Vinyl Giveaway: THE FIGGS 7-inch (new LP out now!)
Posted on May 17, 2010 at 2:11 pm | No Comments
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.
Boston: May Residences Galore (John Shade, Eldridge Rodriguez, + Brendan Boogie)
Posted on May 10, 2010 at 3:19 pm | No Comments
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…
Tuesday Nights in May at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge…
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.
Wednesday Nights in May at O’Briens in Allston…
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).
Thursday Nights in May at the Armory in Somerville…
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.