Information Crush: Amy's Shows List

Lots and lots of choices for cool shows so let's get started. Thursday is the first of three nights for the NE Americana Festival at Church and has Kingsley Flood, Movers and Shakers and many more so if you like twangy music Church should be on your calendar for 1, 2 or 3 nights this weekend. Friday night has the second night of Americana at Church with The Rationales and Girls, Guns and Glory. Also on Friday are 2 free options with the Dark Martini & the Dirty Olives bill at Sally O'Brien's and the Red Rose Soul Club at the Rosebud Diner (Jordan Valentine's last one spinning). Saturday has something for everyone. At Church is the final night of the NE Americana Festival with Jimmy Ryan and Hayride! and Three Day Threshold. For a little rock'em and sock'em and roll'em, the roller derby season opener for the Boston Derby Dames is happening at Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington. Nancy Neon is hosting a garage night at the Cantab with the Varmints and Fireking. For a night of rock n roll try Johnny D's and check out Rock Bottom and JJ & Thee Cuban Heels. Also on Saturday night is Rapid Shave (with Mike Gent) at the Rosebud. Wow, way too many choices for one night, isn't that always how it happens? Sunday has a nice way to end the weekend with an early show at the Rosebud with the Weisstronauts at 7:30p. Monday has indie rockers Rogue Wave at the Paradise. And Tuesday has Surfer Blood and Turbo Fruits at Great Scotts and Chuck Prophet at the Lizard Lounge.

Check ahead on the list, I added some noteworthy shows like the St Stanislaus Day Party on May 22 and Echo & the Bunnymen at the Paradise on April 26. Cool, huh?

Thursday, 2/25:

- The Verve Pipe at the Natick Center for the Arts
- T-Model Ford at Pa's Lounge (90 year old blues guy, wow)
- NE Americana Festival with The Accident that Led Me to the World, Jeff Bird and the Dirty Finch, Odessa Rose, Bryan Pero and the Tired Horses, Brown Bird, Bean Pickers Union, Movers and Shakers and Kingsley Flood at Church

- Brad Byrd at Cafe 939

Friday, 2/26:

- NE Americana Festival with They Will Hate Us, Route .44, John Colvert, Golden West Motor Lodge, The Rationales, Coyote Kolb, Girls, Guns, and Glory and Highway Ghosts at Church
- The English Beat, Fishbone and at Showcase Live
- Dark Martini & the Dirty Olives, Huxter, Greg Allen Complex and the Mesmerines at Sally O'Brien's, Free!
- Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillets at Scullers
- Red Rose Soul Club at the Rosebud Diner Free!
- Mark Hopkins & the Hotel at Porter Belly's, Brighton

Saturday, 2/27:

- Boston Derby Dames season opener at the Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington
- 6th Degree at Porter Belly's, Brighton
- NE Americana Festival with Dave Sammarco Band, Bees Knees, That Old Feelin, Big East, Sam Reid and the Riot Act, Autumn Hollow, Jimmy Ryan and Hayride! and Three Day Threshold at Church
- Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears at Great Scotts SOLDOUT
- Rock Bottom and JJ and Thee Cuban Heels at Johnny D's
- Nancy Neon Nite with Fireking, The Varmints, Bittersweet and Sticky Situation at the Cantab
- Rapid Shave at the Rosebud
- Watts and the Dirty Truckers at Precinct
- 28 Degrees Taurus, Sounds of Kaleidoscope, Dark Flow and Joe Turn & the 7 Levels at the Magic Room, Brighton

- Vogon Poets, NADZ, The Brigands and Polluted Remains at Dodge Street Grill, Salem

Sunday, 2/28:

- The Weisstronauts at the Rosebud (early show, 7:30p)

Monday, 3/1:

- Rogue Wave at the Paradise

- Beach Hair, The Uglysuit, The Hew Highway Hymnal and Lord Jeff at Pa's Lounge

Tuesday, 3/2:

- Surfer Blood and Turbo Fruits at Great Scotts
- Chuck Prophet at the Lizard Lounge
- Yukon Blonde at O'Brien's

If you any additions to the list, please send them to me at amy@bostonbandcrush.com before Wednesday to have them included in the weekend's posting.

And Looking Forward...
3/4 Efterklang at TTs
3/4: Born of Fire with Whitey and Blacktail at O'Briens
3/4 Justin Townes Earle at Great Scotts
3/5 Barrence Whitfield and the Monkey Hips, Jenny Dee and the Deelinquints, Jordan Valentine and the Sunday Sinners, Gene Dante and the Future Starlets and more at TTs
3/5 Title Tracks at the ME
3/5 Wave Machines at Harpers Ferry
3/6 Dear Leader at Great Scotts
3/6 The Cover Up presents Ladies Night with Jordan Valentine as Janis Joplin, Andrea Gillis as Tina Turner, The So So's (Anngelle Wood, Ashley Willard, Beth Holub, Hilary Hughes, Kerri-Ann Richard, and Veronica Dale) as the Go Go's, Jillian Santella as Cyndi Lauper and Jenee Halstead as Emmylou Harris at the Lizard Lounge
3/6 The Unfamiliars, Ad Frank and Muy Consado at the Cantab
3/6 Muse and the Silversun Pickups at the Garden
3/6 Jamie Cullen at the House of Blues
3/6 Blue Oyster Cult at Showcase Live

3/7 Mars at the Skellig, Waltham (All Ages Show at 3p)
3/7 Graph at Church
3/7 Mayer Hawthorne at the Paradise
3/7 Dam-Funk at Great Scotts
3/7 The Radiators at Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry
3/7 The Hothouse Flowers at Tupelo Music Hall, Salisbury
3/8 Vivian Girls and Male Bonding at Great Scotts
3/9 Jet at the Paradise
3/9 Downbeat 5 at TTs
3/9 The Stools, Eddie’s Shoe, Ron Levy, Big Jack Ward, Gordon Beadle & Phil Pendlton at Harper's Ferry
3/11 Balkan Beat Box at the Paradise
3/11 The Stools and Bullethead at The Beachcomber, Quincy
3/12 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/13 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/13 Invisible Rays and Eddie Japan at the Rosebud
3/13 Fox Pass at Zekes Pub
3/14 Mugison (fr Iceland) at the ME part of A Taste of Iceland, Free!
3/14 Scout Niblett at Harpers Ferry
3/14 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/14 Alice in Chains at the Orpheum
3/14 AmPm at the ME
3/15 Summer Cats (from AU)and One Happy Island at Great Scotts
3/15 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/15 Puscifer at Berklee
3/16 Puscifer at Berklee
3/16 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/17 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/17 Henry Rollins at the Somerville Theatre
3/17 Joanna Newsom and Bachelorette at Sanders Theatre
3/17 The Temper Trap at Hurricane O'Reilly's
3/18 Apollo Sunshine at the Paradise
3/18 Born of Fire with Rat Corpse and Rampant Decay at O'Briens
3/19 The Feelies at the ME
3/20 Brendan Boogie at the Rosebud
3/20 Air at Berklee
3/21 The Clientele and Field Music at Great Scotts
3/22 Japan Night with Red Bacteria Vacuum, Omodaka and Jinny Oops! at TTs
3/23 Free Ice Cream Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's

