Get your punk rock fix February 4 from the U.S. BOMBS downstairs at the Middle East; or if you like a little country mixed into your punk, just across the river SUPERSUCKERS headline Harpers Ferry (158 Brighton Ave, Allston). The next night, punk-spirited folk-rocker MICHELLE SHOCKED gets intimate at Club Passim (47 Palmer St, Cambridge).
Bay Area hyphy hip-hoppers the PACK bring the bass — and their Vans — to Harpers Ferry February 6. The next night, Israeli-French chanteuse KEREN ANN shares a bill with former Luna couple DEAN & BRITTA at the MFA, and CAT POWER brings her DIRTY DELTA BLUES band to the Orpheum to support her new covers album Jukebox (Matador).
Restless avant-punks LIARS and recent Sub Pop signees NO AGE team up at the Paradise February 8, the same night the SOUL BAND bring their vintage sound to Johnny D’s. The next night, the hyper-intense bass-and-drums duo OM are downstairs at the Middle East to whisk you into noise nirvana, while the CLIKS get garage-glammy next door at T.T.’s, and blog-beloved dorks VAMPIRE WEEKEND play the MFA.
You should be able to cut the buzz with a knife at Great Scott on February 12 when super-hyped Brooklyn bands MGMT and YEASAYER roll through. The following evening, fans of metal — both brawny and brainy — will want to gas up the rides and head out to Worcester for HIGH ON FIRE at the Palladium; or for a slightly quieter affair check out former Split Enz leader TIM FINN with EILEEN ROSE at Passim.
Spending Valentine’s Day with the guy who wrote “I Don’t Want To Get Over You”: worst idea ever? Best? Find out when, for the first time since 2004, Stephin Merritt takes his MAGNETIC FIELDS on a tour that comes to the Somerville Theatre for two nights, February 14-15. The Boston Bluegrass Union’s big JOE VAL BLUEGRASSFESTIVAL — the 23rd annual — goes down at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel (1657 Worcester Road) February 15-17. David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain still have their NEW YORK DOLLS up and running: they hit the Paradise on February 16. The same night, renowned Irish traditionalists ALTAN play the Somerville Theatre. The following night dig into the South African jazz and Afrobeat grooves of HUGH MASEKELA and his CHISSA ALL-STARS, or the slick, epic-minded rock of former Blink-182 dude Tom DeLonge’s ANGELS & AIRWAVES. Also on the 17th, local drunk-punk heroes DARKBUSTER kick off their “Hometown Throwup” eight-night stand at Harpers Ferry. FOO FIGHTERS play the DCU Center with AGAINST ME! February 18, the same night the BRAVERY begin a two-night stand at the Paradise.
Big back-to-back nights at the Opera House (539 Washington St, Boston): the GIPSY KINGS February 22 and K.D. LANG February 23. Satisfy your psychedelic sweet tooth with Welsh vets SUPER FURRY ANIMALS at the Paradise February 23 and retro-hued Canadians BLACK MOUNTAIN the following night upstairs at the Middle East. Two nights later at the Mid East up, Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox does his “solo” ATLAS SOUND thing. Trombonist FRED WESLEY, former musical director of the J.B.’s, swings into the Berklee Performance Center to jam with the school’s JAMES BROWN ENSEMBLE February 28. Celebrate leap day — and a long short month of shows — with STEVE EARLE at the Somerville Theatre.
