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Monday, May 31, 2010  When it was announced that singer/guitarist/eccentric-genius Robyn Hitchcock would be making a special appearance when Jonathan Demme was given the Coolidge Award at Brookline's Coolidge Corner Theatre earlier this year, I had no idea what we'd be in for. I was already looking forward to seeing Demme in the flesh as he introduced his latest live concert doc ("Neil Young Trunk Show"), so getting what was rumored to be "a short set" from Mr. Hitchcock (a frequent Demme collaborator) was just about the best bonus ever. Well, his set certainly was short. A single song, in fact.Hey, I'm not complaining - the new song, "Born On The Wind" off his most recent album with the Venus 3, "Propellor Time", was a keeper. And a little Hitchcock does go a long way... but even after a I see a full length RH set, I'm left wanting more. So when he quit the stage too quickly, I was in my seat wishing he'd get back up there. Well, it took a few months, but my wish is coming true. On Tuesday, June 8th, Robyn Hitchcock returns to the Coolidge for a solo show, and I'm pretty well thrilled. Seems he must have felt pretty comfortable up there on that Brookline stage, considering how quickly he's coming back. It's the first of just four dates he's booked this spring (and his first area show since he performed "I Often Dream Of Trains" as a trio in Somerville in late '08), with two nights in Toronto and one in western Massachusetts to follow. We should consider ourselves lucky, to say the least, so here's hoping we can pack the place for the man. To help do just that, the Coolidge crew has generously given me 5 pairs (yes, five) of tickets to hand out to 'Nac readers. Easily the most tix I've been able to give away for a single show, that's for sure. I'll be doling out three pair the usual way (from emailed entries), and the others on Twitter over the next few days. And yeah, feel free to enter each one separately to increase yer chances. The email details: Send a message to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before Noon this Friday, June 4th. Use "Visible Hitchcock" as the subject, include your full name, and make sure you can be at the show on Tuesday, June 8th. I'll pick three random winners who will each have a pair of tickets waiting for them at the box office that night. For the Twitter giveaway, keep an eye on my account tomorrow, and again on Thursday, when I'll be randomly tweet a message that says "First person to reply gets a pair of tickets to Robyn Hitchcock at the Coolidge on 6/8". Which, y'know, is pretty self-explanatory. For non-free tickets to the show, click over to the Coolidge, or visit their Brookline box office. The other dates on Robyn's short tour are... June 8th at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in BrooklineOther goings-on in Hitchcock's world... Alright, send off those emails, keep an eye on my Twitter, and look out for a couple more 'Nac giveaways this week. Labels: giveaways  Thursday, May 27, 2010  Yes, I've clearly shifted into giveaway mode, and this time brings another wonderful slice of vinyl alongside a pair of free concert tickets... To mark the recent release of The National's new 4AD long-player, "High Violet", the team at Beggars has ponied up an autographed 7" single for the track "Bloodbuzz Ohio", along with two spots on the guest list for one of the band's two upcoming shows at the House of Blues in Boston (Wednesday + Thursday, June 2nd + 3rd). I've long-since grabbed my tickets for the Wednesday show, but the random winner of this one will get to choose the night that works best for them. To varying degrees, and varying lengths of time, all of the National's albums have been growers for me, rather than showers. They always take awhile to sink in, revealing their depths only after many listens. 2007's "Boxer" took the least while, with a few tracks that grabbed me from the get-go (opener "Fake Empire" and personal fave "Mistaken For Strangers" especially), and 2005's "Alligator" slightly longer, but in all honesty, "High Violet" is taking the longest so far. It may even require seeing these songs performed in person for my strong like to turn into the love I expect will come. I've never been disappointed by a National live set, and I've seen my share - from TT the Bears to the Comcast Center to a special gig at downtown bar Paddy O's - so I'm naturally looking forward to next week's tour stop. Especially after watching the D.A. Pennebaker-directed live show that happened at The Brooklyn Academy of Music last week (watch various clips on YouTube for a limited time). So if you want to check out one of those two House of Blues shows next week, and snag that signed "Bloodbuzz Ohio" 7-inch as part of the deal, here's what to do: Fire off an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com, put "NATIONAL ACTION!" in