and as if Sparhawk's presence wasn't enough to guarantee it, I'll definitely be at the show. Tickets here. Don't wait until it sells out.

Film School returns to TT the Bears on Monday, April 28th. Saw them there last October, up against the first night of the World Series. Fortunately, the Sox won that game 13-1, so it was easy for the crowd to abandon the TT's TV in favor of some celebratory sonic goodness from the visiting West Coasters. Hopefully the competition will be less fierce this time around, and the crowd will be even bigger.

As I mentioned, The Night Marchers are making their Boston-area debut on Thursday, May 8th, also at the Middle East Upstairs, and I'm going to keep reminding you of this until it sells out. There are too many Rocket From the Crypt / Drive Like Jehu / Hot Snakes fans out there who haven't caught on yet. When they do, so long tickets.

Sea Wolf is back in Boston on Friday, May 30th for a headlining show at the Paradise with The Jealous Girlfriends. For some reason I couldn't make it to their last show, but a Friday night appearance makes my presence far more likely this time around.

While I'm glad to see that Slowdive/Mojave 3 frontman Neil Halstead is returning to the Boston area, it's safe to say I won't be seeing him when he does. Why not? No, I won't be out of town. Or otherwise occupied, as far as I know. I'll be abstaining due to the presence on the bill of headlining act Jack Johnson... not exactly a fan of his stuff, and his presence has driven the ticket prices outta my usual range. Not sure how Neil, or even Rogue Wave, teamed up with Mr. Johnson, but, um, good for them I guess? (update If you've got deep enough pockets, and enough Rogue Wave or Halstead love, to make the drive down to the Tweeter Center on August 8th, well, lemme know how it went.

And while I'm mentioning Mr. Halstead, he shared the news last month (when he had to cancel a gig) that he and his wife were awaiting the imminent arrival of twins, so here's hoping that all went well.

Nada Surf made an appearance on the Tonight Show last week to play "Weightless" (which, as Leno plugged, happens to appear on the "Heroes" soundtrack. Ah, sweet network synergy). The trio was augmented with an electric cello player and a keyboardist, filling out the sound nicely. Take a listen...

Mp3: Nada Surf - "Weightless" (live on Leno)

The band also did an acoustic performance and interview session for the newly-christened MySpace Transmissions recently as well.

Another late night appearance last week was Billy Bragg's on Conan O'Brien, performing "I Keep Faith", off his upcoming "Mr. Love & Justice" disc. The performance was unlike anything you'll hear Bragg do again, as his backing band was Conan's own (minus regular drummer Max Weinberg), including the horn section. Here 'tis...

Mp3: Billy Bragg - "I Keep Faith" (live on Conan)

In the wake of Billy's recent opinion piece in the New York Times about internet royalties for musicians, he shares further thoughts in a dialogue with commenters at The Stalwart. Well worth a read.

Also previewing tracks from an almost-out album was Elbow, who recorded a session at Maida Vale for BBC1, and stopped into Zane Lowe's show last week to share some of the results. Not sure how many songs they tracked in all, but two were played last Wednesday (stream here until tomorrow), and another Thursday (stream "One Day Like This" here for two more days). In addition to first single "Grounds For Divorce", they performed this one...

Mp3: Elbow - "The Bones Of You" (live on BBC1)

Elbow's fourth album, "The Seldom Seen Kid", is already out in the UK, and arrives on U.S. shores on April 22nd.

Music Slut directs our attention to a YouTube video recording of a new Sigur Ros song that will likely/hopefully appear on their next album. Check out some new photos from the recording sessions of said album back in January here.

Ida has shared a video for a song from their beautiful latest album, "Lovers Prayers". Head here for the Megan Holmes-directed clip for the song "The Weight of the Straw".

I'm really enjoying "Accelerate", the almost-out new R.E.M. album, now streaming at iLike. As I said awhile back, I've found something worthwhile in most of their late-era records, but haven't been this instantly struck by one in many, many years, and I'm happily surprised. Whenever I hear the phrase "return to form", I fear contrived emptiness, potential trying-too-hard insincerity, but this one really sounds like R.E.M. just being R.E.M.. The songs, the production, the brevity, it's all working for me. And I'm very glad to be able to write that in 2008. Stream the entire thing here, and you don't even have to register to do it.

