Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
Make Music Harvard Square can usually be counted on for two things: great weather and great music. Mother Nature provided the first. Nate Leavitt Band provided the second.
A stripped-back Parlour Bells floated their adventurous tunes out into Harvard Square for this year’s Fete de la Musique.
Nate Leavitt’s “Taking The Long Way Home” is one fine song. Hearing it in the sun and open air of Make Music Harvard Square was a real treat.
The sun was shining for Make Music Harvard Square. Songs were in the air. Parlour Bells were playing. People were smiling. Shiny Pants Guy was Shiny Shirt Guy. It was a swell day.
Ryan Jackson Troika made Make Music Harvard Square sound like a classic Woodstock jam. Impressive stuff.
It was a gorgeous day in Cambridge for Make Music Harvard Square. Of the nine or so acts I really would have liked to catch, I managed to see two. Instead of focusing on all of the bands I missed, I will bask in the glory of my boy referring to Goddamn Glenn as “Shiny Pants Guy” when we were talking later about the fun we that afternoon. I’m feeling pretty lucky.
June 18th, 2011 was a good day.
This particular Saturday started with a party for my Big Little One, who recently turned (I can’t believe how time flies) five years old. That afternoon, with some help from my wife, I convinced the boy to hop on the train with me to go see OldJack as part of Make Music Harvard Square…
We take the red line a few stops and arrive about 5 minutes before OldJack are scheduled to perform. Looks like things are running behind schedule. That’s not a good sign when you’re with a potentially overtired boy and dinner time is rapidly approaching. We say hi to Dan Nicklin. Big Little One seems bothered by the noise from the other bands playing. Look! A candy shop! Let’s go get a lollipop.
We walk out with a blue raspberry Dum Dum* and a fresh start. Across the street there’s a little less commotion. That’s where Big Little One gets a couple of licks in before dropping the lollipop in a puddle. Back over to Hidden Sweets we go. This time we emerge with a bubble gum flavored Dum Dum.** Big Little One tells me he’s going to wait until we get home before he eats this one.
The boy is pretty antsy by the time OldJack kicks into “Love Me Or?”. Initially he’s put off by the volume (he’s wearing earplugs and covering his ears, so there’s no real danger), but he settles in by my side as the band plays on. He’s focused. Big Little One is taking it all in. He’s sitting on my knee, now. Content.
OldJack doesn’t seem as intense in the bright of day. It’s a nice change of pace. There’s an ease about them in the afternoon sunshine. The weight they often carry into the wee hours of the morning is lifted. The band, and those watching, are left to enjoy the moment.
I feel a tugging on my leg. Big Little One wants to go. It’s only a few songs into the set, but he’s hungry. And tired. We head back toward the train.
“Dad, when we get in the car can we listen to that band on a CD? I want to hear that song.”
“Which song?” I ask.
“The first one. I want to hear that song.”
“Sure thing, buddy.”
*The lollipop cost 12 cents. The cashier at Hidden Sweets tells me that’s the minimum amount charged on by-the-pound candy. This information is going to come in handy in a bit.
**The bubble gum Dum Dum would also end up getting dropped. The boy was very tired. Thankfully, we had a spare at home.
