A Shot At Life
Set me up, set me up with another shot and beer. A shot to symbolize what you have to take that's bitter in life and and a beer to soothe out the aftermath, what eases you out of the pain. I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay, like Otis Redding sang about one time and he didn't know that was the last bay he'd be sitting on, he was dead in a plane crash weeks later. But I'm drinking my beer after the shot. Just watching the tide, the water comes in and sweeps what else away? Sweeps the human deluge back out to sea. And it reminds me of the people who've been swept away by the tides of life and don't exist anymore and don't get to look, to see and be, and they're swept out of life, swept out to sea.
My best friend, Jim, same name as mine, same as me and he's swept put into eternity with liver cancer at 38. There's no rhyme or reason, is there? Steve dead at 28, heart attack, and cancer taking Andy's friend, swept out to sea, also, to eternity. All our friends, all our lives, it's not destiny just random horseshoes or a game of marbles-that's what I think. All our loves, our women or men in our lives, that at one time meant so much to us, that we couldn't believe we could breathe one more second without them and they're swept out, swept out to sea. And we're left with memories and thoughts of where they might be.
Bonnie, I'm sure you're not a nymphomaniac anymore, I just wonder how many children you have and if you're happy. Marie, did you kick your habit? I'm hoping you did and you're in suburban bliss as it is. Debbie C. from San Diego, I'm sure you're okay, strange our paths met this way. Lonnie, hope you' re alive, though it wouldn't surprise me if you ain't, take care, brother.I could name all the girls, all the guys, whom I hope aren't dead and are living in peace. "Looks like nothings gonna change, everything still remains the same." But everything changes. Just our perception of life stays the same when we're still in past times that can't move on because we don't see or live there anymore.
Set me up, set me one more shot, set me one more beer. And I'll drink them to the friends and lovers who've escaped my grasp and who are flourishing or in decay and I'll wonder what could've happened and let life go.
(Slimedog)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Latest News
Tickets for The Jeanne Benefits, featuring Buffalo Tom, The Shods and Gravel Pit on Sale Now
Tickets are now on sale for the December benefits for Jeanne from TTs.
All shows are at TTs and 18+. The Outlets show is $10, all others are $15.
Thursday 12/6 featuring The Outlets
Friday 12/21 featuring The Shods and The Pills
Friday 12/28 featuring The Gravel Pit
Saturday 12/29 featuring Buffalo Tom
Friday, November 23, 2007
Latest Music Commentary
The Overbooking Problem
I recently noticed, after conferring with various club colleagues, that a number of 'established' acts, some going back nearly 30 years, idiotically persist in trying to play out as many as four times a month in the various core area venues as if Boston was some megalopolis like New York.
It is not. It is a second string city and this practice is utterly self defeating. They piss off booking agents, burn out audiences and enter into a kind of doom spiral.
It is deceitful to pull this stunt on the Booker and increasingly dumb as a booker can just glance at your myspace schedule and go..."Oh.. Numbnuts and the Rusty Trombones are playing across the river TWO DAYS before they are supposed to be at my tinsel palace.... fuckheads."
Then consider the audience. They are your friends, right? When you pull this it is like saying you're so bitchin' that they should cough up 50 bucks several times a month of their hard earned money to see you trudge through the same fawking set list they probably already know by heart. Why not just pick their pockets and be done with it?
Boston looms large in the minds of its bands. But only around a half million people live here and the vast majority are yuppies, high rollers, trust fund brats and busy students who have lives and can't be expected to give a rats ass about you.
And yet, out beyond, in the vast doughnut defined by 495 and 128 are FOUR MILLION people living dull lives in drab burbs WITH VERY LITTLE TO DO!
There are gin mills scattered throughout the doughnut and many are likely to actually be excited by bands from the 'big city'. There are cool old mill towns like Lowell that have little scenes where you can play. There is a compact 6 state region out there with fairly short drive times compared with the West Coast.
The younger 'kid' bands are a different story. You are in the early stages of your audience growth and usually get out more as opening acts piggy backed on some bigger bill and you serve a useful role. Once you get 40+ people showing up you can kick back.
Basically less is more or to reshape an old Dan Hicks lyric,'How can they miss you when you won't go away?"
I recently noticed, after conferring with various club colleagues, that a number of 'established' acts, some going back nearly 30 years, idiotically persist in trying to play out as many as four times a month in the various core area venues as if Boston was some megalopolis like New York.
It is not. It is a second string city and this practice is utterly self defeating. They piss off booking agents, burn out audiences and enter into a kind of doom spiral.
It is deceitful to pull this stunt on the Booker and increasingly dumb as a booker can just glance at your myspace schedule and go..."Oh.. Numbnuts and the Rusty Trombones are playing across the river TWO DAYS before they are supposed to be at my tinsel palace.... fuckheads."
Then consider the audience. They are your friends, right? When you pull this it is like saying you're so bitchin' that they should cough up 50 bucks several times a month of their hard earned money to see you trudge through the same fawking set list they probably already know by heart. Why not just pick their pockets and be done with it?
