Bradley’s Almanac

Guest Post: Chris from Tourfilter’s 2007

Posted on December 28, 2007 at 8:11 am | No Comments

Before I get to writing about my own favorite music of 2007, I’ve invited Chris Marstall, proprietor of the excellent Tourfilter, to sit in for the first-ever Almanac guest post. It’s only fitting, as my own year was made better by DJing at Cambridge’s River Gods as part of his TF-sponsored DJ nights. Chris uses this opportunity to reflect on his 2007 show-going experience, and offers up some pretty cool Tourfilter statistics as well. For those not in-the-know, Tourfilter provides live music listings for almost two dozen metropolitan areas, and allows you the ability to not only preview music by many of the cataloged bands, but to track your faves and be alerted when they come to town. It’s ace.

Handing over the microphone…

Hey ‘Nac readers! Chris Marstall from Tourfilter.com here with a special holiday guest post for ya. You all know about Tourfilter DJ Night at River Gods in Cambridge, which Brad has been kind enough to guest DJ for a bunch of times.

Well the night’s been going on most of the year and has become a regular thing (third Thursday of every month, 9PM-1AM, free), with Brad spinning every other month.

Thought late December might be a good time for a look at what shows I actually attended this year, and and whether/how much Tourfilter actually actually helped me personally in my show-going. After that I have a couple of “top” lists that I guarantee you won’t see anywhere else (or your money back). Without further ado, here are the …

shows that I actually attended this year
28 Degrees Taurus, Middle East, January 7
Keith Fullerton Whitman, PA’s Lounge, January 13
Charlene, PA’s Lounge, February 11
Sparklehorse, Paradise Rock Club, February 26
Sebadoh, Paradise Rock Club, March 30
Sunburned, PA’s Lounge, April 25
Charlene, TT the Bear’s, May 30
Jandek, ICA, June 8
The Long Blondes, Great Scott, June 8
Janovitz, Lizard Lounge, July 17
Great Northern, Middle East, June 13
Miss Tess, Toad, June 24
Acid Mothers Guru, Middle East, August 31
Buffalo Tom, Somerville Theatre, October 26
Sidewalk Driver (as Ziggy Stardust), TT the Bear’s, October 31
Yo La Tengo, MFA, November 15
Shonen Knife, Middle East, November 25
Fiery Furnaces, Great Scott, December 10

…plus a few others i can’t exactly remember at toad, lizard lounge, etc. Being generous to myself, call it a couple dozen.

So did Tourfilter help? Well, being absolutely honest about my show-going habits, I’d say going to 24 shows makes for a banner year. Pre-Tourfilter, I think I would be lucky to go to one a month. I often have said that using Tourfilter will double the number of concerts you go to, and that seemed to hold true for me, for 2007 at least. The prime example is probably the Sparklehorse show back in February. Despite the fact that they’re one of my ultra faves, I was formerly such a lazy bastard that I probably never would have found out they were in town were it not for the ‘filter. Thanks, me.

Now let’s compare that number (24) to another – 329. That’s the number of Boston shows Tourfilter emailed me about this year – the number of shows by bands I track. The ideal number of shows for Chris. So how should I feel about those 304 shows i didn’t go to (hello and goodbye to TV on the Radio, Rickie Lee Jones, Holy Fuck, Hella, and Girl Talk)? I think I feel a little guilty, but on balance, I’m glad just to “know”, even if I don’t “go”.

Next number: 8415. That’s the total number of individual shows in Boston this year, according to Tourfilter. That’s bands performing, so there can be more than one “show” per venue per night if there are multiple bands on a bill. But still, yowza, that’s a lot of live music.

