Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
The Susan Constant has something special going on right now. They kicked off a four three band bill at The Middle East last Thursday. Boston’s favorite band named after the largest ship of the English Virginia Company had the songs and the presence to get the night going full speed ahead in a hurry.
Old Soldiers Of The Prairie War churned out a set of gritty Americana-tinged rock n’ roll at The Middle East.
The music of Brian Carpenter And The Confessions rises from the fields at night. Drifting through the cracks of the drafty farmhouse, it hangs in the cobwebs and catches the light of the harvest moon.
Black Fortress Of Opium wove a beautiful tapestry of sound that draped The Middle East stage in intricate textures. It was a perfect backdrop for the haunting melodies that danced about the room.
OK, technically Seabrook Power Plant are from Brooklyn. Normally I wouldn’t post about a Brooklyn band here, but I feel compelled to write this for a couple of reasons. First, I think the drummer lives around here. That sorta justifies it for me. The other reason is that this was one of the craziest things I’ve seen in a long time. I’m pretty sure that was the sound your brain hears right before you go for a naked tractor ride high on bath salts. It was bananas.
I always enjoy seeing Spirit Kid. I’m a sucker for a well crafted pop song, and these cats have ’em in spades.
After catching Sidewalk Driver opening for The B-52s* at the House Of Blues, I rushed over to the Kenmore Square T stop in an effort to get to The Middle East in time to catch The Russians. You’d be hard pressed to find a band in town with better songs than Scott Janovitz and his cohorts. It had been a long time since I’d had a chance to catch one of their sets. I needed a fix.
I walked into the Middle East Upstairs during the band’s second song. It was dark. Really dark. A couple of those fake candles they put on the tables in restaurants would have provided more light than the club’s red stage lights. It fit the music, I suppose. The songs came off a little darker and heavier tonight. “Not So Loud” packed a particular punch. The Russians covering Elliott’s Smith’s “Bottle Up And Explode” is certainly something I wouldn’t mind hearing more often. The band even debuted a new song, which is the best thing Scott Janovitz has ever written. At least I hope so. He threatened to break up the band if it wasn’t. So, it was. This world needs The Russians.
* Bikini Whale was better.
Mötörböat. I took one look at this lineup (Dave Jarvis, Leesa Coyne, Rodrigo Van Stoli, Meff and Wayne Whittaker) and I knew what was going to happen. A lot of One Night Bands go for a theme. I imagine this would make the day’s daunting task ever so slightly more manageable. Near as I can tell, Mötörböat’s theme was rocking the hell out…