Boston looms large in the minds of its bands. But only around a half million people live here and the vast majority are yuppies, high rollers, trust fund brats and busy students who have lives and can't be expected to give a rats ass about you.
And yet, out beyond, in the vast doughnut defined by 495 and 128 are FOUR MILLION people living dull lives in drab burbs WITH VERY LITTLE TO DO!
There are gin mills scattered throughout the doughnut and many are likely to actually be excited by bands from the 'big city'. There are cool old mill towns like Lowell that have little scenes where you can play. There is a compact 6 state region out there with fairly short drive times compared with the West Coast.
The younger 'kid' bands are a different story. You are in the early stages of your audience growth and usually get out more as opening acts piggy backed on some bigger bill and you serve a useful role. Once you get 40+ people showing up you can kick back.
Basically less is more or to reshape an old Dan Hicks lyric,'How can they miss you when you won't go away?"
Thursday, November 22, 2007
News
MFD Booking to Partner
with The Cantab Lounge
Effective immediately MFD Booking, Martin Doyle's agency, will be partnering with The Cantab Lounge in Cambridge.
Martin and company will be working with Mickey Bliss, who recently moved his long-standing weekend series Club Bohemia to the Central Square venue following the closing of The Kirkland Cafe in Somerville.
Doyle says he is hopeful that, among other positive changes, all ages matinees can be added to the 110 capacity basement room on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons.
Latest Show Review
Americana Romantic
TT The Bears
Cambridge, MA
11/21/07
Last night I had the chance to catch Americana Romantic, the latest musical outlet from Boston area vet Paul Russo.
For those of you as unfamiliar with Russo as I was, up until about 20 minutes ago, Paul was a member of the Maine-based outfit The Pinkerton Thugs, as well as a "double-agent" so to speak, doing time in The Unseen during much of his time with the Thugs as well.
Knowing that much going in to the show, I was met with something that clashed greatly with what I was anticipating.
Russo's latest foray delves deeper into the folk styles touched upon with The Pinkerton Thugs, with a tasteful touch of the indie-style rock that has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Other songs demonstrate a more rock 'n roll driven style that fans of the Thugs work may enjoy. A highlight of Russo's style that my brother and I both noted was his impeccable harmonies with his backup singer (AR was performing for the evening as an acoustic duo).
While not readily catered for fans of The Unseen and The Pinkerton Thugs to transition into, fans with a broad range of musical tastes looking for a fresh take on a popular trick will be pleasantly surprised with this outfit. According to his Myspace page, Paul is currently back on the east coast, and gearing up to begin playing out regularly in Boston and the surrounding area.
For more info on Americana Romantic, and the chance to sample some of this music, check the band out here.
TT The Bears
Cambridge, MA
11/21/07
Last night I had the chance to catch Americana Romantic, the latest musical outlet from Boston area vet Paul Russo.
For those of you as unfamiliar with Russo as I was, up until about 20 minutes ago, Paul was a member of the Maine-based outfit The Pinkerton Thugs, as well as a "double-agent" so to speak, doing time in The Unseen during much of his time with the Thugs as well.
Knowing that much going in to the show, I was met with something that clashed greatly with what I was anticipating.
Russo's latest foray delves deeper into the folk styles touched upon with The Pinkerton Thugs, with a tasteful touch of the indie-style rock that has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Other songs demonstrate a more rock 'n roll driven style that fans of the Thugs work may enjoy. A highlight of Russo's style that my brother and I both noted was his impeccable harmonies with his backup singer (AR was performing for the evening as an acoustic duo).
While not readily catered for fans of The Unseen and The Pinkerton Thugs to transition into, fans with a broad range of musical tastes looking for a fresh take on a popular trick will be pleasantly surprised with this outfit. According to his Myspace page, Paul is currently back on the east coast, and gearing up to begin playing out regularly in Boston and the surrounding area.
For more info on Americana Romantic, and the chance to sample some of this music, check the band out here.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
CD Review
Mando Diao - Ode to Ochrasy (EMI/Majesty)
Mando Diao's Ode to Ochrasy (2006) is the third album release from this 5-piece Swedish band. The disc has 14 tracks of up-tempo British rock almost from another era (think Beatles, Kinks etc.) and it also has a hint of today's indie rock sound heard from The Bravery or The Hives. I was drawn to this band after seeing them in a DirectTV exclusive for the 2007 SWSX festival, and was particularly drawn to the bottom-end of the bass and drum players who held a tight danceable and cool ryhthm to the songs.
I was hoping this live taste would translate on the album as well and it does very nicely. Lyrically the album is dense in pop-culture with the opening track a humorous nod to ice-hockey great Luc Robitaille (Welcom Home Luc Robitaile). Other signs of the times include the songs Killer Kaczynski, Amsterdam, and TV & Me. The songs are crafted with tongue-in-cheek wit which sneaks up on you as the pace of the tracks and musicianship hook you in before you realize whats been said in the lyrics. Bjorn Dixgard delivers the vocals cleanly and intense when applicable, and the background harmonies are masterfully done. My only criticism of the disc is the production. It appears the singer Bjorn also produced it, and I wonder if an unbiased set of ears would have helped the album sonically. It seems a bit compressed and muddied in spots that seem should be clear and layered.
