Wednesday, April 28, 2010

four.

Well, we've reached the end.  It's the last Bourgeois Residency at the Elevens.  It's been a pleasure to be able to host these interesting and weird nights for you all.  As Graham Chapman once said, "it's truly a real honorable experience to be here this evening, a very wonderful and emotional moment for all of us, and I'd like to sing a song for all.... of you..."   So, I've decided to finish things off with a bang (and a pow, in fact) with a night called "Cover Versions".  There's zero original music, but plenty of songs from the 1960's you'll know by heart.

However, just before we arrive at the swinging 60's, we begin with an instrumental folk duo called Serendipity.  I predict ten minutes of blistering, brazen and brash folk music.  Note, my mother will be playing the mountain dulcimer.


Paper Piano will then head to the stage and play a thirty-ish minute set of Kinks Klassics.  We've selected numbers from "Arthur", "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society", "Muswell Hillbillies", "The Kink Kontroversy" and many more.  We'll be sloppy and loud (think Fillmore West '69).


















Monkees music courtesy of ALOTTLE will close out the night.  I've seen these dudes perform Monkees covers before and I know you won't want to miss it.  
















Stop on by!

Monday, April 19, 2010

III

This week the Bourgeois Residency at the 11's will be perhaps be at its most eclectic state.  This one is entitled "Big Ideas".  We'll begin with vibraphonist Jeannette Muzima.














We will then make a smooth transition into a mathematics lecture by my good friend, Dr. Penny Ridgdill.














Finally, we will conclude with the electro, hip-hop sounds of Glitter Guerrilla.  This is a new project by Gabe Sullivan (mastermind behind the Thungs, World's Greatest Dad, Ouch & Don't).  He is Northampton's finest frontman and never disappoints.















Warning: you will learn something this Friday.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Alex Chilton tribute night

Saturday April 24th 2010 the Iron Horse hosts "Thank You Friends: A Celebration of Alex Chilton of Big Star and the Box Tops".  Featuring performances from Chris Collingwood, Mark Mulcahy, Winterpills, Henning Ohlenbusch, Rick Murnane, Thane Thomsen, Dave Houghton, Lesa Bezo, Sitting Next To Brian, the Claudia Malibu & Paper Piano.  Tickets are $10 in advance and $13 at the door.  Doors open at 7pm.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Volume II


















There are certain albums that hit the spot any time, any day of the week, whenever, wherever you hear them.  The self-titled Velvet Underground album is one of these.  I still remember when I bought it and how I felt the first time I listened to it.  Whether it's saying something simple ("baby be good, do what you should") or the borderline profound ("between thought and expression lies a lifetime"), whatever Lou Reed and the gang sing on this record just sounds right to me.  Amen.  All of the noise, the reverb, the rhythms, those killer Sterling Morrison's leads hit that certain sweet spot in my ears which then transfers the following message to my brain: "THIS IS EXACTLY HOW MUSIC SHOULD SOUND!"














When I was thinking about assembling night two of my Elevens residency, I decided that I should find the live performance personification of this feeling... and right away the Claudia Malibu came mind.  The Malibu, a group whose name appears on a concert poster gracing John Cusack's apartment wall in "High Fidelity", share a certain Velvet Underground musical aesthetic: they're loud, late (well I can't speak for VU tardiness), sometimes messy and have the most incredible songs.
 












While I was living in Connecticut, Jimmy Jude & Sean Beirne were members of the Battlecats, my favorite local band at the time.  They were jangly, rough and could teach the kids a thing or two about melody and showmanship.  These ideals carry over to their new group, Death To New England.  Jimmy & Sean with Little & Big Joe can be found ripping it up everywhere they go!  

Come hear how I think Rock n' Roll should be played this Friday at the Bourgeois Residency Volume II.  It's a free concert that has a seven o'clock start.  Notice we have a subheading "aka Paul McCartney Vest Party".  An Emily Cappa curated vested Macca  slideshow will be on display throughout the evening.

-j

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Welcome Back Flywheel

Yes.  It's very exciting news.  Flywheel reopens its doors at a new location.  See Paper Piano Saturday night.