Vids: Twin Sister @ Great Scott

Last semester, Twin Sister's Vampires With Dreaming Kids spent a few months in WTBU's rotation and on the top of our charts. On Monday night, the Long Island 5-piece played the Great Scott with Memoryhouse. Their set was excellent as always + WTBU was there to capture a few videos. Check out "Saturday Sunday" and "I Want a House" below:





Twin Sister and Memoryhouse are touring the US together throughout August. Full tour dates are posted here.

Listen to Vampires With Dreaming Kids here.

If you like Twin Sister, you might like other music played on Left of the Dial. Check out our blog here and/or tune in weekdays from 4-6pm starting September 2!

What do popular local singer-songwriters sound like anyway? Answer: Will Dailey.

It's summertime! Like many other BU students, I am back in my hometown hanging with my hometown crew and feeling a little too much like I'm back in high school again. Remember those days? After school sports times, wild Friday nights, and One Tree Hill? That's right — don't act like you could resist watching Chad Michael Murray play the high school hoops star underdog in that gripping WB drama. And who didn't love that feel-good theme song from Gavin Degraw? I don't wanna be anything other than ME!

Speaking of singer-songwriters who frequent popular TV dramas... yes, the singer-songwriter lives on; this species has found a way to survive in the digital age with old fashioned soul and sincerity. So when uber-popular BU alum and friend of mine Dan Chiz sought to highlight local singer-songwriter Will Dailey, I had a listen and ended up feeling so very end-of-a-particularly-sweet-Grey's Anatomy — in a good way.

Will Dailey reps Boston and has won awards here too. After years of all-or-nothing survival touring to stay afloat, he got the attention of record labels and has since been featured on CSI: Miami, CSI: New York and The Hills. It's no wonder, as Dailey's sound, reminiscent of Gavin Degraw and Sondre Lerche at times, works well on screen. It's simple, relatable and romantic.

Check out "Never Be Your Baby" for the catch appeal, or "Rise" if you're feeling more sentimental. Because not everybody likes indie music. And because those One Tree Hill days were golden ones.

- Jessy Bartlett

You Can Be A Wesley @ T.T. The Bear's Place 5/1

The Boston music scene, as we all know, is varied, yet often quite insulated. The bands we know well are the ones that no one else in the country has ever heard of, save for through the somewhat indiscriminate outlets of Boston blogs.

However, the adorable band You Can Be a Wesley proved their deserving of national recognition when they opened for Now, Now Every Children at T. T. The Bear’s Place last Friday.

Each song distinct in its own right, yet still sticking to the band’s adorably earnest theme, the set was a refreshing wake-up that brought a remarkable crowd for a second-opener. Several super-fans repeatedly screamed their allegiance to lead singer/guitarist Saara Untracht-Oakner, and another presented a drunkenly earnest interpretive dance in the band’s honor. In fact, all in the venue seemed to be at least bobbing their heads.

Though the sound system was unsurprisingly imbalanced and the snare that drummer Dan Goldenberg was working with was of a quality reminiscent of my third-grade marching band, the obvious musical gifts of all four members shone through any technical difficulties (…not to mention that it’s been awhile since this critic has seen a genuinely talented instrumental break that couldn’t classify as mediocre musical masturbation). SXSW 2010, PITCHFORK, PLEASE TAKE NOTE. The next big, unabashedly indie-adorable thing is coming out of Boston.

Here, readers, is what you missed, in pictures:







-Devon Maloney
(all photos by the author)

Review: Evan Anderson Trio 4/27 @ Great Scott

This this past week has been high in tension and taxing, as the end of a semester usually is. But last night at the Great Scott, the Evan Anderson Trio’s sweet songs made my worries melt away—at least for an hour. It was like taking a nice drive on a summer day, with the windows down and the sunset in the distance. It was like having a picnic in Central Park when all of the flowers begin to bloom in spring. It was like watching leaves fall from the trees on a perfect fall day. It was every sentimental metaphor you can think of.

Even though the group is centered around Evan Anderson’s sumptuous vice and skilled guitar playing, the other members of the band contribute much to the sound. Eytan Nicholson, on drums, keeps the group together and tight. His interest in classical jazz can be detected through his drumming. Dan Puccio, on bass and sax, is the breakout star of the band. His sax solo during the last song of their set blew me away. The jazz interludes that the band goes into during some of the songs were my favorite parts of their set. Not to say that the rest of the songs were not entertaining, they were; but it is obvious the boys have some serious talent and can perform more complicated pieces.


That being said—I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The dynamic between the members is playful and amusing. It is obvious that they are all great friends outside of the band. I enjoyed the little quirks they add to the songs, such as clapping in unison and whistling. Its these details that separate the Evan Anderson Trio from your typical cute Berklee band. I especially enjoyed Dan’s dancing skills and Eytan’s goofy expressions. Evan seems like a good leader—aware of the rest of the band members yet aloof enough that he can still focus on himself. His lyrics and voice are perfect for each other. Listening to him sing, “Where are you my lonely stranger? I’d like to meet you,” during “I Don’t Have You” made me want to raise my hand and say “Helloooo…I’m right here.”

Overall, the show blew me away. I had just interviewed the band on my radio show earlier in the day and they got me excited to see them perform. And they delivered. I definitely recommend buying their self-titled album for only $5 by emailing them at evanandersontrio@gmail.com. You’ll need it for road trips, summer loves and for a quick mood pick-me-up. Also, the Trio often plays outdoor performances at Boston Commons and the Park Street T-station so be on the lookout for blond locks, red lips and a blue hat.

-Lana Tkachenko

VAMPIRE WEEKEND on WTBU!

Mark your calendars, folks!

Tune in on Saturday December 13 from 5-6pm to hear Alphabet Soup's interview with Ezra Koenig, the frontman of VAMPIRE WEEKEND! Labelled as both "Upper West Side Suweto" and "trust fund frat rock," this indie pop quartet is coming to Boston's Orpheum Theatre this Sunday, December 7, and will be taking time out to talk to WTBU!

Like before, a downloadable version will be available shortly after the original broadcast (for those unable to listen live) at Alphabet Soup's blog.

SONDRE LERCHE on WTBU!

Tune in this Friday, 12/5, to Alphabet Soup (2-4pm EST) to hear our interview with SONDRE LERCHE, the Norwegian singer-songwriter responsible for the soundtrack of the movie Dan in Real Life, as well as a handful of his own records, before his show at the Paradise Rock Club on November 22. We talked about sharks, Burt Bacharach and more...so come on and LISTEN IN!

You'll also be able to download the file at 4pm on Friday from Alphabet Soup's blog.