Monday, June 30, 2008
Allyn and I are DJ'ing in Boston tonight...
at River Gods in Cambridge. Right there on River Street, straight down from the Central Square T-stop. We go on around 8, will be there 'til at least midnight. If you're one of the few Bostonians who read this dumb thing, then come out and drink and listen to our record collection.
at River Gods in Cambridge. Right there on River Street, straight down from the Central Square T-stop. We go on around 8, will be there 'til at least midnight. If you're one of the few Bostonians who read this dumb thing, then come out and drink and listen to our record collection.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
polvo
photo by Brad Searles; he's got more up at his Flickr page
Okay, this was awesome.
New Radiant Storm King: still a really catchy indie-rock band. I never saw 'em ten years ago, or anything, but I imagine a NRSK show in '98 wouldn't be too much different from what I saw on Friday. Which is in no way a bad thing; consistency and longevity should be respected. Fine set by these guys.
Birds of Avalon: uh, holy shit. Maybe the best rock performance I've seen since ZoSo. Yeah okay not really (on either count) but this was still great. I saw these guys a few years ago and thought they were pretty good. Either they've gotten a hell of a lot better, or maybe pro sound at a real club suits 'em more than a small PA in a Jewish youth center basement; whatever happened, they've become almost sort of completely god-damned amazing. They seemed like full-on boogie woogie back in ' 04, very befitting a band featuring the Cherry Valence's former guitarists. Now though it's like Zep and Who's Next with a bit of mellow psychedelic wonkiness tossed in to let 'em catch their breath. They played an awesome cover of "Armenia City In the Sky" that out-classes Sugar's in every way possible. Like the Valence Birds of Avalon are far better live than on record, and totally worth seeing at least once by anybody who enjoys classic rock.
Polvo: This is how reunion shows should be done. No reference to a reunion, or the intervening years, in fact no banter that wasn't about basketball. Just get up there, make your old songs new and your new songs newer, and fulfill everybody's expectations while blasting them heads flat. They turned my brains into diamond or something. Heavy with hits from their mid-to-late period, but often changed drastically into new-ish entities, with recognizable shards of classic songs jutting through new and often awesome bits of business, the set was totally satisfying. They started with "Fractured (Like Chandeliers)", straight into "Feather of Forgiveness", and followed up with at least one song from every album (save Cor-Crane, I believe) and ep, before finishing the main set with "Downtown Dedication" and "Title Track". In-between was a drastically reworked "Every Holy Shroud", the most so, that retained all of its mind-blowing bombast while offering up a new and intriguing interpretation of an all-time favorite (indeed: their best song, I declare). Somewhere in there was a fantastic drum solo by Brian Quast (of a band called the Cherry Valence, you might've read about 'em somewhere), who is so damn amazing that I (and most others) pretty much forgot about Eddie Watkins almost immediately (which yeah makes me feel bad, I'm sorry dude, you totally should've been there). There was also a new song in there, sung by Dave Byrlawski (charter member of the Good Guys of Rock, starting soon), that was notable for being just as good as the old stuff it was sandwiched between. If they do make another record, I'm pretty sure it compare favorably to the old stuff, if this song is any indication.
Anyway: great show. Good chats w/ Crog and Ice afterward. Dudes were missed.
photo by Brad Searles; he's got more up at his Flickr page
Okay, this was awesome.
New Radiant Storm King: still a really catchy indie-rock band. I never saw 'em ten years ago, or anything, but I imagine a NRSK show in '98 wouldn't be too much different from what I saw on Friday. Which is in no way a bad thing; consistency and longevity should be respected. Fine set by these guys.
Birds of Avalon: uh, holy shit. Maybe the best rock performance I've seen since ZoSo. Yeah okay not really (on either count) but this was still great. I saw these guys a few years ago and thought they were pretty good. Either they've gotten a hell of a lot better, or maybe pro sound at a real club suits 'em more than a small PA in a Jewish youth center basement; whatever happened, they've become almost sort of completely god-damned amazing. They seemed like full-on boogie woogie back in ' 04, very befitting a band featuring the Cherry Valence's former guitarists. Now though it's like Zep and Who's Next with a bit of mellow psychedelic wonkiness tossed in to let 'em catch their breath. They played an awesome cover of "Armenia City In the Sky" that out-classes Sugar's in every way possible. Like the Valence Birds of Avalon are far better live than on record, and totally worth seeing at least once by anybody who enjoys classic rock.
