Thursday 03.21.13 @ Great Scott: San Cisco

So I guess for the next few weeks these posts will be a series of What Ifs. Shows that never happened, songs that never got played, bands not written about blah blah blah all that regretful shit.

But here's something I'm legit bummed about: Aussie pop act SAN CISCO were supposed to perform a private set at the Museum of Fine Arts tomorrow, part of the years-long WFNX sessions that in the past housed the Vaccines, Dropkick Murphys, Airborne Toxic Event, and so on and so on. We were currently in talks to host future sessions with the Breeders and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. But those, like San Cisco tomorrow, won't ever happen.

In any event, WFNX had been spinning their breakout hit "Awkward" for a while on the stream. People were feeling it.

They are in town to begin with, of course, because they're at Great Scott in Allston tomorrow night, 03.21.13, so we'll just have to settle for a regular ol' plugged-in show. So it goes.

Despite the song title, there’s nothing “Awkward” about San Cisco’s bubbly brand of love-pop, and like the Naked and Famous and Strange Talk, the band is the latest in a string of acts from Australia and New Zealand blurring the lines between indie and electro. Their 2012 Awkward EP was one of the more overlooked records of the year, but I think their 2013 success will more than make up for it.

Later, WFNX. Here's an hour of Merchandise

On my last day of work at the Boston Phoenix (RIP), I went into the WFNX studio, and started spinning songs I merely wanted to hear: Suede (all seven of them), New Order, Pulp, a bunch of Britpop hits from our Top 100 Britpop Anthems of the '90s feature from August 2011.

Then, around 5pm, as my colleagues and I were headed to An Tua Nua for some memorial cocktails, I set Merchandise's 11-minute epic "Become What You Are" on repeat seven times, filling more than an hour, separated only by our robot DJ, 3001, saying "Whatever, man" in between.

That was my sendoff. To quote Carson Cox in my favorite lyrics of the song (at least how I hear them): "I'm a mother's son. I'm a rolling stone. I don't want anything that I have to own."

Peace out, WFNX. <3

Thursday 03.21.13: The New Highway Hymnal @ T.T. The Bear's Place

I'm still suffering from my annual late-March SXSW hangover (and a few other random ailments), but I'm excited to get back in the sonic groove tomorrow night at T.T. The Bear's Place, as the New Highway Hymnal conclude their March tour with a homecoming gig in Cambridge. Yes, what I need to cure this shaz is some dirty psych-punk.

Also on the bill is Crushed Out (formerly known as Boom Chick, word?) and Thunderbloods, a new-ish bluesy bar rock band from my homie Evan Kenney (Bodega Girls, Read Yellow, the Cool Ranch dance night). Here's the Facebook invite.

Hymnal was the second band signed to Vanya Records, and in October we released their debut LP, Whispers. Vinyl available at the show or via our Big Cartel online store.

Reborn. Chapter 2. March 2013

A week ago tomorrow, while I was in Austin, Texas, for SXSW, I learned that my beloved Boston Phoenix would be no more.

Several years ago, while I was a shitty features reporter at the Boston Herald toiling under an even shittier arts editor, I killed off free time and the desire to write about whatever I wanted via this blog, Vanyaland. Since I was hired by the Phoenix in June 2010 to be the alt-weekly's Music Editor (an honor I still hold very dearly), this place became a graveyard, a flyer dumpster for my two other ventures, the Pill dance night (every Friday at Great Scott, yo) and Vanya Records, a record label I launched out of my Allston bedroom in September 2011. After all, the Phoenix hired me in part because of what I'd write about here. So out of respect for their salary sent my way each fortnight, I took all my shit over to 126 Brookline Ave.

Now, with a few days of #funemployment under my belt, I already need a place to collect my ideas and rants, post new music shit I discover, hype rad shows and events, and just keep my brain working and pushing forward. Rest and relaxation are foreign concepts to me. Like sobriety.

So yeah, Vanyaland, I've kinda missed you. There will likely be less reality TV rants and chick strip seahorses tossed up on eBay, but that's cool. Music surrounds my life like never before, and I live among the greatest scene in the world here in Boston.

Here's to another act of ridiculousness.

xoxo Michael Marotta / Michael V

VAN002: The New Highway Hymnal Boston + New York record release parties

The best new rock and roll band is not only on my own VANYA RECORDS, but they are also releasing their debut 7-inch this weekend at the Pill in Boston and Public Assembly in Brooklyn. Prepare for liftoff with THE NEW HIGHWAY HYMNAL.

Vanya Records launches in September; VAN001: Bearstronaut "Moniker/Shannon" 7-inch

Been awfully quiet on the Vanyaland front, and for good reason: Things are still fantastic at the "day job," as music editor of the Boston Phoenix, the Pill is still banging out the modern indie dance party every Friday at Great Scott, and lastly, I've decided to start a small boutique record label out of my bedroom, releasing my awesome friends' awesome music digitally and on vinyl.

Ladies and germs, I present to you: Vanya Records.

The first release: "Moniker/Shannon" gold vinyl 7-inch by Boston's post-pop electronic quartet Bearstronaut, a dance-centric group I've long been fond of and no stranger to the Pill (several live appearances, "Wire" release party, The Rapture @ Pill Halloween 2k10). The record -- VAN001 -- drops this September.

Listen to the track here.

the pill ::: Summer of Shitshow 2k11 with Girlfriends (07.29) + THe Hush Now (08.12)

new pill flyers, new shows: Dirty Bombs, Rituals

Oh hai. Once again, here's where I blow my written loads -- The Boston Phoenix and On The Download. And yes, the Pill still happens every Friday night at Great Scott.

Coming up @ le pill...

protokoll 04.01.11

YES.

Feb. 18: Pulp Vs Michael Jackson Nite @ the pill

To mark the 15th anniversary of Jarvis Cocker storming the '96 Brit Awards stage to protest the God complex displayed by a performing Michael Jackson, we at the pill have decided to have our second battle on Feb. 18: Pulp vs Jacko.

It follows last year's heralded Blur Vs Oasis dance floor throwdown, which commemorated the 15th anniversary of the dual release of singles "Country House" and "Roll With It," respectfully. Oasis won that battle, for the record.

Expect a shitfuckton of Pulp, and a fair shake of early Michael Jackson to counter the Britpop razzmatazz. Honestly, this should be an interesting night, and while the pill has never played a Jacko tune before (except on Halloween where we sometimes bust out Thriller), we're willing to open up the playlist in the name of the battle. Here's the flyer, and actual video of the incident follows after the poster jump.