James Reed is editor of Globe Calendar and a frequent music contributor.
Devra First is interim assistant arts editor for the Boston Globe.
Ask the Globe's music writers a question about local bands, forthcoming shows, or anything else.
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« April 15, 2007 - April 21, 2007 |
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| April 29, 2007 - May 05, 2007 »
April 27, 2007
 
The Nashville skyline has lured two more Boston artists to Music City. Gifted singer-songwriter Jabe Beyer and the Ted Drozdowski-led blues freakout group Scissormen.
Coincidentally, both are holding their swan songs tonight in Cambridge. Beyer bids adieu at Hi-N-Dry studios and Scissormen cut it up for the last time at the Lizard Lounge.
Beyer and Drozdowski, who is also an award-winning rock scribe and all around stand up guy, will be missed.
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 01:39 PM
April 26, 2007
Bobby "Boris" Pickett, who will forever be known as the man who brought us the late October perennial "The Monster Mash," passed away yesterday at the age of 69. Halloween won't be the same without him.
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 03:22 PM
April 26, 2007
The Cream of the Pop fest kicks off tonight as 16 band celebrate sunny melodies, shameless hooks and the vagaries of love and life. No coincidence that the fest is taking place in the wake of that strange yellow orb reappearing in the sky.
Here's a list of how and where to get your pop on:
Tonight at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge: Yoni Gordon, The Juliet Kilo, Indian Style
Friday at P.A.'s Lounge in Somerville: The Icicles, Shumai, The Smittens, Casper & the Cookies
Saturday Afternoon and Evening at Great Scott in Allston: (Matinee) Joe Finkel & the Wild Kindness, The Besties, The Li'l Hospital, One Happy Island (Evening) Mittens, My Teenage Stride, Hands & Knees, The Specific Heats, Spoilsport, Ryan Walsh
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 03:00 PM
April 26, 2007
     
If you couldn't pony up the dough for this weekend's Coachella music fest in Indio, California -- or stand the desert heat-- you can still enjoy some of the performances via the AT&T Blue Room webcasts.
The three day fest is choked with music of all varieties and vintages including headliners Bjork (Friday), the Red Hot Chili Peppers (Saturday) and the reunited Rage Against the Machine (Sunday).
Among the other 100 plus acts are Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, the also newly reformed Crowded House (sans dearly departed drummer Paul Hester), Amy Winehouse, Fountains of Wayne, the Frames, the Fratellis, LCD Soundsystem and lots more.
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 02:38 PM
April 26, 2007
The White Stripes have announced their summer 2007 tour plans and Jack and Meg have one full itinerary.
The duo plan to hit the 16 states that have yet to be graced with their primal blues-rock whomp as well as every province and territory of Canada.
Luckily, they've made space for the Hub in their busy schedule, planning to touch down at the Agganis Arena on July 23 to promote their forthcoming album "Icky Thump." The album is due out June 19.
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 02:29 PM
April 23, 2007
On July 28, Street Number 13 (this is the actual name of a street in the Marzahn district of Berlin) is getting a new, and in Sound Effects' humble opinion, far superior name: Frank-Zappa-strasse. It will be the first roadway in Germany named after a rock musician, thanks to the efforts of members of ORWOhaus, a musician's collective housed in an industrial building on the street. Andreas Otto, spokesperson for ORWOhaus, says this in a press release: "Frank Zappa was one of the best all-around musicians in the world. He was celebrated for his uncompromising pursuit of musical exploration and excellence, and also for his courage using his music and lyrics to make society see its faults and hypocrisies. He stood up to his own government against politically-motivated censorship – he testified with great intelligence in the US Congress, and he refused to hold back his own outrageous sense of humor. We of ORWOhaus had our own battles trying to save an unused building and turn it into an active music center, and we decided that Zappa was a great example of how a musician can have an influence so far beyond the notes on a page. We hope Frank would be proud to have his name as an address for so many musicians."
Posted by Joan Anderman at 02:58 PM
April 23, 2007
Paul Simon is the recipient of the first annual Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, and an expansive lineup will be on hand to pay tribute at the concert gala on May 23 at Washington, D.C.'s Warner Theatre. Performers include Marc Anthony, Dixie Hummingbirds, Jerry Douglas, Art Garfunkel, Philip Glass, Alison Krauss, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lyle Lovett, Stephen Marley, James Taylor, and Buckwheat Zydeco. Among the presenters are former poet laureate Billy Collins, Bob Costas, and Lorne Michaels. The concert will be broadcast on June 27 on PBS stations. Tickets go on sale Friday.
Posted by Joan Anderman at 02:07 PM
April 23, 2007
Epic Records has cooked up a new promotional gimmick for the rock band Cartel, which has agreed to spend three weeks sealed inside a huge plastic bubble on New York's Pier 54 while writing and recording an album. (It's working already, as evidenced by this blog entry about a group which otherwise wouldn't grace these web pages.) The Atlanta five-piece and their two producers will enter the bubble, which has been outfitted with a state-of-the-art recording studio, on May 24 and stay there until the bubble "bursts" on June 12 with the band performing the new music in concert. Yes, it's going to be a reality show on MTV. No, there isn't a shred of doubt that "Band in a Bubble" will be a totally authentic and completely organic chronicle of the creative process.
Posted by Joan Anderman at 01:00 PM
April 23, 2007
Check out songs by the ten teenage finalists in the Essence/Berklee Take Back the Music Hip-Hop Songwriting Contest here. Five winners, to be selected by a panel of judges that includes Chuck D and Spinderella, will win various scholarships to summer and online programs at Berklee. For more info click here.
Posted by Joan Anderman at 11:51 AM
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