Brace yourself, Boston. There’s gonna be rock ‘n’ roll all over you Friday night.

There’s a show I’d like to go to just about every night somewhere in this town. Some nights it can be tough to choose just one. Friday night is going to be impossible. Fourteen lovable Daykamp Music alumni will be taking the stage at five different area venues on October 17th. My brain is melting. What to do? Let’s see if we can figure this out together.

The last time White Dynomite and The Field Effect played together was one heck of a show.
The last time White Dynomite and The Field Effect played together was one heck of a show.

Let’s start at The Middle East Upstairs for a very good cause. Township, White Dynomite, The Field Effect and Triple Thick will be there for Crash Safely along with Animal Hospital. That’s alotta rock, with the money raised going to support The National MS Society. (FB Event)

Cask Mouse are doing it for the animals.
Cask Mouse are doing it for the animals.

Maybe you want to do good with your show-going dollars, but that show isn’t your thing? You could always head next door to TT’s for the latest installment of the Boston Does Boston benefit for the Animal Rescue League Of Boston. Cask Mouse, The Rationales, The Daily Pravda, Muy Cansado and The Fatal Flaw will be joined by Dave Crespo’s After Party at that one. (FB Event)

Doom Lover look harmless, but they'll kill you and immortalize you in song.
Doom Lover look harmless, but they’ll kill you and immortalize you in song.

If you’re caught up in the Boston Music Awards buzz and want to check out New Artist Of The Year nominee The Color And The Sound, then Church is the place for you. Bonus time! Doom Lover are on that bill, too. Daykamp Music loves them, but we secretly worry they’re plotting our demise. At least they’ll write a creepy-cool song about it. (FB Event)

Answerman eats PAs. I mean Answerman *at* PA's.
Answerman eats PAs. I mean Answerman *at* PA’s.

How about Answerman and Barricades at PA’s with Go Blank and Emergency Exit? Couldn’t fault you for that one, either. (FB Event)

Just another ordinary Gondoliers show.
Just another ordinary Gondoliers show.

If you can’t find something to like in one of those shows, there’s nothing I can do for you. Oh wait! Yes there is! You can go see Gondoliers at Cuisine en Locale with Shepherdess and Planet Of Adventure. This show is being filmed. I can’t even image what Gondoliers have up their sleeves. I can’t wait to see. (FB Event)

Crash Safely poster by Nicole Anguish of Daykamp Creative.
Crash Safely poster by Nicole Anguish of Daykamp Creative.

There are now over 600 videos on Daykamp Music TV to help carry you to the weekend.

Let’s pretend it’s Friday and you don’t feel like working because you’re totally fried and you just need a break and hey you know what would be cool what if you could watch like 600 videos in a row wouldn’t that be awesome?

Yes. Yes it would. May I humbly suggest you head on over to Daykamp Music TV and click the play button. There you will be dazzled by over 600 videos from local artists. You shan’t be disappointed. Here are half a dozen snappy numbers to help get you to the weekend. This is a mere 1/100th of the total videos! Think of all the time you could kill on this thing…

White Dynomite - "White Dynomite"
White Dynomite – “White Dynomite”
The Color And Sound - "Graves"
The Color And Sound – “Graves”
Mean Creek - "Cool Town"
Mean Creek – “Cool Town”
Letter To Cleo - "Awake"
Letter To Cleo – “Awake”
Mellow Bravo - "Ridin"
Mellow Bravo – “Ridin”
SPF 5000 - "Make Love To Me"
SPF 5000 – “Make Love To Me”

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.

I Went To Every Night Of The 2013 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble And All I Got Were These 799 Pictures*

A well deserved celebration.
A well deserved celebration.

The 2013 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble is in the books. This one won’t soon be forgotten. Anngelle Wood did a tremendous job. The Rumble requires gargantuan effort to pull together under ideal circumstances. This year? The way Angelle, Richard Bouchard, Kerri-Ann Richard and the rest of the Rumble crew navigated this Boston institution through uncharted waters was commendable. A careful balance of tact, compassion, flexibility and understanding the need for normalcy made the Rumble whole. I’m glad I got to be there.

Congratulations to Eddie Japan on their 2013 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble win! They were stellar in every round, never taking a single moment up on the TT’s stage for granted. Thanks to all 24 bands that participated. The talent in this city is inspiring. You kept me thoroughly entertained, even when I wasn’t sure I wanted to be.

I hope I was able to capture some of those special Rumble moments…

Finals:
Eddie Japan (2013 Rumble Winner)
Glenn Yoder And The Western States
Twin Berlin
The Dogmatics (Special Guest)

Eddie Japan are the 2013 Rock 'N' Roll Rumble Champs.
Eddie Japan are the 2013 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Champs.

Semifinals:
Camden
The Daily Pravda
Eddie Japan (Semifinal Night #2 Winner)
Lifestyle
The New Highway Hymnal
Twin Berlin (Wildcard)
White Dynomite
Glenn Yoder And The Western States (Semifinal Night #1 Winner)

Lifestyle had people dancing in the Semifinals.
Lifestyle had people dancing in the Semifinals.

Preliminaries:
Blackbutton
Camden (Prelim Night #2 Winner)
Cancer Killing Gemini
Coyote Kolb
The Daily Pravda (Prelim Night #6 Winner)
The Deep North
Eddie Japan (Prelim Night #3 Winner)
Endation
The Field Effect
Ruby Rose Fox
Herra Terra
Jack Burton Vs. David Lo Pan
Lifestyle (Prelim Night #4 Winner)
Mount Peru
The New Highway Hymnal (Prelim Night #1 Winner)
The Okay Win
Parks
The Suicide Dolls
Supermachine
Twin Berlin (Wildcard)
Velah
Whitcomb
White Dynomite (Prelim Night #5 Winner)
Glenn Yoder And The Western States (Wildcard)

White Dynomite's set in the Prelims won't soon be forgotten.
White Dynomite’s set in the Prelims won’t soon be forgotten. I’m still finding feathers in my camera bag.

