Bradley’s Almanac

Nothing is Enough and Everything’s Too Much

Posted on September 13, 2004 at 2:08 pm | No Comments

No foreplay today, just jumping right on in. Mostly music-type things this time around…

A brand new Audio Learning Center track has just been posted to their site, and whoa, is it a good one. Titled “New Calvary“, the song almost made it onto their latest record (the criminally underheard Cope Park), but wasn’t quite finished in time. Now that it’s done, it’s ours for free. (or you can pick up the latest Vagrant Records compilation, it’s on there, too… although misspelled as ‘Cavalry’. Silly spellchecker.)

Oh my oh my oh my. Just found out that Rilo Kiley‘s October 5th Boston show was moved from the Middle East over to the much bigger Somerville Theater (seats!). Wanna know why? Well, it wasn’t because the show was in danger of selling out (although it probably is)… it was to accommodate the 10 PIECE ORCHESTRA that they’re touring with. Siiiigh… I’m such a sucker for strings. The ending of “Does He Love You?” is going to sound like heaven.

So not only did I pick up those Rilo Kiley tickets yesterday, but I grabbed some to Ted Leo‘s December 9th gig as well. I chose that one over his show on the 8th since his brother Chris’ band, Vague Angels, will be making their Boston debut, opening up that second night. Plus, Matt Pond PA. Hell of a triple bill.

Oh, and we got Pixies tickets. Pricey weekend. Buh-bye, bank account.

I’ve been on an Arcwelder kick recently, which I tend to do once a year or so… going back through all their albums, wondering if they’ve got any new music in the works. It’s been too waaaay too long since the release of 1999’s Everest. So, an a whim, I dropped them an email through their website. This morning’s response…

“Hey Brad –

Believe it or not, we have been kinda working on a few new tunes. Not enough to be a record or anything, but a few that seem OK. It may be that they will be an internet release only kind of thing, who knows.

The band is really kinda on the back burner these days, but we aren’t 100% ready to give it up yet either, so who knows. We just don’t have a lot of time to put in to getting things in shape for recording.

Anyway – Thanks for your continued interest in the band, I’m glad you like the music.

Rob, (Scott, Bill) arcwelder”

So there’s hope for new stuff on the horizon. Great news. I’m probably pushing it to hope for a tour someday (hell, it’s been 8 years), but ya never know. One of the best live bands I’ve ever seen, no lyin’.

The tracklisting to Rhino‘s upcoming box set, Left of the Dial: Dispatches From the ’80s Underground is fairly respectable. Target-designed for people like, uh, me I suppose. Well, maybe to people like me who don’t already own most of the songs, that is, and who don’t care about the rest. Talk about a bit of schizo-sequencing… Camper into Suicidal Tendencies into the Cocteaus? Party programmers beware. Still, might make a good gift come Christmas.

Suddenly, it’s 12 years ago all over again. Not only is New Radiant Storm King back with a few shows to followup the release of their excellent Leftover Blues singles/rarities collection (they hit the Allston Plan on October 1st), but Thursday, October 7th will see the out-of-nowhere return of the one and only Green Magnet School to the stage, along with Kudgel the day after, and all for a good cause. The details…

THE “BARTLEY’S CHOICE” MEMORIAL BENEFIT/NOISEROCK REUNION

THURSDAY-FRIDAY, OCT. 7th and 8th

MIDDLE EAST UPSTAIRS, CAMBRIDGE

The fertile, late 80’s-early 90’s Boston noiserock scene is born again hard when several bands from that era reunite to honor good friend and fan, Tim Bartley, who died recently, leaving a wife and young daughter.

*Proceeds from the event will benefit the Tim Bartley Family Fund* The show will be 18+, 21 to drink, and will be $10 at the door.

Many of the bands featured over the 2 nights, including Kudgel and Red Bliss, have been disbanded for over a decade. Former Sub Pop recording artists Green Magnet School will be playing 2 sets, the first featuring all original members, the second with the ’92-’94 “Illuminatus” lineup.

Noise-art terrorists Red Bliss, famously banned from every club they ever played, have members traveling hundreds of miles to do the benefit, as are others as well. Of course, these are all “one-off” performances, so this is going to be an amazing, rare chance to see and hear what the Boston “noise scene” was like in the late 80’s-early 90’s.

Earplugs are recommended for the faint of heart, and lobotomies are promised for those who take this raw sonic shrapnel without protection.

Officially, these are the lineups over 2 nights…

Bartley’s Choice Memorial Benefit

Middle East Upstairs

18+ $10.00

*proceeds to benefit the Tim Bartley Family Fund*

Thursday October 7th:

Green Magnet School (2 sets)- headlining.

Slughog (featuring members of Barbaro, Liquor Tricks)

Luca Brasi (Members of Blacktail)

Donna Parker – opener

Friday October 8th:

Kudgel – headlining

Red Bliss

The Beatings

St. Bastard (From NYC, featuring Dave Gwiazdowski of Badass)- opener

There will be a limited edition double 7″ Kudgel/Luca Brasi single for sale, as well as material from all featured bands, including their current endeavors.”

Couple of sure-to-be-good records getting released tomorrow: Silkworm‘s “It’ll Be Cool”, and Thalia Zedek‘s “Trust Not Those In Whom Without Some Touch of Madness”. The lead track off of the Silkworm disc is available here, and Thalia’s got a sample mp3, Evil Hand, available here, too.

Set the TiVo: Ambulance Ltd. will be playing on Last Call with Carson Daly this Thursday night (well, technically Friday morning), September 16th.

Anyone else catch that Six Feet Under season finale last night? Now that was some good teevee right there. I tell ya, I’ve had a difficult time riding the elevator here at work today. Yikes.

Duty calls, more later on…

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  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
    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

    Saturday, January 17th
    Silver Screams
    Static Friction
    Screw Cart
    Fear is a Mind Killer
    @ the Midway Cafe

    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