Vinyl haul at Record Exchange in Salem

Hit up Record Exchange in Salem for some pre-Sunday afternoon Town Common & Pickering Wharf walking, and my $28 vinyl haul is pretty fucking awesome. I scored:

MInistry "With Sympathy" $4 -- really holds up, and "Effigy," "Revenge" and "Work For Love" are underground dance classics.

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark "The Best of OMD" $4 -- Steal of the Century, from "Electricity" to "If You Leave."

Depeche Mode "Shake the DIsease" remixes $5 -- My second favorite Mode song ever, behind "But Not Tonight."

Nitzer Ebb "Belief" $5 -- I mean, $5, why not. I want to cut up some camo shorts just listening to it.

The Sound "One Thousand Reasons" $6 -- Underrated find, decent-enough song. I like the b-sides better.

Suede "Everything Will Flow" remixes $3 -- Just really god fucking awful but I can't ever leave a record store without buying any in-stock Suede, sadly.

Suede ballad Sunday

Getting ready to spend the day in Salem, but not before Suede ballads fill the morning air... Asda Town, She's Not Dead, Stay Together, My Dark Star, Bentswood Boys, The Wild Ones, Lost in TV and of course, EVerything Will Flow. Just one of those perfect days...

Montauk Monster = Tokka from TMNT2?

So I'm working off last night's daily pravda party @ the pill (another sellout, bloodshed, modern indie, the usual) by watching "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II," and ... wait, holy shit is that the Montauk Monster?!?! It was Shredder's evil cohort Tokka all along.

Was this not picked up when the MM thing washed up on Long Island shores? Why am I watching TMNT2? Was the chick from Make Me A Supermodel 1 really dancing to Lies In Disguise last night? Alright, I need to go back to bed. Props to Pravda for killing it last night.

Lady GaGa "Paparazzi" video

Once again, queen of all pop Lady GaGa can do no wrong. I'm fucking mesmerized by her new 8-minute-long video for "Paparazzi," and well, yeah, you can write your own joke on your own time. But, uhhhh YES THOSE ARE THE SWEDISH TRIPLETS FROM DAISY OF LOVE ALL UP IN HER GRILL ON THE COUCH. Evs, I predict "Cripple Crutch Dancing" will totally be the hot new thing for summer.

The Daily Pravda album release @ the pill

Tomorrow night at the pill we finally unveil the Daily Pravda's new venom-laced debut album, "Burning Bible Diamonds," in what should be one hell of an evening and rock n roll dance party. Details from this week's pill mailer:

Friday night we rage supreme as favorite sons of the pill the Daily Pravda drop by to level us with their epic debut album, Burning Bible Diamonds. Dubbed "crazy, big-room, Muse-like rock" in this week's Weekly Dig, Pravdapicks up where they left off at recent Halloween shows (as Suede and Ziggy-era Bowie) and set to claim a reputation all their own in this eyeliner-traced neo-millennial glam rock sequel movement that desperately needs a new leader of the pack.

It's a sleek backdoor shuffle through Boston's spaghetti-plate streets on the eve of despair/desperation, a solid gold easy action comedown for the metallic genie adhering to a strict no-morning-after policy. A modern world deserves modern sounds, and the forceful glam glide of Pravda adds venom to the glitter, a sly wink to the smile and substance to the style.

Preview some of the tunes over at the Pravda space, and help us raise a glass and smash it to bits as residents pill DJs Ken and Michael V provide the jilted lover soundtrack before and after the band. This is where the firecrackers reside.

Vanyaland all a Twitter

So I added the Twitter widget to the right. I'm not sure why, but perhaps it will make me update my Twitter thingy a bit more. So, let me be the next douche in line to officially say -- FOLLOW ME lolz.

There they go again -- the La's reform

So the BBC is reporting that the La's are reforming for a tour and new music, though I swear I've heard this news in the past. You have to give credit to "There She Goes," one of the finest drug songs ever, but I couldn't even name another song of theirs. But hey, they were still better than Cast.

Andre Obin's Ether Field tonight in Allston

I'm pretty bored, jaded and miserable these days, but I'm pretty excited about tonight, as Andre Obin (ex-Matters & Dunaway, the best Boston duo few unfortunately heard) debuts his new live band, Ether Field. There are no songs posted online, so it's a real "hear it all for the first time" kinda vibe. Ether Field is at the pill in September (yeah, I booked them without hearing a note) so I'm excited to see what's in store.

The show is part of the monthly Influenza series, which I'm not terribly sold on given its "presenters," but I should time this right to check out Obin's genius and dance to a few Bodega tunes.

