PLAYGROUND BOSTON

Friday, January 29th @ Middle East Upstairs

Mascara might be the closest thing Boston has to a local rock Supergroup (You know, now that the Holidad All-Stars are no more) Chris Mascara is the lead-singer avatar for the Rock Band games, and is doing work with Blue Man Group this year. He’s recruited two of the best and most recognizable musicians in town to help out on his original material, Bo Barringer of MEandJOANCOLLINS, and Matt Traber, one of Sarah Rabdau’s Self-Employed Assassins. Should be a great show, it’ll be the CD Release for the new album Fountain of Tears, as well as a tour kickoff. Also playing are Ho-Ag, Super 400, and Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.

Friday, January 29th @ TT’s

This Friday marks the kickoff of the “Blackbutton Presents” series, an attempt to better bring the local music scene together (We’re always fans of that here at PGB!). The boys of Blackbutton have put together a lineup full of some of their favorite bands in town, and will be offering compilation CDs as giveaways to the first 50 people through the door. These guys put out a LOT of sound for just a 2-man outfit – this past summer we dubbed them the loudest band at the P-Town Festival, up against some stiff competition. Their style is a new twist on the grunge rock you grew up listening to – check them out! Also featured on this bill are Dead Cats Dead Rats, A Wish For Fire, and Left Hand Does.

Saturday, January 30th @ Middle East Upstairs

TAB the Band’s received plenty of coverage on PGB – definitely an act worth catching. Their straightforward, irreverant approach to rock and roll is refreshing in a sea of so many acts taking themselves too seriously. This will be the CD Release party for their newest infectiously catchy offering, Zoo Noises. Make sure to show up in time to catch Trucker Mouth too, these guys have a great bluesy southern style that makes you want to stomp your feet and get down ‘n dirty. They’ll be joined by local rock rising stars Gold Star Morning, and NYC’s Edison.

Saturday, January 30th @ Precinct

Saturday Night at Precinct is chock full of some seriously impressive local talent, a perfect environment for singer/songwriters to show off their chops. Alice Austin is one to watch in the local scene – she’s poised for a trip to SXSW later this month, and its only a matter of time before you won’t be able to catch her in a cozy dark room like Precinct. She’s bluesy, she’s gritty, she’s got a powerful sultry voice that serves as a great accent to her twangy guitar riffs. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I distinctly remember thinking last time I saw her act that there was something undeniably Mike Ness-ish about her – and I certainly don’t say that about just anyone. See for yourself on Saturday, where she’ll be joined by Myra Flynn, Mary Casiello, Jesse McCullagh, and Stereo Soul Future.

This Blue Heaven

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Organ Beats

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Conservative Man

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The Luxury

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All Photos by Seth C. Drury

Thursday, January 14th @ TT The Bears

PGB Staff across town will be converging on this show for sure! This show features a great lineup of bluesy Americana-style rock – heartfelt vocals, ripping guitar, and a sweet groove sure to get everyone in the bar moving. PGB Favorites The Few have been hard at work in the studio for quite some time now, so this is their first Boston appearance in months. We’re looking forward to seeing what they have up their sleeve in terms of new material – and possibly new guitars crafted by the band’s bassist and Becker Guitars luthier Ryan Martin!

Friday, January 15th @ Church

This should be an excellent show. Varsity Drag is Ben Deily from the Lemonheads‘ side project, they’ve been rocking around Boston for quite some time now and are ready to lay down their new CD Night Owls on the Boston masses. ‘Drag features Deily’s sugary sweet vocals laid down over catchy-as-all-hell uptempo pop hooks. They’ll be joined on the bill by rockers I, Pistol, featuring Rick Taylor’s commanding lead vocals and Daanen Krouth from The Luxury on lead guitar.

Friday, January 15th @ Olivers

OK so we’ve all seen better flyers. Let me just say that and get it out of the way right now. But hey, we also all know that a good flyer doesn’t necessarily dictate a good show, and thus a bad one doesn’t mean the show’s going to be bad as well. Case in point on this show here. Back Seat Lover is a Pearl Jam tribute – that’s cool, but hey, you know all the songs. The real hidden gem in this lineup is Moonstone Lady. They put on an AMAZING live show, full of energy. Each member of the band is extremely talented, like ridiculously so. Think Stevie Ray Vaughn meets Dream Theater – one part blues, one part prog, all rock. I just received the EP they’ll be releasing at this show and I’m blown away. Take a minute to check out the songs they’ve posted on their myspace, then do yourself a favor and head on down to Olivers to catch their live show!

Saturday, January 16th @ PA’s Lounge

More PGB Favorites playing this weekend! St. Helena had a solid 2009 featuring a critically acclaimed album Slow Jack, an appearance at CMJ, a sordid affair with BBC’s One Night Band, a benefit show for Pinups for Pitbulls, and countless other performances. They’re currently in the studio recording a follow-up album to their last EP, but have taken time off from recording to put together an excellent lineup over at PA’s this Saturday. Broken River Prophet and The Northeast Sky feature veterans of the Boston music scene coming together for new projects, while the Ugly Fucklings, aside from having one of the best names in the entire city, play an impossibly fun style of punk rock infused with 50’s rock and roll.

