It feels like I went to see this show years ago, though in reality, it’s only been two weeks. One hell of a two weeks, but two weeks all the same. So I approached the chore of writing this review with some trepidation. For one, while I really, really like this band and have great respect for their place in indie rock history, I can’t say I’m completely familiar with their entire catalog, even enough to reconstruct a set list of what they played. Secondly, my notes, while amusing, are pretty fucking useless. I labeled the night’s proceedings as “Hipster Heaven”, and indeed it was. But I still had only (probably incorrect) fragments of lyrics to try to identify to tell you what was performed, and with four other reviews breathing down my neck, little time.
share this:Month: October 2009 Page 1 of 2
Andrew Hoover, Sister Hazel (headliners)
at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
Wednesday, October 21 7pm, $25
967 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA
(doors at 7pm; 18+ show)
Better late than never; that’s what I always say. Especially this past week and a half.
Singer-songwriter Andrew Hoover will be opening for Sister Hazel at the Paradise Rock Club on October 21 (that’s tonight, in a few hours from now). Bluesy and soulful with pop influences; a nice sound that probably transfers very well live. Have a listen.
share this:The Airborne Toxic Event, The Henry Clay People, and Red Cortez at the House of Blues, Boston, MA, October 13, 2009
On a chilly autumn night in the rather impersonal caverns of the new Landsdown Street House of Blues, this show had the feeling of a family barbecue on a lazy, warm summer afternoon. Anna’s hometown and the rest of the band’s adopted one, it’s clearly a special place for them, and while it’s not like being back home in L.A. with family and friends, I like to think it a reasonable facsimile. A comforting respite from the long and weary road.
share this:Ok, so technically this isn’t a show preview, because they’re not coming to Boston, and the closest they’ll be is a 2+ hour drive away near Albany (I’ll let you know what it ends up being). But I thought I would mention The Parson Red Heads and their East Coast visit, as they’re a great band I’ve been enjoying for a little while now. They have a lovely psychedelic and folky, upbeat sound with delightful harmonies, reminiscent of bands such as The Byrds, Big Star, CSN&Y, The Kinks, Fairport Convention, and Wilco.
share this:Youth Group (midnight), The States (CD Release, 11:00 pm), The Honors (10:00 pm), Leo Blais (9:00 pm)
at the T.T. The Bear’s Place, Cambridge, MA
Friday, October 16
(doors at 8pm; 18+ show)
I had the pleasure seeing Sydney-based Youth Group at T.T.’s back in April. Very impressive. With a strong focus on the considerable songwriting and vocal abilities of Toby Martin (who also plays guitar), he’s joined by Danny Allen (drums), Cameron Emerson-Elliott (guitar) and Patrick Matthews (bass). They’ve been performing together since the late nineties, with a big following in Australia, having supported such artists as Elliott Smith and The Strokes. They became better known here in the U.S. when they toured with Death Cab For Cutie. Their music has been compared to Teenage Fanclub, Pavement, Matthew Sweet, and the aforementioned Death Cab. Toby Martin cites Teenage Fanclub as a strong influence.
share this:A lovely evening for Anglophiles. And for Scotsmen – or Irishmen, as the case would be here in Boston. Apart from the apt choice of venue, a particularly boisterous and no doubt ale-fueled Irish fellow up front repeatedly – and loudly – professed his kinship with the two Scottish bands. Irish, Scottish – ah hell, close enough. Which only added to the celebratory, over-the-top enthusiasm of the nicely packed-in crowd.
share this:The Wrecking Coast (9:15 p.m.), The Happy Hollows (10:15 p.m.), Dark Martini & The Dirty Olives (11:15 p.m.)
at the T.T. The Bear’s Place, Cambridge, MA
Sunday, October 18
(18+ show)
The big and exciting news of this show is the first Boston appearance of The Happy Hollows. Having just been proclaimed by Radio Free Silver Lake as “the best band playing regularly in Los Angeles right now”, they’ve just released their debut album Spells, and will be performing a few shows here on the East Coast along with an appearance at CMJ.
share this:Silversun Pickups, Cage The Elephant, An Horse
at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI
95.5 WBRU 40th Birthday Bash
Saturday, October 17
(doors at 5pm; All Ages show)
::: buy tickets :::
and at the Webster Theater, Hartford, CT
Tuesday, October 20
(doors at 7pm; All Ages show)
::: buy tickets :::
Looks like the “Boston date” for this really excellent lineup is either Providence, Rhode Island (about an hour’s drive) or Hartford, Connecticut (about 2, but an easy drive via Mass Pike and I-84). Being how jam-packed this autumn is with bands coming through the area, I’m guessing it was a scheduling difficulty rather than an oversight that led to this sad state of affairs. If you can somehow make it, or find yourself in a place they’re performing (see entire schedule), it should be a fantastic show.
share this:Daniel Johnston, Capitol Years
at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
Thursday, October 15
(doors at 8pm; 18+ show)
My earliest recollection of Daniel Johnston is hearing his now classic song “Speeding Motorcycle”, performed as a special over-the-phone collaboration with Yo La Tengo, for WFMU’s “The Music Faucet” show on February 4, 1990. Actually, this song from the hour-long session was on ‘heavy rotation’ over at Boston College’s WZBC, and it was early 90s that I heard it, when I first moved up here.
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