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recommended boston area events

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






Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Some '09 Faves: My Bazaar Bizarre Boston playlist
A few Sundays back I once again had the honor of DJing the annual Bazaar Bizarre Boston, a massively multi-vendor crafy-fair that I'd attended many times before I was invited to actually show up and share a personal playlist. For me, it only starts feeling like the holiday season after I've spent an early-December afternoon there, and the fact that I get to provide the shopping soundtrack for a little while gives me more than a transient thrill. As long as they keep on inviting me, I'll keep on doing it.

Since the BazBizBos always arrives near the end of the year, I use it as an opportunity to spin some of my favorite songs of the previous 12 months during my too-short-shift. It was far more difficult to whittle it down this year - I had to cut a number of tracks I really wanted to include. The songs I did play give a pretty clear idea of what you'll find on my favorite albums of '09 list, assuming I ever get that finished.

One of the best parts of spinning songs for the browsing masses is when people come up to ask what's playing, or to see if there's a way they can see the whole playlist, and it happened a few times during my slot. I always say "I'll have the them listed on the Almanac very soon", and this time "soon" ended up being "later" than I'd hoped. So here it is, a bit overdue, but with bonus commentary on each song: The songs that comprised my 1-hour set for 2009 Bazaar Bizarre Boston, with links to the MP3s if they're made freely available by the band or their label. At the bottom you'll find a link to a .zip file containing all the shared tracks...
Bradley's Almanac
Bazarre Bizarre Boston 2009 Playlist
(aka "The BazBizBosNac09 Mix")

City Breathing - "A Place To Bury Old Mistakes" [MP3]
I tend to be buried in emails from bands, regardless of geography, and after falling in love with City Breathing this year, I was frustrated to find they'd emailed me a year and a half ago but were lost in the inbox shuffle. Oh, the wasted time I could have spent listening to them. Well, I'm making up for it now. Download all three of this Brooklyn trio's releases (a 2008 full-length, the 2009 EP that includes this song, and a brand new one that is a bit of a Christmas present) at their website.
The Novel Ideas - "The Sky" [MP3]
Naturally, those introductory emails come from a lot of Boston-area bands, and rarely does the music involved strike me as instantly and deeply as The Novel Ideas did a couple months ago. They ended up becoming a major part of my autumn soundtrack. Dynamic, multi-layered production, memorable melodies, male/female vocal interplay used perfectly. The word 'tasteful' comes to mind, but not the boring, stifled side... there's a restraint involved that's remarkable. For example - slide guitar tends to turn me off, as it can be over-used and over-mixed. But this band knows exactly how much (or, rather, how little) to sprinkle into the occasional song. Same with the harmonies, the gorgeous strings, with every other instrument. The song shared here is the opening track from their new full-length, "The Sky is a Field", which you can download or stream for free at their website (along with their 2007 debut). As I type this, I'm listening to the second half of the track "Julian Carax", and swooning.
Now, Now Every Children - "Have You Tried" [MP3]
It was a hectic year for this Minnepolis duo (who play live as a five-piece), with multiple tours and a proper re-release of their excellent debut, "Cars", on Afternoon Records in July. I was lucky to have them as part of my only 2009 "Almanac presents" show at TT's in May, and this is my favorite song from the album (shared exclusively here on the 'Nac with permission from Afternoon).
Telekinesis - "Coast Of Carolina" [MP3]
Another 2009 discovery, Seattle's Michael Lerner, thanks once again to Merge Records. If you go by the official Merge Companion, Telekinesis' self-titled debut is the final Merge release of their wonderful first 20 years. Hard to imagine a label with a better batting average. Can't wait to hear what Lerner has up his sleeve for a follow-up.
The Beatings - "Bury You" [MP3]
How this band, after a decade together, retains the spark of songwriting creativity that resulted in what may be the best Boston-made album of the year is a magical mystery. I'm just damn glad they've still got it. They've always been spoken well of among friends (hell, I was in a band that had a temporarily-titled song called 'The Beatings'), but for unknown reasons they'd mostly avoided my radar. This album finally, thankfully, fixed that. I promised myself I'd dive into their back catalog when I got sick of "Late Season Kids", but it feels like that will be a long time coming.
Hallelujah The Hills - "Blank Passports" [MP3]
A reason I had to put the "what may be one of" qualifier in front of "the best Boston-made albums of the year" is HtH's second full-lengther, "Colonial Drones". I don't like to throw the word epic around, but this one deserves it with a capital E. I adored their debut, but now it feels a little like a warm-up for what was to come - avoiding a sophomore slump with a sophomore soar.

