Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
Oh, look! It’s Sidewalk Driver opening for Spacehog at Great Scott. No big deal.*
* Yes, it is.
When Boston Band Crush puts on a Holiday Spectacular, Sidewalk Driver is going to be involved. That’s a given. The fact that this was the last show to be presented by the beloved music blog made their appearance all the more fitting. There was a lot of love in the room. There were inflatable unicorns in the room, too. Those poor inflatable unicorns.
Richard Bouchard was “dragged” on stage during “Dancing With Her Friends.” The joy of the moment was palpable. These are the moments we need to hold on to.
Sidewalk Driver performed as Spinal Tap for Halloween. Chocolate and peanut butter ain’t got nothing on this combo.
By this point in the Radio first anniversary show, any pretense of civility had long since been abandoned. We were now in the spray champagne and jump onstage to provide “backing vocals” part of the evening. If only there had been a band to come along and blast shimmering confetti all over the place while cranking out some glammed-out-pop-rock hooks the night would have been perfect…
It’s the lovely and talented Nicole Anguish’s birthday* and she wants to go see Sidewalk Driver. Who am I to say no? Tonight’s show at the Davis Square Theatre is a benefit for Crash Safely, a group raising money to help end Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The band is pulling out all the stops. We’re treated to a tornado whirlwind of confetti blasts, addictive melodies, killer harmonies, wailing guitar solos, driving rhythms, high-kicks, hijinks and songs about Tad’s face.** A glorious cover of “She Bop,” the hilarious back-story to “Jenny Don’t Really Like The Boys” and a special birthday dedication made the night all the more magical. Is it too late to convince Sidewalk Driver to play a show on my birthday.
* She of Daykamp Creative and The Decals, who are doing a reunion show Thursday night at the Bands For Babs benefit!!!
** OK, one song about Tad’s face. The rest were about natural disasters, radio, dancing with friends, kidnapping and the wonders of magnets. Some of those may have been metaphors. Most probably were not.
A couple of weeks ago, we presented a show at TT’s with our good friends over at Boston Band Crush. Sidewalk Driver was on the bill. I may have posted some pictures of these guys before. I kinda sorta like ’em a little bit. They’ve got these songs. Really cool songs. Songs about magnets and Tad’s face. And they play the hell out of ’em. They do all that while blowing confetti all over the friggin’ place.
One of my favorite things about a Sidewalk Driver show is telling my boys about it the next morning. As I was describing this particular show, Big Little One suspected I may be embellishing the tale a bit.
“You’re teasing.”
I assured him I wasn’t, although I understood his skepticism. It all sounded to fantastic to be true. It was too much for his six-year-old brain to process. I paused a minute to let him take it all in.
Then I told him about the parachute…
Sidewalk Driver at Brighton Music Hall is always a good idea. Friday night was no exception. These glam-poppers played a nice mix of recent tunes* and songs from FATBAG. They debuted a fantastic new song called “My Face” that found Tad confettiizing in ways previously unknown.** They even busted out a cover of The Turtles’ classic “Elenore.”*** Gee, I think Sidewalk Driver is swell…
* They opened their set with “Kidnapped.” It’s probably my current favorite Sidewalk Driver tune. That’s like picking a favorite guitar, though. They’re all special.
** “Confettiizing” is a real word. OK, it isn’t.
*** Boy Wonder used to cover that song. I had flashbacks during Sidewalk Driver’s rendition. Happy-happy-sing-song-sing-along flashbacks. What a great tune that is. Between this cover and their recent take on The Monkees’ “Star Collector,” Sidewalk Driver is sending me to ’60s pop heaven.
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.
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:
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:
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.
[INTERIOR – SIDEWALK DRIVER PRACTICE SPACE]
KATE: I’ve got this awesome new song I want to teach you guys.
JARED: Remember that time I used Richard Bouchard’s face as a slide? How great was that?!?! And I jumped off of A.J.’s kick drum.
KATE: Speaking of A.J., where is he?
JOHN: He’s going to be a little late. The Rolex folks needed him to swing by the factory so they could set their watches to him.
TAD: Has anyone seen the Sparkle Fairies? I can’t seem to find them.
KATE, JARED, JOHN: Not again!
[LAUGH TRACK]
KATE: Really guys, I’ve got this new song to show-
JOHN [INTERRUPTING]: In the last seven days we’ve opened for the B-52s, rocked the big Township gig at Brighton Music Hall and blown the roof off of Radio on opening night. Not bad.
JARED: And I used Bouchard’s face as a slide!
[TAD RETURNS COVERED IN GLITTER AND CONFETTI]
TAD: I found the Sparkle Fairies, but now the Confetti Monster has gotten loose!
KATE, JARED, JOHN: Oh, Tad!
[LAUGH TRACK]
KATE: You guys aren’t going to learn this song tonight, are you…
JOHN: No. I’m busy learning “Big Bottom”.
JARED: I’m practicing slides on Bouchard’s face.
TAD [OFF SCREEN]: I could use a little help in here!
KATE: Argh! Let’s just watch Maru videos and look at these photos from the Radio gig up on Daykamp Music…
