musings from boston

Outside The Box, part 4: The Grand Boston Finale

On July 19, 2013

In Boston Bands, Boston-area news, Show Previews

Saturday at the Outside The Box Boston music festival is like the grand finale of the fireworks. It begins in the early afternoon with Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons, Americana from Providence, followed up with the highly celebrated (and deservedly so) Boston 60s-flavored powerhouse Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents. The music winds elegantly along with the string-infused chamber folk-pop of Northampton-based Darlingside, and what is bound to be an absolutely delicious cabaret-classical adventure with Mary Bichner and Triple Strung Trio, with special guest UnAmerika’s Sweetheart Karin Webb (very special indeed).

After this, you might have a tough time deciding between rootsy world-class acts who you likely will never again see performing on the same bill at City Hall Plaza (Coyote Kolb, Blind Boys of Alabama, Taj Mahal Trio) — and a homegrown hoedown on the Boston Common featuring Buffalo Tom, The Lemonheads and Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Whew, what a party!

Saturday, July 20 ~ Boston Common & City Hall Plaza

Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons (Providence RI)
Boston Common: Park Street Stage ~ 12-12:30 pm

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/48965872″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents (Boston MA)
City Hall Plaza: Main Stage ~ 1-2 pm

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/8551411″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Darlingside (Northampton MA)
City Hall Plaza: Main Stage ~ 3-3:45 pm

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/63589108″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Mary Bichner and Triple Strung Trio (Somerville MA)
Boston Common: Spiegeltent at Tremont ~ 3:45-4:45 pm

Coyote Kolb (Boston MA)
City Hall Plaza: Main Stage ~ 5-5:40 pm

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/93758098″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Buffalo Tom (Boston MA)
Boston Common: The Beacon ~ 5-6 pm

Buffalo Tom – Tail Lights Fade by jesus_lizard

Blind Boys of Alabama (Alabama, obviously)
City Hall Plaza: Main Stage ~ 6:30-7:30

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/42979922″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

The Lemonheads (Boston MA)
Boston Common: The Beacon ~ 6:30-7:30 pm

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/5712822″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Taj Mahal Trio (based in Berkeley CA)
City Hall Plaza: Main Stage ~ 8-9:15pm

(thank you Randy Kohlenberger)

Mighty Mighty Bosstones (Boston MA)
Boston Common: The Beacon ~ 8-9:30pm

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/27493787″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

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Outside The Box, part 3: A weekend blowout (and some fine Boston bands)

By julie

On July 18, 2013

In Boston Bands, Boston-area news, Show Previews

Those of you willing to pry yourself away from the AC and head to Boston Common are in store for a real treat this weekend. Outside The Box, Boston’s FREE festival, has been going on all week. They’ll finish things in grand style with a stunning lineup. Quintessential Boston singer songwriter Will Dailey & The Rivals perform their rootsy rock in the afternoon on Friday. On Friday night, all the interesting creatures will definitely be out on the town for the dramatic and theatrical tour de force that is Jaggery and Walter Sickert and The Army Of Broken Toys — *performing together*!!

They’re calling it The Looking Glass Revival, as if the thought of these two amazing bands on the same bill isn’t terrifying enough. Definitely make it to this one, if you know what’s good for you. Things get even crazier on Saturday with a “Boston Homecoming” so you’ll want to get there early. See the ::: MAP OF EVENTS ::: for stage locations.

Friday, July 19

Will Dailey & The Rivals
Boston Common: The Beacon ~ 12:30-1:30pm
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/35978254″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Jaggery, Walter Sickert and The Army of Broken Toys
Boston Common: Spiegeltent at Tremont ~ 8:30-10:30pm

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/65743914″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/85315231″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

To be continued…

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Outside The Box, part 2 ~ Wed. & Thurs. bands of note

By julie

On July 16, 2013

In Boston Bands, Boston-area news, Show Previews

While I’m busy preparing the first of a several-part “Eastside L.A. Midyear Roundup,” here are some more local highlights. Performing at the FREE Outside The Box festival on Boston Common and around town are Boys Like Girls (Wed, 6:30-8pm at the Beacon stage) — and at the City Hall Plaza Main Stage on Thurs, Bearstronaut (Thurs, 3-3:45pm), David Wax Museum (6:30-7:20pm) and Gentlemen Hall (8-9pm). All Boston-area bands. So there.

