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CHUCK TAYLOR: BE MY BOYFRIEND.

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When Converse sent us an invitation for a walk-through of their new flagship digs on Newbury Street, Taylor [No relation!!!--Ed] and I jumped at the opportunity. We’re big Chuck Taylor fans, you see. I got my first pair in the second grade, a silver lamé sneaker that I held onto until the soles were worn through in the heel and the big toe and they stank like nobody’s business. (Even then, I begged and pleaded that my mom refrain from throwing them out. I was a… normal child.) Taylor wore her favorites to our Converse appointment, which had a delicate floral print, and the lived-in sneakers were majorly ripping at the eyelets. So yeah, guys, we really love our Chucks, okay? Full disclosure there.

Upon arriving at 348 Newbury the day before the store’s grand opening, Taylor and I were met with much, much more than the canvas high-top and rubber toe that everyone and their mother owns some rendition of. Converse opted to open their first official U.S. retail headquarters on Newbury Street in Boston, as opposed to the Strip of L.A. or New York’s SoHo, and there’s a reason for that: The global athletic enterprise is interested in kicking it local while getting back to its roots in their state of origin. (History lesson: Converse started up operations 102 years ago in Malden.) To celebrate the new launch, Converse has conceived of and created a line of sneakers, clothes and outerwear available only to visitors of the Newbury Street flagship store. Here, you’ve got Chucks tattooed with original artwork that throws back to Boston’s neighborhoods (pictured above left – though I have no connection to Allston Rock City, I think that the Allston artwork is fantastic), and other shoes paying tribute to Boston’s athletic history (like the limited edition kicks that either play upon or are inspired by vintage Celtics gear.) Taylor and I couldn’t stop picking up the t-shirts and shoes, but that wasn’t our favorite part of the visit – our favorite aspect of the new Converse shop involves making custom Chucks of your own, and this just about made our week.

Upstairs at the new Converse store they have a fully outfitted print shop that enables you to design your own Chucks, from the color to the print to the graphics to the laces that come in a stupid amount of colors. The station is also tricked out with iPads featuring the gazillion images you can have plastered on your new Chucks, and nearly all of them are customizable. Taylor likes sea creatures, so she opted for an octopus with matching teal laces, while I went with some music nerd-y options like an unfurled cassette tape and a record. (The label says “H!LMONSTAH”. I’m a dork. I know.) We were nervous about the price tag for the creative gear, and were shocked when told that, max, these guys top out at $70 with all the bells and whistles. SOLD.

So, needless to say, we’re huge fans, of both the new clothes adorning the shelves of the shop and the unbelievable efforts they’ve gone to make sure that shoppers have a unique, local-loving and completely personal Converse experience. (And given that we’re not interested in breaking the bank on clothes or shoes, we’re big fans of the price tags, too.) Long story short: The Dig approves of Converse’s local love, and we think you’ll approve, too, especially if you’re as cuckoo for Chucks as the two of us are.


BOSTON TO AUSTIN: WE’RE GOING TO SXSW!

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When I’m jumping-outta-my-skin excited about something it’s really hard for me to keep a secret under wraps.  So! FINALLY, without further ado, on behalf of Converse and all your crazy amigos here at Dig Publishing, I’m thrilled to announce that we’re bringing you Boston to Austin: The Official Boston SXSW Day Party on Thursday, March 17 at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.

When we met the fine folks at Converse back in October, we were blown away by their local initiatives and their desire to further immerse themselves in the Boston music scene. After putting our heads together and coming up with a lineup of some of our absolute favorite Boston bands who’ve contributed beautifully to the cultivation of the Boston sound, we’ve snagged a rooftop stage right on 6th Street, set the date, booked our flights and figured out set times. We’re a month out, and we can’t wait.

(Oh. I should probably mention that this Boston party is taking place on St. Patrick’s Day.  Seems only fitting that we’ll be throwing a six-hour music marathon on the holiday that defines our city’s penchant for partying, right?)

Before the bands (listed below) pack up their respective vans and head south to SXSW, we’ll be celebrating at the Brighton Music Hall on Sunday, February 27, with most of our Boston to Austin billing acts. More info for that shindig will come later, but in the meantime, save the date — especially if you won’t be joining us at SXSW this year.

Anyways, from the official press release, here’s the official event info and the stellar Boston to Austin lineup:

BOSTON TO AUSTIN:
THE OFFICIAL SXSW BOSTON MUSIC DAY PARTY

PRESENTED BY CONVERSE AND DIGBOSTON.COM

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 2011
12pm-6pm

The 512 – 408 E. 6th Street – Austin, TX

FEATURING THE UP-AND-COMING BOSTONIAN TALENTS OF

VIVA VIVADIRTY DISHES BODEGA GIRLS
MYSTERY ROARMEAN CREEK
KINGSLEY FLOOD
STATIC OF THE GODS
BANDITAS ENDLESS WAVE
and DJ DIE YOUNG

Thanks, Boston music nuts, and we’ll see you at SXSW!

For press inquiries, interviews and additional information regarding Boston to Austin and DigBoston.com, please contact Hilary Hughes at hilary@digpublishing.com

FOTOBOM: BOSTON TO AUSTIN – THE BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL PREVIEW

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There are plenty of Boston music fans who, unfortunately, can’t make it to Austin for SXSW this year. So what’d we do? We decided to throw the same damn party twice, because we want as many people to experience Boston to Austin at SXSW as possible, location aside. JustBill was up front and center and FOTOBOMd Banditas, Static of the Gods, Dirty Dishes, Endless Wave, Kingsley Flood, Mean Creek, Mystery Roar and Viva Viva SX-style.

TEASER: THE BOSTON TO AUSTIN TRAILER

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Yeah, I’ll admit it. I watched this once and started tearing up at my desk. Boston to Austin was incredible and our friends at Converse got it allllll on tape, so check out this teaser trailer and get ready for the onslaught of awesome coming at you this week.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TiMelwjlac

BOSTON TO AUSTIN: THE OFFICIAL VIDEO

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Not only do we have the official video of Boston to Austin, our Boston music day party at SXSW 2011. This video from our friends at Converse also features Kingsley Flood‘s latest recorded track, “I Don’t Wanna Go Home.” Consider this a Kingsley Flood world premiere and one of the most rocking videos you’ve ever seen allllllll rolled into one.

BAR HAVOC: GET NAILED

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I’m not going to lie, as well versed as I think I am with the liquors of the world, I honestly did not have any opinion whatsoever about Drambuie. All I knew about Drambuie was that the last time it was actually enjoyed was sometime in the early 1900’s in Scotland. Currently, only one of my bars even carries it, and the bottle was so dusty and with such an old cracked label that

I seriously thought that it had more of a home on Antiques Roadshow than next to the Stoli Blueberry.