the subject line, let me know which night you'd prefer to see (6/2 or 6/3), and include your mailing address (don't worry, it won't be shared). Make sure it arrives in my inbox by next Tuesday, June 1st, at Noon, when I'll pick a random winner and share the good news. One catch, obviously: You've gotta be able to make it to the show, so don't enter if you can't be there. Here, enjoy the 7-inch version of "Bloodbuzz Ohio" while you type out that email... Speaking of giveaways, in case you haven't noticed, I've got one running on Twitter right now for 2 tickets to see a reunited Concrete Blonde (who are marking the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough "Bloodletting" album) at the Royale Boston next week. The contest ends tomorrow at Noon, so head here for the 140-character details. Monday, May 17, 2010  Last Tuesday, May 11th, esteemed Boston-based rock trio The Figgs offered up their 10th (yes, tenth) studio album. Titled "The Man Who Fights Himself", it's out on CD initially, with vinyl arriving later this year courtesy of the top-notch Gern Blandsten recording label. The 10-song collection is the band's first since 2006's "Follow Jean Through The Sea" (also on GB), and comes on the heels of the teaser 7-inch single, "Casino Hayes", which was released a few months back on Peterwalkee Records.I never got around to writing about my favorite live shows of 2009, but the second night of The Figgs' two-night stand at JP's Midway Cafe woulda placed pretty damn high on that list. It was everything a rock show should be: Intimate, sweaty, loud, and passionate. The band gave it all, playing the best of their older stuff alongside a slew of exciting new ones. Plus, hey, bonus drunken cameo appearances from Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson and Soul Asylum frontman Dave Pirner, who were both in town for an S.A. gig earlier that day (Tommy's playing bass for them at the moment). As a massive 'Mats fan, I got a major thrill seeing Stinson jump on stage for sloppy covers of "My Generation" and "Teenage Kicks". So much freakin' fun. Also a thrill? Finding out that if you order up the Figgs' "Casino Hayes" 7", you not only get a free download code for the a-side and the b-side ("Another Point Of View"), but a bonus live version of "Casino Hayes" recorded that very night I saw them in Jamaica Plain. Recorded by me, as a matter of fact. An honor, to say the very least. Thanks to Peterwalkee, I've got an extra copy of that piece o' wax to pass along to an Almanac reader. If you're in the continental U.S., just drop a quick email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com, include your full name, and title it "FIGGS WAX!". Get it to me before Noon this Friday, May 21st, and I'll pick one random entrant that afternoon. The band just played a few shows to mark the album's release, and have a couple of upstate NY gigs booked for August (the 6th in Albany and the 7th in Saratoga Springs). Keep an eye on their shows page for more dates, of which there are bound to be many more... they need a proper Boston-area show, since their recent stop at Johnny D's (backing the brilliant Graham Parker) unfortunately didn't include a Figgs opening set. Still, a great show, regardless. Order up the Figgs' brand new full-lengther, "The Man Who Fights Himself" direct from the band right here, and grab that 7" straight from the label here. Labels: livemp3s Monday, May 10, 2010
So here we are, well into the month of May, the traditional New England transition from Spring to Summer when ridiculously humid days are intertwined with painfully chilly ones, when Mother Nature can't decide what kind the hell kind of mood she's in, so the fickle bitch often just ends up crying on us. No matter the weather, if it's a mid-weekday you'll be able to take safe shelter inside one of three cozy local venues as three of our finest area songwriters set up shop and share not only their solo sets, but the music of friends they invite along for the ride. Here's much of your potential show-going month ahead...  You've got two more May chances to catch John Shade backed by the gorgeous sounds of the Neave String Quartet down in the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. I've been fortunate enough to see him a few times in recent months, twice at the Armory and most recently outside in Harvard Square, and every time has been totally transportive. Even train bells, crying babies, and popping kettle corn couldn't detract from the beauty of their Mayfair set last weekend. His remaining two LL Residency dates are tomorrow night, May 11th (word is that the combo will be joined once again by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah drummer Sean Greenhalgh), with support from Vikesh Kapoor and Margaret Glaspy, and again next Tuesday the 18th (when guests include Jocie Adams from The Low Anthem and Laura Cortese). Want to attend the final night, next Tuesday the 18th? Well, John has been gracious enough to offer up a pair to a random Almanac reader, so drop an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com titled "Shade in the Lounge" before Monday the 17th at Noon, and let me know which town you live in. I'll pick a winner and let them know shortly after. Buy advance tickets of your own right here, and be sure to visit the John Shade site, where you can download the entirety of his "All You Love Is Need" album, along with a new song backed by the Neave Quartet. Also worth a checking out - A new JS write-up over at the Phoenix.  