Category: Featured

Posted on

Full Body Anchor @ Radio 12.17.2011

Full Body Anchor is a band I need to see more often. It’s cathartic. Intensely cathartic. You’re swept up in Rice Edmonston’s manic convulsions while the rest of the band just keeps pushing and pushing until you’re right at the edge. It’s all making you a little crazy. You can’t quite figure out what’s happening to your head. You don’t really want to know, anyway.

Then it’s over. You’ve weathered the storm. Life goes on. You take a few deep breaths.

It feels good.

Worth mentioning: Full Body Anchor did an astounding version of “O Holy Night” at this show. Add that one to my list of favorite Boston rock moments of 2011…

Posted on

Sidewalk Driver @ House Of Blues 12.1.2011

A couple of months back, Sidewalk Driver opened for The B-52s up at Hampton Beach.* When I heard about that show, two things crossed my mind:

  • That’s a really good break for a really good band.
  • I want to take pictures of Sidewalk Driver opening for The B-52s.

Alas, it wasn’t in the cards. Fast forward to the announcement that Sidewalk Driver would be opening for The B-52s as part of Epilepsy Therapy Project’s fundraiser at the House Of Blues. Two things crossed my mind:

  • That’s a really good break for a really good band.
  • I want to take pictures of Sidewalk Driver opening for The B-52s.

Oh, House Of Blues. You’re usually not too keen on people bringing cameras to take pictures of your innards. I was pretty sure this wasn’t going to happen. Then fate Kate smiled upon me and got me a photo pass. So happy. So very happy.**

Come showtime, Sidewalk Driver did what they do best: worked their glorious confetti and power chord magic to make the audience swoon.*** Isn’t that what they always do? Hell yes, it is. This band lives to entertain.

…

A couple of days later I was looking through the photos on my computer.

“Who’s that?”

My five year old had just wandered into the office with his little brother close behind.

“That’s Tad from Sidewalk Driver.” I replied.

“Side-walk-dri-ver?” questioned my curios 2 and a half year old.

“That’s the band that sings ‘Tornado’!” exclaimed his older brother.

I couldn’t have been more proud. For the next ten minutes we scrolled through the photos, the boys quickly learning to identify each band member. So happy. So very happy.

* I’d like to point out that when I started this blog, the thought never crossed my mind that it would have any references to The B-52s. Live and learn, I guess.

** Have I mentioned how happy I was? Seriously, it’s a little embarrassing. When I got word that Kate had secured the photo pass the combination of sheer joy and the sudden realization that “Golly, I better take some good pictures at this thing or I’m a complete jerk” nearly incapacitated me. I was a wreck. Still… so very very happy.

*** Did I mention showtime was 30 minutes before the stated start time on the House Of Blues website? Surprise! No matter. Sidewalk Driver still kicked ass. No surprise there.

Posted on

Mellow Bravo @ Radio 11.19.2011

Mellow Bravo is the band you should be begging to play at your basement kegger. Sure, the cops are gonna come and bust the thing up, but it’ll be awesome until then…

Posted on

Muck And The Mires @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

Muck And The Mires put on one hell of a show to celebrate the release of their new album, A Cellarful Of Muck. I think we take for granted that Muck and the gang are always around town banging out their amazing British Invasion meets ’77 NYC tunes. We shouldn’t. They’re too good for that. This was one of the best sets I’ve seen all year.

Posted on

The Dents @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

The Dents have reunited for one night of pissed off songs about ex-boyfriends. It’s well worn territory, but the masses huddled in front of the TT’s stage are getting exactly what they want. I lose count of how many times someone yells “Don’t they sound great!?!” into my ear during the set.* It would be safe to say that those who have patiently waited years for this moment will not leave disappointed.

* This happens quite a bit after the set as well, people raising their voices to hear themselves over the ringing in their ears. Don’t forget your earplugs, folks.

Posted on

The Dirty Truckers @ Radio 10.8.2011

Nicole Tammaro once commented: “Dirty Truckers shows are fun. Everybody plays. Everybody gets up on stage.”

The Dirty Truckers show at Radio was fun. Everybody played. Everybody got on stage.

Posted on

The Organ Beats @ Radio 10.7.2011

The Organ Beats are lighting up the Radio stage with their bombastic power pop. The band is tight. The crowd is into it. They’ve already forgotten the brief blackout that delayed the start of the set. A good hook will do that.

Two bands into Radio’s existence and I’ve already got a good feeling about this place…

Posted on

Township @ Brighton Music Hall 10.1.2011

The CD release party for Township’s latest effort, One More Summer, was a nonstop barrage of bitchin’ riffs and man hair.

I’m glad there are bands like Township in 2011. Bands that pay tribute at the altar of Thin Lizzy. Bands that embrace guitarmony. Bands that know some records sound best blasting from a car stereo with the windows down. More power to ’em.

Posted on

Sidewalk Driver @ Brighton Music Hall 10.1.2011

I love Sidewalk Driver. I imagine, though, that there are some people out there that hate Sidewalk Diver. Really hate them. That’s the way these things work, right? For every person out there that loves yogurt, there is someone who thinks it tastes like the disgusting thing it is: A dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. Think about that the next time you go to eat yogurt.

I thought it might be fun to play devil’s advocate to my usual Sidewalk Driver-loving self. The problem is, everything I thought of as my alter ego just made Sidewalk Driver sound more awesome. It was an exercise in futility. I mean, telling someone to avoid a band because they have a song about the singer potentially dispensing of his man-parts* to get in good with a girl who may or may not be into said man-parts is like telling a 5 year old boy to put the bug down so he doesn’t squish it. It ain’t gonna happen.

So, I guess it’s OK to listen to and enjoy the music of Sidewalk Driver.** Why not check out their fantastic record, For All The Boys And Girls? But whatever you do, don’t go to their live shows. You might get covered in confetti.

* Be it by scissors or knife.

** I suppose there are still people out there that don’t like Sidewalk Driver. I’m content not to be one of them. I still don’t like yogurt, though.