Either way, the flyer I held in my hand was slightly intriguing-- I had been to a million liquor events, but never one like this.


“Nail or Fail” played on the (once) popular cocktail the Rusty Nail, made with Drambuie and scotch, and a few area bartenders had been invited out for a taste test and some tasty eats at none other than the Newbury Street Converse shoe store. My eyes wandered down to the bottom of the flyer and something glorious caught my eye: Just for attending we all got to pick a pair of Chuck Taylor’s and customize them… for free. Shoes and Booze? Sold.

Drambuie, I don’t care where you’ve been for the past 100 years. You know the way to a girl’s heart-- welcome back.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b8VLbvo4cA

The liquor itself reminded me a bit of a sweeter Jagermiester. I’m not the biggest fan of syrupy brown things, but

Drambuie wasn’t so bad. It reminded me of tea with whiskey and honey: herbal, sweet but not too much so, a bit spicy even.

I sipped my first cocktail with trepidation, but I was actually quite pleased with the result. I could have more than a few of these. (Let’s be honest, the event was open bar, of course I was having more than a few.) The store was closed to the public and set up like a fancy house party. Girls walked around with Drambuie cocktails and bartenders mixed us up a few choice selections to sip while we browsed the shoes (rusty nails with Dewars, Drambuie and lemonade and iced tea, Drambouie and soda water with muddled lime).


My friend and I held our breath as we waited to see if the shoes we wanted came in our size… people with big feet don’t often get much of an in-store selection, but as I clutched my odd Drambuie drink and nibbled on a tiny salmon and caper sandwich, the clerk returned triumphant. Size sixteen for him, and size eleven for me. I honestly don’t remember the last time anything I wanted in a shoe store came in my size, and now

I was the proud new owner of a purple pair of Chucks with “@BarHavoc” printed on the side.

The night ended perfectly, with Converse and Drambuie sending us off towards Boylston Street half in the bag and clutching our new kicks. I felt like a little kid. Well…. a little kid drunk off Drambuie and shoes.

GET READY FOR BOSTON, AUSTIN: WE’RE GOING (BACK) TO SXSW

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Hey, remember that time we threw the Official Boston Music day party at South by Southwest with our friends at Converse? And we all danced our faces off on a sun-drenched rooftop on 6th Street, and nine incredible Boston bands came together across all walks of genre, and I fell in love with Carmen O’Connor‘s face paint for the 912th time?

Yeah. We’re gonna do the whole shebang again this year, except we’re going BIGGER.

By bigger, I mean 10 bands, 4 DJs, Saturday afternoon (on St. Paddy’s Day, no less), 2 stages, longer set times and a combination of players that’ll lead to some of the most unlikely, unrepeatable and untoppable moments in Boston music in 2012. So, who are these lucky folks who’ll be headlining the big show this year?

We’re not telling. You gotta come see for yourself at Great Scott on Wednesday, 2.8.12.

The official SXSW launch shindig will be taking place then, and what better way to celebrate than to start the whole shebang off with a few surprises? We’ll be announcing the lineup at the show, and the Boston to Austin bands will be taking the stage over the course of the evening.

So that’s all, folks, until 2.8.12. Stay tuned to our Facebook, Twitter and the Daily Dig for ticket giveaways and clues as to who the headliners are. And in the meantime, head over to the Converse store at 348 Newbury St. and grab some free tickets while they last. Only 100 will be given away, so book it to Chuck Taylor HQ after Friday if you’d rather spend the $5 cover on beer. And if last year’s photos are any indication …

 

 

Trust us. You want in on Boston to Austin.

#BOS2AUS: THE LINEUP

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I knew that I said we’d wait until tonight to release the Boston to Austin lineup, but I’m impatient and excited, so HERE WE GO. I didn’t think it was possible to top last year’s lineup, which included Bodega Girls, Mystery Roar, Kingsley Flood, Viva Viva, Mean Creek, Dirty Dishes, Banditas, Static of the Gods and Endless Wave. We somehow squeezed ALL 9 BANDS onto a rooftop in Austin for an unforgettable afternoon, the party received some national accolades and when it was all over we took a look at our buddies at Converse and said multiple times that we had to do this again.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=05aJYkpfNeE

We’re not sticking to the roof this year. We have two stages. We have DJs. And we’re still the Boston Music Day Party in Austin on St. Patrick’s Day, so if you’ll be down there I think we can both agree I’ve made your plans for you.

Without further ado, the Boston to Austin Bands of 2012:

ALOUD -- AUNT MARTHA
BAD RABBITS
-- CAMDEN -- GREY SKY APPEAL
LAKE STREET DIVE
-- MOE POPE & QUILLS -- OLDJACK
PRETTY & NICE
-- THE WANDAS
and YOU CAN BE A WESLEY

Also featuring WHEEZ-IE, PRISM, DJ KNIFE and FENS as presented by our friends over at MMMMaven.

We’re thrilled to kick the whole shebang off tonight at Great Scott, and HEY -- THERE ARE STILL A FEW TICKETS AT THE CONVERSE STORE AT 348 NEWBURY. Not a whole lot, so go fast if you want to get in tonight for free.

Will all of the bands be playing tonight?

[Mwahahahaha--Ed.] I’d tell you, but then it takes the fun out of the super secret announcement-at-the-venue ploy I’ve planned. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed as the first band goes on at 9 and we’ll be there until Carl has to trick me into leaving Great Scott by promising me a Quarter Pounder with Cheese from across the street and then shutting the door behind me.

Questions? Comments? Email hilary@digpublishing.com, or leave us a note below. Otherwise, get some earplugs and lace up your Chucks, because we want to see you out tonight.


SXSW 2012 DAY 4: BOSTON TO AUSTIN DECIMATES 6TH STREET

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Here’s the #BOS2AUS crew–Aloud, Aunt Martha, Bad Rabbits, Camden, Grey Sky Appeal, Lake Street Dive, Moe Pope & Quills, Oldjack, Pretty & Nice, The Wandas, You Can Be A Wesley and DJs Fens, Knife, Prism and Wheez-ie–by the numbers from the absolutely bonkers show they played at South By Southwest on St. Patrick’s Day.

