MOTORHEAD, the seminal metal-punk power trio returned to Boston with not just a brand new studio album, THE WORLD IS YOURS, but with a full-length feature documentary about founder, bassist, vocalist and hard rock icon LEMMY KIMISTER (LEMMY: 49% Motherfucker. 51% Son of a Bitch).

“We Are Motörhead” opened the set, reminding their fans this is the way rock and heavy music should sound like. Old-school favorites like “Stay Clean,” “Metropolis,” Over the Top,” “The Chase is Better Than the Catch,” and the obligated “Ace of Spades” sounded as good as ever, while new cuts “Get Back in Line” and “I Know How to Die”—both from THE WORLD IS YOURS—sounded fresh and classic at the same time.

After 35 years as a band and 20 releases, MOTORHEAD sounds as good today as they did when they first started. THE WORLD IS YOURS may be the best MOTORHEAD release since 1996’s OVERNIGHT SENSATION.

SETLIST:

• We Are Motörhead
• Stay Clean
• Get Back In Line
• Metropolis
• Over the Top
• One Night Stand
• Rock Out
• Guitar Solo
• The Thousand Names of God
• I Got Mine
• I Know How to Die
• The Chase Is Better Than the Catch
• In the Name of Tragedy
• Drum Solo
• Just ‘Cos You Got the Power
• Going to Brazil
• Killed by Death
• Ace of Spades
• Encore:
• Overkill

For more information  visit MOTORHEAD

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The St. Patrick’s Day season is officially upon us and you know what that means – Boston’s finest purveyors of Irish punk rock the beloved DROPKICK MURPHYS are home for their traditional six-day, seven-show extravaganza residency on Lansdowne.

I have to admit, it was a little odd going to a concert at 1:00pm on a Saturday afternoon but not even the monsoon rain that had been falling outside for two days could dampen the spirits of the  matinee sold-out crowd.

The DROPKICK MURPHYS came out and lurched  into the  boot-stomping “STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS” and the bodies immediately came sailing hard and fast. The 90-minute set included infectious, fist-pumping anthems such as,“TESSIE” which was played  for the first time on this tour, “FLANNIGAN’S BALL,” and “SUNSHINE HIGHWAY” accompanied by adorable sparkly step dancers and other Gaelic accouterments.

Along with KEN CASEY’s son and grandmother, the House of Blues was jam-packed with punkers, rockers, drunken Irishmen and non-Irishmen dressed in a  combination of plaid cabbie hats, Dickies work shirts and prominent tattoos who were engaged from the start, swaying and singing lustily. It was evident that while  the Pogues may have invented Celtic-punk, the DROPKICK MURPHYS have perfected a sound that reaches its apotheosis in its rafter-shaking performance of traditional Celtic arrangements and frantic modern-day punk attitude.

The septet’s consistency extends to its band members, KEN CASEY (vocals, bass guitar)  AL BARR (vocals), MATT KELLY (drums, backing vocals), JAMES LYNCH (guitar, backing vocals), TIM BRENNAN (guitar, accordion, piano, backing vocals), JEFF DaROSA (mandolin, accordion, banjo, bouzouki, tin whistle, acoustic guitar)and SCRUFFY WALLACE (bagpipe) who provide patriotic, fierce unflinching commitment to working class people.

The highlight of the afternoon included the guest appearance of STEPHANIE DOUGHERTY lending her vocals to “THE DIRTY GLASS” and the traditional stage bombardment of young women for the bar closer staple, “KISS ME I AM SH*TFACED.” As expected, the encore and majestic building tune “I’M SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON” fomented massive pogo-ing from the pit to stage.

Whether it’s on stage at the Warped Tour or down at a Boston pub, the DROPKICK MURPHYS promise uncompromising music and a helluva good time. If you were not fortunate to catch any of the shows  pick up ‘LIVE ON LANSDOWNE’ CD/DVD out  on Tuesday, March 16th.

For more information  visit DROPKICK MURPHYS

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Watching BLACKIE LAWLESS onstage is like taking in a familiar movie. You know what’s coming, but it’s no less entertaining. BLACKIE crept across the stage with unparalleled rock flair wearing his trademark tasseled boots and saw blades backed by lead guitarist DOUG BLAIR, bassist MIKE DUDA and drummer MIKE DUPKE.

I was not sure what to expect for a crowd on a Tuesday night at a venue that is 25 miles south of Boston in the middle of suburbia but it was obviously clear that after almost 30-years W.A.S.P. is still relevant.  The venue’s capacity is 1,050 and if it was not sold-out it was damn close.

W.A.S.P. was an invention designed to provoke American society with its spectacular raunchy stage antics but Tuesday nights lackluster stage show was without the impressive production values we have come to love and the current W.A.S.P. show is dependent on its musical virtues instead of shtick – there’s genius in simplicity.

W.A.S.P. unloaded a set of classics including, “I DON‘T NEED NO DOCTOR,” “HELLION,” “WILD CHILD” and an epic rendition of “ON YOUR KNEES.” The new material from their latest album BABYLON included, “CRAZY,” and “BABYLON IS BURNING,” and both upheld the tradition of all things W.A.S.P. BLACKIE’s sinister bellow is still solid as he successfully pushed his voice outside its comfort zone throughout the 90-minute set.

BLACKIE, a legend in his own musical right seems no longer  interested in pushing anybody’s buttons or taunting those waiting in the wings to take him down and for that I give him credit. He is a man who knows he’s been drained of his shock value by Twilight-style mainstream co-option. Now even BLACKIE’s most aggressive antics would seem oddly conservative by today’s standards.