Sometimes I like to geek out on the Mysql command line, cooking up different ways of looking at all the information in the Tourfilter database. One interesting stat that’s easy to come up with is who’s playing the most in town. Call it The Hardest Working Bands In (Boston) Show Business. Excluding “house” bands that play mostly at a single venue, here’s the list for 2007:

Top Ten Hardest Working Bands in Boston (2007)
1. David Johnston, 20 shows
2. 28 Degrees Taurus, 19 shows
3. Geoff Farina, 16 shows
4. Mark Lind, 15 shows
    Andrea gillis, 15 shows
    Self-Righteous Brothers, 15 shows
7. This Car Up, 14 shows
    Age Rings, 14 shows
9. Okay Thursday, 13 shows
    Guillermo Sexo, 13 shows

Another thing I get to ponder on quite often while editing Tourfilter every night is band names, and trends thereof. I have my favorite band names (Drag The River + Coach Said Not To are two that are like 3-word short stories) and some less favorite that I won’t mention here. There are a lot of ways to slice the pie in terms of thinking about band names, but one that I thought would be particularly interesting is to look at the most popular words in band names this year. Mysql to the rescue. Here’s the top ten, excluding obvious words like a, the, of, and, band, trio, etc., plus people’s first names (which are very popular, John being #1)…

Most Popular Words In Band Names In 2007
(# of band names this word appears in in parentheses, click on word to see list of bands)
1. black (145)
2. big (113)
3. new (89)
4. red (76)
5. hot (73)
6. love (71)
7. blue (63)
8. white (62)
9. dead (57)
10. club (56)

And, finally, to round out the post, some other band-name-word statistical curiosities, which tickle me and hopefully not only me:

# of bands with “wolf” or “wolves” in their title: 35
# of these added in 2007: 11

# of bands with “broken” in their title: 15
# of these added in 2007: 10

# of bands with “dog” in their title: 32
# of these added in 2007: 12

# bands with “cat” in their title: 60
# of these added in 2007: 34

# bands with “south” in their title: 20
# of these added in 2007: 2

# bands with “north” in their title: 23
# of these added in 2007: 6

# bands with “west” in their title: 34
# of these added in 2007: 10

# bands with “east” in their title: 38
# of these added in 2007: 17

Peace, thanks to Brad, and see you all at River Gods (the next DJ night is Thursday, Jan. 18, + Brad + I will be spinning).

– Chris

As Chris said, the next Tourfilter DJ Night is at River Gods on Thursday, January 18th. I’ll be hitting the booth at 9pm sharp, and playing only songs by bands coming to the Boston area within the following month or so. And once again, thanks go out to Chris for the words above, and for the chance to play more songs at my favorite bar.

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  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
    Thursday, March 28th
    Thus Love
    Native Sun
    Robber Robber
    @ O'Brien's

    Thursday, March 28th
    Arlo Parks
    Chloe George
    @ the Royale

    Friday, March 29th
    Grouplove
    Bully
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, March 29th
    The Rolling Stones
    @ Gillette

    Saturday, March 30th
    Ex-Hyena (release show!)
    The Shallows
    CMB (Casey Desmond/Jimmy Rossi Jr.)
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, March 30th
    Guster
    Fruit Bats
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Saturday, March 30th
    The Cavedogs
    @ the Burren Back Room

    Monday, April 1st
    Adam Ant
    The English Beat
    @ the Wilbur

    Friday, April 5th
    Joe Pernice (solo)
    @ a Boston living room

    Friday, April 5th
    Richard Thompson
    @ the Cut, Gloucester

    Saturday, April 6th
    Choo Choo La Rouge
    Lupo Citta
    The Bret Tobias Set
    Jay Walsh
    @ the Midway Cafe

    Saturday, April 6th
    Land Of Talk
    @ Rockwood Music Hall

    Saturday, April 6th
    Destroyer (solo)
    Lightning Dust
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Saturday, April 6th
    Choo Choo La Rouge
    Lupo Citta
    The Bret Tobias Set
    Jay Walsh (of the Douglas Fir)
    @ the Midway Cafe

    Saturday, April 6th
    Colin Hay (Men at Work)
    @ the Wilbur

    Monday, April 8th
    Swami & the Bed of Nails
    (John Reis of Hot Snakes/RFTC/etc)
    The Freqs
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Tuesday, April 9th
    Moron's Morons
    Andy California
    Adult Learners
    G. Gordon Gritty
    @ O'Brien's

    Thursday, April 11th
    Trash Sun
    @ O'Brien's

    Thursday, April 11th
    Hotline TNT
    Cicada
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Saturday, April 13th
    Dead Gowns
    Kathy Snax
    Hannah Mohan
    Audrey & Karina
    @ the Loft, Somerville

