Bradley’s Almanac

Sunday Music Miscellany

Posted on October 5, 2008 at 11:47 am | No Comments

Check, check… is this thing on? Anyone out there? If you’re reading this, it means I’ve successfully overcome a severe case of blogger’s block. Not that I haven’t had anything to share – the opposite is true, actually – just that I’ve been stuck in a simple catch-22: When I’m in the mood to write, I lack the time, and when I find some time, I lack the mood. Wanting to spend all my non-work moments with A & B means my priorities are properly in order, but it sure keeps the ‘Nac quiet.

My trip to ATP NY is partially to blame, as the time away and overwhelming amount of music through my brain (along with a demanding job schedule since my return) turned me into a homebody for a couple weeks there. But I’ve recovered, so I’ll be sharing some words, and more importantly some sounds, from that incredible experience in the days to come. In the meantime, there are many ATPictures. And for now, a quick Sunday afternoon post. Check back tomorrow morning for a new live recording that I’m very, very psyched to be sharing up.

Also coming tomorrow is the first of two painful live music conflicts this week: While the Wedding Present will be downstairs at the Middle East, Stereolab are across the river at the Paradise. As much as I love the ‘Lab and their best-in-awhile new album, my loyalty lies with with the Weddoes. Gedge and co. are well aware of the dueling shows, as they acknowledged it with a MySpace bulletin saying that Stereolab’s set should be over before they start. But given that the doors to the Middle East open early at 7:30, and there’s only one opening band (The Jealous Girlfriends), I have a tough time swallowing that one. Either way, I won’t be risking the double-dip, so please refrain from telling me how great the Stereolab show was, k? I can’t heeeaaaar yoooouuuu…

(and I can take some comfort in NYCtaper‘s wonderful recording of the band’s NYC stop last Thursday).

There are now two Tim Middlewick-directed videos from the Wedding Present’s “El Rey” album, so have a look…

Video: The Wedding Present –
The Thing I Like Best About Him Is His Girlfriend

Video: The Wedding Present –
Don’t Take Me Home Until I’m Drunk

Know what I love? The perfectly judicious use of tambourine in the above “The Thing I Like Best…“. I don’t think they’re able to do that live, though. Maybe they’ll let me handle that part tomorrow? I can both shake it and not break it.

And look what’s going on just before the show, pretty nearby the club… Elephant Parade! With added zebra action. I’m so there.

Here, have some songs, all from albums that will be arriving in the coming weeks…

  • Eric Bachmann’s Crooked Fingers gives us “Forfeit / Fortune” this week, and the preview track is…

    Mp3: Crooked Fingers – “Phony Revolutions

    My own fingers are crossed in hopes that my pre-order of the album and accompanying DVD arrive in the next day or two. And by the way, Mr. Bachmann, the lack of a Boston-area date on your current tour schedule saddens me.

    (an update – My deluxe edition of Crooked Fingers’ “Forfeit / Fortune” arrived on Monday, a day ahead of the official date. Let’s hear it for self-released shipping punctuality! Now that’s service.)

  • +/- {Plus/Minus} releases “X’s On Your Eyes” on October 21st thanks to Absolutely Kosher, and I’ve been fortunate to spend some serious time with it over the past couple weeks. Enough time to know it’s my favorite +/- record yet, hands down. The preview cut is…

    Mp3: +/- {Plus/Minus} – “Snowblind

    … and it’s one of many, many great songs to be found within. I’m especially loving “Unsung“, which I’m told I can share up in a couple weeks.

  • Here’s a happy surprise that just arrived in my inbox: News from Planting Seeds Records of tomorrow’s (digital) release of the debut EP from International Jetsetters. Why the happiness? Well, check this pedigree:

    International Jetsetters is an Oxford-based five piece. The band was formed in March 2007 by singer and guitarist Mark Crozer (The Jesus And Mary Chain) and bass player Bert Audubert. The line-up also features drummer Loz Colbert (The Jesus And Mary Chain, Ride), lead guitarist Paul Crozer, and vocalist Fi McFall.

