Thursday, August 25, 2011

Upcoming Boston Concerts!

Suffering from PSD (post-summer-disorder)? Here is a list of upcoming concerts around school to make the end of summer a little more tolerable. Stay tuned to WTBU for free tickets to some of these shows!

Tv on the Radio @ Bank of America Pavillion - 9/06
Peter Bjorn and John @ House of Blues - 9/07
Two Door Cinema Club @ Royale - 9/08
Flying Lotus @ Royale - 9/09
Empire of the Sun @ House of Blues - 9/11
Fruit Bats/Vetiver/Citay @ Middle East Downstairs - 9/12
Active Child @ Brighton Music Hall - 9/12
Grouplove @ Brighton Music Hall - 9/13
Toro y Moi @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/16
Starfucker @ Middle East Downstairs - 9/18
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/19
Vivian Girls/Widowspeak/Girlfriends @ Great Scott - 9/19
tUnE-YarDs @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/21
Yuck @ TT The Bears - 9/22
Pretty Lights @ Bank of America Pavillion - 9/23
Tapes N Tapes @ Brighton Music Hall - 9/23
Girls @ Paramount Theatre - 9/24
The Shins @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/24
Wild Beasts @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/27
The Album Leaf @ Brighton Music Hall - 9/27
Foster the People @ House of Blues - 9/29
Deerhoof @ Middle East Downstairs - 9/29
Mogwai @ House of Blues - 10/01
Battles @ Royale - 10/02
James Blake @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/03
Explosions in the Sky @ The Orpheum Theatre - 10/05
Zeds Dead @ Middle East Downstairs - 10/05
EOTO @ Royale - 10/06
Twin Shadow @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/06
Beats Antique @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/08
Trentemoller @ Royale - 10/12
Minus the Bear @ Royale - 10/16
Dum Dum Girls @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/19
Braids/Pepper Rabbit/Born Gold @ Great Scott - 10/20
Neon Indian @ Brighton Music Hall - 10/20
Ra Ra Riot @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/20
Odd Future @ Royale - 10/21

Monday, June 6, 2011

Cults

Cults' new album, "Cults," was recently released and in perfect time for that summer playlist. You probably recognize their most famous single, "Go Outside," because of its catchy sing-a-long essence over the simple and endearing xylophone beats. This song is one of my favorites for various reasons. It is not only suitable in the beginning of the morning to wake up to, but also after a long day when you just need an energy boost. The teenage-friendly and girl-power-esque lyrics such as, "It's good to go out cause if you dont you'll never make a memory that will stay,"pressures you to put on them shoes and actually go outside. Sweet, right?

Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Antlers

Burst Apart, The Antler's new album, is a collection of electronic beats over-ruled with Silberman's hauntingly beautiful voice. His harmonies on top of the eclectic background piano and bass present this album as one of the best this year.

It's true. Whatever Silberman produces, I will believe it to be magic. However, those non-believers can even agree that this album is worthy. Hospice, the Antler's previous album, contained the most somber and empathetic lyrics - words that can make the manliest man cry.

With Burst Apart, Silberman strikes again. Each individual song in this album reminisces the pain and suffering Silberman experienced. My favorite song in the entire album is "No Widows." It is not only the perfect song to nod your head to the heavy drums and diverse mingled sounds, but also to fall into a deep depression from the lyrics sung and harmonized by one of the most passionate and brilliant voices.



Saturday, April 9, 2011

Review: Sick of Sarah @ TT the Bear's, 3/30/11

"What are you gonna write about?" Katie of Sick of Sarah asked me in the bathroom after her band had just finished their sweet set. We had met earlier and I told her I would be writing up a review of the show. I didn't have a good answer to her question, so I asked her for some help.

"Rock and roll!"

Rock and roll it is! Sick of Sarah are a five-piece pop/punk band out of Minneanapolis who are now out promoting their second album, the excellent 2205. It's fun, sexy, and in your face. Think old school Paramore attitude with more swag and some Tegan and Sara angst. But make no mistake; everything about Sick of Sarah is very rock and roll.

My review would be incomplete without mentioning SoS's opening acts, Lucas of The Cliks and Hunter Valentine, and the bands' collective ability to transform TT's on that typical Boston wintry-mix-in-the-springtime night. Upon walking in, the scene was all alternative lifestyle haircuts and tattoos and cute piercings. It was the kind of unplanned awesome that magically materializes when cool & talented all-girl bands go out and tour.

After supporting high energy (and alcohol) Hunter Valentine for a song or two and dancing around in the crowd, headliners Sick of Sarah took the stage. They opened with current single, the super catchy "Kick Back." Lead singer Abisha Uhl reached out for our hands, jumped around, wore suspenders and did all the things that make the girls swoon. The setlist was full of 2205 tracks: "Overexposure," "Kiss Me," "Autograph," "El Paso Blue," and more. They also played some older favorites, including the song from their debut that first caught my heart, "Bittersweet"!