Polvo: This is how reunion shows should be done. No reference to a reunion, or the intervening years, in fact no banter that wasn't about basketball. Just get up there, make your old songs new and your new songs newer, and fulfill everybody's expectations while blasting them heads flat. They turned my brains into diamond or something. Heavy with hits from their mid-to-late period, but often changed drastically into new-ish entities, with recognizable shards of classic songs jutting through new and often awesome bits of business, the set was totally satisfying. They started with "Fractured (Like Chandeliers)", straight into "Feather of Forgiveness", and followed up with at least one song from every album (save Cor-Crane, I believe) and ep, before finishing the main set with "Downtown Dedication" and "Title Track". In-between was a drastically reworked "Every Holy Shroud", the most so, that retained all of its mind-blowing bombast while offering up a new and intriguing interpretation of an all-time favorite (indeed: their best song, I declare). Somewhere in there was a fantastic drum solo by Brian Quast (of a band called the Cherry Valence, you might've read about 'em somewhere), who is so damn amazing that I (and most others) pretty much forgot about Eddie Watkins almost immediately (which yeah makes me feel bad, I'm sorry dude, you totally should've been there). There was also a new song in there, sung by Dave Byrlawski (charter member of the Good Guys of Rock, starting soon), that was notable for being just as good as the old stuff it was sandwiched between. If they do make another record, I'm pretty sure it compare favorably to the old stuff, if this song is any indication.
Anyway: great show. Good chats w/ Crog and Ice afterward. Dudes were missed.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Love Is All and other things continually amaze me
1. Love Is All were amazing last night. They're almost intolerably fun, like I was having so much god-damned fun I almost couldn't physically take it. They're kind of the best, in general. Plus their new covers ep is totally rad and shit. Talked to Wyatt a bunch - don't know if I've ever seen him without a Giants hat on. But so last night was game five of the NBA finals, and the Celtics were a win away from total victory, so the crowd spent most of the evening split between the stage and the tv. As the game wound down though that ratio grew in the tv's favor (to the consternation of one of the opening bands), and it was decided that Love Is All should wait for it to finish before playing. There were like five minutes on the clock, so they didn't think it would take too long. 'Cuz y'know they're Swedish and don't maybe realize how the last two-three minutes of a basketball game take a half-hour. Thankfully the band really got into the game and were bummed the Lakers won. But so for twenty minutes or so there was no music, as everybody in the club was glued to a couple different tvs, save for three or four grumpy looking indie kids who sat near the stage waiting for the show. Sports haters, we got 'em even in Sportstown. Y'know Boston is the Sports Authority. And we gotta lotta dicks sporting goods. But anyway again, Love Is All were ridiculously great, the new songs were awesome (especially that one that sounds like "Tally Ho"), they played all the songs I wanted to hear, and Josephine high-fived a few random audience members from the stage mid-lyric, which is plenty awesome. Go see 'em whenever you can. I really wish I had gone down to New York on Saturday for their show with the Vivian Girls and Cause Co-Motion!; that's an awesome bill.
2. speaking of Vivian Girls: their new record is really good. Noisy, shambly, lo-fi rock with some nice female vocals - sounds like something SA would've played on Single Theory ten years ago.
3. a big JEERS to Brian "Brah" Girgus, for once again refusing to make the astoundingly short drive to Boston while touring with friends. It wasn't too bad last summer, as the France definitely needed the extra space, but I grew furious last night when Wyatt told me Brah was travelling with them but stayed in New York. What the crap, Brah? Boston loves you even if you refuse to admit it, at least it will if you don't keep up this cavalcade of horseshit avoidance. Are you fearful of our history? Of our succulent seafood? Or do you just realize you're too weak for this greatest of towns not located in the Southeast? I would definitely be far more tired and hungover today had he come, so I'm actually thankful, thankful that he'll apparently turn to dust the second he crosses the Suffolk County line.
4. other shit that's happening... saw a top-shelf show on Friday night, Kurt Vile - Reports (who might be getting a bit darker soon nudge nudge) - Mmoss - Ganja, at PA's Lounge. Found out Gerry from PA's is a Braves fan - all issues resolved there, stand-up dude of the tallest order. Reports were bad-ass as always, Ganja and Mmoss played some fine psych sounds both heavy and wispy (respectively), but the night kinda belonged to Kurt Vile in the end, some fine mind-expanding folk-rock-pop-whatever that reminded me of Bobb Trimble or a less overtly poppy Ariel Pink or something. His record's great, but different from the live show. I don't know, go see 'em.
