A gift for one of my Boston-based readers, courtesy of the now-officially-underway Independent Film Festival and Warner Bros. Records' new all-vinyl online record store, Because Sound Matters.

This Sunday evening, the IFFB will be hosting the New England premiere of the Stephin Merritt / Magnetic Fields documentary "Strange Powers" at the Brattle, and not only do I have a pair of screening tickets to hand out, but I've got an accompanying slab of twelve-inch wax to sweeten the deal: A pressing of the band's latest album, "Realism", on vinyl, with an accompanying compact disc inside for easy transport.

So, if you were thinking this whole (very much welcomed) vinyl resurgence thing was a passing phase, well, the WB opening BecauseSoundMatters.com might just put those doubts to rest. The mega-corp has done more than dip a toe in the pond, they dove in and started a site solely devoted to black platters, offering up exclusives, pre-orders, and yes, even apparel. In a time when the big boys are cutting back, the Warners have put some money and promo muscle behind vinyl, and that's saying something. If you know me, and this site, then you know I'm not one for banner ads. But allow me to give out free Magnetic Fields vinyl to someone? Well, ok, ya got me.

Live near Boston? Want to see that screening for free with a friend? Want that MF vinyl? If the word "Yes" just popped into your head three times in a row, then here's what you need to do: Send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com titled "Yeah! Oh, Yeah!" before Noon sharp this Saturday, April 24th. That's when I'll pick a random winner, get their mailing address, and put their name on a couple passes to the 7:30pm screening of "Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields" at Harvard Square's wonderful Brattle Theatre. Just make sure you're free that night before you enter so the tix don't go to waste. Given the band's Boston roots, it'll likely sell out.

Have a look at the film's official site, and the trailer.

Labels: giveaways, iffb

posted by brad at 12:26 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

Another post, another giveaway. One of these days I'll get around to posting actual content instead of just handing out free stuff. Not that the winners are complaining, mind you...


This Saturday night, being the 10th of April, 2010, Mr. Ted Leo and his fellow Pharmacists come back to Boston to showcase tracks from their first full-length for Matador Records, "The Brutalist Bricks". But instead of hitting their usual spot downstairs at the Middle East, they're back at the Paradise for the first time since 2006. And to headline a pretty killer lineup: White hot power trio Screaming Females (whose frontwoman, Marissa Paternoster, blew me away with her guitar work last year opening for Throwing Muses) and the excellent Obits (anchored by former Hot Snakes/Jehu singer/guitarist Rick Froberg). Either of those bands could've headlined their own Boston-area shows, so the fact that we get to see all of them in one night, on one stage, is a minor musical miracle. Something not to be taken for granted.

The show is very nearly sold-out, but I've got a pair of tickets to bequeath to a loyal reader (or, really, any casual surfer-by) thanks to LiveNation. Instructions are as usual - send a digital note to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before 1pm on Friday, two short days from now. Just put "Pick (Timorous) Me!" in the subject field and let me know what town you live in, then on Friday I'll randomly choose and contact a winner who will be on Saturday night's Paradise guest list with a +1 for a pal.

Tickets of your own can be purchased here (for the moment), or at the 'Dise box office if you hurry. Oh, and be safe by arriving early to the show, so you don't miss a moment of either opener.

Parting gifts...

[INTERVIEW] The Village Voice shares a recent chat with Mr. Leo

[VIDEO] Ted + the Pharmacists do Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" for the AV Club's "Undercover" series

[MP3] Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 3:19 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

Well, hello there. Miss me? Wait, don't answer that.

If you've been following the ol' 'Nac Twitter feed, you are well aware of the fact that I've been sojourning in sunny San Francisco for the past week or so. The highlight and primary reason for my trip? Slumberland's 20th Anniversary bash at the Rickshaw Stop. One word summary? "Wow". More later.

Boston was rainy when I left, and rainier when I returned. Thanks, home state! You sure know how to welcome a boy back. Ugh.

I'll ease back into the blogging by giving you free stuff. Admittedly, I should have posted this sooner, but I blame jetlag. Gotta blame something. Anyway, here, have some tickets and vinyl...


Oslo combo Serena Maneesh hooked me from the get go -- with one listen through their self-titled 2006 album, I was all in. When I heard that collection of post-shoegaze goodness, it was as an import, available the previous year overseas but not-yet-out in the states when they played TT the Bears in March '06. Any doubts I had that they'd be able to recreate the sonic impact of that debut in a live setting were squashed shortly after they took the stage. They brought it, they cut it into pieces, and hand delivered it to everyone there. So, so powerfully good.

Four years later, we finally get a follow-up record, this time courtesy of the esteemed 4AD label. The awkwardly titled, yet no less mind-blowing "SM 2: Abyss in B Minor", which arrived on store shelves last week, owes just as much to their shoegaze fore-bearers as their debut did, but throws in some more exciting rhythmic power (check the Moonshake-style awesomeness of "Reprobate!") and a bit more variety. It's a scorcher, start to finish, and I'm just as excited to see these songs alongside the older stuff when the band returns to TT the Bears this Sunday. Yes, this weekend. In other words, you don't have a lot of time to enter this contest, so get crackin'...

Thanks to the fine folks at the Beggars Group, I have not only a pair of TTs tickets to give away to an Almanac visitor, but a copy of an exclusive, numbered 12-inch vinyl single for the lead track, "Ayisha Abyss." Rather than give them out to one fortunate soul, I'll offer up the tickets to a random Boston-area resident, and the 12" to someone who lives too far away to make it (continental U.S. only, though). If you're feeling lucky, send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before 2pm on Friday. Yes, that is less than 24 hours from now. Write "SM!" in the subject field, and let me know if you'd prefer the vinyl or the tickets. Tomorrow afternoon I'll pick two random names and let them know. Ticket winner will get their name on Sunday's show guest list, and the vinyl winner will be sent the wax from Beggars. Easy enough.

For tickets of your own to the show, go here or visit TTs to save on service charges (also, make sure you get to TTs early enough to catch excellent openers The Depreciation Guild). Stream some Serena Maneesh at MySpace, or better yet, grab a couple of label-approved MP3s right here, check out a live video for "Reprobate!", or stream the album in its entirety...


The band's ongoing North American Tour continues tonight in Wisconson and heads to Canada before they arrive here on Sunday. The remaining April dates...

01: Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
02: Toronto, ON @ Opera House
03: Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
04: Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bears
05: Milford, CT @ Daniel Street
06: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
07: Washington, DC @ DC9
08: New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge

Alright then, get emailin', and keep an eye on your inbox tomorrow afternoon...

