Heads Up Boston: Spoon, The National, Beach House, Clientele Tix
Posted on March 12, 2007 at 11:44 am | No Comments
Attention discriminating Boston-area music fans:
Some fine shows have been announced in the past week or so, and tickets for each have already gone on sale. I’m guessing they’ll all sell out, so get clicking before you’re left trading your soul and/or body on Craigslist:
Spoon is coming to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston on April 28th. That’s a pretty special setting to catch them in, and it’s on a Saturday night, even. Buy general admission tickets, or grab some that put you right up front. Another great night at the MFA, and this one is a double-bill: Beach House and The Clientele on Saturday, June 9th. I haven’t seen the Clientele since they played the Milky Way many years ago, and had to miss Beach House last time they were here. Needless to say, I’ve already bought my tix for this one. Get yours, or go with the front-of-house seating. Thursday, June 21st: The National comes to the Middle East Downstairs in support of their next album, “Boxer“, which arrives on May 22nd. A recent email from the MidEast said tickets don’t go on sale until this Friday the 16th, but they actually became available last Friday. Glad I double-checked… their 2005 show at TT the Bears was one of the best of that year, so there’s no way I’m missing their return. Go get some tickets of your own.
So, speaking of shows selling out, I was down with the flu last week and slept right through the on-sale time for tickets to the David Bazan & Ben Gibbard team-up that’s happening at the Somerville Theater in May. I’m more than a little bummed about that, so I’m going to come right out and say it: Help a blogging brother out? Not looking for a handout, so if you’ve got extras, I’ve got both cash and gratitude to give…
Spotlit: The “For Callum” Benefit Compilation
Posted on March 9, 2007 at 1:59 am | No Comments
You’ll find no better way to spend some of your discretionary dollars next week than on the “For Callum” compilation, which becomes available for pre-order this Tuesday, March 13th, and gets officially released at a benefit show on Saturday, March 17th in Minneapolis (more on that below). It’s a two-disc collection with 32 tracks from some amazing artists, pulled together to help out Callum Robbins, the one-year old son of Janet Morgan (Shonben, Channels) and J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels, Magpie Cage Recording Studio). Callum was diagnosed last year with the genetic motor neuron disease called Type 1 SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Type 1 SMA impacts the brain’s ability to communicate with the voluntary muscles that control the functions we all take for granted, like head & neck control, breathing, swallowing, and crawling or walking. Apparently most Type 1-afflicted children die before their second birthday, and those who do survive into childhood face a future of occupational therapy and much-needed assistive hardware. Sadly, there is no known cure, so little Callum may be in danger, and he and his parents need our help. And not with just well wishes, but with our donations, and now, with our well-spent cash. The disc is a pure benefit: In addition to all the artists donating their songs, all involved are donating their time, and every penny of the proceeds go to J. and Janet to help pay for Cal’s treatment.
Just check out this top-notch track list…
The “For Callum” Benefit Compilation
disc 1:
1. All the Way Rider – “Luxembourg“
2. Arcwelder – “The Hope” (demo)
3. Careers In Modeling – “Acorn“
4. Chad – “English Girl“
5. Channels – “Cast Away“
6. E. Fowlkes Sextet – “Rory Corrigan“
7. Engine 88 – “Get Off“
8. Engine Down – “Your Suit“
9. Eternals – “Rawar Style“
10. Gordonovich – “Au Revoir (Char’s Garden)“
11. David Grubbs – “A Dream to Help Me Sleep“
12. Halloween, Alaska – “Halloween” (remix)
13. The Icy Shores – “Backseat“
14. Imaginary Johnny – “Little Dimes“
15. Jawbreaker – “I Love You So Much It’s Killing Us Both” (demo)
16. Kingfield – “Penny“disc two:
1. Bryan Knisley – “Madeline“
2. Joe Lally – “Mistaken Identity“
3. The Life and Times – “Catching Crumbs“
4. Maritime – “Tearing up the Oxygen“
5. Medications – “Domestic Animals“
6. Bill Mike – “Secure“
7. The Million – “Waterfront” (demo)
8. Mission of Burma – “N.S.U.“
9. Travis Morrison – “Represent“
10. Drew O’Doherty – “You’ll Believe A Man Can Fly“
11. The Oranges Band – “Operator“
12. Pilot to Gunner – “All the Lights“
13. Roh Delikat – “Ant Overthrow“
14. Self-Evident – “World As a Verb“
15. The Spectaculars – “Dopasetic“
16. Story of the Sea – “West Bank“
Like I said, an amazing lineup. Real nice to see Boston so well-represented, what with Drew O’Doherty, Roh Delikat, and Mission of Burma all on board, and very cool to find my Brooklyn friends Pilot to Gunner on there, too. Most of the 32 songs are exclusive to the collection, according to compilation curator (and ace drummer) Zach Barocas: “Careers in Modeling, Engine 88, Engine Down, Eternals, The Icy Shores, Kingfield, Maritime, Bill Mike, Travis Morrison, Roh Delikat, & Self-Evident contributed previously released or forthcoming songs, though of varying availability (some out-of-print records, some 7″s, some hard-to-find, etc.). Everything else is exclusive.” As if the cause itself wasn’t already a reason to plunk down the dough.
The assembly and release of the compilation is a joint effort between Catlick Records, Letterbox Creative, and The Cultural Society. While pre-orders start this Tuesday via Catlick, the first to get their hands on it will be anyone who is lucky enough to attend the March 17th Callum Benefit Show at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. Appearing is the one and only Arcwelder, along with fellow compilation contributors Story of the Sea, Self-Evident, All The Way Rider, and The Million. Wish I could be there, but instead I’ll be attending virtually: In addition to buying the compilation, I’m gonna make another donation to the Callum Robbins Family Fund that would be my cover charge if I could make it out to Minneapolis. Why not do the same?