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.
* 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)”
Sometimes a keytar isn’t just a good idea, it’s the best idea. One of those times is when you’re closing out the Boston Band Crush Holiday Spectacular. Freezepop was full of great ideas at Brighton Music Hall.
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.
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.
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.
Naked On Roller Skates closed out the December edition of the Brendan Boogie & The Broken Gates residency at Radio with an excitable set. Much fun was had by many.
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.
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.
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.
