BAND RECOMMENDATIONS

Rita: I bet there are a lot of local musicians good enough to play with the Pops. I’m going to ask my friends what bands they would highly recommend—not for the Pops—just for anyone to see. Excuse me, Carl, what local band would you recommend? CARL BIANCUCCI (the Fighting Cocks): Without question, for me it’s the Upper Crust. Yeah, I know, the aristocratic schtick may have run its course at this point, but those songs still kick ass and their live show is always an event in my book. *** DUNCAN WILDER JOHNSON (x-Destruct-a-thon): Motherboar. If you’re into seriously brutal metal, do not pass go, go directly to a Motherboar gig. They’re finishing up their second full length right now! *** LIZ BORDEN (Liz Borden Band): My Own Worst Enemy—great band. I love the songwriting. Melodic yet edgy. Great lyrics and hooks. There is a darkness and a light quality to their songs. They must be good because they do not have a bass just two guitars and drums. As a bass player at first I found that disturbing until I heard them play. Their last CD was one of the best I have heard in a long time. Great people too. *** JOHNNY BLACK (Faster & Louder): Any combo with Al Sheinfeld, Billy Loosigian, or Duke Levine in it, specifically Alvis, Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band, the Coachmen, and the Dennis Brennan Band—with the Coachmen sometimes you get Al and Duke playing together. *** KRIS THOMPSON (Bobb Trimble/ Concord Ballet Orchestra Players): The great Prince Rama of Ayodhya has left town (sniff!) for Florida and the wide open road, but I’ve been digging Quilt and Mind Yeti quite a bit. Quilt’s new cassette might remind folks of a trippier version of Throwing Muses’ early demos. Mind Yeti (ex-members of B.E.A.R.D.) is blissed-yet-rocking improv space-rock. *** JASON DUGUAY (Project Sound): For local talent I would strongly recommend checking out any one of the eleven Chief Dr. Kooffreh records. His prolific lyrical insight and mastery of all things Casio and propane is truly a delight for the advanced listener. *** DREW KAZOO (the Sprained Ankles): The local band that I would highly recommend to anyone would have to be the Cam-peons—hands down. Not only do they cleverly incorporate just about every style of music known to man into they’re rock ’n’ roll, but they’re absolutely hilarious—oh, and they annihilate live! Miss this band at your own peril. *** ERIC BETTENCOURT (solo artist/ Giraffe Attack): Dominic & the Lucid. *** DAN WEBB (… & the Spiders/ the Cold Beat): I would highly recommend the amazing band Movers & Shakers. They are without a doubt my favorite group operating out of the Boston underground. Above and beyond the great songs, the aesthetic and ethic of the band is what I applaud most. They truly embrace the DIY ethos. They print their own shirts, record their own records, book their own tours, and manage to have a blast while doing so. They are fun and unpretentious, and will break you in half with the amount of heart that goes into what they do. That is why I love them so. *** SEAN MURRAY (Jake & the Jakes/ the Dubious Brothers): There are loads of bands that I could tell you to go see—like the Rationales, Brendan Boogie & the Best Intentions, Frank Booth’s Car, Trucker Mouth, Fox Pass, Girls Guns and Glory, the Luxury, 5 Point, Natalie Flanagan, the Brooklyns, the Dirty Truckers, Township, the Fighting Cocks, the Neighborhoods, the Gentlemen, Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents and so may more. There is no shortage of great recommendable bands! *** DAVID KIRKDORFFER (UNDO): I suggest inhabitants of our solar system should all go see Hooray For Earth. Lolita: I think Zortar will be very offended that he wasn’t invited.