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 4:30 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

After a wait of nearly four years since their breakthrough full-length, "The Trials of Van Occupanther", Midlake returned with last Tuesday's arrival of their third album, "The Courage of Others". Criticism has been wide-ranging, from unqualified raves (see the AVClub) to flat-out dismissals (from you know who), and while I fall somewhere in the middle, I'm definitely heading in the direction of 'rave'.

Though I was immediately impressed upon Van Occupanther's release, it did take awhile for its magic to truly charm me, so I'm hesitant to judge this new one too quickly. It has the disadvantage of increased expectations, and if you come looking for the catchier, more upbeat side of the band (a la signature song, "Roscoe"), you'll have to look elsewhere. The hooks here are subtler, more drawn out... sometimes hard to find at all. "The Courage Of Others" is a drastically moodier affair - the band takes a fair amount of risk within the sonic box they've placed themselves in.

During the long wait for the album I wondered, given that every review of their previous one mentioned the same 70's touchstones (Fleetwood Mac, Fairport Convention, etc), if the band took so long in an over-thought effort to reinvent themselves. Well, the answer is very simply no, but they've definitely gone darker and deeper, and are taking hits for it. For every band that tries too hard to change up their formula and fails hard, there are those that work within what they know (and what many love them for) to craft a worthy follow-up. I think that's where Midlake is at, coming up with a collection of songs that is just different enough from its predecessor to avoid redundancy, yet still rub a few followers the wrong way.


Thanks to the folks at Filter, I've got a couple copies of Midlake's "The Courage of Others" on CD to hand out to 'Nac readers. If you reside in the continental U.S., drop an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com entitled "MIDLAKE" before this coming Friday, February 12th at 9am. I'll fire up the randomizer and pick two winners that day, then get in touch for mailing addresses.


As the ceaseless (and increasingly rapid) consume/judge/move-on cycle that is today's internet-music-review-machine chews new albums up and spits 'em out, I look forward to spending the rest of the winter letting this one sink in, and to Midlake's April 9th stop in Boston near the end up their upcoming U.S. tour. I remember very distinctly their visit to TT the Bears back in 2006, playing first of three bands, and how enamored I was of their live set. They headlined both the Middle East Upstairs and then the Paradise the following year, but haven't been back since. (and thanks to Kevin in the comments for setting me straight on those headlining gigs, both of which I missed. The 'Nac intern responsible for fact-checking has been sacked)


Stream "The Courage Of Others" over at NPR, and if you're in the Boston area, stop by Newbury Comics, where I picked up the CD for a measly $7.99 (with a sticker on the front that ironically included previous praise from P4K). A nice surprise? Finding an insert inside with a download code for bonus track "Rose Of Dawn" (which easily measures up to the rest of the album) and a hi-res quicktime file of the Jason-Lee-directed teaser film above. Which could be looked at as an attempt to culturally balance out his work in the Chipmunk films.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 3:16 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

And just as 2009 ends on the Almanac, so does 2010 begin... with a giveaway. Hey, I'm just trying to kill time while I work on my "faves of '09" post. And you're the beneficiary. Maybe.

So 2009 was a pretty damn good year for the men of Mission of Burma: They started with an amazing January live set at the Somerville Theatre (a benefit for the Arts at the Armory), spent much of the Spring in the studio laying down their their third post-reunion album, then released "The Sound The Speed The Light" to raves in early October. Throw in a dozen or so live dates around the country throughout the year, and that sounds like a relatively normal cycle for most successful bands. But there are a couple things that set these gents apart: Other so-called successful bands don't take a 20-year break and return just as prolific (yes, the release of this album means they've officially put out more music since their rebirth than they did during their first phase), and most bands don't have their hometown naming a freakin' day after them. Top that, young upstarts.

Just as MoB kick-started our musical 2009 with a Boston-area live show, so they will again this year, this time with a two-night stand at the Paradise on Friday and Saturday, January 15th and 16th. Courtesy of LiveNation, I've got a pair of guest list spots for the Saturday night show (with openers Bunnies) to hand out to a 'Nac reader. The all-too-familiar drill: Send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com, title it "MOB", and get it to me before, oh, let's say Wednesday the 13th at 12 noon. I'll pick one random winner and let them know shortly thereafter that they'll be on the following Saturday night's list with a +1. Sho' nuff.

Burma has a half dozen East Coast U.S. shows booked during the first couple months of the year, plus a few more in the mid-West later on, and will be playing at the first night of the Pavement-curated (and very sold-out) edition of All Tomorrow's Parties over in Minehead, UK this May. Check the full list of scheduled MoB dates right here, grab tickets to either of the Paradise shows (or a discounted 2-day pass) over here, and pick up your own copy of the excellent "The Sound The Speed The Light" from Matador. In case you haven't already heard it, here's something from the album...

[MP3] Mission of Burma - "1,2,3,Partyy!"
[VIDEO] Mission of Burma - "1,2,3,Partyy!"

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 8:05 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

When I pull together my list of favorite albums of Oh-Nine (*spoiler alert!*) Wye Oak's "The Knot" will be on it. Hell, I knew that after just a couple of close listens. The Baltimore duo of Jenn & Andy deftly avoided a sophomore slump by taking the qualities that made their 2008 debut ("If Children") so mesmerizing and adding an extra layer of emotional depth. If their first record was a promise made, the second was a promise kept.

I've been quite lucky to see them a few times this year, not just here in Boston, but once down at the XX Merge label anniversary shindig in July, where their rich sound filled up the massive Memorial Hall at UNC. They looked so small up on that stage, though their songs were anything but. And as good as they are in any setting, I was glad to see them again up here in Cambridge shortly after, where I could get up close and let their waves wash over me.

That chance comes again this weekend when Wye Oak returns to Allston's wonderful Great Scott on the 6th, with openers Hands and Knees and St. Claire. Courtesy of the fine folks at World Music/CRASHarts, I have two pairs of tix to hand out for the Sunday night show, so fire off an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com, and make it quick... I'm taking entries for two short days. Title your note "Wye Oak!", and get it to my inbox before Noon on Friday, when I'll randomly pick two winners and email them right away. That'll give 'em the rest of the weekend to tease their friends with the extra guest list spot. The less fortunate ones? Well, they can grab tickets of their own right here, or over at Great Scott.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 5:36 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

I've said it before, and I'll say it here again: If forced at gunpoint to pick my favorite live show of all time, odds are I'd yell out the three-headed beast that was The Jesus Lizard, Six Finger Satellite, and Arcwelder at Metronome in Burlington, Vermont in '93. To my ears, each band was pretty close to their peak, with JL still touring on the powerful "Liar", Arcwelder playing songs from their best record ("Pull"), and 6FS supporting their revelatory Sub Pop debut. Arcwelder opened, and I briefly felt bad for any band who had to follow them... until the other two upped the energy ante. Despite my often-faulty memory, I still recall every detail of that show (and yes, unfortunately that includes David Yow's wang).

