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FallGuide2009
  • April 19, 2008
    By Carly Carioli


    Mylene: Queen of Pop

    This week in the fishwrap, Charles Taylor makes the case for French pop, through the lens of the latest Mrs. Johnny Depp album. Below, longtime Phoenix critic Michael Freedberg, whom we consider our resident expert on the topic, provides his own master-class in variete francaise -- one that is necessarily weighted towards Mylene Farmer, who is the Reed to his Bangs, the Kixx to his Eddy. In his commentary on these 17 "best-of-the-best" tracks, Freedberg elaborates on the spirit of liberte that infuses the best of Mylene; teases out the existential bark in Pascal Obispo's bite; and introduces us to a breadth of French pop that swings from the volcanic rock-n-roll swagger of Noir Desir to the tipsy modernist electro of Melissa Mars. It's the depth of feeling that Freedberg responds to in these tracks; at times, when we were recording this session about a week ago, the critic sobbed openly in the studio while the tracks played back.

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  • April 14, 2008
    By Carly Carioli

    No Request Zone: Real Talk from Boston's DJ Elite 

    Not long ago, we teamed up with our sister mag Stuff at Night to bring together eight of Boston's finest DJs to shoot the shit about the state of dance music in our fair city. It turned out to be far more interesting than we had any right to expect it would be, and may even have squashed some beef in the process. Was kinda awesome to see the youngbloods pay respects to a 20-year vet like Bruno, who sat at the head of the table and dispensed knowledge like the Godfather. And it was also awesome to be able to make what we hope will be some lasting introductions. The conversation meandered from practical advice -- like how to handle obnoxious requests -- to big-picture shit, like Bruno and the Soul Clap dudes talking about the evolution of tastes and audiences, Baltimoroder dropping ready-for-dissertation paragraphs on the effects of technology on the profession, and DJ Knife lamenting his switchover to Serrato. You can watch the trailer above, and read the whole article over at StuffAtNight as part of their annual music issue.

    But the best thing to come out of this whole meeting was a commitment to actually get everyone in the room on the same bill -- no small feat, and in our minds kinda historic in terms of bringing together a bunch of different scenes. Tonight, all eight DJs from the roundtable will be taking turns on the turntables at the Good Life, launching what we hope will become a regular everyone-and-the-kitchen-sink event. But on the off chance that never happens, you might want to stop by. It's free, with complimentary PBR for the early birds: but it's also list-only, so make sure to rsvp to RSVP@stuffatnight.com.

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  • March 27, 2008
    By Will Spitz
    Caribou (aka, Dan Snaith, the self-taught, math pro, psychedlic-obsessed Canadian musician we interviewed recently) loves his light projections. Below, see photos from last night's Caribou show at the Dise. Snaith's self-created, kaleidoscopic light projections led to even trippier photos, and I increased the level of color-smashed artiness in Photoshop to make 'em extra far out for ya. Enjoy, and watch for Will Spitz's review of the show, coming soon.





















    Caribou at the Paradise Rock Club, March 26, 2008
    All photos by Caitlin E. Curran

    --Caitlin E. Curran




  • November 28, 2007
    By Carly Carioli

    If you're headed to M.I.A. at the Palladium tonight, get there early: Cool Kids have cancelled, but we're dying to see what C440R's monster party-rap duo have in store when they step in tonight as a last-minute opening act. Big Digits at the Palladium: who'da thunk it? For an idea of how much awesomeness is in store, check the video above to see what happened the last time someone offered TD and Mac Swell a nice big stage.

  • November 25, 2007
    By Carly Carioli
     
    Come, "Hurricane" (Live at the Middle East, 11/10/2007)

    Sure, it was only two songs. (Turns out they had a third ready to go, but decided against it. What, the applause wasn't loud enough? "Exactly," said Chris Brokaw.) But since this was the first time Come have performed since their 2 1/2-hour farewell gig at the MidEast's downstairs room back in -- what, 1998? -- well, this was pretty fucking rad. Brokaw, on loan from Thurston Moore's band and a zillion other projects, hopped up after Thalia Zedek's band played a more-blistering-than-usual set, providing the pentultimate thrill on the occasion of the Middle East's 20th anniversary as a rock club, which is not coincidentally Billy Ruane's birthday, and is also coincidentally ME booker Kevin Hoskins's B-day. Whew. Yes, Hallelujah the Hills and Helms and IV Diffusion and Drug Rug were great, but dude: Come played a fucking reunion show. And since you weren't there, we brought back this clip. We've got the other song in a holding cell, waiting for an encore, along with some awesome footage of Hallelujah the Hills covering the Beatles, which we haven't asked them for permission to post yet. More anon, then. Many thanks to Leslie McCleave for additional footage.

