Liars, No Age at The Paradise Feb 8, 2008

I have been dragging my heels about writing up this gig because I feel I went to see a totally different set of two bands than all the other reviews that popped up.
No Age, one drummer one guitarist, started interesting but degenerated in mindless sameness. They created background music that failed to keep my attention and despite the buzz I didn't see anyone going crazy with musical delirium in the audience.
Liars again buzz, buzz. They have some interesting songs but again i found my mind wandering in boredom. The singer is freakishly tall and his back injury must be very painful when you look at his on stage behavior. As he stood you could see the stance of a person expecting large jolts of pain to arrive.
It was interesting and enjoyable but I will not be going to see either Liars or No Age again.

The Breeders

Perhaps it just my generation but to me The Breeders are a band beyond compare. We saw them play the Paradise it must be over ten years ago and I still remember the rock 'Royalty' of Boston milling around. Last Splash is also one of the most amazing albums chock full of tight energizing bouncy riffs that amaze.
Today at 12:00 tickets went on sale for The Breeders at The Paradise, my feeling was this was one show where I needed to endure the Ticketmaster fleecing. Now almost 6 hours later there are still tickets available- huh?
Justice sells out in minutes and Breeders don't? I just don't understand. But I swear this shwo will sell out and could have many times over. I will just wait for June.

SXSW bands

So as SXSW approaches I want to mention some bands I am learning about and already love.
I will try to punctuate this with youtube videos if possible.

Starting now
The Whip
I know little about them apart from the fact they trash their instruments and are supposed to be great live.
listen to their track Sister Siam


The Law- recommended to me by a message board I visit, this track seems catchy and may be worth investigating Milk and Honey


I was a Cub Scout
I have been listening to this band since Lammo played them - Great band, great album!
I am making this band a priority to see
Pink Squares


Los Campesinos!
they eventually came to Boston in December and played a great show.
Love them and if the schedule allows will definitely see this band.
International TweeXcore Underground


The Pan I Am
confused? Don't be if you liked Larrikin Love here is Ed Larrikin's new project.


The Dykeenies
Another talented new Scottish band, we saw them last year at The Great Escape, nice live act.
Clean Up Your Eyes


The Duke Spirit
Hey guys, why are you not coming to Boston? We miss you!
amazing new album out, they have been away too long
The Duke Spirit - Lassoo


Sons and Daughters
From Glasgow, primal going to some scottish wild impulse for me, I love these guys, though I would prefer more male vocal like the last album
Sons And Daughters - 'Darling'


The Wombats

Well seeing I am on their DVD from SXSW - 'Dancing my ass off' it should be no secret that I love this band
The SXSW documentary with my appearance right at the end.

The Wombats Moving to New York

Wow - New doesnt have to compete with old

So on paper, i had a terrible conflict last night. Ra Ra Riot, bright newcomers at BU Vs Spear Of Destiny at The Middle East Upstairs.
But sometimes things just fall into place.
We started the night by getting our tickets for The Pigeon Detectives who play Great Scott march 10th. Be there or look really stupid and deaf.
Listen to a great song by them right now!
I'm not Sorry

Then after eating we managed to talk our way into the student only gig at BU Central.
The Virgins had decent music, decent beat but I took a real dislike to the lead singer. No charisma, no stage presence and no voice.
Had a talk to Ra Ra Riot to find they are supporting The Cribs in March except for Boston and NY, so we will see them in Houston, DC and Philly!
We only stayed for 20 minutes of Ra Ra Riot but during that time they played two new songs.
I just love to dance to this band so much.
So we ran out and drove across to the Middle East. Spear Of Destiny was on stage but only one song in. Then the fun started, Spear Of Destiny do great songs, Brandon is a god on the guitar and his voice is still amazing. We only got 35 minutes but we got Liberator, The Wheel, Rainmaker and Westworld amongst the others. Talk about bliss, tight beautiful numbers I just wished he had played for hours, I was totally entranced.
Afterwards he was generous to talk to me for a bit while I raved about how much I had enjoyed his show. I had always heard about the angry eddgy man, not last night, he was friendly and sweet. Of course the peck on my cheek may have slightly turned my head.
So total joyous music from two completely different times but both so good.

