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November 2011
ALOUD,
SARAH
RABDAU & THE SELF-EMPLOYED ASSASINS
Great Scott, Allston,
MA
9/13/11
I’m at Great Scott
on a Tuesday, but the crowd is, surprisingly, a decent size. I’m a
little bit distracted by all the burlesque madness that’s going on
in between bands. The guy I’m talking to actually says, “It’s
been great talking to you, but… boobs,” a quote which aptly sums
up the first hour of this show. Sarah RabDAU is the first band to take
the stage, and they sound pretty good, and Sarah’s style meshes well
with the burlesque theme. Maybe it’s the two strongbows and the kamikaze
shot that I felt it would be prudent to drink, but I don’t remember
much of Sarah’s set—she sounds great but I couldn’t tell you which
songs she plays.
SIDEWALK DRIVER,
THE ORGAN BEATS
Radio, Somerville,
MA
10/7/11
So I’m at the grand
opening night of Radio! It’s a cold October evening, but damn, is
it hot inside. No, literally. I guess there’s no AC or ventilation
in the place yet, and it’s like, one hundred goddamn degrees inside,
and the place is at capacity. I immediately don’t like that you have
to walk by the stage with the audience facing you to get inside. However,
I’d say this show has “Noiseboard reunion” status—I just saw
T-Rav, the other dave, What’s Undead Lobster Tamale?, and I heard
Jody the Pig was outside. Other good things about this place include:
a quiet downstairs/bathroom area where you can escape the madness for
a while, a $5 cover, cheap PBRs, and fairly easy parking. Anyway, oh
yeah, the music. The sound is pretty good, though I heard the PA system
is a rental. The Organ Beats were already playing when I arrived, and
they sound pretty amazing. The last time I saw them was at the Scamper/Aloud
mustache show at Hennessey’s in 2007, and they were underwhelming
at the time, but I suppose they’ve had just a little time to improve
since then. And improve they have, seeing as tonight they sound like
a mixture of Christmas morning, rainbows, and Damone. They finish up
their set, and as it turns out I still have a massive girl-crush on
Noelle. I hear some ex-boyfriends’ bands’ songs play over the PA
between sets, which is always fun! Then Sidewalk Driver takes the stage,
and for some reason, the fact that I saw them less than a week ago makes
their set seem extra fun. Despite the fact that it’s like, a million
goddamn degrees in here, people are dancing like crazy to “She Goes
Out Dancing” and “Jenny.” At this point I realize that I have
sweat dripping down my back though, and that’s kinda gross, so I head
towards the door. I stop for a smoke outside and realize that half the
crowd inside seems to have the same sentiment, which sure sucks for
the headlining band, but I’d say the opening night is a success, and
I look forward to seeing more shows here. (As of press time, I have
attended another show at Radio where it was not 100 goddamn degrees.
Huzzah!). (Emily Diggins)
SKELETON BEATS,
THE EVIL STREAKS
Rosebud Bar, Cambridge, MA
10/1/11
The summer doldrums
are still with us—all the bands are either waiting for the right gig,
on vacation, having babies, or off to the UK yet again. We’re gonna
lose all the newly arrived students to club DJ nights!
Thank god the Rosebud says, “Oh, hell no!” They’ve had to
import some acts from the Deep South (Worcester area), but we have our
rock ’n’ roll! When I spot Myra Ghoul and Amy Von Eerie hanging
around, I’m expecting a Ghouls Night Out reunion but I soon give up
on that idea. The Evil Streaks open the show with a fine blend of surf,
hotrod, and punk. I keep forgetting how great they look with Myra in
evening dress and the guys in suits—not quite the Ghost of Dragstrip
Hollow fashions you’d expect. The detailed surf guitar sound is a
gasser on brand new material like “Pumpkin Carving Party” and “Zombie
Love Doll” as well as Myra’s GNO back catalogue (“Bully,” “Stitch
You Up”…).
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Lisa Gourley’s Punk Rock Show
Firehouse 13, Providence,
RI
10/8/11 and 10/9/11
It would take way too
much space to write about every band that came out to support Lisa.
So in the interest of time and space, I’m going to give an overview
of the event itself. Lisa Gourley has been documenting the Providence
music scene for the last 15 years. It’s not uncommon to see her standing
in the front row, several cameras hanging around her neck, in one hand
a video camera filming the performance, in the other hand a digital
camera snaps away. This weekend the Firehouse 13 is dedicated to Lisa
and her photos. As you walk into the room the walls are covered from
floor to ceiling in snapshots showcasing the fans, the performers, and
the clubs of Providence throughout the years. Almost thirty bands signed
up to play, making a solid twenty hours of music this weekend. It always
amazes me how tight-knit a music scene can be. The show was meant to
help Lisa out by selling her artwork. Some of the bands took it even
further by donating their profits from merchandise. I’m proud of all
the people that gave back to someone that would never ask for it. Lisa
does what she does because she loves the music, and people of Providence.