3/23 Full Body Anchor, Death and Dance Machine at TTs
3/25 The Beatings at Great Scotts

3/25 The Black Lips at the ME

3/25 Norah Jones at the Wang Center
3/26 Basia Bulat at TTs
3/26 Eldridge Rodriquez, Ryan Lee and Tom Billings at the ME
3/27 Rhett Miller at the Regattabar
3/27 The Ruby Suns and Toro Y Moi at the ME
3/27 Nancy Neon Night with The Varmints, Fox Pass, The Mesmerines and Thee Shakes at the Cantab
3/27 A Place to Bury Strangers and Big Pink at the Paradise
3/27 You Say Party We Say Die at TTs
3/27 Spoon and Deerhunter at the House of Blues
3/27 Miles Kurosky (ex Beulah) and Pancho-San at Great Scotts
3/27 Trucker Mouth, Old Jack and Blizzard of '78 at the Rosebud
3/28 The Coachmen at the Rosebud
3/28 Beach House at the Paradise
3/29 The Soft Pack at Great Scotts
3/30 Shearwater and Wye Oak at TTs
3/31 Miike Snow at the Paradise SOLDOUT
3/31 A Sunny Day in Glasgow at Great Scotts
3/31 Japandroids and Love is All at the ME
4/1 Girls and Dum Dum Girls at the Paradise
4/1 Vampire Weekend at the Orpheum SOLDOUT
4/1 Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers at the Somerville Theatre
4/1 Killola, Sick of Sarah, Jeddo Stars and the Vivs at TTs
4/1 Born of Fire with Sexcrement and Hivesmasher at O'Briens
4/2 The Figgs at the Rosebud
4/2 Lynette and Roy Bumpkins Reprise at TTs
4/2 The xx and JJ at the Paradise SOLDOUT
4/2 Drive By Truckers, Langhorn Slim and Lucero at the House of Blues
4/3 Rat Reunion Night with The Flashcubes, The Varmints, Fox Pass, The Classic Ruins, The Last Ones and more at the Cantab
4/3 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at the House of Blues
4/3 Nada Surf at the Paradise
4/3 Greg Hawks (the Cars) and Casey Desmond at the Sound Museum, Brighton
4/3 Matthew Goode at the ME
4/4 Serena Maneesh and the Depreciation Guild and TTs
4/4 Wilco at Lupo's
4/4 Major Lazer and Rusko at the ME
4/6 Wilco at the Orpheum
4/6 Acid Mother's Temple at the ME
4/6 The Smith Westerns at Great Scotts
4/6 Ben Folds and a Piano at the House of Blues
4/7 Wilco at the Bushnell Center, Concord, NH
4/7 High on Fire at the ME
4/7 Rocky Votolato at Great Scotts
4/8 Cymbals Eat Guitars, Bear in Heaven and Freelance Whales at the ME
4/8 The Stools at The Beachcomber, Quincy
4/9 Midlake at the Paradise
4/10 Bleu, Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women and Francine at TTs
4/10 Johnny Cash Tribute Night at Pa's Lounge
4/10 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists at the Paradise
4/10 Xiu Xiu and Tuneyards at the ME
4/10 Gary Lucas (Captain Beefheart guitarist) at the Sound Museum, Brighton
4/11 Fanfarlo at the Parardise
4/12 The Wedding Present at the ME
4/12 Titus Andronicus at Great Scotts
4/12 Evelyn Evelyn at ART
4/12 Caetano Veloso at the Orpheum
4/15 Born of Fire with Soul Remnants and Frozen at O'Briens
4/16 The Appleseed Cast at the ME
4/17 Record Store Day
4/17 The Morning Benders at TTs
4/17 Brett Milano Roast at the Sound Museum, Brighton
4/17 Liars at the Paradise
4/17 Tony Orlando at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium (oh, tie a yellow ribbon...)
4/18 Heavy Trash and The Konks at TTs
4/18 The Thermals at the ME
4/18 Aloha and the Pomegranates at the ME
4/18 The Cowboy Junkies at the Somerville Theatre
4/19 Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade at the Cantab
4/20 Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes at the Orpheum
4/20 Quasi at the ME
4/20 Owen Pallet at the ICA
4/20 Adam Green at Great Scotts
4/21 The Tallest Man on Earth at the ME
4/22 Mary Onettes at Great Scotts
4/23 Apples in Stereo at the ME
4/23 Mike Doughty at the Regattabar
4/24 Graham Parker at Johnny D's
4/24 Los Campesinos! and Here We Go Magic at the Paradise
4/25 Gipsy Kings at the House of Blues
4/26 Echo & the Bunnymen at the Paradise
4/28 Gorgol Bordello and Devotchka at the House of Blues
4/29 Frightened Rabbit at the Paradise
4/28 Little Boots and Dragonette at the ME
4/30 Corinne Baily Rae at the House of Blues
4/30 Betty LaVette at the Somerville Theatre
5/1 White Rabbits at the Paradise
5/1 The Other Girls and Gene Dante & the Future Starlets at TTs
5/1 Spit Reunion with Lizzie Borden & the Axes and Robin Lane & the Chartbusters at Bill's
5/1 Sia at the House of Blues
5/2 Johann Johannsson at the Brattle Theatre
5/3 Yeasayer at the Paradise
5/4 Mark Kopfler at the Orpheum
5/4 PiL at the Royale (formerly known as the Roxy)
5/5 PiL at the Royale (formerly known as the Roxy)
5/5 Igor and Red Elvises at TTs
5/5 Jonsi (from Sigur Ros) at the House of Blues
5/6 Jonsi (from Sigur Ros) at the House of Blues
5/6 Shout Out Louds at the Paradise
5/6 Born of Fire with To the Wolves and Razormaze at O'Briens
5/8 Shelby Lynne at Johnny D's
5/8 Local Natives at Great Scotts
5/11 Dr Dog and Deertick at the Paradise
5/12 Dr Dog and Deertick at the Paradise
5/13 The Stools at The Beachcomber, Quincy
5/15 Two Door Cinema Club at Great Scotts
5/22 St Stanislaus Day Party at the Polish American Club on Cambridge St in East Cambridge (time to roll out the barrel...)
5/22 Reverend Horton Heat and Cracker at the Wolf Den, Mohegan Sun, Free!
5/25 Smittens at Toad, Free!
5/26 Reverend Horton Heat and Cracker at the House of Blues
5/27 Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at the House of Blues
5/28 Mono and The Twilight Sad at the ME
5/30 The Stools and The Fools at The C Note, Hull
6/2 Kings of Convenience and Franklin for Short at the Paradise
6/2 The National at the House of Blues
6/3 The National at the House of Blues
6/4 Brian Jonestown Massacre at the Paradise
6/10 The Malarians at the Sierra Grille, Northampton, MA (big reunion show, hoping for a Boston/Cambridge date)
6/10 The Stools at The Beachcomber, Quincy
6/17 Arlo Guthrie and Family at Symphony Hall
6/18 Arlo Guthrie and Family at Symphony Hall
6/19 James Taylor and Carole King at the Garden ($350 per ticket, yowza)
6/25-27 Ohana Luau at the Lake (Aloha!)
6/29 Ringo Starr and his All Star Band at the Pavillion
7/8 The Stools at The Beachcomber, Quincy
7/9 The Stools and Forgetful Jones at The C Note, Hull
7/13 The Warped Tour at the Comcast Center