* Oh, and a t-shirt from Audio Cotton.

Random Rumble Ramblings: 2013 (Part III)

Anngelle and the gang have done it again.
Anngelle and the gang have done it again.

The 2013 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble is drawing to a close. We’re 32 sets deep into this thing. Glenn Yoder And The Western States, Eddie Japan and Twin Berlin (wildcard) will square off in the final round tomorrow night at TT’s. The Dogmatics are the special guest band. This is going to be good. Before you head out, here are a couple of quick thoughts on the Semifinals.

Not Their First Rodeo

Glenn Yoder And The Western States have done this before.
Glenn Yoder And The Western States have done this before.

There was a lot of past Rumble experience taking the stage on Semifinal Night #1. Glenn Yoder And The Western States, White Dynomite, The Daily Pravda and Lifestyle all had at least one member that had been through the ringer before. They combined for more than 20 previous Rumble appearances. You knew everyone was going to be at their best before the night even began.

Experience Vs And Youth

Is this Twin Berlin and the crowd or the crowd and Twin Berlin?
Is this Twin Berlin and the crowd or the crowd and Twin Berlin?

On Semifinal Night #2, only members of Eddie Japan had Rumbled before. It paid off for them. They won the night. The first timers had a pretty good showing as well. Camden and The New Highway Hymnal both put on great shows. Closing out the night, Twin Berlin earned themselves a spot in the final round as the wildcard with a band/crowd blurring set.

Cover Me

Lifestyle covered Ad Frank And The Fast Easy Women. I was happy.
Lifestyle covered Ad Frank And The Fast Easy Women. I was happy.

One of my favorite moments of this year’s event came when Ad Frank took the mic during Lifestyle’s set to cover himself. The band launched into the old Ad Frank And The Fast Easy Women* tune “Winterthru.” It was amazing.

Fun With Numbers

Eddie Japan played first and wore a lot of ties.
Eddie Japan played first and wore a lot of ties.

  • We’re number one: Both of the Semifinal winners (Glenn Yoder And The Western States / Eddie Japan) were the first band to compete on their night.
  • Lucky thirteen: The Semifinals featured thirteen band members that had participated in a previous Rumble.
  • Eight way tie: 8 performers in this year’s semifinal round donned ties for the occasion. Last year there was only one.**

Play Me Out

There were some great song in the Semis. Here are a few of them. Come on out to the Finals tomorrow night at TT’s!





* 2004 Rumble

** Tim Scholl of Thick Shakes

Random Rumble Ramblings: 2013 (Part II)

Anngelle will get us rumbling again.
Anngelle will get us rumbling again.

OK. It’s time. Let’s talk about the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. The 2013 prelims are in the books. The semifinal round will be held at TT’s on Thursday (Glenn Yoder and the Western States (wildcard) / White Dynomite / The Daily Pravda / Lifestyle) and Friday (Twin Berlin (wildcard) / The New Highway Hymnal / Camden / Eddie Japan). For now, here are a few quick thoughts on the second half of the prelims.

Old Favorites

The Field Effect. Love these guys.
The Field Effect. Love these guys.

The Field Effect and White Dynomite squared off in a Battle Royale on Friday night. These were two of my favorite performances of the whole shebang. White Dynomite prevailed. Another favorite was The Daily Pravda’s winning set. Ruby Rose Fox put on one heck of a show that same night. Lifestyle took their night with after providing “the grossest Rumble moment” ever.*

New Faces

Parks are good. Real good.
Parks are good. Real good.

I had never seen Parks before, but I felt like I knew them so well. I love their first two singles. I’ve seen each of them play in other bands. No surprise that I walked away eager to see them again. Whitcomb and Jack Burton vs. David Lo Pan were the two heaviest bands in this year’s Rumble. They both captured the spirit of the event and had me pulling for them. Coyote Kolb and The Suicide Dolls contributed to a stellar Friday night lineup. Mount Peru made some beautiful music. Twin Berlin rocked their own pants off and earned a wildcard spot.

Chicken or Egg or Feather?

White Dynomite beered and feathered the late-night crowd.
White Dynomite fired up the late-night crowd.

Earlier in the week, it seemed like the crowd may have been experiencing some fatigue as each night wore on. Not so in the second half. The late-night crowds became much more animated as the weekend approached. In fact, all of the bands that played last on their respective nights advanced (White Dynomite and The Daily Pravda with wins, Twin Berlin with the wildcard). Night #4 winner, Lifestyle, came from the number 3 slot. Did the bands drive the crowd or did the crowd drive the bands? Who cares? It was a blast.

Fun With Numbers

Mount Peru were one of the magnificent seven.
Mount Peru were one one the magnificent seven.

  • Seven and Seven: There were two acts with 7 members on stage during the second half of the week.**
  • Fours and Fives: There were 4 quartets and 5 quintents. That worked out nicely.
  • I Can’t Count That High: Feathers.

Play Me Out

Let’s go anywhere but home normally sounds like fun. Right now, home seems good, though. I think The Field Effect would agree. Here are a few of the songs rocking my brain after the second half of the Rumble Prelims. See you at the Semis.





* Those were Sean T. Drinkwater’s own words regarding his onstage demulletization. I tend to agree with him.

** Mount Peru and Ruby Rose Fox