(Melvin O)
SWAGGERING
GROWLERS,
JEFF ROWE,
PITY WHORES,
THE OLD EDISON,
THE SNIPES
Middle East Upstairs Cambridge, MA
10/01/11
I think it is a cosmic
joke that no matter how hard I try, I always miss the majority of the
Snipe’s set. Today is no exception. I walk in on their last song.
The energy is great, the people in front of the stage are dancing around.
OF THE
SUN
All Asia, Cambridge,
MA
10/16/11
For a three-piece ensemble,
Of The Sun has a massive sound. The creators of aural tableaus are Adam
Blake on bass and vocals, Tom Fahey on percussion and vocals, and C.J.
Carr on lead vocals and percussion. They describe their sound as “ritual
music from future shamen.” Moreover their sound has elements of electronica,
psychedelia, and drone. Fahey primarily plays an African drum called
a djimbe, but Carr occasionally joins in on djimbe as well. The band
creates sonic landscapes that take you out of this place and time to
an ancient world far away. To enhance this sensory experience, Of The
Sun adds visuals of kaleidoscopic patterns that are usually projected
directly upon them for a trippy effect. Tonight they are having some
projector difficulties and the visuals are projected onto a screen to
their left. The highlight of their set is the transporting “Light.”
The band has been writing new material and experimenting with distorting
time perception by creating rhythms within rhythms. Intriquing!
(Nancy Neon)
JENEE HALSTEAD
Old Sloop Coffeehouse, Rockport, MA
10/14/11
Old Sloop Coffeehouse
sits within the First Congregational Church of Rockport and seats a
maximum of 150. Geoff Lyons makes the naturally dead-sounding room come
to life with his audio skills. And it does sound good. On
stage, Somerville-based Jenee Halstead is a sweet looking gal who must
be older than her early 20s appearance with her high level of confidence.
She slips out a cocky comment: “Livingston Taylor is playing in town
tonight—too bad for him. This is where it’s happening.” And the
audience loves it. Her hair is pulled back into a bun with medium bangs.
Colorful dream-catcher-like earrings dangle while her white lacy blouse
hangs off one shoulder. Her acoustic guitar is nice and chunky sounding
with smooth bottom round tones. She plays a murder ballad and uses a
cool technique of singing part of it away from the mic to create a greater
sense of distance. Her pleasing alto voice can slide up high when she
wants. She picks up a ukulele and mentions how she’s raised $7500
from her fans for her upcoming CD. She ends with “Rodeo Sadness”
that includes a vocal trumpet section. She’s a talented performer.
(T Max)
THE BRIDGEBUILDERS,
JEFF MICHAELS
BAND,
JASON LABBE,
Plectrum Entertainment Singer
Songwriter Showcase
Johnny D’s, Somerville, MA
10/4/11
The night starts with
the trademark of the Singer Songwriter Showcase, a trio of solo artists
playing together on stage, each performing their own music, sort of
a musical roundtable. Jason Labbe’s a young performer, but he’s
got the chops of a pro, with a great voice that carries through the
din of the crowded Somerville nightspot. With songs like “Angel’s
Wings” and “Don’t Go,” he demonstrates precise vocal and guitar
control. He’s also got good between song banter, keeping the crowd
hooked with jokes and stories about his music.
THE RATIONALES
Topsfield Fair – Trianon Stage, Topsfield,
MA
10/4/11
It’s a Monday night
at the wonderful Topsfield Fair and the regular weekend mob is not in
attendance. The Rationales have played the fair the past two years and
both times it rained. The usual five-piece band is a six tonight as
they’ve added Davina Yanetty on ukulele to strum along with their
well-written power pop tunes. Leader Dave Mirabella on guitar and vocals
is a song designer, most evident in “Drunk,” which brings craftsman
Jules Shear to mind. The tune “Braedon” has a They Might Be Giants
feel with some strange catchy lyrics about a bee dressed in an army
suit stealing popcorn. Then “Tongue Tied” blends the Grateful Dead
and Tom Petty, with a Neil Young-style guitar solo supplied by Pete
Zeigler, thrown in to solidify the band’s good taste. The meshing
of the many influences creates the band’s own gritty rock sound. Halfway
through their set the rain gods baptize us to extend the band’s consistency
of weather to a third year. By the end of the set bubbles are floating
around me—the gods must be happy. (T Max)
STEVE CARAWAY’s Open Mic
Dog Bar, Gloucester,
MA
10/11/11
Every Tuesday night
at nine the patrons of Dog Bar in Gloucester are treated to the delightful
sound of Steve Caraway… followed by the ear piercing sound of the
weekly open mic crowd (just kidding!). Steve has been playing for a
long time, not to give away his age or anything, but he certainly knows
how to host a show. Along with one of the best hosts around, you have
the recently remodeled décor of the Dog Bar adding to the ambiance
of the experience.
