Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
You People have just jumped on to my imaginary list of favorite bands around town. I missed the trio’s first few shows. The fourth time was the charm. Their angst-addled fuzzfest has got me buzzing.
Black Fortress Of Opium are mesmerizing. They pull you into their world with each new painted landscape and lingering melody.
Mellow Bravo. Just. Man. So good. Consider The Sinclair christened.
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.
* This was the last show to be presented by Boston Band Crush, which closed up shop earlier in the week. Sad face.
By this point in the Radio first anniversary show, any pretense of civility had long since been abandoned. We were now in the spray champagne and jump onstage to provide “backing vocals” part of the evening. If only there had been a band to come along and blast shimmering confetti all over the place while cranking out some glammed-out-pop-rock hooks the night would have been perfect…
The Decals played their first show in 10 years at Bands For Babs. I was right up front watching my favorite Boston band of all time playing some of the best you-done-me-wrong punk tunes this city has ever seen. Just as I was thinking that I must be the happiest person in the room, I looked over and saw Barbara “Babs” Walsh herself standing up, singing along to every song.
OK, Babs, you win this time.
Full Disclosure: I’m married to a member of The Decals. I still think it’s safe to say that their set was awesome.*
* Because it was.
Razors In The Night bring it fast, heavy and tight. They owned Radio for their set at Nicole Tammaro’ book release party.
It’s the lovely and talented Nicole Anguish’s birthday* and she wants to go see Sidewalk Driver. Who am I to say no? Tonight’s show at the Davis Square Theatre is a benefit for Crash Safely, a group raising money to help end Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The band is pulling out all the stops. We’re treated to a tornado whirlwind of confetti blasts, addictive melodies, killer harmonies, wailing guitar solos, driving rhythms, high-kicks, hijinks and songs about Tad’s face.** A glorious cover of “She Bop,” the hilarious back-story to “Jenny Don’t Really Like The Boys” and a special birthday dedication made the night all the more magical. Is it too late to convince Sidewalk Driver to play a show on my birthday.
* She of Daykamp Creative and The Decals, who are doing a reunion show Thursday night at the Bands For Babs benefit!!!
** OK, one song about Tad’s face. The rest were about natural disasters, radio, dancing with friends, kidnapping and the wonders of magnets. Some of those may have been metaphors. Most probably were not.
Black Fortress Of Opium wove a beautiful tapestry of sound that draped The Middle East stage in intricate textures. It was a perfect backdrop for the haunting melodies that danced about the room.
