Once again it’s midweek, and I’m just now doing this. How dumb, how like me. Just three bands/events are profiled, so I can get this posted before the first one actually happens. Which would be the Bad Art Ensemble, a proud Boston institution, who are at the teeny tiny Plough & Stars in Cambridge tonight. Another CNC Indie Music Marathon begins at 6pm on Friday at the All Asia Cafe (also in Cambridge), this time featuring – along with five others – the psychedelic dreamy space music of Lone Pine Cones, whom I’ve been enjoying as I write this. On Saturday, the Paradise hosts Rodfest 8, an annual benefit concert that honors the memory of a Stonehill College student, profits going to a memorial scholarship fund.
share this:Month: January 2010 Page 1 of 2
The most surreal of evenings began the moment I arrived at cafe 939’s Red Room. This utterly delightful and intimate (200-capacity) Twin Peaks-inspired venue immediately put me in the perfect mood for these amazingly talented otherworldly performers.
share this:One of a long list of bands I had heard of throughout the years, but never got around to seeing, Camper Van Beethoven has been around since the early 80s (they celebrated their 25th Anniversary in 2008), performing their unique wicked-eclectic style of genre-fusing… well, I suppose one can loosely call it rock, for the sake of referring to it as something, though it’s actually many different, wondrous things.
share this:Hanging out with a bunch of folks at The Field before the show, we were talking about The Wrens. I was completely unfamiliar with this band I was about to see, though intrigued with their music and their story. It’s an all-too-familiar tale of mishaps and missteps, navigating the treacherous music biz in search of that elusive “big $$ recording deal”, though informed with a particularly charming, older-and-wiser cynical as hell world view. They’ve been performing (and on the rare occasion releasing something) since 1989, and a particularly dedicated Wrens fan who had driven up from New Jersey for the show marveled at their longevity, “they’re really old – they’re in their 40s!” (thank you honey, excuse me for a moment while I go slit my wrists). Fortunately, The Wrens (and I) have a sturdy and time-tested sense of humor, and after seeing their full-on crazy and wildly energetic, sweeping and majestic, ultra-classy performance, I’m very glad to have gotten out of my rocking chair to come out to see them. A new fan is born.
share this:So I stumbled upon some really interesting events, as per my usual, a few days before they’re happening. There’s the 1919 Boston Molasses Flood Commemoration benefit show at the Middle East Upstairs on Wednesday, and there’s also an uber-cool thing at Cafe 939 – Buffalo Tom will perform a short acoustic set before Nick Flynn reads from his new memoir. And a third thing on Wednesday, but apparently it happens every Wednesday at All Asia Cafe: Monkey Rock Writer’s Circle. On Thursday, notable Bostonian Rick Berlin and others perform at T.T. the Bear’s Place. At All Asia Cafe, there’s this ongoing CNC Indie Music Marathon which happens every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. And last, but most certainly not least, what promises to be a fascinating evening of music and performance – H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E., Mighty Tiny, and Laura Jorgensen at Berklee’s Cafe 939.
share this:I’m still going to include this in my “Band Round-Up: Eastside L.A. Edition”, but as their East Coast dates start tonight in NYC, I wanted to get this up. These are exciting times for Avi Buffalo. They recently signed to Sub Pop and have their debut full-length album (recorded by Aaron Embry) due out in the Spring. Meanwhile, they have some shows lined up, including some East Coast dates (though sadly no Boston this time) – Sat. Jan 16 @ Pianos, NYC (Aquarium Drunkard presents), Mon. Jan 18 @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC w/Final Fantasy, Tues. Jan 19 @ Sonar in Baltimore MD w/ Small Sur, Secret Mountains, & Vetiver, Wed. Jan 20 @ Kung Fu Necktie in Philly w/Meg Baird & Vetiver, and Thurs. Jan 21 @ The Bell House in Brooklyn NY w/Kevin Barker & Vetiver. They’ve also been confirmed for SXSW in March.
“What’s In It For?” b/w “Jessica” 7 Inch Vinyl Single Available now on Sub Pop.
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share this:Racing to get this up. Kinda stupid, as the first bands are playing now. Oh well. I’ll try to do better next time. Tonight – David Wax Museum (cool Mexo-Americana) are at Toad; Jimmy Ryan & Hayride! tomorrow night at Lizard Lounge; and Friday night is the very cool and entertaining singer-songwriter-guitarist (and I would say comedian as well) Asa Brebner at Sally O’Brien’s in Union Square. Boston’s Mission Of Burma play at the Paradise Friday and Saturday nights; and The Broken River Prophet are at PA’s Lounge on Saturday.
share this:Ok, I made an executive decision: I’m just going to profile 4-6 bands per week, so I can eventually get this up in a more timely manner – like just ahead of the weekend. Rather than when I’m now doing it, which is Monday morning. So here’s a small selection of Boston-area artists and bands you may wish to check out this week.
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