-1 ripped open index finger (belonging to Jen de la Osa of Aloud)
-1 potentially broken ankle (belonging to Dua Boakye of Bad Rabbits)
-1 crowdsurfing Bad Rabbit (as demonstrated by Salim Akram)
-Approx. 250 broken hearts (as perpetrated by Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive and that velvet voice o’ hers)
-4 Tour Beards (See: The Wandas)
-4 Tour Pros (See: The Wandas)
-1 xylophone (utilized by Aunt Martha)
-1 Megaphone (blasted by Moe Pope)
-1 t-shirt of Moe Pope’s face (as worn by Dan Nicklin of Oldjack)
-1 of the best Guitargasm faces I’ve ever seen (as demonstrated by Jeremy of Pretty & Nice, below)

-1 bout of dedicated head-banging (provided by Saara Untracht-Oakner of You Can Be A Wesley, below)


-5 fierce rhyme-spitters (as divided between Grey Sky Appeal and Moe Pope and Christopher Talken of Quills)
-3 Gorgeous Jackettes (as evident by vocal prowess demonstrated throughout Oldjack’s set)
-1 Hawaiian shirt (see: Camden)
-4 smiley rock kids (see: Camden)
-15 25-30 minute sets of the best music Boston has to offer spanning all genres, neighborhoods
-9,837,256 pints of Guinness, shots of Bailey’s and gulps of Jameson. It was St. Paddy’s Day, after all.

Don’t believe me? Check the photos. Mike Basu and Jess Hodge have outdone themselves.

 

DIG THIS: CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS PRESENTS: CURREN$Y @ THE SINCLAIR

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Legend has it that every year on April 20th, chilled-out rapper Curren$y plays a concert in New Orleans worthy of epic poems. It’s a party of excess bordering on Gatsbyesque, but instead of wasted on rotgut gin, the patrons are all completely stogna bologna.

Like, incoherently.

Lucky for the denizens of Cambridge and beyond, Converse Rubber Tracks Live is bringing Curren$y and his party-drenched bacchanal to the Sinclair tomorrow night. The creative force behind the stellar (and admirably-titled, though I’m a sucker for puns) album Weekend at Burnie’s brings a certain sort of energy with him everywhere he goes, so it’d be in your best interest to know which convenience stores can sell you a thing of Funyuns long into the wee hours of Saturday morning.

As if the deal needed sweetening, filling out the bill are The Perceptionsts (MC Akrobatik + Mr. Lif), Statik Selektah with Sean Price & Termanology, Moe Pope & Rain, and Grey Sky Appeal. The Sinclair runneth over with acts on this one ticket, which is surprisingly not sold out yet. (Hint hint.)

And if you’re still not sold, just marinate in the smug satisfaction that comes with charity. All proceeds from the show go directly to One Fund Boston.

Now that’s some Curren$y we don’t mind spending.

[Fri 5.24.13. 52 Church St., Cambridge.  8pm/18+/$10. @CurrenSy_Spitta. sinclaircambridge.com]



DIG THIS: CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS LIVE @ THE SINCLAIR: METZ + THE MEN, DESERT SHARKS

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It’s pretty crazy how big and influential METZ has gotten since their inception a few years ago. The Canadian threesome got on the coveted trajectory of basement entertainers to Sub Pop signees, all while retaining their indie status (we’ve talked to a bunch of bands who count METZ among their favorites). They’re coming back to Boston for the first time in a while, this time as headliner at The Sinclair, where they’ll be joined by The Men and Desert Sharks on Thursday, July 25.

You know what else is crazy? That show’s free, yo!

You read right, homie. Converse is bringing METZ and friends to the stage as a part of Rubber Tracks Live, and you get to reap the benefits. And miraculously, when last we checked, there were still some tickets available. There won’t be for much longer though, so get on it.

Do you hear that sound?

It’s the rumble of your Thursday night going from decent to HELLA EPIC at the low, low price of zero dollars.

You know we’ll attend anything with high-energy, melodic, fuzz-punk, so we’ll see you there. We’ll be the ones attempting to crowd-surf.



CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS LIVE PRESENTS:

METZ W/ THE MEN, DESERT SHARKS

THURSDAY 7.25.13
THE SINCLAIR
52 CHURCH ST.,
CAMBRIDGE
9PM/18+/FREE
@METZTHEBAND
SINCLAIRCAMBRIDGE.COM




ORCHARD SKATESHOP

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Boston’s beloved skate mecca makes a move downtown 

Photo credit: Eileen Clynes

The owners of Orchard Skateshop in Allston are getting their big boy pants on.

Or at least, that’s how co-owner Armin Bachman describes the opening of their second store on Newbury Street. “We’re pretty psyched about the opportunity,” he said.

“Newbury Street, it’s big time. We’re trying to come out swinging.”

It seems unlikely that they won’t. Bachman appears pretty chill for someone who owns a successful business that’s opening a second location, started and now runs a skateboard advocacy charitable organization, and teaches skate lessons to “a little homie.” Any questions I asked about difficulties they were facing were met by a simple shrug, an acknowledgment that there had been bumps, but for the most part it had been smooth sailing. Or skating, rather.

We spoke in the store’s upstairs Extension Gallery, and on my way to the stairs, behind colorful displays of skateboarding clothing, shoes, and boards, I passed the indoor mini-ramp.

Orchard not only supplies skating gear, but is a huge part of Boston’s skating culture.

The store in Allston is Orchard’s second location. The original, smaller Orchard Skate Shop was started in 2006 by Jon Devoe and Broderick Gumpright in Mission Hill. A few years later, Matt Bagley and Bachman joined the team. After five years of rocketing popularity they needed a bigger space, relocated to Allston, and in their first year there, Orchard was awarded the neighborhood’s Best Business by Boston Main Streets.

As a skateboard specialty store they carry everything from popular, sought after brands like Nike SB and Converse, to lesser known brands like Quiet Life. While Zumiez has a selection of skate shoes from, say, Nike, that’s only about 30 percent of Nike’s selection, estimates Bachman. Orchard gets access to it all.

Bachman has been skating since he was 13 and remembers picking up Thrasher Magazine in 1996 when Boston was declared the best city to skate. Now, he takes owning a Boston business to heart.

“I have a lot of pride for what we do and just am really honored to be able to represent the Boston skate scene,” he said.

But despite this, the city is lacking in public places to skate. The mini-ramp in their store has been part of the solution, and Bachman and his co-owners started the charitable organization Extension Inc. to further their outreach into the community. Projects include skateboard donations, park DIY renovation projects, and advocacy, which they focused on Brookline.

With the help of local parents, they presented plans for small skate parks, known as dots, to Brookine’s Parks and Recreation Department.

