[Boston-Area Rock Show Alert!] This Friday: The Whimbrels, Thalia Zedek, & Unmade Bed hit Deep Cuts
Posted on May 19, 2026 at 10:49 am | No Comments
Once or twice a year, when circumstances allow and motivation strikes, I help ‘present’ a Boston-area show that I’m particularly excited about, and that time has come again. This Friday, May 22nd, the Whimbrels come to town to play at Deep Cuts in Medford with openers Thalia Zedek and Unmade Bed.
The Whimbrels, you ask? If you’re not already clued in, they’re a relatively new-ish guitar-centric quintet of experienced NYC-based players with an impeccable collective pedigree: The members’ current & former bands/collaborators include the Glenn Branca Ensemble, Swans, New Radiant Storm King, & Savak, to name just a few. Their killer first full-length arrived last June on Dromedary Records, and they made their Boston debut that month at O’Brien’s, mesmerizing us all with a powerful opening salvo. As much as I dug their record, I was blown away by their live set, and we’re very lucky to have them back around to headline on a Friday night.
I probably don’t need to explain to anyone reading this who Thalia Zedek is. She of Live Skull, Uzi, Dangerous Birds, Come, and her own eponymous TZ Band. A low-key legend who lives in our midst. I just witnessed her blow minds & ears with her Come bandmates a week ago, but she’ll be taking the volume down a notch with a solo set before the Whimbrels hit the stage. I’m betting we’ll get a couple stripped down versions of songs from last year’s full-band record (my favorite of which is shared below), and if we’re lucky, some new stuff she’s been working on since then. Always waiting to hear my next TZ favorite…
When thinking about bands to kick off the night, my very first idea was Medford’s own Unmade Bed, so I’m very psyched they accepted the invitation. It was an mostly-selfish move, as I wasn’t able to catch their last show, and this was an easy way to fix that. The now-trio has been kicking around for a few years, working on songs, solidifying their lineup, and playing relatively rarely. They shared their first demo last fall, streamable below, and I’m looking forward to grilling them about when they’ll be sharing more.
I know Friday nights can be tough this time of year, choice-wise… there are a lot of good options out there asking for your eyeballs & earholes, but give a listen to the songs above and snag a ticket to hang with us at Deep Cuts if you’re so inclined. And maybe come out a little early for some food & bevvies. Me? I’m hankering hardcore for their One Armed Caesar Wrap with Banzo Balls. With a Pop’s Pinball appetizer. Perfection.
[Boston-Area Action 5/13/26] Show-Going Plans & New Show Announcements
Posted on May 13, 2026 at 3:31 pm | No Comments
Still recovering from last night’s dream-of-a-show with Come & Silkworm in Somerville, and also neck-deep in the day job, so this “Weekly Boston-area shows” post of imminent & recently-announced events has to be a quick one. There are two lists below: First, shows of note (to me, at least) happening around here within the next week, followed by a run-down of ones that have been announced since I last did this.
Personal about-to-happen highlights: Courtney Barnett & Momma at Roadrunner tonight, and Case Oats at Passim tomorrow, when the rescheduled Joy Formidable show is at the Armory, as well. Friday has Nova One celebrating an LP release at Deep Cuts, and J Po’s 60th is at the Lizard Lounge. There’s an ace lineup at Deep Cuts on Sunday, too, with Happy Just to See You, Bus Crush, Hey I’m Outside, & Hyber, or you can hit the Bentanzaganza benefit at the Midway. Sailor Down plays Warehouse XI that night, too, and Tracy Bonham wraps up her Burren residency. Too many choices for a Sunday. Speaking of choices: I’d love to see Chapterhouse on Tuesday at the Sinclair, or catch the May edition of the Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out series, but I’ll be at the first-of-two Belle and Sebastian album-run-through shows at the Orpheum. My love for “Tigermilk” runs deep.
As far as announcements go, I’m extremely psyched that Swervedriver are coming to the Sinclair in August, and that Plosivs & Hammered Hulls are teaming up at BMH in September. Later that month, Tanya Donelly hits the Cut in Gloucester, and Squirrel flower will be doing a full-band set at Crystal Ballroom with Youbet. October brings the L7 farewell tour to the Wilbur, and November has This Is Lorelei at the Sinclair. Slow Pulp return that month, too, headlining Roadrunner with Her New Knife & Ivy. Should be great.
Also very much of note: A couple excellent multi-band events coming up at Notch Brewing in Brighton, so check the details on those below. Love it when the rock conveniently comes to my very own neighborhood.
Here are the lists. Corrections, additions, complaints in the comments, if you are so inclined. And have a look at the right-hand column over there, where the longer versions live…
First, imminent Boston-area shows of (my/your?) interest…
Wednesday, May 13th
Courtney Barnett
Momma
Truman Sinclair
@ Roadrunner
Wednesday, May 13th
Sluice
Hiding Places
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, May 14th
Woods
Edsel Axle
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, May 14th
Case Oats
Henry True
@ Club Passim
Thursday, May 14th
(moved from March 5th)
The Joy Formidable
Rhydian Dafydd
Shy Western
@ the Somerville Armory
Friday, May 15th
Nova One (LP release show!)
