Oil Can Boyd

When I saw Yo La Tengo at the Wilbur a couple of months ago I was right up against the stage. At one point they brought out an 8 piece string section and I couldn't hear a thing they played. I assumed that I was too close as I was actually behind the speakers. I just got tickets to the Magnetic Fields show at the Wilbur in February and I am right up front for that. I am hoping that because the Magnetic Fields play very quietly the sound won't be as much of an issue.

Serena Williams fined Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her U.S. Open tirade and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another “major offense” at any Grand Slam in the next two years, Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock told The Associated Press on Monday. Babcock’s decision was to be formally released later Monday. He said Williams faces a “probationary period” at tennis’ four major championships in 2010 and 2011. If she has another “major offense” at a Grand Slam tournament in that time, the fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from the

Interesting that you say the sound was great. There is whole thread over here on Bostonist about how bad the sound was. It even links to the ProSoundWeb message board where a guy who appears to be the Feelies' sound guy complains about the venue. I have only seen two shows there: Yo La Tengo (where the sound was not good) and Neko Case (where I thought the sound was good).

Sun Kil Moon's covers of Modest Mouse songs are better than Modest Mouse's versions of Modest Mouse songs.

As much as I have tried to like him (and believe me, I have tried) I don't really like Elliott Smith's music.

Nice photos and review - and yes, it was a great show.

Just got by tickets for Boston! The Magnetic Fields are happy to announce that they will be touring early next year in support of their forthcoming album, "Realism," which will be out on Nonesuch Records on January 26, 2010. The US and Canadian tour dates will take place in February and March. General tickets will be on sale starting this Friday, November 20. Check the calendar on the band's website for full details regarding on-sale dates, venues, and ticket pricing: http://houseoftomorrow.com/calendar/ A limited number of pre-sale tickets will also be available starting Tuesday,

There is not much to see, although there is a small plaque on the side of the 7-11 that occupies the building now. It's at 53 Berkeley Street on the corner of Appleton Street in the South End.

Speaking of being duped (it's a little hard to hear but worth waiting until the end): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O66qDqfZm7k&feature=player_embedded

And according to their site, tickets are already on sale. Confirmed line-up includes: AA Bondy Diane Cluck with Anders Griffen The Low Anthem The Mountain Goats The Wilderness Of Manitoba Wilco

I agree. I really like that show. I think it helps that I am a city planner and am very familiar with the types in the show.

Animated short about Dock Ellis' no hitter on acid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vUhSYLRw14&feature=player_embedded

Saw this on the Boston Globe website: Before his gig at the Middle East the other night, Violent Femmes frontman Gordon Gano dropped by Mullen's Boston office, treating employees of the ad agency to an unplugged version of the Femmes classic "Blister in the Sun." Why? Gano is touring with Bill and Brendan Ryan - a.k.a. the Ryan Brothers - who are pals with Mullen creative director Chris Brady. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FELRFfyAYy0

I went with Husker Du, because they were the ones who really changed things for me. At the time (1985) I mostly listened to the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles. I had started to listen to some REM, Talking Heads, Replacements, etc. mostly because my friends did. But I came home one day and my roommate was playing Flip Your Wig and it blew me away.

You've got quite a memory. She wasn't just on Happy Days, she was Fonzie's fiance!

I know tinnitus and I are hijacking this thread but here is what today's Globe said about Neko being pissed off: "When Neko Case finally stalked on stage at the Wilbur Theatre the other night, she was upset. “We were having a fight with the promoter, and I could not be angrier right now,’’ she told the crowd. Case was perturbed because the marquee outside the venue was blank. “You wouldn’t even know there was a show,’’ she fumed. The singer-songwriter quickly recovered and put on a stellar show. Afterward, she spent some time with Peter Wolf, on whose forthcoming CD she sings. Wolf arranged

Yup - she was pretty pissed off. One of the guys I went with knows Joey and we talked with him after the show but, as you noted, he didn't know anything. He said there was a band meeting to work something out but since he and John aren't part of the band they weren't included. I thought it was a great show. I never get tired of her voice. Did you take pictures?

I saw the Neko Case show in Boston last night. Between the opening band (John and Joey from Calexico) and Neko's set, the theater played Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. It got all the way to Poor Places before Neko came on.

I think it was truer in 1997, particularly live, and particularly live when, say, playing Color Me Impressed into I Wanna Be Sedated.

If you like New York City, city planning, or urban politics this is a pretty good read.

"Everything we do is based on The Replacements." - Jeff Tweedy

And when you are done, I recommend picking up a copy of Zeitoun. It is similar to WITW in that it is almost just good reporting. There is no sense of smugness or cleverness that is sometimes evident in Eggers' writing.

I actually liked this book, although it certainly was depressing. And I agree on the movie. When I first heard about it I thought "boy is that a bad idea." I suppose I have an easier time with a depressing book than a depressing movie.

Yes, this is disappointing. Maine is a funny and complicated place. I had read that they were having trouble with polling, partly because they felt that many people were reluctant to say how they really felt.