From Jonathan Perry's piece on the International Pop Overthrow next week:

Sunday, Nov. 22, 11 p.m. A swell of organ here, a dollop of slide guitar there, sparkling pop tunes all around. All of those elements - not to mention last year’s disarmingly excellent debut EP, “The Going and the Gone,’’ which proved one of the finer entries in the local music sweepstakes - are the calling cards of a quintet that expertly blends power-pop guitar crunch with a dash of country-rock flavor. What more of a rationale do you need to check them out?

Upcoming Shows:

- Thursday, November 12, Dave Mirabella (solo w. special guests) - Porter Belly's Pub, Brighton, 9pm, free


- Saturday, November 21, THE RATIONALES pay tribute to The Band at the Last Waltz CoverUp, Lizard Lounge, 9pm, $10

- Sunday, November 22, THE RATIONALES play a set at the INTERNATIONAL POP OVERTHROW, Church, 11pm, $10

Studio News:

- Things are moving along with the recording of the new disc. We're hoping to get it done before the first of the year - working with our friends Ed Valauskas and Joe Tooley, working some at Q Division and some at home. It's shaping up to be a tightly focused record really showcasing our powerpop side.

Future Plans:

- Look for new shows in the coming months at the Lizard Lounge and TT the Bear's. The release of the full length record - and then for 2010 - a series of 4 EPs of new material to come out coinciding with each of the seasons.

Care to help The Rationales make more friends?

If you haven't already - Sign up as a fan on facebook.

If you already are a fan - please -  let any friends that you think may like our style know about us - lots of songs are streaming for free on myspace and facebook!

Don't forget that copies of The Going and The Gone are still available at iTunes and at CD Baby.

Thanks and hope to see you soon!
The Rationales

--
Http://www.therationales.com

We had a great time and really owe the staff and bookers at the fair a big thanks for making it happen on a day when rain forced the closure or moving of everything at the fair.


setlist:

Ruby Colored Halo
Far Away
The Weight (the band)
Tongue Tied
Help! (the beatles)
On the Vine
Try To tell Me
Fake Plastic Trees (radiohead)
All Brand New*
Braedon
aimee
Don't Do Me Like That (tom petty)
Burned Again*
Low (cracker)
No Guarantees
Purple Rain (prince)

Big thanks to EVERYONE involved in today's show - Ann, Rich, The sound crew, maintenance for making it happen - and to lori&joel&sophie&lucy&tam for making it to see us  and to Jesse & Avi for making it out... we had a great time and are now looking forward to parking our butts in the studio this week to finally get that new album down and out.

( * 1st time played)
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_qXraXzbT4

here's another amatuer video from THE GOING AND THE GONE for ruby... check back often in late fall 09 as we're heading into the studio next week to cut our new album!

The Phil Aiken army set the tone early with a great set filled with smart, tight, pop tunes played with a stonesy edge and joyus abandon. what a great band and a great set of songs.

The Teenage Prayers closed the night masterfully - great vocal harmonies, great guitars, tight rhythm, and all around great songs. these guys definitely are on my top ten list... great stuff.

Instead of my usual sunny 'we had a great set and a great time' update i'll be honest - while we did have a great time and always love playing whatever the circumstance - this set was more of a struggle for us to get up for than usual - two of us, including our lead singer - were deathly ill with chest colds - so we feared it was going to be a challenge getting the songs across and keeping the energy level up - but as soon as we hit the stage things were instantly better. While it would not be a night for scissor kicks and splits - we really enjoyed playing and had a great time being part of such a great night and great bill.

setlist:
Tongue Tied
Braedon
Try to Tell Me
Another Moon
On the Vine
Aimee
Far Away
Framed
No Guarantees
Believe


Next show is not for a while - we're playing the PROVINCETOWN ROCKS festival on Thursday, July 23 at 4pm - club goodtimes - so if you are down for the fest - be sure to come over and catch our set before dinner!