    Hey, it’s Loz! Even without the added JAMC connection, that would rate instant addition to my playlist, and yours, too…

    Mp3: International Jetsetters – “Inside Yourself

    International Jetsetters’ six-song “Heart Is Black” EP arrives digitally tomorrow at Planting Seeds, and physically through the wonderful Darla Distribution on October 21st.

  • The Sea & Cake quickly follow up last year’s “Everybody” with a new Thrill Jockey disc on October 21st entitled “Car Alarm”, and with just a couple days of listening under my belt, I’m into it even more. It’s still smooth S&C, but with an added energy that I found lacking from the previous album. Here’s a preview, the title track…

    Mp3: The Sea & Cake – “Car Alarm

    The Sea & Cake plays downstairs at the Middle East in Central Square, Cambridge on November 21st. Tickets here or at the MidEast box office from 1-7pm daily.

  • And here’s a new song from the ever-transforming Labrador one-man band The Legends, who will release it as a single on November 5th…

    Mp3: The Legends – “Seconds Away

    It is, of course, a catchy little number, but rather than the early-Cure electronic sparsity of their last album, we get a song about tryptizol covered in a crunchy coating of Flying-Saucer-Attack style fuzz. The single will also include the song “Over and Over” and its remix, and can be preordered here.

    Well whaddya know, there’s a video for a song from New Radiant Storm King‘s excellent new one, “Drinking in the Moonlight”. Check out the Hollinsworth-directed clip right here…

    Video: New Radiant Storm King – “Clouds Cover Everything

    A higher-rez version is here, and I also discovered a fun-with-microfiche video for Quicksand Under Carpet off their previous record, which I didn’t even know existed. And here I thought I was a semi-knowledgeable NRSK fan. For shame.

    The disbanded Hot Snakes have given us two new bands, and while we got the recorded debut of John Reis’ Night Marchers last April (“See You In Magic” on Vagrant), we’ve only heard a couple live recordings from Rick Froberg’s Obits. Until now. Discriminating record label Comedy Minus One has just shared up a song from the band’s debut 7″ on their MySpace and Facebook pages. Just use the embedded players to stream Obit’s “One Cross Apiece“, which will accompany “Put It In Writing” on the out-in-December 7″. Another 7″ will follow in January 2009, along with the band’s debut full-lengther on Sub Pop shortly after.

    Former Juno frontman Arlie Carstens has shared up some new (well, new to the internet, at least) recordings under his Ghost Wars banner: a song called “The Conductor” and a 4-track cover of Husker Du’s “Divide & Conquer” (with Boston’s own Drew O’Doherty on guitar). They join four other previously-shared songs.

    Vermont band Farm‘s sophomore long player, titled “The Cave”, will be out officially next Saturday, October 11th. While the trio doesn’t have a Boston-area show scheduled yet, they’ll be in Northampton, MA this Thursday, October 9th, opening for Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at the Pearl Street Ballroom. Stream some Farm sounds at their MySpace page.

    Alright, little B is fast approaching the keyboard, so the time has come to post this sucker before he uea,djeioad014. Too late…

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  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
    Wednesday, October 29th
    Herbie Hancock
    @ the Wang Theatre

    Wednesday, October 29th
    The Autumn Defense
    Chris Stamey
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Wednesday, October 29th
    EARFULL series
    "Writers reading, songwriters playing"
    with authors
    Tom Perrotta & Alice Hoffman
    and musicians
    Highway Hosiery & Adam Sherman
    @ Regattabar, Cambridge

    Wednesday, October 29th
    Of Monsters and Men
    Arny Margret
    @ Roadrunner

    Wednesday, October 29th
    The Beta Band
    @ the Royale

    Thursday, October 30th
    Cage the Elephant
    Hey, Nothing
    Common People
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, October 30th
    Halloween Party, Benefit Concert
    & Variety Show featuring...
    Sidebody, Orbiter, Scrod,
    Dyke Van Dick & Rats, Foiled Again!
    FUNdraiser to Preserve Somerville's
    Central Street Artist Studios
    @ Sacco's Bowl Haven

