Bradley’s Almanac

A Most Important Date

Posted on December 14, 2004 at 3:52 pm | No Comments

The holiday party at the Middle East last night was a mighty swell time indeed. Lotsa food, buncha people, friendly & familiar faces everywhere, and some hilarious metal/punk live band karaoke action.

High Rocktane was the backing band, and they definitely brought the rock-riffin-chops. The Descendents, Van Halen, the Cr�e, lots more. The cell-phone photo over on the right is some guy doing “Hot for Teacher“. The highlight was our friend Chris P. and his Lemmy impression on “Ace of Spades“, singing upwards into the mic… and if you know Chris, he is not a short man, so that was no easy feat. His intro was the best: “Up next is Chris. The guy’s pretty shitfaced, but he’s got spirit!”. Good times.

Randomness follows…

Set the TiVo: The Pixies are on David Letterman tonight.

Oh my, oh my. The reunited Slint is coming to Boston. March 20th at the Roxy, with tickets going on sale this Thursday. I’ll be click-click-clickin’ away.

Major congrats to Micki & Jason, who finished their very first marathon on Sunday. I’m in total awe of those two. Looking at the tracking results, it appears Jason kept up with Micki most of the way, but she left him behind a bit in the last leg. I’m dying to know what she said when she pulled away… “Eat my dust!” or the more kindly “Um, would it be ok if I took off?”. I’d imagine it was somewhere in the middle there.

Hey, when you’re partaking of the holiday shopping, you might wanna Buy Blue, and funnel your spending dollars to businesses that support Democratic candidates. It can be tough (especially when you bought a freakin’ house and Home Depot is unavoidable), but it’s good to stay informed either way. Amazon might donate 61% to right wingers, but hey, maybe your cash will be part of the other 40% that heads left.

My obsession with HBO’s The Wire couldn’t possibly get any more intense. I have a hard time writing or talking about it without getting all giddy. It is, without a doubt, the best show on TV right now, and probably my favorite drama ever (yeah, ask me again when I have some distance from it).

Right now, though, I’m completely caught up in the climax of season three. Sunday’s next-to-last episode had me riveted start to finish… just so brilliantly written, acted, and executed by all involved. How this show can continue to be ignored by award-givers (and much of the viewing public) is a complete mystery to me. If this really is the final season (it has yet to be renewed), I’ll mourn the hell out of it… although given what happened on Sunday, it sort of feels like the end. But please, oh please, someone say it ain’t so.

An article from The S.F. Gate wonders: ‘The Wire’ & ‘Arrested Development’: Too Smart To Make It?. Sad but probably true… keep in mind what this country did on election day.

A cool little moment from Sunday’s show, for those who didn’t recognize it, was a cameo from Boston author (and sometime Wire writer) Dennis Lehane, behind the desk at the Property Room…


“McNulty, Major Crimes”


“Sullivan, Minor Irritations”

Yeah, that’s him behind the girly mag. Word has it that Lehane is working on a new book that starts off in 1918, and us Sox fans know what that year used to represent.

For fellow Wire fans who are following along, and have already seen this past episode (you smart, smart people you), here’s a great article from yesterday’s New York Times (use bugmenot if you need to login later). I recommend not reading it if you haven’t seen any Wire… skip the spoilers and get the Season One dvds, asap.

The new Strong Bad Email over at HomestarRunner is particularly amusing, especially for all of us former college radio DJs. Um… uhhhhh… yeah. *dead air*… it, uh, sure is.

So why is this a most important date, you might be askin’? Well, thirty five short years ago today, the super-cool, totally-cute, highly-tolerant, never-boring, big-smilin’, animal-lovin’, ass-kickin’ girl I’m lucky enough to call my wife was born. There aren’t many more important dates to me than December 14th.

So happy birthday to ya, Aim. We’re so not old.

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  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
    Wednesday, December 10th
    The Dream Syndicate
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Wednesday, December 10th
    Fully Celebrated Orchestra
    Thalia Zedek
    Andy California
    @ the Midway Cafe

    Wednesday, December 10th
    EARFULL series
    "Writers reading, songwriters playing"
    with authors Stewart O'Nan & Gish Jen
    and bands
    High Tea & Consuelo Candelaria-Barry
    @ Regattabar, Cambridge

    Thursday, December 11th
    The Ladybug Transistor
    Giant Day
    Gold Dust
    @ Deep Cuts

    Friday, December 12th
    Let's Rock Cancer 2025
    a benefit for the dana-farber
    cancer care access program
    hosted by DJ Henry Santoro
    with Vapors of Morphine,
    the Chelsea Curve,
    Muck & the Mires,
    The Ray Liriano Experience,
    and ... go! (+ guests)
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Saturday, December 13th
    Paula Poundstone
    @ the Mosesian Center, Watertown

    Saturday, December 13th
    The Strangeroos
    Tad Overbaugh & the Late Arrivals
    Hot Franks
    @ Underbones

    Saturday, December 13th
    Anachronist
    (added as opener for the
    J. Robbins Band doing
    Burning Airlines songs)
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, December 13th
    Will Dailey
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, December 13th
    Converge's SADDEST DAY Fest
    with Touché Amoré, Coalesce,
    The Hope Conspiracy, Soul Glo,
    Year of the Knife, Stress Positions,
    Wormwood, and more
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, December 13th
    A John Waters Christmas
    @ Berklee Performance Center

    Saturday, December 13th
    J. Robbins Band plays
    Burning Airlines
    @ Deep Cuts

