For your visual pleasure, my month in photographic form. Click each pic for many more shots...

Labels: nac snaps

A gift for one of my Boston-based readers, courtesy of the now-officially-underway Independent Film Festival and Warner Bros. Records' new all-vinyl online record store, Because Sound Matters.

This Sunday evening, the IFFB will be hosting the New England premiere of the Stephin Merritt / Magnetic Fields documentary "Strange Powers" at the Brattle, and not only do I have a pair of screening tickets to hand out, but I've got an accompanying slab of twelve-inch wax to sweeten the deal: A pressing of the band's latest album, "Realism", on vinyl, with an accompanying compact disc inside for easy transport.

So, if you were thinking this whole (very much welcomed) vinyl resurgence thing was a passing phase, well, the WB opening BecauseSoundMatters.com might just put those doubts to rest. The mega-corp has done more than dip a toe in the pond, they dove in and started a site solely devoted to black platters, offering up exclusives, pre-orders, and yes, even apparel. In a time when the big boys are cutting back, the Warners have put some money and promo muscle behind vinyl, and that's saying something. If you know me, and this site, then you know I'm not one for banner ads. But allow me to give out free Magnetic Fields vinyl to someone? Well, ok, ya got me.

Live near Boston? Want to see that screening for free with a friend? Want that MF vinyl? If the word "Yes" just popped into your head three times in a row, then here's what you need to do: Send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com titled "Yeah! Oh, Yeah!" before Noon sharp this Saturday, April 24th. That's when I'll pick a random winner, get their mailing address, and put their name on a couple passes to the 7:30pm screening of "Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields" at Harvard Square's wonderful Brattle Theatre. Just make sure you're free that night before you enter so the tix don't go to waste. Given the band's Boston roots, it'll likely sell out.

Have a look at the film's official site, and the trailer.

Labels: giveaways, iffb

In just a number of hours, the 8th annual Independent Film Festival of Boston kicks off with an opening night at the Somerville Theatre, then spreads to a few other area cinemas for a week-long celebration of all that is good about goin' to the movies. Lovingly (and tirelessly) curated by an all-volunteer staff, it ranks very high among the reasons I love this town, and I haven't missed a single IFFB yet.

In years past, I've done run-downs spotlighting a film or two that I'm looking forward to during each day of the fest, but this year I'm going to switch that up a little bit. The reason? Well, the music. There's lots of strong music-related content this year, so I'm going to hit that list and close out with a few other films I'm looking forward to...


Since their second edition in 2004, the IFFB has always made sure that music documentaries are a component of the fest, and each year usually brings at least one that's directly up my alley - In 2004 we had "Dig!", 2005 brought "Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley", 2006 gave us the one two locally-flavored punch of Pixies doc "loudQUIETloud" and Mission of Burma's "Not A Photograph", 2007 delivered "Silver Jew", then "Joy Division" in 2008, and most recently, "I Need That Record!" and the locally-made "Speaking In Code" last year. That's not even a complete list of all the music-related films they've shown (and that I've been compelled to see).

Well, this year up's the ante: A documentary focusing on my favorite songwriter of all time? Oh yes. How about a film centered on a Boston-connected curmudgeon (and his band), hailed as one of the best contemporary songsmiths working? Roger that. Want to learn more about the only British rock-band-frontman with a style of facial hair named after him? Yeah, they've got that. The struggle of a Boston-based writer during his attempt to reunite a seminal UK band, with the input of a half-dozen other famous fans? Uh-huh. Throw in a look inside the origins of the Muslim punk scene, and you've got yourself one seriously varied music-doc itinerary. Hell, this list could comprise a mini-fest on its own...

Searching For Elliott Smith
(Official Site / IMDB)

Screening on Monday, April 26th at 7pm at the Somerville Theatre
Director Gil Reyes in attendance

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I'm terribly non-committal (i.e. wishy washy) when it comes to picking favorites. But my favorite songwriter? Yeah, it's Elliott. His death hit me like no other, had a far greater effect on me than the loss of any other cultural figure. He's probably had the most direct impact on my life than any other person I've never met. So to say that I'm looking forward to this particular film is a bit of an understatement.

Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields
(Official Site / IMDB)

Screening on Sunday, April 25th at 7:30pm at the Brattle Theatre
Magnetic Fields member/manager Claudia Gonson in attendance (I think)
(and if I had to wager, other MF'ers will be there, too)

By all accounts (and recorded evidence), Stephen Merritt is a prickly fellow. Cantankerous, droll, crabby - consult your thesaurus, and yeah, he's probably been called that. But as far as I'm concerned, he's earned that right, what with all the irresistibly catchy tunes he's crafted with his various projects - The Gothic Archies, Future Bible Heroes, alongside Lemony Snicket - but most prominently with his mates in The Magnetic Fields. Able to dip his toe in whatever style he damn well pleases, he's a modern master, and in concert his generally dour manner comes across as divine comedy when combined with his longstanding foil, singer/keyboard player Claudia Gonson. I think she'll be at this screening for a Q&A or intro or something (songs, maybe? we can hope.), and given the band's strong Boston ties, I picture a crowd filled with friends and bandmates (both former and current).

Lemmy
(Official Site / IMDB)

Screening on Friday, April 23rd at 10pm the Somerville Theatre
Director Wes Orshosk in attendance

Ian Fraser Kilmister. His facial hair is as legendary as his playing in Motorhead. I mean, do any other festival-related celebs rate their own action figure? I think not. (oh, if only they'd made Deadwood figs). The biggest surprise about this documentary is that one didn't already exist. If you love Lemmy, if you've ever rocked out to "Ace Of Spades", how can you miss this?

(That said... I'll be missing it, but only because it's up against the Bill Hicks documentary. Tough one, that.)

Do It Again
(Official Site / IMDB)

Screening on Saturday, April 24th at 8pm at the Somerville Theatre
Director Robert Patton Spruill, subject/producer Geoff Edgers, and former
Del Fuegos member Warren Zanes (who is featured in the film) in attendance

(I wrote the synopsis for this one in the IFFB's program guide, so I'll paste some of that here)

Every real music fan has a favorite band - but it's a very rare fan who single-handedly attempts to reunite them years after they've packed it in. In director Robert Patton Spruill's documentary, that rare fan is Geoff Edgers, a Boston Globe staff writer and dedicated follower of the Kinks. Edgers was driven to embark on a risky and time-consuming quest to get the Davies brothers and their old bandmates back in the same room to play some songs. He enlists some pretty impressive Kinks fans for moral (and musical) support, including Robyn Hitchcock, Sting, Paul Weller, Peter Buck, and Zooey Deschannel (and if you think it was impossible for Zooey to appear even more endearing than she already seems to be, well, think again).

Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam
(Official Site / IMDB)

Screening on Thursday, April 22nd at 7:15 at the Somerville Theatre
Director Omar Majeed in attendance

Chronicles the highly unusual, and relatively recent, genesis of the Muslim American punk scene. Most musical movements eventually get documented in various books, but this one flips that convention on its head - Michael Mohammed Knight's 2003 novel, "The Taqwacores" came first, and the scene soon followed.

And another film that, while not a documentary, deserves a mention in an IFFB 2010 music post...

Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee
(Trailer / IMDB)

Screening on Thursday, April 22nd at 10pm at the Somerville Theatre

A mockumentary chronicling the rise of an obscure UK rapper and his manager who enlist the help of, believe it or not, the Arctic Monkeys.

And, lastly, I'll bullet-point a few non-musical highlights of my personal festival schedule...

The opening night film, which starts in just a couple hours, is Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini's "The Extra Man", starring Kevin Kline and Paul Dano (from "Little Miss Sunshine" and "There Will Be Blood"). Kline will be there in person, and is being honored with the IFFBoston 2010 Career Achievement Award. And don't ask him to do Otto from A Fish Called Wanda... he's gotta be sick of that by now.

