[Somerville This Saturday] Pains of Being Pure At Heart “Belong” album release party
Posted on March 22, 2011 at 3:36 pm | No Comments
This Saturday, March 26th, I’m very happy to be co-hosting the Boston-area release party for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart‘s new album, “Belong”, which popped up today on iTunes and officially hits record stores next Tuesday. Starting at 10pm at The Independent in Somerville’s Union Square, I’ll be spinning the record along with a slew of other fine Slumberland Records-released songs. And thanks to that ridiculously-great label, we’ve got some cool merch to give out during the party, including Pains posters, limited-edition white vinyl copies of “Belong”, and 7-inches of the album’s first single, “Heart In Your Heartbreak“.
Two lucky attendees will also each get a pair of tickets to see the band play at the Paradise on Tuesday, May 3rd with tourmates Twin Shadow and locals Cuffs (grab tickets here). Speaking of Cuffs, guitarist Martin graciously helped me set this night up, and he’ll also be hosting/spinning along with his Reports bandmate Joe. We’ll also probably get a guest-DJ appearance (and more Slumberland hits) from Cuffs singer/guitarist Andrew who, of course, fronted the wonderful Slumberland trio Pants Yell!. If you didn’t get all that straight, don’t worry, you won’t be graded.
So, in short: You. Us. The Independent. 10pm. Come Saturday. RSVP, if you please.
By the way, the band appears tonight on David Letterman. Think they’ll play the album’s title track? Here it is for your streaming pleasure…
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Belong by Slumberland Records
[Live in Boston] Covers from Superchunk, Rival Schools, + Wild Flag
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 12:30 pm | 5 Comments
Sharing a few live cover songs, all recently performed here in the Boston, on this gray Sunday afternoon…
First, a song from late in Superchunk‘s set at the Royale back in September. This one was both a gift for aging fans of early Boston hardcore in the crowd and maybe a quick, minute-long lesson for some who weren’t even born when SS Decontrol was putting out records almost 30 (!) years ago. Featuring rare lead shouting vocals from guitarist Jim Wilbur…
After their hectic 2010 of record-releasin’ and audience-rockin’, Superchunk have taken some well-deserved time off so far this year. On deck, though, is a Record Store Day shared 7-inch with Coliseum, each band doing a Misfits cover. Look for the limited-edition split, a co-release from Merge and Temporary Residence Ltd., on April 16th at finer record shops.
Next up, Rivals Schools, who hit the Brighton Music Hall last weekend and closed their set with a cover that was no surprise to fans of frontman Walter Schreifels‘ old band, Quicksand. The Smiths‘ “How Soon Is Now?” was a live staple of their shows, and was released in studio form as a bonus cut on their classic “Slip” album. I never got a chance to see them do it, so I pretty psyched to see them give the song a run through…
live at Brighton Music Hall, Boston, 3/5/2011
The Rivals Schools reunion is in full swing, with “Pedals” (just their second album after 2001’s ace “United By Fate”) hitting shelves and servers last week. It’s a worthy follow-up, especially considering the 10-year gap, and the new tracks fit perfectly in place in their live setlist alongside all the excellent old stuff. Their short U.S. East Coast tour just wrapped, and they’ll be spending most of April overseas before hitting the West Coast in May. Check here for dates.
And finally, Wild Flag. The quartet made their Boston debut last Monday, and I’m still on a bit of a high from it (and still suffering slightly-dulled hearing in my right ear – should have left those earplugs in, but I was feeling it, man). How they were able to meet and squash my ridiculously-high expectations is a mystery. Oh, wait, no it’s not, just look who’s in the band. Show of the short-year so far, I’d say. Until they come back. Here’s the set-closer, a ferocious Patti Smith cover, fronted by Carrie Brownstein…
Wild Flag has a handful of live dates left on their current tour (including a stop at SXSW later this week). If you’re fortunate enough to catch them, check out the merch table for their first official release: The “Future Crimes“/”Glass Tambourine” 7-inch. Produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel, the two tracks are a tease for an eventual Fall full-length on Merge. If you can’t make it to one of their remaining March shows, then get ready for Record Store Day on April 16th, when the 7-inch will also be one of Merge’s special releases.