April 12th starts at 8pm! Momo’s on Rio Grande/6th Street above Katz. Rockin’ for Rescue is Dedicated to ending the euthanasia of homeless pets by creating awareness and providing education to the public and provide support for non-profit animal rescue organizations. Please visit http://www.myspace.com/rockinforrescue Rockin for Rescue where you can make a tax-free donation or purchase some very cool t-shirts or wristbands!!! Hope to see your shiny faces at the show!!! Lisa Umbarger from the Toadies will be performing with her new band Tile. Come out and check out the new band.

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Although they were out promoting a new album, the new songs were few and far between. Maybe for the couple hundred fans crammed into the Somerville Theatre, that’s just as well. They played the old tracks with a pretty hard rock emphasis going all the way back to She’s An Angel and Ana Ng, and the crowd ate it up. But even the new stuff was well received, with the track Contrecoup got the same level of cheer as Alphabet of Nations (which, in this humble reviewer’s opinion, was a major highlight.) They got the crowd going with favs like Doctor Worm, Particle Man and a rousing participation-required run through of Clap Your Hands. Both The Guitar and Hey Mr. DJ sounded more cohesive live than their studio versions (you’re a real song, Pinocchio!)

Since on average, a They Might Be Giants song runs a two-minutes, a two-hour show makes a meaty setlist. John and John have been playing together for 25+ years but the witty banter seemed more like a forced time out for old men (they look every bit the late-forties they are) than adlib. At thirty-plus songs / two plus hours, the show started to sag a bit at the 1 hour mark but they quickly revived the energy with New York City, a great version of Take Out the Trash and the main set closer The Mesopotamians (both from their new album The Else.) They closed out with Birdhouse in Your Soul and Fingertips.

At the beginning of the show, the crew threw out yellow foam hands labeled with the band’s name. Since I was in the front row, I ended up with three (they’re foam, it’s not like they throw very far) and gave them to the two teenage boys sitting in my row with their fathers. Midway through the show, they shot confetti out from a canon and again as the show closed. It was a lot, and some of it ended up on my bedroom floor.

I’ve been a fan of TMBG for twenty years and it’s a shame it took me twenty years to see them live. Then again, it’s amazing that they are still playing live. I don’t say this to mock their age, but John and John both use very affected vocals (often, instead of straight singing, they use almost kid voices, or voices you might use to talk to kids.) I’m impressed that in all these years, they can still do that and be pitch perfect on every song and harmonize with one another. Okay, I get it, they’ve had a lot of practice. Though they haven’t mentioned releasing this leg of the tour as live mp3s, it’s too bad. From what I heard, it would be worth the $10.

Stylistically went from Creedence to Crosby Stills & Nash to Trans Siberian Orchestra. They managed to build up momentum in the half hour set so that by the time they hit the track Honestly and followed up with a nameless instrumental jam, they were on fire. Played a setlist of songs from their upcoming release. MySpace page they describe themselves as ” Psychedelic / Soul.” Sure. Whatever it was, absolutely, foot-stomping grand. Jesse Gallagher’s energy level is unreal.

my favorite band of SXSW – they almost made me cry, so unique and perfect taking the darkest country and wacking it up, think the guy\”s voice is big part of their charm – unique – though disappointed by his youth and cleanliness but these are things that cannot be helped, maybe a tad of gypsy there too, also can\”t help that they\”re from New York, I remember the fiddler doing a superb job too

one-man band playing violin and singing in a way very reminiscent of my local hero Scott H. Biram but not as punk nor as tight, turns out they\”re touring together soon

adored their sound-the way blues rock ought to be done, the music made the lot of skinny boys sexy boys, lots of southern flavor, reminded me of that movie Black Snake Moan, good drums and slide, “Black Ass Woman” is the song to start with

so darling the crowd could hardly stand it, 6-piece female ska group from Japan, all energy and high-skill, didn\”t speak English except for a few tag shout-outs for the crowd, the top crowd response of every band I saw this year at SXSW – inspired an inspired mosh pit, I personally think it was more the novelty of gender and nation than the actual music, plus ska is just fun

the favorite show of the year the first time we saw them but they were a little messy today, instead of white suits they had on white t-shirts because it was hot, they know how to put on a show: they started off with a drum circle of their band members, then it all got kind of crazy and our accompaniers wanted to move on, still think they\”re better punk-gypsters than Gogol Bordello

Sublime-lite, similar sensibility to O.A.R. – actually stopped to give a motivational speech that he apologized for, rock that verged into pop-punk with reggae/dub undertones

my beloved lead singer of Lost Sounds, his look fit his irreputable reputation: face never breaking free from the cover of his shaggy hair, he was younger than I would have imagined, he was also a lot more intense and together than I would have imagined, he knows his music up and down and left and right, this reincarnation sounded little like Lost Sounds (no synth, less dark and less intense) but was some amalgam of hair metal, punk and garage- veering from head-banging joy to darker undertone, always fast and ferocious but light-hearted and sincere, his voice also altered dramatically even within one song to the point that I suspect he may be the male and female lead I hear in Lost Sounds, may be schizophrenic but a music genius I think, Jay and the guitarist\”s (also mop top curls) dedicated head-banging was very amusing for some reason

punk, I really enjoyed because they were complex and melodic, reminded me of Dead Boys or Soft Boys, Rockboy described them as New York post-punk of the early 80s, from Atlanta GA

the fantasmous band, all hoppy and Charlestony with the 7 foot man in short pants as their lead singer, they\”re not meant to play outside – better in an old bar with wooden floors!