THICK SHAKES,
FAT HISTORY
MONTH
Dirty Douglas, Lowell,
MA
10/1/11
Thick Shakes ignite
their performance with that great garage inspired punk rock they have
become known for. On the other hand, I hate to pigeonhole their
music to one genre; there are definitely noise vibes, the sheer volume
of their performance is a top indicator of this. I have seen Thick
Shakes before and once again they are fairly loud and certainly this
sonic cacophony complements their dirty, straight-to-the-point, punk
songwriting. It is hard to decipher the vocals, but honestly I
cannot say that affects their performance. Thick Shakes do not
appear to be a band you sing along to; instead it is more of a cathartic,
bestial experience. Admittedly, I am not too familiar with their
material, but I do see quite a bit of Thee Oh Sees in their performance
and perhaps aesthetic, so for fans of that band, I will highly recommend
Thick Shakes.
FBI: FARREN
BUTCHER INC.
The Freedom
Rally
Boston Common, Boston, MA
9/17/11
THE APPRECIATION
POST,
THE FATAL FLAW,
AMERICAN WATER
T.T. the Bear’s Cambridge,
MA
9/30/11
Even though I actually
show up in time for a band with an earlier set time for once in my goddamn
life, I’m going to fast-forward through about 150 words of talking
about American Water’s set. [*fast
forwards*]Okay, sweet, that was informative and well-written,
right?
TRIPLE THICK,
TAMPOFFS,
THE CURSES,
LUCKY DRAGON
Radio, Somerville,
MA
10/13/11
New rock club Radio
has only been open a week now and they’re already the best venue in
town. Okay, that’s an unfair overstatement but it’s really obvious
they mean business and want to be the rock ’n’ roll hot spot (previous
owners of that title: Elvis Room and Abbey Lounge). Tonight’s line-up
is sure proof.
SILHOUETTE
RISING,
GENTLEMEN OUTFIT
Renaissance Hotel,
Boston, MA
10/7/11
The Gentlemen
Outfit kicks things off with their soothing acoustic music. Jesse
McCullagh strums away on the guitar while the other half of Gentlemen
Outfit, Jim LeSuer, takes care of percussion; both simultaneously share
vocal duties, creating a noteworthy harmony section. Throughout
their performance, the duo integrates both original compositions as
well as covers into the set. For my money, their rendition of
Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” stands out the most. The
Gentlemen are able to capture the song’s sunny lyrics and upbeat attitude
in a seemingly effortless manner. The term “gentlemen” should
be taken quite literally, Jesse and Jim interact with the audience with
a kind, welcoming spirit that is sure to make even the worst curmudgeon
smile and sing along. This is my second time seeing the Gentlemen
Outfit and this performance builds on what they started before: creating
a fun, engaging aura for everyone in the room to enjoy.
ELIAS CARLSTON
Precinct Bar, Somerville,
MA
9/14/11
While the current variation
of Triple Thick is a total thumbs-up, it’s still a pity that it no
longer includes Elias Carlston. Elias is a fine musician with a fine
rock ’n’ roll voice (both on display in Triple Thick as well as
Starry Crown Nightstick and 66 Breakout). Tonight he’s solo, though
supported on drums by T-Thick’s Jim Seary (plus the rest of the band
in the audience). Genre-wise, he’s sticking with traditional American
country blues—mostly covers of John Lee Hooker, Blind Willie Johnson,
Lightnin Hopkins, etc. I’m dubious of the Morphine number (“Buena”)
but he makes it work. The one original (“Persephone”) is tasty enough
to make you wish for more. Honestly, I don’t really see Elias as a
grizzled old blues man—my imagination has him doing a mean Gene Vincent—but
his love for the style is honest and clear as crystal. Ditto the fact
that he’s a talented guy.