    Thursday, October 30th
    Thundercat
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday & Saturday
    October 31st & November 1st
    Fleshwater
    Chat Pile
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, November 1st
    Andy Bell (of Erasure)
    @ the Wilbur

    Sunday, November 2nd
    Fruit Bats (solo)
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, November 3rd
    Margaret Glaspy
    Brooke Annibale
    @ City Winery

    Monday, November 3rd
    Crispin Hellion Glover
    presents
    "No! YOU'RE WRONG or:
    Spooky Action At A Distance"
    Live Slide Show + Film
    with Q&A and Book Signing
    @ the Coolidge Corner Theatre

    Tuesday, November 4th
    Dinosaur Live!
    Improvised Entertainment with
    Edi Patterson, Paul Scheer,
    Rob Huebel, Jason Mantzoukas,
    Owen Burke, Danielle Schneider,
    and Mary Holland
    @ the Chevalier, Medford

    Wednesday, November 5th
    Boris
    "Pink" 20th Anniversary Tour
    with Uniform
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, November 6th
    Matt Pond PA
    @ the Fallout Shelter, Norwood

    Thursday, November 6th
    Colin Hay (Men at Work)
    @ the Chevalier Theatre

    Thursday, November 6th
    Robert Plant's Saving Grace
    featuring Suzi Dian
    @ the Shubert Theatre

    Thursday & Friday
    November 6th & 7th
    The Lone Bellow
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
    November 6th, 7th, & 8th
    Buffalo Tom's 2nd annual
    "Please Come to Boston" fest
    with special live performances
    & guests each night
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday & Saturday
    November 7th & 8th
    Steve Martin & Martin Short
    three shows @ the Wang

    Saturday, November 8th
    Luke O'Neil
    "We Had It Coming"
    Book Release Party
    4pm @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, November 8th
    Cracker
    with special guests
    @ Abbot Hall, Marblehead

    Saturday, November 8th
    Howl Owl Howl
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, November 8th
    The Mars Volta
    @ House of Blues

    Sunday, November 9th
    Flock of Dimes
    @ the Rockwell

    Sunday, November 9th
    The Samples
    @ City Winery

    Monday, November 10th
    Constant Smiles
    The Shallows
    @ Deep Cuts

    Tuesday, November 11th
    Jason Bonham's
    Led Zeppelin Evening
    @ the House of Blues Boston

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    November 11th & 12th
    Micky Dolenz (the Monkees)
    Songs & Stories
    @ City Winery

    Wednesday, November 12th
    Jens Lekman
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, November 13th
    Janeane Garofalo
    two shows
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Thursday, November 13th
    Major Stars
    Mountain Movers
    Gossip Collar
    @ Deep Cuts

    Thursday, November 13th
    Celebration of Hip-Hop with
    Hall of Fame Induction of Rakim
    @ Berklee Performance Center

    Friday, November 14th
    The Smithereens
    with John Cowsill
    @ City Winery

    Friday, November 14th
    John Fogerty
    doing CCR songs
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Friday, November 14th
    Tequila Sirens
    Cryin Caleb
    Headband
    Lunch Mother
    @ the Loft, Somerville

    Friday, November 14th
    Geese
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, November 14th
    Spiller
    The Long Wait
    @ the Middle East

    Saturday, November 15th
    Hallelujah The Hills
    (20th anniversary show!)
    with the return of the mighty...
    Ho-Ag! @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, November 15th
    Beach Fossils
    @ the Paradise

    Sunday, November 16th
    The Faint
    Hercules & Love Affair
    @ the Royale

    Sunday, November 16th
    Die Spitz
    @ the Sinclair

    Sunday, November 16th
    Black Flag
    (Ginn & the kids)
    @ Taffeta in Lowell

    Monday, November 17th
    Tom Morello & Friends
    (electric full band show)
    @ the Paradise