  • November 12, 2007
    By Caitlin E. Curran


    We never knew Noah was so flexible.

    Every time a Boston band moves away (one of the good ones, anyway) one of the Pixies drops dead. Or something like that. From the Dead Trees’ MySpace:

    "Although we've had some good times here, The Dead Trees will be moving to Portland, OR, sometime in the coming months. Come out and party at the Middlesex Nov. 12th, as our friends Drug Rug, Tulsa, Age Rings, Mittens, Kelsey Bennett, and Viva Viva will be playing! That's right, party on a Monday. It would be great to see all of our friends before we leave.

    Also, The Cribs have cancelled their US tour due to 'scheduling conflicts.' I mean, they knew they were going to be touring, what else could they possibly have to do? So, if you were going to come to The Paradise, come out to The Middlesex instead."

    Well, there you have it. We’ll call Frank Black and make sure he’s okay. Bummer that we're losing another one, but at least the trade-off is a show bursting with Boston band awesomeness. We saw a similar line-up at a packed PA’s a few Fridays ago, and the show was incendiary enough to make the Black Lips’ gig at the Middle East that same night seem positively tepid. Get there early, kids, we think this one’s gonna sell out.

    In case you missed it: The Dead Trees did a Daytrotter session.

    Listen:
    Drug Rug
    Tulsa
    Age Rings
    Mittens
    Kelsey Bennett
    Viva Viva

  • October 01, 2007
    By webteam

    For those of you reading this at work: the weekend ain't over yet, snitches. Many of you will have Tuesdays bookmarked as Hearthrob night, but they're going early this week to accomodate a dude who we'd postpone Christmas to see. Even if you don't listen to SINDEN's UK radio show or have the funds to fly over the pond to catch his resident sets at Fabric, you've probably encountered his remixes, sets, image, and likeness on this blog and many others (those Mad Decent guys, for example, are obsessed). His Counterfeet label, with Dave "Switch" Taylor, is runnin' thangs.

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  • October 01, 2007
    By Carly Carioli

    For those of you reading this at work: the weekend ain't over yet, snitches. Many of you will have Tuesdays bookmarked as Hearthrob night, but they're going early this week to accomodate a dude who we'd postpone Christmas to see. Even if you don't listen to SINDEN's UK radio show or have the funds to fly over the pond to catch his resident sets at Fabric, you've probably encountered his remixes, sets, image, and likeness on this blog and many others (those Mad Decent guys, for example, are obsessed). His Counterfeet label, with Dave "Switch" Taylor, is runnin' thangs.

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  • September 21, 2007
    By Carly Carioli

    Monsterous edition of THUNDERDOME tonight, bringing Baltimore Clurb legend Scottie B and Spank Rock's Chris Rockswell to the decks, along with resident headbangers Micl Ptvn, Mistaker, and DJ Die Young to represent the home team. Special live-video guests: Robotkid (ask him how much the new Harmonix game Rock Band is gonna rule) and Matt Boch. Beware: it's at a new venue this month, and taking a cue from Robotkid's email, we're throwing in a map below instead of mpfrees.

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  • September 04, 2007
    By webteam

     



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  • August 28, 2007
    By Carly Carioli

    Sort of like that episode of his brother's TV show, only with waaaay lower-end sponsors. If anyone goes to this, email us. We'll post comments . . . anonymously, of course.