    Sunday, December 14th
    Juliana Hatfield (full band)
    'Lightning Might Strike’ LP Release
    @ the Burren Backroom

    Sunday, December 14th
    Chris Brokaw
    Kathy Snax
    Kass Richards
    @ the Model Cafe

    Sunday, December 14th
    Cursive
    AJJ
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Monday, December 15th
    Algernon Cadwallader
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, December 17th
    Patti Smith
    Book Tour Stop
    @ the Chevalier

    Saturday, December 20th
    The Del Fuegos
    early & late shows
    @ City Winery

    Sunday, December 21st
    Samantha Fish
    Cedric Burnside
    Jon Spencer
    @ the Wilbur

    Saturday, December 27th
    John Oliver
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Sunday, December 28th
    The Felice Brothers
    Charlotte Cornfield
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday & Tuesday
    December 29th & 30th
    The Disco Biscuits
    Monday @ the Sinclair
    Tuesday @ the Royale

    Thursday, January 8th
    Ms. Ezra Furman
    doing what she wants
    with Ryan Walsh
    (of Hallelujah the Hills)
    opening with a solo set
    @ the Rockwell

    Wednesday, January 14th
    Bishop Allen
    Mates of State
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, January 15th
    Cate Le Bon
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, January 15th
    Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
    "Piano & Voice" performance
    @ the MFA Boston

    Monday, January 19th
    Shame
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Thursday, January 22nd
    Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers
    @ the House of Blues

    Thursday, January 27th
    The Residents
    Eskimo Live! Tour
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Thursday, January 29th
    Bad Bad Hats
    performing "Psychic Reader"
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Friday, January 30th
    Greg Freeman
    Golomb
    @ the Red Room at Cafe 939

    Saturday & Sunday
    January 31st & February 1st
    Something In The Way Fest 2026
    with Explosions In The Sky,
    Sunny Day Real Estate, Citizen,
    Tigers Jaw, The Hotelier, Momma,
    Angel Dust, February, First Day Back,
    Glitterer, Glixen, Gollylagging, Guv,
    Graham Hunt, Horse Jumper of Love,
    How Much Art, No Warning, Pelican,
    Park National, Pool Kids, Sheer Mag,
    Wicca Phase Springs Eternal,
    and Teen Suicide
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, February 12th
    Brandi Carlile
    The Head and the Heart
    @ TD Garden

    Friday, February 13th
    Nine Inch Nails
    @ TD Garden

    Friday, February 20th
    Marissa Nadler
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Saturday, February 21st
    Margo Price
    @ the Royale

    February 28th
    Ratboys
    Florry
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, March 3rd
    Spiritual Cramp
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, March 4th
    Cat Power
    "The Greatest 2026" tour
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, March 6th
    Michael Shannon,
    Jason Narducy,
    & friends play REM's
    "Life's Rich Pageant"
    with opener
    Eugene Mirman
    @ the Royale

    Friday, March 13th
    Quarters
    Paper Lady
    @ the Royale

    Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
    March 13th, 14th, & 15th
    Dropkick Murphys
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Tuesday, March 17th
    Dropkick Murphys
    @ House of Blues

    Thursday, March 19th
    Julianna Barwick
    & Mary Lattimore
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday, March 20th
    The Hives
    The Chats
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, March 21st
    Cass McCombs
    Chris Cohen
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Saturday, March 21st
    Joyce Manor
    Militarie Gun
    Teen Mortgage
    Combat
    @ House of Blues

    Sunday, March 22nd
    Maria Somerville
    @ the ICA Boston

    Monday, March 23rd
    Westerman
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, March 26th
    The Format
    Piebald
    Adult Mom
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, March 29th
    Ladysmith Black Mambazo
    @ Sanders Theatre

    Wednesday, April 1st
    Wednesday (the band)
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, April 2nd
    On Cinema Live! with
    Tim Heidecker
    & Gregg Turkington
    @ the Wilbur

    Friday, April 3rd
    Patrick Watson
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Friday & Saturday
    April 3rd & 4th
    Hayley Williams
    Water From Your Eyes
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, April 4th
    The Dirty Three
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, April 4th
    Puscifer
    Dave Hill
    @ the Wang Theatre

    Wednesday, April 8th
    Mclusky
    Pile
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, April 9th
    Circle Jerks
    Gorilla Biscuits
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, April 16th
    Rhiannon Giddens
    @ the Orpheum

    Saturday, April 18th
    The Last Dinner Party
    Florence Road
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, April 19th
    Heavenly
    Swansea Sound
    Jeanines
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, April 30th
    Oklou
    @ the Royale

    Monday, May 4th
    Yumi Zouma
    Ducks Ltd.
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, May 14th
    Melody's Echo Chamber
    @ the Royale

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    May 19th & 20th
    Belle and Sebastian
    play "Tigermilk" (19th) and
    "If You're Feeling Sinister" (20th)
    @ the Orpheum

    Thursday, June 11th
    Echo & the Bunnymen
    @ Roadrunner

    Tuesday, June 23rd
    Wolfmother
    @ House of Blues

    Wednesday, June 24th
    The Church
    The Singles Tour
    (rescheduled from 8/1/25)
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Tuesday, July 14th
    Joe Jackson
    @ the Chevalier

    Friday, September 4th
    Peter Hook & the Light
    play New Order's "Get Ready"
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, September 12th
    Rush
    @ TD Garden