Tag: Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men

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Glamta, Wampa and Toys, Oh My! The Indie Rock Ranger Holiday Spectacular is Saturday Night!

irrholiday2013

  • Open web browser
  • Type: http://www.bostonbandcru
  • Realize it’s been a year since your favorite site closed up shop
  • Hang head like Charlie Brown

The above happens to me a few times a month. Old habits die hard, I guess. This time last year, the folks at Boston Band Crush presented their final show, with Freezepop, Sidewalk Driver, The Field Effect and Emily Peal and The Band of Skinny Men bringing some much needed holiday cheer to a sold out crowd at Brighton Music Hall. It was a fitting send off, put together by Richard Bouchard (AKA Indie Rock Ranger AKA The Biggest Supporter Of The Boston Music Scene Since Billy Ruane).

Over the past year, Richard has put together some of the finest shows in the city under the Indie Rock Ranger Presents banner. Thankfully, he’s readied another humdinger of a bill to fend off the holiday blues. Freezepop and Sidewalk Driver are back. This time they’re joined by Parks, Animal Talk and Harris Hawk. That’s a whole lot of awesome on one bill. The Indie Rock Ranger Holiday Spectacular happens Saturday night at The Middle East Downstairs.

Sounds good, right? Of course it does. You love rock ‘n’ roll and the possibility of a Glamta sighting. I’m going to go out on a limb and wager that you also want to help some kids in need this holiday season. Thank you! You can do so at this very event. Anngelle Wood will be holding her annual toy drive for the DCF Kids Fund at the show. New (unwrapped) toys, gift cards, electronics, books and just about anything else a kid might enjoy will all be collected. Don’t have time to get to the store? Pick up a print of Nicole Anguish’s amazing Empire Strikes Back-inspired poster at the show (it’s at the top of this post, in case you missed it). All of the profits from poster sales will be donated to the cause. Plus, you’ll get to go home with a wampa.

Do good on Saturday night.

Facebook Event | Tickets

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Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 8.7.2013

Every Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men performance is like a master course in dynamics. I can’t think of a band in town that has more control over their musical bombast than this cast of characters. They can smolder and they can flare. It’s not uncommon for an all-consuming hush to be followed by a blinding shower of audible sparks. Pay attention. You won’t want to miss this.

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Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men @ Brighton Music Hall 12.14.2012

Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men opened the Boston Band Crush Holiday Spectacular* with a powerful set that included their twisted and beautiful take on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. This is one of the most dynamic acts in town.

* This was the last show to be presented by Boston Band Crush, which closed up shop earlier in the week. Sad face.

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Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men – “Have Yourself…” (2012)


Emily Peal & The Band Of Skinny Men
“Have Yourself…”
2012

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight

Never have those words sounded so foreboding. Emily Peal & The Band Of Skinny Men have turned a holiday classic inside out. The dark clouds that hang over their rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” makes the warm and familiar feel detached and cold. Every piano chord and string-like swell increases the hollow, empty feeling that the now haunting melody planted deep inside you. It is dispiriting and beautifully executed. I can’t stop listening.

Where to get it:

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Show Crush: Freezepop / Sidewalk Driver / The Field Effect / Emily Peal and The Band of Skinny Men at Brighton Music Hall Friday

Boston Band Crush, my favorite music blog of all time, just closed up shop. I’m devastated.* Do yourself a favor and read Ashley Willard’s closing announcement and Richard Bouchard’s Farewell Crush. If it wasn’t for BBC, Daykamp Music probably wouldn’t exist. I’d still be out there taking pictures, but they’d just be piling up on my hard drive. Their enthusiasm was contagious.

I’ve had the honor of working with the Boston Band Crush folks on a few occasions. Helping Ashley out with One Night Band photos has been an amazing experience. It’s such a special event to be a part of. I’m thankful for the opportunity. This past July, Daykamp Music worked with Richard to present our first show together. A few months later, when a good friend of mine needed help, Richard stepped up to the plate again. He did everything he could to help make the Bands For Babs benefit the success it was.

I will forever be grateful to everyone that contributed to Boston Band Crush. I’ll miss you terribly. How will I get over it? For starters, I’ll be hitting up one last Boston Band Crush show! Friday night is the big Boston Band Crush Holiday Spectacular at Brighton Music Hall! You’ve got the synth-pop stylings of Freezepop topping the bill. Sidewalk Driver will have Glam-ta in tow. Confetti is sure to fall like snow all set long. The Field Effect covered Wham! for Christmas. Come see if Doug Orey is sporting some George Michael stubble as they release their new album, Cartography. Opening the night will be Emily Peal and The Band of Skinny Men. They’ve got a new Christmas cover of their own. Just don’t expect it to be merry or bright. Anngelle Wood of Boston Emissions will be organizing a toy drive for the Division of Children and Families of Cambridge/Somerville/Allston/Brighton at the show. Bring a toy when you come out to celebrate with Boston Band Crush one last time.

Merry Crushmas!

Facebook event page
9pm/21+

* I bet you thought I was gonna say “crushed.”

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Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men @ The Middle East Upstairs 9.6.2012

Do you know what I like about Emily Peal And The Band Of Skinny Men? I like when the song starts out quiet. Maybe there’s a piano or some finger-picked guitar. Then things get a little tense. You wonder where this is going. All of a sudden there’s a brrrruuuuuuum-brrrruuuuuuum-brrrruuuuuuum-boom-thwack-boom-thwack-brrrruuuuuuum-brrrruuuuuuum-brrrruuuuuuum and you’re kind of knocked back a little from the oh-my-goodness-how-did-they-get-that-heavy wall of sound coming from the stage. It’s a neat feeling, like being 6 years old and spinning around and around until you collapse in a heap. Then you get up and do it all over again.

This was the release show for Emily’s new EP, Fine Fur Coat.

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Emily Peal – “Bang Bang” (2012)


Emily Peal
“Bang Bang”
2012

What happens when Emily Peal covers Cher? Magic. Dark, dark magic.

Truth be told, this version has more in common with Nancy Sinatra’s stark cover than the original. Emily’s take thrives on the moments that slip through the cracks. There’s a tension to the sparsity that is undeniable. The mind can wander to some pretty dark places in between reverb-drenched arpeggios, places fully realized when Emily and The Band Of Skinny Men go off at the 2:37 mark.

Where to get it: