Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance @ Paradise Rock Club 6.30.2012

WFNX has been sold to Clear Channel and will cease to exist as we know it. Time to celebrate!

Wait. What?

We Want The Airwaves: A WFNX Tribute was about three things: raising money for The Progeria Research Foundation; getting all sentimental about the ‘FNX that was; and looking to the future of the DJs, staff, artists and local music community the station supported.

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance are playing “What If It All Works Out” and that future seems bright. WFNX will live on in some form online. A bunch of the station’s on air talent are heading over to Boston.com for a new venture. Sure, these outlets may not have the same reach as a commercial radio station, but what if they find a more engaged audience? What if they can connect with truly passionate music fans? Wouldn’t artists love that? Wouldn’t it be great to have the sounds of Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance heard by people who actually care? Let’s send their wall of layered guitars, dynamic bass lines, thunderous drums and vocal crooning directly to those who need it. Something needs to happen. It may all fail spectacularly, but that’s a worry for another night. I’m too busy watching Garvy J. rip another crazy-distorto solo on his 12-string acoustic guitar.

What if it all works out? Maybe it already has.

Parlour Bells @ Paradise Rock Club 6.30.2012

On Friday I told you why Parlour Bells was a great choice to kick off the We Want The Airwaves: A WFNX Tribute event at The Paradise. On Saturday they proved me right. This crowd wasn’t going to settle for melancholy and self-pity. They wanted a reason to be hopeful. They wanted to be delighted. They wanted to be entertained. They wanted all of this. Parlour Bells delivered.

Eddie Japan @ Precinct 6.22.2012

It’s pretty remarkable how effortlessly the guys in Eddie Japan can blend musical styles.* Pop, rock, lounge and spaghetti western motifs are all in play during an Eddie Japan show. Some songs will have you tapping your toes while others will whisk you away to exotic musical locales. What a great way to cap off a heat wave.

* Or at least how effortless they make it seem.

The Rationales @ Precinct 6.22.2012

Great songs have always been a trademark of The Rationales. Saturday night these guys added a couple of new gems to their setlist. I immediately fell in love with “Let It Go,” a song that wouldn’t sound out of place on side two of Abbey Road. Keep an ear out for that one.

The Vivs @ Precinct 6.22.2012

Here are The Vivs at Precinct. They sport a classic Boston indie sound that they’ve gussied up with some three part harmonies.* Not willing to settle for the embarrassment of riches that is three competent vocalists in one band, The Vivs invited Sophia Cacciola** up on stage for a particularly haunting number.

* In the grand Boston rock tradition, The Vivs even busted out a Kinks cover.

** Recent “Best Female Vocalist” winner in the Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll for her work with Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.

The Franc Graham Band @ Precinct 6.22.2012

The Franc Graham Band mixes a low rock aesthetic with traditional songwriting and modern arrangements. Their Precinct set entertained a crowd seeking relief from the last gasps of an early summer heatwave.

Tallahassee @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 6.15.2012

Tallahassee played TT’s Friday night. It’s hotter than Tallahassee around these parts today. Coincidence? Probably. No matter. This was my first time seeing Tallahassee. It’s indie rock with some twang, stomp and singalongability. I like ’em.

The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 6.15.2012

The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library experimented with playing along to a silent movie they made. If this is anything like the way Mr. Epstein “experiments” with new bands, expect to see more of this in the future.

Cask Mouse @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 6.15.2012

I love Cask Mouse. I love their songs. I love their vocal arrangements. I love their attitude, energy and charisma. Most of all I love their enthusiasm. Their love for what they do makes it easy to get behind them. It doesn’t take long for the TT’s crowd to do just that.

Velah @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 6.15.2012

While some bands take years to settle into their sound, Velah seem to have emerged with a fully formed musical identity. Will they evolve over time? That’s an exciting inevitability for a unit that is so in tune with each other.