Band In Boston

Mel and company dropped by and cranked out the perfect soundtrack to a freezing cold month. In one of his tunes, he promises to start writing happier songs, but for January in Boston, this is about as chipper as it gets! Song List: * After the Night is Through * Driving West * Amsterdam Day * Like the Ocean * Morning in Madrid * Codes * Laurel Mountains * Longfellow Bridge

According to this photo, Low Red Land have the ability to shift time and space. Which might be true. Their songs always take us on mystical voyage through the dustbowl midwest of our minds. Or something. They came in quite a while ago, so it was nice to do another session with our improved gear. Although they now call San Francisco home, they were in a Boston band at one time, but had the brains to move to a warmer climate. Last time they were here, we inadvertantly renamed Hawks Die to Hogstyle, which we hope sticks. Either way, we won’t make that mistake this time. Although we did ruin it by forgetting to shut off the ringers on the phone. Song List: * Hawks Die Hogstyle * Battles * Dog’s Hymn * Weight of Nations * That’s When I Reach For My Revolver (Mission of Burma) * Gunfighter’s Afternoon/The Duke * Queen Esther

Apollo Sunshine frontman Jesse Gallagher doesn’t stray away from a weird idea, whether it’s freeform-electronic-noise-something in the form of Electric Santa or pulling together an upright bass, violin, accordian, and trumpet (and a bit of drums at the end) and letting things flow.  And bringing a little class into the Flophouse with a Bach cover. Song List: * Air on the G String (J.S. Bach) * Molly (by Biff Rose) * Which Way is Home * When Will I Rise * Everyone

Usually, a Flophouse Session takes weeks or months of constant twiddling, tweaking, etc., just to make up for all the mistakes I made when we recorded it. Every once in a while, we get a band that’s just so crazy good (and good for the room) that it all comes together in a few passes, and I feel like Phil Spector (you know, pre-gun toting, afro wig-wearing).  Local Natives are just that kinda band. Hailing from the greater LA area, they brought along some of the finest three part harmonies and catchy melodies we’ve ever heard. I highly suggest you crank this one as loud as you can. Singing along is optional, but nearly involuntary. We can’t wait until they come back to Boston. Song List: * Airplanes * Only Son * World News * Who Knows, Who Cares? * Warning Sign (by The Talking Heads) * Camera Talk Local Natives website

We had Get Help in to do a session before they had ever even played a gig. And they did a fine job, thank you. Many months later, they returned with a new batch of tunes and some miles under their collective belt. I’d say they did an even better job this time. Song List: * Early Hours * Fall-in-Love-to-Song * Punishing Good Deeds * It Begins Well * (Not) Not a Friend (Sebadoh paraphrase) * Red Jacket Orchards * Sugarcube (Yo La Tengo cover)

Justin comes from the Woody Guthrie school of folk – catchy, emotionally charged, but with tongue planted in cheek enough to keep it from getting maudlin. Check him out at the Middle Easy (Upstairs) on January 30th.

Washington DC’s Middle Distance Runner came in as young tykes over a year ago. Check ’em out here and then make sure they’re on your to-do list down at SXSW this year!

With two direct decendents of the Boston Rock Royalty bloodline (yes, there are two Perry’s in the band), it might be more surprising if TAB wasn’t a great band. We forced them to quiet down a bit, and I think it worked out juuuuust fine.

Annie came in with our good pal Eric Wolfson and sang some mighty pretty songs.

Magic Magic’s album easily found its way onto our top 5 list of 2008. Their session will give you a hint as to why. Song List: * Squid Hunt * All I Know * French Song * * God Song * Over Your Heart * Dr. Claw * Washington or Bust

Here’s another one from the vaults. Ben and Alise came in with Reports and their relatively new endeavor Windy Smiles back near the end of ’07. Since then, they’ve gotten married and moved to Las Vegas. Which, in the middle of New England Winter, sounds like a truly brilliant plan.

The Faintest Ideas were our first visitors from across the pond – Sweden, to be exact. The latest we’ve heard is that they either broke up or went on hiatus right at the end of the tour, so this may be the last thing you hear from them for a while. Here’s to hoping they pick up the pieces. They fit 10 songs into just over 22 minutes – now THAT is efficiency!

Gotta go back to work tomorrow. My cleverness is sapped. Here’s a great band.

Reports always has something a little different up their sleeves. They decided to run the vocals through a delay pedal and guitar amp, just for giggles. I think it worked out.

Ayla and Davyd are a brother and sister from Oakland who share not only the letter Y in their names, but also a sense of songwriting and harmony that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Song List: * Hollow’s Cove * Up the Long Tracks * Mismanaged Skies * Swell and Still * How’s Your Dad? * Old River Beatbeat Website