My last photographic gasp of 2015 fixed its gaze upon the wonders of Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys supporting the DCF Kids Fund at Once.
Black Friday is still terrible. Supporting local art isn’t.
It’s Black Friday. Black Friday is still terrible. Supporting local art isn’t. Here’s a quick list of alternative ways to spend your hard earned dollars than fighting crowds at the chain stores.
- Pick up some new music from a local band. The Sheila Divine, Goddamn Draculas, Party Bois, Worshipper and Weakened Friends have all put out amazing music in the past few months that is worth listening to on endless repeat.
- Help art get made! Abbie Barrett and Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys are making new records. I’m sure they’d appreciate your support.
- Did you know the design and illustration arm of the Daykamp Empire has an Etsy store? You can pick up show posters, art prints and even holiday cards!
- Save your money for the ROCKIN FLEA MARKET + BLOODY MARY BASH! Bridget Haley will have crocheted tacos. They’re amazing. Just don’t eat them.
If you do go out to the stores today, think about keeping it local. Oh, and pick up something for Anngelle Wood’s Spectacular Gift Drive for DCF Kids Fund.
Walter Sickert And The Army of Broken Toys – “Where’s Your Ghost” (2015)
Walter Sickert And The Army of Broken Toys
“Where’s Your Ghost”
2015
Walter Sickert And The Army of Broken Toys are masters of the haunting and ethereal. “Where’s Your Ghost” is the first single off the band’s upcoming 3rd album, Come Black Magic. The steamcrunk Pixies delicately balance the harmonic and discordant on this slow-burner. All the plodding tension built by accordion and viola swells eventually spills over into a saturated wall of beautiful distortion. Glorious.
Where to get it:
Halloween is nearly here. Watch these ten videos and be filled with fear.
Halloween is upon us. If you need help getting into the spirit of the season, maybe these spooky videos will help. Can’t get enough local videos? Head on over to Daykamp Music TV and watch over 750 of ’em. Now, please don’t leave a flaming bag of poop on my doorstep.
Beware The Dangers Of A Ghost Scorpion! – “Planet Slime”
The Longwalls – “Zombies!”
Endation – “Staab”
Darling Pet Munkee – “Genuine Soil From Dracula’s Castle”
The Lady Comes First – “The Last Temptation of Shoney Lamar”
The TeleVibes – “DMT”
Moe Pope and Rain – “Annie Mulz”
Vary Lumar – “Murderer”
Gozu – “Bald Bull”
Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys – “The Sharp Mouth and the Toilet Vampire”
Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 (2013)
Various Artists
Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2
2013
Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 is out. It’s 26 tracks of Boston bands covering each other to raise money for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Read all about it right here. This is my first time through the collection. I’ve been waiting to listen until I had time to go end-to-end all at once. I’m jotting down some notes. Let’s see what happens…
- “Get Away” (Township covering Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents) – Hell, yes! I love the original. This version is just Township doing their thing. We’re off to a good start.
- “Bright” (Will Dailey covering Reverse) – Yes and yes. The original sings with supersaturated glory. This version kicks back. Perfect.
- “True Star” (Reverse covering I, Pistol) – Reverse gets a cool groove going on this I, Pistol tune. Sweet harmonies and guitar lines. Three songs in and this collection is blowing my mind a bit.
- “Amylee” (I, Pistol covering The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library) – When in doubt, rock it out. Especially when it sounds this natural.
- “A Madness To His Method” (The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library covering Gene Dante & the Future Starlets) – The “watch me falling down” parts on this version sound really good.
- “Trainwreck” (Gene Dante & The Future Starlets covering Miss Fairchild) – Everything Gene Dante touches is delightfully seedy. This cover is no exception.
- “Costumes” (Miss Fairchild covering Mr. Vertigo) – Tremolicious.
- “Sleeping Alone” (Mr. Vertigo covering The Field Effect) – A modern-rock-radio-ready take on a stripped back Field Effect tune.
- “The Sun Shines” (The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver) – Come on. The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver? Do you know me? Thank you Boston Does Boston.
- “Straitjacket” (Sidewalk Driver covering The Luxury) – Sidewalk Driver make magic. When the boy/girl vocals meet up with the bop-baddas, good things happen.