Any other suggestions? Let me know. Also please excuse any typos, I try to keep them to a minimum but I'm only human.

Retirement Party Crush: Jordan Valentine bids adieu to the Rosebud this Friday 2/26

Just a few short months ago, if you said you were going to see (or play) a show at the Rosebud, you'd likely be greeted by a rather dubious look and the question: "the streetcar diner thing?"  But now anybody who's anybody knows all about the Rosebud behind the Rosebud, with its dope music, retro vibe, cheap cover, and sweet bartender.  And do you know who you have to thank?  Ms Jordan Valentine, that's who.

Jordan (who you likely know from her band the Sunday Saints, if not former bands The World's Greatest Sinners or – an old personal fave of mine – Valhalla Kittens) rescued the Rosebud bar from obscurity with her Red Rose Soul Club dance parties, featuring rare soul, 60s R&B, boogaloo, and NOLA funk. From there, the party spread to include local bands ripping the place up, and the 'Bud quickly established itself as a new hot spot for live music – something for which we can all be grateful.

Alas, all birds need to fly, and now, with mission accomplished, Jordan is taking her leave of the Rosebud – but not without a giant, dancetastic farewell gala. Swing by the Rosebud this Friday, February 26 and party the night away, funk and soul style. You know, if you like fun.

Oh, and it's free.  Free fun!

Show Crush: Dirty Truckers / Watts / Young Tremors (CD release) / Tad Overbaugh & the Late Arrivals at Precinct this Saturday

This one's going out to my old friend Alan Levesque of Young Tremors. Alan, though it's been years since we used to spend our days together, my fondness for you has only grown. I remember the day you gave me your keyboard and said "Go on now kid, play it like you mean it." And all these years later, I still think of you every time I rock that keyboard. Alan, here's your long-distance dedication:

FEB 27 2010 @ PRECINCT-SOMERVILLE
8:30 Tad Overbaugh & the Late Arrivals
9:15 Memphis 59 (featuring Rich Lewis, former bassist for Boston Hardcore band Sam Black Church)
10:05 Young Tremors (CD release)
10:55 Watts
11:45 Dirty Truckers

Free apps! Narragansett is sponsoring so we suspect there'll be some free beer too. We're also gonna bet you'll want to get there early to take advantage of the freebies.

TV Crush: Quiet Desperation 18

Another installment of Allston's reality sitcom. Keep your eyes and ears out for our lovely co-founders Mike & Sophia (Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling).

Show Crush: Oranjuly / Hot Molasses / Slow Century / The Tin Thistles at Precinct this Friday

I highly recommend Precinct's Friday night lineup; in fact, Precinct's on fire this weekend with solid rock shows (more about Saturday's show soon). But Friday first:

Slow Century
Oranjuly
Hot Molasses
Tin Thistles
Precinct, Union Square, Somerville
$10, 9pm

There's so much you can do to get psyched up for this show, featuring four solid up-and-comers on the local circuit:

>Download Hot Molasses' EP Molassachusetts here

>Download Oranjuly's LP preview here

>Listen to Tin Thistles




>And watch Slow Century

Show Crush: RSL Blog presents Cassavettes / Hello Ninja / Twin Thousands at TT's TONIGHT!

Our favorite Ry-Guy is at it again! Tonight at TT's, Ryan's Smashing Life presents another solid lineup:

Cassavettes
Hello Ninja
Twin Thousands

Tickets are nine bucks, doors are at 9, 18+. I can't make this one so if you go, give Ryan a big smooch for me!

Advice Crush: Dear Boogie

And now, another edition of Dear Boogie – the third most successful new advice column by a disgraced former child beauty pageant judge. Let's get to the mail, shall we?








Dear Boogie,

I have a crush on the bass player in a local rock band. I know, however, that my parents would not approve of me dating a bass player. They insist that I go for guitarists or singers. Should I follow my heart or musical convention?

Sincerely,
Bassic Training


Dear BT,

While me suspects that this is a wiseacre way of taking a swipe at yours truly, I'm going to be the grown-up and actually answer your question. So I harumph! in your general direction!

Music appreciation, schmusic schmappreciation. There are two kinds of people who go to rock shows: musicians and people who want to see musicians naked. This is no surprise and is in fact why most of us got into music in the first place. At some point in high school or college, some of us realized that the few chicks/dudes who didn't dig jocks/cheerleaders actually dug geeks with guitars. After years of atomic melvins wedged in our ass cheeks and circle-circle-dot-dot cootie shots injected in our arms, it was nice for us sensitive artistic folk to finally be someone's type.

However, not everyone is attracted to the same type of musician. As you suggest, Bassic Training, the instrument to which you are most attracted speaks volumes about your character. So as a public service, I will present here what being attracted to certain instruments says about you:

If you're into lead singers: You are easily distracted by shiny nickels and the sounds of keys jangling. Your favorite show is American Idol and your second favorite show is the American Idol results show. You value charisma above all things of substance and will likely end up joining some sort of cult which will leave you bald-headed and penniless, the subject of an expose on Dateline NBC. You drive a 2002 blue Dodge Neon.

If you're into keyboardists: You are a lesbian. Yes, I know that particular keyboardist you are crushing on is technically a guy. Doesn't make you any less of a lesbian, Chastity Bono.

If you're into lead guitarists: You have endless tolerance for colossal wastes of time, included but not limited to noodling on tuneless tunes, rewiring little electronic devices that light up and whistle, and masturbating. For some inexplicable reason, you don't want to punch Eric Clapton in the face. You are always late for everything, but think your friends don't mind even though they totally do. You often stare off into space, thinking it gives you a certain mystique. It actually makes people think you have Asperger's. Your ideal dog is a Maltese named Yngwie.

