Author: johnny

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Sidewalk Driver @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.14.2011

The morning after Semi-Final Night #1 of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble I found myself in my kitchen trying to describe the night to my son. He’s 4 years old. For several minutes I told him about platform boots, confetti cannons, playing guitar behind your head, layers of outrageous costumes, facial adornments, winged shirts and glitter. I told my wife about the witty and outrageously infectious songs.

“The singer, Tad, wore a little hat… and he shot confetti out of the hat!” I explained excitedly.

There was a brief pause while my son took it all in.

“Tell me again.” he implored.

“About the hat? Sure, he had this little hat…”

“No.” He took a break from eating his waffle to clarify. “The whole thing. The part about the shoes and the shirt. Tell me the whole thing again.”

I patiently described everything I had witnessed the night before for a second time.

I waited for some kind of reaction. His nearly five year old brain was working hard, trying to formulate some kind of response. Finally it came.

“Is this real?”

Yup. It’s real. It’s called Sidewalk Driver.



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Spirit Kid @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.14.2011

Spirit Kid was the one band in the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble that I managed to catch in each round. Their performance on Semi-Final Night #1 was easily their best. The band seemed both at ease and full of energy. It was urgent and effortless. This was the set that turned Spirit Kid from the band I like into the band I can’t wait to see again.

Spirit Kid won the night.



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Spirit Kid @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.5.2011

Spirit Kid put their ’60s pop-inspired songs on display during Preliminary Night #3 of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. It was a non-stop hit parade.* Although they didn’t win the night, their performance was strong enough to earn them a wildcard selection.



*Well, not really. However, in a just world, all of these songs would be hits. Also, I don’t think songs can actually be paraded about.

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John Powhida International Airport @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.5.2011

By now we all know that John Powhida International Airport took the tiara in the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble.  Congratulations to J-Po and his flight crew on their well earned victory.

Here are some photos from the night that started it all for them.  The band rocked, rolled, shook and shimmied their way to a Preliminary Night #3 victory.  Good times.



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Cult 45 @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.5.2011

Any band that can pull off a cover a Sabbath’s “The Mob Rules” is OK in my book. So… Cult 45, you’re OK in my book.

Cult 45 represented the horn-throwing underbelly of Boston rock during Preliminary Night #3 of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. Rippin’ guitar riffs, driving bass, pounding drums and wailing vocals are the name of the game here. Cult 45 has all of these in spades.



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The 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble…

So, here we are on the eve of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Finals. Head on down to T.T. The Bear’s Place tomorrow night and check out John Powhida International Airport, Spirit Kid and Old Jack as they vie for the coveted Rumble Tiara.

Anngelle Wood has done a remarkable job with this institution. The Rumble is a crash course in Boston’s awesomeness. The 2011 edition has been a celebration of our fantastically eclectic music scene. I haven’t been able to attend all of the shows, but I’ve enjoyed myself immensely on the nights I’ve made my way down to Central Square.

Over the next several days I’ll be posting up some pictures from this year’s festivities. The Autumn Hollow Band are already on display. Watch for photos of John Powhida International Airport, Spirit Kid, Sidewalk Driver, Mellow Bravo, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling and Cult 45.

Tomorrow night should be a lot of fun.

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The Autumn Hollow Band @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.5.2011

The Autumn Hollow Band is a band that sounds like The Band. Band band band. They have one foot in rock, one in folk and one in country. They are a three legged monster of Americana.

Speaking of feet, a good portion of the band was barefoot during their set that opened Preliminary Night #3 of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. As they finished their set, I ruminated that topping The Autumn Hollow Band’s set would be a challenging feat.*


*John Powhida International Airport would go on to win the night, but we’ll have more on that later.

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Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance @ Brighton Music Hall 3.30.2011

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance cannot be suppressed. You can try, but you will fail.

Drummer Mike Piehl and bassist Tommy Lada are just too much of a force to overcome. You will expend so much energy grappling with their might that you will be unable to defend yourself from the onslaught of aural excitement being heaved upon you by guitarists Tony Savarino and Scott Dakota. Wave after wave of sonic bliss will crash upon your ears.

And what of the leader of this peaceful revolution? What of Garvy J.? Through it all he strums his 12 string acoustic guitar. Crooning. Reminding you where you came from. Taking you where you are going. Showing you the way to happiness. Guiding you into the lights.



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Parlour Bells @ Brighton Music Hall 3.30.2011

I enjoy the rare occasion when I don’t know much about a band the first time I see them. It’s nice when you can see a band without any preconceived notions. There really are so few surprises in life these days.

This is exactly what happened with Parlour Bells at Brighton Music Hall. I knew Brendan Boogie was playing bass in the band. I was also aware that his musical wife Magen Tracy and Best Intention Nate Leavitt were among the cast of characters. That was about it. I don’t think I had heard any of their stuff online. Nobody had really hyped them to me. Just going to check out something new.

Wow. Parlour Bells are pretty great. Glenn DiBenedetto is a mesmerizing front man with the vocal abilities to back it up. The more I see of Nate Leavitt on guitar, the more I am coming to the realization that he always knows exactly what to play. Magen Tracey provides keyboards and an all important female vocal to intertwine with Mr. DiBenedetto. Brendan Boogie and drummer Brandon Erdos prove to be a skillful rhythm section. The band has a confidence that can’t be faked.

They won me over.



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Catching Up…

Next week we’ll finish up the pictures from March and roll right into April. Look for pictures of Parlour Bells and Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance at Brighton Music Hall to start the week. We’ll also get into some pictures from The Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble.

Won’t that be exciting…