TUES 12/15: Talk, Gin, Rock, Folk

I clicked on today's Google logo, so I'll say, "Bonan matenon!"

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TUES 12/15

7pm
Rock Shop #1: "Less Rock, More Talk"
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP / All Ages

One of these years, I'm going to fulfill my dream of going to SXSW to hear more live music than anyone should expect to hear in 4 days. If you're going in March, you'd do yourself a favor to go to "Rock Shop" tonight.

A panel of music-business vets like the Middle East's booking manager Kevin Hoskins and music marketing dudes Steve Theo of Pirate! Promotion and John Hammond of Musebox will likely give you tips on how to maximize your experience in music, networking, and extra-curriculars...

When you RSVP, you should probably email the name(s) of who will be attending.

TUES 12/15

9pm
Bulldog Gin Party
at District, 180 Lincoln St, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE w/ RSVP

It looks like they're still accepting RSVP's. On one hand, it's great to enjoy a few free drinks and apps. It's also a chance to try a new gin from England. On the other hand, this seems like a place that might not let me in if I'm wearing sneakers.

Do what you like, and don't worry about the potential emails you might get from Stuff Boston.

TUES 12/15

Lissy Trullie (11pm), Mike Bones (10pm), Xylos (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

I admit that I only started paying attention to Lissy Trullie after I saw that Johnny Marr (ex-Smiths/Modest Mouse) likes her stuff. Spin, Rolling Stone, Village Voice, etc have also given her positive coverage; but the Marr stamp of approval opened my ears. The eyes were easy, since she looks like a '60s model in a leather jacket, but the music does sound equally influenced by the Velvet Underground and modern indie-pop. She definitely has the coolness factor and a good batch of songs to be in many iPods for a long while.

All of the bands tonight make good music that pulls you in; any of these groups could be "the band" of the next year. Mike Bones is a fantastic songwriter with a lot of NYC indie-cred and straightforward style that lets the music grow on multiple listens. There's a possibility that Xylos may steal the night with breezy, quirky, uber-melodic indie-pop. Where the other bands paint with blacks and greys, this quintet is using the bright and vivd crayons in the box.

TUES 12/15

9pm
The Big Disappointments, Woman, The Thalia Zedek Band, First Child
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$7 / 21+

If the above show is comprised of bands that are offer an easy entry into the music, most of this bands challenge you and dare you. There is plenty of reasons to dive in, but it's a different approach than other the bands at TT's tonight.

The Big Disappointments do a scuzzy blend of bouncy post-punk riffage and rockabillyish reverb. This is the kind of rock where you can hear the intelligence in the music in music & lyrics, but they don't lose any ferocity. Their CD was produced by Thalia Zedek, a strong presence on the music scene for a long time. Years after Come and other bands, she maintains an intensity yet usually in a quieter mode that reminds me of Nick Cave et al. Woman brings their noisey-rock attack from NYC.

TUES 12/15

Audrey Ryan (10pm), Danielle Miraglia (8pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE / 21+

[For expedience, I'm pasting from last week.]

Both shows at Toad get thumbs up. Danielle Miraglia sings with a sultry, soulful voice and has got some sweet fingerpicking guitar chops. Her songs are often meaningful stories chock full of emotion.

As for Audrey Ryan, I have to borrow extra thumbs to stick in the air. There are a lot of great musical acts around town, but I put her in the top echelon for having the talent and vision to do something really special. Just like on her new CD, she'll probably play multiple instruments while setting her songs into the air to dance around your ears.