Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
The Field Effect
“Last Christmas”
2012
If you look down there a little bit you’ll see a player for The Field Effect’s cover of “Last Christmas”. I’m not going to say too much about it. It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect when an excitable young band that loves a pop hook covers Wham!* That’s a good thing if you like guitar melodies, vocal harmonies, obligatory sleigh bells and a rhythm section that packs a punch. I do.
Where to get it:
* Which happens all the time, right? No?
Brendan Boogie has an ongoing residency at Radio the first Thursday of every month with his latest band, Brendan Boogie & The Broken Gates. It’s a rocking outfit who play well off each other. Most of the material is new, but fear not. Mr Boogie still knows how to write a memorable tune. You’ll have one or two new favorites by the end of the set.
Emily Peal & The Band Of Skinny Men
“Have Yourself…”
2012
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight
Never have those words sounded so foreboding. Emily Peal & The Band Of Skinny Men have turned a holiday classic inside out. The dark clouds that hang over their rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” makes the warm and familiar feel detached and cold. Every piano chord and string-like swell increases the hollow, empty feeling that the now haunting melody planted deep inside you. It is dispiriting and beautifully executed. I can’t stop listening.
Where to get it:
Boston Band Crush, my favorite music blog of all time, just closed up shop. I’m devastated.* Do yourself a favor and read Ashley Willard’s closing announcement and Richard Bouchard’s Farewell Crush. If it wasn’t for BBC, Daykamp Music probably wouldn’t exist. I’d still be out there taking pictures, but they’d just be piling up on my hard drive. Their enthusiasm was contagious.
I’ve had the honor of working with the Boston Band Crush folks on a few occasions. Helping Ashley out with One Night Band photos has been an amazing experience. It’s such a special event to be a part of. I’m thankful for the opportunity. This past July, Daykamp Music worked with Richard to present our first show together. A few months later, when a good friend of mine needed help, Richard stepped up to the plate again. He did everything he could to help make the Bands For Babs benefit the success it was.
I will forever be grateful to everyone that contributed to Boston Band Crush. I’ll miss you terribly. How will I get over it? For starters, I’ll be hitting up one last Boston Band Crush show! Friday night is the big Boston Band Crush Holiday Spectacular at Brighton Music Hall! You’ve got the synth-pop stylings of Freezepop topping the bill. Sidewalk Driver will have Glam-ta in tow. Confetti is sure to fall like snow all set long. The Field Effect covered Wham! for Christmas. Come see if Doug Orey is sporting some George Michael stubble as they release their new album, Cartography. Opening the night will be Emily Peal and The Band of Skinny Men. They’ve got a new Christmas cover of their own. Just don’t expect it to be merry or bright. Anngelle Wood of Boston Emissions will be organizing a toy drive for the Division of Children and Families of Cambridge/Somerville/Allston/Brighton at the show. Bring a toy when you come out to celebrate with Boston Band Crush one last time.
Merry Crushmas!
Facebook event page
9pm/21+
* I bet you thought I was gonna say “crushed.”
Let me share with you what little information I know about Radiator King. I bopped down to Moe’s Lounge and caught most of their set. It was gritty and dusty and rattled my bones. They have a Bandcamp page and a CD release show at Great Scott on December 23rd. Despite some internet sleuthery, I wasn’t able to come up with much more. They’re gonna make me work for it…
Phil Aiken has assembled a most impressive troupe to help him deliver a fantastic set. The Phil Aiken Army effectively lodged the future-classic tune “Holiday Overload” into my brain before launching a blistering cover of “Gimme Shelter” into Somerville night.
SPF 5000 displayed some seriously impressive musicianship during their set for Anngelle Wood’s Lounge Act show at Radio. They kept a smoldering groove going for the late night crowd.
Have you ever wanted to hear the history of Parlour Bells told by a martini-sipping Goddamn Glenn over a stylish rendition of “Pet Names?” Today is your lucky day. Look past the haphazard camera work and marvel at the band’s closing Lounge Act number.
Here are Goddamn Glenn & The Parlour Bells Players doing that old Irving Berlin standard “Get Thee Behind Me Satan.” This was a highlight among highlights during their Lounge Act set.
Photos from this how can be found here.
Parlour Bells are a natural fit for a lounge themed show. They’ve always had a swanky vibe. Reborn as Goddamn Glenn & The Parlour Bells Players, the band passionately embraced Anngelle Wood’s Lounge Act show at Radio. They stripped back the songs and rebuilt them with a red velvet touch. Magen Tracy and Nate Leavitt stepped out and nailed the noir-tinged sound while Brendan Boogie and Paul Myers kept things buttoned down behind them. Frequent Parlour Bells collaborator Joel Edinberg added some drama on the sax. The mood was set for Goddamn Glenn to do his thing. This may have been the finest performance of Glenn DiBenedetto’s career. He crooned. He swooned. He sat down with the ladies. It was a great reminder that even high expectations can be exceeded when you take the time to mix a mid-song martini.
The Globe Bar is open.
Video from this show: