My Local Top 3: 8/8/10-8/15/10

Jerry Week has ended, but summer music keeps on keepin' on in Boston. This week we have some good big shows going on and some even better ones happening behind the scenes. Before you go into panic mode about seeing an outdoor show before the end of the summer, take a look around and realize there are more than plenty of opportunities.

Wednesday 8/11
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Buckwheat Zydeco

First Drug Rug and now Buckwheat? The MFA is becoming one of Boston's best summer music venues and they're an art museum. If you wanna have a good ole' time on a Wednesday, check out this classic New Orleans feelgood collective. Zydeco is a genre foreign to many of us New Englanders, so you might even pick up a little culture too.

Thursday 8/12
Middle East Downstairs, Lizard Lounge
Club d'Elf

Club d'Elf is one of those bands that you have probably seen, but never really realized it. These guys don't seem to play regularly like they used to, so they stick to very modest venues. Their talent and grip on funky neo-jazz is bottomless, which is what makes all of their players in high demand for other gigs in the area. When they come together, however, nothing can match it.

Friday 8/13
Rock On Concert Cruises, Boston, MA
Rubblebucket
Tigercity

Rubblebucket is one of the most fun bands to see in New England. Not only do they have numerous highly skilled players led by trumpet player Alex Toth, but they make their performances interactive and spiritual. They are shooting quickly up the rankings and to be able to see them team up with Tigercity on a cruise in Boston Harbor is pretty much the coolest.

Go see some live music this week,

Perry

Fun Fun Fun Fest Announces Lineup

Austin didn't have enough awesome music festivals already, so the Fun Fun Fun Fest is returning for another year! This year's Fun Fun Fun Fest will take place November 5-7, 2010 at Waterloo Park in Austin, TX. Just like everything in Austin, this year's lineup is totally weird, including headliner Weird Al Yankovic.

FUN FUN FUN FEST 2010 COMPLETE LINE-UP:

ORANGE STAGE:

Weird Al Yankovic
MGMT
Devo
Dirty Projectors
The Hold Steady
Man Man
Cap'n Jazz
Os Mutantes
Deerhunter
Wavves
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Polvo
Kaki King
Dum Dum Girls
Best Coast
Crocodiles
Magic Kids
Indian Jewelry
Appleseed Cast
Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos
Toro Y Moi
Junius
Woven Bones
Royal Forest
Mother Falcon

BLACK STAGE:

Bad Religion
GWAR
The Vandals
Dwarves
The Gories
Municipal Waste
Strike Anywhere
The Casualties
Valient Thorr
Jeff The Brotherhood
The Briggs
Power Trip
Eagle Claw
Mastodon
Suicidal Tendencies
High On Fire
Snapcase
Floor
The Bronx
Ringworm
Kylesa
OFF!
Peelander Z
Hatred Surge
Black Congress

BLUE STAGE:

RJD2
Slick Rick (performing "Great Adventures Of")
Deakin (of Animal Collective)
Delorean
Big Freedia
Designer Drugs
Devin The Dude
Invincible
Butcher Bear and Charlie
League of Extraordinary Gz
DJ Nick Nack
A-trak
Yelle
Pharoahe Monch
Jean Grae
POS
Dam-Funk
Dominique Young Unique
Black Nasty
DJ Bird Peterson
Crew 54

YELLOW STAGE:

Cold Cave (doing a live visual projection show)
Monotonix
Mariachi El Bronx
Live Action Wrestling
Veggie Hot Dog Eating Contest
Punk Rock Story Time with Joe Sib (spoken word)
New Movement (live sketch comedy)
Air Sex Contest (presented by Alamo Draft House)
Live Stunt Show
Video Shows
Stand Up Comedy with: Matt Bearden, Altercation Punk Rock Comedy tour and many more tba.

funfunfunfest.com

My Local Top 3: 8/1/10-8/7/10

You're going to have to wait for your good shows this week because it seems like the week will start to heat up towards the end (although I heard that Arcade Fire played a pretty mean show last night). The first week in August will bring straight Rawknroll to your soul with some tasty licks by some of today's best players.

Thursday 8/5
Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA
Local Natives
We Barbarians

Right along side Dawes and Sleigh Bells are the Local Natives when mentioning the biggest breakout acts of 2010. The Natives back sweet CSNY harmonies with hard rock twang for a live show that has been received with great acclaim. Unfortunately, this show has been sold out for quite some time now, but if you are going, enjoy. If not, they will be returning to Boston at the Paradise in the fall.

Friday 8/6
Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA
Gov't Mule
Jackie Greene

One of the first show I ever went to was a Gov't Mule show and my interest has never waned. Mule's axe player Warren Haynes is one of the best and most versatile guitarist out there today, not to mention one of the friendliest and most charitable people in the jamband scene. On top of that, Jackie Greene continues to draw Dylan comparisons with his songsmith ways and easygoing feel. This will be a summer classic for sure!

Friday 8/6
Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA
John Mayer
Train

Lots of people hate on both these bands. I could personally give a rat's ass about Train, especially that song that keeps playing on commercials (although tell me you don't have a soft spot for "Drops of Jupiter" and I'll eat my hat). John Mayer, however, is too solid a talent to completely give up on. Despite his crappy pop tunes and mildly racist comments, the boy can play the geet as good as anyone out there today. If you go to this show, just hope for more "Who Did You Think I Was" and less "Who Says?"

Go see some local music this week,

Perry