I have seen W.A.S.P. perform many times over the years and had always thought that the theatrics, props and general appearance of BLACKIE himself was what made a W.A.S.P. show so superior. After Tuesday night, I realize that even without all of the extras, W.A.S.P. still put on a stellar show that I simply cannot bring myself to miss and neither should you.

SETLIST:

• On Your Knees
• The Real Me
• Hellion / I Don’t Need No Doctor / Scream Until You Like It
• L.O.V.E. Machine
• Crazy
• Babylon’s Burning
• Wild Child
• Arena Of Pleasure
• Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue)
• The Idol
• Take Me Up
• I Wanna Be Somebody
• Encore:
• Blind In Texas

For more information  visit W.A.S.P.

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When DOLORES O’RIORDAN cancelled her show at the Paradise Rock Club in support of her sophomore solo album, NO BAGGAGE, to say I was crushed would be an understatement. But, it was a fair trade for the reunion of THE CRANBERRIES.

It is hard to believe it has been seven years since DOLORES O’RIORDAN (vocals), NOEL HOGAN (guitar), MIKE HOGAN (bass), and FERGAL LAWLER (drums) have graced the stage together but it was well worth the wait as the Irish rockers officially ended their hiatus with a 90-minute set on Friday night at the Boston Orpheum. This was the second date of the reunion tour.

O’RIORDAN was spunky as ever as she trounced from one end of the stage to the other dressed in gold-spangled tank top and sparkling Chuck Taylors.  She engaged the audience in her Irish brogue and her whimsical personality as she described how she kept busy for the week while the band held tour rehearsals in Boston.

“The Cranberries spent a week here rehearsing and I actually got a great flavor for Boston, It’s a beautiful place,” said O’RIORDAN who talked about walking the Charles River and catching a Bruins game.

The show was heavy on classic Cranberries material including shimmering pop opener “Animal Instinct” the solid melodic “Free to Decide” and the grungy and droning hit “Zombie.” The set also included some tracks from O’RIORDAN’s solo efforts such as “Switch Off the Moment” and the lush piano ballad “Lunatic” against the backdrop of the extravagant, cutting edge light show.

These youthful old pros have never sounded more winning or unified – Welcome back!

SETLIST:

• How
• Animal Instinct
• Linger
• Ordinary Day
• Wanted
• Just My Imagination
• Dreaming My Dreams
• When You’re Gone
• Daffodil Lament
• Can’t Be With You
• Ode to My Family
• Free to Decide
• Waltzing Back
• Switch Off the Moment
• Salvation
• Ridiculous Thoughts
• Zombie
• ENCORE:
• Lunatic
• Empty
• The Journey
• Dream

For more information  visit THE CRANBERRIES

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ALISON SUDOL, who records and performs under the moniker A FINE FRENZY, seems wise beyond her years, judging by her sophmore album BOMB IN A BIRDCAGE. The 22-year-old pianist is a Los Angeles singer-songwriter and, by extension, a storyteller.

I recently discovered SUDOL while looking at forthcoming concerts for the Paradise and discovered a gorgeous porcelain-skinned redhead under the name A FINE FRENZY. I assumed she was just a model for the album cover then discovered she was the lead singer and pianist. After one listen on MySpace and I instantly bought a ticket.

The show kicked off with tunes from BOMB IN A BIRDCAGE including the lush  piano-driven “The World Without,” the hypnotic melancholy of “Swan Song” and the Shakira hip shaking seductive, “Electric Twist” that even took SUDOL’s breath away, “My goodness that one came out naughtier than normal. Someone spiked the water in Boston.”

Other songs came from the debut album, ONE CELL IN THE SEA including the atmospheric “Almost Lover” and the b-sides “Silent War,” “Coming Around,” and “From Where You Came.”

SUDOL’s infections personality and charm should be more than enough to carry her but I think this album will receive the exposure it deserves now that it is being played on MTV’s “The Hills.” If Spencer and Heidi like it then it must be good, right?

Maybe the world doesn’t have room for another sensitive piano-playing chanteuse, but it’s going to have to open up some space for ALISON SUDOL.

For more information  visit A FINE FRENZY

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The indie-rocker quartet VAMPIRE WEEKEND played two secret shows this past Halloween weekend in Los Angeles. Saturday’s Halloween show was held at the former Madame Wong’s in Chinatown and Sundays was at Hollenbeck Rec Center’s band shell in Boyle Heights.

For a band that attracts hipster buzz and who can easily sell-out a 3,000 capacity venue these intimate settings were definitely a rare Halloween treat.

The crowd arrived to a band shell full of equipment, curious neighbors and vendors who sold shaved ice, pork grinds and push cart ice cream. The vendors added to the atmosphere that the band seemed to be trying to cultivate for their forthcoming album CONTRA (Jan. 12, 2010).

Coming in at a svelte 55 minutes VAMPIRE WEEKEND was able to deliver all their hits as well as a few new tunes from their forthcoming album including the first single HORCHATA (available for free on the bands website) which received the strongest response but overall the new material seemed catchy and alluring.

I have seen VAMPIRE WEEKEND a few times and this was the first show that they performed without complaining about their equipment and it was a pleasant change.

Anyone who loved the first album will most likely fall in love again with the new material. This final warm up date before the California tour was the perfect end to the festive Halloween weekend.

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For more information visit VAMPIRE WEEKEND