Posts by Andrew Bruss

When you throw the term super group around, the tendency is to dwell on the star studded lineup that earned the group its “super” status, and Tinted Windows is no exception. The power pop quartet has been riding high upon the heels of their self-titled freshman debut, but on the surface, the group’s lineup makes for a much better story than the album.

TV On The Radio are a getting bigger and better with everything they do and their set at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre was a perfect example. 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain put them on the map in a very big way, earning them bragging rights of Album of the Year at Spin. Their recent follow up, Dear Science, has yet to garner the blogospheric buzz of Cookie Mountain, but it supersedes the previous studio effort in both artistic development, and consistence in overall quality.

Rilo Kiley came through Boston’s Avalon Ballroom, hoping to give fans a taste of their A game, but wound up delivering a performance that was less than stellar. A lot has changed since Rilo Kiley performed in Beantown last, and the changes within the groups dynamic were evident from the start.

Over the course of the last year, the metamorphosis undergone by Tom Morello has proven to be nothing short of historically significant. Upon the heels of a headlining performance at Coachella, the once-disbanded Rage Against The Machine has seemed to be gradually making their radical presence known on the concert circuit once again.

With the theatrical flavor of Pink Floyd and the emotive tendencies of The Cure, The Arcade Fire mesmerized a sold out crowd at Boston’s Orpheum Theater.

State Radio graced a sold out, hometown crowd at Boston’s Avalon Ballroom to an energized set of riff-fused neo-ska-rock that showcased an onslaught of Chad Urmston’s post-Dispatch material, as well as a few well executed covers.

Toots and the Maytals performed a hits filled set at Boston’s Avalon Ballroom, letting anyone in doubt know that this age old act is still alive and kicking. Toots Hibbert, has led the group through trials, tribulations, and plenty of lineup changes over the years, but with a catalog of genre defining songs, Toots and Co. have clearly stood tall through musical decades.

Celebrating the 49th anniversary of Club Passim, John Prine performed a heart-felt performance at Sanders Theater, an age-old converted church that provided everyone in attendance with an environment that offered near-perfect acoustics, and cozy intimacy that set the mood just right.

The Slip's switch from loose jazzed-out odysseys towards verse/chorus/verse-oriented songwriting has played a big part in their recent break into the mainstream. This same progression is what has led many critics in the blogosphere to obsess over the aspect that they have gone from the “Jam-scene” to the “Indie scene.

Following a series of extensive cross-country tours that have put them in front of big crowds at major festivals like Bonnaroo, Langerado and Wakarusa, Steel Train has been making "serious tracks.”

Following an intense performance by Read Yellow, Campaign For Real Time dove head-first into an interactive set that proved why the group is quickly growing to be known as the biggest band to come out of Boston since the Dresden Dolls.

On a Boston night, where the hometown New England Patriots were in the process of losing the AFC championship, the Wood Brothers were bringing their unique blend of folksy, jazzed out Americana to a small crowd at Club Passim.

Seeing the energy of the show was “through-the-roof,” Matisyahu and his Hanukkah extravaganza gave Boston a performance at the Avalon Ballroom that was more than worthy of a cliché “two thumbs up.”

By continuously “throwing it all out there,” saturating the market with catchy rock tunes that are driven from the heart, and making more top ten of 2006 lists than can be counted, the Hold Steady are showing the rock world what their fan base already knows. They’re not necessarily going to “save rock and roll,” but they’re definitely giving it a long needed jump-start.

he Benevento/Russo Duo rocked their way through a single set at Higher Ground that was heavy on improvisation, but remained focused on the studio takes of their material. Having toured extensively with Phish alum Mike Gordon, Higher Ground has gradually become a second home away from The Duo’s NYC hot spot – The Knitting Factory.

When Michael Franti summons “how you feelin?” people respond. This was clearly the case at Boston’s Avalon Ballroom as Michael Franti and Spearhead had 1,500 bodies jumping to their rockin reggae rhythms, while fans responded with full lung capacity to Franti’s vigorous calls.

ortland, Oregon’s The Decemberists recently shocked their devoted fan base when they bolted from long time indie label, Kill Rock Stars, for the mainstream industry giant known as Capitol Records. The Crane Wife signifies a big middle finger to the rules of what is and what should be an indie major.

As the stakes have gradually risen, and potentially reached a boiling point on a west-coast tour with the Benevento/Russo Duo, the group surprised many members within its camp by deciding to take time off from the road, and indulge in some hard-earned down-time.

Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood, kicked off their night of funked out jazz at Northampton's Calvin Theater, it was obvious to everyone in the house that gimmicks and stage antics weren’t on the agenda. Instead, quality musicianship was the quartet’s goal, and world-class technique was what they came to deliver.

Steel Train’s set at Cambridge Mass’ TT the Bears Place on the Friday of Halloween weekend was not only the conclusion of their recent trek across the States, but their last performance with drummer Matthias Gruber. The atmosphere around the venue was laid back as fans and performers alike watched the last few innings of Game 7 of the World Series while the opening act, House of Fools, did their thing.