boston

Billy Bragg live @ Chevalier Theatre, Medford, MA [10-14-24]
LIVE MUSIC

How do you even define Billy Bragg’s music anymore? Nowadays it almost sounds like easy listening, but with a leftist political leaning. The man has always worn his heart on his sleeve and although his political songs can seem a little too on the nose and simplistic, his love songs are simply beautiful. I just love the guy, OK? The Chevalier is quickly becoming the cool spot to see shows. I remember it looking more like a rundown high school...

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Tuesday, 15 October 2024
X live @ The Wilbur, Boston, MA [09-23-24]
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Monday, 30 September 2024
X live @ The Wilbur, Boston, MA [09-23-24]
LIVE MUSIC

In Penelope Spheeris’ Decline of Western Civilization Part I, X are depicted as the gatekeepers or elder statesmen of LA 70s punk rock. It’s hard to say whether that label really stuck, but whatever the case, they never asked for it. One thing is for sure, X have been a machine always on the move for the past 40 years, and the creative juices of “leaders” John Doe and Exene Cervenka’s never stopped flowing. X’s influence in music over the...

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Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Photobooth: The Gaslight Anthem live @ MGM Music Hall [08-18-24]
PHOTO
The Gaslight Anthem live @ MGMG Music Hall, Boston, MA [08-18-24]
LIVE MUSIC

Sometimes you miss the bus. A certain album drops, it creates a splash, it’s on everyone’s best-of lists of the year and FOMO sets in. You check out the album and try to hop on real quick, but for some reason, the inclination to do so never comes. What’s all the commotion about? That was my feeling on the 59 Sound when it came out in 2008. Everyone wearing a scallycap and donning nautical tattoos proclaimed it the second coming...

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Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Photobooth: Die Spitz live @ O’Brien’s, Allston, MA [08-05-24]
PHOTO
Die Spitz Live @ O’Brien’s Pub, Allston, MA [08-06-24]
LIVE MUSIC

Seeing a good opener can be a cathartic experience. Sometimes it’s interesting, and you check them out when you go home, but most of the time it’s forgettable. I can count on one hand when an opener has blown me away, and I don’t even need all my fingers. When I caught the last few songs of Die Spitz at an OFF! show years ago all I could think of is how loud it sounded. Then, watching them put their...

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Tuesday, 06 August 2024
The Ergs!/Boris the Sprinkler/EggheadLive @ Crystal BallroomSomerville, MA [07/18/24]
LIVE MUSIC

The Ergs!/Boris the Sprinkler/EggheadLive @ Crystal BallroomSomerville, MA One of the funnest tours of 2024 might be over, but it’s never too late to find out about it. Huh, I should work on my intros more. But why didn’t I write about the Egghead/Boris the Sprinkler/Ergs! East Coast tour before? Because, hindsight makes fools of us all. But, I’m no fool. This one was special, and if you were there (or WANTED to be there) you know what I’m...

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Monday, 22 July 2024
The Damned Live @ Big Night Live, Boston, MA [05-29-24]
LIVE MUSIC

YOLO. You only live once. And for a music fan that’s important. A few years ago I realized how important it is the seize the moment, get off your ass, and see a band you like, because you only live once. They only live once. I once drove 2 hours to Western Mass to see Lee Scratch Perry and then beat myself up about it a little because I just could have seen him in Boston the next time. But...

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Thursday, 30 May 2024