Gigs – Page 3 – musings from boston

My Best Fiend’s debut album – In Ghostlike Fading

On March 6, 2012

It’s unfortunate I just missed posting this in time for their appearance in Boston a few days ago; such is my current state of affairs. But have a listen to some really nice music below. Released about two weeks ago was the debut album from Brooklyn quintet My Best Fiend, In Ghostlike Fading (Warp Records). The first single from that album, “Cracking Eggs,” has this soaring exhuberance that makes the blood rush through the veins. Have a listen below. “Higher Palms” is rich and atmospheric, with hypnotic, dreamlike vocals. Very pretty.

They’ll be at SXSW, and will then be off on their first European tour in April and May. Hopefully I’ll get another chance when they get back.

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Introducing The Darcys, and their suprisingly cool take on Steely Dan

By julie

On March 5, 2012

In Gigs, Indie Music

Toronto art rock band The Darcys released the second in their trilogy of releases, Aja. Yes, that’s the name of the platinum-selling Steely Dan album from 1977. They’ve reinterpreted the entire album, and I have to say (and this is coming from not much of a Steely Dan fan), this is totally surreal and quite good! It’s a spacey, psychedelic and dreamlike take on these painfully familiar songs. It’s quite odd to listen to, having heard them over-and-over-again so many years ago. It’s kind of like a disturbing memory from your long-lost youth, as played over a top-40 radio station, but through a rather pleasant, smoke-induced haze. Here’s the best part: it’s available as a free download (as is their debut). For you vinyl lovers, it’s available on limited edition 180-gram colored vinyl from GalleryAC.com.

They’re currently on tour with UK indie folk-pop quartet Bombay Bicycle Club. The Middle East show on Friday night is unfortunately sold out, but if you’re in Philly, those are still available (Sat. 3/10). They’ll also be headed to SXSW, Toronto, the UK, and the West Coast. See their complete tour schedule for details.

Have a look at their great apocalyptic video for the first single off their debut album, released back in October of last year (on Arts & Crafts).

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Walter Sickert & The Army Of Broken Toys: A few songs at Church

By julie

On December 31, 2011

In Boston Bands, Gigs, Indie Music

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 a little video treat for you.

Take Note! If you’re doing First Night, they’ll be bringing their “posse” once again to the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, starting at 7:30 and going until 11pm.

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Introducing Randall Kromm

By julie

On December 21, 2011

In Band Profiles, Gigs, Indie Music

photo 2010 by Dan Tappan

Here’s something a little different from me, in amongst all the existential angst and bitter regrets. Well ok, it’s a song about a lost love, but it’s sung in such a sweetly reminiscent way, you almost don’t feel so bad for him.

Randall Kromm, lawyer by day, folk singer by night; it seems like a strange dichotomy, but his songs are about real life experiences and everyday challenges, and what can be more real and challenging than balancing the life of a musician with another life as a lawyer, husband and father of four? He’s performed at coffeehouses, open mikes, and clubs in the Boston area, including a sold-out show at the legendary Club Passim, and released his debut album, Water Wheel, earlier this year. He also has a collection of seasonal songs called Holidays and Homecomings. He counts among his fans seasoned performers Christine Lavin and Don White.

Randall has two shows coming up – a performance of holiday songs with other local musicians at Main Streets Market and Cafe in Concord on December 22 at 7pm, and at an open mic at Emerson Umbrella on January 9, 2012, along with songwriter Laura Gold.

official site | facebook | myspace | youtube

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Rademacher’s new song from BabyHawk II: “Magic Words”

By julie

On September 13, 2011

In Gigs, Indie Music

One of my favorite bands, Rademacher, have just released a little taste from their second in a series of BabyHawk EPs, which is due out October 4. It can be pre-ordered here. The track listing is as follows: Orchestra, Magic Words, Honestly, Up In The Air, Success, Orchestra (reprised). This EP trilogy is about the rise and fall of a fictional indie rock band named BabyHawk. The song below is “Magic Words,” and it’s classic Rademacher – smart, sentimental, sweet, and wistfully sad, with acoustic guitar, warm percussion, softly swelling organ lines and just a pinch of electronics. Oh, so good.

Rademacher – “Magic Words” by BabyHawk

“It was a pretty good gig, I guess
for dinner and drinks and tips
sometimes I wanna go back there
I just wish that I could find the address
and sometimes I wish time would move backwards
wish I knew which magic words worked best
I woke up from a dream…” – Magic Words

They’re playing a batch of terribly unhelpful California shows (see below). Well, it’s great if you happen to live there. For the rest of us… we wait.

Sep 23 w/Built Like Alaska @ Black Box Theater – Merced, CA
Sep 30 FUSE Festival – Fresno, CA
Oct 06 w/Light FM @ Fulton 55 – Fresno, CA
Oct 09 w/Matt + Kim @ Festival of Hope – Tulare, CA
Oct 11 w/Manhattan Murder Mystery @ The Satellite – Los Angeles, CA
Oct 14 Luigi’s Funhouse – Sacramento, CA
Oct 15 Sophia’s Thai Kitchen – Davis, CA
Oct 22 The Starry Plough – Berkeley, CA

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New club AND record store in Union Square, Somerville!

