Category: Photos

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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.

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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…

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Rule @ Radio 11.19.2011

Do you like metal?

Wait! No no no! Don’t go anywhere. Let’s try this a different way.

Remember when you liked metal?

Rule plays that kind of metal. It’s Ronnie James Dio fronting a reinvigorated Black Sabbath. It’s Joey Belladona-era Anthrax without the Jams shorts, backward hats and goofy rhymes. It hints at Judas Priest, Ozzy, Maiden and early Metallica while, amazingly, not relying on nostalgia.

I know it sounds like I just contradicted myself with the whole “remember when” thing and then saying Rule isn’t nostalgic. I get it. It’s true, Rule plays a very classic sort of metal. However, my enjoyment of their debut show was not based upon my fond memories of being a mulleted teenager blasting Painkiller in a wood paneled basement with my fellow misfits.* Rule’s set seemed vital. There was no irony in what they were doing.

Rule is metal.

* Although my mulleted teenage self would have loved Rule.

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InAeona @ Radio 11.19.2011

InAeona backlit their set with an intensity that matched their progressive metal sound.

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Cask Mouse @ Radio 11.19.2011

Cask Mouse have a great country-tinged folk sound. It’s natural and warm. What really won me over with this group were their vocal arrangements. Really nice.

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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.

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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.

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Devil On Horseback @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

This is my first time seeing Devil On Horseback since they were reborn from the ghost of Auto Interiors. Despite the band member carryover, it truly does sound like a new band. These guys know they have a good slot on a great bill and are making the most of it, winning over a significant portion of the growing crowd along the way.

I run into singer/guitarist Eric Waxwood at Radio the next night (more on that show later) and tell him how impressed I am with their transformation. He notes that even though they’ve played a few shows under the new name, Friday night at TT’s was the first time it truly felt like a Devil On Horseback show.

Metamorphosis complete.

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Eric Salt & The Electric City @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Eric Salt & The Electric City. Eric recently performed at the Bruce Springsteen tribute night with some of these guys, and it reminded me how well they play off each other. Tonight’s return of the full-on Electric City puts the band’s own songs in the well deserved spotlight. I’ve missed this.