Show Worthy 5/4-5/10

Animal Hospital via
Tuesday, May 5
Brian S. Ellis, Paul G. Maziar, Animal Hospital, Greg Mullen at Church (FREEEEEEE, 8:00 21+)
This is the second night of The Whitehaus putting on a free show at Church. Last one was that Hunted Creatures/Ophibre/Nature/Peace, Loving show and it was AMAZING. This one seems to be just as promising with some really great bands. Just an FYI, Prince Rama was originally billed but had to cut out at the last minute and was replaced with Animal Hospital. AH just dropped the fucking ridiculously amazing Memory and he puts on an awesome show. And it's free. So you should go.




Thursday, May 7
Twin Crystals, Modern Creatures, Prince Rama Of Ayodhya, Quilt at Gay Gardens (FREEEEEEEEEish, 8:00, all ages)
More Prince Rama? Yes. This one goes down at Gay Gardens in Allston, and there are "mandatory donations" for all shows there. If you wanna be a dick about it, you could "donate" the spare change in your pocket but they have every right to turn you away. You should probably support the good people that are performing for you as well as those at Gay Gardens and you can do so by dropping some cash at the door or at the merch table. Especially because both Twin Crystals and Modern Creatures are on tour from Vancouver. So go have fun and be nice.




Friday, May 8
Multimedia Circus at The Armory ($10, 7:00, all ages)
Voidstar Productions and Arts At The Armory are putting on one helluva show. The Boston Typewriter Orchestra, DJ Darryl Hell, Bill T Miller's Orgy Of Noise, Nau-Zee-Aun, Empire SNAFU, Eliza Blaze & David Pendu, The Vomit Arsonist, Mike D & The 3:2 Percussion Ensemble, November 14 and more. "Aerialists, turntablists, circuit benders, 3D video, performance art, mixed media, experimental music, invented and found instruments, and more will fill this 3.5 hour long non-stop show." All for 10 bucks? Who are you kidding, there's nothing else going on Friday that's going to be cheaper or more fun than this. Except maybe.....




Friday, May 8
Sway, Yankee Blue Jeans, Mikey French Fries, The Tin Thistles at Plough & Stars (FREE-$6, 9:00, 21+)
Upbeat, charming, alt country stuff to stomp your feet to. Sway is probably the best indiecountryfolk band ever and if you haven't seen them live yet, now's the time. Also, Wicked Whiskey may or may not be playing this show.



Eli Keszler & Ashley Paul at Studio Soto via
Sunday, May 10
Keith Fullerton Whitman & Geoff Mullen, Eli Keszler & Ashley Paul, Double Awake at Great Scott ($8, 9:00, 18+)
OH. SHIT. Can't believe this is happening. Not only are percussionist extraordinaire Keszler & Paul the sax beast joining forces again but the noisedrone masters KFW and Mullen are doing another one of their super rare live collabs. I saw them play together at PA's Lounge a few years back and I left with my mind melted. And Double Awake is opening? FUCK. This is NOT to be missed.

Sway - Rock Bottom

Sway - Blackberries


Just like most other types of music I listen to, I'm pretty picky when it comes to country (or alt country or no depression or whatever else you wanna call it). In fact, I don't like much country at all and if I do, it usually has an old-timey feeling to it or is influenced by folk as well. Occasionally, though, a band comes along and changes the way you think about a particular genre. Sway did that for me, spun me around and made actually like country music. Well, at least made me like their country music.

Rock Bottom is Sway's second release, the first being the double disc Music Forever. Truth be told, I'm more a fan of their debut album, but Rock Bottom still has plenty to love. Plus, it has a raccoon on the cover. How can you not like that?

Sway is a trio consisting of Catie-Rae, Lillie, and Chris and while they all share vocal duties, it's Catie-Rae that is in the forefront. With good reason, too, as she has a wonderfully unique voice that immediately pulls you in upon first hearing Sway. It's easy going and charming, a perfect match for the music. With guitars, mandolins, banjos, and light percussion, everything just flows nicely and is super catchy. They're the sort of songs that you find yourself singing along to, not even realizing you knew the words. Soon enough, they'll be stuck in your head (especially "Leigh Cheri" and "Hated") and you'll be singing them everywhere you go. People will be asking, "What song are you singing?" And you'll be able to tell them, "Oh, it's just some little country band from Boston called Sway." And then you can feel all cool and stuff, because everyone is always trying to find awesome bands nobody has heard of.

On it's own, Rock Bottom is fantastic. But my only issue with it is when I compare it to Sway's debut. It doesn't seem to have the same sort of magical feeling that Music Forever has (despite the cover art). No songs about moms or mermaids ("Mermaid" was one of my favorites from their debut) and gone are the little laughs found before and after some the songs. Also, Rock Bottom has much better production values (thanks to Chris), which I wasn't too into at first. It's probably not noticeable if Rock Bottom is the only record of theirs you've heard, but there was some grit to Music Forever that I really dug and I thought it fit Sway's sound very well. But upon many, many listens to Rock Bottom, I have grown to embrace the clean sounds and realize it's probably better for them to head in this direction.

Rock Bottom is self released (you can buy both of their albums on their MySpace page for $8 each) featuring awesome cover art from the unequaled Jeff Havens as well as photocopied inserts designed by Catie-Rae. I highly recommend both of their records, even if you're afraid of country music. I promise this will put a smile on your face, regardless of what type of music you listen to. Also, it should be noted, that I'm friends with these people but I assure you that I am capable of writing entirely unbiased reviews. For real.