That was the first of many times I'd see the Jesus Lizard (and said wang) over the ensuing years, and they never failed to blow my mind. And now they're back. And from all reports, still bringing it (no, not the wang). I'm going to be at the Paradise here in Boston this Saturday with a huge freakin' grin on my face, especially if they play "Puss" (which they probably will), or "Whirl". Both, and I might just lose it.

Wanna come, too? Send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com, include your full name, and throw "GIVE ME SOMETHING TO STOP THE BLEEDING!" in the subject line. Make sure it arrives in my inbox before NOON this Friday the 13th, and I'll get ahold of the random winner (who also gets to bring a guest) shortly after. The 18+ show is the following day, Saturday the 14th, and Kevin Micka's excellent Animal Hospital opens up, so arrive early. Get tickets of your own right here.

Touch & Go just released remastered versions of The Jesus Lizard's catalog, so get on that if you don't have 'em. Bassist David Wm. Sims has a pretty swanky little blog of his own called Too Big To Fail, where you can ogle some recent JL tour posters.

From the Touch & Go site, here's a (pre-remaster) Mp3 of the first cut on "Liar"...


For more, click the album covers at the T&G Jesus Lizard page, or stream some on MySpace.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 8:30 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

Ladies and gentlemen, Pinback is, um, back. No, not yet with a new album (their latest remains 2007's "Autumn of the Seraphs"), but with a month-long tour that brings them to Boston's Paradise this Halloween night. Without a fresh record to spotlight, I'd assume a discography-spanning setlist (and so far, show reports say so), though those same reports also reveal a distinct lack of new songs. That either means they don't yet exist, or that the band is holding 'em back until the next album arrives (said to be in 2010 by Temporary Residence, who picked them up after Touch & Go stopped releasing new music), but knowing Zach & Rob's prolificacy, I'd guess it's the latter. And yes, prolificacy is a word, despite my spellcheck telling me otherwise. Silly spellcheck.

For an opener, a real treat (and, possibly, some tricks) - killer locals Ho-Ag. Now there's a team-up for ya. Hopefully Ho-Ag will make up for Pinback's lack of new songs by sharing some of their own.

Wanna go? Wanna bring a friend? You know the drill - Email giveaways[at]bradleysalmanac[dot]com, include your full name, and throw "Pinback please" in the subject line. Make sure it arrives in my inbox before 9am this Friday the 30th, and I'll drop the random winner the good news that morning.

Oh, and about Rob & Zach Pinback's songwriting prolificacy? You know, all those other projects and solo efforts? Well, there's another jewel on that spiky crown: Mr. Armistead Burwell Smith IV (that's Zach) has at last released his long-in-the-making solo debut under the name Systems Officer, and it's a freakin' keeper. Hell, I think his "Underslept" (also out on Temporary Residence) might just end up on my faves-of-the-year list. Pinback fans, I know it's hard to keep track of their hit-or-miss offshoots, but seriously, don't let this one get lost in the stack. Make an effort, seek it out when it hits stores on Nov. 3rd (you can already download the album at iTunes), or grab one at these live shows where Zach said he'll have copies available. There are also a couple of iTunes-only non-album tracks available right here if you're game, as part of the "Shape Shifter" digital single. Here's that song, the fourth cut on "Underslept"...


You can also get a higher quality Mp3 of that one over at RCRDLBL.

Alright, now get with the contest entering. To play it safe, you might want to grab your own ticket to Pinback's Halloween gig right here, or at the Paradise Box Office between Noon and 6pm any day until the show.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 4:17 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

After a couple of area shows at Great Scott so far this year, Wheat hits the much-larger downstairs room of the Middle East this Saturday night. Given that both those shows were pretty well packed, the step-up in size is a very good thing, especially given the extra bodies that this weekend's supporting bands will bring: Out-of-towners Jukebox The Ghost along with locals the Motion Sick and the Needy Visions.

Thanks to the kind gents of Wheat, I've got a pair of guest list spots to dole out to one 'Nac visitor, providing that visitor drops me an email and is then randomly chosen. Entries go to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com, should be titled "Wheat, Please!", and must arrive before 5pm tomorrow, Friday the 23rd. Yes, the show is the next night, so I'll let the winner know right away that they've got new Saturday night plans with four excellent bands.

If you're unfamiliar with Wheat (and really, you shouldn't be), then stop over to the invaluable This Wheat website, where you can freely grab a wealth of studio and live mp3s alike. Here's a live one for you, which I recorded at one of those Great Scott shows earlier this year - a Daft Punk cover...

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 11:37 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

Happy Mission of Burma Day, everyone! And I'm not just sayin' that - it's freakin' official. In case you hadn't heard, the Boston City Council (thanks to a resolution drafted by Councillor John Tobin, a man with apparent good taste) has declared today, being Sunday, October 4th, 2009, "Mission Of Burma Day". How about that? The text of the resolution:

WHEREAS: The City of Boston is the birthplace of some of the world's best musical acts over the last few decades; including the legendary and influential post-punk group group Mission of Burma; and

WHEREAS: Mission of Burma have been covered and acknowledged over the years by the likes of R.E.M., Nirvana, U2, Moby, Sonic Youth, The Pixies and numerous other bands since their start in 1979; and

WHEREAS: Since their reunion in 2002, Mission of Burma have continued to make inspiring music while remaining lyal to the city in which they got their start; and

WHEREAS: Mission of Burma will be releasing a new album, "The Sound The Speed The Light" on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED: That the Boston City Council proclaim Sunday, October 4th, 2009 as Mission of Burma day in order to recognize and celebrate the institutions that have consistently provided their city with art and entertainment.

How to celebrate? Well, at the very least, spend some time listening to a little MoB, but if you're in the Boston area, there's no better way to mark the day than a free, all-ages, outdoor show with the men of Burma themselves.


This afternoon, on MIT's Cambridge campus, the trio will take the stage (with fourth member Bob Weston hopefully at the board doing sound and tape loops) after opening performances by Eula (who earned the right to play though a 'Battle For Burma' contest) and Big Bear. The music should kick off around 2:30pm, the location is right here (take the T or your bike - parking won't be easy around there), and the doppler radar looks pretty clear. Newbury Comics will also be helping you celebrate by selling copies of the new album, "The Sound The Speed The Light", two days before it's official release date this Tuesday, so bring some extra cash as well.

