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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

Yes, another link-burst, filled with the various and the sundry...

For a city that's cruelly passed over by the occasional cool tour (by bands that feel NYC is close enough to count), you really can't beat Boston's good fortune lately. Not only are we getting that visit in June from the reunited Swervedriver, but we're going to be graced by the presence of the almighty Polvo just a couple weeks later. On June 20th, the reunited North Carolinians will hit the Middle East Downstairs, and tickets are already on sale.

Wye Oak is coming back to town, but this time you'll be able to spend time with their excellent debut disc before they return. Next week, Merge will release "If Children", and a month later, on May 4th, the Baltimore duo plays Allston's Great Scott with openers Drew O'Doherty and Hands and Knees. Tickets can be bought here, and I'll also be giving away a pair as the show gets closer.

I've spent a lot of time with "If Children", and I've no doubt it'll end up high on my faves of the year list (that's saying a lot with all the great stuff that's come out so far, and what's still ahead). If my praise, or the live songs I offered up a few weeks ago, aren't enough to convince you, have a listen to the two Mp3s that Merge has made available for preview...

Mp3: Wye Oak - "I Don't Feel Young"

Mp3: Wye Oak - "Warning"

Another show at Great Scott, and one that will likely pack the place to the rafters: Former Sunny Day Real Estate and Fire Theft frontman Jeremy Enigk teams up for a show with Damien Jurado on Saturday night, May 31st. Tickets here. Unless there's something new coming up soon, Jeremy will be hawking his third solo album, "World Waits", which came out last August on his own Lewis Hollow label, and Damien will probably play lots of songs from his next full-length, which he said was 'nearing completion' in January.

Sleepyhead continues to reawaken, releasing new recordings in the wake of their return to live stages last fall after a three-year absence. The (now based out of) West Roxbury trio have just let loose two songs exclusively through esteemed record store Other Music's new digital shop, and you can buy them here right after you stream each track ("Red Letter Daze" and "The Family Tree") on MySpace. Which you'll do, as they're both great songs. "Red Letter Daze" will become the title cut from their eventual fifth full-length, which should be out later this year. So nice to have them back, and right here in town where more live shows are likely. But hang in there, non-Bostonians, as summertime should see the band traveling a bit.

Great Scott keeps the good stuff coming with yet another should-be-good show: Atlanta's Snowden returns to the same stage they blew me away on back in 2006, when they play GS on Sunday, May 18th with Colour Revolt and The Epochs in support. It's been a couple years since they released their "Anti-Anti" album, so I'm glad to read on guitarist David Payne's blog that they'll be trying out "a lot of new material" on the 18-date tour. Grab tickets for that one here, and again, I'll have a pair to give away as well.

Fifty percent of Fugazi will be visiting the Boston area this spring, albeit separately, what with Joe Lally playing a show in May, and Ian Mackaye coming to town next week for a free and open-to-the-public discussion at Brandeis.

Ian's appearance, which has doors opening at 7:00 in Schwartz Hall, is part of the school's "Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts", and is presented by the Punk, Rock n' Roll Club. Because, really, what other club did you think would be presenting it?

Lally's May 23rd show is upstairs at the Middle East, and opening is Geoff Farina's Glorytellers, so we're talking sell-out (Lally, lally, lally, get your tickets here. And if you get that reference, you're old, too). Joe's latest long-player is last November's "Nothing Is Underrated", which I'm embarrassed to say I haven't yet heard. Must remedy that soon.

Really nice write-up on Brian Sullivan and his Dylan In The Movies over at the Phoenix. His song "Massachusetts Avenue" popped up in my random playlist the other day and reminded me of how much I'm looking forward to his proper full-length debut (it's been way too long since the 2005 "Feel The Pull" EP). Glad to read in that article that he hopes to have the album, which will have guest vocals from the Watson Twins, out in May. Add my hopes to the pile. Stream "Massachusetts Avenue", another new one, as well as songs from that debut EP, at MySpace.

There's a fairly unique show happening this Tuesday in Somerville at PA's Lounge, when Washington DC's These United States comes to town. The band, which consists of three main members, is nearing the end of 33 shows in 33 cities - with 33 different lineups. In every 'burg they hit, they're recruiting area musicians to sit in with them, so every single night promises to be something special. According to the band, this was to be no improv-style someone-grab-a-tamborine mess, but a rehearsed affair with pre-show practices and set tweaks. For the PA's show, we may see members of openers Pretty & Nice take part, but beyond that, it's anyone's guess... which is the whole point. Anyone seen them elsewhere yet? How was your city's version?

For those in the remaining locations (which after Somerville includes Bard College, NYC, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and finally home to DC), here's a T.U.S. track to prepare yourself...

Mp3: These United States - "First Sight"

The band's debut album, "A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden", can and should be purchased straight from What Are Records, or from the band at one of those remaining shows. Confluence: As I'm typing this, T.U.S. just started playing live at this very moment on our beloved WOXY. Look for that archived soon.

