"Aw' c'mon" Show Review - The Soft Pack @ Great Scott. Allston, MA

I went to see The Soft Pack last night at Great Scott in Allston.  I've been digging thier self titled album a lot and at $10 a ticket, I'd be an asshole not to go. The opening bands were Beaters & NODZZZ.  I missed almost all of the Beaters' set but caught all of NODZZZ...unfortunately, could have done without.  I really don't like to hate on bands, but this one was not one of my favorites.  I wont harp on them any longer, just not a fan.  Anyway, the Soft Pack came out and played a great set.  I was blown away by their talent.  It always gets me when I see dudes younger than me ripping it up on stage, touring and living the dream.  Not to mention releasing one hell of a great album (Self Titled - Feb 2010).  Hailing from sunny San Diego, it only makes sense their record solicits summer suns and warm surf tones.  Really energetic, punk influenced, garage rock is what I like and is what the Soft Pack are all about.  I 100% recommend checking them out if they make their way to your neck of the woods this year.

31-Mar	MAXWELL’S w/ NODZZZ, BEATERS	Hoboken, New Jersey
1-Apr	THE MERCURY LOUNGE w/ NODZZZ, BEATERS	Manhattan, New York
3-Apr	MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG w/ MALE BONDING, NODZZZ, BEATERS	Brooklyn, New York
6-Apr	LA TULIPE w/ MALE BONDING, BEATERS	Montreal
7-Apr	EL MOCAMBO CLUB w/ MALE BONDING, BEATERS	Toronto
8-Apr	MAGIC STICK w/ MALE BONDING, BEATERS	Detroit, Michigan
9-Apr	THE EMPTY BOTTLE w/ MALE BONDING, BEATERS	Chicago, Illinois
10-Apr	TURF CLUB w/ MALE BONDING, BEATERS	St. Paul, Minnesota
13-Apr	CHOP SUEY w/ MALE BONDING	Seattle, Washington
14-Apr	DOUG FIR LOUNGE w/ MALE BONDING	Portland, Oregon
15-Apr	BOTTOM OF THE HILL w/ MALE BONDING	San Francisco, California
18-Apr	COACHELLA	Indio, California

The Soft Pack

This song is awesome. "C'Mon"

Live on Letterman. Oh, check out the drummer.  He's practically standing upright when he plays. Kinda intense.

Rad Flyer Art for an Awesome Show in Texas.

Excellent art. Just had to share this flyer I saw on Pitchfork today promoting a kick ass pair of shows in Austin, TX this weekend; more specifically the Pitchfork/Windish Austin Party and the Pitchfork SXSW Showcase.

The Pitchfork/Windish Austin Bash (Emo's, March 19):
12:00 - Warpaint (Emo's Jr.)
12:30 - Local Natives (Emo's)
1:00 - Javelin (Emo's Jr.)
1:30 - Free Energy (Emo's)
2:00 - Real Estate (Emo's Jr.)
2:30 - Washed Out (Emo's)
3:00 - Dâm-Funk (Emo's Jr.)
3:30 - Best Coast (Emo's)
4:00 - Memory Tapes (Emo's Jr.)
4:30 - Surfer Blood (Emo's)
5:00 - Neon Indian (Emo's Jr.)
5:30 - Japandroids (Emo's)
The Pitchfork SXSW Showcase (The Scoot Inn, March 20):
7:30 - Titus Andronicus
8:15 - The Smith Westerns
9:00 - Here We Go Magic
9:45 - Pictureplane
10:30 - The Very Best
11:15 - Bear in Heaven
12:00 - Freddie Gibbs
12:45 - Sleigh Bells

Video/Review: Surfer Blood - Swim

So I went to see Surfer Blood Tuesday night at Great Scott in Allston. They played with Doomstar! and Turbo Fruits. Doomstar! was really sick and I could have done without 75% of Turbo Fruits' set. Which wasn't really expected after giving their album Echo Kid a listen.  Anyhow, Surfer Blood were amazing and I've been playing Astro Coast a lot lately due to it's greatness.  I'm fkng ridiculously busy at work right now, so I figured throwing up their new video for "Swim" will suffice for now.  You will hear this song on the radio in...ohh, 4 months? Maybe sooner.

Also check out the new Insound Studio Sessions for 3 additional Surfer Blood vids; Twin Peaks, Swim and Harmonix.