“We’re looking for them to understand the need and realize that there are more kids skateboarding than playing little league nationwide. It’s been the fastest growing activity over the past 20 years,” Bachman said.

The Brookline Parks and Recreation Department has already approved a skate dot, a small skate park, be included in the renovations of Waldstein Park. It’s toward the bottom of the priority list, but Bachman is already working on ways to raise money so it doesn’t get left behind.

And then, there’s that second store.

Although there won’t be a half-pipe in their Newbury location (they need more room for merchandise) Armin said the Newbury store will be a continuation of the Orchard vibe. Even the process of renovating the store has been largely community based. The front sign is the work of Best Dressed Signs, and the space itself designed by Boston’s !nd!v!duals Collective. They are creating what Armin calls the “environment of the store.”

“Anyone who comes by is going to come in and be interested in the experience,” he said. “The store itself is going to be an experience.”

And the experience will be as eclectic as the community it will serve.

“A skateboarder is a certain unique person, but it’s not one type of individual. There are different music tastes, personal fashion sense—lack of fashion sense. It takes all types,” Armin said.

“Everything we do is for skateboarding.”

ORCHARD SKATESHOP. 297 NEWBURY ST., BOSTON. 156 HARVARD AVE., ALLSTON. @ORCHARDSHOP. ORCHARDSHOP.COM.



DIG THIS: CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS LIVE @ THE SINCLAIR: TANLINES, SMALL BLACK, EARTHQUAKE PARTY!

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Brooklyn duo Tanlines has come a long way since forming in 2008. From remixing songs for bands like Au Revoir Simone and The Tough Alliance to releasing two EPs along with debut album Mixed Emotions (which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard album charts last year), Tanlines is leaving their mark–so to speak–all over the indie pop scene.

Now the duo, comprised of Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm, will bring their experimental sound back to Boston as they headline their own show at The Sinclair on Tuesday, October 29. They will be  joined by Brooklyn-based chillwave band, Small Black, and local indie pop favorites earthquake party! as part of Converse‘s Rubber Tracks Live concert series. Also, it’s free!

Oh, should we have led with that? Sorry. But, yes, it’s FREE.

Just RSVP through Ticketmaster to ensure your entry and you’re golden! From the elbows down, at least. Reference.

Tickets are still available. But all good things must come to an end – and also, we just snagged like a million tickets for ourselves because free – so hurry up and grab your tickets before they’re gone.

And we’ll see you there!

CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS LIVE PRESENTS:
TANLINES W/ SMALL BLACK, EARTHQUAKE PARTY!

TUESDAY 10.29.13
THE SINCLAIR
52 CHURCH ST.,
CAMBRIDGE
8PM/18+/SOLD OUT
@TANLINES
SINCLAIRCAMBRIDGE.COM


FOTOBOM: EARTHQUAKE PARTY! @ CONVERSE [PHOTOS]

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Earthquake Party! invaded the Converse store on Newbury Street on October 24th to perform a free punch-packed set as Allston’s finest noise pop band. Their perfectly angst-sprinkled lyrics combined with bursting energy make them as entertaining as being 18-years-old at your first basement show. You can catch them opening for Small Black and Tanlines this coming Tuesday night at the Sinclair at Converse Rubber Track’s FREE show, but for now you should revel in this shoe and blonde-filled …

FOTOBOM!!

PEER REVIEW: CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS LIVE W/ TANLINES, SMALL BLACK, EARTHQUAKE PARTY! @ THE SINCLAIR

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Photos by Dalton Patton | @DALTGETDOWN

I’m going to be honest, when I got to The Sinclair last night to see Tanlines, I was worried that I wouldn’t make it through the whole show due to a stubborn cold. I was saved from calling it an early night by a helpful bartender who was kind enough to prescribe me a double shot of whiskey. And just like that, I was back in the game–and thank god! Because anybody who missed this show last night missed out on one hell of a dance party.

Opening for Tanlines was local favorite earthquake party!, a garage rock trio that played at such a deafening height that I couldn’t even yell at my friends to tell them how awesome they were. But considering we were all bouncing around, spilling our beer (and hoping nobody saw that) I think we were all on the same page. The set was bursting with energy from the beginning with all the early-birds shaking off the Cambridge chill. The bartender behind us had given up taking drink orders; nobody was listening–nobody could–I mean, they were really fucking loud, guys.

The trio’s sound is noisy rock meets post-anarcho-punk. Playing songs from both their 2011 debut album vs. Pizza  as well as from their latest release, 2012′s Let’s Rock, Okay?, earthquake party! was a perfect fusion of heavy guitar riffs, raw vocals, and blonde hair. They finished their set with “Stephanie Says” by The Velvet Underground in honor of the recently deceased rock pioneer, Lou Reed. “This song is for a friend,” said Justin Lally, strumming the opening chords and bringing the audience into a smooth cool-down from the power punk played earlier. The song lingered on like an aftershock long after earthquake party! cleared the stage, a musical sendoff to a beloved music legend.

Brooklyn-based chillwave band, Small Black, was next up. Like the Thor to earthquake party!’s Loki, they were the polar opposites of their punk rock precursors, all lo-fi synths and keys. Also, they were dressed very neatly: button-down shirts and fitted jeans. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person in the crowd who thought, “Damn, I need to get my shit together.”

Small Black got the short end of the stick last night, forced to follow a band whose sound in no way resembled their own and open for a band that had stylistically perfected their genre. They met the challenge head-on, though, starting the night off with dizzying beats and dreamy vocals that finally got some of the bar stragglers to get on the floor. The first part of Small Black’s set was a mixture of songs off their latest album Limits of Desire and their 2010 Small Black EP. The latter half of their set had a few songs from their debut album, New Chain. The band has always been a fan of spiraling synth over light, scratchy electro melodies; the progression of their sound since their formation in 2009 has been minimal. Though, in their case, that’s not a bad thing. Small Black exists in a world of new-wave electrofunk, a place where flirty vocals slide over a sweet, chewy synth-pop-y center.

And then it was Tanlines. At this point, I’m buzzing from the double shot of whiskey followed by something called a Rusty Nail, and I just want to get in a circle around all of our handbags and just dance. The women who’ve had too many beers rush off in between sets to lose themselves in a line by the bathroom which means I’ve scored an excellent spot right up against the stage. Everyone is kicking dead soldiers around, clearing the area for the dance party that’s about to go down.

And, boy, did it. Tanlines is an experimental pop dream come true. The kind of sound that would be welcomed as the soundtrack to any ’80s Brat Pack film. Also, that movie Drive. Performing songs from 2012 release Mixed Emotions, the Brooklyn duo had the crowd dancing like nobody was watching.

