Month: December 2012

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Ruby Rose Fox with Glenn di Benedetto and Nate Leavitt – “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” (2012)


Ruby Rose Fox with Glenn di Benedetto and Nate Leavitt
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”
2012

This is why I love this city. Ruby Rose Fox and Parlour Bells shared a bill at the debut of Lounge Act. The next thing you know they’re collaborating on an old holiday standard. Ruby Rose Fox, Glenn di Benedetto and Nate Leavitt’s rendition of “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” drives home some of the reasons I find them so enchanting. Ruby Rose Fox has one of those timeless voices that would sound good singing the instructions to program your VCR. It should come as no surprise that it sounds even better here. She and Glenn play well off each other while Nate provides the perfect guitar accompaniment. The ease with which the Parlour Bells gentlemen pull this off proves that their remarkable cover of “Get Thee Behind Me Satan” was no fluke. These guys have standards in their souls.

There’s even a nicely done video here.

Where to get it:

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OldJack @ The Sinclair 12.15.2012

OldJack was a fine-tuned rock ‘n’ soul machine at The Sinclair. Saint Nicklin & Co. deftly rolled one song into the next, culminating with the pair of holiday numbers they recently made available. Let’s hope the Holiday Homage becomes an annual tradition.

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Parlour Bells @ The Sinclair 12.15.2012

Parlour Bells had a big year in 2012. Their Rumble set was one of the highlights at this year’s event. They opened the first ever show presented by Daykamp Music.* The most dapper band in Boston did the same for the last show presented by WFNX while they were still on terrestrial radio. When fall rolled around, they showed off their versatility with a show-stopping performance at the debut of Lounge Act. Well, add one more biggie to the list. With their opening set at OldJack’s Holiday Homage, Parlour Bells became the first Boston act to grace the stage of the newly-opened Sinclair.

I can’t wait to see what they have in store for 2013.

* I’m sure they will consider this a watershed moment in their rock n’ roll careers.

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OldJack – Holiday Homage (2012)


OldJack
Holiday Homage
2012

On their new Holiday Homage single/EP-thingie, OldJack have managed to turn the sugary sweet Mariah Carey classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” into a smoldering, well, OldJack holiday song. A soulful lead vocal, gritty guitars and those trademark OldJack backing vocals breathe new life into this well worn number. It’s a great arrangement by a great band. Toss in one of those let’s-get-our-friends-together-and-sing-about-better-times-ahead songs* and you’ve got a release worth adding to your Christmas playlist.

Where to get it:

* In this case the friends are Brendan Boogie, Dave Mirabella, Keith Pierce, Jess Collins and Nate Leavitt. The song is “The Christmas Song (10th Anniversary Remix)”

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Sidewalk Driver @ Brighton Music Hall 12.14.2012

When Boston Band Crush puts on a Holiday Spectacular, Sidewalk Driver is going to be involved. That’s a given. The fact that this was the last show to be presented by the beloved music blog made their appearance all the more fitting. There was a lot of love in the room. There were inflatable unicorns in the room, too. Those poor inflatable unicorns.

Richard Bouchard was “dragged” on stage during “Dancing With Her Friends.” The joy of the moment was palpable. These are the moments we need to hold on to.

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The Field Effect @ Brighton Music Hall 12.14.2012

Friday night was a big one at Brighton Music Hall. Boston Band Crush presented their final show. Richard Bouchard put together one heck of a bill for the Boston Band Crush Holiday Spectacular. After a compelling opening set by Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men, The Field Effect took the stage to release their new CD, Cartography. The band tore through a bunch of tunes from that record before busting out their Wham! cover.

Oh, one more thing. The Field Effect took the stage in holiday sweaters.* I feel like I should warn you about that before you look at the pictures.

* Which they quickly shed due to the warmth of the stage lights. At least that’s the excuse they’ll use.

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Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men @ Brighton Music Hall 12.14.2012

Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men opened the Boston Band Crush Holiday Spectacular* with a powerful set that included their twisted and beautiful take on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. This is one of the most dynamic acts in town.

* This was the last show to be presented by Boston Band Crush, which closed up shop earlier in the week. Sad face.