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The future is blight

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:45:32 GMT

The post-Americanan kicks of Castanets
What with all the Devendras and Bonnie Princes and Phosphorescents and wanna-Beams dragging their unruly beards around the nation lately, it's getting harder and harder to keep your post-folk dudes with guitars straight.

Fest lite

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:11:16 GMT

The return of the International Pop Overthrow
From Thursday, November 20, to Sunday, November 23, the International Pop Overthrow (IPO) makes its annual trek to Boston.

Love during wartime

BANNING EYRE — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:34:18 GMT

J.B. Mpiana brings his Congolese party machine to…Lynn?
J.B. Mpiana, one of the reigning stars of contemporary Congolese music, brings a 25-strong stage show to Memorial Auditorium in Lynn this Friday, November 7, at 9 pm.

Heavy pedigree

MATT PARISH — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:55:35 GMT

The making of Polysics
Hitting the Middle East downstairs this Sunday are Japanese futurist-absurdos Polysics, who’ve somehow been at this game for 10 years now.

Triple threat

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:57:05 GMT

Local rock three-way not nearly as gross as it sounds
This Friday, October 24, at the Middle East upstairs, no fewer than three local rock bands will release brand-new CDs on the very same night — at the very same show.

Mixed, nuts

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:36:17 GMT

The Mad Decent tour hits Boston
If you thought Diplo peaked with Hollertronix or plateau’d with M.I.A. or repeated himself with Santogold, you really need to stop thinking and go dancing or something.

Mission: accomplished

CHRIS FARAONE — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:29:36 GMT

Organic hip-hop’s good and good for you
Way before Audible Mainframe snatched the title of Boston’s dopest live hip-hop group and bolted for the West Coast, Roxbury’s Mission pursued a similar course of action.

The South shall rise . . .

JEFFREY GANTZ — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:44:28 GMT

France's Occitan New Wave
The singing groups of the South of France draw on everything from mediæval pilgrimage chants and troubadour poetry to contemporary rap and ragga.

New kids on the block

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:49:16 GMT

Allow Dear Leader to introduce you
Newly reactivated local gut-pop heroes Dear Leader will play two shows this weekend, with a handful of notable newbs and special guests.

Universal truths

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:20:33 GMT

Ecstatic Peace thrives despite the help
The world now enjoys increased access to some really degenerate rock-influenced art-noise.

RIP 3516

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:02:10 GMT

A local punk hotbed goes up in smoke
Over the years, hordes of bands have played 3516 (Darkbuster and many more), and this Monday at the Middle East upstairs, there’s a benefit for the displaced rockers.

Home grown

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:34:19 GMT

The Viva La Vinal Fest blooms again
To maximize summer fun before winter comes in and ruins everything for everybody, Audrey Ryan and a committee have organized the 3rd Annual Viva La Vinal Festival.

The beat goes on

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:03:33 GMT

DFA’s heyday may be a whole heydecade
It’s been seven years since DFA Records authorized scads of ostensibly soulless hipsters to relax a little and shake their asses the way young people ought to.

I think I’m gonna throw down

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:55:23 GMT

The Motion Sick make us feel all woozy
Wanna get in on the music-licensing boom? Be smart like the Motion Sick.

Podcastic!

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:16:57 GMT

Band in Boston escapes to the web
If you’re flummoxed by the dizzying breadth of our rock scene, a good place to start deflummoxing might be the trifecta of Band in Boston podcasts.

Bumpin' crop

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:12:48 GMT

A summer harvest of New England Product
This Friday, August 8, our FNX homies have gathered five of Boston’s best rock bands for a spectacular blowout at the Middle East Downstairs.

Anti-Bush league

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:22:11 GMT

The No More Bush Tour rolls in
It’s crucial that we maintain clarity by holding fast to simple truths — like how our president is kind of a dick.

Times a' changed

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:40:24 GMT

The 2008 Newport Folk Fest mixes it up
Ever since Dylan plugged in (gasp!), the Newport Folk Festival has preserved a noble tradition of ignoring what folk is supposed to be in favor of defining the stuff for itself.

Vital signs

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:29:57 GMT

ArtBeat 2008 hits Davis Square
Since 2002, the ArtBeat Festival has been giving culture-hungry Davis Square denizens something to do on the weekend besides glower at one another at the Diesel.

Four play

MICHAEL BRODEUR — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:04:16 GMT

A little beast at the Middle East
There’s a ton of imagination and energy at work in town redefining (for the umpteenth time) what Boston sounds like.