On FRIDAY (the 16th), Dipset ringleader CAM'RON brings his absurdly abstract lyrical swagger (in full effect on his '09 release Crime Pays) to what will surely be a packed Jerky's (401.621.2244), and the Speakeasy inside Local 121 hosts the TIM TAYLOR BLUES BAND (401.274.2121). Start off your SATURDAY (the 17th) early with WBRU, which is continuing its 40th birfday celebration at Lupo's (401.331.5876) with AN HORSE, CAGE THE ELEPHANT, and SILVERSUN PICKUPS headlining; doors at 5 pm, $22 day of show. On SUNDAY (the 18th), Jerky's delivers locals MAKEUPBREAKUP, who recently released two tracks from their upcoming debut full-length Scents, along with Los Angeles ladies WARPAINT. A pair of ass-shaking gigs to get through the midweek drudgery; on TUESDAY (the 20th) it's TRIANGLE FOREST, hyperactive OAKLAND, Cali kid HAWNAY TROOF, and WIDE ON at AS220 (401.831.9327), and on WEDNESDAY (the 21st) SHARKS COME CRUISIN' celebrate a new release titled Providence Piers Sessions at the Box on North Main Street with Minneapolis party rockers PRETTY BOY THORSON (401.331.8545).
But it's the Avon Cinema on Thayer Street delivering the biggest show of the week, a triple-bill of "No-Scene Folk" tonight (THURSDAY the 15th) with locals BROWN BIRD, Sub Pop's DEATH VESSEL, and hometown heroes THE LOW ANTHEM ($14 at the door), who are kicking off a nationwide tour in Seattle this weekend before heading across the pond early next year. Their February '10 show at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London is already sold out, as the trio continues to work their widely-acclaimed album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin. The WaterFire folks will donate a sound and lighting rig, and Trinity Brewhouse will be selling their potent brews during the show. A busy '09 already included appearances at a slew of festivals -- Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, SXSW, the Newport Folk bash, and Austin City Limits Fest, where we caught up with TLA bassist Jeff Prystowsky:
AT THIS POINT, WHAT SIZE VENUE DO YOU PREFER TO PLAY? WERE YOU TAKEN ABACK AT ALL BY THE SHEPHERD'S BUSH ADVANCE SELL-OUT? Our sound is better suited to a club or theater vibe than a mega-festival, but it really depends more on the vibe than the size of the audience. Be it a theater, club, or bar, the wrong vibe can sink the thing. The Avon show should be great. The audience in London has been really receptive. We were certainly surprised. It's not like people are waiting for us to get off the airplane, but they have been coming to the shows.
HOW DOES TLA FORMULATE A SETLIST? Basically, I get out a wad of papers from my bag that includes our previous 25 sets played. Then, factoring in all kinds of mumbo jumbo like the vibe of the room, our current mental state, and what we had for dinner, I devise the perfect set. Then, we improvise from the stage and don't follow it at all.
AT ANY POINT THIS YEAR HAVE YOU BUMPED INTO JOHN FROM DEER TICK AND JUST SHARED A "HOLY SHIT"-TYPE MOMENT? We've been so busy touring that we hardly see each other. We played at Lupo's back in April together, then again at Newport and ACL. I saw Chris [Ryan], the bassist, at Whole Foods on North Main Street and we talked a bit by the meat aisle. I called John [McCauley] from Germany about borrowing some gear for the Austin show. They're all nice guys. And yeah, it has been a hell of a year.