Thanks to Jay @ Clicky Clicky for the heads up that there's going to be another New Radiant Storm King album later this year. Their last one, "The Steady Hand", was one of my faves of 2006, so I'm fairly eager to hear what they follow it up with. The band plays as part of a promising line-up at PA's Lounge on April 6th, with The Spanish Armada, Dr. Powerful (Ex-Polvo members within), and Bullpen Catcher (Ex-Kudgel within). Jay's update also allowed me to notice that the band shared an outtake from the "Winter's Kill" album on their MySpace page. Head there to hear "Doppelganger in Tow", along with three from "The Steady Hand" if you've never had the pleasure.

The Phoenix's On The Download shares up three videos from the Mountain Goats appearance at Museum of Fine Arts Boston a couple weekends ago: The title track from "Heretic Pride", a Rodney Crowell cover, and a brand new song called "Sign Of The Crow". Again, I must warn you... turn your volume down before you head to that page, as all three videos auto-start at the same time with an advertisement.

Back in August, Sebadoh's Lou Barlow said on his messageboard that the next reissue the band would be working on would be the excellent "Bubble & Scrape". Well, looks like the work's done, as a release date has been announced: The remastered and expanded "Bubble & Scrape" will arrive on May 5th via Sub Pop and Domino. Jason Loewenstein shared the full tracklisting here, and Barlow adds that the "Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock" reissue is planned, but that a reissue of "Weed Forestin'" is a bit up in the air.

Fellow Silkworm fans should be keeping an eye on the production blog for the in-progress "Couldn't You Wait" documentary, as new content is regularly added. Video clips and photos from the creator's recent trip out to California was added last month, and earlier this month they shared interview video clips with Steve Albini, Jeff Tweedy, Stephen Malkmus, Henry Owings, and Brian Teasley. Great stuff, which you can also see here. In case you haven't seen the 4-minute trailer yet, have a look here. Click here to help fund the thing, if you've got Silkworm love and some spare dollars.

Non-musical, but demanding the attendance of fans of HBO's now-ended, brilliant series "The Wire": A Harvard-hosted lecture and panel discussion on Friday, April 4th titled "HBO's 'The Wire': Racial Inequality and Urban Reality." Panelists will include Wire creator David Simon, Boston Police deputy superintendent and liaison to the homeless community Nora Baston, Columbia University's Sudhir Venkatesh, and Geoffrey Canada, the president of Harlem Children's Zone; William Julius Wilson of Harvard University will moderate the discussion, which starts at 5pm on Friday, April 4th. No registration is necessary, just arrive early enough to get in at 79 JFK Street near Harvard Square, Cambridge.

And in case you missed it, read this interesting article over at Time.com titled "The Wire's War on the Drug War", written by Wire series writers David Simon, Ed Burns, Dennis Lehane, George Pelecanos, and Richard Price.

And on a completely different note, the no-longer-kids Kids in the Hall are touring again, and comedy saints be praised, one of their dates is in Boston. Yes, the Canadian quintet will be performing at the Citi Center (aka the Wang) on Thursday, April 17th, 2008, and I snagged myself 8th row tickets over the weekend. Get your own here, more details here.

If your appreciation for Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains despite its absence (unless you're reading the comics), you might want to have a listen to this recording of last week's cast reunion at this year's Paley Fest. You can also watch video interviews with the cast on the night of the reunion here. Links to more coverage can be found at Pop Candy, or Whedonesque, of course.

And lastly, for any Boston area readers, a reminder: If you're not doing anything tonight (aside from sleeping), I'll be on stage with four friends at the Abbey Lounge, playing the drums in Stratford Projects. It's the SP's first performance ever, and my first time behind the drums in quite awhile. Night owl's will appreciate that we hit the stage around 11:45pm, playing after St. Helena, who have been hosting a Tuesday night residency all month long.

A little info on Stratford Projects -- we're led by current Sixth Great Lake and former Guppyboy / Essex Green member Michael Barrett on guitar and vocals, and along with my rusty drumming, Mike's wife Anna will be playing keyboards, Neil Cleary plays guitar, and former Jumproper Adam Boc is on bass.

Needless to say, after waking at 6AM to listen to the first Japan-hosted Red Sox game of the season, I'll be taking a nice nap before hitting the stage almost 18 hours later...

posted by brad at 9:55 AM | direct link | rss (1 :2) | |

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