Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 (2013)

boston does boston
Various Artists
Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2
2013

Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 is out. It’s 26 tracks of Boston bands covering each other to raise money for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Read all about it right here. This is my first time through the collection. I’ve been waiting to listen until I had time to go end-to-end all at once. I’m jotting down some notes. Let’s see what happens…

  • “Get Away” (Township covering Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents) – Hell, yes! I love the original. This version is just Township doing their thing. We’re off to a good start.
  • “Bright” (Will Dailey covering Reverse) – Yes and yes. The original sings with supersaturated glory. This version kicks back. Perfect.
  • “True Star” (Reverse covering I, Pistol) – Reverse gets a cool groove going on this I, Pistol tune. Sweet harmonies and guitar lines. Three songs in and this collection is blowing my mind a bit.
  • “Amylee” (I, Pistol covering The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library) – When in doubt, rock it out. Especially when it sounds this natural.
  • “A Madness To His Method” (The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library covering Gene Dante & the Future Starlets) – The “watch me falling down” parts on this version sound really good.
  • “Trainwreck” (Gene Dante & The Future Starlets covering Miss Fairchild) – Everything Gene Dante touches is delightfully seedy. This cover is no exception.
  • “Costumes” (Miss Fairchild covering Mr. Vertigo) – Tremolicious.
  • “Sleeping Alone” (Mr. Vertigo covering The Field Effect) – A modern-rock-radio-ready take on a stripped back Field Effect tune.
  • “The Sun Shines” (The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver) – Come on. The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver? Do you know me? Thank you Boston Does Boston.
  • “Straitjacket” (Sidewalk Driver covering The Luxury) – Sidewalk Driver make magic. When the boy/girl vocals meet up with the bop-baddas, good things happen.
  • “Infinity Minor” (The Luxury covering Ted Billings) – Meticulously layered and melodic.
  • “Celebrate” (Ted Billings covering Garvy J.) – A spunked up and stripped down take on the Garvy J. anthem.
  • “Pavement Prophet” (Garvy J. covering Sarah Rabdau and Self-Employed Assassins) – Subtly glorious. Shrouded in mystery and synthesizers.
  • “Rian” (Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents covering Township) – Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents return the favor, turning a Township tune into one of their own. Geez. These cats are good.
  • “No God in Massachusetts” (Sarah Rabdau & Self-Employed Assassins covering Dead Cats Dead Rats) – Whoa. That was unexpected. Sarah turned herself inside out without losing sight of who she is. Impressive.
  • “On Fire” (Dead Cats Dead Rats covering The Lights Out) – Blistering take on an already rippin’ tune.
  • “Atom Bomb” (The Lights Out covering Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys) – There’s still some grit under the nails, but steamcrunk cleans up nicely. Nice pairing.
  • “The Ladder” (Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys covering Black Thai) – Still heavy. Possessed vocal. Possessed viola.
  • “Less Talk, More Rokk” (Black Thai covering Freezepop) – Yes, yes, yes and more yes! Black Thai slay the synth-pop giant.
  • “Sweater Weather” (Freezepop covering Parks) – Look, a perfect pop song is a perfect pop song, OK? Proof.
  • “Badfinger Bridge” (Parks covering Corin Ashley) – A natural pairing with a lovely bouquet.
  • “Marigold” (Corin Ashley covering The Curtain Society) – I’m not familiar with the original, but this version is lovely.
  • “Birds Fly Information” (The Curtain Society covering Here We Just Dream) – Poppy. Trippy. Melodic. Great guitar solo.
  • “The Most Beautiful Thing” (Here We Just Dream covering Sarah Blacker) – There are a lot of nice, subtle touches in this one.
  • “Whiskey” (Three Day Threshold covering Nemes) – Three Day Threshold singing about whiskey? Shocking.
  • “Kindness” (Nemes covering Will Dailey) – Impressive shared vocals and a wonderful sentiment. Nice way to end the comp.

Yeah, so this is great. All you have to do now is download this thing and enjoy it yourself. Oh, and maybe check out one of the live events happening this weekend.

Where to get it:

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 10.18.2013

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance blow my mind every time they take the stage. Their presence at The Daykamp Poster & Photo Show was no exception. Their sound bends the space–time continuum as much as it blends genres. They are diametrically opposed to themselves. Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance are the tranquil freak-out.