Last minute Bodega Girls dance party action

Tonight at Middlesex Lounge, another vaunted lo-fi hedonistic dance party krazz, and I think I'm getting the itch. Been hibernating a bit too much lately. Al-THOUGH, the Bodega Girls DJ team crosses rivers and hits Allston tomw at GS as part of the Influ-whatever series, starring Andre Obin's new jam, Ether Field. So there's that, but this is tonight and tomorrow never happened, you know. (Bodega Girls live at the pill in JUly, BTW.)

Bermudez up for Best DJ (Times)

From the Hotline blog: Local remix maven, radio host and killa DJ Joe Bermudez us up for DJ Times' America's Best DJ award. It's determined by fan vote, and the nominee list includes Steve Aoki, AC Slater, Dieselboy, Crystal Method, Moby Steve Porter and a shit ton of other recognizable names.

New Yeah Yeah Yeahs video for "Heads Will Roll"

It's still only May, but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' epic "It's Blitz" is clearly the best album to hit in 2k9 (though Crystal Castles might have a say come September). My fav track off the album was "Heads Will Roll," a skinny skeletal romp though badger-filled trash and possum-stomped porches. The video, just released and starring a freaking killer werewolf, is as dope as the track. It's YYYs time to be loved, clearly.

Charlatans UK announce US tour

Kinda a ways away, but the Charlatans UK -- once brilliantly pegged by Pitchfork as everyone's 6th favorite band -- will be in Boston Sept. 25 at the Paradise RC. Their 10th studio album, "You Cross My Path," drops around then. Full tour dates after the elder eye candy.

US FALL 2009 TOUR
Sept 17 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
Sept 18 - Henry Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
Sept 20 - Double Door - Chicago, IL
Sept 21 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
Sept 22 - London Music Hall - London, ON
Sept 23 - The Mod Club Theatre - Toronto, ON
Sept 24 - Les Saints - Montreal, QUE
Sept 25 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
Sept 26 - Music Hall Of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
Sept 27 - Theatre Of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
Sept 29 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
Sept 30 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
Oct 2 - Ottobar - Baltimore, MD
Oct 3 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
Oct 4 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
Oct 5 - The Loft - Atlanta, GA
Oct 6 - One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA
Oct 7 - The Parish - Austin. TX
Oct 8 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
Oct 12 - The Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA
Oct 13 - Glasshouse - Pomona, CA
Oct 14 - Bimbo's 365 Club - San Francisco, CA

Central Square animal planet -- Kitties & Bulleys benefits

Chillin in the Herald's news section today, with a report on the two animal benefits going down next door to each other in Cambridge tonight -- Kitty Angels at TTs, and Pinups for Pitbulls at the Mid East.

It will be raining cats and dogs in Cambridge’s Central Square tonight - and music fans have their pick of the litter.

By coincidence, two unrelated animal benefit shows being held next door to each other will be rocking out and raising money for four-legged friends. Pinups for Pitbulls is looking to bolster its pet cause at the Middle East, while Twisted Rico Management’s Kitty Angels benefit at the adjacent T.T. The Bear’s Place on Brookline Street wants to scratch up funds for felines.

“It’s an animal corner,” said Pinups for Pitbulls’ show organizer Miss Brindle. “The fact that (Central Square) is consumed by animal welfare is all good. If you’re a cat person, go there. If you’re a dog person, go here.”

Pinups for Pitbulls is a nationwide network of pitbull lovers that puts out a calendar of pretty gals and cute pups to raise money for pitbull rescue and breed awareness. The organization’s shows across the country have raised more than $20,000 and saved the lives of 150 dogs, according to Brindle. Tonight’s lineup offers a three-pronged serving of local indie rock with Midatlantic, Silent Century and St. Helena.

“The bands match up very well, and all are involved with animal rights and activism,” said Brindle, a model who is this year’s Miss June in the Pinup calendar.

The benefit for Kitty Angels, a Tyngsboro-based no-kill cat shelter that helped place more than 600 cats into homes last year, is a more ambitious affair. It features 14 bands and performers doing 20-minute sets. Among those scheduled to play are the Russians, The Sharp Lads, Rick Barton, Jason Dunn of the Luxury, the New Alibis and others.

Both shows start at 8 and the admission for each is $10.

“Anyone who respects, admires and enjoys a little (cat) should come to our show,” said T.T.’s general manager Kevin Patey.

Organizers of the benefits won’t be fighting like, well, cats and dogs. But they’re not quite ready to cuddle up to each other.

“If it were a dog benefit, we’d try to join forces,” Brindle said of the competing event, “but since it’s for cats we figured we’d do our own thing.” (**Above photo courtesy of Cherry Blossoms Photography**)

Killing it at Sasquatch Festival

Jeez louise! From the pill to the people!

