House of Blues coming in February

Never thought I'd say I miss Avalon and Axis, but we'll be reminiscing hard about those two Lansdowne clubs once the House of Blues abortion goes operational in February. It's amazing how difficult it is to get answers out of Live Nation, but there you have it. Can anyone envision actually going to a show here? Boston gets more cookie-cutter by the day...

Janet Jax all sick and shit

So Janet Jackson cancelled her Boston show tomorrow night.

Why does Vanyaland give a shit? Because around 2pm it was the 6th most read item on bostonherald.com (a rare accomplishment for our A&E section, and more impressive with the economy, political and Red Sox news dominating the day) and we get to see all the reader comments yelling at me because this "isn't news." Sweet.

the pill turns 11 years old 10.03

Fucking insane, huh? We like to joke that we set up shop when Britpop was still around, and it's true. The Pill has taken many shapes and forms across six different venues, but one thing remained the same: indie dance party on a Friday night. "Look sharp."

*** From thepillboston.com:

Where were you on Oct. 3, 1997? Out buying the Verve’s “Urban Hymns”? Thinking Brett Anderson didn’t need Bernard Butler after all? Figuring the Manics’ Ritchey James would show up any day now? Scoring high on that Earth Science exam? Getting wet for Jarvis Cocker at the Brit Awards? Enjoying the sixth fucking grade?

Wherever you were, DJ Ken and former pill DJ Jennifer Sullivan were down in North Station hosting the first-ever night of the pill. Nightlife in Boston would never be the same.

Catering to everyone from black-clad underage Emerson kids to seasoned Vespa-savvy Allston mods, the pill would soon become a Boston staple with a soundtrack that mirrored the city’s across-the-pond mindset: from Britpop to 60s to indie to soul, the pill was where it’s at.

And so with the rare exception of a few head-loss Fridays around 2003, the pill has been there every Friday night since (cheers to Carl Lavin). From the foundation years at the Upstairs Lounge to the jet-setting times at the Hideaway, Milky Way, Paradise and Ekco Lounges and finally, to our current home at Great Scott in Allston, there was always one thing to count on every Friday night in Boston: the pill.

Whether you’ve danced with us, performed for us, took us home, came home with us, got listed, got sorted, looked sharp, raised a pint, got it together and lost it all shortly thereafter or lost it first and then pieced it back together, this one’s for you. We are truly indebted to all who show up each week.

This is Boston. 11 years strong. xo the pill.

MIA /// In the Paperz

So yeah, I've been MIA lately. Trying to figure out what to do next in life. I'm making a point to prove to F. Scott Fitzgerald that there are, in fact, such a thing as second acts in American lives... Eat it, Gatsby.

***
Meanwhile, in today's Boston Herald column: Stone Gossard wants fans to plant trees, and Bret Easton Ellis' "American Psycho" will be made into a musical.

Can't believe I was able to write "Plant trees and get Stone'd for free."

Daisy gets her own show (!!!!!!)

Astrochicks is reporting that Daisy from Rock of Love has her own show coming up on VH1. Makes sense since she's not on Charm School, and has already banged most of Hollywood's wash-ups.

The show will be called "I LOVE DAISY," and feature 25 aspiring sexy doctors who not only have to win her vagina, but diagnose it as well. Honestly, I'm excited. I mean, just look at this:

To quote the judge from I Wanna Work for Diddy: "Your party was whack. You threw a whack party."

To quote Stacey from Tabatha's Salon Takeover: "She's making a mockery out of Images."

Seriously.

Jupiter One on "Heroes"

NYC's Jupiter One, who played the pill lastyear and has a catchy-as-fuck jam called "Countdown," will have said jam played during Monday's season-premiere of NBC's Heroes. Now I have a reason to watch other than Ali Larter. Cool.

In the Papers: Low Vs Diamond

From the "Next Big Thing" file: GO: LOW VS. DIAMOND AT THE PARADISE

"You know these are fast times when the Next Big Thing no one knows about is opening for the Next Big Thing already on everyone’s radar. So if you’re planning to check out Brooklyn’s intrepid genre-bender Santogold tomorrow at the Paradise, make sure to arrive early to see Low vs. Diamond, a Los Angeles quintet we predict will be one of 2009’s biggest new rock acts. With a stadium-sized sound that echoes U2 and the Killers, mainstream success seems inevitable. Don’t be surprised to see Santogold opening for these stylish cats at a larger venue this time next year." Tickets: $22. Call 617-562-8800. - MICHAEL V.

Note: I've been playing "Heart Attack" during bedroom sets at the pill, though it might be a bit too mainstream. But the name comes from the tag the band gave the fights the singer (last name Diamond) would have with his ex, Leyla "Lo" Safai from Heartsrevolution.

the pill's 6th annual Halloween Show

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, here's the first official announcement of the lineup for the pill's 6th annual Halloween Show, taking place Friday, Oct. 31 at Great Scott. This year, we bring you:

The Wonderful Spells as THE KINKS

The Sun Lee Sunbeam as ELASTICA

The Perennials as THE STROKES

As always, the Halloween shows feature bands that have played the pill within the past year or so. The past five Halloween shows (3 at Great Scott, one at the Mid East Down and first at the Paradise Lounge), looked like this:

The Daily Pravda as David Bowie (07)
Mako as the Stone Roses (07)
The Perennials as the Libertines (07)
The Lie Society as Blur (07)
Lifestyle as New Order (06)
The Daily Pravda as Suede (06)
The 8mm Fuzz as Echo & the Bunnymen (06)
Emergency Music as the Velvet Underground (05)
Protokoll as Bauhaus (05)
The Chainletter as Joy Division
The Never Never as Supergrass (05)
The Bon Savants as Pulp (04)
The Information as Depeche Mode (04)
Emergency Music as Blur (04)
The Cignal as Primal Scream (04)
The Information as the Cure (03)
The Cignal as the Happy Mondays (03)

Ninja Cat

In my sad, pathetic and meaningless existence, this is the shit that makes me smile.

Rock of Love Girls: Charm School 2

How did I miss this? The skanks of Rock of Love are coming back to VH1 starting Oct. 12 in the second season of the get-priss/show-some-class reality competition show. They even dug up Rikki Rachtman, who must have been up to something since the original Headbanger's Ball was axed in like 1994.

Sharon Osbourne is the host, Rachtman is a "dean" (whatever the fuck that means) and the prize is $100,000 and the chance to star in the upcoming VH1 Classic series "Love'Z Not E-Nuff," starring Chip Z'Nuff from late 80s metal band Enuff Z'Nuff.


More importantly, I think there is an Angelique sighting... Too bad we can't tell if she's standing up straight or doing a hand stand. Also, sup Lacey, Dallas, Rodeo, Love Tank, Destiney and Megan, who clearly never met a camera she wouldn't let spooge on her face.

But to be fair, I'm still dying over Megan's comeback to Pumkin on the last I<3$ episode. Pumkin: "Just because you're taller doesn't make you the bigger woman," Megan: "You're clearly the bigger woman." Zing-o-ramaktrjhfi rhjgio hjifg