5. I still think the Braves should trade guys. I'll detail that later on.
6. more comics stuff over at Shazhmmm...
7. and a new Je Suis France blog over at the old France site. We'll gradually be putting all the cd-rs and some live shows up here for free. A couple of things are already waiting. Get on that.
1. Love Is All were amazing last night. They're almost intolerably fun, like I was having so much god-damned fun I almost couldn't physically take it. They're kind of the best, in general. Plus their new covers ep is totally rad and shit. Talked to Wyatt a bunch - don't know if I've ever seen him without a Giants hat on. But so last night was game five of the NBA finals, and the Celtics were a win away from total victory, so the crowd spent most of the evening split between the stage and the tv. As the game wound down though that ratio grew in the tv's favor (to the consternation of one of the opening bands), and it was decided that Love Is All should wait for it to finish before playing. There were like five minutes on the clock, so they didn't think it would take too long. 'Cuz y'know they're Swedish and don't maybe realize how the last two-three minutes of a basketball game take a half-hour. Thankfully the band really got into the game and were bummed the Lakers won. But so for twenty minutes or so there was no music, as everybody in the club was glued to a couple different tvs, save for three or four grumpy looking indie kids who sat near the stage waiting for the show. Sports haters, we got 'em even in Sportstown. Y'know Boston is the Sports Authority. And we gotta lotta dicks sporting goods. But anyway again, Love Is All were ridiculously great, the new songs were awesome (especially that one that sounds like "Tally Ho"), they played all the songs I wanted to hear, and Josephine high-fived a few random audience members from the stage mid-lyric, which is plenty awesome. Go see 'em whenever you can. I really wish I had gone down to New York on Saturday for their show with the Vivian Girls and Cause Co-Motion!; that's an awesome bill.
2. speaking of Vivian Girls: their new record is really good. Noisy, shambly, lo-fi rock with some nice female vocals - sounds like something SA would've played on Single Theory ten years ago.
3. a big JEERS to Brian "Brah" Girgus, for once again refusing to make the astoundingly short drive to Boston while touring with friends. It wasn't too bad last summer, as the France definitely needed the extra space, but I grew furious last night when Wyatt told me Brah was travelling with them but stayed in New York. What the crap, Brah? Boston loves you even if you refuse to admit it, at least it will if you don't keep up this cavalcade of horseshit avoidance. Are you fearful of our history? Of our succulent seafood? Or do you just realize you're too weak for this greatest of towns not located in the Southeast? I would definitely be far more tired and hungover today had he come, so I'm actually thankful, thankful that he'll apparently turn to dust the second he crosses the Suffolk County line.
4. other shit that's happening... saw a top-shelf show on Friday night, Kurt Vile - Reports (who might be getting a bit darker soon nudge nudge) - Mmoss - Ganja, at PA's Lounge. Found out Gerry from PA's is a Braves fan - all issues resolved there, stand-up dude of the tallest order. Reports were bad-ass as always, Ganja and Mmoss played some fine psych sounds both heavy and wispy (respectively), but the night kinda belonged to Kurt Vile in the end, some fine mind-expanding folk-rock-pop-whatever that reminded me of Bobb Trimble or a less overtly poppy Ariel Pink or something. His record's great, but different from the live show. I don't know, go see 'em.
5. I still think the Braves should trade guys. I'll detail that later on.
6. more comics stuff over at Shazhmmm...
7. and a new Je Suis France blog over at the old France site. We'll gradually be putting all the cd-rs and some live shows up here for free. A couple of things are already waiting. Get on that.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Love Is All article in the Weekly Dig
pish-posh, no WZBC reference. oh well. the show is THIS SUNDAY, so any Bostonites who read this (which I believe is zero) should be planning to head out.
pish-posh, no WZBC reference. oh well. the show is THIS SUNDAY, so any Bostonites who read this (which I believe is zero) should be planning to head out.
what the Braves should do, part one
Die in a plane crash Start the firesale. The Braves have exactly one starter who can go seven innings, and a bullpen that's shakier than Joe Cocker. They're not going anywhere. With Smoltz probably gone for good, and Glavine soon to follow, it's time for them to finally be sellers in July. And that doesn't mean conceding the next season or two; they still have a strong core of good young players, and with a few trades and a couple of smart off-season free agent acquisitions, they could remain a threat in the NL East next year. But so, here's what I'd look into, were I Frank Wren. And oh yeah - this operates under the assumption that Chipper remains at 3b. Obviously if he crosses to first then these plans would change.