Song of the weekend: Amazing Baby's "Head Dress"

Anyone who knows me knows of my undying affinity for pre-"Head Music"-era Suede. And there is just something about rising NYC band Amazing Baby that brings me back to Suede's early years, when music was good enough to change the shape and direction of my life. That is as high of praise as I can give. This is remarkable.

Though they drew only 40 people to Great Scott a few weeks ago, Amazing Baby returns to Boston on June 17 at the Paradise opening for Phoenix.

DJ set tonight @ Freezepop/C4RT

I'm spinning a synthpop/electro set at tonight's Freezepop / C4RT / Barnicle show at GS. Expect a dancey mix of Toxic Avenger, Dossier, You Love Her Coz She's Dead, Lies in Disguise and the other Michael V favs.

Early warning: Daily Pravda album release party

The Daily Pravda, to this point perhaps best known for two riveting pill Halloween Show performances as Suede and Ziggy-era Bowie, unveil "Burning Bible Diamonds" next Friday at the pill, a sterling debut album that picks up where first single "She's So Mature" left off a few years ago. This is Boston's neo-glam cigarette tracing a ladder to the stars.

Allston has some Saturday Night Fever

So much awesome shit going on tonight in Allston Dance City. In fact, maybe too much. Here are the options along a three-block stretch along Harvard Ave:
- Fantastadon at Circus at Privus
- Roguewaves at Paper at Harper's Ferry
- DJ Ken with Paul Driscoll at Supersonic at CommonGround
- Die Young at Happy Endings at Great Scott
- Lindsey Starr & the Chemical Smiles early set at O'Brien's

Happy birthday, Morrissey

Dance with us tonight at the pill. We're giving away a Morrissey-signed photo (could be fake; donated by a fan), spinning a shit ton of Smiths & Moz classix and raising a glass to our sweetest and tenderest holigan. Look Moz.

Iceland's Jeff Who tonight at Felt, haha

See, there's more to Iceland than Bjork and Michael V vacation spots -- there's Jeff Who?, a decent-enough band of suddently-dancey indie rock misfits who just happen to be in town tonight. A few years ago I bought their album in some shop in Reykjavik, which I think was called "Death Before Disco" (they were just rock-ish then, and now they're "dancerock," so I guess revisionist history dubs this title ironic). Anyway, I emailed them, saying they should be in touch if they ever hit Boston. THEY NEVER RESPONDED.

And now they're playing Felt, the most deplorable un-hip place in town. Have fun with those $15 cocktails and Drakkar-drenched date-rapists, lads! And let this be a LESSON to all.

That said, their new single "The Great Scape" is pretty good (if not entirely trendy as fuck) and I liked the song from the video below, off "DBD". But... FELT?!?!! Really dudes? Shoulda been'n touch. I wouldn't even dar writing about -- let alone attending -- a live show at Felt.

ITP: Cheap Thrills on 80s, J.Cupcakes & MFA

It's a holiday weekend ahead, and today's Cheap Thrills column in ze Bahsten Herald reflects as such, with a Ladies-'80s sing-along, Johnny Cupcakes' 3-year-anniversary party and an MFS open house (translation: FREE).

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE LUNG CAPACITY
Ladies of the ’80s Sing-along party
Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Saturday at midnight, all-ages, $10
Remember those old radio commercials for monster truck rallies, in which they screamed “you’ll pay for the whole seat but you’ll only need the edge”? Well, that’s the stand-up-and-shout scene Saturday at the Coolidge’s Ladies of the ’80s Sing-along, where Bigfoot and Grave Digger are swapped for Cyndi Lauper and Madonna. Bust out the Conair hairdryer and fingerless lace gloves as we aurally relive the decade that just won’t die, from Blondie to Benatar to other pop-trash you listened to before hitting the mall. It’s all hosted by Alamo Drafthouse, the jelly-bracelet brains behind previous sing-alongs starring Prince, Michael Jackson and R. Kelly.
Info: 617-734-2501, coolidge.org

BAKED ON NEWBURY STREET
Johnny Cupcakes three-year anniversary bash
279 Newbury St., Back Bay. Saturday at 3 p.m., FREE admission
Pretty much every wide-eyed tourist and fresh-faced college student strutting Newbury Street gets wicked bummed when they realize Johnny Cupcakes is a hip clothing store and not a bastion of sugary baked goods. So to celebrate the three-year anniversary of his T-shirt business’ reign on the Newbs strip, John Earle is giving the people what they want - free cupcakes! Oh, there’s also limited edition T-shirts, good times and the guaranteed hordes of hipsters waiting for the latest threads. It’s good for post-hardcore young-people-watching and pre-hardcore sugar rushes.
Info: 617-375-0100, johnnycupcakes.com

