Show Crush: Freezepop / Sidewalk Driver / The Field Effect / Emily Peal and The Band of Skinny Men at Brighton Music Hall Friday

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.

Merry Crushmas!

Facebook event page

9pm/21+

* I bet you thought I was gonna say “crushed.”

Radiator King @ Moe’s Lounge 12.6.2012

Let me share with you what little information I know about Radiator King. I bopped down to Moe’s Lounge and caught most of their set. It was gritty and dusty and rattled my bones. They have a Bandcamp page and a CD release show at Great Scott on December 23rd. Despite some internet sleuthery, I wasn’t able to come up with much more. They’re gonna make me work for it…

The Phil Aiken Army @ Radio 12.6.2012

Phil Aiken has assembled a most impressive troupe to help him deliver a fantastic set. The Phil Aiken Army effectively lodged the future-classic tune “Holiday Overload” into my brain before launching a blistering cover of “Gimme Shelter” into Somerville night.

SPF 5000 @ Radio 11.27.2012

SPF 5000 displayed some seriously impressive musicianship during their set for Anngelle Wood’s Lounge Act show at Radio. They kept a smoldering groove going for the late night crowd.

Goddamn Glenn & The Parlour Bells Players @ Radio 11.27.2012

Parlour Bells are a natural fit for a lounge themed show. They’ve always had a swanky vibe. Reborn as Goddamn Glenn & The Parlour Bells Players, the band passionately embraced Anngelle Wood’s Lounge Act show at Radio. They stripped back the songs and rebuilt them with a red velvet touch. Magen Tracy and Nate Leavitt stepped out and nailed the noir-tinged sound while Brendan Boogie and Paul Myers kept things buttoned down behind them. Frequent Parlour Bells collaborator Joel Edinberg added some drama on the sax. The mood was set for Goddamn Glenn to do his thing. This may have been the finest performance of Glenn DiBenedetto’s career. He crooned. He swooned. He sat down with the ladies. It was a great reminder that even high expectations can be exceeded when you take the time to mix a mid-song martini.

The Globe Bar is open.

Video from this show:

Ruby Rose Fox @ Radio 11.27.2012

Lounge Act was a swanky night that Anngelle Wood put together at Radio. Ruby Rose Fox got the evening started amid red curtains and candlelit tables. Her voice wove through reworked originals and well chosen covers to set the mood. Listening to Ruby sing “Watching The Detectives” was worth the price of admission. Mesmerizing.

The Field Effect @ Radio 11.16.2012

We should all be lucky enough to approach one aspect of our lives with as much enthusiasm as The Field Effect have for playing their songs* for people.

* And the occasional Weezer cover. They reprised “My Name Is Jonas” from their Halloween set for this show.

The Rationales @ Radio 11.16.2012

This was the first Boston area show for The Rationales with Chad Raleigh on guitar. Based on the string of rippin’ guitar lines he unleashed at Radio, I think things are going to work out just fine.