In stride with the general goings ons of the evening, Hunter Valentine came on stage to offer some backup vocals here and there. There may have been some straddling and suggestive dancing involved. It may have been really hot.

It would have been nice to hear Abisha's vocals better (technical difficulties) but people in the crowd were able to help with that by knowing almost every word. Overall, the music and the atmosphere was on point. Sick of Sarah are the kind of band whose energy, edge and sense of humor come through live on stage, at the bar, out front, etc. They have the talent, and their tight bond as rock star friends doing what they love was no joke either just check their wrists for the matching 2205 tattoos.

- Jessy Bartlett

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Viva Viva

Viva Viva, a Boston-based band, will be on Left of the Dial today at 4:30PM. Viva Viva will also be performing at the Brighton Music Hall tonight, so get your wallets out galz n palz. This show will not be one to miss. Stream Left of the Dial online at www.wtburadio.org.

Listen to Viva Viva on Left of the Dial or their myspace - http://www.myspace.com/artsexdeathtime

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Middle Brother + Dawes and Deer Tick

On March 3rd, your fellow music directors attended what ended up to be one of the best concerts in Boston. Only the second show of their US tour, Middle Brother performed at the Paradise Rock Club with Dawes and Deer Tick. The interesting part? Middle Brother is a collaboration of Dawes, Deer Tick, and other indie-rock band Delta Spirit. Therefore, throughout the entire concert, each member of each band was asked on stage to perform with the on-stage band. Members of Deer Tick would come on stage and sing a Dawes song and vice versa. Imagine if you saw everyone of your favorite musicians on-stage at one time, singing, dancing, having a ball. It was every folk-indie-rocksy-loving person's dream.

The entire concert was just a melting pot of talent, brilliance, and happiness. This concert was a perfect example of bands influencing audience and audience influencing the bands. The happiness and excitement from the bands on-stage exuded onto the audience, where everyone at the Paradise was also singing, dancing, having a ball. Middle Brother spontaneously ended their encore with lead singer of Deer Tick, John McChauley singing "Twist and Shout." It got every person in the audience jumping and screaming and laughing.


Middle Brother released their first album, "Middle Brother," this year. They are continuing their US tour and most likely are playing your hometown so if you missed them in Boston, make sure you do not back home. I assure you it is all worth it.


Some pictures I took from the concert:






Thursday, March 3, 2011

Updated List of Concerts

Middle Brother @ Paradise Rock Club - March 3rd

The Low Anthem @ Old South Church - March 4th

Telekinesis @ TT The Bears - March 8th

Spirit Kid @ The Great Scott - March 10th

The Pogues & Titus Andronicus @ House of Blues - March 11th/12th

Crystal Castles @ House of Blues - March 19th

Simian Mobile Disco @ Paradise Rock Club - March 21st

Cold War Kids @ House of Blues - March 22nd

Glass Jaw @ Paradise Rock Club - March 25th

DeVotchka @ House of Blues - March 26th

Papercuts @ Brighton Music Hall - March 27th

The Klaxons @ Paradise Rock Club - March 28th

Warpaint @ Paradise Rock Club - March 29th

Jeff the Brotherhood & Juiceboxxx @ Great Scott - March 30th

Cults @ Brighton Music Hall - April 1st

The Mountain Goats @ Paradise Rock Club - April 1st

Mimosa @ Paradise Rock Club - April 2nd

Cut Copy @ House of Blues - April 4th

Starfucker @ Brighton Music Hall - April 5th

The Black Lips @ Paradise Rock Club - April 14th

The Go! Team with DOM @ Paradise Rock Club - April 15th

TV on the Radio @ Paradise Rock Club - April 16th

Iron & Wine and Low Anthem @ House of Blues - April 19th

Neutral Uke Hotel @ Brighton Music Hall - April 20th

Bassnectar @ House of Blues - April 22nd

Trentemoller @ Royale - April 25th

Wolfgang Gartner @ Middle East - April 25th

Battles @ Brighton Musical Hall - April 26th

Beach Fossils @ Great Scott - April 27th

Tame Impala @ Paradise Rock Club - April 28th

Of Montreal @ Paradise Rock Club - May 1st

Foals @ Paradise Rock Club - May 2nd

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Paradise Rock Club - May 3rd

Peter Bjorn and John @ Paradise Rock Club - May 5th

Echo & the Bunnymen @ Paradise Rock Club - May 9th

Sleigh Bells @ Paradise Rock Club - May 10th