So John Vanderslice played the Paradise last night with Stephen Malkmus & his Jicks, and no, I wasn't there. Such are the sacrifices this novice dad must make. But I'll have another chance to see JV this Monday when he plays the far-more-intimate Oxfam Cafe at Tufts in Medford. Bonus: The Soft Drugs are opening. Now, the Oxfam isn't exactly my preferred place to see shows (usually cramped, no stage, no view... like I said, 'intimate'), ~~but I may have to brave this one~~. Students only, unfortunately. Looks like my decision is made for me.

Well, at least I can listen to NYCtaper's excellent recording of last Sunday's Vanderslice show at the Mercury Lounge. Another fine offering from my ally to the south.

South's fourth full-length, "You Are Here", is out on April 15th via bluhammock music/Young American Recordings, and they're playing Great Scott a couple weeks later to show it off. Mark May 1st down in your datebook, when they'll team up with The Silver State and Johnny Lloyd Rollins for another fine Fenway Recordings-presented evening. Tickets will be available here.

For an idea of what's to come on South's "You Are Here", have a listen...

Mp3: South - "Better Things"

Stream: South - "Wasted"

Got some good news in my inbox yesterday: My pre-order for the latest Teenbeat Records release ships out today, so I'll have it in my hot hands very soon. It's the debut full-length from Maybe It's Reno, which is the name Bridget Cross has chosen to release her new solo recordings under. The one-time Velocity Girl frontwoman and former Unrest/Air Miami bassist/singer isn't exactly stripped down on this one, though, as she's got a couple familiar faces along for the ride: Her old Unrest teammates, Teenbeat head Mark Robinson and drummer Phil Krauth, join her on seven of the album's ten tracks. Can't wait to hear what the results sound like. While the album isn't officially 'out' until April 22nd, order yours here and I'd wager it'll show up straightaway.

This Tuesday, Boston's own Hallelujah The Hills will share up the seven song "Prepare To Qualify" EP on their website, for the affordable price of absolutely free (and with printable artwork, no less). The digital collection pulls together five non-album tracks the band has trickled out at random online outlets over the past year (places like the Village Voice, Largehearted Boy, & Stereogum), along with a couple previously unreleased cuts: "When Night Falls", and a live version of "(You Better Hope You) Die Before Me". If you're one of those remaining freaks (like yours truly) who is compelled to hold something in your greedy mitts, some physical copies of the EP will be available to buy through Misra Records and at HtH shows.

One of those shows is next Saturday, April 12th, at Great Scott (jeez, Great Scott must be butter), which stands as the official EP release event, and features their friends in Ho-Ag. But noooo, Ho-Ag won't be doing something as simple as opening up... they'll also be combining with HtH, Transformer-like, to make a 12-part mega-machine of rock dubbed Hallelujah The Ho-Ag. Pretty & Nice and Thunderhole will be opening up as well, with the between-band soundtrack being provided by DJ Mark Pearson of the almighty Neptune. Tickets here.

I'm as surprised as anyone that in 2008 I was excited enough about a new R.E.M. album to buy the disc on the day it was released. And so I did. And as I said after I heard the preview stream, "Accelerate" is rocking me old school. To mark their return to catchy choruses and distortion pedals, here are a few recent live Mp3s from the ancient Athenians (I kid, I kid)...

Mp3: R.E.M. - "Munich" (Editors cover on BBC1)

Mp3: R.E.M. - "Second Guessing" (live at Schuba's SxSW / NPR)

Mp3: R.E.M. - "Auctioneer" (live at Schuba's SxSW / NPR)

Mp3: R.E.M. - "Fall On Me" (live at Schuba's SxSW / NPR)

Also rocking me still is that Alan-Sparhawk-fronted Retribution Gospel Choir album, and you can now download a companion live set of the March 8th Duluth, MN release show over at the Live Music Archive. And remember, after some dates overseas in April, RGC will play stateside in June, including a stop in Cambridge at the Middle East on Thursday, June 19th. Tickets here or cheaper at the MidEast box office.

Kristin Hersh did a Daytrotter session back in March that aired a few days back, performing four songs including the old Throwing Muses track "Juno".

Have a sketchy YouTube video of the Cure performing a newer song called "A Boy I Never Knew". Hopefully that won't be the only new one they share when they play the Agganis Arena here in Boston next month.

Long as I'm getting all nostalgic, here, have a look at the details for the upcoming Rhino early-era Replacements reissues. I am, uncontrollably, fully on board for those wallet-drainers.

Alright, I have to wrap this up, as it's time to hit the road: It's a banner week for personal favorites here in Boston -- last night was Hellboy creator Mike Mignola being interviewed by collaborator Christopher Golden at the ICA Boston, tomorrow I get to see Travels play their first area live show ever at PA's with the Broken River Prophet, and right now I'm heading out on a rainy walk to Harvard to catch that panel focusing on The Wire that includes creator David Simon. Truly a time to celebrate those whose mere existence makes my life better.

posted by brad at 3:33 PM | direct link |