The audience was a sea of blurry hair capes and flailing arms as the hazy-synth and wirey beats drew us all closer to the stage. We were all over the place; bumping into each other as we rode the soundwaves, the infectious dance beats, and the slowly amplifying synth that is signature of Tanlines. The afro-beat of “Cactus” had me doing my best interpretation of The Love Shack dance (as made famous by Stephanie Tanner) with one of my friends, who could barely keep the booze from spilling out of her cup. My other friend danced with a lovely-looking girl with raven hair who would approach him later than night to tell him he was an amazing dancer and he, in his haze, would say, “Woah, you’re British? You don’t dance like you have an accent!”

Having never seen Tanlines before, I am completely comfortable saying that last night was the perfect introduction to them. They tore the house down and then built it back up with the power of dance, joy, and more joy. I was hoping the house lights would never come up because that would mean going back out into the cold, where the world was a lot less dancey and a lot more Dayquil-y. But I would gladly sacrifice my immune system again to see Tanlines play. I mean, fuck vitality, am I right? All I need is Tanlines and a couple shots of whiskey and I’m good to go.

So, yeah, great show.

FOTOBOM!!



DIG THIS AWARDS 2013: GOODS & SERVICES

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ART SUPPLY
Blick Art Materials
Blick handles the supply side of the Boston art world, complete with everything from spray cans and glitter to a zillion kinds of collage paper and whatever else. Think Walmart with black-rimmed glasses and cool colors. An art supermarket with a soul.
[401 Park Dr., Boston, 617.247.3322, @Blick_Art, dickblick.com]

RUNNER UP: Artist & Craftsman Supply
[580 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617.354.3636, @ArtistCraftsman, artistcraftsman.com]

 

BARBERSHOP
Ball and Buck
Forget for just a second that this Back Bay gentleman’s mecca has a brilliant spread of dapper macho goodies. They also have a master barber on hand to chop, cut, shave, trim, or whatever else is needed to transform unkempt scruff into nonchalant masculine charm. It goes without saying, but ask for the hot towel.
[144 Newbury St., 617.262.1776, @BallandBuck, ballandbuck.com]

RUNNER UP: Floyd’s 99 Barbershop
[189 Mass Ave., 617.236.4838, @Floyds99, floydsbarbershop.com]

 

SALON
SHAG
There’s a reason SHAG is a favorite among young and daring salon-goers, and it’s not just the sexy name, or the fact that their outfit churns out adventurous ‘dos. Between the loud beats (it helps that owner Sandy Poirer is also a DJ), the stylists, and rockstar grooming atmosphere, it’s an ideal place to kick back, talk shit, and find out who’s screwing who around town.
[840 Summer St, 617.268.2500, @SHAGBOSTON, shagboston.com]

RUNNER UP: Judy Jetson
[1765 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617.354.2628, @judyjetsonsalon, judyjetson.com]

 

BIKE SHOP
Cambridge Bicycle Shop
One bike shop’s superiority over others is obviously based on the staff, and at Cambridge Bicycle, we’ve found people to be nicer than the hipster dicks at other pit stops. Expect affordable repairs and inventory alike, plus rentals, customs, and even competition frames for daredevils in tight outfits.
[259 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617.876.6555, cambridgebicycle.com]

RUNNER UP: Ferris Wheels
[66 South St., Jamaica Plain, 617.524.2453, @ferrisbikeshop, ferriswheelsbikeshop.com]

 

COMIC SHOP
Comicazi
When you’re an absolutely insane comic fiend or hooked on illustrated books in any way, it’s critical to have a dealer who can stroke your every fix. A heroically reliable spot for all kinds of comics in their many forms, Comicazi also features kitsch and other worthwhile distractions to irresponsibly explode your rent wad on.
[407 Highland Ave., Somerville, 617.666.2664, @Comicazi, comicazi.com]

RUNNER UP: New England Comics
[215B Harvard Ave., Allston, 617.566.3509, @NEcomics, newenglandcomics.com]

 

EYEWEAR
Spectacle Eyeware
In Boston, Paul Fox is to eyeglasses what Big Papi is to grand slams. Sure, designer shades are arguably less glamorous than baseball stardom, but Fox, formerly of Eye Q, has had one hell of a run at it, hooking up celebrities on local movie sets, and collaborating with designers from Boston and beyond.
[544 Tremont St., South End, 617.542.9600, spectacle-eyeware.com]

RUNNER UP: Eye Q Optical
[615 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617.983.3937, eye-q-optical.com]

 

GIFTS
Boutique Fabulous
Stop lying to yourself and everyone around you. You love Etsy and spend half of your free time spelunking for resin-molded Christmas decorations. This is basically analog Etsy, with surprises ranging from flexible drink coasters to bird decor straight out of Portlandia.
[1309 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617.864.0656, @BoutiqueFab, boutiquefabulous.com]

RUNNER UP: Magpie
[416 Highland Ave., Somerville, 617.623.3330, magpie-store.com]

 

JEWELRY
Persona Jewelry
Not everyone is dumb enough to think a classic diamond is a girl’s best friend. Some women have unique style, and those cop their bling at boutiques like Persona. They carry high-end engagement gifts, sure, but only in addition to a mesmerizing buffet of eclectic and affordable pieces from regional and local jewelry makers.
[504 Comm Ave., 617.266.3003, @PersonaElite, personastyle.com]

RUNNER UP: Fire Opal
[683 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617.524.0262, @fireopalboston, fire-opal.com]

 

HATS
Salmagundi
We remember when Salmagundi showed up by the Jamaica Plain monument with high hopes of becoming Boston’s leading hatter. They’ve far-surpassed those debut goals, now offering not only classic, modern, and athletic tops, but also scarves, gloves, and interesting gear galore. We hate to have to say it, but hats off to ‘em.
[765 Centre St., 617.522.5047, @Salmagundi, salmagundiboston.com]

RUNNER UP: Goorin Bros.
[130 Newbury St., 617.247.4287, @GoorinBros, goorin.com]

 

GYM
The Handle Bar
It’s easy to write off many of the nouveau ways to lose pounds as ridiculous fads. It’s far less easy to actually get your ass in shape. At The Handle Bar, though, their studio cycling approach to indoor exercise is fun enough to get and keep you motivated. Also, it’s less smelly than hot yoga, but not by very much.
[141 Dorchester Ave, 617.451.1270, @The_Handle_Bar, handlebarcycling.com]