The other big news is that we're finalizing arrangements and getting ready to get recording in earnest for our next CD. watch for progress updates over the coming weeks.

played last night on an amazing bill. frank booths car killed. loud fun and great. you'd never have guessedbit was their first show. Jake & the Jakes brought the house down with their solid fun rock. they have a bunch of more melodic new tunes and really sound great. Have at it closed the night with a frenetic display of prog-y rock with hooks and dynamics galore.

as for the RATIONALES, we had a blast. it was our first show with sean black on bass and mike mirabella on drums and the new rhythm section pushed the songs in new ways and made for a fun and energetic set. good things to come for sure with these two aboard.
setlist:
tongue tied
braedon
try to tell me
cliche
on the vine
far away
framed
no guarantees
believe
aimmee

our next show is a BIG ONE. playing at the Lizard Lounge on sat. june 13 with the Teenage Prayers. please plan to come out for this one!

It was the show that couldn't be killed.

it started out as a plan in december for a show at TTs with John Powhida and Jenny Dee. Next thing it became a show at the Lizard Lounge with Jenny Dee and the Gentlemen, next the Wooden Sky were going to headline, then the lineup settled into what it became - a great bill with Jenny Dee, The Blizzard of 78 and Scarce playing semi acoustic. But then with a few weeks to go we wound up without a club. Scrambling like no tomorrow with weeks to go we found our options to be between the Ayer MA VFW post or the Matunuck RI ITAM. then stepped in Jonas at Sally Obriens and gave us a home. The show was set. Nothing could derail it. we simply all needed to show up at 730ish with our gear and be ready to go.

730pm 4/25 - 3000lbs worth of gear piled on Bow street's sidewalk - a (GREAT) band already playing inside sally o's - part of an early show... no worries - our show doesn't start till 9pm, that will be plenty of time to load in and set up the sound from scratch. 9pm, the other band is still going strong, but at least the redsox have come back and finally won that game that started at 1103am it seems.... final score 150 - 149.

945. Ed V has worked his magic and has all the vocal mics not only working but actually working in the monitors. Scarce kick off their set.

10pm - SCARCE rock. quietly tonight, but ROCK nonethe less. first time hearing them with Joe on drums and even though he's only using brushes, it adds that swaggar to their music that all the people who heard them the first time around always tell me about. they are fantastic and as always when i see them - i can't wait to see them again.

1030pm THE RATIONALES. its greg's last show. he's moving away. yes, the rationales have a spinal tap like history with bassists. we've had no less than 5 people agree to be the bassist of the band. 2 that backed out in the early craigslist rehersal days, 1 that is now our keyboard player, 1 that moved to san francisco, and now greg is moving to nashville. anyhow - its a great night and a great sendoff to greg.
setlist:
1. Tongue Tied
2. try to tell me
3. No Guarantees (with brendan boogie)
4. Braedon
5. aimme
6. framed
7. far away
8. believe

1115pm JENNY DEE & THE DELINQENTS - every time i see them i like them more - so fun, so good. just perfect for the saturday dance crowd. special points for pulling off a flawless show down two original members. one home sick, one off with NRBQ. ha. Mike filled in wonderfully.

1200 THE BLIZZARD OF 78 rock. just brought the house down. such nice guys, such good songs and performances. I could easily watch this band every day and never get tired of it. One of my favorite bands in boston.

thanks a million to everyone who played, helped organize, and came out to see this show -it was a blast!

see you soon. our next show will be the debut of our new bassist Sean Thomas - we'll be playing with Pals Jake and the Jakes and rumble lozers The Dirty Truckers at the catab lounge on friday, May 22. see you therre!?!?!?

Check in over on the Rationales Blog page for the report from last weekend at the lizard lounge! www (dot) therationales (dot) com

Happy New Year Kids!!

We here at Rationales HQ just wanted to take a quick second to thank you for a fantastic year. Whatever was happening in the "real world" we here in the insular fantasy bubble of rationales life had a fantastic year - from seeing you all out at shows, talking to you online, putting out our first EP, Playing with more fantastic bands and good friends than we could have dreamed, traveling partying and having a blast - 2008 was a great year for the rationales and its all thanks to you!

We are looking forward to 09 with a vengance - things to watch for will be our first full length record, lots of shows, maybe a mini tour or two - but most of all - more time to spend with our friends, old and new!

Those of you in the NYC area can start it off with us this weekend when we play Arlene's Grocery in NY on saturday night.

At any rate - have a great new year's celebration - and may the new year be as good to you as can be.

love,
the rationales.