The one and only John Hawkes, an actor I've loved even before he embodied the wonderful Sol Star in Deadwood, is coming to town to attend the Friday night screening of Winter's Bone. You might also know him from former IFFB selection "Me and You and Everyone We Know", or even from the current season of "Lost". Can't wait to see him in person, and I'll be wearing my "Star & Bullock Hardware" t-shirt with pride.

Even though she was just here a couple weeks ago to attend the Boston Comic-Con, actor/director Amber Benson (aka Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is returning to attend the screening of her new film "Drones" (which was co-directed by Adam Busch, aka Warren, aka the guy who killed Tara). The film stars another familiar Buffyverse face, Jonathan M. Woodward (who has appeared in no less than three Whedon shows), as well as Mr. James Urbaniak, who himself attended the IFFB a few years back.

Director Todd Solondz is coming to show his latest work, "Life During Wartime". The film has a conceit that sounds very Solondz-ish: He brings back characters from his previous films and casts them with different actors. Should be interesting, at the very least.

I mentioned above that I'm skipping "Lemmy" to catch "American: The Bill Hicks Story". Fellow fans of Hicks' comedy, which was more biting social commentary than funny ha-ha, know why I had to make this choice.

Going to try and catch one or two of the Short Film packages this year, but the one I'm most looking forward to is the animation block. Check that out.

Another short film that intrigues me? "Athena". Why? Well, Harry Dean Stanton and David Thewlis, that's why.

Last I heard, there's a slim chance that James Franco will show up for the closing night film, a screening of his behind-the-scenes SNL documentary, "Saturday Night". Even if he's not there, that's pretty much a can't miss flick for me.

Keep up with the IFFB this week on both Twitter and Facebook. I would recommend that you buy a full festival pass, but they're already sold out, so make sure you buy your individual tickets in advance, so you don't get shut out.

Alright, time to head over to the Davis Square and pick up my pass. I'll update some hyperlinks as soon as I get a chance. See ya at the Somerville...

Labels: iffb

As a longtime fan of Canadian super- uber-group The New Pornographers, the weeks leading up to a new album release are like a prolonged Christmas Eve. All anxiousness and anticipation and 'Hurry up!'. In the run up to the May 4th holiday shelf date for "Together", we've been teased with two very-promising peeks at our long-awaited present in the form of preview MP3 "Your Hands (Together)" and first (iTunes) single "The Crash Years" (and teased by Mr. Ted Leo about yet another track... scroll to the end). But for me, well, Christmas came early, and tomorrow I get to share my premature good fortune with the Boston-area.

I've just had my first (and second, and third, etc.) full listen to the whole shebang, and it's quite simply a stunner. Even five songs in I knew it beat 2007's "Challengers" by a Canadian country mile. But why the advance aural action? Get this: Tomorrow night at 9pm, I've helped organize what's being called a New Pornographers' "Get Together" at The Independent in Somerville's Union Square. Yes, it's a listening party, but this time there's a bit more to it. Let's run down the details, shall we?...

Hosted by myself and DJ Rav from WZBC's very fine Flyweight radio programme.

Between 9pm and 1am, we'll play the New Pornographers new one a couple times, two weeks before you can buy it.

When we're not playing the album, we'll be playing our favorite Matador Records-released songs, along with something special: A just-for-the-occasion mix disc put together by head-Pornographer Carl Newman himself.

Starting at 9pm, the first 20 people through the door get a limited edition, hand-numbered CD burn of that mix disc. It's ridiculously, and wonderfully, eclectic, and there were just 150 made (the rest went to the other countrywide Get Togethers, of course).

We'll be giving out a pair of tickets to the New Pornographers' show at Boston's House of Blues on Friday night, June 18th.

We also have posters (two of which are autographed by Mr. Newman) and a couple copies of the Dan-Bejar-penned "Myriad Harbor" vinyl seven-inch single (which includes a non-Challengers b-side) to give away as well.