If you're into drummers: You have low self-esteem. Seriously, the drummer? Why don't you be attracted to the sound board while you're at it? Jeez Louise. The drummer? Really?

If you're into rhythm guitarists: You like to play it safe. You were turned off when Friends got "too preachy toward the end." You lack any sense of personal identity whatsoever. Your parents still introduce themselves to you every time they meet you. You once thought about getting personal checks with polar bears on them, but you opted for the plain yellow because you didn't want to get too political. Your lucky numbers are 3 12 32 49.

If you're into bassists: You have impeccable taste. You are a class act, Jack.

If you're into any of the above that plays modern jazz: You are an asshole.


Soundtrack for your misery: Tijuana Sweetheart (formerly Vagiant) featuring the 2nd sexiest bassist in town, the seductive Ms. Julie Two Times.





Need advice about love? Songwriting? Songwriting about love? Loving songs that are written about hippos? Hit up Brendan at dearboogie@bostonbandcrush.com. You'll be very very sorry.

Show Crush: Brad Byrd / Ben Karis-Nix / Casey Sullivan at Café 939 this Thursday

Rockport's Brad Byrd, Albany's Ben Karis-Nix (who fans of Harris may remember as a frequent bill-mate) and 18-year-old Boston songbird Casey Sullivan take to the high seas Berklee's Café 939 this Thursday night for a night of eclectic singer/songwriters. Byrd has tons of music available for download on his website; you can download Karis-Nix's "Giant" right here. Tickets are $10 at the door but you can get them in advance for $8 here.

Have ye a listen thar matey:











Café 939
February 25th, 8pm
939 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 747-6038
$8 Presale / $10 Day Of

Show Crush: The Bynars / The Organ Beats / The Appreciation Post / Art Decade at TT's this Friday

Good-time popsters The Bynars (left) celebrate their CD release this Friday night at TT's with a rock-solid lineup that will no doubt pack the place. (You may remember The Bynars' "Party All Nite" from my best of 2009 collection...)

Sharing the bill are The Organ Beats, who've quickly risen to the top of the ranks with their driving, moody rock; The Appreciation Post, who've just recently offered up their latest EP, Work/Sleep, for free download (get it here!); and Art Decade.

TT The Bears Place
10 Brookline St // Cambridge, MA
18+ // $10 // 8:30pm doors

Photo Crush: Doomriders at Great Scott // by Joe Harrington

See more of Joe's photos here.

Free Music Crush: Download Golden Bloom's cover of The Motion Sick's "30 Lives" (+ the original!)

Local rock stars The Motion Sick and favorite exchange students Golden Bloom recently released a split single wherein each band covers a song by the other, and for this week only you can download "30 Lives" for free – both the [right-clicks ahead!] original song by The Motion Sick and the cover version by Golden Bloom.

You can purchase the Golden Bloom Vs. The Motion Sick split single on iTunes.

Show Crush: Sooz presents Do It Solo #1 at the Lizard this Wednesday 2/24

I always find it to be an interesting experiment to strip a musician of their full band safety net and throw him or her up on a stage (or, in this case, a rug) all naked-like. Local scene socialite Sooz agrees, and in that spirit has put together what we all hope to a successful new series at the Lizard Lounge called Do It Solo. Installment numero uno is this Wednesday 2/24, featuring Marc Pinansky (Township), Ian Adams, and Nate Leavitt (The Blizzard of 78).

In true 2010 social media style, there's a Tweetup upstairs at the Cambridge Common restaurant beforehand.  Sooz Media will buy a round of drinks for the first 15 people who attend the tweetup.

The cover is $5 if you join The Sooz List, $8 otherwise. Join The Sooz List here or on your Tweetup RSVP.

Lizard Lounge / 8:30pm / 21+
doitsolo.com

Documentary Crush: One Night Band The Movie

Grab some Sour Patch Kids and settle in...

One Night Band: The Movie from Band Crush on Vimeo.

Photo Crush: Ad Frank at the Middle East // by Joshua Pickering

See more of Joshua Pickering's photos from this show here.

Show Crush: John Shade / Leo Blais / Bo Barringer / Adena Atkins at the Armory Cafe this Thursday

Wrapping up their February residency at the Armory Cafe, this week John Shade and Leo Blais bring Bo Barringer (of MEandJOANCOLLINS/Mascara) and Adena Atkins to the bill. It's an early night – music starts at 8 and runs until about 10:30. If you haven't been to the Armory Cafe yet, expect a quieter, more intimate atmosphere with cafe-like seating and a snack bar (and yes, they sell beer).

Thursday, Feb 25th @ The Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave in Somerville
Adena Atkins (8PM)
Bo Barringer (8:30PM)
Leo Blais (9PM)
John Shade (9:45PM)

Benefit Metal Show Crush: Meliah Rage (CD Release), Steel Assassins, Ravage, Mob Hit, Tonight (2/20)!

Sometimes it all comes together...the venue, the bands, the occasion. Tonight is just one of those nights! Club Whiplash in Stoughton hosts an amazing lineup of metal bands from the area to support local children's music discovery and education program, Rawkstars, Inc. It's gonna be a headbanging, hairflying, fistpumping good time for the kids!

Set Times:
Meliah Rage (CD Release) @ 11:20
Steel Assassin (CD Release) @ 9:50
Ravage @ 8:50
Mob Hit @ 8:00

Saturday, February 20, 2010
Whiplash Nightclub
63 Wyman Street
Stoughton, MA
21+, 8PM

Metal Show Crush: Born of Thunder, Bring the Knife, She Rides, Cromulent, at O'Briens, Tonight (2/20)!

Don't be surprised if you feel the ground rumbling in Allston tonight! The good folks at IPR have put together a quite a storm cell. Come by O'Briens and see what develops...

Check it out:
Born of Thunder (ex-Only Living Witness, ex-Humanoids)
She Rides (from Providence)
Bring the Knife (ex-Destruct-a-thon)
Cromulent

Saturday, February 20, 2010
O'Briens
3 Harvard Avenue
Allston, MA
Doors at 8
$9, 21+

Feature Crush: C.D. on Songs, 02/19/10

"Clever Cleaver" - Pray for Polanski

This track has an odd, slightly hypnotic feel that comes into play immediately. Pray for Polanski never gives the listener their complete bearings yet still guides us through the swirling mists of whatever weird world that exists in "Clever Cleaver."

The hypnotic state is brought on largely by the dichotomy of Anne Warnock's vocal performance. In the verses, it sounds as if she is singing to herself in her sleep, airily breathing out rapid-yet-smooth phrases that read like the long answers in a particularly challenging crossword puzzle. We know she must be dreaming, because she is singing with herself. Her harmonies are dead on, which is good because bad harmonies when harmonizing with yourself means... well you know.