Boys Like Girls

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/70369147″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Bearstronaut

<a href="http://bearstronaut.bandcamp.com/album/paradice">Paradice by Bearstronaut</a>

David Wax Museum

Gentlemen Hall

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/users/1608611″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”250″ iframe=”true” /]

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Introducing… Japanther (well, not really)

By julie

On July 14, 2013

In Indie Music, Show Previews

The Japanther duo of Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek (from Brooklyn, NY) have actually been around since 2001, but this is their debut in my musical consciousness. They recently released Eat Like Lisa Act Like Bart on Recess Records, and are in town TONIGHT at that hipster hotspot, the Cambridge Elks Lodge (55 Bishop Allen Drive, Central Square). If you enjoy noisy, rambunctious sophisticated garage-punk that gets your heart racing and blood circulating, have a listen.

Japanther is not just a band but also performance art — their shows have included appearances on the back of a moving truck and from the top of the Williamsburg bridge. They’ve performed with synchronized swimmers, BMX bikers, puppets and dinosaurs. They’ve collaborated with artists such as Gelitin, Gee Vaucher, Eileen Myles, Raymond Pettibon, Dan Graham, robbinschilds and Penny Rimbaud.

web | facebook | twitter | youtube

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Dead Boots (formerly TAB the Band) ~ new album & The Middle East (downstairs) tonight

By julie

On July 13, 2013

In Boston Bands, Show Previews

Here’s a quickie for you — yet something else going on tonight here in town, and a band with an imminent release as well. It’s Duxbury-based Dead Boots, whom you may know as TAB the Band, their former incarnation. The band features Ben Tileston on drums, Lou Jannetty on guitar, and Tony and Adrian Perry on bass and guitar. All but Tony share vocal duties. Though my guess is they probably don’t make a big deal of it, it’s worth noting that Tony’s and Adrian’s dad happens to be Joe Perry. Yup, that Joe Perry. Which is cool of course, but it also puts the pressure on. They do fine with it, however. Check out their new video for “Saturdays,” which is from their upcoming LP Veronica, coming out in mere days on July 16. Oh yeah, they’re playing at The Middle East (downstairs) tonight along with The Rationales, Midnight Spin and Blackboard Nails. They’re at Mercury Lounge in NYC on Wednesday, July 17.

You can also check out “I See You Coming,” from Pure Volume:

facebook | twitter | youtube

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The Motion Sick’s 3-year reunion

By julie

On July 12, 2013

In Boston Bands, Indie Music, Show Previews

Poster by Nicole Anguish

Ok, so it’s not like Boston’s own The Motion Sick has been gone for 20 years, and they’re coming back “Rip Van Winkle-like” into a different time. But it has been a little while (three years, in fact) since their last show, so they’re celebrating with a 4-song EP and an opening band line-up where each one features one of their members. So have a listen below and if you like what you here, go celebrate with them the The Brighton Music Hall tomorrow night (Saturday 7/13).

<a href="http://music.themotionsick.com/album/consequence-of-sound-1st-anniversary-mix-tape">Consequence of Sound 1st Anniversary Mix Tape by The Motion Sick</a>

Brighton Music Hall – Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.
18+ | $12 | Facebook Event | ::: TICKETS :::
11:00 The Motion Sick
10:15 Parks (feat. Matthew Girard)
9:30 The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library (feat. MJE)
8:45 This Blue Heaven (feat. Travis Richter)
8:00 Wash Pool (feat. Patrick Mussari)

The Motion Sick: web | facebook | twitter | bandcamp – listen to all their music!

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Hey, it’s an awesome new song from The Chills!