The evening is not just presented by Matador Records, WZBC, and yes, Bradley's Almanac - it's also sponsored by PBR, who have set up special deal on a certain amount of tallboys (not quite free, but close enough).

So there ya go. Free stuff, discounted drinkage, at a great bar, and all soundtracked to one of the best albums of the year. If you're thinking of coming, fire off an RSVP email to gettogetherboston [at] gmail [dot] com, mark yourself down on the Facebook event page, and make sure you get there early to grab a compilation and super-cheap suds.

Live near Boston? Got plans tonight? No? Well, lemme take care of that for you...

Understatement alert: I love Slumberland Records. Like, really, really love them. So much so that I flew out to California a couple weeks ago to attend one of the label's 20th Anniversary shows at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco. And while I had to endure the incessant death-breath of a fellow JetBlue passenger for 6 excruciating hours, in the end, it was worth it. So totally worth it.

And tonight, I get to bring a little bit of that Slumberland magic back to the Boston area. Y'see, the label has just released a new compilation of tracks from legendary and highly influential (in some circles, namely ones I live in) quartet Black Tambourine. The self-titled CD/vinyl release pulls together all their studio material, including early demos along with two newly recorded (!) covers and, yes, two brand new tracks (!!). This, for many early indie-pop fans like me, is a quote-unquote "Big Deal". Capital 'B', capital 'D'.

When Slumberland main man (and Black Tambourine member) Mike Schulman announced that several cities would be hosting listening/release parties for the BT comp, I was bothered enough by the Boston-area's absence in that list that I just went ahead and volunteered to make it happen. So, this very night in Cambridge, we'll be commemorating this blessed event by hosting a special evening of music at River Gods on River St. near Central Square. Here's what's on the agenda...

Starting at 9pm sharp, I'll be playing songs from my own Slumberland 7" and CD collection (and also, um, a few Twin Peaks soundtrack songs, because the show premiered exactly 20 years ago tonight, and I'm an unabashed TP fanboy). At around 10pm I'll start playing the new Black Tambourine compilation in its entirety, and will give away a stack of it on sweet, sweet vinyl (oh, and CDs, buttons, and posters, too).

Acting as the the label's New England ambassador, singer/guitarist Andrew Churchman from the Boston-based Slumberland-signed band Pants Yell! will be playing any songs he damn-well pleases (all on vinyl, 'natch) after I finish up, and then guest DJ Rav from WZBC's esteemed Flyweight radio show will spin his own stack of Slumberlandy songs to close out the night. He'll probably play the BT compilation again for those who missed it, and will be giving away more free stuff until it's gone.

Get it? Got it? Good.

The night is absolutely free, it's 21+ (sorry 'bout that, young snappers of whippers), and hey, it's at River Gods. Which is a safe bet for a good time regardless of what music happens to be playing. So I'll see ya there, fellow noise-pop fans...

[MP3] Black Tambourine - "For Ex-Lovers Only"

Another post, another giveaway. One of these days I'll get around to posting actual content instead of just handing out free stuff. Not that the winners are complaining, mind you...


This Saturday night, being the 10th of April, 2010, Mr. Ted Leo and his fellow Pharmacists come back to Boston to showcase tracks from their first full-length for Matador Records, "The Brutalist Bricks". But instead of hitting their usual spot downstairs at the Middle East, they're back at the Paradise for the first time since 2006. And to headline a pretty killer lineup: White hot power trio Screaming Females (whose frontwoman, Marissa Paternoster, blew me away with her guitar work last year opening for Throwing Muses) and the excellent Obits (anchored by former Hot Snakes/Jehu singer/guitarist Rick Froberg). Either of those bands could've headlined their own Boston-area shows, so the fact that we get to see all of them in one night, on one stage, is a minor musical miracle. Something not to be taken for granted.

