The Dents @ Radio 10.12.2012

The Dents were the final act of the Bands For Babs benefit. They closed out the event with a snappy set that went over big with the Radio crowd.

The Decals @ Radio 10.11.2012

The Decals played their first show in 10 years at Bands For Babs. I was right up front watching my favorite Boston band of all time playing some of the best you-done-me-wrong punk tunes this city has ever seen. Just as I was thinking that I must be the happiest person in the room, I looked over and saw Barbara “Babs” Walsh herself standing up, singing along to every song.

OK, Babs, you win this time.

Full Disclosure: I’m married to a member of The Decals. I still think it’s safe to say that their set was awesome.*

* Because it was.

Gene Dante w/ The Other Girls @ Radio 9.22.2012

Last year, Gene Dante and The Other Girls both did sets for the Joan Jett Tribute night that Nicole Tammaro put together. For this year’s event, the two acts joined forces like some kind of hot-blooded, leather-clad, rock ‘n’ roll Voltron. Yowza.

Aquanutz @ Moe’s Lounge 1.20.2012

I pretty much knew I was going to like Aquanutz. I grew up on hair metal, so this was right up my alley. I expected the Poison and Cinderella covers. I would have been happy to leave it at that. I got so much more.

When Aquanutz opened with “Slide It In”, I knew this show was going to exceed my already high expectations. When they covered “Blind In Texas” a couple of songs later I was all-in. I mean, who covers W.A.S.P. in 2012? Awesome bands do. Aquantuz does.

The Shakes & Pony Show @ Moe’s Lounge 1.20.2012

Thank goodness this is the final night of The Shakes & Pony Show residency at Moe’s Lounge. I’m getting tired of Rod and Jason’s mind games. I’ve been to all three shows and I still can’t figure out what the hell a Shakes & Pony Show is. Sometimes it’s a crazy mix of cover tunes. That was fun. Sometimes it’s Brownboot. That was fun, too. Tonight it’s Rod and Jason playing some ’80s power ballads. That was… oh, I get it now.

The Dents @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

The Dents have reunited for one night of pissed off songs about ex-boyfriends. It’s well worn territory, but the masses huddled in front of the TT’s stage are getting exactly what they want. I lose count of how many times someone yells “Don’t they sound great!?!” into my ear during the set.* It would be safe to say that those who have patiently waited years for this moment will not leave disappointed.

* This happens quite a bit after the set as well, people raising their voices to hear themselves over the ringing in their ears. Don’t forget your earplugs, folks.

The Other Girls @ The Rosebud Bar 9.23.2011

These are The Other Girls.

Andrea Gillis, Michelle Paulhus, Amy Griffin, Linda Shore and Melissa Gibbs have all made their mark on the Boston music scene. They’ve played in some of the best original bands in town. Every once in a while they get together to play some cool covers. For this show, they got together to play some really cool Joan Jett covers. It was, after all, a tribute to Joan Jett on her birthday… er, the day after her birthday… uh…

You know what? You shouldn’t need a special occasion to play Joan Jett covers. Hell, half the songs she did were covers. Joan Jett rules. Kudos to Nicole Tammaro for recognizing this and putting a show together in her honor.