I've yet to make it over to the new Milky Way Lounge & Bella Luna restaurant at the Brewery Complex on Jamaica Plain's Amory Street (not too far from its original location on Centre Street), but these photos of the interior are now making the media rounds. Looks pretty cool, and while the candlepin lanes didn't make the jump, the new joint has Skee-ball, "retro games" and most importantly, a dance floor. I dig. 
Not sure what I'm up to this evening, though I'll likely sit out the Trust party in JP with DJ Shuttle from Passion Pit. If I can pry myself away from the Millionaire Matchmaker, I might hit up the fairly new Ride party at Boylston St.'s Venom Lounge, which by name I assume is affiliated with the Rattlesnake. Casey from FTW is poppin' bottles in the DJ booth along with other good peeps, so why not shake it up on this fairly uneventful Thursday?
I get tons of shit sent to me every day at the day job, but this might just be the coolest thing ever: "Lovers, Muggers & Thieves - A Boston Memoir", was written by Jonathan Tudan (Hawknet Publishing) and chronicles his experience as a college freshman managing a Combat Zone flophouse in 1969. Can't wait to read this over the weekend, and maybe get Tudan on the horn (he's now based in Los Angeles) for some other seedy details of his youth. Look at this cover.
Sad to see B.Rich leave us for Crosby City, but at least saying goodbye this Saturday at Circus will be bass-loads of fun. Los Angeles' own Reid Speed is also on the bill, and I think last time we saw her Hub-crash was at the Roxy's Franki Chan party. So this shit will be crazed, especially after B.Rich absolutely KILLED at the Beetroots a few weeks ago. Raise a glass, dance it up, order BonChon to go. And by the way, eff the overrated Penguins.
Not that I can think of anything besides last night's neverending Nightmare on Ice, but hey, looks like a third season of Charm School premieres May 11 on VH1. I'm all for some more Brittanya on my TV, and it'll be fun to have Ashley and Bay Bay Bay back in the crazybitch fold, but why oh why only "Rock of Love Bus" and "Real Chance of Love" girls?!?! Time to ex-pa-hand.
I had every intention of catching The New Collisions tonight over at TTs, but it looks like the Devils-Hurricanes Game 7 clusterfuck will keep me homebound. Which is a bummer, because I think New Collisions are one of the more exciting bands to emerge from the local scene in the past year or so, swinging the new wave revival stick toward where the Blondies and Missing Persons' hang out in the bar, impressively crafting a fresh sound from the '77-'83 synthpop/post-punk beast. 
I had the pleasure of hanging backstage at the Wilbur Theatre on Saturday night with Charlie Murphy at the filming of his new stand-up comedy DVD, which I review slash feature in today's Boston Herald. Fuck yo couch, nigga!, indeed. 
Just in time for spring, Daisy sprouts up on VH1 yet again. I had the great pleasure of talking to Daisy de la Hoya (<3 her forever, despite her not-so-cheery attitude on the phone) last week to discuss "Daisy of Love", which premieres tonight at 9pm on VH1. 
Props to the Luxury for taking home the crown in the finale of ze 31st annual 'BCN Rock N' Roll Rumble Friday night at the Middle East. Wasn't there to bear witness to Jason Dunn's well-deserved triumph, but Ryan's Smashing Life has the fitting recap.
Gotta hand it to Brandeis University for booking cool shit for its Spring Fest 2009 and allowing everyone to attend. The Decemberists, Deerhunter, RJD2, Asher Roth and a Brandeis-based band are all playing on the Waltham college's Chapels Field this Sunday starting at noon, and it's cool it's not one of those must-know-a-Brandeis-student-to-get-in affairs because... well, who the fuck knows anyone that goes to Brandeis?
"Panic Switch," which is not entirely a cover of Smashing Punkins' "I Am One" (hey, it's cool with me, both songs rule) sits at Number 6 on the Modern Rock radio chart. Well done, boys and girl. 
Today sucks. It's raining, my lady is still a billion miles away and I'm got blistering California sunshine on my mind. Fortunately, there is salvation by way of Rock Show this evening, when the always on-point and fellow Pela worshipper Ryan's Smashing Life wrangles up two of my fav locals in the Lights Out and Logan 5 & the Runners (There are more, somewhat professional thoughts over in Hotline-land. But hey, not too professional.) 
I've been a fan of DJ Addambombb ever since one of his mixes turned me onto Seabound's "Hooked" back in the ManRay days. Long a fixture in Boston's goth/industrial scene, now he's I think mainly based in Northampton, with a new mix available for download called Black Heart Disco Star. An imposing figure, Addam's always known his shit in the darkwave/EBM vein, but it's good to see him latch on to some newer electro sounds.
Dante’s inferno keeps burning up the Rumble. 
Sometimes the pill gets too polished. The look sharp mantra coats the night in sleekly inspired aesthetics, the Britpop soundtrack sparkles like a midday UK radio transmission and the dance lights of Great Scott shine in colorful cascades that belie these darkened times. Then a band like Televandals comes around the shadowy corner of Abott Square and makes us realize why we drunkenly dance into the a.m., why our jilted generation is bred on fierce rejection and why our daytime excuses flow like the wine we pour at night. Like a lightning storm in a Korg factory, this week’s live guest runs the Clash through the electronic grinder, perpetually building its Satistact-ian cause as a dent in Boston’s ever-exploding rock scene. Buoyed on the dance floor by Zak Broman of Roguewaves’ “Dirty Lovers” remix treatment and a firefight live attack at last month’s SXSW festival, Televandals bring the gritty rock n’ roll ruckus like few others. Like Paul Weller of the Jam once sang, “this is the modern world.” Tune in, drop out.
