As my friend put it,” What a great city we live in! We just saw an amazing show that was as good as a concert anywhere else, for 12 bucks!”

I concur. 

I thought the Middle East Downstairs was surprisingly atmospheric and, well, hip! It had columns, stained glass windows, good lighting, and a floor reminiscent of a roller-derby or jitterbug days. It has a lived in, well-worn sort of feel that makes you want to relax, have a PBR, and get into the music, maybe while dressed in plaid or something from American Apparel. It helped that it was packed with hipsters, art-school types, and young, creative people with outfits and haircuts I will probably be trying to emulate in days to come.  The acoustics were good, though not great. Once it was packed with people it  was better, but some of the less experienced bands, who don’t realize how important sound adjustments are to their sound (duh) just crank up the volume so that even if you screamed someone a foot away still couldn’t hear you ( I tried it). 

The music itself was great though–a really good show. I would definitely go again. Though next I will be hitting up the Middle East Upstairs, which is not in fact, the Middle East itself, where there is always music inside the picture window, and it is not above the Middle East,  but is down two doors at the other Middle East and at the back by the bathrooms and up the stairs above Zuzu…why they don’t just give the places completely different names is beyond me, but then, that might kill the eclectic treasure-hunt quality of establishments that Boston has refined so well….

photo credit: Mean Creek at the Middle East. www.jessicahutfless.com

The Lloyd Family Players. Photo courtesy of bos_lauren.

This weekend in Davis Square…I know, I’m biased…was the 3rd Annual Honk! Festival. Basically a ton of bands from all over the country turned the Square into a horn and percussion music festival. They are protest, grassroots, political bands who make people shake and stomp and clap as a form of protest, thus hopefully serving as a catalyst for change.

I happened upon this festival last year. I had been living in Somerville for all of two months and when I saw this transformation of Davis Square, I knew I had picked the perfect neighborhood to live. This year, I’m living even closer and so I had to stop by. This time I brought friends and now even more people are hooked. We walked up and down the street, letting the music draw us in. We danced with strangers and did some people watching for the ages. There are some serious characters that come out for this. Next year, I promise to give you a heads up, but reserve Columbus Day weekend 2009 now.

Cameos in order of appearance:

Ben Affleck
Joan Jett
Robin Williams
Don Cheadle
Cleto
Pete Wentz
Dominic Monaghan
Perry Farrell
Macy Gray
Benji and Joel Madden
Lance Bass
Cameron Diaz
Huey Lewis
Josh Groban
McLovin!
Meatloaf
Dicky Barrett
Harrison Ford
Christina Applegate
Rebecca Romijn

The construction will continue and the new venue will open with the House of Blues name.

A couple of interesting (to me at least) things here:

1) The House of Blues in Cambridge closed years ago due to lack of a crowd from what I recall. Funny that they would buy a new property here (even if it is one that will have somewhat of a built in crowd)
2) I read not too long ago that The Lyons Group was selling the Paradise. Are they getting out of the nightclub business all together? Are they going restaurant only or are they moving to something else completely?

Well, last week the band was out in LA for the NAMM conference out in LA and had a show. Here’s a glimpse of what’s to come in 2008 (and ignore the first 1:30 or so of intro junk):

Luckily, Boston’s music lovers get to see one last show. This show will be held at The Middle East Downstairs on Saturday, February 2, 2008.

Opening up for them will be Aloud, Harris, and Baker.

So, come out and enjoy the last show from a great Boston band!

(And if you can’t wait until February 2nd, Brendan Boogie Band featuring many of the members of Scamper will be playing Hennessey’s Upstairs on February 16th!)

I saw Rose Hill Drive last time they played Hennessey’s and they rocked. They are a classic rock band and they rock out real hard. It felt like seeing Led Zeppelin in a small club. Just remember to bring your ear plugs :)