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    November 18th & 19th
    The Barr Brothers
    Land of Talk
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, November 19th
    EARFULL series
    "Writers reading, songwriters playing"
    with authors
    Peter Orner & Nick Flynn
    and musicians
    Dead Gowns & Future Teens
    @ Regattabar, Cambridge

    Wednesday, November 19th
    Author Joe Hill
    presenting 'King Sorrow'
    @ Brookline Booksmith

    Thursday, November 20th
    Weakened Friends
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, November 20th
    Sarah McLachlan
    @ the Orpheum

    Thursday, November 20th
    SOM
    Hiroe
    Girih
    Bedroom Eyes
    @ Deep Cuts

    Friday, November 21st
    Queensrÿche
    Accept
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Friday & Saturday
    November 21st & 22nd
    Letters to Cleo
    The Cavedogs
    @ the Paradise Rock Club

    Saturday, November 22nd
    Couch
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, November 23rd
    Story of the Year
    Senses Fail
    Armor for Sleep
    @ Roadrunner

    Monday, November 24th
    Stevie Nicks
    @ TD Garden

    Monday, November 24th
    Bar Italia
    Lifeguard
    @ the Paradise

    Monday, November 24th
    Patti Smith
    Horses 50th Anniversary Tour
    @ the Orpheum

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    November 25th & 26th
    The English Beat
    @ City Winery

    Wednesday, November 26th
    The Lemonheads
    @ The Wilbur

    Saturday, November 29th
    Portugal. The Man
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, November 29th
    Vundabar
    @ the Sinclair

    Sunday, November 30th
    Caspian
    Aisha Burns
    @ Sonia

    Monday, December 1st
    (second show added)
    The Beths
    Phoebe Rings
    @ the Royale

    Friday, December 5th
    The Besnard Lakes
    @ Deep Cuts

    Friday, December 5th
    STL GLD
    House Party
    with Bad Rabbits
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, December 5th
    The Bug Club
    Spirit Ghost
    Dinos
    Joy Boys
    @ O'Brien's

    Saturday, December 6th
    The Aimee Mann & Ted Leo
    Christmas Show featuring
    Paul F. Tompkins, Nellie McKay,
    & Josh Gondelman
    @ the Chevalier Theatre

    Saturday, Dec 6th
    Freezepop
    Mellow Bravo
    Harris
    Replaced By Robots
    @ the Middle East Downstairs

    December 6th
    Sorry
    @ the Middle East Up

    Tuesday, December 9th
    They Are Gutting A Body Of Water
    Hooky
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Wednesday, December 10th
    EARFULL series
    "Writers reading, songwriters playing"
    @ Regattabar, Cambridge

    Thursday, December 11th
    The Ladybug Transistor
    Giant Day
    Gold Dust
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, December 13th
    Paula Poundstone
    @ the Mosesian Center, Watertown

    Saturday, December 13th
    Will Dailey
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, December 13th
    Converge's SADDEST DAY Fest
    with Touché Amoré, Coalesce,
    The Hope Conspiracy, Soul Glo,
    Year of the Knife, Stress Positions,
    Wormwood, and more
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, December 13th
    A John Waters Christmas
    @ Berklee Performance Center

    Saturday, December 13th
    J. Robbins Band plays
    Burning Airlines
    @ Deep Cuts

    Sunday, December 14th
    Cursive
    AJJ
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Monday, December 15th
    Algernon Cadwallader
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, December 17th
    Patti Smith
    Book Tour Stop
    @ the Chevalier

    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

    Wednesday, January 14th, 2026
    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

    Monday, January 19th
    Shame
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Thursday, January 27th
    The Residents
    Eskimo Live! Tour
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    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

    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

    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

    Saturday, April 4th
    Puscifer
    Dave Hill
    @ the Wang Theatre

    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, 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

    Wednesday, June 26th
    The Church
    The Singles Tour
    (rescheduled from 8/1/25)
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Friday, September 4th
    Peter Hook & the Light
    play New Order's "Get Ready"
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, September 12th
    Rush
    @ TD Garden