Hipsters and scenesters and nerdsters and every other kind of cultural archetype that you can mold into a “ster” all love to get down ironically. Cue the indie tunes at THE PILL AT GREAT SCOTT, the Friday-night dance party that won’t leave you rolling your eyes at the plethora of Top 40 hits and the sorority girls who love to bicuriously grind to them. Britpop is clearly DJs Ken and Michael V’s ear candy of choice, and local bands (like Age Rings, Taxpayer, MEandJOANCOLLINS, and Emergency Music) regularly hit the Great Scott stage to give the wheels of steel a chance to cool down . . . but never for too long.
It seems that NME.com is previewing snippets from the new Depeche Mode album, Sounds of the Universe. I'm not sure what's more annoying -- the lack of melody in most of the songs, or that I can only get about 30 seconds of each track. Either way, cool to catch an aural glimpse of the Mode's 12th studio album, set to drop on Hitler's birthday. In fairness, all the songs sound better than "Wrong," the lead single.
Might already be in a coma from the Televandals gig at le pill this Friday (and I do enjoy this recent domestic life of illegal Chinese food delivery over crack house afterparties), but a post-party alternative has sprung up downtown, featuring a crew I'm quite fond of. It's RSVP-only, but that shouldn't stop the ability to dance until sunrise.
I still collect hockey jerseys, so while this isn't my cup of tea I'm sure it's someone's white whale. For a Buy-it-Now price of $1,000, you can own the movie-worn jersey of Gunnar Stahl from "D2: the Mighty Ducks." I shit you not. This might be the coolest thing to ever hit eBay.
The emerging local band has altered its name to Yes Giantess after the Canadian band Giantess (that once included members of the New Pornographers) demanded the change.
The part-time Dresden Doll returns to her roots next month when she stages a play at Lexington High School with her former theater teacher, Steven Bogart. Palmer graduated in 1994.
As major radio stations stay corporate and Apple plays a shell game with its song-pricing plan, it’s good to see DIY is alive and well around the Hub. One of its epicenters is Record Hospital (the underground rock wing at WHRB-FM (95.3), which this weekend welcomes 20 bands that don’t care about anything other than making great music on their terms. Descend on Harvard Square to catch the garage rock swagger of Thick Shakes, the experimental fury of Life Partners and the ferocious post-hardcore of Daniel Striped Tiger, among others. No booze, no attitude, no false promises - just good tunes.
BRAT CHAT
The Boston Herald's Inside Track is reporting the NHL's annual Winter Classic outdoor New Year's Day game is coming to Fenway Park. This is a total no-brainer (and thankfully here and not at Gillette Stadium), but awesome nonetheless. Let's just hope it ends up being Bruins-Habs and the Rag$ are left out. The best place to sit for this game? Monster seats!
There's still a beast to tend to this evening down at the Dise.v.20.Privus Lounge, but here's a gentle reminder for Thursday night: I'm DJing at the launch of Digital Love, a new So Dope party that's invited myself, Jay K the DJ, Damien Paul, Brek.One, Frank White, E-marce and others to all throw down in the downstairs of the spacious confines of the Mid Easy. Andre Obin also performs live, and peep the vid down below from his old band, the wonderous Matters & Dunaway (who I need to start harassing about a reunion). This will be much fun, and hey, the Rumble is right upstairs if it's too much dance down below. 
Everybody wins. My only regret in not going to see Ladytron tonight at HoB was being unable to creepy-eye Mira and Helen, but now I can proceed to Deadmau5 as planned and chill with the Lady(s)tron at Privus afterwards, where the official afterparty for both shows goes down (info on flyer and link). FTW hooked it up, and extended Hump Day festivities for everyone. Winner, us.
I'm still kinda cracked out from the eight shades of epic Presets & Circle smasher on Saturday, so I might sit this out (ahem Ray J). But Pretty & Nice are always fun, dynamic DJ duo Roguewaves know how to kill it in the booth and you can't beat free free free. I still have no idea what Illius is but they keep throwing free events and that's good enough for me.
<Bill's Bar's last dance? 
If Tuesday night is indeed the last dance, Bill’s is going out with a bang. Dim Mak Records’ Bloody Beetroots, who perform in masks and add a punk attitude to rave and acid dance tracks, are billed as the dirty love child of the Misfits and Daft Punk . Their Boston debut will come as a longtime rock club ends its existence.
White belt debate
So what’s a fashionable 20-something in tight black pants to do? Roll with yesterday’s tried-and-true or take a chance on tomorrow? The veterans may have the bigger draw, but those who know will roll the ’Dise.
Saturday night is shaping up to be one motherfucker of an evening, with the Presets and the Golden Filter (whose lucious disco sleaze track "Solid Gold" I've raped twenty times over each week at the pill) playing the Paradise early on, followed up by a Presets DJ set at Circus. This is the kid of "welcome back" shit I've been expecting.
Prepare to “Get On Your Boots” one more time, Somerville – U2 is coming back. 
Looking to find the “next big thing” out of Boston “before they get too expensive,” the Red Sox hired local synth-pop quintet Passion Pit to perform the National Anthem at the team’s home opener Monday afternoon at Fenway. 