THE F STANDS FOR FREE
Open house at the Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Ave., Fenway. Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., FREE
Barbecues are overrated. You stand around drinking swill booze, stand under the sun like a rotisserie chicken and your veggie burger ultimately rubs ends with the dead meat on the grill. So trade BBQ for MFA at the museum’s Memorial Day open house. Presenting art from around the world - from Venetian Renaissance paintings to contemporary Japanese ceramics - the East meets West theme is highlighted by two performances by the ANIKAI Dance Company. Your dried out veggie burger and farmer tan is finally outmatched.
Info: 617-267-9300, mfa.org

Black Joe Lewis back in town next month

Nope, it's not another pill show -- this time Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears blow the sky-high roof off Boston June 28 opening for the New York Dolls down at the Paradise RC. Tix on sale now, bitch.

Freezepop secret show Sunday

No worky on Monday, just dancey on Sunday. This is how to do it.

You Love Her Coz She's Dead ::: Worship.

Ok, so this UK electro-spazz duo You Love Her Coz She's Dead is doing some pretty heavy Crystal Castles lifting, but I'm still obsessed about it, especially Superheroes and Dead End (vids below). This chick is no Alice Glass, but few are... Last year when I said CC would influence music the next few years, I certainly didn't think it would happen so soon. I wish everything sounded like this. Damn. Audiogasm sexplosion. <3.

New Vadum Rankin jam

While I'm busy having a mental and career breakdown*, my home slice Vadum Rankin posted a new song on his Space, WAKE THE FUCK UP. First he was poppin' bottles, then he was dialed up. Now he's straight bangin.

*Who wants to hire me to write ragtime for them?

Fun shit: Klever @ E.Room May 24

RSVP here, unless you already are planning to catch me spinning an electro/synthpop set at some top secret show slash dance paty that same night somewhere else across town over there around the way. But this looks great, regardless.

Liechtenstein & SKWBN tonight @ Middlesex

I'm still Rugged City USA from the weekend and I have a HOT DATE tonight involving a girl, tacos and Charm School, but if I wasn't a lame-o-rama all-star I'd be at Middlesex Lounge, where this eight shades of amazing Scandanavian-pop show seems to have come out of nowhere. Honestly, go to this shit. I think the cover is 5 bones.

The ladies of Liechtenstein


Also playing are Suburban Kids With Biblical Names and local peeps Pants Yell!. Hot damn!

ITP: Alt-comedy Sleepover tonight, local summer releases

From today's Hotline column: Alt-comedy is the new alt-rock, and some locals have good shit coming up. The Sleepover is tonight at the Cantab...

Local sounding board
OK, we take it back. Don’t forget about local music. With Passion Pit’s debut album set to drop tomorrow, here’s a look at some of the other hotly anticipated local releases:

Hallelujah the Hills: “Colonial Drones.” The second album by the cerebral folk-ish indie act won’t come out until late summer on Misra Records. But you should be able to hear a good chunk of it Friday at the Middle East in Cambridge.

Drug Rug: “Paint the Fence Invisible.” This dynamic Cambridge duo should find their pretty faces on magazines near and far come July 28, when this new album arrives. They celebrate their multi-genre sound locally at the Middle East on Aug. 8.

New Collisions: “New Collisions.” If there’s another new wave revival, credit the New Collisions and electric frontwoman Sarah Guild. The Cars’ Greg Hawkes plays keyboards with them at the release party for their self-titled EP on May 29 at T.T. The Bear’s Place in Cambridge.

The Luxury: It’s been a good 12-month run for these Brit-flavored rockers, from opening for Coldplay at the Garden to winning the WBCN [website] Rock N’ Roll Rumble. Their debut disc drops in July with a celebration gig at the Paradise July 11.

Radio Vanya 5: Green Day's new album

Almost forgot... I'll be on FNX Radio 101.7 FM's Jukebox Jury tomorrow (Monday) morning around 9am taking a verbal deuce on the new Green Day album, "21st Century Breakdown." I will always consider Green Day's early gem "Going to Pasalacqua" one of my favorite songs EVER, but this new watered-down Rock-Opera Part II is really quite terrible. They once just named albums Dookie, and now they just are. Tune in, drop out, hear me roar.

Morrissey's 50th birthday dance party @ the pill

Because I'm too cracked out to write anything today...