  • August 16, 2007
    By Carly Carioli

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  • August 10, 2007
    By Caitlin E. Curran
    Insert obligatory joke here about Daft Punk playing at Brooklyn's house/ Lollapalooza's house/ Las Vegas' house / basically anywhere BUT our house.  Or just watch the live footage of "Robot Rock," in Brooklyn:



    And, in case you missed it, Kayne's forgotten his anti-French dance music grudge and sampled Daft Punk - video evidence here:
  • July 27, 2007
    By Caitlin E. Curran




















    Rock The Bells After Party/Frank151 Book Release Party at the Underbar, Boston, MA.
    July 26, 2007
    All photos by Alison Vaughn

    There's a video camera with a big booming light affixed on top making its way around the club.  Two gents, one with the camera, and the other with a microphone, are scuttling around the semi-sparse Underbar, getting quotes from the locals about what they think of mega cool mega brand Frank 151.  

    You see, Frank done did it again.  Beyond their coffee sales, their rolling paper business cards, their clothing line, and their by-appointment-only barber shop in lower Manhattan, they are, in their essence a publication company.  And the Karma Loopers, Future Classicists, and Bodegans had all gathered to help celebrate Frank's 29th release of its internationally renown urban (sub)culture magazine.   This particular edition, entitled "Lost Angels" was curated by Mr. Cartoon and Estevan Oriol, a.k.a. the design department of the Soul Assassins. Photography, graffiti, comic strips, and tattoo stories fill out this issue, which has a very specific Los Angeles focus.

    So why celebrate a New York-based magazine's issue about L.A. with a party in Boston?  Well, it just so happens that the Frank 151 brand has been traveling with a little thing called the Rock The Bells Tour -- a hip-hop festival in the vain of Lollapalooza -- which boasts a line-up that includes Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Cypress Hill, and Talib Kweli to name a few.  The RTB tour landed at the Tweeter Center on Thursday night, so it only seemed appropriate to host an after party and conjoin it with a book release party in the lush loungey environs of Boston's Theatre District.

    Frank 151 brought with them two stellar djs – Synapse and Large Professor - to move the party in the right direction.   Boston native DJ Synapse took the early shift, bumping the typical hip-hop fare.  The night was still young, and if it were to turn into something, anything resembling a "party", he needed to entice the revelers with familiar faves.   Unfortunately, by the time he got around to the divine "React" by the dynamic duo of Redman and Erick Sermon, it was fairly evident that there wasn't going to be much reaction from the crowd on this night.

    The legendary Large Professor stepped to the decks a little after midnight and he mobilized the Pioneer CDJ set-up into a Musicology 101 lesson.   Large Pro's dj set had a purpose.  His song selection had a very determined and distinguished flare versus his opener.   He started with a solid foundation, spinning elementarily old soul, r & b, and funk instrumentals, while occasionally blending in a little Marvin Gaye vocals.  He gradually built up the vibe, moving into Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash's "White Lines", stressing the killer bassline that is nearly impossible not to move to.   And yet, the whispers of wisdom seemed lost on the party people, save for a few damsels whose enthusiasm brought them up upon some platforms reserved for boogie down sessions.

    By last call, the soiree simmered into a chill-time affair, despite the bumping beats.  Large Professor, in a perhaps last ditch effort, even extended an olive branch to the Bostonians, playing "Skills" by hometown hero Guru and his group Gang Starr.   But the hit track could not fell the conversations at the bar. 

    Are there no true heroes or heroines amongst the party-time populous? Or are they all too tuckered out from attending an 8 hour hip-hop extravaganza earlier in the day?   This is Boston, not New York, and certainly not L.A. --  and, it's summer.  In humid late July, RSVP-only nights at secret unadvertised clubs with a vague focus just might be the wrong formula for this town.

    --Mac Carroll

  • July 24, 2007
    By Caitlin E. Curran


    From Girl Talk, via his MySpace blog:

    On Wednesday, I had a show in Boston opening up for Widespread Panic.  I had never heard this band before, but I knew they were in genre of "jam band."  I don't know anything about the jam scene really, which is part of the reason why I wanted to do the show.  I knew it was going to be weird, which I guess was also part of the allure of doing it.  My shows from 2000 to 2005 were oftentimes like this, playing with an unrelated band whose audience could a damn about me and I get it up there and try to have a party. 

     

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