Officially known as "The Eldridge Rodriguez 100 Percent Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution Residency", the Beatings frontman kicked off his month-long, Wednesday-night O'Brien's occupation last week, making the second installment a couple days away. As the title says, E.R. is keeping it family-flavored, inviting along Midriff Records labelmate Ian Adams (opening on 5/26), his Beatings bandmate Tony Skalicky (who opened last week), and even his own band as an acoustic opener next week, on the 19th. Each evening also brings a different DJ to spin songs between each set, and I'm fortunate enough to be one of 'em. Last week was The Brobots, this Wednesday will be the wonderful Jen + Andy from Band In Boston, the 3rd week is yours truly (that's when the Beatings play acoustic, with openers St. Clair and Ted Billings of Hot Protestants... so psyched!), and batting cleanup on 5/26 is Ryan from Ryan's Smashing Life. Pretty honored to have been invited, although I'd probably be at this show regardless (and hey, I can almost see O'Brien's from my house).  A bit further away from my home base, but well worth the journey, is Brendan Boogie's May residency at the Somerville Armory. Sir Boogie and friends take over every Thursday night this month in the turret room, and the next one looks pretty sweet: Joining Brendan on the bill are Jason Dunn from the Luxury and Magen Tracy of St. Helena. Good bands, both, and as far as I know it's not often that either of them step out for solo sets. Check out the Armory calendar for the rest of the BB lineups, head over to Boston Band Crush for a far more punctual write-up on the residency, and hop to The Dig where Brendan attempts to defend himself. Wednesday, May 05, 2010  This weekend, two men responsible for subjecting us to almost 100 televised episodes of the generally inane (and usually hilarious) exploits of a trio of cartoon food products come to Boston to do it for real. Yes, on Sunday night at the Wilbur Theatre, we will bear witness to Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Live!.The month-long, cross-country tour is in its final week, and from all reports it's a mish-mosh of madness. We'll certainly get to hear series co-creator Dave Willis perform as Meatwad and Carl (good money says uber-Giants-fan Carl will profanely trash the Pats), and Dana Snyder should give us a healthy dose of cranky Master Shake, but the real question is: Will they bring up the infamous 2007 Boston Mooninite Invasion? Here's hoping. Check out this new Weekly Dig interview with Dave + Dana for the likelihood. And be sure to keep an eye out for Zebbler in the crowd on Sunday. Thanks to the Wilbur, and in cooperation with the Weekly Dig crew, I've not only got some tickets to give away to the show (one pair of which were handed out yesterday through my Twitter feed), but a pretty sweet ATHF prize pack. Behold...  Yup, that's the first three seasons of Aqua Teen Hunger Force on DVD, along with your very own inflatable Meatwad, a Meatwad stress ball, and two tickets to the Wilbur on Sunday night. We'll pick one winner from all entrants through the Almanac and the Dig, and I'll draw my own second winner from the 'Nac-only submissions who will get yet another pair of tickets to the Sunday show. To enter: Send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com entitled "ATHF!" before 10pm tomorrow (Thursday) night, and make sure you include your full name and city of residence. A couple of conditions, though - 1) You must live in the Boston area, or at least be in town for the show on Sunday night, and 2) By entering you agree to have your email addy added to the Wilbur Theatre and Daily Dig E-Newsletters. Have no fear, though, I'm already on 'em, and they won't share your address with 3rd-party spammers. Winners will be chosen on Friday and notified no later than 2 o'clock that afternoon. Get tickets of your own to the show right here, and here's a special heads-up for Boston-area students - starting on Friday you can save $5 on ATHF:Live! tickets if you bring your student ID with you to the Wilbur Theatre box office on Tremont Street. That's an extra $5 you can use to pay for a sweet ride in Carl's levitating car. Labels: giveaways |
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