MLB Scrub Alert on Twitter

New project: Calling out all the super scrub sightings on the MLB Network's always-amazing archive game footage. For instance, I woke up today and was reminded that Mike Harkey exists (Pitching for the Cubs against the Pirates, 1991) . So here's me talking ragtime about everyone from Orlando Merced to Scott Garrelts to anyone else who played in the late 80s and 90s and dominated every pack of Topps, Donruss, Fleer and Score pack I ever bought.

MLB Scrub Alert

Passion Pit @ the pill recap

Holy shit. Last night was the party of the year, a line down the street at 9:30, Passion Pit just KILLING IT, 300+ of our closest friends throwing down the epic dance party, and... damn, I don't even know. Thanks to the Passion Pit boys for kicking off their tour with us, and sorry to those who got shut out. Thais L Collins' Two-Way Monologue blog has the immediate morning after video/photo recap:

Video for "The Reeling"

So yeah, word is out, the buzz has exploded and by now everyone knows that Passion Pit is playing the pill tonight. To celebrate (and because I'm busy as fuck today) I'm going to re-visit their insanely amazing video for "The Reeling," the first single off album Manners, which drops Tuesday.

...from Passion Pit's twitter...

passionpit Dear Boston, we are playing The Pill @ Great Scott tomorrow night. 33 minutes ago from Tweetie

Speaking of, what's up with Jarvis Cocker talking shit on them in the Guardian? In any event, this concludes the latestedition of Worst Kept Secret Ever with host Michael V. See you tomorrow night at the pill!

Gospel Brunch returns to HoB

The House of Blues' famed Gospel Brunch returns this Sunday, and even if parising the Lord ain't yo thang, praising Southern Delta cuisine should be.

Cheap Thrills: Frank Black trib, SoWa art walk, Revs kicks

Good times in today's Herald Cheap Thrills, fun for the weekend:

PAINT IT BLACK, FRANCES
Frank Black Tribute Night
P.A.’s Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave., Somerville, Saturday at 8 p.m., 18-plus, $8
Pixies fans, here comes your man - well, kind of. Nave Gallery in Somerville celebrates its fifth anniversary by rounding up several local musicians and paying tribute to the portly prince of indie rock, Frank Black. The Big Disappointments, Ryan Lee Crosby, Thom from the Bon Savants, Doomstar, Audrey Ryan and Stephen Brodsky, Tony the Bookie Orchestra and others are expected. And because this isn’t any regular ol’ Pixies tribute night, we should hear Black’s solo hits “Headache” and “Los Angeles” without having to, um, Deal with Kim and the rest of the pixilated gang.
Info: paslounge.com, 617-776-1557

ART BRUTS ON DISPLAY
SoWa Art Walk
Participating studios in the South End’s South of Washington Street district Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE
Remember when you dated that hot hippie bohemian chick, and things were awesome until she suddenly left you for a skinny, black-haired, Einsturzen Neubauten-listening, latte-drinking finger-painter named Stefan who sighed a lot and lived in a really cool artist’s loft? Well, see what he and other artists are up to this weekend at the SoWa Art Walk. Artists open their doors to show off their genius, and SoWa’s local galleries, businesses and restaurants get in on the all-day action. Yes, we know not everyone is as stuffy as Stefan. Besides, they broke up.
Info: sowaartwalk.com

KICK IT GOOD
America SCORES New England’s Fit Kick 2009
Boston City Hall Plaza, today from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., all-ages. FREE
Now that the Bruins [team stats] have joined Boston’s other pro teams as championship contenders, there’s just one underdog left in town - the perennial Major League Soccer Cup runners-up New England Revolution. Get to know our pro soccer team - along with the fierce ladies of the Boston Breakers - this afternoon as they team with America SCORES for soccer clinics, health screenings and nutrition forums. On hand to sign autographs and play footie will be Revs players Matt Reis, Amaechi Igwe and Chris Tierney. One of these years, the Revolution will be MLS champions, so get to know them now before the pink hats are manufactured.
Info: americascores.org, 617-265-0066

Aerosmith contest: Open for Aerosmith

Hey that sounds cool, right? No dice. Aerosmith's latest cash-grab is a contest where fans can "open up" for Aerosmith on their tour, and by "open up" we mean play fucking Aerosmith songs on fucking Guitar Hero on fucking stage at the fucking Comcast Center. Heard that sound? That was a shotgun blowing my face off.

RSL showcase tonight @ GS

Remember all back in the day when you'd grab a Spin, Select or even Hit Parader magazine and unabashadly trust their judgement, blowing your third world country paycheck at Sam Goody or Strawberries on all the bands they duly recommended? Sometimes you won, sometimes you lost, but through it all you trusted their word and the thrill of reading about new shit and seeking it out was just as great as those rare scores that introduced you to your new favorite band (of that moment).

