http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress random thoughts and stuff of varying degrees of importance... Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:06:24 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_7847" align="alignnone" width="500" caption=" "][/caption] Black Taxi at Tommy Doyle's, 96 Winthrop Street, Cambridge (Harvard Square) TONIGHT (Friday, January 20) 21+ / 8pm / $5 or FREE before 9:30pm Late notice on this one, but infectiously poppy and danceable Black Taxi, hailing from Brooklyn, New York, are at Tommy Doyle's tonight. ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2012/01/black-taxi-pulls-up-to-tommy-doyles-tonight/ Etta James is a legendary artist who crossed the boundaries of blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll, gospel, soul and jazz, having released 28 studio albums in her 50-year career. Sadly, she's been terminally ill, and news just broke today of her passing. The lovely video below of "Misty Blue" is ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2012/01/remembering-etta-james/ [caption id="attachment_7833" align="alignnone" width="500" caption=" "][/caption] On their debut EP Noisemaker (released Dec 13 of last year), Boston band The Dirty Hit give a very nice sampling of their eclectic and far-reaching sound. There's the noisy garage fun of "Romero" and "Back To You" (though both have melodic elements), the ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2012/01/introducing-the-dirty-hit-and-their-ep-noisemaker/ As a music blogger, I'd like to weigh in on this pending legislation that has burst suddenly into public consciousness. My "mission" here is to support artists who are still in the early stages of their careers (ok, and a few of my favorites), who rely on the internet to ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2012/01/the-sopaprotect-ip-debate/ [caption id="attachment_7791" align="alignnone" width="500" caption=" "][/caption] In these fledgling days of the newly spawned year, I can't help but be philosophical (in my typically snarky way), and wonder what 2012 will bring. My god... 2012. New age refugees have been talking about the significance of this particular year, with its ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2012/01/those-pesky-mayans/ [caption id="attachment_7779" align="alignnone" width="382" caption="Three of the four amazing bands to be gracing the \'stage\' (such as it is) at the Lizard Lounge tonight - Black Fortress of Opium, Marc Pinansky, and The Fatal Flaw."][/caption] Black Fortress of Opium with St. Helena, The Fatal Flaw, and Marc Pinansky (of Township) at ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2012/01/an-amazing-show-at-the-lizard-lounge-saturday-night/ Yeah, I didn't quite make it in time; sorry about that. A very happy 65th birthday to Mr. David Bowie, and a little nostalgia below for the old folks. It all seems so long ago... it WAS so long ago! First time I saw Bowie: July 15, 1983, at the ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2012/01/happy-birthday-david/ [caption id="attachment_7722" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="Levon Helm, Crooked Fingers, Toyah Willcox with The Humans"][/caption] Ok, so last year I had a 'Top 10' list. What can I say; 2011 was kind of a struggle. But I did discover a common theme for this year's favorites: delivering a stellar performance in the face ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2011/12/best-shows-of-2011-my-top-5-personal-favorites/ Happy final day of 2011. Here's my favorite performance at the BMAs - a scorching set courtesy of The Wandas. So wonderful! Definitely see these guys, if you have the chance. http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2011/12/the-wandas-at-the-boston-music-awards-nov-20-2011/ That would be Church of Boston back on September 25, when they supported The Humans, not your usual Sunday service - though could you imagine that? I uploaded this recently, but never mentioned it, so as I recover from my band resources and prep my 'Favorite Shows of 2011', here's ... http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/2011/12/walter-sickert-the-army-of-broken-toys-a-few-songs-at-church/