Or save your cash and try your luck: In honor of the day, I'm giving away not one, but two copies of the new album on vinyl, each with a copy of the band's brand new, non-album "Innermost"/"Here It Comes" 7". Yup, two winners, two slabs of wax each. For a chance at them, you know the drill: Send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com, title it "MoB!", and make sure it hits my inbox by 9am on Thursday the 8th (also make sure you're in the continental U.S.). As usual, I'll just pick a random name from all entrants, get in touch with them Thursday to get a mailing address, and have the label send them along.

Have yourself a good Mission of Burma Day, everyone. And Bostonians, I'll see you this afternoon...

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 3:04 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

Even though Arms and Sleepers' gorgeously mesmerizing sophomore album, "Matador", won't officially be available until mid-November here in North America, anyone fortunate enough to catch them on a string of dates this month will be able to grab one straight from the source. The first opportunity to do so comes this Wednesday, when the duo (namely Boston's Max Lewis and Portland, ME's Mirza Ramic) plays upstairs at the Middle East with a seriously solid lineup that includes Junius, Metavari, and Thunderhole.

Can't say for sure if they'll be joined on stage by any of the super-talented area guest stars they recruited to help out with the record (including Philip Jamieson of Caspian and Mona Elliott from Travels), but given the occasion, I wouldn't rule anything out (actually, looking at Caspian's crazy touring schedule, we can rule Phil out). Those album guest stars also include the golden-throated Catherine Worsham of Uzi & Ari, who duets on this song, the album's official preview track, which also features guitar work from Travels' Mona...


Thanks to Extinguish Boston, I've got a pair of guest list spots for this Wednesday, October 7th show to hand out to a fortunate Almanac reader. If you're down, send a quick email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com by Noon sharp on Tuesday the 6th, entitle it "A&S", and let me know which town you live in (and have no fear, your email addy is never shared). I'll pick a random name outta the emailers and get ahold of them that afternoon to say they're on the guest list for the next night's show with a +1.

If you're not the lucky chosen one, or if you just wanna make sure you don't get shut out of the show, make sure you pick up tickets of your own at the Middle East box office or online right here. Arms and Sleepers' "Matador" can be pre-ordered from Fake Chapter Records on disc or limited edition vinyl right here.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 7:45 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

While The Sea Navy is very much a Seattle band, I'll never be able to separate singer/guitarist Jay Cox from Boston in my brain. Though he moved away a number of years ago, I still expect to see him at the same shows I go to, just as I used to a decade ago when I first got here. He was that increasingly-familiar face in the crowd at all the good gigs, then suddenly one night he was up on stage fronting the Ivory Coast, and would eventually become a friend whom I was sad to see head west.

Fortunately for us (meaning me and anyone reading this), when he left Boston he didn't stop writing songs, turning his semi-solo project The Sea Navy into a mutating band and cranking out a couple of excellent full-lengthers. The third of those, "Memory Matches", was officially released last week, and is the first written and recorded with a stable lineup (Stuart Fletcher, formerly of The Sorts, is on bass and Jordan Cumming mans the drums). In honor of its release, Jay has pulled together a pretty damn cool collection of Sea Navy merch for me to give away to an Almanac reader.

Included in the bundle is a spiffy Sea Navy T-shirt, all three Sea Navy discs (including, of course, the brand new "Memory Matches"), and the icing on this cake is a super-special Steve Keene painting of that new album's cover art.


Before I give you the deets on how to win this stuff, here's a Sea Navy a/v crash course, all from "Memory Matches". You're welcome...

[Mp3]: The Sea Navy - "Not My First Rodeo" (the leadoff track)

[Video]: The Sea Navy - "What Curse?"

[Video]: The Sea Navy - "talktalktalk"

Assuming you're sufficiently hooked, you can win this little prize pack by dropping an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before 9am on Thursday, September 10th. Title it "Gimme some Sea Navy!" and make sure you live in North America before you click send (apologies to international visitors). I'll pick a random winner from all entrants that afternoon, contact said lucky soul to get a mailing address, and then Jay himself will send along the goodies post haste.

For more on The Sea Navy, read a recent interview with Jay and Jordan at Sound on the Sound, become a fan of the band on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and pick up their latest album on iTunes or Amazon.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 7:25 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

This Saturday, August 1st, the pride of Taunton, Mass. celebrates the release of their brand new album with a show at Allston's Great Scott. Yes, Wheat has returned. Their "White Ink Black Ink" hit the streets last week thanks to The Rebel Group label, and they've invited locals Bon Savants and Brooklyn's The XYZ Affair to help mark the occasion with this weekend's Massconcerts-presented bash.

A taste of what you're in for, with two freely available songs and a video from "White Ink Black Ink"...


I've got a pair of tickets to Saturday's show, along with an extra copy of the new album, to give out to one fortunate Almanac reader. If you're up for it, send along an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com by high Noon this Friday, July 31st, entitle it "Gimme Wheat!", and let me know which town you live in (obviously, make sure it's close enough to actually go to the show, doy). I'll pick a random soul from the emails, letting them know right away that their name will be on Saturday night's guest list with a +1. I'll also get in touch to get your mailing address so I can send the disc along.

For some insightful words on the band and the new album (along with another track from it), check out Chromewaves recent write-up, to own a copy of it as your very own, go here, and for tickets of your own to the show, click on over here.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 12:01 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

There's not a weak spot to be found in the three-headed lineup that will pack Cambridge's TT the Bears on Wednesday, July 29th: An ace local opener in Faces on Film, followed by the one-two punch of their tourmates from divergent yet nearly equidistant locales: LA's Foreign Born and London's The Veils.

Any of these three bands would be worth shining a spotlight on, but it's UK quartet The Veils who get the blog-post-title-and-picture treatment this time around, thanks to a generous giveaway provided by their label: Two randomly chosen entrants will not only get guest listed (with a +1) at the TT's show, but will each get sent a vinyl copy (with download codes) of the band's third full-lengther, "Sun Gangs", released back in April on Rough Trade. Here's a taste...


Want in? Of course you do. Only one requirement - that you live close enough to Boston attend the show. If you do, send along an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com by 9am next Monday the 27th, entitle it "Veiled Interest", and let me know which town you live in. I'll pick two random winners from all entries, letting them know that day that their names will be on Wednesday's guest list, and each with a +1, and I'll arrange to have the vinyl sent along post-haste.

