Tag: T.T. The Bear’s Place

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Uke Springsteen @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.27.2011

Uke Springsteen is equal parts genius and playful madness. It’s hard to imagine an artist whose songs are less likely to get a lighthearted ukulele treatment than Bruce Springsteen. The earnestness of his songs seems almost insurmountable, yet Pat Healey manages to deliver them tongue firmly in cheek. So does D.A., his charismatic boombox and sidekick.

Through it all, the original sentiments of the songs remain intact. “Atlantic City” still comes across as a desperate tale of a man down-on-his-luck, even with D.A.’s playful interjections and a Casio beat. “Dancing In The Dark” becomes even more of a lustful plea. It’s all thoroughly entertaining.



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The Shods @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.22.2011

This was The Shods’ second appearance in a Rumble Finals. Most bands aren’t so lucky.

The first time, back in 1999, The Sheila Divine won it all. I wasn’t there that night, but I can almost guarantee that there were many in attendance who felt The Shods were robbed. It happens every year. Such is The Rumble.

In 2011, The Shods returned to The Rumble Finals. This time, Anngelle Wood brought them back as the special guest band. Good call, Anngelle.* A raucous and rowdy set from The Shods was a great way to end a Rumble that truly was a celebration of Boston rock ‘n’ roll.



*Seriously, how great of a job did Anngelle Wood do putting this thing together? It boggles the mind.

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Spirit Kid @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.22.2011

Once again I find myself posting about Spirit Kid in the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. This time Emeen and his gang are in the Finals.  Once again they’re great.  I covered their wild card winning set from Preliminary Night #3. I also praised their fantastic Semi-Final set. Now I’m supposed to find new ways to tell you about the amazing Spirit Kid? No más.

Look, Spirit Kid has more hooks than Gamakatsu International. I’m not going to sit here and blather on about them for the third time in a week and a half just to hear the click-clackery of my keyboard. Just go hit up their Bandcamp page and download this damn near perfect single.

You’re welcome.



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John Powhida International Airport @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.22.2011

What does a Rumble winning set sound like in the year 2011?

Well, during John Powhida International Airport’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Finals set someone from Boston Band Crush posted the following Facebook update:

“Does anyone else think John Powhida is from another planet?”

Now, most of my alien rock music experience comes from Gwar. Locally we’ve got Planetoid living among us. What about Mr. Powhida? Could J-Po be from another planet?

I think the BBC folks may be onto something. There’s just too much crazy goodness going on in a John Powhida International Airport set for it to be of human origin. J-Po’s previous outfit, The Rudds, was a pretty kick-ass rock band.  Here, the kick-assity remains, but it’s infused with synthesizers, danceable grooves and a healthy dose of insanity.  It sounds crazy.  It is crazy.  But it works. It works beautifully.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, you may be wondering what a Rumble winning set looks like in the year 2011. See below…



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OldJack @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.22.2011

Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes (like say, once every 32 years) you lose, but you still get to keep playing because of a previously scheduled gig at a clam shack.

Such was the case with OldJack’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble run.

Look, life doesn’t always go as planned. It’s what you do with second chances like these that defines you. OldJack used theirs to cook up a semi-final set that was good enough to land them in the finals.

That’s where we caught up with the band. OldJack opened the 2011 finals with a blistering set. Dan Nicklin and his gang poured their hearts and souls onto T.T.’s stage until the room felt like it would burst. They were taking nothing for granted. They showed why they were there. OldJack showed, once again, that they are one of the best bands around.

Pay attention boys and girls, this is how you do it…



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Mellow Bravo @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.14.2011

Mellow Bravo played their Rumble semi-final set as if it was their last ever. I suspect they play all of their shows this way.

What a fun band. I wouldn’t doubt that Mellow Bravo fans think the band has a middle name. I, for one, found myself muttering “Mellow F’n Bravo” underneath my breath more than once throughout their supercharged set.  The band was firing on all cylinders, and singer Keith Pierce was their spark plug. Jeffery Fultz and Andrew Doherty channeled every classic rock guitar riff they’ve ever heard.   Dave Jarvis on drums and Seager Tennis on bass kept things moving along with reckless abandon.  Jess Collins helped make the whole thing gel on keys.  She also happened to explode when they put a microphone in her hand and gave her center stage.

Semi-Final Night #1 of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble was one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. Spirit Kid won the night, but any of the bands could have moved on given a different set of judges or a groundhog seeing his shadow or what have you. Mellow Bravo, Sidewalk Driver, and Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling (and Spirit Kid, of course) were just that good.  What an awesome night.



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Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.14.2011

Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling are raw power and emotion. Dark clouds and heavy winds set forth from the stage as the band pounds its way through their Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Semi-Final set. Boom! Thwack! Thump! Bzzz! Roar! Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling!

They hold nothing back.



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Sidewalk Driver @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.14.2011

The morning after Semi-Final Night #1 of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble I found myself in my kitchen trying to describe the night to my son. He’s 4 years old. For several minutes I told him about platform boots, confetti cannons, playing guitar behind your head, layers of outrageous costumes, facial adornments, winged shirts and glitter. I told my wife about the witty and outrageously infectious songs.

“The singer, Tad, wore a little hat… and he shot confetti out of the hat!” I explained excitedly.

There was a brief pause while my son took it all in.

“Tell me again.” he implored.

“About the hat? Sure, he had this little hat…”

“No.” He took a break from eating his waffle to clarify. “The whole thing. The part about the shoes and the shirt. Tell me the whole thing again.”

I patiently described everything I had witnessed the night before for a second time.

I waited for some kind of reaction. His nearly five year old brain was working hard, trying to formulate some kind of response. Finally it came.

“Is this real?”

Yup. It’s real. It’s called Sidewalk Driver.