(Frank Strom)
EMERGENCY
MUSIC,
SOCCER MOM,
MARCONI,
AUTOCHROME
T.T. the Bear’s,
Cambridge, MA
9/23/11
You know, I miss
T.T.’s. It’s probably my favorite venue, as well as the first cool
stage I ever played on. It just seems like nobody I know or like plays
there these days, so when I saw that cool band Soccer Mom was having
a record release party there, I was psyched! So here I am, it’s pissing
down rain, and Autochrome has already started. Other than Soccer Mom,
this was the band I really wanted to see—I raved about them already
when I reviewed their previous show at Great Scott. They’re a talented
post-punk quartet who have only played out a handful of times, but they’re
already a favorite of mine. If you like the Chameleons, the Bunnymen,
and early New Order, these guys and girl are your cup of Earl Grey.
The thing is, they haven’t released anything yet. When is your 10-inch
release party, huh Autochrome?
ONE NIGHT BAND
The Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge,
MA
9/24/11
Someone told me about
this whole One Night Band thing and I decided to attend, purely based
on the event’s sweet guitar-pick-condom logo. I arrive in Central
Square on a sultry September Saturday night to find a hot, sweaty, crowded
Middle Down. I know I say this about like, every show, but really, it
is like a Noise Board reunion in here, which is always fun. Plus, eight
one-night-bands are performing and I don’t remember a single one sucking
too badly! My favorite bands of the night include Motorboat (Wayne Whittaker,
Dave Jarvis, Leesa Coyne, Meff, Rodrigo van Stoli) and Wagon Battle
(Mary Flatley, TJ Horn, Chrissy Vaccaro, John Brookhouse, and Daniel
McNair), who are not only a one-night-band, but also the inventors of
a one-night-genre: “pioneercore.” After all eight of the one-night-bands
have performed their three one-night-songs and one cover each, all of
the participants get onstage to perform a cover of “Cum on Feel the
Noize,” which is so bad that it’s good. All in all, the whole night
is really fun, and it is absolutely a testament to all the impressive
talent we have in Boston. I heard someone describe One Night Band as
a “scene-building event,” and I’d say that is pretty accurate.
I hope Boston Band Crush continues to put on this event, because it
was a really great time and even raised some money for a good cause. (Emily
Diggins)
TOWNSHIP,
SIDEWALK
DRIVER
Brighton Music Hall, Allston,
MA
10/1/11
Soooo, I’m at Brighton
Music Hall and the place is the most packed I’ve ever seen it. I mean,
realistically, I’ve only ever seen the place like five times, but
it’s the most packed out of those five times, so that’s saying something,
right? Anyway, I come in during Andrea Gillis’s set, but I don’t
feel like I saw enough of it to make career-making-or-breaking judgments
in the Noise, so I’ll skip right to Sidewalk Driver.
I reviewed these dudes’ album back in like, 2009, which basically
means I’m an expert on their music. I even know some of the words
to their songs! These guys seem to have a pretty impressive following,
because I see lots of hot chicks dancing around to “She Goes Out Dancing.”
So thanks to Sidewalk Driver for getting some babes to come out to a
metal show, for real. They sound pretty good and I even find myself
dancing with my friends a little bit, like the song says. Anyway these
dudes are putting on an awesome energetic show and my favorite is when
Tad takes off his little top hat. That’s when shit starts to get crazy.
FUGUE,
ATLAS THE
ATOM SMASHER,
BIG MESS,
TWIN CYCLIST
UMass Lowell Fox Hall
Common, Lowell, MA
9/22/11
Twin Cyclist is a local
duo consisting of two vocalists, one taking care of guitar duties and
the other commanding the drums. Standing next to the PA, I can
safely say Twin Cyclist is a loud band, but not too diabolical to the degree
that it pushes audience members away. The vocals mainly consist
of shouting and screaming, reminding me of early Hüsker Dü; in fact
I will go out on a limb to suggest these boys have studied Michael Azzerad’s
’80s, “indie rock” bible, Our
Band Could Be Your Life at
some point in their past. To make a more current comparison, I
would say the band is a nice middle ground between the noise bands No
Age, and Lightning Bolt. Not as poppy as the former and not as
menacing as the latter. Whether you call it punk, noise, or anything
else, Twin Cyclist definitely sets the bar for the rest of the concert.
We get a lot of
calls and emails from bands requesting coverage of their live shows.
Please be advised that shows are never assigned for review. Noise writers
cover what they choose to attend. It’s logistically impossible for
us to honor or acknowledge these requests. The Noise has always had
its ears close to the ground in Greater Boston. If you’re doing something
even remotely exceptional, we’ll be the first to tell the world. If
you’re horrible, same thing.
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