If you're not feeling fortunate, pick up tickets of your own to the show over here.

After the TTs gig, only four stops remain on The Veils co-headlining tour with Foreign Born, on which Faces on Film share all shows: NYC, Philly, DC, & Brooklyn. Listen to some more tracks from The Veils at MySpace, have a look at this "Sun Gangs" short film on YouTube, and check out a story and songs courtesy of NPR's All Things Considered.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 6:23 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

In four short days, a genuinely special double-bill will make its way to Boston when Andrew Bird and Calexico set up at the BoA Pavilion on our waterfront's Fish Pier. As a fan of both, having seen each in far different settings and far away from Boston (Bird in a bar, under a tent, and in an old Vermont meeting house in '03, Calexico in '06 at the Touch & Go 25th Anniversary shindig in Chicago), I know the team-up will be anything but the standard guitar-based-indie-rock thang I see way too much of. While Bird's inventive, violin-and-whistlin'-accented songs don't share obvious commonalities with Calexico's energetic, Arizona-mex stylings, they for some reason feel like they'd perfect live compliments to each other. Especially if we get a break in this gray weather and a warm dusk eases us into the Friday night show.

Want a pair of tickets? Well, of course you do. Send along an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before this Thursday noon, entitle it "AB&C", and let me know which town you live in. I'll pick a random winner from all entries, letting them know on Thursday afternoon that their name will be on the guest list with a +1. An easy enough hoop to jump through, eh? So get jumpin'.

For tickets of your own, hit up Live Nation. As you write me your entry, stream some Andrew Bird at his MySpace page, including tracks from his latest, "Noble Beast", or some Calexico at theirs. Bird is fresh off an appearance at Bonnaroo, recently chatted with WNYC's Soundcheck about his "gateway albums", and appears in an entirely un-serious interview piece called Touche at P4K. Damn, do I love that man's whistlin'. Luke at Hip2BeSquare has a preview of the show as well.

Andrew Bird's summer journey picks up again in July with some dates out West, a stop at Chicago's Lollapalooza, and then a trip overseas. Check out his tour dates page for all the info. From Boston, Calexico cruises out to Minneapolis for a Saturday show with the Decemberists (who just played the Pavilion themselves), and spends the rest of the summer hitting festivals on the other side of the Atlantic. Their busy itinerary is here.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 1:08 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

This Tuesday, May 19th, St. Vincent (aka Ms. Annie Clark) will return to the Boston area to headline a night at the Somerville Theatre with openers Pattern Is Movement. It's the very first stop on a month-long, nationwide tour to spotlight last week's release of "Actor", her second solo album and first for legendary label 4AD.

Thanks to the kind crew at World Music/CRASHarts, I've got a pair of tickets for the Tuesday show to bequeath to an Almanac visitor. And that may be the first time I've ever used the word bequeath here on the 'Nac. May not happen again.

If you want your name and a guest's to magically appear at the box office on Tuesday evening, send along a quick email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before this Monday noon, title it "St. Vincent!", and let me know which town you live in. One random winner will be notified that very afternoon.

For tickets of your own, buy direct from World Music/CRASHarts to save on service fees. To educate your ears, visit St. Vincent on MySpace, have a listen to an Mp3 from her new album below, or take a look at the video for "Actor Out Of Work"...


My inbox awaits...

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 12:01 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

This Saturday night, March the 14th, A.C. Newman (aka Allan Carl Newman, aka Carl Newman, aka frontman of the New Pornographers and long-ago for the underappreciated Zumpano) will bring his particular brand of melodic guitar pop to the Paradise, with the help of a full band (one that includes Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster), and with opening assistance from Mr. Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele. This show finds the Canadian-via-NYC songwriter smack-dab in the middle of a 27 date tour in support of his latest solo effort, "Get Guilty", released by Matador in January. Here's a track...


Wanna go? Send a quick email (subject: "Newman!") to me at giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com. Include the city you live in, and make sure it hits my inbox by 10am this Friday the 13th. A random number generator will determine your fate, and the winner will be told that afternoon that they'll be on Saturday night's guest list (with a +1 for a friend) at the 'Dise. Unlucky souls can snag tickets of their very own right here.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 8:43 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

Hey hey, another day, another ticket giveaway. I'm actually going to be doing two today -- the one below and a last-minute chance to win 2 tix to see Tapes 'n Tapes, Wild Light, and the Subjects at the Paradise tonight. But to mix things up, I'll be doing that particular contest on the Almanac Twitter account, so follow me over there and keep an eye out for my first-ever free-ticket-tweet. And congrats to Natalie from Cambridge, who was the winner of the Ben Kweller / Watson Twins giveaway, and will be attending that show tonight in Somerville.


First I'll kick off a giveaway for two pairs of tickets to another show at the Paradise, this one on Friday, where you can catch three of the best damn bands this area's got: Drug Rug with Helms and Viva Viva. While I dig the headliner D.R. and opener V.V. quite a bit, it's the middle band that is the personal highlight of this killer lineup -- it should be something special to see the mighty trio that is Helms up on that stage. Last time I caught them was far too long ago, when they absolutely destroyed me with a powerful set at PA's Lounge. While the Paradise experience will no doubt feel drastically different than the rec-room vibe of PA's, I still expect sonic ownage.

So if you're game for spending your Friday night at the 'Dise, send an email (subject: "Hot Local Action!") to me at giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com. Include the city you live in, and get it to me before noon this Thursday, when I'll use my trusty random number generator to pick two winners, who will both be contacted that afternoon. If one of them is you, you'll find your name (with a guest) on the list at the Paradise ticket window on Friday. For the rest of ya, pick up tickets of your very own right here, or at the venue's box office to save on fees.

And remember, hit up my Twitter account, where I'll be handing out a pair of list spots for tonight's Tapes 'n Tapes / Wild Light, / Subjects gig sometime this afternoon.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 8:50 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

Great Scott and Massconcerts present a pretty stellar triple-bill this Saturday night, headlined by NY's Longwave, who are joined by a couple of the Boston-area's best: Wheat and Bon Savants.

Longwave are here on the heels of their latest album, "Secrets Are Sinister", and while I've generally liked what I've heard from the band, it wasn't until their opening set for the reunited Swervedriver last June at the Paradise that something really clicked for me. I was surprised to learn that they didn't have a label at the time, but given the strength of the new songs they played, I figured it wouldn't be long. November proved me right, when Original Signal Recordings released the new disc.

