The Wildbirds

So here's something I've been trying to figure out: is it too cheese ball to post about a band I'm already working with? Well, I've been on and off about it since we started this blog, and I've only been writing about bands I've actually seen. But then I'm screwed, right? I can't write about things I like, just things I've seen?

Anyway, I saw the Wildbirds play acoustic at the Planetary party this past week for CMJ and was stunned at how good it sounded. I've seen them a few times, and it's always fun, but it was great to see them in a new way. Then I was given a video from the label that I love. So f it. I'm posting it. Welcome to my first self-involved-band-I'm-working-with-now-the-gloves-come-off post.

I'm also somewhat addicted to this song, as you can see by my posting it when I should be telling other people to post it. I'd love this video if I was unemployed.

Bands Around Boston: Birds & Batteries, PA's Lounge 10/13 // American Princes, Harper's Ferry, 10/14

So, this past weekend I went to two amazing shows: Birds & Batteries @ PA's Lounge in Somerville on Saturday, and American Princes @ Harper's Ferry on Sunday. Unfortunately, I am sick and getting ready to leave for NYC/CMJ in the early morning, so I'm only posting some pictures and not writing too awful much about the shows, even though both bands deserve to have glowing reviews! At least enjoy the pictures for now:

Birds & Batteries:




Birds & Batteries Myspace

American Princes:






American Princes Myspace

Bands Around Boston: gNotes CD Release @ Middle East Upstairs, 10.11.07

Ok, so I am by far not an expert on Hip Hop, however, I do enjoy good music, and if you haven't checked out gNotes yet, do so immediately. gNotes, aka Sean Dwyer, cut his teeth on the West Coast and has been a standout member of the Boston Hip Hop scene since 2001. Last night, gNotes performed at the Middle East Upstairs to celebrate the release of his newest album, Rhymes and Beats, which recently received a glowing review in the Weekly Dig.



Not only did gNotes dazzle the crowd with his lyrical prowess, but he showed his diverse musical talents rocking the guitar with Elemental Zazen.



All in all, gNotes proved himself to be a multi-talented, multi-faceted musician worth leaving your house on a crappy-ass rainy night.

Be sure to check out gNotes online: http://www.myspace.com/silentgnotes

Yes! Buffalo!

It's more than just their ad campaign, that for some reason always shows a picture of this building, it's a way of life for 300,000 people. Or at least it is for the 100 or so people that went to the same wedding I did this weekend. I still don't own a camera, so I had to borrow more pictures.


This is the best part of Buffalo. If you're there, you have to see Lou Diamond Phillips come to the theatre on main street. (near the aboveground subway.)


Speaking of the subway, apparently they built a subway that only goes a block or two. That sucks, unless you have to go that block and the train is there.


I never saw an actual buffalo, but this guy was so cool I had to add him. Check the tupe horns!


I'd like to chill with one, too.


Ani Difranco bought an old church so it wouldn't be torn down, and converted it into a ridiculous show space. This is where the wedding was. If you're playing Buffalo, play here. I bet it fits 6 or 7 hundred people though, so bring out your A game.


Did I mention Lou Diamond Phillips in Camelot?

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter // Henry Rollins // Dog-Sitting // The Heartbreak Kid // It's Finally Fall

I had such a fulfilling weekend that I simply must tell everyone all about it.

It all started Friday night, when I was lucky enough to catch Josh Ritter at the Somerville Theater. If you are unfamiliar with Josh, I suggest you head over to his myspace right now and give him a listen here. Last year, his critically-acclaimed The Animal Years definitely made my top 10, and while I haven't had as much time to spend with The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter yet, I was super excited to FINALLY see him live. For one, the Somerville Theater is a great place to see a show, especially since they have popcorn with REAL BUTTER for super cheap! For two, I had heard so many good things about this Idaho native and let me tell you, they were all true! For me, one of the most stunning moments was his version of "Girl in the War," one of my favorite songs off of The Animal Years, it almost brought me to tears. I was also incredibly impressed because he was smiling the ENTIRE time, and you could tell he was having a good time, and that really made me smile.

Josh Ritter:



From there, I was off to JP Licks for what was quite possibly the best pumpkin ice cream I have ever had. If you love pumpkin ice cream and live in the greater Boston area, I suggest you make your way out there.

Saturday, I spent most of my day doggie sitting for Belle, my lovely co-worker Vicki's lovely beagle. She is ADORABLE!




Saturday night, I went to see The Heartbreak Kid, which was ok. I mean, it had some funny parts, but really, you should probably wait for the DVD. And the ending really sucked.

Last night, I joined Ben and Rusty at Bukowski's for a drink and then off we went to see Henry Rollins perform his famous spoken word.



