Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
What a great night of music this has been. It’s the Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys album release show. We’ve already had killer sets by Ruby Rose Fox and The Field Effect. Now, The Rationales are closing with their song “Let It Go.” So good. So, so good.
This was the first Boston area show for The Rationales with Chad Raleigh on guitar. Based on the string of rippin’ guitar lines he unleashed at Radio, I think things are going to work out just fine.
The Rationales were the first band to play at Radio. It’s only fitting that they take part in the venue’s first anniversary show. They closed their set with a song they debuted at the club’s opening. You can probably guess what it was…
Dave Mirabella is a supremely talented songwriter. He manages to get to the heart of the matter with a few chords from his Martin and a memorable melody. He played down in Moe’s Lounge as part of Bands For Babs. As an added bonus, his brother Mike (also his bandmate in The Rationales) jumped behind the kit.
This is tough to write…
I’m going to get right to it. On July 3rd, our dear friend Barbara “Babs” Walsh suffered an AVM/stroke. She went into a coma. The news was brutal. Babs is one of my favorite people in the entire world. Anyone who knows Barbara understands what a big supporter she is of the Boston music scene. Any band that has endured her brutal honesty is better for it.* Even moving to L.A. several months ago didn’t slow her down. She had already been back this way a couple of times, attending shows and catching up with all of us who miss her. Suddenly, she was fighting for her life. Devastating.
This is easy to write…
You know what? Babs is a tough cookie. Her recovery, thus far, has been tremendous. Now we’re putting on a show with a bunch of her friends to help with the financial side of things. What kind of show? How about a two night blowout at Radio! Bands For Babs! Upstairs! Downstairs! Rock! Punk! Metal! Reunions! We’ve got it all in store for you. The show details and Facebook events are listed below. We hope you can make it out to our good ol’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza and help get Babs get back on her feet.
There’s also a website for donations: Funds For Babs
Both shows are at Radio.
Early shows! 8pm start time!
Presented by Boston Band Crush and Daykamp Music.
Poster by Daykamp Creative.
Night #1
Facebook event
Upstairs:
12a Rule
11p Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents
10p The Decals
9p AM Stereo
8p The Modifiers
Downstairs:
11:30p The Charms
10:30p Dave Mirabella
9:30p Eric Salt & The Electric City
Night #2
Facebook event
Upstairs:
12a The Dents
11p Devil On Horseback
10p Watts
9p Gymnasium
8p Spin-Off!
Downstairs:
11:30p The Dirty Truckers
10:30p Reverse
9:30p Dirt Mall
* Barbara has been particulary vocal about her distaste for the Dirt Mall song “The Demons & The Damned.” It’s already a long song, but I’m thinking we may bust out an extended version for this occasion. Just for you, Babs!
Talk about a night of great songs. First we had Airport. Now, The Rationales.* On a Sunday. I’m alive and well at Radio, but I feel like I’ve died and gone to well-crafted-pop-n-roll heaven. We’re spoiled, folks.
* The Wooden Sky from Toronto topped the bill for a perfect songsmith trifecta.
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.
In case David Mirabella and his bandmates in The Rationales didn’t know it already, a large contingent of their fans sang along to remind them that they have some of the best songs in town. When the band plays them with the fire and passion that they did in the Rumble Semifinal, it’s going to be a good night. Last night was a good night.
Semifinal Night #2 Winner: Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance
When a good rock n’ roll band finds its groove, it’s a wonderful thing. It becomes as much about what you feel as what you hear. I feel good right now. I just heard something great. It was a wonderful thing.
The Rationales just played their Rumble preliminary set. By the time they got to “No Guarantees”, a personal favorite of mine, they were so locked in nothing could derail them. The last three songs of their set felt like a victory lap. That’s the beauty of the Rumble. Win or lose, bands rise to the occasion. Bands like The Rationales.
My gut is confirmed. The Rationales take night #1.
The Rationales were the first band to grace the stage of Radio, Somerville’s newest rock club. This honor was not lost on them. The band treated the ever-growing crowd to a tight set of Americana-tinged power pop. The band was even moved to debut a new song. It’s called “Radio”. Nice touch.