I'm dying to see Wheat again, to erase the disappointment of being out of town for their long-awaited return to the stage at TT's a couple months back. The band will no doubt be playing familiar favorites alongside preview tracks from their upcoming full-length, "White Ink, Black Ink", due this Spring. To say I'm looking forward to hearing new sounds from them would be an understatement, and I count myself very lucky to live in the area they call home.

Bon Savants have been relatively quiet as well, playing less than a dozen times (and only a couple in town) last year as they focus on finishing the followup to 2006's well-received debut, "Post Rock Defends the Nation". When they have played out, the band hasn't been shy about sharing the new stuff (check out "Destroyer" on MySpace and a live clip on Youtube), and I figure we'll get a healthy dose on Saturday (and hopefully an album-release update).

The crew at Great Scott has generously given me a couple guest list spots for the show, so if you're free this Saturday, January 24th, drop an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before Noon this Friday, the 23rd. Throw "Great Scott!" in the subject line, include the city you live in (area residents or in-town visitors only, obvs), and oh, double-check your ID to make sure you're over 21. Otherwise they won't let you in, ya whipper-snapper. I'll pick the winner on Friday and let you know right away if the two guest list spots are yours.

If you could bet on such things, I'd throw tall dollars down on the show selling out, if not in the next few days then surely at the door. Stay on the safe side and grab your own tickets via Ticketweb. Again, it's 21+, ten bucks, and kicks off at 9pm. Ah, sweet, sweet Saturday night show... my sleep-deprived self thanks you.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 9:39 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

First official 'Nac post of the new year, and it's a gift for one of you.

There are many scheduled releases I look forward to in '09 (and I'll write about them in another post soon), but one I anticipate the most is David Bazan's Black Cloud, which should be arriving on Barsuk sometime this Spring. The former Pedro the Lion frontman has been sharing several new songs on stage for awhile now, and simply stripped down you can tell they're some of his best.

To help ease the long wait for "Black Cloud" (technically his first official solo full-lengther), David and the crew at Undertow released the "Bazan: Alone At The Microphone" DVD in October. Documented last summer, the intimate, hour-long offering sprinkles revealing interview segments among 10 bare-bones performances. These run-throughs cover of a wide variety of David's work, including PtL songs, some Headphones tracks (remarkable in these very different guitar-based versions), and the disc closes with the new "Please Baby Please", a live favorite for awhile now.

So, thanks to the generosity of Undertow, I've got a copy of the David Bazan DVD to give away to a random Almanac reader. With the holiday season wrapping up, and surfing having slowed waaaaay down, the odds of your snagging this sucker is that much greater. So if you want to take a shot, drop a quick email to me at giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before 9am next Friday, January 9th, and I'll let you know if it's yours that afternoon. Throw "Bazan DVD" in the subject line, and include the city you live in (North Americans only, unfortunately).

If the chips don't fall your way, you can pick up your own copy of the DVD via Undertow, Barsuk, or at Insound. Check out a couple interview segments from the DVD right here, some bonus material over at Elbows, and these clips via YouTube...


Also well worth noting is that David recently released a couple new tracks via iTunes, the politically-charged "American Flags" and his version of "Please Baby Please" from the DVD. For those who hanker for something to hold in your hands (as I do), both tracks will also be found on a 7" version that arrives later this month from Barsuk.

Alright, get those emails coming and keep those fingers crossed.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 9:18 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

So, Little Joy is Strokes drummer Fab Moretti's new band with girlfriend Binki Shapiro and Rodrigo Amarante of Los Hermanos, and their self-titled debut disc arrived last week via Rough Trade. Given how much I dug Albert Hammond Jr.'s two solo albums, I was curious to hear what Moretti and co. had to offer as well. And while it hasn't immediately struck as catchy a chord as Hammond Jr.'s stuff did, what's remarkable is how much more it has in common sonically with the Strokes. You wouldn't think a drummer's side-project would resemble his other band as much as a guitarist's, but there it is. I do need to spend more time with it, but after the first few listens, it feels like the post-"First Impressions Of Earth" offshoot albums are 3 for 3 so far. We'll see if bassist Nikolai Fraiture's Nickel Eye project makes it a perfect 4 come January, but our ears have been well served by the Strokes' time off so far.

The LA-based Little Joy kicked off a month-long tour last week in Minnesota, and they'll hit TT the Bears this coming Sunday night, November 16th. I've been given a pair of guest list spots for the show, as well as a copy of that debut disc, to dole out to a couple of 'Nac readers, so if you're interested in either seeing the show or hearing the album, drop an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before 9AM this Friday the 14th. Make the subject "Give Me Joy" and be sure to include the city you live in (anyone in the continental U.S. can take part). I'll pick and notify two winners Friday morning: One in the Boston area for those two Sunday spots on the TT's guest list, and another (local or non-local) for that copy of the album. If you live near here and would prefer the disc to the show, just let me know when you enter.

While you pull together that email, listen to some Little Joy at their MySpace page, and check out the other bands on the bill that night as well: Boston's own Buttercup and former locals The Dead Trees, who picked up and moved to Portland, Oregon last year. To grab tickets of your own, hit up Ticketweb.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 9:20 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

This coming Monday, October 20th, will bring the first-ever Boston appearance by Magnetic Morning, a collaboration between Swervedriver frontman Adam Franklin and Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino, playing at Great Scott the night before their debut full-length gets officially released. They'll be joined by reformed NYC trio Springhouse (featuring Jack Rabid, the man behind my favorite music mag, Big Takeover), who themselves are celebrating a very-long-in-the-making brand new album. Sadly, the planned third band on the bill, DC quartet Julie Ocean (which includes former Velocity Girl drummer Jim Spellman on guitar), has had to cancel their appearance for personal reasons, but in their place we'll be treated to Providence-based quintet The Brother Kite.

Thanks to Great Scott, I've got three pairs of guest list spots to give away to this sucker, so your odds of scoring are far greater than usual. To enter, send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com with your full name and a subject line of "MM!", but make sure you do so before Noon this Sunday, October 19th. I'll pick a winner shortly after, and notify the lucky three that afternoon that they'll be on the guest list at the door (with a +1, of course) on Monday night. Easy enough. And if I was a betting man, I'd put my money on a sellout (yes, even on the weeknight), so pick up tickets if you're not feeling lucky enough to win one of these free pairs.

Some links for you...

Download a Magnetic Morning track over at Stereogum, or stream some stuff at MySpace. As I mentioned above, their debut album "A.M." arrives on shelves next Tuesday, but I'm assuming they'll have some with them at the Great Scott merch table.

Download Springhouse's third album, the just-released "From Now to OK" (their first in 15 years) at their site for however much scratch you see fit, or buy a deluxe limited-edition disc right here. Stream some tracks from it at MySpace as well. Me? I'll be picking one up at the show.

