Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
Here is The Future Everybody.
The Rationales opened and closed their own CD release show for The Distance In Between. They booked a great bill with friends OldJack and The Future Everybody. They had special guests join them during their sets. The Rationales did it up right.
The first set was a stripped down acoustic affair featuring mandolin, cajón and melodica. Good stuff.
Davina Yannetty is a dynamo. She has a big voice and a small guitar.* She loves Billy Squier, prog rock and long walks on the beach.** Oh, and her last name rhymes with spaghetti.
*Not really. It’s a ukulele.
**I know 2 out of 3 of these things to be true. The third could be conjecture or a blatant lie.
I had never heard of Melvern Taylor before this night at TTs. Over the course of the evening a few different people asked me if I had ever seen him perform before. They knew. Now I know. Melvern Taylor And His Fabulous Meltones are amazing.
Look at these pictures:
What you can’t see in the photos are the polio jokes…
Corin Ashley is a man of many talents. The guy plays bass like nobody’s business. He is easily one of Boston’s best. He’s no slouch on guitar, either. Now we see Corin busting out his ukulele for this uke-themed show at TT’s.
What’s really on display during Mr Ashley’s set isn’t his ukulele playing. It’s not even his outstanding vocal abilities. What really comes out during this set are the songs. Corin can write a pop tune with the best of ’em. These songs could be played on tin whistle and autoharp with accompaniment from a middle school recorder orchestra and their appeal would still be undeniable.
Plus, he has a strap for his ukulele so you know he’s serious.
Uke Springsteen is equal parts genius and playful madness. It’s hard to imagine an artist whose songs are less likely to get a lighthearted ukulele treatment than Bruce Springsteen. The earnestness of his songs seems almost insurmountable, yet Pat Healey manages to deliver them tongue firmly in cheek. So does D.A., his charismatic boombox and sidekick.
Through it all, the original sentiments of the songs remain intact. “Atlantic City” still comes across as a desperate tale of a man down-on-his-luck, even with D.A.’s playful interjections and a Casio beat. “Dancing In The Dark” becomes even more of a lustful plea. It’s all thoroughly entertaining.
Three pictures. One Happy Island.
This was The Shods’ second appearance in a Rumble Finals. Most bands aren’t so lucky.
The first time, back in 1999, The Sheila Divine won it all. I wasn’t there that night, but I can almost guarantee that there were many in attendance who felt The Shods were robbed. It happens every year. Such is The Rumble.
In 2011, The Shods returned to The Rumble Finals. This time, Anngelle Wood brought them back as the special guest band. Good call, Anngelle.* A raucous and rowdy set from The Shods was a great way to end a Rumble that truly was a celebration of Boston rock ‘n’ roll.
*Seriously, how great of a job did Anngelle Wood do putting this thing together? It boggles the mind.
Once again I find myself posting about Spirit Kid in the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. This time Emeen and his gang are in the Finals. Once again they’re great. I covered their wild card winning set from Preliminary Night #3. I also praised their fantastic Semi-Final set. Now I’m supposed to find new ways to tell you about the amazing Spirit Kid? No más.
Look, Spirit Kid has more hooks than Gamakatsu International. I’m not going to sit here and blather on about them for the third time in a week and a half just to hear the click-clackery of my keyboard. Just go hit up their Bandcamp page and download this damn near perfect single.
You’re welcome.