    Saturday, April 13th
    DARK SPRING BOSTON FEST
    with Korine, House of Harm,
    Widow Rings, Allie Frost,
    Hemlock for Socrates,
    Midnight Psychic, the
    Spearmint Sea, and more
    @ the Middle East

    Sunday, April 14th
    Woods
    Avey Tare
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, April 15th
    Matthew Sweet
    @ the Wilbur

    Wednesday, April 17th
    Metz
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Wednesday, April 17th
    Real Estate
    Marina Allen
    @ the Royale

    Friday, April 19th
    Quattracenta
    Thalia Zedek Band
    Rip Room
    @ the Midway Cafe

    Friday, April 19th
    Drop Nineteens
    Greg Mendez
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, April 20th Doc Hopper
    "Aloha" LP 30th anniversary with
    Shades Apart,
    Matt Charrette & the Truer Sound,
    and The Keeper Class
    @ O'Brien's

    Wednesday, April 24th
    Teen Suicide
    awakebutstillinbed
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Friday, April 26th
    Waxahatchee
    Good Morning
    @ the Orpheum

    Friday & Saturday
    April 26th & 27th
    The Town & the City Festival
    @ various venues in Lowell, MA

    Saturday, April 27th
    Kal Marks
    Grocer
    Bedroom Eyes
    Main Era
    @ O'Brien's

    Saturday, April 27th
    Belle and Sebastian
    The Weather Station
    @ the Orpheum

    Sunday, April 28th
    Yot Club
    Boyscott
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Tuesday, April 30th
    Adult Learners
    Perfectly Lethal
    Over Ends
    Free with food donation
    @ Notch Brewing Brighton

    Tuesday, April 30th
    Teenage Fanclub
    @ the Paradise

    Wednesday, May 1st
    Ty Segall
    @ the Royale

    Thursday, May 2nd
    Outer World
    @ Deep Cuts

    Thursday, May 2nd
    The Decemberists
    Ratboys
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, May 3rd
    Ra Ra Riot
    @ the Royale

    Saturday, May 4th
    Slothrust
    Weakened Friends
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, May 4th
    Lisa Bastoni
    & Sean Staples
    @ the Rec Room, Belmont

    Saturday, May 4th
    The Lights Out
    Gretchen Shae & The Middle 8
    Brian K & The Parkway
    @ Faces Brewing

    Sunday, May 5th
    Sheer Mag
    Pile
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Sunday, May 5th
    CSS
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, May 6th
    Cloud Nothings
    Hurry
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Tuesday, May 7th
    Bad Religion
    Social Distortion
    (playing "Mommy's Little Monster")
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Wednesday, May 8th
    Todd Rundgren
    @ the Wilbur

    Wednesday, May 8th
    Chastity Belt
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, May 9th
    Cheekface
    Yungatita
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Friday, May 10th
    Hot Water Music
    30 Year Anniversary Tour
    with Quicksand
    & Off With Their Heads
    @ the Royale

    Friday, May 10th
    Sarah Shook & the Disarmers
    @ the Cut, Gloucester

    Saturday, May 11th
    Bradley's Almanac (that's me) presents...
    SAVAK
    SAMUEL s.c.
    HEY I'M OUTSIDE
    PLAZA
    8pm @ O'Brien's

    Saturday, May 11th
    Ride
    @ Big Night Live

    Saturday, May 11th
    Hallelujah the Hills
    Colleen Green
    Mallcops
    @ Deep Cuts

    Sunday, May 12th
    Sunny Day Real Estate
    @ Big Night Live

    Monday, May 13th
    High On Fire
    Zeta
    High Command
    @ the Middle East
    Monday & Tuesday
    May 13th & May 14th
    Mannequin Pussy
    Soul Glo
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, May 14th
    Swans
    @ the Paradise