Heads up Swervedriver fans: On January 6th of next year, Hi Speed Soul Records will re-issue the band's first three albums. Fantastic news, which you can read more about here. Also in 2009? The release of the second Bolts of Melody (Adam Franklin's solo project) album.

An additional heads up: The full, uncut transcript of a fantastic 2006 Adam Franklin interview has recently been posted online, and it's more than worth a read. Some great Swervie stories within.

The complete list of remaining Magnetic Morning tourdates...

Oct. 16th, Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
Oct. 17th, Rock And Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
Oct. 18th, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA
Oct. 20th, Great Scott, Allston, MA
Oct. 21st, South Paw, Brooklyn, NY
Oct. 23rd, Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ONT
Oct. 24th, The Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH
Oct. 25th, The Catus Club, Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 26th, The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
Oct. 27th, 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
Oct. 30th, Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
Oct. 31st, Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
Nov. 2nd, The Independent, San Fran., CA
Nov. 3rd, The Roxy, L.A., CA
Nov. 4th, Casbah, San Diego, CA
Nov. 7th, House Of Blues, Dallas, TX
Nov. 8th, Waterloo Park, Austin, TX
Nov. 10th, The Earl, Atlanta, GA

Alright, get those contest entry emails on their way, and if I don't see you tonight at Tourfilter DJ Night at River Gods, hopefully you'll join me at Great Scott on Monday.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 1:15 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

A friendly reminder: Entries for this giveaway must be received by midnight tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10th. Also, fans of the Lymbyc Systym and This Will Destroy you should tune into the internet stream of WERS after the show (1am on Monday the 15th) for a dual interview and a live L.S. performance. Read on for show and contest details...

Tempe, Arizona instrumental duo The Lymbyc Systym just kicked off a two week tour with the mighty This Will Destroy You in TWDY's hometown of Austin, Texas, and their journey will bring them here to Boston on Sunday night, September 14th. Also on the bill at Harper's Ferry that night are Cambridge's own Arms and Sleepers, fresh off their own North American tour, and gearing up for a UK trip later this month.

Courtesy of local promotion/flyering company Extinguish Boston, I've got a pair of spots on the show's guest list to award one fortunate Almanac reader. If you're game, drop an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com with your full name, the town you live in, and "LYMBYC!" in the subject line (and yes, spelling counts). Send your entry before midnight this Wednesday, September 10th, and I'll choose and notify the winner Thursday morning. Easy enough.

For your education and listening pleasure...

The Lymbyc Systym: MySpace, Wiki
      Mp3: "Truth Skull"

This Will Destroy You: MySpace
      Mp3: "Threads"

Arms and Sleepers: MySpace, Facebook, Facebook Group, Ecard
      Mp3: "A Mission To Prague"

Last FM Event page

A footnote: Keep eyes and ears out for a recorded pairing of Lymbyc Systym and This Will Destroy You later this year when Magic Bullet Records releases "Field Studies", which will feature three new Lymbyc tracks alongside two new ones from TWDY. Magic Bullet also plans to re-release LS's self-released 2005 EP "Carved By Glaciers" with new artwork and remixes. Good news all around.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 8:32 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

I may not count myself among the legions who enjoy the songwriting style of Jack Johnson, but the man, and his partners at Brushfire Records, have my respect for putting out the music of Neil Halstead and Rogue Wave. Halstead, who earned my everlasting interest with the gorgeous wash of sound he created while in Slowdive, and after that the more clean-cut and countrified Mojave 3, will release his second solo record (and first for Brushfire), "Oh, Mighty Engine" on July 29th. An Mp3 for album track "Paint A Face" has been shared online, as well as on a new 12" vinyl Brushfire sampler, which the label has graciously given me a few copies of to dole out to some Almanac readers. Here's the track list...

Brushfire Records 2008 Sampler

Side one...
1. Neil Halsted - "Paint A Face" [Mp3]
2. Mason Jennings - "Something About Your Love"
3. Jack Johnson - "What You Thought You Need"
4. Matt Costa - "Never Looking Back"

Side two...
5. Money Mark - "Summer Blue"
6. G. Love & Special Sauce - "Crumble"
7. Zach Gill - "Beautiful Reason"
8. Rogue Wave- "Christians In Black"

If you're not a vinyl junkie, each copy includes a unique download code that allows you to grab Mp3s of the songs via the Brushfire site. So if you're up for either the physical or digital version, just drop an email (subject: Brushfire) to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before noon this Friday, July 11th with your name and the city you live in. Three winners will get picked and notified on Friday afternoon., and while I'll accept entries from anywhere, only U.S. winners will get sent the vinyl -- I'll email international winners a download code. And if you're not among those fortunate few, you can pick buy a copy of the sampler here.

Johnson, touring machine that he is, is bringing Neil and Rogue Wave along with him this summer, including a stop at Great Woods on Wednesday, August 6th [tickets here].

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 10:00 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

Well, as far as corporate marketing synergy goes, socialnet site Going.com and the upstart Miller Brewing Company have got it figured out: Team up a much-heralded national band who are back in the spotlight with an almost-out new album (that'd be The Hold Steady, who release "Stay Positive" on July 15th), and a local act whose debut disc caught enough receptive ears to get people hankering for the follow-up (that's our own Aberdeen City), book a night at the Paradise, then make admission to the show completely free. Announce it just one week before it's happening (this coming Thursday, June 26th), and voila, watch the Boston-area music blogs fall in line.

Now, I'm usually resistant to such shenanigans, but if you strip it down to just the bands playing, I can't not do my part to spread the word. Not to mention the fact that, when on a budget, I do occasionally indulge in The Champagne Of Beers. There's that.

So how exactly can I do a giveaway if admission is already free with an email-harvesting RSVP? Well, the organizers have set up some special kind of VIP access, which not only assures your admission to the Paradise that night (no small favor, since the place will probably be jammed), but gets you, and I quote, "complimentary Miller product" at a private reception before the show. And I'm guessing that the "product" is drinkable.