RUNNER UP: Barry’s Boot Camp
[30 Chauncy St, 857.350.4019, @BarrysBootcamp, barrysbootcamp.com]

 

BOXING & MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
The Club by George Foreman III
Fresh on the block and already swinging hard, this modern update on a classic boxing gym–owned and operated by the Hub’s very own George Foreman–is quickly signing up a starter crop of 500 contenders. The place is gorgeous, plus built for both fitness and learning how to kick ass. Closefisted applause are in order.
[15 Channel Center St., everybodyfights.com]

RUNNER UP: Peter Welch’s Gym
[371-393 Dorchester Ave., 617.269.4641, peterwelchsgym.com]

Screen Shot 2013-11-12 at 8Photo credit: Larissa Burgess

YOGA
Blissful Monkey
There are the super cool kid yoga labs where everybody and their lover can see all of your business, and then there’s Blissful Monkey, a relaxing down-to-earth JP studio with privacy plus classes specializing in prenatal and other niche practices. Not to be confused with more cultish yoga studios we won’t name without alcohol.
[663 Centre St., 617.522.4411, blissfulmonkey.com]

RUNNER UP: O2 Yoga
[288 Highland Ave., Somerville, 617.625.0267, @O2_yoga, o2yoga.com]

 

SPA
Inman Oasis
We love telling oblivious people that there’s a place for them to rent a hot tub right in Cambridge, and it’s called Inman Oasis. They tend to strip down to their skivvies and hop right on the bus to Inman Square. Without a doubt it’s our number one place to dip, soak, and socialize with significant or not-so-significant others. Mostly the latter.
[243 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617.491.0176, @inmanoasis, inmanoasis.com]

RUNNER UP: Exhale Mind Body Spa
[28 Arlington St., Boston, 617.532.7000, @exhalespa, exhalespa.com]

 

HOUSEWARES
Kitchenwitch
We went into Kitchenwitch the other day to secure the brick and mortar tools needed to bake weed brownies. They came through completely. In addition to an awesome rubber ladle, non-stick baking pans, and a baby whisk, they even had cheese cloth in stock. In short: they have whatever you need.
[671 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617.524.6800, @kitchenwitchjp, kitchenwitchjp.tumblr.com]

RUNNER UP: Tags Hardware
[29 White St., Cambridge, 617.868.7711, @TAGSHardware, tagshardware.com]

Screen Shot 2013-11-12 at 8Photo credit: Mona Maruyama 

SEX & LINGERIE
Good Vibrations
If the Red Sox had an official vibrator like they have an exclusive plumber, the sex shop furnishing said dildo would probably be Good Vibrations. Pretty classy for a place that sells handcuffs and screw toys, and we hope to see their swinging ad up on the Green Monster one day.
[308A Harvard St., Brookline, 617.264.4400, @GoodVibesToys, goodvibes.com]

RUNNER UP: Hubba Hubba
[534 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 617.492.9082, @hubbahubba09, hubbahubba.com]

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MUSIC GEAR
Mr. Music
With Daddy’s Junky Music gone for good, we cherish Mr. Music more than ever and their dreamy spread of Gibson guitar goodness, new and used amps and accessories. We’re hoping Allston and its 30 million musicians can keep this place going; the last thing any rocker wants is to have to buy a Rickenbacker online.
[128 Harvard Ave., Allston, 617.783.1609, @MrMusicBoston, mrmusicguitars.com]

RUNNER UP: The Audio Lab
[36 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge, 617.8649810, theaudiolab.com]

 

NEW BOOKS BOOKSTORE
Trident Booksellers
Nothing quite goes with a piece of pie and coffee like a new book or your favorite rare and freakishly gigantic fashion rag that you can only find at a spot like Trident. A favorite meeting place for java hounds and bookworms, this Newbury Street gem may be the best place in Boston to lose yourself in caffeine, magazines, and literature.
[338 Newbury St., 617.267.8688, @TridentBooks, tridentbookscafe.com]

RUNNER UP: Porter Square Books
[25 White St., Cambridge, 617.491.2220, @PorterSqBooks, portersquarebooks.com]

 

USED BOOKS BOOKSTORE
Brattle Book Shop
Coolly situated among the restaurants and sneaker stores that currently comprise Downtown Crossing, the Brattle Book Shop is seemingly the single entity that, thankfully, never disappears in Boston’s oft-neglected shopping district. Go for the antique selections year-round, but stop by in the warmer weather for their outdoor rows of quality used pickings.
[9 West St., Boston, 617.542.0210, @brattlebookshop, brattlebookshop.com]

RUNNER UP: Tres Gatos
[470 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617.477.4851, @TresGatosJP, tresgatosjp.com]

Screen Shot 2013-11-12 at 8Photo credit: Larissa Burgess 

HEAD SHOP
The Hempest
The only reason that The Hempest wins the honor of our favorite head shop is because we have no category for the kind of dank and radical glass-and-earth emporium this Newbury Street nook has become since its inception. The weed world is much wider than most folks realize. Let The Hempest lead your way.
[207 Newbury St., 617.421.9944, @Hempest, hempest.com]

RUNNER UP: Green Side Up Gallery
[202 Harvard Ave., Allston, 617.487.4882, @GSUGallery, greensideupgallery.com]

 

RECORD STORE
Deep Thoughts
It took all of about two weeks for Deep Thoughts to settle into its South Street hangout. From the very beginning, they had a couch on hand, and a gaggle of cheery music fiends to ride it all day long. Their inventory has since grown into an amorphous cornucopia of vinyl, plus collectibles and other geeksakes.
[138 South St., 617.522.3587, deepthoughtsjp.com]

RUNNER UP: In Your Ear
[957 Comm Ave., 617.787.9755, iye.com]

 

MEN’S CLOTHING
SAULT New England
We rarely recommend shedding your entire paycheck on a single shopping spree, but such a splurge may be in order at SAULT New England. Good for a solid selection of Boston prep and Kennedy couture–plus every accessory you need for a Nantucket run–consider this a boarding schooler’s answer to Urban Outfitters.
[577 Tremont St., 857.239.9434, @Saultne, saultne.com]

RUNNER UP: Uncle Pete’s
[119 Charles St., 617.391.0895, @unclepetesshop]

 

Women’s Clothing
Crush Boutique
It’s impossible to corner the market on contemporary women’s clothing in the Beacon Hill and Back Bay areas. Yet Crush Boutique has done just that to much of the competition with a rotating selection of both modern apparel and timeless bags and accessories. Plus Spanx.
[131 Charles St., 617.720.0010, @CrushBoutique, shopcrushboutique.com]

RUNNER UP: Covet
[395 W Broadway St., 617.268.1100, covetboston.com]

 

VINTAGE
Buffalo Exchange
At most thrift shops, we’re worried about contracting scabies. At most vintage shops, the concern is more that someone bought something with scabies from a thrift shop, then dry-cleaned it and marked the product up by 400 percent. Not at Buffalo Exchange. With zero garbage in stock, they have proper prices on all the crazy old shit we desire.

