THE ROCK DIRT
posted Tues, Dec 16, 2008
by Anngelle Wood. She writes this. All of this. Because she likes it.
Hell of a New Year's Eve, Digital Starlets, Another Dive Bites the Dust
This marks only the second edition of THE ROCK DIRT since it came out of hibernation earlier this month. Thank you first to the ice storm for taking away all power delaying its completion last week and a much larger thank you to the power company workers for its restoration. We carry on.
Funny Alternatives. The always musically and/or comedically entertaining Robby Roadsteamer returns to his media blitzing through the "Robby Roadsteamer's Greater Boston Alternative Comedy Festival" going on tomorrow at the Paradise Rock Club, Commonwealth Ave, Boston. For a lot of comics that fit this billing, it's less of a label and more of a warning, a disclaimer that you're not gonna see Wayne Brady. For us radio nerds, "alternative" itself is a term long hijacked at the height of the then-exploding Seattle grunge era. I'll speak for Robby here for lack of a printable quote at this time and quickly assure you the "alternative" does not indicate that there will be any sounds of Pearl Jam to endure. In fact, the house band at tomorrow's merrymaking, The Campaign for Real Time. Additional Alternative Comics equal a festival, they include Chris Coxen. Shane Webb, The Walsh Brothers, Shane Mauss, and Bethany Van Delft. For all things hearts and puppies, see www.roadsteamer.com.
Long Way Home. Dropkick Murphys bring their "All Roads Lead To Boston" tour home to reprise their now-annual St. Patrick's run in 2009 at the new House of Blues (former site of Avalon Ballroom). Pre-sale took place last weekend which I would have told you about but the ice storm…remember? Good news is the bulk of the tickets go on sale this Saturday, December 20 at 10am through Ticketmaster. Purchase will be limited to four tickets per person to make certain scalpers get their unfair share. All shows are all ages. Openers remain TBA and will be divulged in late January. Dropkick Murphys at the new House of Blues: Friday, 3/13; Sat, 3/14 – two shows 2pm & 7pm; Sun, 3/15 evening show; Tues, 3/17.
www.dropkickmurphys.com
Get A Leg Up. That is precisely what Gene Dante & the Future Starlets are doing with new record, The Romantic Lead. Digital copies are now available at iTunes, spiralfrog, and emusic. You'll have to wait for the hard copies and delightful Gene and Co. imagery until it drops in early February. In the meantime, check out the Michael Pope-directed video for "CockStar" or "C Star" for the G-rated YouTube. I will caution you, if the name isn't indication enough, the video is not safe for work. Or kids. Or maybe your mom. GD & TFS' "CStar" video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLk5Oisuegg
KickAssery. Roadsaw marked its triumphant revival with a profanity-laced (still the best inter-song stage banter in town) CD release for new disc, See You in Hell! (SmallStone), at the Middle East in November. With that, the band has a slew of new shows for the upcoming year. As singer Craig Riggs posted in the band's myspace, they'll get the New Year under way with a visit on January 10 to Bubba's in Portland which he calls "one of the most fucked up bars you will ever see." On February 6, Roadsaw will take part in Rock City Crimewave's final show along with Quintaine Americana at Church, Kilmarnock St, Boston. There was also mention of babies and pictures. Anyway, this makes way for a trip to SXSW in Austin, Texas for a March 20 SmallStone Records show at 710 on Red River. The aforementioned kickassery moves to Holland's Roadburn Festival on April 24 where the band launches a two week European tour.
www.roadsaw.net
One Hell Of A Night. The Night, New Year's Eve. The Place, Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston. The Host – THE DEVIL! The Pino Brothers, Frank and Dave, have put together one hell of a multi-decade genre spanning celebration. With more than 10 cover bands to participate featuring the likes of the following: Ken Susi and Derek Kerswill of Unearth, Noelle from Damone, Jet from Sam Black Church, Dave Pino of Powerman 5000, Jeff Fultz from Seemless, Mark Lind of The Ducky Boys, Mark of The Unseen, Pete Cortese of Overcast. Also in full attendance will be The And Wutz, The Morgan Knockers, Buzzwater, The Franks, The Dirty Sanchez, and the Organ Beats with a most specialist performance guaranteed to bring good luck for the year ahead, Waltham! Tickets available and going fast at www.harpersferryboston.com
It's Curtains For The Abbey. Not sure why this didn't make the come back column last week, guess that was about new beginnings rather than unhappy endings but the Abbey Lounge home to some of the past few year's best garage-y rock shows is now just a memory. Having served the good people of Boston area, most-notably the Somerville-Cambridge line, it took its last hoorah on Thanksgiving Eve in a blow out show. I'll always miss that shower curtain. Boston Groupie News posted some great pics at www.bostongroupienews.com/AbbeyClosing.html
BMAs? This year's Boston Music Awards doled out Dec 7 at the Roxy weren't just a mystery to me; one local writer I spoke with called it a "PR Blackout." So here goes what I will call The Boston Mystery Awards, Part Deux – The Results: A Partial List Minus Any New Kids Mention Or Things I Didn't Care About (just sayin')...
Act of the Year (Local) – Girls Guns and Glory
Album of the Year (Local) – Absolute Value – Akrobatik
Best New Act – The Low Anthem
Best Song of the Year (Local) – One and One – The Great Bandini
Female Vocalist of the Year (Local) – Sarah Borges
Male Vocalist of the Year (Local) – Eli "Paperboy" Reed
Male Vocalist of the Year (National) – Al Barr (Dropkick Murphys)
Outstanding Americana Act of the Year – Girls Guns and Glory
Outstanding Hip-Hop Act – Termanology
Outstanding International Music Act of the Year – Zili Misik
Outstanding Live Act of the Year – The Camp
Outstanding Metal/Hardcore Act of the Year – Doomriders
Outstanding Punk Act of the Year – Big D and the Kids Table
Outstanding Rock Act of the Year – Wild Light
Producer of the Year (Rock/Pop) – Ed Valauskas
Unsung Hero Award - Billy Beard
Congrats to all though I still don't know who did the nominating of any of you.
…
Anngelle hosts Boston Emissions Sundays from 10p-midnight on 104.1 WBCN, online at WBCN.com.
Send news, questions, inquiries to anngelle@wbcn.com