Breaking most of the decorum for an opening band, Federator N° 1 stormed The Paradise with such Afrobeat power you almost forgot that it was St. Patrick’s day in Boston. They made full use of the lighting rig (no), asked for an additional song after their 45 minutes (no-no), and fostered a frenetic mood via a backing dancer (beyond no). Federator delivered fresh takes on classic tracks, opening with Dawn Penn’s “No, No, No” then a celebration of Fela Kuti with “Gentleman” and “Lady.” Yet, with an original piece sung by Lilla D’Mone, Federator proved their chops extend far beyond the label of cover…
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Photos by Colin McLaughlin [O]n a night where I had to make myself go out, Efterklang impressed. It takes quite a bit of skill to turn someone’s whole mood around, but that’s exactly what Efterklang did with their slightly operatic and frequently creative arrangements. Maybe the lush instrumentation and gorgeous harmonies that guide “The Klang” — as Dave Hartley (of Nightlands) jokingly called them — is sourced from the same stuff that makes them such thoughtful crowd pleasers. Or maybe indie rock doesn’t give us many opportunities to see bands let down their hair and show how much fun they are…
3 CommentsHumble for a band that was in consideration for the Mercury Prize, Django Django effused sincere thanks for playing Boston. Their kaleidoscopic visuals were a treat for an otherwise dimly lit stage, and offered haunting accompaniment that echoed the band’s shadowy video for “Hand of Man” (complete with over-sized tambourine). Even though it was a Monday night show, the enthused Vincent Neff urged on the willing crowd to overhead clap and join the dance. And they did.
5 CommentsPhotos by Bobby Lilly Think back to your first concert. Odds are it was a grand production; you waited in line to buy tickets, and spent hours choosing the perfect outfit. Maybe you caught a ride with an older friend, maybe you got dropped off by your mom, maybe you had the cool parent who bought a ticket and hung out on the other side of the venue until the show was over. Regardless of logistics, it was exhilarating. That’s the atmosphere clouding the air at Wonder Ballroom tonight. As soon as the doors open, dozens of teenagers race inside. Most are wearing head-to-toe neon, though…
2 CommentsPhoto by Carrie Johnston [W]ell-behaved punk-rockers are a sort of oxymoron, but maybe a punk fan over the age of thirty would appreciate the balance. Mrs. Magician’s thoroughly catchy debut album, “Strange Heaven,” leaves the impression of some misbehaved punk kids stretching out the legacy of their pop-punk predecessors. So much for first impressions. They now lie in that well-behaved camp attended by the other sage, post-punk, post-hardcore grown-ups like Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, and Rocket From The Crypt. In fact, John Reis (who held a prominent hand in all aforementioned bands) produced and recorded “Strange Heaven.” and if you’re familiar…
Leave a Comment[A]s Kevin Devine and Andy Hull talk about name-checking P.T. Anderson’s film “The Master” for a crowd in Santa Barbra as example of poor stage banter, you get the sense that these guys absolutely love playing music together. Bad Books is an exercise of exuberant friendship and musicianship. You see it when Benjamin Homola grimaces before unleashing a high snare hit, and as Robert McDowell tosses off his cap for fuller hair whipping. You see it when Jonathan Corley and Chris Freeman crack a joke over bass and tambourine rhythms. These guys just love sharing the stage, and have made…
Leave a CommentThere’s something odd when a songwriter from Martha’s Vineyard finds success across the Atlantic Ocean that is larger than over the Cape Cod canal. So is the case with Willy Mason, a “hometown” hero who has earned acclaim in the UK but remains overlooked by American audiences. His latest album, Carry On, was first released in Europe where Mason has supported massive shows for Mumford and Radiohead. Tonight was the closing date of a US tour, returning to Boston where his opening set for Conor Oberst two months back had reintroduced many in the audience to his music. Even in…
5 CommentsBy all accounts, it was a sell-out night for Mumford and Sons in Boston. This was the opening show of an improbable North American arena tour, and these champions of folk rock buoyed the adoring crowd with an empathetic sing-a-long. There wasn’t a body unswayed by well-plucked choruses, or a lens wide enough to capture the sprawling array of guitar, ukulele, upright bass, banjo, accordion, drums, and horn section. Truly, it was a joy-filled night to celebrate the music and success of Mumford.
6 CommentsPhotos by Boston Concert Photography [F]riday night was as good of a night as any for music fans here in Boston. Newly announced to the Newport Folk Festival, South Carolina folk rock duo Shovels & Rope in town with friend Andrew Combs warming up the room for them. Shovels & Rope is fresh off a fantastic release late last year, an album in O’ Be Joyful, that has garned major critical acclaim which has helped snowball the band into a headlining tour that landed the duo here in town. So we all packed into the newly opened Sinclair in Harvard…
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