From New to Old or is it New Vs Old

I like to think I listen to new music and embrace it, ie Ra Ra Riot and Foals but deep in my heart I have part of me which has a soft spot for music I listened to a while ago.
Why this post?
Two reasons Carbon/Silicon (dear god yet another HORRIBLE name to tag with) appear, comprising of Mick Jones (anyone from The Clash is a God) and Tony James (forgive him for SSS because of Generation X). They are starting to emerge and will play Boston in a tiny club (TT the Bears) on April 5th.
But hiding in really tiny print behind Gene Loves Jezebel is SPEAR OF DESTINY. I am just perpetually in a swoon about Kirk Brandon's voice and stage presence. And he plays Middle East Upstairs on Thursday the 7th, a night when there are two great shows also on (Ra Ra Riot and 28 Degrees Taurus).
So torn about this and so feeling so longing for the wonder of the SOD shows we used to go to. Can he still create a show to rock your ass off, will his voice be a little rocky or amazing? In my world he is a legend and a hero but that is my background.

New and upcoming

Having complained about January, can I say the new music that is arriving day by day is outstanding. I am currently listening to the excellent Sons And Daughter's album The Gift, Duke Spirit's Neptune and Foals Antidotes to mention a few. I am also trying to figure exactly what I think about Lightspeed Champion.
Its also funny to try and gauge how excellent British bands will be received here.
http://www.last.fm/user/Janeinma/events/
Will the Pigeon Detectives have an audience of 30 like The Wombats did or pack the heck out of Great Scott like Editors and Klaxons did? Forget idiots like the Globe who jump on bandwagons years after they are gone and look to the new.
Talking about hype I go see MGMT and Yeasayer next week but I will try not to hold the hype against them and I know I love MGMT live as we were there for their first gig here.
so the message here - listen to Sons and Daughters (Middle East March 24th), Glasvegas (Paradise March 24th), Lightspeed Champion, Foals and Pigeon Detectives and please do not listen to spice girls or New Kids On The Block!

A trip to Philly

December and January are surely the cruelest months. so few bands arrive in Boston I feel like Punxsutawney Phil hibernating and refusing to come out.
In such a mood my RSS feeder told me The Spinto band was playing Philly on a weekend in one of my favorite venues - Johnny Brenda's. My music drought convinced me that it wasn't such a long trip and we booked the tickets and the hotel.
If you go to Philadelphia and want to see a show I heartily recommend Johnny Brenda's, it is much like Great Scott but BETTER as it serves great food, wonderful different micro brews and the sound system has been revamped and is AMAZING, oh and the venue is small and intimate.
Plants and Animals, a threesome from Toronto were a very nice surprise. They started quietly but ended up making a glorious noise. It was strange to see the guitar and bass roles swapping throughout the set.
The Whigs started setting up and a small point I hadn't been aware of started to be rather funny and pointed. I had decided to wear my MGMT t-shirt from last November before th Net buzz makes it just too pathetic. What I didn't realize was the whigs had recently lost their bass player as he went to join MGMT and that the two bands are best buddies! Lets just say each of the three members came up and told me all about this seeing I was wearing the shirt, maybe I am just trivial but I found this amusing!
So they started playing and they made their album Mission Control a lot more fun than i found it on CD. And also after finding the bass guitar swapping so amusing in Plants and animals then The Whigs went and started to do the same. Probably because of their lost bass player. I am not certain I would go out of my way to see them again BUT I would certainly NOT go out of my way NOT to see them which considering some support bands is a very good thing.
So The Spinto Band started to set up, teh good thing about being at the front is the chance to throw questions their way.
The new album is ready and just waiting for some one to release it.
They are going to SXSW.
Very nice set 15 songs including new songs. Two songs for encore including a very tongue in cheek cover of Tiffany's I think we're alone now.
This band sweep in under my defenses, not pretty not trendy but fun, energetic and lacking pretenses. Support real music.