Tonight’s also the grand opening for the WESTBROOK ACROPOLIS, where you can hear Armenian/Anatolian songsters Okbari and see bellydancer Jamileh.
September 23
I’m not sure how the BAY STATE and their 1.5 million MySpace plays have been so far down on my radar, but after getting a load of their sophomore EP, Let’s Turn This City On, I’m definitely paying attention. Recorded in Baltimore with producer Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, Senses Fail, Dashboard Confessional, Mercy Mercedes, Circa Survive) back in March, it’s a Death Cab for Cutie heir, but has a great hook with Evan’s viola (everybody’s first-name only here), which pervades every tune with a cool lilt.
Tonight, the band back Danger Radio (it’s their “Make Like a Leaf and Fall” tour) at the Station, along with Farewell, Brighten, Red Car Wire, and the Minus Scale. It’s a great show to see them and get excited about the October 1 release of the EP. They have an ear for and a way with the giant chorus, and there’s nothing wrong at all with sad-sack reminiscing about that time when “I’m falling asleep/She’s falling for me/I’m falling asleep while we’re both in the back seat.” Ah. Summer lovin’.
They get a little too much in love with the sampled openings — TV channel surfing to tuning orchestra — but once the songs proper get going it’s great listening for the Duran Duran melodies and Billy Idol swagger.
October 4
I’m guessing girls will be wearing loose-fitting apparel today, all the better to disrobe themselves for the PETE KILPATRICK BAND, who play all-ages and 21+ CD-release shows for Hope in Our Hearts. The band have serious chops now with a solidified five-piece that includes Zach Jones (As Fast As) on guitar, Matt Cosby (Jeremiah Freed) on bass, Matt Lydon (Averi) on drums, and Steve Morell on keys and sax.
It all goes down at the Empire, and to say this gig is much-anticipated is an understatement. I don’t have the disc yet, but with that kind of band, Kilpatrick can only improve on his first three well-received discs.
October 14
There are two major releases today: Gossip in the Grain, the third album from RAY LAMONTAGNE on RCA; and Volume 1, the second disc from TWISTED ROOTS on Rat Pak Records (whom they’ve been with since the comeback).
LaMontagne recorded yet again with Ethan Johns, but this time in Box, England, and with his touring band, bassist Jennifer Condos, and guitarist Eric Heywood. Johns mostly just handles the drums. And Ray gets vocal help from Leona Naess on a couple tracks (she did her self-titled Geffen disc with Johns). The gossip in town is that there’s more upbeat stuff on this disc, and to listen for the ode to Meg White (hint: it’s titled “Meg White”).
Twisted Roots deliver more of their melodic metal, with plenty of Ozzy influence, on a 16-track follow-up to Twelve Skies Fire and the Black, which helped earn them that opening slot in front of Ozzy at the Civic Center. If you get in early with an order, you can get yourself a signed poster along with the disc.
November 8
Hey, remember that ALIAS GRACE album, Bottles and Bones, I said nice things about? Yeah, well, there’s an official release show for it tonight at the Station, with the Cambiata, the Goodnight Process, the British Incline, and Cilla Bonnie. It’s part of Alias Grace’s three-show farewell tour. I guess what burns brightest burns the fastest. Or something.
Sam Pfeifle can be reached at sam_pfeifle@yahoo.com.