Sunday, January 17th @ Church

This is a nice little Sunday show here. RIBS has a very cool sound, well worth checking out. They’ve got the noise-rock thing going, while at the same time featuring layered compositions that add so much more substance. The dark combination of vocals and frantic guitars enable their sound to jump from a Death From Above 1979 to a fast-paced, much less depressing Joy Division. They’ll be joined on the bill by Art Decade, with an experimental style that PGB Staffer Nick Grieco describes as “The Mars Volta and Rx Bandits had a baby named Frank Zappa, who grew up listening to The Fall of Troy and Damiera.” If that sounds like your style, you definitely want to check these guys out. One more thing about this show – its cheap! Tickets are $8 at the door, but RIBS was nice enough to provide us with an advance purchase link that lets you pick them up for only $6. Click here to take advantage!

Jason Halogen, Brendan Boogie, and The All-Star Celebrity Charity Relief Aid Singalong Chorus Choir (Featuring Bavid Dowie, Lyndi Cauper, Bimon LeSon, & Spruce Bringsteen)

“This Holidád (Feed them Holidád)”

Special Release for Will Dailey’s Festivál Holidád

© 2009 Mad Science Studios

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We’ve got something a little different for you this week for the PGB TOTW. This song was written by Jason Halogen (of The Luxury) and Brendan Boogie (of The Best Intentions) to celebrate the show they’ll be playing this Friday, December 11th at the Paradise with Will Dailey and Violet Nine. As is the case with any holiday benefit song, celebrities flocked to their side to be included on the recording.

For the show, there’s going to be holiday surprises everywhere, and Brendan Boogie and the Best Intentions will also be releasing a new CD at this show, The Sweet & The Brutal. No word yet on whether the ‘All-Stars will be in attendance at the ‘Dise. So check out the song, and don’t forget to check out the series of Holidád videos that Jason, Brendan, Will, and the Violet Nine guys have also been making to promote the show – here’s the link to their YouTube channel. Be sure to check out my favorite, “Inviting Brendan!”

Like the song? Like the videos? Hate everything but recognize a great local lineup when you see one? Then get down to the Paradise this Friday 12/11 for Will Dailey’s Festivál Holidád! Tickets can be purchased in advance here!

Presented by WERS

Will Dailey & The Rivals

The Luxury

Brendan Boogie & The Best Intentions

Violet Nine

I realize posting a review of a show that happened two weeks ago may be considered old news by any blog and music standards, and for this, I apologize. But, this band is worth writing about, regardless of how timely this post might be.

How many blondes does it take to make a hundred people dance? Answer: one.

Sarah Guild, the petite dynamo fronting The New Collisions, blew me away with her powerful stage presence at their CD release party. Of course, there is something to be said about a platinum stunner as the voice to a pop/ rock band: Blondie, Letters to Cleo, No Doubt, Be Your Own Pet. There’s nothing dumb about these fierce leading ladies. And, it’s a formula that works.

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Lovewhip

“Automatic”

Love Electric

© 2009 Juicy Juju Records

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Official Release Date: 11/17

Lovewhip is having their Boston CD Release tonight (11/12) at Church, head down to pick up a copy of the album before its official release!

Lovewhip’s Website

This Friday Dead Friends has put together an incredible lineup of local Boston punk rock to help celebrate the release of their debut CD, The Afterlife. Dead Friends is a Boston punk and hardcore all-star team, consisting of ex-members of bands such as Nowhere USA, Strawhorse, and Splint, coming together to sing furious anthems about the city they grew up in and the people they grew up with. They put on an extremely high-energy show, highlighted by frontman Mark Doherty’s chaotic jumping all over the stage. The recording process for this CD began back in June, and both the release and the release party are among the most anticipated in the local scene. The first 100 CDs sold will be Limited Edition releases, only available at the show, so make sure to get there early and pick up a copy! The album features artwork and photography from local heroes Dave Tree (Tree, Superpower), Nicole Tammaro (Nicole Tammaro Photography), and Scruffy Wallace (Dropkick Murphys), so you know it’s going to look as badass as it sounds!

The bill put together for this show is unbelievable. The Welch Boys are on board, they haven’t played a show in quite some time but are coming out Friday to support Dead Friends’ new album. They feature a fast, aggressive style with powerfully angry vocals. Chris Skel & The Original Sins are coming up from New Jersey for this show as well. After the Skels went on hiatus, Chris recruited friends from bands such as Darkbuster and Hudson Falcons to help him put out his own CD. Check out his music – it ranges from mellow ballads to surf rock to Irish-style punk fucking rock! Gozu’s been terrorizing the Boston scene with their brand of hard stoner rock, look for them to tear the roof down Friday night. Gozu’s sound is best described on their website by Hackman’s Daryl Shepard, who says Gozu’s frontman Marc Gaffney “has the pipes Chris Cornell used to possess before he started modeling men’s cologne.” Rounding out the bill is recent PGB Track of the Week pick Burning Streets, ready to bring their triumphant punk rock style back to the Middle East. Their debut CD, released this fall, hit as high as #70 on the Interpunk charts – very impressive considering the stiff competition on that list from national headliners, large indie-label signees, and big major-label corporate darlings.

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