Weekly Music Picks: Respite from the Rain

After a weekend of rain where all we heard was disgruntled Bostonians complaining, because that's what we do best, about the weather we rock into the week. Miraculously the Red Sox managed to play all their games this past weekend making us furiously check the forecast for WBOS' 14th annual EarthFest coming up this weekend. For us it marks the first of many outdoor events that will happen this summer, and it's Memorial Day weekend so it's that unofficial, official start of summer across the country. Before you break out the barbecue and grill up some burgers make sure you get good and full on this week's selection of live music.

Tuesday, 5/22
Damien Rice -- SOLD OUT
Damien Rice isn't one of those singalong-happy singer-songwriters – in fact, turn off your cell phones and wrap up conversations prior to entering the Opera House on Tuesday night. The Irish crooner likes his audiences to bask in the sound of his voice. Cocky? Yes, but Rice has the skills to back it up, with a whispered confession approach that draws a listener into the poignancy of his lyrics. Rice's night in Boston supports his latest release, "9."
Opera House, 7:30 p.m.
Damien Rice: myspace | website

Wednesday 5/23
Christians & Lions
Jamaica Plain's Christians & Lions play folk rock of the indie persuasion, acoustic arrangements adorned with occasional horns and saws, lifting a skinny fist towards brutalist architecture and gently railing that We only want to level this city because
things are so uneven. The Big Disappointments, Antiques, and the 85's open.
Great Scott, 18+, 9 pm, $8
Christians & Lions: web site | Skinny Fists .mp3
The Big Disappointments: web site
Antiques: myspace
The 85's: myspace

Friday, 5/25
Griffin House
Griffin House brings a warm, folk-based musicality to his singer- songwriter tunes - music that calls for a summertime porch on which a listener can relax and enjoy. Trust us on this one - Bostonist has spent many such afternoons with House's 2004 release, "Lost & Found." If you dig Ray LaMontagne, Amos Lee or Teitur, get over to Harper's Ferry - House shares the bill with Craig Demelo and Sons of William.
Harper's Ferry, 156 Brighton Ave., Allston. 8 p.m. 21+ $8 adv, $10 dos
Griffin House: myspace | website

Rob Swift (X-ecutioners)
There is no doubt that Rob Swift (X-ecutioners) is one of the best turntablists on the planet (check the clips below and listen to him scratch along to Charlie Parker's "Cheers" and cut up the mighty Biz Marke). Scratch Magazine noted that Rob's just released DVD, As the Tables Turn, is an "always engaging, intimate look at Rob Swift that mixes classic footage (90's DMC shots, the infamous X-ecutioners vs. Scratch Piklz battle) and new interviews." Check the legendary DJ as he hits the ones and twos this Friday. Boston's turntablist collective The Deck Demons (DJs Illogix, E-Ness, JayCeeOh, and SlipWax ) open, along with DJD, DC Development Crew, and Prolifik.
Middle East Upstairs, 18+, 9pm, $12
Rob Swift: website | bio/info | wikipedia | cheers: X-ecutioners style (edit).mp3 | Rob Gets Busy (edit).mp3
The Deck Demons: website | myspace

Saturday, 5/26
92.9 WBOS EarthFest 2007
WBOS heads down to the Hatch Shell for its annual free earth-friendly summer celebration, and 100,000 or so folks are expected to join the all-day festivities. Guster, KT Tunstall, Mat Kearney, Vega4, John Butler Trio and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals will hold court at the main stage, and BOS has also lined up a sharp roster of talent for its Boston Music Stage, including Mieka Pauley, Tim Blaine, Chad Perrone, Will Dailey and Jake Brennan.
WBOS EarthFest: website

Joe Firstman
Joe Firstman may look familiar to those four of you who ever watch "Last Call with Carson Daly" - he's the Paul Schaffer to Carson's Letterman. But he's also a piano rocker that the New York Post described as reminiscent of "Elton John when he was still young." Firstman leaves Daly to fend for himself when he hits up the Paradise Lounge on Saturday night.
Paradise Lounge, 9 p.m. 18+ $10.
Joe Firstman: myspace | website

The Rosebuds and the Ladybug Transistor
Bostonist likes to imagine that North Carolina indiepoptarts the Rosebuds have some tenuous connection with that greasy dining car in Davis Square, and this mp3 has done nothing to dissuade us: Somerville is where we're going... And then Allston, with esteemed labelmates the Ladybug Transistor in tow.
Great Scott, 21+, 9 pm, $10
The Rosebuds: web site | Get Up Get Out .mp3
The Ladybug Transistor: web site | A Burial At Sea .mp3

Sunday 5/27
Amanda Palmer and Hypernova
Rocking out in a Strokes-esque manner is illegal in Iran. Thank god for that other Middle East on Mass. Ave.
Middle East Downstairs, 18+, 7 pm, $12 ($10 advance tickets)
Hypernova: web site | myspace
Amanda Palmer: myspace | blog

Matt Durutti, C. Fernsebner, and Victoria Welch contributed to this week's post.