By julie

On July 11, 2013

In Indie Music

photo swiped from SlicingUpEyeballs.com

So it seems the legendary New Zealand band The Chills have resurfaced after nine years with some new music. Their last release as The Chills was the Stand By EP (2004). To celebrate Martin Phillipps’ 50th birthday last week, it was announced that they’ve signed a deal with Fire Records, who will apparently be releasing several projects with the band. For now, however, most important thing is “Molten Gold,” their first single, which you can listen to below. Holy moly, is that a violin I hear along with the pretty guitar janglies? Love it!

web | facebook | twitter | Fire Records | wikipedia

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Outside The Box in Boston! (starts Saturday 6/13 – 9 days of FREE performances)

By julie

On July 10, 2013

In Boston Bands, Boston-area news, Indie Music, Puppets, Show Previews

I wanted to commemorate a beautiful event that’s happening here in Boston starting on Saturday. Called Outside The Box, it’s a 9-day performing arts festival that will feature over 200 events throughout Boston Common and City Hall Plaza (and other places). Designed to bring together various neighborhoods, residents and artistic communities from the Boston area, this amazing festival is completely FREE. With theater, dance, performance art, puppets and music performances of all shapes and colors, there will be absolutely something for everybody. Here’s a few of the notable musical happenings that caught my eye. We’ll start with the first 3 days, and stay tuned for more.
::: MAP OF EVENTS :::

Saturday July 13

Alejandro Escovedo ~ 1-1:45pm ~ Boston Common: The Beacon
His new album Big Station (Fantasy/Concord) is out now.

web | facebook | twitter

Tallahassee ~ 7-8pm ~ Boston Common: The Commonwealth Stage
Their newest album is Old Ways
web | facebook | twitter

Sunday July 14

Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band ~ 4:30-6pm ~ Boston Common: The Commonwealth Stage
Boston’s favorite HONK!ers.
web | facebook | twitter

Monday July 15

Air Traffic Controller ~ 2-3pm ~ Boston Common: The Beacon
web | facebook | twitter

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/56285016″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Outside The Box: web | facebook | twitter

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The Drowning Men roll in to Boston tonight! (JP)

By julie

On July 9, 2013

In Indie Music, Show Previews

The Drowning Men, from their Hartford, CT show w/Airborne in 2011

Here’s some sweet music to commemorate a “family reunion” tonight — The Drowning Men are back in town, stopping off at Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain, as part of their current tour. Supporting them tonight will be Cradle to the Grave, The Old Edison and Alen of Dale. I first fell in love with The Drowning Men when they toured with The Airborne Toxic Event a few years ago. Their music is difficult to describe, but I’ll give it a shot: wayward sailors adrift on a treacherous sea with a musical maelstrom that blends gypsy Americana, Eastern European melodies, eerie otherworldly sounds, rollicking sea shanties and ferocious rock ‘n’ roll, underpinned by Nato Bardeen’s heartfelt and pleading “man grasping wildly at a small life raft” vocals. All Of The Unknown was released last year. Check it out. And meanwhile, a beautiful acoustic performance of a particular favorite of mine, “I Am the Beggar Man.”
::: BUY TICKETS :::

thank you “Lightning 100” for uploading this lovely tune.

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A cool convergence ~ Krief, The Grownup Noise, Modern Miracles of Science @ Cafe 939

By julie

On July 8, 2013

In Boston Bands, Indie Music, Show Previews

Here’s a quick mention of some cool musicians who happen to be converging for a performance at Cafe 939 Saturday night. From Boston, it’s The Grownup Noise, who are busy at work on a new album and because of that, this will be their ONLY show this summer. So be sure to catch ’em. Opening that evening (8 pm) is a Montreal musician with a Boston connection, Krief (Patrick Krief, guitarist of The Dears). His show this evening is part of his summer tour to showcase his new album, “Hundred Thousand Pieces.” He’s worked quite a bit with well-known Boston band The Wandas, having recorded/produced a few of their albums, and playing shows with them as part of The Dears.

Rounding out the bill is New Jersey-based Miracles of Modern Science, and any band that involves a mandolin, cello, upright bass and fiddle and does a Daft Punk cover automatically gets blessings bestowed here. This looks to be a good one, folks.
Saturday, July 13 at 8:00 p.m. ::: facebook event ::: tickets :::

Krief

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/96743870″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Miracles of Modern Science

The Grownup Noise

<a href="http://thegrownupnoise.bandcamp.com/album/this-time-with-feeling">This Time With Feeling by The Grownup Noise</a>

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