[180 Harvard St., Allston, 617.779.7901, @buffaloexchange, buffaloexchange.com]

RUNNER UP: Bobby from Boston
[19 Thayer St., 617.423.9299, @bobbyfboston]

 

THRIFT
Goodwill
The best thing we can say about Goodwill is that we’d still be shopping there if we weren’t living check-to-check and eating the occasional cheese sandwich out of the trash. We’d tell you what you might expect to find there, but it’s all about who shows up first, and we’re already in the car driving over.
[965 Comm Ave., 617.254.0112, @goodwillboston, goodwillmass.org]

RUNNER UP: The Garment District
[200 Broadway, Cambridge, 617.876.5230, @GarmentDistrict, garment-district.com]

 

KICKS
Converse Boston
Being that Chuck Taylors are the most culturally ubiquitous fashion staple of the past 100 years, it’s pretty cool that Boston has one of the planet’s premier Converse emporiums to shop and frolic. They’ll customize your kicks with no problem, but chances are they already have a painted pair prepared for your unique palette.
[348 Newbury St., 617.424.5400, @Converse, converse.com]

RUNNER UP: Concepts
[37 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617.868.2001, @cncpts, cncpts.com]

DT_Celeb_LouieLisa_BobbyConverseTATTOO SHOP
Fat Ram’s Pumpkin Tattoo
In a city filled with countless tattooed gods and goddesses plus plenty of exotic shops for ink and piercings, Fat Ram’s stands out as a choice parlor for heavily colored tat junkies as well as pedestrian Sox fans looking for a baseball tramp stamp. Call ahead and plan in advance. They’ll take great care of your virgin epidermis.
[374 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617.522.6444, pumpkintattoo.com]

RUNNER UP: Stingray
[386 Cambridge St., Allston, 617.254.0666, @StingrayBodyArt, stingraybodyart.com]

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SHOES
The Tannery
From rugged shit-kickers, to loafers, to wingtips, to designers shit-kickers, The Tannery has shown again and again that they rule for leather footwear fit for everyone from thugs to gentlemen. Their selection of Clarks is worthy of a Wu-Tang shoutout; the Ecco joints are breathtaking. Trust us. Walk a mile in their shoes.
[39 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617.491.1811, @ShopTheTannery, thetannery.com]

RUNNER UP: Uniform
[511 Tremont St., 617.247.2360, @UniformBoston, uniformboston.com]

 

SKATE SHOP
Orchard Skateshop
Orchard is the kind of skateboard lunatics’ Xanadu that East Coast punks dreamed long and hard about back in the 1980s. Now, it actually exists for us to gather, hang with other skate rats, and fuck around on the indoor ramp if we feel like it. With a rad line of in-house gear to boot, we’re ready to break some bones every time we enter.
[156 Harvard Ave., Allston 617.782.7777, @OrchardShop, orchardshop.com]

RUNNER UP: The Vans DQM General
[174 Newbury St., 617.262.0333, @VANSDQM, vansdqm.com]

Screen Shot 2013-11-12 at 8SPORTING GOODS
Marathon Sports
Since a bomb was tragically placed in front of Marathon Sports last April 15, it’s been impossible to think about this complete runner’s oasis without feeling some kind of sadness. Of course, the thought that they persevered, and continue to serve Boston bravely, makes us happier than anything.
[671 Boylston St., 617.267.4774, @Marathon_Sports, marathonsports.com]

RUNNER UP: City Sports
[44 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617.492.6000, @citysports, citysports.com]

 

PET STUFF
Polka Dog Bakery
The Polka Dog carries the kind of canine smorgasbord that comedians hilariously mock. Chances are that most pets dining here eat better than their owners. Nevertheless–unless you’re some kind of human savage, you like to shower treats upon your quadruped best friend, and there’s nary a better place to spoil them silly.
[110 K St., 617.307.6733, @polkadogbakery, polkadog.com]

RUNNER UP: Bark Place
[1721 Washington St., 857.362.7494, @BarkPlaceBoston, barkplacesouthend.com]

BACK TO #DIGTHIS13


FOTOBOM: 2013 DIGTHIS AWARDS @ THE SINCLAIR

DIG THIS AWARDS 2013

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#DigThis13!!

With a largely new and invigorated editorial cast at DigBoston, we figured our debut award tour should reflect the tastes, sounds, and experiences we deem supreme. Thus began the struggle to consider past picks, stir in lots of new flavors, and decide what’s moving everybody from our intern pit to our design department at this very moment. To spice things up, we then threw that list at 10 of our favorite local celebs–actors, DJs, artists, directors–and asked them to add their own thoughts about the Greater Boston food and entertainment destinations that they couldn’t live without. Much like the celebs you read about in the check-out line, it turns out these Hub heroes and notorious villains are a lot like us after all.

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A fiercely dedicated bilingual journalist and commentator with her pen on the pulse of parts of our increasingly majority-minority city that go unnoticed by most media, Marcela is currently a special correspondent for Telemundo Boston, an op-ed writer for the Boston Globe, and a regular NPR guest. She also may be our most fashionable local celeb, so pay attention.

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A ubiquitous Boston comedy and music force for more than a decade, Rob Potylo is perhaps best known for once stealing a Boston Music Award in mid-ceremony, interrupting visiting political figures, or any number of other arcane yet hysterical spectacles. The latest season of his Allston-based reality-sitcom, Quiet Desperation, is currently on YouTube.

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As an asset manager and board member of both the Lenny Zakim Fund and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Sam Slater is a busy man. Still, he finds time to produce movies like the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival selection Teacher of the Year, and the award-winning short film Oh, The Places You’ll Go at Burning Man! His latest project, Drinking Buddies, stars Olivia Wilde, and was released by Magnolia Pictures this past August.
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Boston’s smoothest singing siblings, Lisa and Louie Bello have serenaded every Hub crowd from First Night to first baseline at Fenway, where they’ve handled National Anthem duties for the Red Sox on multiple occasions. Louie is currently a nominee for Best Pop R&B artist at the Boston Music Awards, and for a Hollywood Music In Media Award.

