Merch Giveaway: Spectacle / Sundance Schwag Bag
Posted on January 28, 2009 at 2:19 pm | No Comments
The first season of the Elvis Costello-hosted “Spectacle” series on the Sundance Channel has been a curious thing. In aiming to appeal to a fairly broad range of music-fans (and not just devotees of Mr. Dynamite), the lineup of interviewees includes more than just Costello’s aging contemporaries (The Police, James Taylor, Lou Reed, Elton John), but a few more, um, how shall I say, ‘relevant’ songwriters (M. Ward, Jenny Lewis, Rufus Wainwright), along with some utterly random non-musicians (director/painter Julian Schnabel and… Bill Clinton?). Some of the chats have been fascinating, others fairly run-of-the-mill, but all watchable, usually due to Costello’s obvious respect and familiarity (and sometimes kinship) with his subjects, who invariably reciprocate. And even if the shared reflections aren’t your thing, Elvis and his guests usually make up for it by sharing the stage for a song or two (well, except Clinton, thank goodness).
This week sees the debut of Elvis’ sit-down with opera singer Renee Fleming (and if there’s a musical collaboration, it’s sure to be… interesting), followed by a spotlight on Herbie Hancock next week. But it’s the February 11th episode I’m most looking forward to, when Mr. MacManus hosts a group discussion with M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel (aka She & Him) and Jenny Lewis. According to Elvis’ site, he’ll join Jenny to recreate “Pretty Bird” as well as “Carpetbaggers” (which he contributes to on her latest album) with Deschanel on backing vocals, then Jenny will return the favor by performing on his “Go Away“. She & Him also do their own “Change Is Hard“, and Costello teams up with Jakob Dylan to cover The Clash‘s “Straight To Hell” before all the guests hit the stage to tackle Elvis’ classic (and Nick Lowe-penned) “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?“. My DVR is already set.
The promote Spectacle, the PR folks behind the show are offering up a bunch of eco-friendly “Spectacle/Sundance Prize Packs”, which includes: A Keen/Sundance totebag, a t-shirt, notebook, a Sigg /Sundance thermos, and most intriguingly, a pair of desktop speakers. Here, have a look…
Want it? Just send an email (subject: “Spectacle!”) to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before noon this coming Monday, February 2nd, and I’ll randomly pick one winner. And just for the hell of it (and to see if you’re reading closely), include the title of your favorite Elvis Costello song as well. Since everybody must have one. U.S. residents only, please, and if I pick your name on Monday, I’ll contact you that afternoon to get your snail-mailing address.
Plan Ahead Boston: The ‘Nac Recommends
Posted on January 23, 2009 at 3:52 pm | No Comments
A few upcoming events, both very soon and a little later on, that I’m compelled to bring to the attention of any and all Boston-area Almanac readers. Some truly great stuff ahead…
Tomorrow night sees the very first benefit show for the wonderful Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville. While the Armory itself is located on Highland Ave., the fund-raising event is happening at the Somerville Theatre over in Davis Square. Three fantastic bands have donated their musical services to the worthy cause: Mission of Burma, The Neighborhoods, and Faces on Film will take the stage to introductions by emcee Jimmy Tingle. Tickets for the altruistic, all-ages evening are still available at the Somerville Theatre and Middle East box offices, or via Ticketb@sterd if you’re up for some extra service charges.
Monday night, the 26th, introduces us to another new venture that is focused on helping artists thrive: Illius Rock. The start-up, which has the goal of directly connecting bands with their fans, will host a free launch party at the Middlesex Lounge near Central Square in Cambridge. Four bands will perform in the intimate setting: The Main Drag, The Wandas, All These Kings, and It’s From the Sky. To get an idea of what Illius is trying to do, have a look around their sub-site for It’s From The Sky. In a nutshell, fans and followers of bands on Illius are able to help directly fund specific projects (studio time, tours, cd pressing) and in return get added access, cool merch, and more. Cuttin’ out the middle man, and giving you something special in return. It’s something that’s become far more common over the past year or so, and will only expand as the broken major-label system continues its slow descent into irrelevancy. More power to the music-makers, I say.
Here’s something very different from the norm, and utterly intriguing: Next week, on Wednesday the 28th (7pm) and Thursday the 29th (8pm), Bryce and Aaron Dessner (of the National and Clogs) will be in town to take part in a special project at M.I.T.’s Broad Institute Auditorium entitled “Darkness Visible”.
The two-night event includes multimedia collaborations (between the Dessners and visual artist Matthew Ritchie, joined also by sound designer David Sheppard and M.I.T. Professor/instrumentalist Evan Ziporyn), a lecture, a Q&A session, and the unique performance of some music that Bryce Dessner wrote for string quartet and small orchestra (consisting on Thursday of M.I.T. and Wellesley students). Not only does it sound totally fascinating, but it’s completely free and open to the public.
The following week, on Tuesday, February 3rd, Austin’s Heartless Bastards will celebrate the release of their third album, “The Mountain”, at Allston’s Great Scott. That’s the very day it arrives in stores (thanks to the Fat Possum label), and just the third day of their national tour, so the band is bound to be in very high spirits. It’s another one of the fine Fenway Recordings Sessions, so DJ Carbo will also be there to spin tunes before and after their set. Listen to some Heartless Bastards at MySpace, or grab the album’s title track here…
Heads up for area fans of School of Seven Bells (who released one of my favorite records of ’08) – We don’t have to wait until Sunday, February 15th to see them at the Paradise (opening for Fujiya & Miyagi). In fact, we can see them do a longer set a week earlier, and on a Friday night, when they play a show at Wellesley College. It’s free for students, but open to the public for a measly 5 bucks. Details here.
And finally, congrats are due to Jen in Cambridge, who was my randomly-chosen winner for the two tickets to see tomorrow’s Longwave / Wheat / Bon Savants show at Great Scott. See y’all there.