Overall, I thought he was really funny and I was excited to see him live in a non-Rollins band capacity. The shining moment of his performance, if you ask me, was his story about when Christopher Walken was on his IFC show. Just seeing HR do an impression of Walken was priceless. Overall, it was a really swell time.

So that was my weekend. Overall I had a lot of fun times. The weather here in Beantown finally seems to be getting to be fall-like, and as parting words, I only have one thing left to say: GO SOX! <3

Oh Albany!

This weekend I'm heading to Albany NY, one of the best cities i've had the pleasure of living in (sarcasm). For those of you who don't know, Albany is the capitol city of New York State and is just chock full of history. Albany is home to the worlds first television station, WRGB, which launched in January of 1928. Albany once claimed the Albany Patroons, part of the CBA basketball league, a team that famed NBA coach Phil Jackson coached to his first ever coaching championship. Yay!

On the music end of things, a few bands of note have called Albany their home, and if you're ever in Albany (God help you), and want to check out some live music, Valentines is still my favorite venue on the planet. Anyways, here are some of my favorite Albany bands, though i think they're all either broken up, or no longer claim Albany in their history.


Rockets and Blue Lights(Close at Hand)
This is by far the best band that has ever come out of Albany, hands down. Its unfortuante that the only record of this band is their 4 song demo, and a 4 song 10" vinyl EP, released on Redder Records. That means that finding their music online is very, very difficult, but I suggest scouring for it. This band does the loud, quiet dischordent indie rock sound better than just about every band i've heard. You can check out their song "A Smashed Piano" here.




The Figgs
www.myspace.com/thefiggs
Power-pop at it's finest, The Figgs now claim NYC as their own, but back when they were an Albany band their shows were always a party. Though always flirting with the big time (They had a record or two on Capitol), they never blew up like they should have. If you feel like digging back in time and can find a copy of Low-Fi at Society High, check out the song "Favorite Shirt." It's an Albany classic. (The Figgs circa 1995, when they were an Albany band)




Das Oath (The Oath)
http://www.myspace.com/dasoathdasoath
This band was bi-continental with some of their members based out of The Netherlands and the other half calling Albany home. They've released their NYC style thrash on labels like 31G, Dim Mak, and Youth Attack. Das Oath had one of their early records banned by the Ebullition record distro because the insert was collages of hardcore transvestite pornography. True story.

Picture of the Week: Romance at Fenway Paaaaahhhhhhkkk

I love September/October baseball, so it made my world to take in 3 games over the course of 2 weeks at Fenway Park. The boys of summer clinched the division on Friday 09/28, their first American League East title in 12 years. Unfortunately, I wasn't there, but, I was at the next game on Saturday, and well, that was fun too. The moon was out in full effect, right above the scoreboard, and well, for all those lovers out there, it must have been a real romantic moment. As for me, I just sipped my beer and took a picture, because well, I guess that's just what I do! <3

My Guest Blogging

My buddies over at Heave Media asked me to do a profile on some of my favorite Boston bands, below is that post, which can also be read here if you'd like.

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Oh Boston, I’ve called you home for more than three years now, and in that short amount of time you’ve welcomed me into your vibrant scene, and after living in Albany - Boston is a huge improvement. But rather than talk about the “big” Boston bands like The Dropkick Murphys and Aerosmith, or the bands that have recently entered the national arena, like Aberdeen City or Freezepop. No, instead I’m going to share with the world some of my favorite bands that are definitely underrated and surely under the radar.

Reports

The first Boston band that I discovered; I saw them open up a show at Great Scott in Allston, and honestly, I can’t remember who they played with - but since then I’ve been singing the gospel of Reports. Reports’ songs are extremely catchy, combining the jangly fuzz you’d expect from an Elephant Six band with frantic guitar work that had been missing from indie rock since the mid-90s.

The Dead Trees

They won me over at a show when they were playing under their old name (they’ve since changed it and I don’t think they want to advertise that too much) and they did a stellar cover of The Beatles “Don’t Let Me Down.” I’ll be the first to admit that this band wears their late era Beatles influence on their sleeve, but I’ll be damned if they don’t do it really really well. The other notable about this band is how young they are; they’re all in their very early twenties and already show a pop-song sensibility well beyond their years. I see big things ahead.

Christians and Lions

Boston’s answer to Iron and Wine and The Shins, Christians and Lions’ low-fi indie folk just screams of rainy days, but in a good way. Vocalist Ben Potrykus’ subdued and dreamlike vocals
give this band an almost other worldly quality. This band should blow up, immediately.

Taxpayer

Taxpayer is a rock band, plain and simple. They remind me a lot of bands like Sparta - anthemic alternative rock. They’ve got a bonafide hit on their hands with “When They Were Young.”