2007

Halloween’s always a good time for a band to don a musical costume, and the Disco Biscuits knew their fans expected more than just a holiday untzfest for the highly anticipated show at The Orpheum in Boston. So the band complied and busted out the first Jamilia in four years and only the eighth-ever performance of guitarist Jon Gutwillig’s rock opera, Hot Air Balloon. The villagers rejoiced.

The Biscuits’ career resembles a rock opera in itself, and the band’s most rabid and casual fans alike are very much enjoying this third act, with the part of former drummer Sam Altman being played admirably by Allen Aucoin over the past two years. Reports from the Biscuits’ shows have been more positive than at any time in its full history, and Halloween at the Orpheum was certainly no exception.

Our friend and oft-collaborator Nathan Ingraham took in the evening’s festivities from the second row of the venue, and he gladly sent over some photos that captured the scene as well as he could given the enveloping darkness of it all. His gallery of 13 unlucky shots follows after the jump…

Set I: A Night On Bald Mountain* > Down To The Bottom, Jamillia, The Overture, Once The Fiddler Paid, The Very Moon > Voices Insane

Set II: Moonlight Sonata, Eulogy, Bazaar Escape > Mulberry’s Dream, Above The Waves > A Night On Bald Mountain > Above The Waves, Hot Air Balloon

Encore: Toccata and Fugue**, Therapy

*1st time played (Modest Mussorgsky); from Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”
**1st time played (Bach); from Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”

This edition of Leftovers reads more like an NFL injury report, but rumors were flying yesterday that Led Zeppelin would cancel their upcoming reunion gig. So we were a bit

As the title of this post implies, this one’s all over the board — another theme-less, seamless bundle of mismatched tunes from the home hard drive. It’s got everything except the tie that binds: jazz, funk, soul, roots, bluegrass, folk and even a splash of punkish pop. The first track comes straight from the newly released Harlem Experiment, the third volume from Ropeadope‘s acclaimed “Experiment” series. We’ll provide a quick taste, but the album really is a must-buy.

• It’s Just Begun: The Harlem Experiment — The Harlem Experiment
• Caledonia: Rick Danko & Levon Helm — 1/28/83 Portland, OR
• Jealous Guy: Donnie Hathaway — Donnie Hathaway Live
• Frankenstein: Marcus Miller — Silver Rain
• Cold Rain & Snow: Peter Rowan & Tony Rice — Quartet
• Roads: Reid Genauer — 7/6/02 Gathering of the Vibes
• Teddy Picker: Arctic Monkeys — Favourite Worst Nightmare

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY MIX TAPE