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The Church with Adam Franklin - Tupelo Music Hall (Londonderry, NH) - Friday, July 3, 2009

6 July 2009

The Church continue to excel at lush, gauzy, guitar-driven music.

Jay Reatard @ Stuyvestant Town 7/1/09

Jay Reatard with TV Smith - Johnny Brenda's (Philadelphia, PA) - Saturday, July 4th, 2009

5 July 2009

During the encore, TV SMITH proceeded to come out with Jay and his band and they proceeded to play a mini-set of four ADVERTS songs,

Van Der Graaf Generator with Strawbs - The Regent Theater (Arlington, MA) - Tuesday, June 23, 2009

28 June 2009

Prog rock lives, with emphasis on the rock…no Roger Dean-inspired fantasies here.

Sir Richard Bishop and his Freak of Araby Ensemble with Oaxacan and Micah Blue Smaldone - The Middle East (Cambridge, MA) - Wednesday, June 17, 2009

22 June 2009

Sir Richard Bishop plays with a full band for the first time since the end of Sun City Girls.

PJ Harvey and John Parish - House of Blues (Boston) - Saturday, June 06, 2009

8 June 2009

PJ Harvey can singe your soul with a beautiful voice.

Phish - Fenway Park, Boston - Sunday, May 31, 2009

2 June 2009

Phish is safe at home in Phenway Park.

Secret Chiefs 3 with Kayo Dot - The Middle East (Cambridge, MA) - Thursday, May 28, 2009

30 May 2009

Surf’s up, Sufi’s up – join the ride and feel your third eyelid flicker and open.

The Damned with The Bellrays and Electric Frankenstein - Theater of the Living Arts (Philadelphia, PA) - Wednesday, May 13, 2009

16 May 2009

It was oriented a bit more towards their punk-era material than towards their ’80s post-punk/goth incarnations since I love both of those periods.

The Damned with the Bellrays and Electric Frankenstein - The Paradise, Boston - Friday, May 8, 2009

15 May 2009

The Damned were too smart and too talented to stay in the punk cul-de-sac, and successfully mixed both psychedelia and goth along with punk and garage with the main reason of success being that they could write and perform a song much better than the average safety-pin victim.

Mogwai with The Twilight Sad - The Wilbur Theatre (Boston, MA) - Friday, May 1, 2009

4 May 2009

Equal parts brute force and delicate beauty, Mogwai bring a velvet cudgel to the side of your head. And it feels so good.

Neko Case with Crooked Fingers - Keswick Theater (Glenside, PA) - Friday, April 10, 2009

11 April 2009

Even better were selections from 2002’s Blacklisted, her career zenith.

Bob Mould with Andrew Lipke - North Star Bar (Philadelphia, PA) - Friday, April 3, 2009

4 April 2009

The show really gained strength, however, when he switched to his trusted electric guitar.

Morrissey with The Courteeners - House of Blues (Boston, MA) - Sunday, March 29, 2009

30 March 2009

Even Morrissey is subject to the House of Rules.

A.C. Newman with The Broken West - Johnny Brenda's (Philadelphia, PA) - Tuesday, March 17, 2009

18 March 2009

We got “The Town Halo”, arguably the finest song in A.C. NEWMAN’s solo catalog, as the closer.

The Feelies with Qatsi - Johnny Brenda's (Philadelphia, PA) - Friday, March 13, 2009

16 March 2009

Everything suddenly fit a little louder, a little more energetic and we were along for the ride!

Throwing Muses with 50 Foot Wave and Screaming Females - The Middle East (Cambridge, MA) - Saturday, March 14, 2009

15 March 2009

Kristin Hersh jumpstarts Throwing Muses back into brief existence for a triumphant hometown reunion.

Blitzen Trapper with Alela Diane - The Paradise (Boston, MA) - Thursday, February 26, 2009

7 March 2009

The Rose City’s Biltzen Trapper show off the best from last year’s excellent record, Furr.

The Red Bull Sound Clash featuring The Roots and Antibalas - The Roxy (Boston) - Thursday, January 29, 2009

1 February 2009

The Roots and Antibalas work with rather than against each other in Red Bull’s Sound Clash.

Bill Frisell Trio featuring Rudy Royston and Eyvind Kang - The Regattabar (Cambridge, MA) - Tuesday, January 20, 2009

24 January 2009

Long-time jazz great Bill Frisell shows that the music form doesn’t need horns or keyboards for definition.

The Soft Pack with The Browns - Kung Fu Necktie (Philadelphia, PA) - Thursday, January 15, 2009

20 January 2009

Kung Fu Necktie has a cozy size, selection of great beer on tap, terrific sound and a cozy vibe. I could definitely get used to this place.

The Dickies - The Record Collector (Bordentown, NJ) - Thursday, January 1, 2009

12 January 2009

THE DICKIES take absolutely nothing seriously, but still leave you humming their songs with hooks that last for days on end.

The Cro-Mags - Broad Street Ministries (Philadelphia, PA) - Friday, December 26, 2008

8 January 2009

I can’t think of a single song from The Age of Quarrel that they didn’t play.

Yo La Tengo with Jennifer O'Connor - Maxwells (Hoboken, NJ) - Wednesday, December 24, 2008

3 January 2009

They played a cover of the SPARKS classic “Angst In My Pants” as a tribute to RUSSELL MAEL, curator of that evening’s mix CD.

New York Dolls - Irving Plaza (New York) - Saturday, December 27, 2008

31 December 2008

This post-Christmas fix of the New York Dolls live at The Fillmore might just be the best show I’ve seen them play since the 2004 reunion.

