The Middle East Downstairs – Page 6

June 27, 2013June 27, 2013

White Dynomite @ The Middle East Downstairs 6.19.2013

OK, let’s get something clear. Not only am I a huge fan of the music we’ve got coming out of Boston, but I’m a junkie for high octane rock ‘n’ roll from Sweden. As soon as I heard about the Imperial State Electric show at The Middle East, I freaked out and frantically snatched up tickets. Not only would I get to see a band I never thought I’d get the chance to see live^*, but there were three Boston openers ready to give ’em a run for their money.

White Dynomite got things started on a night that would be full-tilt from start to finish. These guys are too much fun.

^* Oh, and they were amazing.

September 20, 2012

Mötörböat @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

Last year, One Night Band 2 alumni Bedss came out to shut down One Night Band 3 with a ~~drunken~~ rousing rendition of “Cum On Feel The Noize.” This year, the ~~drunken~~ rowdy sing-along tradition continued. Mötörböat rocked the hell out at last year’s event. They returned to the scene of the crime to close out the 4th edition of this treasured Boston institution. Mötörböat tore through a couple of their original tunes like they had firecrackers in their pants. Then a cast of thousands^* got up on stage to end the night with a ~~drunken~~ spirited cover of “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

Mötörböat @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

^* OK, a cast of tens. This included One Night Band participants past and present, organizers and, well, just about anyone else who wanted to jump on stage.

September 19, 2012

Grandfather Time Bomb @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

The last of the year’s new crop of one night bands was Grandfather Time Bomb. Annie Hoffman, Caroline Toth, Evelyn Pope, Jared Egan and Walter Sickert formed a group with a sinister undercurrent. It was a flash of dark rock on a bright night for Boston rock. One Night Band 4 birthed eight new bands, raised more than $3000 for good causes^* and still had one more surprise to come…

Grandfather Time Bomb @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

^* Zumix and Girls Rock Campaign Boston!

September 18, 2012

Caress @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

Sir Vix-A-Lot wasn’t the only gender-homogenous act of One Night Band 4. When the ladies were done, it was up to the gentlemen in Caress (Jay Allen, Matt Parish, Nate Rogers, Todd Sampson and Will Dailey) to pump up the volume. They made Christian Slater proud.

Caress @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

September 17, 2012

Sir Vix-A-Lot @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

More than just a celebration of Boston rock’s finest shuffling the deck for the night, One Night Band is also about raising money for good causes. This year, one of those good causes was Girls Rock Campaign Boston.^* When the cards were dealt, One Night Band 4 fittingly gave us our first all-female outfit. Chris Toppin, Elena Siegman, Melanie Bernier, Nazli Green and Theresa Polk formed Sir Vix-A-Lot, a band that provided one of the night’s most memorable songs. I won’t spoil it for you. Just go watch this video.

Sir Vix-A-Lot @ The Middle East Dwnstairs 9.8.2012

^* This year’s event raised more than $3,000, which goes to Girls Rock Campaign Boston and Zumix.

September 17, 2012

Impossible Stairs @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

One Night Band is always full of surprises. At some point in the night a band may take the stage that has you feeling like you’ve been tricked. A band that just sounds like a band, with no further description needed. A band that plays you their tunes and closes their set with a Cheap Trick cover. Why? Because it rocks. We had one of those bands at One Night Band 4 courtesy of Abram Taber, Eric Ramsley, Josh Pickering, Sharon Crumrine and Ted Billings. Impossible Stairs…

Impossible Stairs @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

September 14, 2012

The Walls @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

People were excited about The Walls for a lot of reasons. For me it was one: guitarmony.

You see, Thin Lizzy came on the radio during my morning car ride into Central Square (to shoot some of the One Night Band promo photos). With “Cowboy Song” stuck in my head, I struck up a conversation with Adam Andersen about my hope that one of the bands about to be formed would try to pull off harmonized guitar lines during One Night Band 4. Lucky me, The Walls did just that. Now, I’m not trying to take credit for this joyous turn of events,^* but this was my favorite part of their stellar set. It was either that or Aaron Perrino and Mariam Saleh’s awesome vocals. Or maybe Kyle Rasmussen’s kinetic drumming. Or the way Aaron, Adam, Mariam and the ever-versatile Rafi Sofer wove their stringed instruments into a textured sonic fabric.

Hmmm. It was one of those things, anyway.

The Walls @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

^* I totally am.

September 14, 2012

Lesbian Frankenstein @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

Due to a work emergency, Lesbian Frankenstein (Bryan Hinkley, Dave Stoops, Molly Zenobia and Steven Lord) became the first One Night Band quartet. Rising to the challenge, this four-piece cooked up one of the most eclectic sets of the evening.

Lesbian Frankenstein @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.8.2012

October 6, 2011

The Bedss @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.24.2011

File this one under: But wait, there’s more!

Just when you thought One Night Band 3 had come to an end, Ashley Willard^* came out to inform us there was one more act. Get ready for “Cum On Feel The Noize”^** as performed by The Bedss, One Night Band class of 2010. Well, most of The Bedss. And some other folks. A whole stage full of One Night Banders. Some of them may have been drinking.

^* VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Ashley Willard, Richard Bouchard and the whole crew at Boston Band Crush did an amazing job putting this thing together and raising $2,700 for Zumix. If I was wearing Richard Bouchard’s hat I would tip it to them all.

^** I think. This is open to interpretation.

October 6, 2011

Makeitso @ The Middle East Downstairs 9.24.2011

Makeitso was the final (new) band of One Night Band 3. Brendan Haley, Andrew Doherty, Dave Mirabella, Ken Marcou and Jim Gerdermen certainly rose to occasion. Three cool originals and a spot on rendition of Loverboy’s “Workin’ For The Weekend”, you know, except for the tight red pants.