The song ramps up in the chorus, with Warnock staying half asleep, half fully alert, almost to the point of being frantic. One voice stays calm and the other urgently reaches to the upper registers of the melody, eschewing the earlier breath quality for full throttle. The circling and intertwining performances really bring this track home, sticking it well into your head for moments both waking and dreaming.

[Pray for Polanski MySpace]

"Pistol and Passport" - It's From the Sky

Travelling light has its advantages, provided you can get past the pesky guards with your pistol. The song, and by extension, the band never seem to stop travelling. For the most part, "Pistols and Passports" is like the Tasmanian Devil, spinning around and refusing to slow down until it's damned good and ready.

When it is damned good and ready (read: the chorus), It's From the Sky transforms into a more luxuriant sound. They're still hurrying us around, mind you, insisting we "Get in your car," but they're almost patiently waiting for us to catch up and maybe grab hold of a running board or hood ornament before they take off again, fueled by an energetic guitar part and effervescent drum track that knows when to explode and when to simmer for the good of the dynamic.

It almost seems as if any part of this song that is not the chorus moves almost too fast to latch onto. This may be the function of the song's strong and catchy chorus part. IFTS shows a good cruising speed in the chorus, and this will be where most listeners find solid ground in an otherwise turbulent track.

[It's From the Sky website]

"It's So Groovy When You Use ESP" - Hallelujah the Hills

Some songs don't really move or go anywhere. Others run around in circles or back and forth in some two-dimensional sense that is fun to watch for a while but nowhere you'd really want to stay. Then there's "It's So Groovy When You Use ESP," which manages to sound ridiculously textured while not forcing an army of sounds into the arrangement.

On paper, this song sounds like it should have a deceptively simple arrangement. The chord progression is simple and probably already programmed into your head if you have ever played an instrument. The vocal melody is simple and well-stated, and the auxiliary instruments maintain a simple counterpoint of the melody. The auxiliary part is perfectly-executed. Often-times a mix will sound like "Hey! Here's a cello!! We're using a cello!!!" but HtH's arrangement allows the instruments to sit in their proper places.

The vocals flow naturally, mostly following a A-A-B melody, with the "B" lilting gently up on the ends of the phrases, leaving us expectant of the next musical go-round with vocalist Ryan Walsh. The instruments carry on as if someone broke into the back room of the orchestra under the stage, where the deliciously well-used instruments are kept. And used well.

[Hallelujah the Hills web site]

"Disabled Trains and Slow Hygienists" - Death and the Dance Machine

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Death and the Dance Machine is late for work again, and you'll never guess why. For better or for worse, DATDM really make us feel the drawn out sense of their long trip to... somewhere. Furthermore, it sounds as if they are in absolutely no hurry.

The impatient will find the song maddening in its ability to draaaaawww things out as evidenced by the elongated annunciation of the word "hygienists," that sounds less like a viable career for people who like playing with hooks and more like the band is saying "hiiiiiiii" to their friend Jenny.

Several elements of the song lend themselves to the feeling of vague tardiness. The guitar is just a bit out of tune, producing topsy-turvy full-bodied chords that make it sound as if the Novocaine is still wearing off, assuming your hygienist uses it. The song is brought along its loping way by a lurching drum part that sounds as if each drum remembers to sound itself at the last possible second before being late for the beat. And we must never, ever be late for the beat.

[Death and the Dance Machine MySpace]

"You Ruined My Election" - Arletta

Here's a Boston Band Crush long distance dedication from "Martha" to "Scott," and it comes to us from the five-piece band Arletta, who can still fit on a twin bed despite their numbers.

Arletta kicks in with a vocal from [one of the four male members of the band] that sees the song through to the finale. The jangling chords and keening vocals will remind some of R.E.M., minus the mumbling and plus some youthful energy and a fist-pumping chorus that encourages all to sing along and beat their crash cymbals in rhythm.

This song does an admirable job of remaining articulate while basically surging with energy. The vocals carry and steer the track, but the power comes from a band moving together well and finally arriving at the finale, a pleasing place to finish and a bookend to the opening of the program.

[Arletta MySpace]

GO AHEAD, TAKE IT ALL

Want to submit your band's song to C.D. On Songs?

To be reviewed in a C.D. On Songs column:

• Be a Boston-based band/artist.
  
• Email a single mp3/m4a/etc. (or a download link to one) to cdonsongs (at) gmail (dot) com, with the subject line "C.D. on Songs" (DO NOT send us a bunch of songs and make us pick, we will ignore you). We require a file – not a streaming link.
• Do tell us who is in your band and what they do.
• Include album cover art if you have any. If you don't, a band photo or logo is acceptable.
• We will assume that we have your permission to make the song downloadable on Boston Band Crush (readers will want to hear it, after all).
  
• If that's not ok with you, say so and provide us with a link to the song on an embeddable player like ReverbNation – something we can include in the post (and not just link to).

Show Crush: Old New England Weather at the Lizard on Saturday 2/20

This is a sprinkle outside my comfort zone of indie power pop, but I gotta earn my band crushin' stripes.

Guitarist Morgan Terrinoni (disclosure: bandmate of mine in The Future Everybody) describes the Jeff Chasse-fronted Old New England Weather as "Beach Boys meets Iron and Wine, with a dose of Neil Young. It's that current sparse indie/folk type thing, but more noisy and odd than poppy." Color me... intrigued. ONEW headlines a bill that's jampacked-with folky-minimalism (Whoa, jampacked with minimalism? Think about THAT!), supported by Headband, So Sol, Brett Saiia, and Rick Berlin.

Lizard Lounge / 8:30p / $8 / 21+

Accessory Crush: Cavata Clothing's guitar string bracelets!