Overall I love the album though and it's been stuck in my car for the last week.
Mando Diao's Ode to Ochrasy (2006) is the third album release from this 5-piece Swedish band. The disc has 14 tracks of up-tempo British rock almost from another era (think Beatles, Kinks etc.) and it also has a hint of today's indie rock sound heard from The Bravery or The Hives. I was drawn to this band after seeing them in a DirectTV exclusive for the 2007 SWSX festival, and was particularly drawn to the bottom-end of the bass and drum players who held a tight danceable and cool ryhthm to the songs.
I was hoping this live taste would translate on the album as well and it does very nicely. Lyrically the album is dense in pop-culture with the opening track a humorous nod to ice-hockey great Luc Robitaille (Welcom Home Luc Robitaile). Other signs of the times include the songs Killer Kaczynski, Amsterdam, and TV & Me. The songs are crafted with tongue-in-cheek wit which sneaks up on you as the pace of the tracks and musicianship hook you in before you realize whats been said in the lyrics. Bjorn Dixgard delivers the vocals cleanly and intense when applicable, and the background harmonies are masterfully done. My only criticism of the disc is the production. It appears the singer Bjorn also produced it, and I wonder if an unbiased set of ears would have helped the album sonically. It seems a bit compressed and muddied in spots that seem should be clear and layered.
Overall I love the album though and it's been stuck in my car for the last week.
Monday, November 19, 2007
News
Boston Club Sacks Soundman Over White Supremacist Comments
According to the Basstown Blog a Harpers Ferry soundman was fired for white supremacist comments he made to people associated with a hip-hop show this past Tuesday at the Allston club.
From the Basstown Blog:
"I just got off the phone with Regan and his DJ, Antimc (Matt Alsberg), to get the full story. Regan left the venue after load-in to have dinner with a Boston friend over at Grasshopper, leaving Matt to deal with the sound guy and setting up on stage.
"After answering a few questions to the sound guy about their setup, 'we need two DI-boxes, two mics, etc.' the sound guy commented 'that's why you need a white guy in your crew.'
"Matt, baffled at the absurdity of the comment, asked the sound guy to repeat himself, to which he replied by not only repeating the comment, but going on to say, 'you know, we hired 6 [mumbled racist slur] in the past few months and they're all outta here!' Matt immediately ran to Harpers' green room and talked to Regan on the phone, who after hearing the story called his booking agent who in turn called the manager of the club. "
The band wound up walking, and the soundman was first suspended and then fired.
The General Manager from Harpers Ferry then posted this apology:
We as a club are completely baffled and shocked by the events that unfolded Tuesday evening. We have a zero tolerance policy for such things.
The staff member in question was suspended indefinitely on the spot and was let go the next day after we gathered all the information.
It's a sad situation and one that we hope will ever happen again here at Harpers Ferry.
My fullest apologies to you and hope that you do not think of this as a mark on our reputation as we try to bring you the best entertainment possible. As a show of good faith and I would like to invite you any show we have on our calendar free of charge with a guest.
My apologies
Please respond so that I do know that you got this email.
Andrew Wolan
GM/General Manager
Harpers Ferry
According to the Basstown Blog a Harpers Ferry soundman was fired for white supremacist comments he made to people associated with a hip-hop show this past Tuesday at the Allston club.
From the Basstown Blog:
"I just got off the phone with Regan and his DJ, Antimc (Matt Alsberg), to get the full story. Regan left the venue after load-in to have dinner with a Boston friend over at Grasshopper, leaving Matt to deal with the sound guy and setting up on stage.
"After answering a few questions to the sound guy about their setup, 'we need two DI-boxes, two mics, etc.' the sound guy commented 'that's why you need a white guy in your crew.'
"Matt, baffled at the absurdity of the comment, asked the sound guy to repeat himself, to which he replied by not only repeating the comment, but going on to say, 'you know, we hired 6 [mumbled racist slur] in the past few months and they're all outta here!' Matt immediately ran to Harpers' green room and talked to Regan on the phone, who after hearing the story called his booking agent who in turn called the manager of the club. "
The band wound up walking, and the soundman was first suspended and then fired.
The General Manager from Harpers Ferry then posted this apology:
We as a club are completely baffled and shocked by the events that unfolded Tuesday evening. We have a zero tolerance policy for such things.
The staff member in question was suspended indefinitely on the spot and was let go the next day after we gathered all the information.
It's a sad situation and one that we hope will ever happen again here at Harpers Ferry.
My fullest apologies to you and hope that you do not think of this as a mark on our reputation as we try to bring you the best entertainment possible. As a show of good faith and I would like to invite you any show we have on our calendar free of charge with a guest.
My apologies
Please respond so that I do know that you got this email.
Andrew Wolan
GM/General Manager
Harpers Ferry
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