The show is very nearly sold-out, but I've got a pair of tickets to bequeath to a loyal reader (or, really, any casual surfer-by) thanks to LiveNation. Instructions are as usual - send a digital note to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before 1pm on Friday, two short days from now. Just put "Pick (Timorous) Me!" in the subject field and let me know what town you live in, then on Friday I'll randomly choose and contact a winner who will be on Saturday night's Paradise guest list with a +1 for a pal.

Tickets of your own can be purchased here (for the moment), or at the 'Dise box office if you hurry. Oh, and be safe by arriving early to the show, so you don't miss a moment of either opener.

Parting gifts...

[INTERVIEW] The Village Voice shares a recent chat with Mr. Leo

[VIDEO] Ted + the Pharmacists do Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" for the AV Club's "Undercover" series

[MP3] Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"

Labels: giveaways

Well, hello there. Miss me? Wait, don't answer that.

If you've been following the ol' 'Nac Twitter feed, you are well aware of the fact that I've been sojourning in sunny San Francisco for the past week or so. The highlight and primary reason for my trip? Slumberland's 20th Anniversary bash at the Rickshaw Stop. One word summary? "Wow". More later.

Boston was rainy when I left, and rainier when I returned. Thanks, home state! You sure know how to welcome a boy back. Ugh.

I'll ease back into the blogging by giving you free stuff. Admittedly, I should have posted this sooner, but I blame jetlag. Gotta blame something. Anyway, here, have some tickets and vinyl...


Oslo combo Serena Maneesh hooked me from the get go -- with one listen through their self-titled 2006 album, I was all in. When I heard that collection of post-shoegaze goodness, it was as an import, available the previous year overseas but not-yet-out in the states when they played TT the Bears in March '06. Any doubts I had that they'd be able to recreate the sonic impact of that debut in a live setting were squashed shortly after they took the stage. They brought it, they cut it into pieces, and hand delivered it to everyone there. So, so powerfully good.

Four years later, we finally get a follow-up record, this time courtesy of the esteemed 4AD label. The awkwardly titled, yet no less mind-blowing "SM 2: Abyss in B Minor", which arrived on store shelves last week, owes just as much to their shoegaze fore-bearers as their debut did, but throws in some more exciting rhythmic power (check the Moonshake-style awesomeness of "Reprobate!") and a bit more variety. It's a scorcher, start to finish, and I'm just as excited to see these songs alongside the older stuff when the band returns to TT the Bears this Sunday. Yes, this weekend. In other words, you don't have a lot of time to enter this contest, so get crackin'...

Thanks to the fine folks at the Beggars Group, I have not only a pair of TTs tickets to give away to an Almanac visitor, but a copy of an exclusive, numbered 12-inch vinyl single for the lead track, "Ayisha Abyss." Rather than give them out to one fortunate soul, I'll offer up the tickets to a random Boston-area resident, and the 12" to someone who lives too far away to make it (continental U.S. only, though). If you're feeling lucky, send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before 2pm on Friday. Yes, that is less than 24 hours from now. Write "SM!" in the subject field, and let me know if you'd prefer the vinyl or the tickets. Tomorrow afternoon I'll pick two random names and let them know. Ticket winner will get their name on Sunday's show guest list, and the vinyl winner will be sent the wax from Beggars. Easy enough.

For tickets of your own to the show, go here or visit TTs to save on service charges (also, make sure you get to TTs early enough to catch excellent openers The Depreciation Guild). Stream some Serena Maneesh at MySpace, or better yet, grab a couple of label-approved MP3s right here, check out a live video for "Reprobate!", or stream the album in its entirety...


The band's ongoing North American Tour continues tonight in Wisconson and heads to Canada before they arrive here on Sunday. The remaining April dates...

01: Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
02: Toronto, ON @ Opera House
03: Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
04: Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bears
05: Milford, CT @ Daniel Street
06: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
07: Washington, DC @ DC9
08: New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge

Alright then, get emailin', and keep an eye on your inbox tomorrow afternoon...

Labels: giveaways