Well, I'm almost at that point with Ryan's Smashing Life, which hosts another showcase of live rock tonight at Great Scott. Outside of the Beatings' Eldridge Rodriguez, I have no clue who these band are, but if RSL is pimping them out it's probably money better spent here than on Shotgun Messiah tapes at the Wall. Who knows, we might learn something new.

(Also, on that flyer, is that the Logan 5 & the Runners' album cover chick all cable-porn scrambled out?)

Secret band @ the pill this week

the Pill
with A top Secret live guest
friday, may 15 at great Scott
1222 commonwealth ave., allston dance cIty
djs ken & michael v spin britpOp, moderN indie & beyond
10pm / 21-plus / $5 / thePIllbosTon.com *

Free scotch tasting on Newbury Street

Fancy yourself some scotch? Then head to the Barbershop Lounge on Newbury today from 6 to 8 p.m., where Balvenie hosts a free tasting. RSVP at concierge@barbershoplounge.com

Lollapalooza 2009 -- Greatest bill ever?

I haven't been to a Lollapalooza since James, Tool and Orbital rocked Randall's Island, but sweet mary the lineup of this year's Aug. 7-9 fest in Chicago might be the greatest assembly of artists I've ever seen. The dance lineup at Perry's alone is insane. A++++ job by the organizers.

Lollapalooza Lineup 2009 from C3 Presents Video on Vimeo.

Click to enlarge, there are some gems at the bottom...

Goth gossip: New ManRay on Green Street?

I came across the Cambridge licensing board minutes from last month, and pulled together this note for today's Hotline column: Defunct Cambridge Goth club ManRay may rise from the dead.

Owner Don Holland appears before the Cambridge licensing board May 26 to ask for an extension of his inactive license to serve alcohol. Holland told the board last month that he is in talks to resurrect the Central Square nightspot, which shuttered almost four years ago. Speculation is that Holland has his eye on the Green Street Grill, located around the corner from the old ManRay site.

From 1985 to 2005, ManRay was Ground Zero for gay, fetish and underground arts in Boston, hosting several dance nights a week. Nirvana, Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy and VNV Nation all took the stage.

Charm School 3 tonight, Ricki Lake talks

More than just telling me Brittanya recently got a butt-lift, Ricki Lake and I discussed Charm School 3 (tonight, VH1, 9pm) last week, the results of which can be found in today's Herald. Since I'm not feeling the new New York show and I Love Money 2 just ended, this arrives just in time. I still wish there were some Ray J gals up in here, but I'm sure they'll be back at some point.

Happy Mother's Day

To all the mothers, the ones I've turned into mothers, and all who know better to never become one. Today is a day.

Taxpayer live @ the pill tonight

Quite smitten with Taxpayer's latest effort "Don't Steal My Night Vision," I'm pretty excited to have them back at the pill this evening. It's thwe first show in a two-night stand dubbed "Taxpayer Weekend," as they perform Great Scott again tomorrow at the Everyday Visuals' CD release party (New York's Tiny Animals also on the bill). So yeah, a bit more on the rock side of things tonight at the pill, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Origins and shit.

Soul Shake Saturdays hit Somerville

I Herald-hyped this earlier in the week, but might as well post it here: There are certainly no shortage of Soul Nights around the Boston area, but now the time-honored dance party trend has hit Somerville. Local DJ veteran Deano Sounds has set up Saturday night shop at the Highland Kitchen with Soul Shake, weaving a soundtrack of danceable 60s and funk for those taking a breather from the electric Central Square scene.

“It’s a great restaurant and bar and we’re trying to get it established as place to go dancing to more unique soul/funk from the 60s,” reports Deano to Hotline. ”Like Brits did in Manchester at the Twisted Wheel.”

There is no cover, and the Shake usually gets going after 10 p.m.

Summer Music Preview: dance/electro

In the Boston Herald's summer music preview today, I was able to snag a few inches to highlight some of the known electro DJs hitting the area, including Soulwax (June 4), MSTRKRFT (June 11) and Mayday (June 27).

LA people: Control w/ Toxic Avenger

Ahhh, the moments where I wish I had actually ghosted to Los Angeles... If any LA people read this, this is where the party's at. Forget about Manny and throw down with this beast. Someone needs to bring the Toxic Avenger to Boston. E-Marce? Casey? Anyone? Also, his ferocious remix of Ladytron's "Ghosts" hasn't left my player all week, though it might have frightened some of the pill crowd on the floor last week.

Bat For Lashes rescheduled

The Bat For Lashes show postponed earlier this week at the Paradise has been re-scheduled for Thursday Aug. 13. Previous tickets will be honored, and new pups will go on sale tomorrow at noon. This news brought to you by Live Nation.

