WALTER SICKERT & THE ARMY OF BROKEN TOYS/ THE RATIONALES/ THE FIELD EFFECTS/ RUBY ROSE FOX Brighton Music Hall, Allston MA 3/23/13 I arrive at Brighton Music Hall before any bands have started playing and I’m impressed at how many people are already here this early in the evening. There’s a burlesque act onstage, to which I’m only half paying attention as I seek out familiar faces in the sizable crowd. Ruby Rose Fox starts their set and plays a few … Read More >>
CHELSEA BERRY/ THE DEJAS Shalin Liu, Rockport MA 3/2/13 I like these theaters that use an unseen MC over the PA to introduce the band (and clear up the pronunciation of this venue—sha-lin lew)—it reminds me of when I was a teen attending amazing shows at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre. The “voice” introduces the Dejas, and two guitarist, one of each gender, find their seats on the stage. The 320-seat theatre is full tonight and Aaron Katz and Callie Lipton … Read More >>
KRISTA PAGE & RADIO MAMBO Sally O’Briens, Somerville MA 1/29/13 Tonight I am out delivering bundles of the Noise to clubs all over the city. It’s a fun job as I usually get to stop in a bunch of places and see what’s going on. One of my favorite locations is Union Square, an area rich with local talent boasting several clubs that showcase live music seven nights a week. I stop by Sally O’s and am immediately floored by this girl … Read More >>
VARIOUS ARTISTS Chandler Travis’ 9th or 10th Annual Boston Christmas Cavalcade Benefit for the Homeless Johnny D’s, Somerville MA 12/13/12 A great night for an important cause hosted by an incredibly entertaining cast of characters. The Cape Cod’s Chandler Travis holds his annual benefit tonight, and as I enter the door I’m thinking what a cool example of the closeness of our very diverse entertainment scene. The Classic Ruins, Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents (“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”), … Read More >>
DON WHITE, CHRISTINE LAVIN Me & Thee Coffeehouse, Marblehead, MA 11/2/12 Me & Thee is packed on this chilly rainy night as Christine Lavin launches with an a cappella ditty of electronic loops layering her voice. The song is all about her being at Me & Thee on a Friday night. She’s like a funny Laurie Anderson. Then, on a guitar-accompanied tune, she gets the entire audience up and out of their seats to do 150 movements. It’s amazing how … Read More >>
BAG O’ NAILS, ODD ONE OUT, AWESOME EXPRESS, FINS Rock off Main Street The Center for Arts in Natick, Natick MA 9/21/12 The Natick Center for the Arts is a 290 capacity theatre with an excellent sound and lighting system and a 24 foot wide/18” high stage that holds a grand piano. Diane Young (the organizer of this monthly event) greets the audience and reminds them about the 400 high school bands that have graced this stage. Since 1998 TCAN … Read More >>
BON IVER, ANAIS MITCHELL Bank Pavillion, Boston MA 9/13/12 A brilliant pairing to create a magnificent show! They have worked together before on Anais Mitchell’s folk opera, Hadestown (Justin Vernon portrayed the hero, Orpheus), and now the favor is returned, except Anais walks out to an auditorium one-third filled (the remaining sold-out audience lurks outside biding their time for Bon Iver). No sweat! Head up, she and her trio launch into a new tune, “Live Wire,” followed by selections from her latest … Read More >>
SPRAINED ANKLES, JAY ALLEN & THE ARCHCRIMINALS, THE MIGS, THE JITTERS Cantab Lounge, Cambridge, MA 8/3/12 This is the year of the competing birthday shows—Bob’s show is next week but he’s got every band in town booked, so I’ve had to take a couple of unknowns (to me) on recommendation. The first of those are the Jitters, hailing from the Worcester area. They’re here on the good word of Myra Evil Streak—“You’ll like them,” she said…which proves either she’s got … Read More >>