1. Mark Teixeira's gone the second the season ends, so deal him now for the best possible package. I think it's safe to call that trade a bust for Atlanta; yeah, he's been great, but the only way he would've been worth Saltalamacchia, Harrison, Andrus, etc., was if the Braves won a World Series or two or resigned him to a smart long-term deal. Neither's going to happen. There's no way they'll get back anything comparable to what they gave up, but even as a free agent Teixeira should be able to net them a couple of top prospects. He'd fit in well with the Angels, who could use an upgrade at DH and more power from their first baseman. Kendry Morales should be ready for the major leagues, and would be a fine 1B for Atlanta for the next few seasons. I'd do a deal if the Angels would trade Morales and a pitcher or two for Teixeira. Nick Adenhart would be awesome, of course, but I doubt they'd give him up for a half-season of Tex. Jordan Walden is young, but has a lot of potential; Michael Anton is also a few years off, and might not make the majors as a starter, but he's been great thus far in Single-A. Teixeira for Morales, Walden, and Anton could be a good move, if possible.
Other possible destinations for Teixeira: how about Cleveland? Yeah, they're under .500 right now, but they were expected to contend this year, and probably would be if it weren't for a stagnant offense and CC Sabathia's awful start. Teixeira could put them over the top, filling in for the mediocre Ryan Garko at first or in the DH slot. See if the Indians will give up Wes Hodges and two of David Huff, Jensen Lewis, or Jeremy Sowers.
One more: everybody thinks the Yankees will be one of Teixeira's most fervent suitors this off-season. Maybe they'd like to get a jump on the Mets and whoever else by trading for him right now? And since pitching is a big need for them too, how about throwing Tim Hudson into the mix? Hudson might have more trade value than Tex, since he's having a great year and is under contract through '09 (with an option for 2010). Try and package the two together for one blockbuster haul of the Yankees' best prospects, like Alan Horne, Austin Jackson, Jose Tabata, Dellin Betances, maybe even Phil Hughes. Hudson and Texeira could bring back at least five such players, stocking the Braves up for the future.
Maybe it'd be better to trade Hudson and Teixeira separately, though. I'll look at good returns for Hudson later on.
1. Mark Teixeira's gone the second the season ends, so deal him now for the best possible package. I think it's safe to call that trade a bust for Atlanta; yeah, he's been great, but the only way he would've been worth Saltalamacchia, Harrison, Andrus, etc., was if the Braves won a World Series or two or resigned him to a smart long-term deal. Neither's going to happen. There's no way they'll get back anything comparable to what they gave up, but even as a free agent Teixeira should be able to net them a couple of top prospects. He'd fit in well with the Angels, who could use an upgrade at DH and more power from their first baseman. Kendry Morales should be ready for the major leagues, and would be a fine 1B for Atlanta for the next few seasons. I'd do a deal if the Angels would trade Morales and a pitcher or two for Teixeira. Nick Adenhart would be awesome, of course, but I doubt they'd give him up for a half-season of Tex. Jordan Walden is young, but has a lot of potential; Michael Anton is also a few years off, and might not make the majors as a starter, but he's been great thus far in Single-A. Teixeira for Morales, Walden, and Anton could be a good move, if possible.
Other possible destinations for Teixeira: how about Cleveland? Yeah, they're under .500 right now, but they were expected to contend this year, and probably would be if it weren't for a stagnant offense and CC Sabathia's awful start. Teixeira could put them over the top, filling in for the mediocre Ryan Garko at first or in the DH slot. See if the Indians will give up Wes Hodges and two of David Huff, Jensen Lewis, or Jeremy Sowers.
One more: everybody thinks the Yankees will be one of Teixeira's most fervent suitors this off-season. Maybe they'd like to get a jump on the Mets and whoever else by trading for him right now? And since pitching is a big need for them too, how about throwing Tim Hudson into the mix? Hudson might have more trade value than Tex, since he's having a great year and is under contract through '09 (with an option for 2010). Try and package the two together for one blockbuster haul of the Yankees' best prospects, like Alan Horne, Austin Jackson, Jose Tabata, Dellin Betances, maybe even Phil Hughes. Hudson and Texeira could bring back at least five such players, stocking the Braves up for the future.
Maybe it'd be better to trade Hudson and Teixeira separately, though. I'll look at good returns for Hudson later on.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
selling stuff
But first: has anything ever been more frustrating than this Braves team? Other than maybe the Braves teams of '07 and '06?