Bong Wish
Winkler
@ Deep Cuts
Friday, May 15th
J Po’s 60th B-Day
with Sidewalk Driver
& the Powhida Infirmary
@ the Lizard Lounge
Sunday, May 16th
Happy Just To See You
Bus Crush
Hey I’m Outside
Hyber
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, May 16th
Bentanzaganza
A benefit for Ben Tan
with
Johnnie & the Foodmasters
Delons, Noah Britton, and
Sound Dream Machine
@ the Midway Cafe
Sunday, May 17th
Wheelwright
Sailor Down
@ Warehouse XI
Sunday, May 17th
Tracy Bonham
Spring Residency night 4
@ the Burren Backroom
Thursday, May 19th
Chapterhouse
She’s Green
@ the Sinclair
Tuesday, May 19th
Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out
with this month’s guests
Joan Anderman, The Bags,
Mark Erelli, Najee Janey,
Brendan Murphy of Autumn Hollow,
Safiya, and The Paid Protesters
@ the Burren Backroom
Tuesday & Wednesday
May 19th & 20th
Belle & Sebastian
play “Tigermilk” (19th) and
“If You’re Feeling Sinister” (20th)
with
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
@ the Orpheum
And now, recently announced Boston-area shows…
Saturday & Sunday
May 23rd & 24th
THE BIG GIG
Spring Music Fest & Market
with 10 bands & 100+ vendors
presented by Allston Pudding
& the Brighton Bizarre
@ the Speedway / Notch Brewing
Saturday, May 30th
The Downhauls
Silver Screams
Bad Idea USA
The Angry-Las
@ Bit Bar Salem
Saturday, June 6th
Notch Brewing presents
Forever Lager ’26
with Black Helicopter,
The Dogmatics, Spiller,
Thalia Zedek Band,
Hilken & Melissa Band,
Andy California, Pledge Pins,
& Whyte Lipstick
@ Notch Brighton, Speedway
Friday, June 19th
Crystal Lizard
(record release show!)
@ the Lilypad
Saturday, June 20th
Neptune (LP release show!)
Lupo Citta
There
@ Deep Cuts
Sunday, July 19th
WU LYF
(rescheduled date)
@ the Sinclair
Tuesday, August 18th
Swervedriver
@ the Sinclair
Tuesday, August 18th
Psychedlic Furs
& Living Colour
@ MGM Music Hall
cancelled due to a
“serious medical issue”
within the Furs camp :-/
Saturday, August 29th
(second show added)
Kacey Musgraves
Flatland Cavalry
@ TD Garden
Monday, September 7th
Nice Strong Arm
Via
Astral
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, September 10th
Sondre Lerche
@ the Somerville Armory
Thursday, September 10th
Pete Yorn (solo acoustic)
@ the Sinclair
Sunday, September 13th
Plosivs
Hammered Hulls
@ Brighton Music Hall
Wednesday, September 16th
Damien Jurado
St. Yuma
@ the Sinclair
Thursday, September 17th
Tanya Donelly
celebrating the 20th anniversary
of her “This Hungry Life” LP
@ the Cut, Gloucester
Friday, September 18th
Alex Cameron
@ Warehouse XI
Thursday, September 24th
Dutch Interior
@ the Somerville Armory
Saturday, September 26th
Squirrel Flower (full band!)
youbet
@ Crystal Ballroom
Tuesday, September 29th
Jenny Owens Young
@ Club Passim
Tuesday, September 29th
Roger Daltry
@ the Chevalier Theatre
Wednesday, September 30th
Spencer Krug
(of Wolf Parade)
solo piano tour
@ Deep Cuts
Thursday, October 1st
Muna
Hemlocke Springs
@ Roadrunner
Monday, October 5th
Horse Lords
@ Deep Cuts
Monday, October 12th
Tricky
@ the Sinclair
Wednesday, October 14th
Fantastic Cat
@ the Sinclair
Sunday, October 25th
Movements
Balance and Composure
Midrift
Niis
@ Roadrunner
Monday, October 26th
L7
(farewell tour)
@ the Wilbur
Monday, November 2nd
This Is Lorelei
with @ (AT)
@ the Sinclair
Tuesday, November 10th
Journey
@ TD Garden
Tuesday, November 10th
Pokey LaFarge
Cicada Rhythm
@ the Somerville Amory
Friday, November 13th
Basement
Fiddlehead
High Vis
Big Boy
First Day Back
@ Roadrunner
Saturday, November 14th
Slow Pulp
Her New Knife
Ivy
@ Roadrunner
Tuesday, November 17th
Caroline
@ the Sinclair
Friday & Saturday
December 4th & 5th
The Dresden Dolls
@ the Colonial Theatre
Alright, see you out there. I’ll probably be stuck up front. Bring me a non-alcoholic beer if you’re headed my way. I’m good for it.