BRIAN WILSON’s music positively beams with “Love and Mercy”, which is part of why his best work is timeless.
Robyn Hitchcock turns back the clock and sings about trams, alcoholic suicides, and dying leaves. It’s the feelgood record of the season.
Calexico finally rouse the restful
By the end of the night, I was covered in sweat. I felt as if I’d just finished watching a show at City Gardens back when I was a teenager.
Stereolab remains a solid, dependable friend. Don’t be a stranger.
Boston Spaceships achieve lift-off, heading straight for the Big Dipper.
My Bloody Valentine end sixteen years of American live performance silence via a deafening roar to close out the massively successful All Tomorrow’s Parties/New York festival.
Shellac put in the best gig of the day, on day 2 of ATP which was filled with great shows.
All Tomorrow’s Parties, the stamp of excellence. Day 1 looks at the “Don’t Look Back” section, with bands like Thurston Moore and Tortoise playing entire records from their discography.
My Morning Jacket brave the storm, bring the storm.
SONIC YOUTH were terrific despite playing virtually the same setlist as they played last month.
They played virtually all of 45s Singles and Under, so any casual fan would’ve been satisfied with the show.
Radiohead’s now king, but rather than press you against the wall they will lift you out of your seat.
If there were any surprises, it was that they played so much material from The Bends.
For the second and final encore, it was a return to the older, more straight-ahead rockers.
King Buzzo and Dale Crover = rockness personified.
ROGUE WAVE came out for an encore and proceeded to play THE SMITHS classic “What Difference Does It Make”.
The loss of long-time member and impressive guitarist Christopher Kleinberg has not slowed mewithoutYou down at all. In attempts to end the show on time, they simply pulled their shirts over their faces while the crowd screamed for one more song. They finished with the highly energetic “January 1979” and ended with a new one called “God, God, God.” / Just a reminder, too, if you haven’t listened in yet, my radio show for BreakthruRadio.com successfully launched, and again, here’s a good chance to hear a good bit of what I/we have been writing about in our issues these last 28 years.
I don’t want to have to wait another 20 years to see them again!
KING KHAN AND THE SHRINES were just pure, animalistic, rocking garage punk fun!
It started raining during JAY REATARD’s set, but it didn’t matter. In fact, it might have even made it that much more intense.
Despite being absent for “Bring the Noise”, FLAVOR FLAV emerged right before they were set to perform “Don’t Believe the Hype”.
Boris and Torche leave a pile of rubble and tattered eardrums.
Levin, a grizzled veteran by now, has come to a distinctive style that, while certainly inspired by his predecessors’ work, is never obviously derivative of anyone in particular. Nor does it stand in one place; Levin is just as likely to play a melodic phrase as to unleash flying flurries of evolving patterns arpeggiated and/or scalar or soar into the altissimo register of his tenor in ecstatic exultation.
I never got to see BAD BRAINS or D.O.A. in their prime, but this must be similar.
Playing all of Daydream Nation last year must have really sunk in as SONIC YOUTH played nearly a third of that amazing record.
The day the nerds won.
After DEVO got the ubiquitous “Whip It” out of the way early on, then we really got the good stuff.
Polvo shake off the dust and return to form.
VERSUS was a reminder that the marriage of distortion and noise with super sweet melodies and quiet/loud dynamics will never go out of style.
A ROB DICKINSON show wouldn’t be complete with at least a few dips into the Catherine Wheel catalog.
Thankfully R.E.M. were able to translate the energy of their new album Accelerate onto the stage.
Mission of Burma relive the past, re-ignite the present, and give us hope for the future.
Overall this night was a smashing success. My only regret is not being able to see their show the next night!
The Pixies may have written about a planet of sound, but Swervedriver lived there.
Sub Pop’s greatest band still breathes fire
This is LA, not Boston – X shows us how the West Coast does it.
Robert Smith and The Cure give us a Boston marathon.
Focusing entirely on their excellent new album, songs like “No Lucifer” sounded as if the band had found some setting for post-punk circa 1982.
Each performance ranged from quiet, reflective and almost meditative to short, fast bursts of dissonant noise.
Nash and King, together again. Break out your martini glass and velour jacket, and join the fun.
Accompanied by musicians on bassoon, harp and clarinet, it felt more like a classical recital than a stereotypical rock concert.
Good bands can never die
Eitzel and Vudi weave tales of beautiful sadness.
Simply put, everything about this show was perfect. HOT CHIP put on the best show I’ve seen all year.
In summary, this show pleased both the diehards and the casual fans alike.
BEACH HOUSE’s live show doesn’t sound much different from the records and they played a nice, slow set.
If BOREDOMS ever come near you, don’t hesitate to see them. There’s no one else on earth even remotely like them.
Boredoms drum Boston straight into self-actualization
The two-drummer setup reminded me of THE FALL circa 1982-1983 or BUTTHOLE SURFERS in their prime.