I've got a pair of these VIP passes for one 'Nac reader, so if you consider yourself both "very important" and a "person" (one who is also 21 or older), send an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com with your full name and a subject of either "Hold Steady!" or "Aberdeen City!" (what, you think I'd go with "Great Taste!" vs. "Less Filling!"?). Get that note to me before noon this Wednesday the 25th and I'll let you know that day if you are, in fact, both lucky and important. And if you are neither, make sure you RSVP and show up extra-early.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 12:40 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

This Friday, June 20th, Shearwater brings their "Rook" tour to the Boston area for a show at TT the Bears in Cambridge's Central Square with openers Frog Eyes, Evangelicals, and a solo set from Carter Tanton of Tulsa. When Matador signed the Austin-based band and re-released their gorgeous "Palo Santo", I'm sure they expected a solid follow-up, but to my ears they went and surpassed any expectations with the release of "Rook" earlier this month. While the band played Boston earlier this spring for an opening slot at the Paradise, it will be a true treat to see these songs on the far-smaller TT's stage.

To make a reader's attendance less costly (and to allow you to spend more money on merch), I've got a couple of guest list spots for this Friday's show to give away. Just email your full name to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com, throw Rook! in the subject line, and send it before 9AM on Thursday. I'll select a random name out of all entrants, and let the winner know that morning that they'll be on the TTs guest list with a +1. Easy as pie.

Labels: giveaways

posted by brad at 5:45 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) |

The men from Mission of Burma are halfway through a hectic couple of weeks, as they've just returned from a short European tour with Shellac to treat Boston and New York fans to some very special performances. Over two nights in each city, the seminal Boston band will perform the entirety of their 1981 debut EP, "Signals, Calls, and Marches", along with their 1982 full-lengther, "vs.". Each set will be fleshed out with some rarities, and guitarist Roger Miller provides more details on that in the interview responses below, which he and bassist Clint Conley were kind enough to provide during a long drive through Spain a few days back.

Thanks to Fenway Recordings, I've got a pair of tickets for each Boston show (Thursday and Friday at the Paradise) to give away. Details after the interview...

Q: So how did the idea of running through each album over two nights come about? Obviously the recent Matador reissues played a part, but were you all into the idea initially, or was anyone resistant?

Clint Conley: The idea first arose when we were asked to do "vs" at the Pitchfork Fest. That seemed quite an honor, and an idea totally worth stealing and repeating. Seemed to me we were of like-mind on the matter.

Roger Miller: I can't recall exactly, but I think (MoB manager and Fenway Recordings head honcho) Mark Kates suggested it. It's that "Don't Look Back" idea that the ATP festival started, where bands perform their classic albums. It just kind of made sense given the reissues. We certainly would not have done this except that the reissues are coming out. Last fall we hardly performed any of the old stuff, because we were focusing on the new ideas.

Q: If you've had time to run through the seldom-played songs already, are there any that have surprised you (either in a 'Why weren't we playing this one all along?' sort of way, or a 'Uh oh, we're in trouble with this one' kind of way, or anywhere in between)?

CC: There were several songs that required some skullwork to reconstruct, and there are still some transitions, and odd corners, that I am not totally convinced we've got "right." Overall, the recall of songs from almost 30 years ago (!) has been eerily easy. And yes, some of the songs we haven't been playing seem pretty decent, if I say so myself.

RM: Mostly they fell into place pretty quickly. Some were surprising to find how they were structured - they were pretty much all fun to revisit. The most surprising one for me was "Train of Thought", which didn't do much for me "back in the day" but I find quite bracing now. We've run through twelve "resuscitates" (songs we haven't played since 1983), and we're hoping we'll have them together by the time of the shows! We're in Spain right now, and we go over them in soundchecks and incorporate a couple in every show, so we should be OK by the Paradise shows. We just listened to these songs in the van, and found that there were quite a number of little sections we didn't realize were there.

Q: With the albums being relatively short compared to the usual length of your live sets (and one actually being an EP), how are you planning to fill out the rest of each night? And do you plan on sticking to the original "Signals..." track order, or the remastered sequence with the two additional songs? (no worries if you're hoping to keep any of that a surprise, of course).

CC: We are still working out the details of how to present the records/shows. Suffice to say we will be expanding beyond , say, the 6 song "Signals," doing other songs from that period that may or may not have shown up on other releases, such on Taang or Horrible Truth. Same with 'vs'.

RM (from notes he wrote earlier): For the 'Signals...' show, we will play some songs from early on that are not on 'Signals...', but were of that era. We will then play the 4 songs from the Acad/Max session (including the 2 that were just released), then play 'Signals...' start to finish, then play encores, and make sure everyone is happy.

For the 'vs.' Show: We will play the 4 "bonus tracks", 'vs.' start to finish, then play encores, and make sure everyone is happy.

Q: You guys have been playing some new stuff recently, so what does the future hold for MoB? Back to the studio for a follow-up to "The Obliterati"? Any other special plans ahead?

CC: We almost never know what we are going to do. If there is a plan, no one's told me.

RM: We're not so good at planning. We do have new material, and once this reissues thing has passed, I'm sure we'll work on more new songs. The only truth to be told is that so far, whenever we've had enough new songs to make an album, we've made one. That may or may not hold true in the future.

Q: I believe you're answering these questions while driving around Europe on a short tour. So what exactly is helping pass the time while on the road? (what music, books, games, etc.?)

CC: We are at this moment following the luxurious Shellac tour van across the high, dry plains of Spain, on our way north to Gijon, a beach town on the Gulf of Vizcaya (Atlantic Ocean). Spain is beautiful to the point of flabbergasm. I was reading Oliver Sacks' "Musicophilia" until it got stolen yesterday along with my laptop in Madrid.

RM: Gazing at the scenery is quite nice. I was in Barcelona with Alloy Orchestra some years ago, but otherwise, this trip is all new stuff to me. Babbling to each other, occasionally listening to music. Listening to Public Enemy (who MoB will play with at P4K in July - ed) coming into Madrid was kind of interesting. I have my laptop with me and writing the Tour Blog for the Burma MySpace site is my little "side project" on this trip. It's hard to say what we do to keep amused - it just happens.

One thing's for sure: Roger's road blogging kept me amused (especially the Burma vs. Shellac scores). Damn shame about Clint's laptop, huh? Add MoB to the long list of victimized touring bands, but hey, at least it wasn't their instruments. Much thanks to Roger and Clint for taking the time to answer those questions.

As I said, I'm glad to be able to give away a pair of tickets to each show, so if you're game, send me an email at giveaways -at- bradleysalmanac -dot- com titled "MoB Thursday" or "MoB Friday", depending on which one you want to try for (no double-dippin'). Make sure I get it before 10AM on Wednesday, and I'll randomly pick one winner for each show who will end up on the guest list with a +1 spot for a friend.

And to get yourself in the mood, I should mention that I uploaded my January recording of MoB's amazing appearance at Great Scott to the Live Music Archive. Have at it.

Labels: giveaways, interviews

posted by brad at 12:44 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) |