PLAYGROUND BOSTON

Local superpromoter and faithful defender of local music Shred is taking over this city on Saturday. After his time as local music director at WBCN, overseeing Boston Emissions and over a dozen Rumbles, Shred has been booking countless shows throughout the city at a variety of different clubs. He’s responsible for the rise of hundreds of local bands over the years – you can ask just about any act in town and they’re sure to have a story or two about a Shred show they’ve played. In an era where music promoters can be extremely shady and dishonest, Shred has an immaculate reputation for staunchly supporting his bands and keeping their best interest in mind above all else. If you’re in a band in Boston trying to make your impact on the local scene, you want Team Shred in your corner!

This is the second annual rendition of the Team Shred Knight Out. To keep it short and simple (yeah right, like I ever keep anything short and simple), Shred’s booked 5 different clubs across Cambridge and Allston with local talent he’s been impressed with over the past year to create a sort of mini-festival of local rock. These bands aren’t necessarily the best-known on the local scene, but that in no way indicates a lack of talent or entertainment factor – everyone’s gotta start somewhere! So do yourself a favor, check out some bands you may have never heard of before, and see who’s on the rise in Boston music today! Here are the lineups for each venue, complete with their website links so you can get a feel for each band before deciding which show to head down to.

SATURDAY, JUNE 5
“Team Shred: Knight Out II”

Middle East Downstairs – $10. / 18+ / 8pm doors
“THE PAKISTANI PUNK ROCK DANCE PARTY”
THE KOMINAS (from Boston via Pakistan)
SUNNY ALI AND THE KID (from Philadelphia via Pakistan)
UNCLE LEFTY
MOJO KICK

http://www.myspace.com/thekominas
http://www.myspace.com/moshallah
http://www.myspace.com/unclelefty
http://www.myspace.com/wearemojokick

Harper’s Ferry – $10. / 18+ / 8pm doors
THE FINE AND DANDY TRIO
T.A.S.T.E.
BEAR MOTOR
THE COLA WAR VETS

http://www.myspace.com/thefineanddandytrio
http://www.myspace.com/tasteislife
http://www.myspace.com/bearmotor
http://www.myspace.com/colawarvets

TT The Bears – $10. / 18+ / 8pm doors
BANANA PHONETIC
BLACK TAXI (from Brooklyn)
RED QUIET
WESTGATE

http://www.myspace.com/bananaphonetic
http://www.myspace.com/blacktaximusic
http://www.myspace.com/redquiet
http://www.myspace.com/westgateboston

Middle East Upstairs – $10. / 18+ / 8pm doors
ACTION VERBS
AWAIT RESCUE
THE HANDS OFF LOVE AFFAIR
LEAVE BY SIX

http://www.myspace.com/actionverbs
http://www.myspace.com/awaitrescue
http://www.myspace.com/thehandsoffloveaffair
http://www.myspace.com/leavebysix

O’Brien’s Pub – $9. / 21+ / 8:30pm doors
WYATT KING & THE SEX MACHINES (ex-MIDNIGHT HOWLERS)
THE ROCKEFELLER FORTUNE
BAYLOCK
AIRPORT

http://www.myspace.com/wyattking
http://www.myspace.com/therockefellerfortune
http://www.myspace.com/baylockmusic
http://www.myspace.com/listentoairport

Hey Everyone! Nick Grieco here, delivering to you my first Boston show review for PlaygroundBoston.com! I’m excited to be able to share my accounts of the best and brightest musicians in the ever-growing Boston music scene.

The first show I had the pleasure of reviewing is the Await Rescue EP release that took place at the Middle East Upstairs on August 7th. Upon walking in I was handed an Await Rescue Download card, containing the code to access the site where I could download their entire EP, which I promptly did when I came home. I just have to say that the convenience of this innovation in music distribution is something I feel all bands should be taking advantage of, so major props to Await Rescue for hopping on this wagon.

(continue reading…)