Uniform Boston party May 14

Uniform Boston is pretty much the best men's clothing store in the city (home of Penguin, Fred Perry and similar style) and now they're hosting another private party to celebrate four years of business. RSVP by May 13 to gary@uniformboston.com and roll in for 25% off spring/summer threads and 10% off Frietag swag. DJ Ken of le pill spins the tunes, and bevs provided by Victory Beer.

ITP: Cheap Thrills on FTW, CBC & Belkin

Today's Cheap Thrills column in the Herald, highlighting the FTW anniversary party with Designer Drugs, the Cambridge Brewing Co.'s 20-year bash and the Mother's Day seasonal opening of Belkin Farm in Natick.

WINNERS’ CIRCUS
FTW one-year anniversary party at Circus
Privus Lounge, 161 Brighton Ave., Allston. Saturday at 10 p.m., 21-plus, $5.
Most anniversary parties in Club Land involve waiting in line outside a stuffy downtown night stop, nudging your way to the bar for a $15 mixed drink and giraffe-ing your neck to catch a six-second glance of a Gossip Girl. But the one-year anniversary for event-planners FTW (short for For the Win, n00b) keeps it real. After a year of bringing in the best DJ acts from Drop the Lime to the Presets, to its featured dance party Circus, FTW now gives us white-hot New York DJ duo Designer Drugs. Local party people Hot Pink Delorean get it started; the only question left is, What will FTW do next year?
Info: privuslounge.com, weareftw.com, 617-787-7483

KEG STANDARD
Cambridge Brewing Co.’s 20th anniversary party
1 Kendall Square, Building 100, Cambridge. Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. FREE.
While the FTW party will be awash in martinis, Cambridge Brewing Co.’s 20th anniversary across the river will be afloat in hops. CBC brewmaster Will Meyers offers up 20 beers on tap for the celebration, including three anniversary beers true to the brew - the peppercorn Sgt. Pepper, the wild-yeast Reckoning, and Benevolence, dubbed “mysterious beer brewed with raisins and dates and aged in American bourbon barrels.” The outdoor patio morphs into a beer garden, live music fills the air and executive chef David Drew will pair the beers with a specialty cuisine. It’s a veritable pub crawl in one setting.
Info: cambridgebrewingcompany.com, 617-494-1994

LOOKOUT FOR MOM
Bloomfest weekend at Belkin Family Lookout Farm
89 Pleasant St., Natick. Saturday and Sunday , 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $8 (Moms FREE with one paid admission)
By now, everyone is asking themselves: What to get Mom for Mother’s Day? What your mother wants is time with you and the fam in a setting she’ll remember until next spring. Enter Belkin Lookout Farm’s Bloomfest and opening weekend, a family-friendly 180-acre sea of orchards dotted with more than 60,000 just-bloomed trees. Of course there’s the garden center, the train rides and the homemade gelato, but the real attraction is hanging out with your mom in an idyllic setting. Consider it a living, breathing gift card.
Info: lookoutfarm.com, 508-653-0653

Red Foxx to open for the Prodigy

So the Prodigy is coming to Boston May 20 at the House of Blues, and instead of some shitty opening band or chump touring DJ, the night gets warmed up with Red Foxx of Hearthrob. Whoa.

Seriously, how cool is that? Jeez, Boston feels like a real city sometimes...

As for the Prodigy, I'm curiously interested. "Jilted Generation" and "Experience" were a favs of mine in my teenage Long Island club life, and we all know about the Firestarter phenomenom that lifted them from the rave tent to the rockstars stage. The new disc "Invaders Must Die" has its merits (not much gripped me past the title track in this post-Does It Offend You Yeah? landscape), but I sense I'll dig it more in a live setting. Psycho-somatic addict insane, yo.

Bodega Girls remix Wild Light

Pop quiz: How do you make a Wild Light track really really awesome? Get Bodega Girls (@ the pill July 17) to sass it up a bit in a tender love-session between two dope Boston bands. That's what's gone down by route of Paste Magazine, which is offering up the Bodega remix of "Lawless River." I dig -- it has a nice steady build and really comes together flawlessly in the last minute or so.

(Edit: The embed code isn't working, just click the link)

FYI, Wild Light just wrapped up its tour with the Killers, and now takes off with Doves, crashing the House of Blues on June 7. Crazy shit.

Eli Reed up for MOJO Honours award

Check it out, Eli 'Paperboy' Reed & the True Loves are nominated for MOJO Magazine's Honours List, in the Breakout Artist category. The other nominees are White Lies, Gallows, School of Seven Belles and the probable winner, Glasvegas (who I still don't fucking get).