The perfect gift for your favorite rocker (or yourself)? How about a guitar string bracelet from Quincy's Cavata Clothing? At $10 each, they're affordable and unique, and proceeds benefit the Music Drives Us Foundation. I like the pink and silver ones, in case you've been trying to figure out what to get me for Ash Wednesday (don't worry if you missed it – I'm still accepting gifts).

http://shop.cavataclothing.com/

Information Crush: Amy's Shows List

Woo Hoo Free pancakes at IHOP! Okay, so that isn't until Tuesday but don't worry there are some great shows to tide you over until you can get your pancakes and syrup. On Thursday if you're lucky you have tix to see Jonathan Richman on his final soldout night at the Middle East Upstairs. If you don't have tix, there's always Lars Vegas at the Alchemist in JP which is free or there's circus music at the Gardner Museum with Cirkestra. Friday has lots and lots of good choices starting with the Mardi Gras show with the Chicken Slacks and the Confederacy of Dumpsters at Johnny D's (who cares if Lent has started already, I say let the good times roll). Also on Friday you have to chance to check out Swedish songster El Perro Del Mar at the Brattle Theatre (moved there instead of the Cambridge YMCA) and there's the first night of the Township cd release extravaganza at the Rosebud with Brownboot opening. Saturday has night 2 at the Rosebud with Township and at the Plough Andrea Gillis is performing. On Sunday, the Cranktones are doing an early show at the Rosebud so you can get your rockabilly fix and still be home at a reasonable hour. Monday has UK soul singer VV Brown at Great Scotts and there's a free show at ZuZu's with Treehorn and High Aura'd. And on Tuesday, head over to your local IHOP for free pancakes, yummy! Tuesday night has Mystery Roar and Southern Belles at the Lizard Lounge. And on Wednesday the Wild Beasts hit Great Scotts.

Enjoy your pancakes!

Thursday, 2/18:
- Jonathan Richman at the ME (upstairs) SOLDOUT
- Lars Vegas at the Alchemist, Free!
- Four Tet at the ME
- The Editors at the House of Blues
- Cirkestra at the Isabella Gardner Museum
- Born of Fire with Jack Burton vs David Lo Pan at O'Briens

Friday, 2/19:
- Mardi Gras Party with the Chicken Slacks, the Confederacy of Dumpsters, The Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society at Johnny D's
- El Perro Del Mar and Taken by Trees at the Brattle
- The Honors and The Luxury at TTs
- Graph at Pa's
- George Clinton and Parliment Funkadelic at the House of Blues
- Ad Frank and the Fast Easy Women, The Motion Sick and the Fatal Flaw at the ME
- Township cd release and Brownboot at the Rosebud Diner
- The Alpacas at Porter Belly's, Brighton
- The Unfamiliars, The Lagoon, Narrow Channels and Free Parking at the Cantab
- 28 Degrees Taurus, El Jezel, Broken River Prophets and Metal Feathers at O'Briens

Saturday, 2/20:
- Township cd release and Ryan Fitzsimmons at the Rosebud Diner
- Andrea Gillis at the Plough

Sunday, 2/21:
- The Cranktones at the Rosebud

Monday, 2/22:
- Treehorn and High Aura'd at Zu Zu's, Free!
- V V Brown at Great Scotts
- Magic People at Charlie's Kitchen
- Ginger Ibex, Live From the Sun, Vistas Change and Truman Highway at the ME

Tuesday, 2/23:
- Free Pancakes at IHOP
- Mystery Roar and Southern Belles at the Lizard Lounge

Wednesday, 2/24:
- Wild Beasts at Great Scotts
- Twin Thousands at TTS

If you have an y additions to the list, please send them to me at amy@bostonbandcrush.com before Wednesday to have them included in the weekend's posting. Please note the new email address amy@bostonbandcrush.com and update your files.