By julie

On August 23, 2011

In Boston-area news, Gigs, Indie Music, Music News

Here’s some very cool news for music fans in the Boston area. There’s a new club in town, and a new record store as well (yes, a record store), both moving into what’s turning out to be the next Hipster Haven, Union Square in Somerville. Already there’s P.Aâ€™s Lounge, Sally Oâ€™Brienâ€™s, Precinct and Starlab. Add to that Radio, which has its grand opening October 7. And while you’re waiting for the first band to come on, you can do a little rekkid shopping at Somerville Grooves.

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The Airborne Toxic Event’s Fall Tour (and summer mini-tour starting Friday!)

By julie

On July 27, 2011

In Gigs, Reviews, The Airborne Toxic Event

This hot and hazy summer marks The Airborne Toxic Event‘s five-year anniversary of their existence, and this coming Saturday marks the third-year anniversary of my first time seeing them. Though I’ll actually be at the Newport Folk Festival this weekend, covering this legendary event for Ryan’s Smashing Life, my band has very thoughtfully put together a string of East Coast dates, so we can properly celebrate. What’s more, they’ve just announced a big autumn tour (Orpheum Theatre, Sat 11/19!) that will see them visiting many places, including – for their first time – Anchorage, Alaska. I mean, how could you not want to see them in a place called Bear Tooth Theatre?

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Rademacher: Baby Hawk! New Album and Tour

By julie

On June 23, 2011

In Gigs, Indie Music

photo by Stephen Gamboa

Here’s some seriously great news which I’m finally getting around to posting. For all you Rademacher fans out there (and if not, why not?), the long-awaited follow-up to the 2007 release Stunts is just a few weeks away. Baby Hawk (Park I of III) is available for pre-order on bandcamp and will be released Tuesday, July 5th. The album will be available via itunes and emusic on July 12th. Have a listen to the complete song below, or go to their soundcloud page to listen to each instrument separately. Cool. For those uninitiated: poignant and raw, deceptively simple lyrics that cut to the bone, set against slick, interesting pop music (with more sophistication and sonic magic of late). Dive in.

THEY ARE ALWAYS INTO THAT MIX 06 by BabyHawk

“All the best songs / are love songs / I don’t think that you can argue / no, I don’t think you can argue that… convenient explanations for the way things are… who really cares? / who really knows? / who’s responsibility is this?”

They’ll also be on the road starting July 1, though for the time being, just in Cali. However… somewhat reliable sources tell me there are plans to come East in the fall. Hopefully this time they’ll make it past Chicago.

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Bury Me Standing ~ April Residency @ the Lizard Lounge

By julie

On April 6, 2011

In Boston Bands, Gigs, Show Previews

First Show ~ TONIGHT ~ with Brian Carpenter & The Confessions and The Slomski Brothers!

Beautiful and entrancing, Bury Me Standing features gypsy Balkan melodies with gorgeously flowing vocals from Bulgarian Vesela Morova, a Berklee student with a background in jazz voice and improvisation, who sings in her native tongue. Vessela Stoyanova (Goli, Fluttr Effect) performs on a very special MIDI marimba; Nate Greenslit (HUMANWINE, What Time Is It Mr. Fox and Molly Zenobia) is on percussion; Tony Leva, upright bass; and Erik James on alto sax. From marimba magic on “Jovano” (perfectly complementing Vesela’s voice), to something darker, denser, and more experimental in “Lordosis”, Bury Me Standing is mysterious and exotic, fusing diverse musical traditions – traditional Balkan, jazz, psychedelic, ambient, pop, and experimental.

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New (FREE!) music from Walking Sleep: Tarp Sessions, Vol. 1

By julie

On March 18, 2011

In Gigs, Indie Music

Walking Sleep (formerly known as The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra) just released Tarp Sessions, Vol. 1, the first of three FREE EPs they’ll be releasing, leading up to their month-long residency in April at The Satellite (formerly known as Spaceland). The EP is named for their “recording studio” – an old industrial tarp factory in downtown Los Angeles – that lends a lovely spacious ambiance to their expansive 60s sound (hints of The Zombies, Motown soul, Fleetwood Mac) and a bright, vibrant live feel.

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screams, whispers and songs from planet earth

Category: Gigs Page 3 of 11

My Best Fiend’s debut album – In Ghostlike Fading

Introducing The Darcys, and their suprisingly cool take on Steely Dan

Walter Sickert & The Army Of Broken Toys: A few songs at Church

Introducing Randall Kromm

Rademacher’s new song from BabyHawk II: “Magic Words”

New club AND record store in Union Square, Somerville!

The Airborne Toxic Event’s Fall Tour (and summer mini-tour starting Friday!)

Rademacher: Baby Hawk! New Album and Tour

Bury Me Standing ~ April Residency @ the Lizard Lounge

New (FREE!) music from Walking Sleep: Tarp Sessions, Vol. 1