GO ELI!

Black Strobe DJ set @ Hearthrob 05.12

Yikes. Just a fortnight after bringing Surkin to Central Square, those relentless kids at Hearthrob have somehow one-upped themselves -- Black Strobe frontman and founding member Arnoud Robotini hits the deks for a DJ set next Tuesday. In the dance game since 1997 and expanding to a full live band a few years ago, Black Strobe has been influential to pretty much anything/one with a beat, remixing everything from Depeche Mode to Bloc Party to Playgroup to Nitzer Ebb. This will be fucking silly, and might finally be the night the Middlesex Lounge explodes from all the rage going on. Shit is evil, just evil.

Live Nation sells Paradise Rock Club

... as well as the Opera House and Orpheum Theatre. The buyer has not been revealed, so who knows what this means for the Dise, one of Boston's best live venues (Not that I expect any changes).

Jed Gottlieb has some extra deets in his Guestlisted blog.

New Sun Lee Sunbeam demos posted

Cambridge's Sun Lee Sunbeam have two great new demos posted on their MySpace, fresh out of the New Alliance studio oven. Both "Naked" and "O RLY?" have this cool early '90s college radio vibe going on (a touch of Breeders, a sprinkle of Hatfield) and clearly this is a band hitting their stide. Check it out.

the Ting Tings at the Garden? Damn.

I love the Ting Tings and all, but looks like the next time they hit a Boston stage is Oct. 2 at the TD Banknorth Garden, and I can't help but find that hi-larious. Of course, they're opening for Pink (lolz), but imagining them on that huge-ass stage in that huge-ass arena just strikes me as huge-ass odd. But they deserve the attention, and the teen Pink fem-fans will eat that shit up. From Church to the Garden in a year, flat. Tickets on sale Friday at noon through Ticketbastard.

Lady GaGa video shoot?

Is Lady GaGa really shooting a video right now in Chelsea? Why am I just learning of this now? Anyone have any deets?

The return of the Good North in June

About six years ago, a close network of bands and friends rallied around the pill and formed a mini-scene -- the Information, Emergency Music, the Good North, Bon Savants, etc. all became known as "pill bands." We all partied, digested too many drugs, sold out the Middle East once or twice and even released a CD, "Tomorrow Never Happened," (Man With a Gun Records). It was my favorite time in Boston so far -- endless nights, endless drugs and the excitement of being a part of "something."

But time eventually wrestles with all smiles and most have gone on to do their own thing (including us). So why am I bringing all this up? Well, the Good North is back (and giving away a ton of their music here.) We're celebrating this occassion June 27 at the aforementioned Mid-Easy, and the Info and the Pill DJ team are joined on stage by Taxpayer, Barnicle and Thick As Thieves.

Indeed we're gonna party like it's 2004. But without the drugs. Well, for me anyway...

Morrissey turns 50. Let's celebrate

Taxpayer weekend at Great Scott

Next weekend will be a motherfucking doozy, some all-time epic shit going down in Allston. First, Taxpayer kicks off a two-night Great Scott stand with us at the pill Friday night, then on Saturday FTW celebrates its one-year anniversary with Designer Drugs at Circus (head asplodes, but more on DD later in the week).

If you haven't heard Taxpayer's amazing new album "Don't Steal My Night Vision," you're missing out on perhaps the best local release of 2009. It's phen-fucking-nomical. "We Have Arrived" and "The Less We're Impressed" are two of the best songs of the year so far. Can't wait to have them once again at the pill.

Ok, now it's time to get outside, off to May Fair in Harvard Square! Get out of the office, and into the springtime!

New favorite game: Pick the Perp

I ain't very good at this, but it sure is entertaining: Pick the Perp. I just keep waiting for my grill to pop up there.

Team Shred takes over Saturday night

Fancy some live rock tomorrow night, and chances are you'll run into Shred, whose Knight Out #1 rounds up 29 bands across seven shows and six venues (one matinee in there for the kids). Here's the complete lineup for tomorrow -- just squint and scratch the Semi Precious Weapons and add the Motion Sick to the TTs show. More details are in my Herald blog.

Jarvis Cocker listening party tonight

Tonight early on at the pill down at GS we'll premiere the new album from Jarvis Cocker, appropriately dubbed "Further Complications."

The beloved former Pulp voice just got divorced, is slowly morphing into The Middle East/FNX's Dave Virr and has now released a motherfucker of a solo disc (think more "Fat Children," but all grown up). All reasons to celebrate on this gloomy May Day. Doors at 10pm... look sharp, you know the drill.