- “Infinity Minor” (The Luxury covering Ted Billings) – Meticulously layered and melodic.
- “Celebrate” (Ted Billings covering Garvy J.) – A spunked up and stripped down take on the Garvy J. anthem.
- “Pavement Prophet” (Garvy J. covering Sarah Rabdau and Self-Employed Assassins) – Subtly glorious. Shrouded in mystery and synthesizers.
- “Rian” (Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents covering Township) – Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents return the favor, turning a Township tune into one of their own. Geez. These cats are good.
- “No God in Massachusetts” (Sarah Rabdau & Self-Employed Assassins covering Dead Cats Dead Rats) – Whoa. That was unexpected. Sarah turned herself inside out without losing sight of who she is. Impressive.
- “On Fire” (Dead Cats Dead Rats covering The Lights Out) – Blistering take on an already rippin’ tune.
- “Atom Bomb” (The Lights Out covering Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys) – There’s still some grit under the nails, but steamcrunk cleans up nicely. Nice pairing.
- “The Ladder” (Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys covering Black Thai) – Still heavy. Possessed vocal. Possessed viola.
- “Less Talk, More Rokk” (Black Thai covering Freezepop) – Yes, yes, yes and more yes! Black Thai slay the synth-pop giant.
- “Sweater Weather” (Freezepop covering Parks) – Look, a perfect pop song is a perfect pop song, OK? Proof.
- “Badfinger Bridge” (Parks covering Corin Ashley) – A natural pairing with a lovely bouquet.
- “Marigold” (Corin Ashley covering The Curtain Society) – I’m not familiar with the original, but this version is lovely.
- “Birds Fly Information” (The Curtain Society covering Here We Just Dream) – Poppy. Trippy. Melodic. Great guitar solo.
- “The Most Beautiful Thing” (Here We Just Dream covering Sarah Blacker) – There are a lot of nice, subtle touches in this one.
- “Whiskey” (Three Day Threshold covering Nemes) – Three Day Threshold singing about whiskey? Shocking.
- “Kindness” (Nemes covering Will Dailey) – Impressive shared vocals and a wonderful sentiment. Nice way to end the comp.
Yeah, so this is great. All you have to do now is download this thing and enjoy it yourself. Oh, and maybe check out one of the live events happening this weekend.
Where to get it:
400? 200? Whatever’s cool with me.
Guess what. Daykamp Music TV is now playing more than 400 videos from 200 artists. Pretty cool, right?
Maybe you want to see some of the Boston Music Awards nominees for Video of the Year? They’re in there. Check out the work of Kingsley Flood, Mean Creek and Parlour Bells. You won’t regret it.
What else? We’ve got the new ones from Parks, Walter Sickert & The Army Of Broken Toys and Coke Weed. We’ve got old vids from Juliana Hatfield and Cold Water Flat. We’ve even got new and old videos from today’s Video of the Day artist, Dinosaur Jr. Whatever’s cool with me.
Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys @ Redstar Union 9.19.2013
Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys brought steamcrunk to Redstar Union. There was even a special collaboration with Tad from Sidewalk Driver.
Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys @ Brighton Music Hall 3.23.2013
Everything Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys do is big. Every show is an event. So what did they do for the release of their Soft Time Traveler album? They went even bigger and more event-y, of course. Have a look…
Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys @ Brighton Music Hall 10.31.2012
Walter Sickert And The Army Of Broken Toys @ Brighton Music Hall 3.16.2012
Walter Sickert and his traveling band of SteamCrunk gypsies make their way to the stage. It has already been an eclectic and memorable evening. Black Thai overpowered us with their thunderous roll. Sidewalk Driver made us a sandwich. Planetoid tried to power their spaceship with our souls and/or melt our faces — which is a better fate than Mary Widow and her seductress companions wished upon us. Now we’re being tipped on end by sights and sounds as varied as the night is long. The Army Of Broken Toys are putting their musical and physical wares on display in an attempt to bring the crowd under their spell. We tumble along, once again avoiding the grasp of Mary Widow as “Ghostbusters” rings through the rafters…