And Looking Forward...
2/25 The Verve Pipe at the Natick Center for the Arts
2/25 T-Model Ford at Pa's Lounge
2/25 NE Americana Festival with The Accident that Led Me to the World, Jeff Bird and the Dirty Finch, Odessa Rose, Bryan Pero and the Tired Horses, Brown Bird, Bean Pickers Union, Movers and Shakers and Kingsley Flood at Church
2/26 NE Americana Festival with They Will Hate Us, Route .44, John Colvert, Golden West Motor Lodge, The Rationales, Coyote Kolb, Girls, Guns, and Glory and Highway Ghosts at Church
2/26 The English Beat, Fishbone and at Showcase Live
2/26 Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillets at Scullers
2/26 Red Rose Soul Club at the Rosebud Diner Free!
2/26 Mark Hopkins & the Hotel at Porter Belly's, Brighton
2/27 Boston Derby Dames season opener at the Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington
2/27 6th Degree at Porter Belly's, Brighton
2/27 NE Americana Festival with Dave Sammarco Band, Bees Knees, That Old Feelin, Big East, Sam Reid and the Riot Act, Autumn Hollow, Jimmy Ryan and Hayride! and Three Day Threshold at Church
2/27 Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears at Great Scotts SOLDOUT
2/27 Rock Bottom and JJ and Thee Cuban Heels at Johnny D's
2/27 Nancy Neon Nite with Fireking, The Varmints, Bittersweet and Sticky Situation at the Cantab
2/27 Rapid Shave at the Rosebud
2/27 Watts and the Dirty Truckers at Precinct
2/28 The Weisstronauts at the Rosebud (early show, 7:30p)
3/1 Rogue Wave at the Paradise
3/2 Surfer Blood and Turbo Fruits at Great Scotts
3/4 Efterklang at TTs
3/4 Born of Fire with Whitey and Blacktail at O'Briens
3/4 Justin Townes Earle at Great Scotts
3/5 Barrence Whitfield and the Monkey Hips, Jenny Dee and the Deelinquints, Jordan Valentine and the Sunday Sinners, Gene Dante and the Future Starlets and more at TTs
3/5 Title Tracks at the ME
3/6 Dear Leader at Great Scotts
3/6 The Cover Up presents Ladies Night with Jordan Valentine as Janis Joplin, Andrea Gillis as Tina Turner, The So So's (Anngelle Wood, Ashley Willard, Beth Holub, Hilary Hughes, Kerri-Ann Richard, and Veronica Dale) as the Go Go's, Jillian Santella as Cyndi Lauper and Jenee Halstead as Emmylou Harris at the Lizard Lounge
3/6 The Unfamiliars, Ad Frank and Muy Consado at the Cantab
3/6 Muse and the Silversun Pickups at the Garden
3/6 Jamie Cullen at the House of Blues
3/6 Blue Oyster Cult at Showcase Live
3/7 Graph at Church
3/7 Mayer Hawthorne at the Paradise
3/7 Dam-Funk at Great Scotts
3/7 The Radiators at Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry
3/7 The Hothouse Flowers at Tupelo Music Hall, Salisbury
3/8 Vivian Girls and Male Bonding at Great Scotts
3/9 Jet at the Paradise
3/9 Downbeat 5 at TTs
3/9 The Stools, Eddie’s Shoe, Ron Levy, Big Jack Ward, Gordon Beadle & Phil Pendlton at Harper's Ferry
3/11 Balkan Beat Box at the Paradise
3/11 The Stools and Bullethead at The Beachcomber, Quincy
3/12 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/13 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/13 Invisible Rays and Eddie Japan at the Rosebud
3/13 Fox Pass at Zekes Pub
3/14 Scout Niblett at Harpers Ferry
3/14 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/14 Alice in Chains at the Orpheum
3/14 AmPm at the ME
3/15 Summer Cats (from AU)and One Happy Island at Great Scotts
3/15 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/15 Puscifer at Berklee
3/16 Puscifer at Berklee
3/16 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/17 Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues
3/17 Henry Rollins at the Somerville Theatre
3/17 Joanna Newsom and Bachelorette at Sanders Theatre
3/17 The Temper Trap at Hurricane O'Reilly's
3/18 Apollo Sunshine at the Paradise
3/18 Born of Fire with Rat Corpse and Rampant Decay at O'Briens
3/19 The Feelies at the ME
3/20 Brendan Boogie at the Rosebud
3/20 Air at Berklee
3/21 The Clientele and Field Music at Great Scotts
3/22 Japan Night with Red Bacteria Vacuum, Omodaka and Jinny Oops! at TTs
3/23 Free Ice Cream Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's
3/25 The Black Lips at the ME
3/25 The Beatings at Great Scotts
3/25 The Donnas at the ME
3/25 Norah Jones at the Wang Center
3/26 Basia Bulat at TTs
3/26 Eldridge Rodriquez, Ryan Lee and Tom Billings at the ME
3/27 Rhett Miller at the Regattabar
3/27 The Ruby Suns and Toro Y Moi at the ME
3/27 Nancy Neon Night with The Varmints, Fox Pass, The Mesmerines and Thee Shakes at the Cantab
3/27 A Place to Bury Strangers and Big Pink at the Paradise
3/27 You Say Party We Say Die at TTs
3/27 Spoon and Deerhunter at the House of Blues
3/27 Miles Kurosky (ex Beulah) and Pancho-San at Great Scotts
3/27 Trucker Mouth, Old Jack and Blizzard of '78 at the Rosebud
3/28 The Coachmen at the Rosebud
3/28 Beach House at the Paradise
3/29 The Soft Pack at Great Scotts
3/30 Shearwater and Wye Oak at TTs
3/31 Miike Snow at the Paradise
3/31 A Sunny Day in Glasgow at Great Scotts
3/31 Japandroids and Love is All at the ME
4/1 Girls and Dum Dum Girls at the Paradise
4/1 Vampire Weekend at the Orpheum SOLDOUT
4/1 Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers at the Somerville Theatre
4/1 Killola, Sick of Sarah, Jeddo Stars and the Vivs at TTs
4/1 Born of Fire with Sexcrement and Hivesmasher at O'Briens
4/2 The Figgs at the Rosebud
4/2 Lynette and Roy Bumpkins Reprise at TTs
4/2 The xx and JJ at the Paradise
4/2 Drive By Truckers, Langhorn Slim and Lucero at the House of Blues
4/3 Rat Reunion Night with The Flashcubes, The Varmints, Fox Pass, The Classic Ruins, The Last Ones and more at the Cantab
4/3 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at the House of Blues
4/3 Nada Surf at the Paradise
4/3 Greg Hawks (the Cars) and Casey Desmond at the Sound Museum, Brighton
4/3 Matthew Goode at the ME
4/4 Serena Maneesh and the Depreciation Guild and TTs
4/4 Wilco at Lupo's
4/4 Major Lazer and Rusko at the ME
4/6 Wilco at the Orpheum
4/6 Acid Mother's Temple at the ME
4/6 The Smith Westerns at Great Scotts
4/6 Ben Folds and a Piano at the House of Blues
4/7 Wilco at the Bushnell Center, Concord, NH
4/7 High on Fire at the ME
4/7 Rocky Votolato at Great Scotts
4/8 Cymbals Eat Guitars, Bear in Heaven and Freelance Whales at the ME
4/8 The Stools at The Beachcomber, Quincy
4/9 Midlake at the Paradise
4/10 Bleu, Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women and Francine at TTs
4/10 Johnny Cash Tribute Night at Pa's Lounge
4/10 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists at the Paradise
4/10 Xiu Xiu and Tuneyards at the ME
4/10 Gary Lucas (Captain Beefheart guitarist) at the Sound Museum, Brighton
4/11 Fanfarlo at the Parardise
4/12 The Wedding Present at the ME
4/12 Titus Andronicus at Great Scotts
4/12 Evelyn Evelyn at ART
4/12 Caetano Veloso at the Orpheum
4/15 Born of Fire with Soul Remnants and Frozen at O'Briens
4/16 The Appleseed Cast at the ME
4/17 Record Store Day
4/17 The Morning Benders at TTs
4/17 Brett Milano Roast at the Sound Museum, Brighton
4/17 Liars at the Paradise
4/17 Tony Orlando at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium (oh, tie a yellow ribbon...)
4/18 Heavy Trash and The Konks at TTs
4/18 The Thermals at the ME
4/18 Aloha and the Pomegranates at the ME
4/18 The Cowboy Junkies at the Somerville Theatre
4/19 Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade at the Cantab
4/20 Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes at the Orpheum
4/20 Quasi at the ME
4/20 Owen Pallet at the ICA
4/20 Adam Green at Great Scotts
4/21 The Tallest Man on Earth at the ME
4/22 Mary Onettes at Great Scotts
4/23 Apples in Stereo at the ME
4/23 Mike Doughty at the Regattabar
4/24 Graham Parker at Johnny D's
4/24 Los Campesinos! and Here We Go Magic at the Paradise
4/25 Gipsy Kings at the House of Blues
4/28 Gorgol Bordello and Devotchka at the House of Blues
4/29 Frightened Rabbit at the Paradise
4/28 Little Boots and Dragonette at the ME
4/30 Corinne Baily Rae at the House of Blues
4/30 Betty LaVette at the Somerville Theatre
5/1 White Rabbits at the Paradise
5/1 The Other Girls and Gene Dante & the Future Starlets at TTs
5/1 Sia at the House of Blues
5/2 Johann Johannsson at the Brattle Theatre
5/3 Yeasayer at the Paradise
5/4 Mark Kopfler at the Orpheum
5/5 Igor and Red Elvises at TTs
5/5 Jonsi (from Sigur Ros) at the House of Blues
5/6 Jonsi (from Sigur Ros) at the House of Blues
5/6 Shout Out Louds at the Paradise
5/6 Born of Fire with To the Wolves and Razormaze at O'Briens
5/8 Shelby Lynne at Johnny D's
5/8 Local Natives at Great Scotts
5/11 Dr Dog and Deertick at the Paradise
5/12 Dr Dog and Deertick at the Paradise
5/13 The Stools at The Beachcomber, Quincy
5/22 Reverend Horton Heat and Cracker at the Wolf Den, Mohegan Sun, Free!
5/25 Smittens at Toad, Free!
5/26 Reverend Horton Heat and Cracker at the House of Blues
5/27 Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at the House of Blues
5/30 The Stools and The Fools at The C Note, Hull
6/2 Kings of Convenience and Franklin for Short at the Paradise
6/2 The National at the House of Blues
6/3 The National at the House of Blues
6/4 Brian Jonestown Massacre at the Paradise
6/10 The Malarians at the Sierra Grille, Northampton, MA (big reunion show, hoping for a Boston/Cambridge date)
6/10 The Stools at The Beachcomber, Quincy
6/17 Arlo Guthrie and Family at Symphony Hall
6/18 Arlo Guthrie and Family at Symphony Hall
6/19 James Taylor and Carole King at the Garden ($350 per ticket, yowza)
6/25-27 Ohana Luau at the Lake (Aloha!)
6/29 Ringo Starr and his All Star Band at the Pavillion
7/8 The Stools at The Beachcomber, Quincy
7/9 The Stools and Forgetful Jones at The C Note, Hull
7/13 The Warped Tour at the Comcast Center


Any other suggestions? Let me know. Also please excuse any typos, I try to keep them to a minimum but I'm only human.