Pavement Reunion Tour Dates Spark Bummer

Damnit! Of course Pavement just added a Boston show to their reunion tour, and of couse it's at the shitty Agganis Arena! It's where the BU hockey team plays and it also plays host to some of the bigger acts to come through the Bean like Daughtry, Alicia Keys, Weezer...and now Pavement? No! I hope this is some kind of mistake or terribly unfunny joke.  In all honesty I'll probably still go, cause I love this band, but after seeing a sub-par Dropkick Murphys show there once, I am negatively excited.

Here's a complete list of dates and venues for the Pavement reunion tour.

Pretty intense set list, no?

Show Review: New Found Glory with Saves The Day - Boston, MA

Sunday night, House of Blues, Boston.  Jam packed with what seemed to be only 16 - 21 year olds...plus 25 yr old me.  Vans shoes, skinny jeans, and stupid swoop haircuts galore.  However, I'm not here to rip apart the emo/pop punk sub-culture of today.  I'm posting to provide my take on two bands in particular who are both responsible for contributing to the soundtrack of my youth (aka the good old days).  Those bands of course being Saves The Day & New Found Glory.  

Saves the Day played first.  I was jacked up on the dieselest sized Red Bull (splash of vodka) and memories of blasting Can't Slow Down and Through Being Cool every day in high school.  I previewed their setlist and it was legit so I knew this was going to be sick.  They took the stage and I immediately had some issues.  You see, STD has undergone numerous band member updates over the years, and with each restructure, I cringe a bit.  This was the worst.  There is now only one original member of Saves the Day remaining; singer/guitairst Chris Conley.  I will hand it to the foursome though.  They sounded great! If you closed your eyes you wouldn't be able to tell if you were listening to the new lineup or the original 5 piece from back in the day.  However, they definitely could have been louder, and the crowd seemed to not give a shit about them.  Everyone was just standing, emotionless.  Clearly all there for the headliner; NFG.  I was bummed out a bit.  It just lacked the feel of originality and everything I love/loved about this band.  I made the comment "it's like a Saves the Day cover band featuring Chris Conley.  Anyhow, I'm glad I saw them.  Excellent set list (great mix of old shit and new).

(as I saw them last night

...and how I remember them)

Some of my favorites

Saves The Day

Make way for NFG.  I have to admit.  I reverted to 16 year old Steve for thier set.  New Found Glory played their self titled album in its entirety from start to finish. So sick. This record was adolescent gold back in high school. Clearly I'm going to lose my cool and jump around like a moron with the youngsters. They sounded great. Loud, fast, energetic; everything that makes GOOD pop punk so fun. Plus the members of the band are actually older than I am so I didn't feel like that big a douche. Anyhow, I didn't care about all that when I was in the thick of it. No, the embarrassment set in much later on the train ride home, where I found myself surrounded by sweaty inarticulate teenagers (who were just as sweaty as I mind you).

New Found Glory - 10th Anniver...

So, overall it was a great show. Saves the Day = 6.8 and NFG = 9.0.  Time machine shows are always good...so long as I can get over the whole "I'm an old dude who shouldn't be here" feeling they so inevitably emote.

Album of the Day: Four Tet - "There Is Love In You"

(image links to iTunes store)

I checked out Four Tet last night at the Middle East in Cambridge and it was actually a really great show. Picture a basement-like atmosphere packed with sweaty kids dancing, bobbing their heads, and pounding PBRs to some smooth, well crafted beats. So of course I've been playing his shit all day. Just thought I'd share this great album with fellow (good) music fans. Never thought I'd dig electronic stuff, but it's legit growing on me.

Choice tracks: "Love Cry", "Angel Echoes", "She Just Likes to Fight", "Circling" & "Sing"

There Is Love In You - Four Te...

This Week's Noteworthy Shows - Boston, MA

-Wednesday 6 January 2010- 
Passion Pit - with Magic Magic and The Dirty Dishes  - House of Blues - Boston, MA

-Friday 8 January 2010-
Julian Casablancas  - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA

-Saturday 9 January 2010-
"Hot Stove Cool Music" - State Radio, The Low Anthem, Tinted Windows, Bronson Arroyo, Bill Janovitz, Peter Gammons, Theo Epstein, Ken Casey and MC- Mike O'Malley  - House of Blues - Boston, MA

This Week's Noteworthy Shows - Boston, MA

-Thursday 17 December 2009-
Raekwon - with Capone and Noreaga, Queen Yonasda - Paradise Rock Club
Fanfarlo - with Freelance Whales and The Painted Lights  -  T.T. the Bear's Place

-Friday 18 December 2009-
stellastarr* - with The Postelles and The Daily Pravda - Paradise Rock Club

-Saturday 19 December 2009-
Thursday - with The Dillinger Escape Plan, Fake Problems and Endless Hallway- The Middle East Downstairs