The Friday Fiver
Posted on March 13, 2009 at 2:46 pm | No Comments
It’s been all contests and little actual content here on the ‘Nac lately, and for that I do apologize (well, I’m not sorry for giving away free stuff, but still). Hoping to fix that imbalance over the weekend, but the prospect of warm weather may dash those hopes. We shall see. Here’s a quick few info fixes before I’m off…
Firstly, congrats to Almanac reader Penny from Cambridge, who will freely attend tomorrow night’s A.C. Newman show at the Paradise with a friend (and thanks to Matador for offering up the spots). Belated congrats are also due to Crystal, who attended the “Dark Was The Night” listening party I hosted last month at River Gods, and won herself a pair of tickets for tomorrow night’s show as well. I really wish I could join them there, but…
I’m more than slightly psyched for tomorrow night’s now-sold-out Throwing Muses show at the Middle East in Cambridge, for a few reasons. Aside from seeing one of all-time favorite bands play some of my all-time favorite songs, we’ll be treated to an opening set from Kristin Hersh‘s other band, 50 Foot Wave. The power trio (which also finds TM bassist Bernard Georges pulling double duty) plays first, followed by the highly-touted Screaming Females, and finally my beloved Muses. Fingers are forcefully crossed that 50FW will run through the entirety of their new EP, “Power+Light” (free download here, thanks to CASHmusic), which is one long, continuous, and majestic 7-part epic. Hopehopehope.
I’m saving a chunk of that hope for the Muses, for the possibility that they’ll perform their newly-learned cover of R.E.M.‘s “Perfect Circle“, which they played a couple nights ago at Carnegie Hall as part of “The Music Of R.E.M.” tribute. Be a shame to learn a song and only perform it once, right? Right?
Here, let’s try another Twitter-based giveaway experiment – The first five people to send me a tweet (I will always feel icky typing that word) at the Almanac Twitter account will each be sent a unique code to download an entire 19-song Throwing Muses live set recorded in Sydney, Australia on January 16th. This gracious gift comes compliments of the crew at CASHmusic, and if you dig what you hear, or end up downloading any of the free stuff from the fine list of CASHmusic artists, considering dropping something in the tip jar.
Oh, and another reason I’m so psyched for Saturday night? Well, Amie will be there with me, and since the day that Brendan arrived, having her join me for a show has become something of a rarity. But hey, it’s the band that had a hand in our finding each other 9 years ago, so if ever there was a special reason to spring for a babysitter, this would be it.
Here’s some freakin’ fantastic news, something I’m fortunate to be able to pass along on the semi-early tip so that any ‘Nac surfers can get tickets quick: The Figgs are returning to Boston for two super-small shows at JP’s Midway Cafe in late May. On Friday, May 29th, the trio will play with area super-groop the John Powhida International Airport, and the next night they’ll team up with The In Out and the Boston Beat Machine. A mere 60 (yes, sixty) tickets will be sold for each show (and I’ve already got a couple of my own), so if you’re even thinking about going, grab your tickets here or here.
Oh, and plan ahead: After a fairly long break, I return to the DJ booth at River Gods next Thursday for another installment of Tourfilter DJ Night. I’ll be perched up above the bar starting at 9pm on the 19th, playing songs by bands coming to town in the next couple months, and my rough playlist is already looking ace.
So I’ve been trying to share up the full Swirlies live set that I recorded of their remarkable return to town a couple weeks back, but work, sleep deprivation, and general dad-ness have prevented me from following through. My promise to you now is Monday, this I do swear. Until then, I leave you with an aural tease, along with a live track from opener Gregory and the Hawk. For those who weren’t there, GatH is the nom-du-perform of New Yorker Meredith Godreau, who was joined on guitar for her last few songs by Swirlies drummer (and Mice Parade member) Adam Pierce. Loved her voice, which struck me as part Tanya Donelly, part Mary Lou Lord, but even more delicate. She performed a brand new song, and with her permission, I’ll share it here. I haven’t been able to get its gorgeous melody out of my head since the show, and that’s the exact opposite of a complaint…
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