    Wednesday, May 15th
    Wussy (duo show)
    @ an Allston living room

    Thursday, May 16th
    Helmet
    Cro-Mags
    @ the Middle East Downstairs

    Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
    May 16th, 17th, & 18th
    Jukebox the Ghost
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, May 17th
    Lenny Kaye & Friends
    "A 50th Anniversary Celebration of
    Nuggets!: Classic Garage Rock Songs"
    featuring Jon Wurster, Bill Janovitz,
    Ted Leo, Josh Kantor, David Minehan,
    James Mastro, Ed Valauskas, Hugo Burnham,
    Clint Conley, Tanya Donelly, Duke Levine,
    Barrence Whitfield, Tony Goddess, Willie
    Alexander, and more to come
    @ the Cut, Gloucester

    Friday, May 17th
    Special Sapphic Pride Show
    Ruby Grove
    Galaxy Cake
    Miss Geo
    Linnea's Garden
    @ the Loft, Somerville

    Friday, May 17th
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse
    @ the Xfinity Center

    Friday, May 17th
    Buck Meek (of Big Thief)
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Saturday, May 18th
    Eldridge Rodriguez
    @ Sonia

    Saturday, May 18th
    The Messthetics
    James Brandon Lewis
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Monday, May 20th
    Echo & the Bunnymen
    @ the House of Blues

    Tuesday, May 21st
    Another Michael
    Tenci
    @ the Rockwell

    Tuesday, May 28th
    Shannon & the Clams
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, May 28th
    Brookline Booksmith presents...
    Kathleen Hanna
    "Rebel Girl" book tour
    @ the Wilbur

    Wednesday, May. 29th
    The Antlers &
    Okkervil River
    (solo & together tour)
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Wednesday, May 29th
    The Alarm
    Jay Aston's Gene Love Jezebel
    Belouis Some
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Wednesday, May 29th
    Madness
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, May 30th
    Camera Obscura
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, May 30th
    Nation Of Language
    @ the Royale

    Tuesday, June 4th
    Melt-Banana
    The Flying Luttenbachers
    babyaby_explores
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, June 4th
    Joe Jackson
    @ the Wilbur

    Wednesday, June 5th
    Andy Summers (The Police)
    @ Cary Hall, Lexington

    Thursday, June 6th
    Jason Narducy & Alison Chesley
    duo/reunion show
    @ Q Division Studios, Cambridge

    Thursday, June 6th
    Reverend Horton Heat
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Friday, June 7th
    Joe Pera
    @ the Wilbur

    Monday, June 10th
    Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade) @ Brighton Music Hall

    Monday, June 10th
    Bleachers
    Samia
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, June 13th
    Jon Langford & the Bright Shiners
    @ the Cut, Gloucester

    Thursday, June 13th
    Aaron West & the Roaring Twenties
    Future Teens
    Maura Weaver
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Friday, June 14th
    Dylan Earl
    Tiger Saw
    Audrey & Karina
    & one more artist tba
    @ the Loft, Somerville

    Sunday, June 16th
    Pixies
    Modest Mouse
    Cat Power
    @ Xfinity Center

    Wednesday, June 19th
    Future Islands
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, June 20th
    Roger Daltrey
    KT Tunstall
    @ the Pavilion

    Friday, June 21st
    The Church
    The Afghan Whigs
    Ed Harcourt
    @ the Royale

    Friday, June 21st
    Blushing
    Airiel
    Bodywash
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, June 22nd
    Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
    playing "Shake The Sheets"
    with guests
    Ekko Astral
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, June 22nd
    Guided By Voices
    The Moles
    @ the Royale

    Tuesday, June 25th
    Jon Anderson (of Yes)
    playing “Yes Epics, Classics, and More”
    @ the Shubert Theatre

    Tuesday, June 25th
    Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
    Courtney Marie Andrews
    @ Roadrunner

    Wednesday, June 26th
    Blue Oyster Cult
    @ the Lynn Auditorium

    Friday, June 28th
    Dry Cleaning
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, June 28th
    A Day To Remember
    The Story So Far
    Four Year Strong
    Pain of Truth
    @ Suffolk Downs

    Friday, June 28th
    Janet Jackson
    Nelly
    @ TD Garden

    Saturday, June 29th
    Buffalo Tom
    @ Boarding House Park, Lowell

    Sunday, June 30th
    Les Savy Fav
    @ Somerville Armory