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One of Boston’s top young comics and frequent performer at every last damn mirth hole around here, our celeb comedian Dig This arbiter also hosts The Bigg Nez show on UNregular Radio every weekday morning. As evidenced by his picks, he likes West Coast hip-hop and long walks with your beeatch.

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A beloved morning radio honcho from MIX 104.1 FM’s Karson & Kennedy show, we adore Kennedy for having an on-air vibe that reminds us of the free-wheeling broadcast glory days of yesteryear, and also for her keen sensibility of what those damn kids are currently gossiping about. Despite having to wake up before most of us each day, when she’s not yapping, Kennedy is also an avid long distance runner, having finished two Boston Marathons.

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A native of Roslindale, these days hardcore rap icon Slaine splits time between here and Los Angeles, where he’s continuing a film career that already counts memorable turns in the recent Hub classics Gone Baby Gone and The Town. His latest compilation, The Boston Project, features more than two-dozen local artists; Slaine’s next album, The King of Everything Else, drops next spring.

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Whereas some hip-hop DJs packed up their vinyl and cried foul when the underground rap era wound down, and others failed to adapt to the electronic soundscape, Frank White persevered to emerge as a choice crowd-mover on both sides of the river, and as one of the few local acts to rock at Boston Calling. Check out his recently released tribute to the Beastie Boys classic Paul’s Boutique for free on SoundCloud.
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There are DJs, there are promoters, and then there’s Nomadik, Boston’s premier ambassador to the brighter side of the urban music industry. As an organizer for the New England outpost of the Dilla Foundation and as Boston chapter leader for the Universal Zulu Nation, Nomadik has helped enlighten the local rap scene for more than a decade as a college radio favorite and through her promotions enterprise, Soulkore Productions.

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Penciler. Inker. Designer. Comic book hero in his own right. These are all adequate descriptions of Rob Stull, a Boston-bred and based artist whose massive canon of work include issues of Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Force, Wolverine, Firestorm, and many, many more favorites from the underground to the highest Marvel echelons. In addition to tackling projects through his Ink On Paper studio, Stull is also the director of visual arts for Melting Earth Production Group, which handles music videos for businesses and music artists.

 


REVIEW: CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS LIVE W/ JOEY BADA$$ @ THE SINCLAIR 1.9.14

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Considering the headlining act in the latest installment of Converse Rubber Tracks Live is named Joey Bada$$, the crowd at The Sinclair last night was on their very best behavior. And that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. The usual, “Putcha hands up!” requests were more like pleas for a sign of life from the mellow abyss of the crowd.

And, honestly, what was up with that, Boston?

Ingrid Michaelson concerts have a livelier crowd than what was witnessed last night. Yes, Ingrid “The Way I Am” Michaelson. Whose voice, while beautiful, is the musical equivalent of Mr. Rodgers’ tan, button-down cardigan.

Whether it was the super tight security upon entry last night (emptying of the pockets, a Bones-esque investigation of all contents inside of bags or purses, and frisking that would have the NYPD taking notes), the weather, or people upset at themselves for already breaking their New Year’s resolutions, getting feedback from the crowd was like trying to do Bikram yoga while hungover– challenging.

Opening act, Cavalier, was more than willing to accept the challenge. While most people were still perturbed about their lighters being confiscated at the door, Cavalier ripped through his hour-long set like a machete through the steaming undergrowth of Vietnam.  His rhymes had just the right amount of confidence and self-proclaimed arrogance to warm the frigid audience; at one point, he was literally shouting, “Fuck yo’ feedback!” It was ironically well-received.

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When Dillon Cooper took the stage, the audience finally decided to show up. Cooper’s “State of Elevation” had everyone wishing they had their goddamn lighters back as the Brooklyn native puffed away, letting the smoke waft over the crowd. His remix of OutKast’s “Ms. Jackson” off his mixtape Cozmik was the highlight of his set, but was almost outdone by him breaking out the actual Harlem Shake at the end of “Gambit.” It’s the coolest dance ever, people.

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The crowd actually thinned a bit when Joey Bada$$ finally took the stage. Most likely it was the people who had to get home to feed their dogs/catch that last episode of Grey’s Anatomy that they weren’t sure they set on the DVR . The people who remained were the ones who came to turn up and, sure enough, that’s when the crowd was at its most hype. The prodigal rapper had the crowd throwing ‘bows and jumping like they actually paid for a ticket (which, actually, may have been the reason why the crowd was so zombified – nobody will say no to a free show, but actually having fun at said free show? Out of the question!).

Bada$$ reigned supreme, doing most of the songs off his latest release Summer Knights (“Sit N Prey” is one of those tracks that loops in your head until the day you die). Water bottles were emptied at the front of the stage and, at one point, there were so many people on stage hyping the crowd, it was hard to figure out who was actually rapping.

But, finally, in what had to be the most overly-controlled and structured show hip hop show in the history of hip hop shows, an 18-year-old rapper from Brooklyn brought some blessed chaos to Boston.

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UPDATE: CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS: MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

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UPDATE: Piggybacking off the resounding success of December’s session, the Rubber Tracks folks have announced the dates for the January and February pop-up outings: 1/20-1/26 and 2/10-2/16. Read below for the rundown on how to apply.

Nobody’s ever said that being a musician is easy. At least in terms of financial viability, the profession slots somewhere between grocery bagging and journalism. In other words, find what flavor of ramen works for you and learn to love it.

Thankfully, the fine folks at Converse are here to help. As many are aware, the out-of-pocket burden that comes with booking studio time can prove onerous for upstart bands. (And that’s if you can even find a somewhat-sanitary spot to begin with, as detailed by Sean L. Maloney in his Studio 52 feature.) In an effort for reprieve, the venerated sneaker brand have decided to bring their Rubber Tracks concept to our city. The idea behind it is simple: Converse is renting a studio, hiring engineers, and inviting bands to come make music…free of charge. All genres are welcome and they’ve got all the equipment you’ll need. At the end of the session, bands are free to keep their day’s work to themselves or sign off to allow Converse to plug their music throughout their social media channels. Like many comparably cool things, the project was launched in Brooklyn in 2011 to great acclaim.

And according to the Herald, the maiden voyage at the hallowed Q Division studios in Somerville was comparably successful, with Deep North, Young Adults, and a handful of other local staples singing praises.

For now, they’ll hold court the second week of every month. Interested local acts can follow these simple steps: 1. Head to the Rubber Tracks site and sign up. 2. ???. 3. Profit. (Converse puts their pants on just like the rest of us, one leg at a time. But once those pants are on, they make gold records.)


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