Shows Crush: Township at the Rosebud, Township at the Rosebud some more (plus download their recent Mad Oak session!)

This weekend, local rock gods Township celebrate the release of their new Volume 1 with two shows at The Rosebud. On Friday 2/19 they share the bill with BrownBoot, and on Saturday 2/20 they'll be joined by Ryan Fitzsimmons. You better get ready to rock dude.

We recently dropped by Mad Oak Studios in Allston to see Township perform the new songs. You can download the entire audio from that performance here. Thanks, Mad Oak!

Benefit Crush: Drug Rug / Jesse Gallagher / Doomstar! / Banditas play FUNraiser for Haiti at the Lily Pad this Thursday

The Boston music community has stepped right up to support the Haitian relief efforts over the past month, and the benefits keep coming. This Thursday night, the LilyPad hosts a Haiti FUNraiser-slash-homecoming party for local heroes Drug Rug, just back from a tour of the South. It goes something like this:

FUNraiser for Haiti featuring:
Banditas
Jesse Gallagher
Doomstar!
Drug Rug

@ the LilyPad- 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge MA
Thursday Feb 18, 10pm
suggested donation $15 @ door

Advice Crush: Dear Boogie

Those of you who have seen Brendan Boogie perform know he is a talented and charismatic presence on the Boston music scene. But did you know he is also a caring nurturer? The former bassist of Scamper and current frontman of Brendan Boogie & The Best Intentions will spend the next several Wednesdays solving all your problems in a new column we're calling (ironically enough) "Dear Boogie..."

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Dear Boogie! [pause for riotous applause]. The good folks here at Boston Band Crush have noticed that you (the local rock scene) quite frankly have a lot of issues. We see you out at the shows and events with your dour expressions, nursing your $3 cans of Narragansett. Something's wrong, isn't it? And don't just blame it on that unidentifiable odor in the Cantab basement. There are deeper issues at work here.

Rest assured – your pal Brendan Boogie is here to help. I'll not only solve your problem, but I'll also give you the perfect soundtrack to accompany your misery! On to our first letter! Hooray! Exclamation points galore!

Dear Boogie,

What is proper etiquette when prioritizing multiple bands/shows at multiple locations on the same night? I'm in a band that gets decent Friday/Saturday opening slots and want to remain in good graces. I haven't slept with any of the band members, but did get busy with one of their then-single/now current girlfriends, but nobody squawked (I think) and we're cool (I think). Is that even a factor? Do I even care about the music?

Thanks for your advice,
Silver Spoons

Dear SS,
Excellent questions, all. And now time for some equally excellent answers.

As for your show-hopping question, it seems that for every great show in town lately there are at least three or four other good ones that you'd also like to go see. While this is the sign of a vibrant and exciting scene, it also makes it a colossal pain-in-the-ass to see all the bands/people you want and avoid getting slapped with DUI from Johnny PoPo. (And by that, I of course mean the law enforcement stylings of John Powhida).

Here's how I avoid this problem: I employ a highly-trained group of Saddam Hussein-esque lookalikes. You think you've seen me out at a show recently? Guess again – I haven't been to a local rock show in over four years. In fact, I was sipping mai tais on the Maui coast during the entire last 6 months of Scamper. If you've talked to/laughed with/fellated me recently, chances are you actually had an encounter with either one of my well-paid lookalikes or quite possibly former Scamper drummer Mike Mirabella. Or, if you were REALLY drunk, it might have been Jim Zavadoski. In which case, your need for help is WAY out of my pay grade.

If you can't afford to do the lookalike plan, I'd say prioritize in reverse alphabetical order of the opening act's bassist's middle name or the likelihood that someone at the show might be willing at some point in the evening to deign to touch your dink.

Which segues quite professionally into your second question – getting it on with a bandmate's former girlfriend. Let's face it, folks – this is a small music scene. Everyone you meet is someone you know's ex- or future- coitus pal. There are very few of you who I haven't personally seen naked. So we have a choice - we can either get all worked the frig up about it or not. Personally, I choose the former because it's way more interesting.

You're not sure who knows who you slept with? Make sure EVERYone knows. Write a song about it with full names and addresses included and bring it to your band. Preferably as a surprise on one of those Friday and Saturday night shows. Use those naughty pictures you took as the cover of your latest single. Will it win you any friends? Hells no. But it'll be so fucking rock and roll.

Soundtrack to your misery: Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" or anything by Ad Frank




All advice offered by Brendan Boogie is just flat-out wrong and borderline irresponsible. But you read it and now you can't unread it. If you have any questions you'd like answered/avoided/spun into juvenile dick jokes, hit him up at dearboogie@bostonbandcrush.com.

Show Crush: Ad Frank / The Motion Sick / The Fatal Flaw / Golden Bloom / Akudama @ ME up this Friday / WIN TICKETS!

This Friday night's gearing up to be another doozy in the land of local rock conflicts, but you can't go wrong with this one. And, with the free tickets you can win from us right here, you won't be shut out of what's likely to be a sellout!

Ad Frank & The Fast Easy Women
The Motion Sick
The Fatal Flaw
Golden Bloom
Akudama
Middle East Upstairs / 18+ / $9adv/$10dos

To enter our ticket giveaway, send us an email with the subject DOOMSDAY (in honor of The Motion Sick's cover of the Golden Bloom hit "Doomsday Devices") by Thursday morning. We'll notify the winner via email. Thanks for playing!

Show Crush: Sarah RabDAU (solo) / Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling / Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys / Humanwine at Church tomorrow

Tomorrow night, Church will catch fire with four unique and explosive acts:
Sarah RabDAU (playing solo)
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
Walter Sickert and the ARmy of BRoken TOys
HUMANWINE

Wednesday, Feb. 17 / Church of Boston / 9PM / $8







Hear hear: