Category: Blog

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Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys @ Brighton Music Hall 3.16.2012

Walter Sickert and his traveling band of SteamCrunk gypsies make their way to the stage. It has already been an eclectic and memorable evening. Black Thai overpowered us with their thunderous roll. Sidewalk Driver made us a sandwich. Planetoid tried to power their spaceship with our souls and/or melt our faces — which is a better fate than Mary Widow and her seductress companions wished upon us. Now we’re being tipped on end by sights and sounds as varied as the night is long. The Army Of Broken Toys are putting their musical and physical wares on display in an attempt to bring the crowd under their spell. We tumble along, once again avoiding the grasp of Mary Widow as “Ghostbusters” rings through the rafters…

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Camden – “Getting Around” b/w “(Talking On The) Telephone” (2012)


Camden
“Getting Around” b/w “(Talking On The) Telephone”
2012

On their latest 7″, Camden somehow come off as both laid back and hyperactive. “Getting Around” is the indie-bopper that starts things off. The song asks “What you think about me?” I think you’re catchy as hell and I’m playing you over and over again. The two sides of the record are listed as “A” and “AA”. Smart move, because “(Talking On The) Telephone” is just as strong. The band continues the caffeine buzz and rips out some extended melodic guitar parts for this one. What a great pair of tunes.

The record itself is a black, small hole 7″ that come in a full color jacket (which is all inserted into a vinyl bag). There’s even a lyric sheet. It’s also available as a digital download.

Where to get it:

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Planetoid @ Brighton Music Hall 3.16.2012

So… It’s not entirely clear to me if Planetoid’s goal is to melt faces or enslave the human race.* If a heavy dose of funk-injected hard rock is the way to accomplish either of these ends, then they seem to be well on their way to whatever devious plot they choose.

* Mary Widow, who joined Planetoid for a rendition of “Helter Skelter”, made it very clear that she wants us all dead. No confusion there.

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Sidewalk Driver @ Brighton Music Hall 3.16.2012

The morning after Sidewalk Driver’s semi-final set at last year’s Rumble, I described the spectacle that took place to my then-4-year-old son. He listened in astonishment.

The morning after Sidewalk Driver’s recent show at Brighton Music Hall, I told my now-5-year-old boy that Tad made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on stage.* He laughed hysterically.

I’m not sure which reaction made me happier…

* Yes, this is real. It was one of the single greatest moments of my concert going life.

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Black Thai @ Brighton Music Hall 3.16.2012

This was my first time seeing Black Thai. I had been warned ahead of time about the pure volume that accompanies their particular brand of heavy. Truth be told, I was too distracted by their awesomeness to notice.

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John Powhida @ Moe’s Lounge 3.10.2012

John Powhida is a natural born entertainer. I don’t know which I enjoyed more: listening to the laid back solo version of “Daddy’s The Man” or learning the awful/hilarious story that inspired the song.* Win-win.

* Awfully hilarious?

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Tom Baker @ Moe’s Lounge 3.10.2012

Tom Baker is a pretty great songwriter. He knows rock n’ roll. It was cool to hear stripped-down takes on some of my favorite Dirty Truckers tunes.

Evan Shore also knows rock n’ roll. When he joined Baker for some choice covers (including kick-ass takes on Elvis Costello and The Knack), there was no way it wasn’t going to be fun.

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Tad Overbaugh @ Moe’s Lounge 3.10.2012

Tad Overbaugh is the mastermind behind the new Nights In The Round series at Moe’s Lounge. Tad’s songs work great in this stripped down format. Bruce Freisinger joined him, adding some sweet harmonies and fantastic Telecastering.

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Jay Allen @ Moe’s Lounge 3.10.2012

Jay Allen was another performer at Nights In The Round #1. Without the Archcriminals backing him up, Jay comes off as a kind of punk rock balladeer with a knack for self-deprecating humor.

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Scott Ricciuti @ Moe’s Lounge 3.10.2012

Scott Ricciuti and Jeff Burch (of Scott Ricciuti & Pistol Whipped) brought their roots music and murder ballads down into Radio’s basement for Nights In The Round #1. This new series finds a handful of performers trading off three song mini-sets all night. It’s going to be a recurring thing at Moe’s Lounge. Check it out.