The Night Marchers with Obits and Two Tears - The Khyber (Philadelphia, PA) - Tuesday, December 16, 2008

21 December 2008

SPEEDO knocks back Corona after Corona and is extremely obnoxious towards the audience, but in a really funny way.

Ted Leo with Cale Parks - The Barbary (Philadelphia, PA) - Sunday, December 14, 2008

16 December 2008

TED LEO pours his soul into everything he does and this fact cements the connection with his rabid fanbase.

Brian Wilson - Keswick Theater (Glenside, PA) - Saturday, November 22, 2008

5 December 2008

BRIAN WILSON’s music positively beams with “Love and Mercy”, which is part of why his best work is timeless.

Robyn Hitchcock at The Somerville Theater (Somerville, MA) - Friday, November 21, 2008

30 November 2008

Robyn Hitchcock turns back the clock and sings about trams, alcoholic suicides, and dying leaves. It’s the feelgood record of the season.

Calexico - Somerville Theatre (Somerville, MA) - Sunday, November 16, 2008

19 November 2008

Calexico finally rouse the restful

The Dead Millkmen @ Johnny Brenda's 10/25/08

The Dead Milkmen with Mercury Radio Theater and Women - Johnny Brenda's (Philadelphia, PA) - Saturday, October 25, 2008

29 October 2008

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 with Le Loup and Monade - The Paradise (Boston, MA) - Monday, October 6th, 2008

13 October 2008

Stereolab remains a solid, dependable friend. Don’t be a stranger.

Robert Pollard's Boston Spaceships and Big Dipper - The Paradise (Boston, MA) - Tuesday, September 30, 2008

4 October 2008

Boston Spaceships achieve lift-off, heading straight for the Big Dipper.

All Tomorrow's Parties (curated by My Bloody Valentine) Day 3 - Kutsher's (Monticello NY) Sunday, Sept 21, 2008

28 September 2008

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.

All Tomorrow's Parties (curated by My Bloody Valentine) Day 2 - Kutsher's (Monticello NY) Saturday, Sept 20, 2008

28 September 2008

Shellac put in the best gig of the day, on day 2 of ATP which was filled with great shows.

All Tomorrow's Parties (curated by My Bloody Valentine) Day 1 - Kutsher's (Monticello NY) Friday, Sept 19, 2008

25 September 2008

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 - Bank of America Pavilion (Boston, MA) - Saturday, September 6, 2008

7 September 2008

My Morning Jacket brave the storm, bring the storm.

Sonic Youth @ TLA 8/29/08

Sonic Youth with The Hold Steady - Theater of the Living Arts (Philadelphia, PA), Friday, August 29, 2008

30 August 2008

SONIC YOUTH were terrific despite playing virtually the same setlist as they played last month.

Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze @ Keswick Theater 8/22/08

Squeeze - Keswick Theater (Glenside, PA) - Friday, August 22, 2008

30 August 2008

They played virtually all of 45s Singles and Under, so any casual fan would’ve been satisfied with the show.

Radiohead with Grizzly Bear - Comcast Center (Mansfield MA) - Wednesday, August 13, 2008

15 August 2008

Radiohead’s now king, but rather than press you against the wall they will lift you out of your seat.

Radiohead @ Susquehanna Bank Center 8/12/08

Radiohead with Grizzly Bear - Susquehanna Bank Center (Philadelphia, PA) - Tuesday, August 12, 2008

13 August 2008

If there were any surprises, it was that they played so much material from The Bends.

Wilco @ Grand Opera House 8/10/08

Wilco with Jennifer O'Connor - Grand Opera House (Wilmington, DE) - Sunday, August 10, 2008

11 August 2008

For the second and final encore, it was a return to the older, more straight-ahead rockers.

Melvins with Big Business and Porn - The Paradise (Boston, MA) - Saturday August 9, 2008

11 August 2008

King Buzzo and Dale Crover = rockness personified.

Rogue Wave @ Johnny Brenda's 8/8/08

Rogue Wave with Neil Halstead - Johnny Brenda's (Philadelphia, PA) - Friday, August 8, 2008

10 August 2008

ROGUE WAVE came out for an encore and proceeded to play THE SMITHS classic “What Difference Does It Make”.

Guest Review: Maps and Atlases and mewithoutYou live / Listen to Big Takeover on Breakthruradio.com! / Don't Forget the New Issue!

7 August 2008

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.

The Effigies @ Maxwells 7/26/08

The Effigies with EDP - Maxwells (Hoboken, NJ) - Saturday, July 26, 2008

6 August 2008

I don’t want to have to wait another 20 years to see them again!

Boris @ Pitchfork Music Festival 7/20/08

Pitchfork Music Festival (Day 3) - Union Park (Chicago, IL) - Sunday, July 20, 2008

30 July 2008

KING KHAN AND THE SHRINES were just pure, animalistic, rocking garage punk fun!

Jay Reatard @ Pitchfork Music Festival 7/19/08

Pitchfork Music Festival (Day 2) - Union Park (Chicago, IL) - Saturday, July 19, 2008

22 July 2008

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.

Pitchfork Music Festival (Day 1) - Union Park (Chicago, IL) - Friday, July 18, 2008

22 July 2008

Despite being absent for “Bring the Noise”, FLAVOR FLAV emerged right before they were set to perform “Don’t Believe the Hype”.

Boris with Torche - The Middle East (Cambridge, MA) - Friday, July 11, 2008

22 July 2008

Boris and Torche leave a pile of rubble and tattered eardrums.