Okay, I never get rid of things. I'm a ridiculous pack-rat. It pisses my wife off. I probably have over a hundred promo cds I've listened to no more than twice clogging up our bookshelves. I have a serious problem. I'm trying to rectify that. The other week I cleaned out my video game shelf, trading a couple dozen games into Gamestop. Mostly older GameCube and PS2 games, both games I never got into and ones that I loved at the time but would probably never revisit. Only a few were worth more than a few dollars individually, like Metroid Hunters for the DS and Super Smash Brothers Melee (which they're actually charging more for used since Brawl came out, which makes no sense). I didn't think I'd get much for 'em, but overall I got more than a hundred dollars in trade-in value, enough to pick up new copies of GTA IV (maybe you've heard of it?) and No More Heroes (um, completely fucking awesome), and a used copy of God Hand (super repetitive, maybe not all that great, but entertaining in its inscrutable Japan-ness). It might be kind of a rip-off, overall, but Gamestop will take any game, and paid me for completely worthless shit like All Star Baseball 2001 and that horrible Donald Duck game I bought for five bucks six years ago. So yes, good move on my part.
I'm now going through my cds, ripping the ones I still like but wouldn't mind parting with. I'm sitting at 50 or so to go trade in to Newbury Comics. I discovered that I have a couple of cds that are worth a surprising amount of money. Apparently Modest Mouse's Interstate 8 ep is out of print, and goes for twenty to fifty bucks on-line. Even more shocking, the 1995 Infinite Zero reissue of Tom Verlaine's Dreamtime, a copy of which I bought brand new for six dollars at a drug store in Marietta, currently costs $90 to $125 dollars through the few Amazon retailers selling used copies. That's completely ridiculous. I'd be thrilled if I could get half that on eBay.
Anyway, do cd stores even still buy used cds? Did I miss that boat by a couple of years or so?
But first: has anything ever been more frustrating than this Braves team? Other than maybe the Braves teams of '07 and '06?
Okay, I never get rid of things. I'm a ridiculous pack-rat. It pisses my wife off. I probably have over a hundred promo cds I've listened to no more than twice clogging up our bookshelves. I have a serious problem. I'm trying to rectify that. The other week I cleaned out my video game shelf, trading a couple dozen games into Gamestop. Mostly older GameCube and PS2 games, both games I never got into and ones that I loved at the time but would probably never revisit. Only a few were worth more than a few dollars individually, like Metroid Hunters for the DS and Super Smash Brothers Melee (which they're actually charging more for used since Brawl came out, which makes no sense). I didn't think I'd get much for 'em, but overall I got more than a hundred dollars in trade-in value, enough to pick up new copies of GTA IV (maybe you've heard of it?) and No More Heroes (um, completely fucking awesome), and a used copy of God Hand (super repetitive, maybe not all that great, but entertaining in its inscrutable Japan-ness). It might be kind of a rip-off, overall, but Gamestop will take any game, and paid me for completely worthless shit like All Star Baseball 2001 and that horrible Donald Duck game I bought for five bucks six years ago. So yes, good move on my part.
I'm now going through my cds, ripping the ones I still like but wouldn't mind parting with. I'm sitting at 50 or so to go trade in to Newbury Comics. I discovered that I have a couple of cds that are worth a surprising amount of money. Apparently Modest Mouse's Interstate 8 ep is out of print, and goes for twenty to fifty bucks on-line. Even more shocking, the 1995 Infinite Zero reissue of Tom Verlaine's Dreamtime, a copy of which I bought brand new for six dollars at a drug store in Marietta, currently costs $90 to $125 dollars through the few Amazon retailers selling used copies. That's completely ridiculous. I'd be thrilled if I could get half that on eBay.
Anyway, do cd stores even still buy used cds? Did I miss that boat by a couple of years or so?
Thursday, June 05, 2008
sponsoring a show: Love Is All at Great Scott 6-15-08
Mesmerization Eclipse and WZBC 90.3 FM are sponsoring Love Is All's Boston debut at Great Scott on Sunday June 15, 2008. Mean Creek and Big Digits open. I think I'm supposed to have some tickets and/or t-shirts to give away next Friday, if you want to listen up.
DJ made that awesome poster up above, by the way. Talent oozes from that dude.
Mesmerization Eclipse and WZBC 90.3 FM are sponsoring Love Is All's Boston debut at Great Scott on Sunday June 15, 2008. Mean Creek and Big Digits open. I think I'm supposed to have some tickets and/or t-shirts to give away next Friday, if you want to listen up.
DJ made that awesome poster up above, by the way. Talent oozes from that dude.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