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.

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.20.2012

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance’s 2012 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble run was dazzling. Dueling EBows, distorted twelve-strings, a massive rhythm section, psych-tinged tunes and a smooth vocal croon all sparkled under the TT’s lights. It was simultaneously joyous, achingly gorgeous and slightly mind bending. Spectacular.

2012 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Winner: Bow Thayer And Perfect Trainwreck

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.13.2012

Anngelle Wood is introducing the band, but I’m not really paying attention.* Behind her, Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance are already stealing the show. Once they have the stage to themselves there will be no stopping them. Garvy J. is in full command of the situation, manipulating the crowd with guitar swells, a cool confidence and sonic bombast.

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance take Rumble Semifinal #2.

* During their preliminary round set, Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance launched into their set before Anngelle could introduce them.

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.2.2012 @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.2.2012

Wow. Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance just blew my mind. I’ve seen these guys before, so I knew they were going to be good. I wasn’t prepared for this. At times it seemed like TT’s would burst. Their Rumble set was so powerful, so joyous, that anything would have been possible. I can’t wait to see them again. I won’t have to wait long. Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance take Preliminary Night #2. They’ll be back for the Semi-Finals next week.

2012 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Preview

Well, it’s that time of the year again. The Rumble is upon us. Sunday night will kick off the 2012 edition of this rock n’ roll institution. I called the 2011 version “a crash course in Boston awesomeness”. I have no reason to think this year won’t be the same. Having been to many a Rumble show (and participated in a couple) I can tell you these are always a lot of fun.

For the past few years The Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble has been curated by Anngelle Wood. She’s done a fine job, hasn’t she? This year will be no exception. I’ve managed to document exactly half of this year’s participants in the wild. I look forward to checking out the other half. Below is the complete schedule with some links to the bands’ shows I’ve caught in the past. If all goes according to plan, you’ll be seeing lots of Rumble pics up on Daykamp Music over the next few weeks. Check back often. More importantly, go see some of the shows!

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE

Sunday, April 1

7:30-8:30pm Boston Band Crush sponsored Opening Night Welcoming Party

9:00pm – The Grownup Noise (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
9:45pm – Endless Wave (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
10:30pm – The Rationales (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:15pm – Cooling Towers (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)

Monday, April 2

9:00pm – Thick Shakes (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
9:45pm – Animal Talk (FacebookTwitter | Bandcamp)
10:30pm – Garvy J (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:15pm – Grey Valley Ghost (Facebook | Twitter | Reverbnation)

Tuesday, April 3

9:00pm – The Susan Constant (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
9:45pm – The Tin Thistles (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
10:30pm – Ghosts of Jupiter (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:15pm – Letterday (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)

Thursday, April 5

9:30pm – Cask Mouse (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
10:15pm – Never Got Caught (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:00pm – Parlour Bells (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:45pm – The Fagettes (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)

Friday, April 6

9:30pm – Pray For Polanski (Facebook | Bandcamp)
10:15pm – BrownBoot (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:00pm – Bow Thayer and Perfect Trainwreck (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:45pm – The Bynars (FacebookTwitter | Bandcamp)

Saturday, April 7

9:30pm – The Grinds (Facebook | Twitter | Music)
10:15pm – Sherman Burns (FacebookTwitter | Bandcamp)
11:00pm – Motherboar (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:45pm – Streight Angular (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)

Tickets: www.ttthebears.com
More Info: www.rockandrollrumble.com

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance @ Brighton Music Hall 3.30.2011

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance cannot be suppressed. You can try, but you will fail.

Drummer Mike Piehl and bassist Tommy Lada are just too much of a force to overcome. You will expend so much energy grappling with their might that you will be unable to defend yourself from the onslaught of aural excitement being heaved upon you by guitarists Tony Savarino and Scott Dakota. Wave after wave of sonic bliss will crash upon your ears.

And what of the leader of this peaceful revolution? What of Garvy J.? Through it all he strums his 12 string acoustic guitar. Crooning. Reminding you where you came from. Taking you where you are going. Showing you the way to happiness. Guiding you into the lights.