Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
I managed to catch a couple of songs by the always-entertaining John Powhida International Airport during the 2014 Boston Music Awards celebration. That was fun.
The more I listen to Sarah Rabdau & Self Employed Assassins, the more I hear the pop undercurrent that flows beneath their adventurous arrangements. There’s a lot that goes into their sound—so much to take in. Couple this sense of layered artistry with an engaging live performance and you have a show to remember. Like this past Friday when Sarah Rabdau & Self Employed Assassins released Free as Thieves at TT’s…
Sarah Rabdau & Self Employed Assassins’ set for TT’s 40th Anniversary was captivating. Throw in a a cover of The Sugarcubes’ “Birthday” and you have a performance to remember.
I’m just a cat!
I’m just a cat!
I’m just a cat and I like it like that!
Remember those lyrics. The crowd at The Middle East Downstairs for the 2012 edition of One Night Band certainly will. Big Head Big Ears* (Aaron Silverstein, Candace Clement, Nicholas Ward, Peter Moore and Rice Edmonston) put together a mini rock opera with an unexpected twist that made for one of my favorite moments of the night.
* Like SNUGGLZ, Big Head Big Ears named themselves after the kitty pic they used to find their band mates earlier in the day.
One Night Band 4 is tonight! That means we’ve got 8 brand new bands scattered around the city writing songs and learning covers for the big show. Once again I was lucky enough to get to shoot the official photos for a few of the acts.* This year we got some classic brick wall action going. Here’s a sneak peek at some of what you’ll see tonight at the Middle East Downstairs!
Big Head Big Ears
Candace Clement, Rice Edmonston, Nicholas Ward, Peter Moore, Aaron Silverstein
Grandfather Time Bomb
Walter Sickert, Jared Egan, Caroline Toth, Evelyn Pope, Annie Hoffman
Lesbian Frankenstein
Molly Zenobia, Steven Lord, Dave Stoops, Bryan Hinkley
* Mary Flatley took the rest. I’m sure they’ll pop up soon. Keep an eye out.
Parlour Bells
“Airwaves”
2012
There’s a big show at The Paradise on Saturday night. Some former WFNX DJs are putting together an event to celebrate the WFNX that was.* Parlour Bells are on the bill for good reason. They are a band that has always championed radio as being essential to the local music scene, even in a time of readily available digital downloads and internet streaming. They are tireless supporters of Boston Emissions, Boston Accents and any other radio program devoting time to playing Boston artists. They even performed on the resurrected WBCN rock bus. I believe Glenn DiBenedetto when he sings “now my radio dial is missing two front teeth.” He means it.
“Airwaves” is a sentimental reflection on the state of Boston radio in June of 2012. It strikes a chord by revealing the emotion of a specific time and place. “Airwaves” is a song about how fans of Boston radio feel right now. It’s immediate. You can’t listen to Nate Leavitt’s delay drenched guitars and not be reminded of the countless U2 radio anthems broadcast by both of our recently departed rock radio stations. It’s a consoling echo. I’d be lying if I said the song wasn’t playing in my head last night as I lay in bed. The sound of the Metropolitan Chorale** was ringing in my ears as prepared for a new day.
Where to get it:
You can also watch a mini-documentary on the making of “Airwaves” right here.
* See what I did with the link there? Garvy J And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance are part of the show, too.
** Kerri-Ann Richard, Richard Bouchard, Anngelle Wood, Michael Marotta, Chris Mulvey, Lisa Libera, Leesa Coyne, Adam Ritchie, Rishava Green, Matt King, Michael J. Epstein, Sophia Cacciola, Jessica Sun Lee, Adam Anderson, Michael Gonzales, Ken Marcou, Tom Roppelt, Joel Edinberg, Rachel Blumenthal, Sarah Rabdau, Peter Moore and Dan Nicklin all lend their voices to the song.
Broken Wings wrote all of the big hits of the ’80s. I just never realized it. Funny how that happens…
Wait. Something’s not right. Maybe this is all an elaborate hoax. Those accents don’t seem entirely authentic. Hmmm. Either way, it’s good fun.
John Powhida International Airport closed out opening night at Radio. J-Po brought along an entirely different flight crew since the last time I saw him.* One thing remains constant**; you can’t swing a funny bunny on stage at a JPX show without hitting a talented musician.
Also worth noting: Radio is awesome! Congrats to everyone who helped get the place off the ground (including owners Aimee McGrath and Josh Banville and booking agent Ashley Willard).
* Come to think of it, both Rudds shows I’ve seen this year had entirely different line-ups.
** You know, besides Mr. Powhida himself. So I guess two things. Oh, and the songs. Three things. Everything else changed, though. I think. I’m not so sure anymore.
Count Zero are quirky, eccentric and a little bit zany. In honor of Ad Frank And The Fast Easy Women’s final show, they even did a cover of “The Cuddle” with Fast Easy Woman Sarah Rabdau. Nice touch.
