Results tagged “Apollo Sunshine”

2008 wasn't the biggest year ever for Boston music. Our biggest success might have been our oldest, as the New Kids on the Block got back together for a (misogynistic?) record and tour; we called their performance "a polished show infused with moments of giddiness—a lovefest between four guys from Dorchester, one JP product and a screaming hometown crowd." Apollo Sunshine, whose August live show felt like "stumbling upon a drum circle in the field of a music festival," made a couple of best-of lists, as did the Hold Steady, fronted by BC grad Craig Finn. "Bostonians of the Week" Broken River Prophet released an exciting new album that we really dug. Local singer Jess Tardy's work was featured on the TV show Lipstick Jungle. But for the most part, 2008 was just not a Boston-heavy music year.

Your T pass might melt, but there's hours and hours of free entertainment all around town. It's true year round, but the quality of free music will be damn high for the next 48 hours or so.

Although technically based in Leverett, we here at Bostonist do not discriminate on account of geography and thus fully embrace indie darlings Apollo Sunshine as hometown favorites. Attending their set this past weekend at the Bank of America Pavilion felt very much like stumbling upon a drum circle in the field of a music festival. As the bongos were beat and the guitars were singing we couldn't help but imagining frisbees flying, hippies dancing, and fragrant smoke riding the warm breeze. Ok, maybe we're getting a bit effusive, but listen up, these guys can jam. Even their set-up on stage was intimate, with the two percussionists forgoing the risers and instead sitting directly behind the guitars.

It's tough to not envy our Austin peers these days, as the sonic ear candy that is South by Southwest looms in mid-March. Without the ability to hop on a plane and hightail it to Texas, many have been left to look at initial lineup announcements and imagine wandering Sixth Street with happy grins on their faces. A new tool on the official festival site could add to the bitterness, but it can also...

The season finale has just aired for your favorite TV show. NBC hasn't run Must See TV on Thursdays for a decade. The sun is shining and temperatures will be perfect for showing up jacketless to the next performance. Something to do every night this week – and rock it out for free with the pop tunes from WBOS' EarthFest line up on Saturday, starting at noon. All this and we're tivo-ing the Sox/Yanks games...

Today we spent the day appreciating how much immigrants affect our daily lives. A sign hand-printed and posted in a local bodega's window read “Closed May 1st. A Day Without Immigrants. We are all immigrants.” Some of the best music has immigrated its way to the United States from places far and wide. Where would this week's lineup be without the rich flavor of the immigrant community? Music knows no borders. Let the decibels...

Mention “music festival” this weekend and the hipster friends may immediately presume you’re talking about Austin City Limits. Out hipster them and clarify that Boston, in fact, has its own music festival in the brew this weekend: N.E.S.T. (North East Sticks Together). A series of 30+ (mostly music related) events at 6 venues over 7 days, N.E.S.T. spans all genres, deeming itself “a solid cross sampling of local artists.” Though N.E.S.T. claims that it isn't a music festival, it more or less is. Four friends got together, made some calls and made it happen. The Boston Phoenix added a sponsorship and thus, we arrive at a week of DIY musical merriment. Bostonist, admittedly, knows very little of the bands slated to play; fortunately, both the Phoenix and N.E.S.T. mastermind Dan have put together solid recommendations. Check out the N.E.S.T. website for the full line up and venue details; N.E.S.T. runs September 18 - 24.

Boston's adopted son and rock's savior, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are back on the road. Their first show is tonight at Molly's Pub at Wellesley College. Doors are at 8 pm and Mittens is the opener.