Oh, and my favorite memory from DJing the Bazaar Bizarre this year, aside from Brendan putting on those headphones? Jon 'Jonnie Spaceman' Bernhardt momentarily recreating his dance moves from the "Blank Passports" video in front of me at the DJ table. Kills me just thinking about it.
Taxpayer - "Creatures Of Habit"
Now I generally don't agree with much of the nominees list for the Boston Phoenix's Best Music Poll (nothing against those listed, there's just too much missing), but this one they got right. Taxpayer's "Don't Steal My Night Vision" not only deserved to be on that list, but of those nominated, they probably should have taken home the prize. A total triumph of no-frills, hook-filled, guitar-based rawk. Just when you think that's been done to death in this town, Taxpayer comes along and breathes a little new life into it. This song is my fave from the disc, but isn't available as a freebie. Instead, here's the album's opening track, "We Have Arrived" [MP3]
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - "Higher Than The Stars" [MP3]
This Slumberland combo releases a debut album filled with songs that could have been singles, and then follows it up with an EP that contains possibly their best track yet. Despite the fact that the guitars are dialed down to let the synth shine. Bodes well for their next full-lengther, it does, but don't go gettin' totally keyboardy on me, kids... keep those distorted layers alive.
LoveLikeFire - "Signs" [MP3]
It's been a notable year for bands fronted by strong, confident female voices (Ume, You Could Be A Wesley, Heartless Bastards, Screaming Females, the next band on this list, a bunch more), and San Fran's LoveLikeFire sits high among them. Their latest is "Tear Ourselves Away", which has only seen a UK release so far, but will hit US shores early in the new year. So, yes, that will likely put them on both my '09 and '10 faves lists.
Sky Larkin - "Molten"
And by 'next band on this list', I meant UK trio Sky Larkin. It's pretty hard to find a weak track on their debut, "The Golden Spike", and I was gutted that they weren't able to schedule a Boston-area date during their East coast visit in October. So close, and yet so far away. Next year, promise?

The best way to hear a sample Sky Larkin song is to download the post-album track "Smarts", which was offered up for free (along with an acoustic version of excellent album track "Matador") right here - you'll just have to add your name to their mailing list. And after you hear 'em, you'll probably have no regrets about doing that.
Dylan In The Movies - "Josephine, If You Only Knew" [MP3]
Since the 2006 debut EP was released, waiting for a full-length from Boston's Dylan In The Movies has required no small amount of patience. In fact, it's taken so long that the official domain name has expired. But when I first heard this new song earlier this year, Brian Sullivan earned whatever patience is necessary. It's a stunner, and is also the upcoming album's title track. Keep an eye out for it to be released, at last, in spring 2010 on American Laundromat, and an ear out for guest appearances from Tanya Donelly (who co-wrote a track) and the Watson Twins.
Pants Yell! - "Not Wrong"
Ok, so I'm going to step out on a little limb here and declare this my favorite song released by any Boston-based band this year. Maybe any band anywhere, period. Exclamation point. There, I said it. "Not Wrong" gets me every single time, like it was a puzzle piece made to perfectly fit a space in my head I didn't even know I had. This one isn't available for free online, but you can download the album's also-charming third track "Cold Hands" [MP3].
Neko Case - "This Tornado Loves You"
That voice, that album cover, this song. Another album ending up on a lot of other "best of" lists that I have absolutely no argument with. My favorite track ain't free, but this one is: "People Got A Lotta Nerve" [MP3]
Superchunk - "Crossed Wires"
How great is it that in the year 2009 I can add another solid Superchunk seven-inch to my stacks of wax? And that it measures right up to those that came before it? So, so great. As much as I hope this foretells an eventual album in the works, I might be satisfied with a concentrated dose like this (and the recent "Learned To Surf" EP) every once in awhile. Just never stop. No MP3 for this one (go buy it), but stream that EP over here.
Built To Spill - "Planting Seeds"
Yes, "There Is No Enemy" is their strongest album in years. Yes, it still sounds like Built To Spill, but it's more focused, more confident, catchier than the last couple records. Plus, hey, there's a Bill Hicks mention in "Planting Seeds". And yes, they're still on a major label, so no free MP3 for you.
Pomegranates - "Coriander" [MP3]
Another discovery I can attribute to an unsolicited email, and the linked song was this one, "Coriander". Hooked me right away, and I was glad to discover upon its release that the rest of this Cincinnati band's second album measured up. I was crushed to miss their opening set before Wye Oak at TTs in May, but hopefully they'll return to Boston in the new year so I can make up for that mistake.
Tim and Sam's Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam - "Stepping Stones"
Yes, the band name is intentionally unwieldy, but their beautiful songs more than make up for it. Mostly instrumental so far, they promise some vocals on their first full-length, which should be out in the new year. For now, they'll send you an MP3 of the wonderful song above (from their debut "Put Your Slippers On" EP) in exchange for your email address right here, and also offer up a holiday present in the form of a home demo over here.
The Hush Now - "Wishing You A Happy Christmas" [MP3]
Wouldn't be a proper Bazaar Bizarre set without a holiday song, now would it? Thankfully, Boston's The Hush Now helped fill that requirement by offering up this new track as a free download just before the BazBizBos. Keep an ear out for their second full-length, "Constellations", early in the new year.
Here's a handy .zip file with all 15 MP3s linked above, and as always, you can easily stream them over at the Hype Machine.











featured mp3 download
arcade fire
live at the boa pavilion
in boston, mass.
on sunday, august 1st, 2010

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