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A little beast at the Middle East

By MICHAEL BRODEUR | July 8, 2008

Neptune

We don’t want to be known as the paper that cried, “Holy Cow! Local rock is on fire!” (and I’m not even sure what the realistic odds of that would be), but we’re dead serious this time. There’s a ton of imagination and energy at work in town redefining (for the umpteenth time) what Boston sounds like, and to judge from the four local outfits in the whizbang of a line-up next Thursday (July 17) at the Middle East upstairs, Boston is a little scary. Good scary, though. On-fire scary.

Neptune, “Grey Shallows”
This show is an excellent chance to catch the Neptuners before they collectively vamoose for the sundry fests of Spain, France, and the UK. Here’s an iron hot for the striking: witness the video for the ruthless, buzzing panoply of “Grey Shallows.” Your bathtub never felt dirtier.

Ho-Ag, “Doctor Cowboy”
We tooted horns for Ho-Ag here when they dropped Doctor Cowboy a couple of months ago, and wouldn’t you know it, that thing’s still all up in our earbuds. Especially this title track. Fans love Ho-Ag for their reliable proximity to chaos, but here they offer a darker, slacker, moodier sound that — oh wait — goes and gets all chaotic. Still awesome. Don’t short the value of trustiness.

Bone Zone, “Perching On The Beam”
Watch out — don’t accidentally tap over towww.bonezone.dk. Folky banjosfrom hirsute Danes don’t really come close to the epic, frenetic antipop of our own Bone Zone (a/k/a Kevin Driscoll). You can nab his entire eight-minute show from his Web site, and if it isn’t to your liking, download the parts (beats and samples, guitar and bass, a cappella) and jimmy up one that is. You see? This isn’t about him. It’s about you.

Summerduck, “Stand. Look. Trust.”
It won’t be long before Summerduck can jettison their ex-members-of taggage, but for now, check out this new band from Farhad Ebrahimi, formerly of (hankies out) the defunctified Night Rally. Slow, lurchy, heavy, deep, dreamy, and weird, it doesn’t sound like Night Rally, their creepy next-door-neighbors’ band, or anyone else in town. Yell “quack quack!” at their show and receive a complimentary escorted exit.

Boston's Best City Life 2009
There’s so much to love about Boston, it’s hard sometimes to know where to start. Traffic? Obnoxious Sox fans? Irritating students? Norway rats? Inflated rents? An inferiority complex unlike any on the Eastern seaboard?
Boston's Best Food and Drink 2009
The danger of doing an annual Best issue is that readers could well screw up the whole thing, especially when it comes to eating out. It would suck if they voted for the too-familiar national-chain eateries. Best Hamburger: McDonalds?!
Boston's Best Arts and Entertainment 2009
We are a culture-rich city — a veritable cauldron of talent and fun, and have been so since Anne Bradstreet inscribed the gates of Harvard. In Boston, the arts never stand still.
Crank it up
Turning 21 was supposed to be the best thing ever, but the upgrade brought with it significant disappointment. Just as I achieved the required maturity for admission to grown-up clubs, the Marvels went and broke up.
Wonderdrug wonders reunite
Are you ready for COLEPITZ to be back?
RIP 3516
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.
It could be verse
Subtle outdo their story on ExitingARM
Boo-ya!
Maybe it’s because dressing up as the economy would be kind of lame, but I’m haven’t heard Jack O’Shit in the way of truly scary costume ideas this year.
What Should Never Be
On this Saturday afternoon, the legions of the School of Rock (Boston branch) were pretty much indistinguishable from the real Led Zeppelin, who were themselves teenagers when they formed in the late ’60s.
Arresting developments
Lack of talent, charisma, and/or personality can prevent a good band from achieving greatness — but too much of a good thing can also be a problem.
Adoring public
If the goal was to bring to life for a night the strange beast that is cable access, they nailed it.
Less

Topics: Download , Kevin Driscoll, middle East Upstairs, Farhad Ebrahimi

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