mix of Tom Waits and Nice Cave; Rockboy hears Jim Morrison in the singer’s voice, I hear sex in the singer’s voice: incredibly literate with a wry humor and “subtle” neck tattoo; lead vocalist was dressed like a hobo and the rest were loungey in sharp clothes and sunglasses; drums, guitar, bass, guitar, percussion, saxophone, keyboard; nice and dark

eh, just indie rockers, nothing remarkable, though the pictures of trees blowing that popped up when I googled them were funny

have always thought they were the poor man\”s White Stripes but they\”re much harder and more diversified, the shy girl’s vocals were charming, they were really good but mostly I have a crush on Detroit

dirtiest rock n rollers I done ever seen: “dirty south” for the white trash set – especially because of the lead singer’s wailing thumping harmonica which was the best part; from Nashville; also had an upright bass, drummer and guitarist; hyped dirty psychobilly on the whole; lead vocalist was too skinny, hyper and silly to even have a chance against the line-faced tatted guitarist for most depraved rocker: spitting, throwing pubic hair and other shock-tactics ensued

finally got to see this fantastic band, like a train speeding through a desert when they\”re good – all drum roll progression, two brother-looking guys exchanged lead vocalist duties, voice could be annoying but it works and is the reason that they are founded in indie rock circa 1980s with hard rock overtones to make it modern, newer songs were more ponderous

triumphant stadium rock = The Who, red-suited leg-splitting-in-the-air guitarist turned around and had that very band written on the back of his red jacket, tad more psychedelic and dirty because of very rotund lead singer\”s gravelly voice and occasional moaning, their joyful rock star enthusiasm was contagious but never seemed to lack depth

first thought was that this was the reincarnation of Gore Gore Girls, lead singer a cute young rocking girl in a 60s A-line dress playing an authentic 60s keyboard, vampire-gothic girl who made appropriate grimaces as she played bass, much older guitarist whom we presumed to be the inappropriate husband of the lovely lead singer, nondescript drummer, playing to an audience of ten in the back of a record store – two of whom were ancient women – became obvious that the younger of the two ancients was the vampire\”s mom and we all melted when the vampire finally smiled – the older of the two ancients bobbed her head like Dr. Dre, the point is that the band was much better than Gore Gore Girls (though similar in sound and feel) – their sound was more complex and subtle and had harder riffs

the pleasant surprise of the week, the drummer is fantastic: just a girl but so intense and lively and plain good she dominates the stage, flanked by two good guitarists, high quality and engaging and intelligent and driving garage rock

they\”re good musicians: members from WT Special Heather Rae and the Moonshine Boys but why be a cover band if you know how to write songs?, they cover swing and honky tonk from the early 20th century

pedal steel and drummer as before but this time accompanied by one or two guitars which possibly detracted from the purity and solemnity

Burton on pedal steel and singing – young hipster too self conscious to seem comfortable singing old Texas swing songs, rest of the band is a conglomerate of people from other bands in the Austin swing scene

For the second year in a row, the True Colors Tour will head out with Cyndi Lauper in the headlining role. The tour, which launched for the first time last year, will once again raise awareness and money for the Human Rights Campaign, along with other organizations that support the LGBT community. The tour is a five-hour music festival with acts music acts ranging from alternative to pop. This year, the B-52′s and host Carson Kressley are slated to appear on all dates. Other acts including Rosie O’Donnell, the Indigo Girls and Regina Spektor have been tapped for various stops, with as-yet unannounced special guests appearing on some dates. Confirmed line-ups listed below.

The 2008 tour will reach 24 North American cities including playing Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 3 and a two-night stand June 16-17 in Atlanta, GA. Presale tickets for most shows will be on sale March 10 and general onsale begins March 15 for most shows.

The True Colors Tour has partnered this year with cable channel Logo, CenterLink (LGBT community centers) and Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and other organizations. Auction site eBay which will host a tour and music auction fundraiser to raise money for the tour’s non-profit partners.

True Colors Tour 2008
May 31 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Regina Spektor, The Cliks, Carson Kressley

June 1 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Indigo Girls, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 3 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Regina Spektor, Indigo Girls, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 4 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Indigo Girls, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 6 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Casino Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Tegan and Sara, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 7 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Regina Spektor, Tegan and Sara, Carson Kressley
June 9 Minneapolis, MN Target Center Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Tegan and Sara, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 10 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theater Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Tegan and Sara, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 11 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Tegan and Sara, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 13 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel and Casino Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Deborah Cox, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 14 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Deborah Cox, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 16 Atlanta. GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Tegan and Sara, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 17 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Tegan and Sara, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 18 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
June 19 Fort Lauderdale, FL Sinatra Theatre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Deborah Cox, The Cliks, Carson Kressley
June 21 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Wanda Sykes, Carson Kressley
June 22 Dallas, TX Smirnoff Music Centre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Wanda Sykes, Carson Kressley
June 25 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Wanda Sykes, Carson Kressley
June 27 Alpine, CA Viejas Casino Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Carson Kressley
June 28 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Wanda Sykes, Carson Kressley
June 29 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre

July 1 Seattle, WA WaMu Center Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Wanda Sykes, Joan Armatrading, Carson Kressley
July 2 Vancouver, BC Deer Lake Park Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Joan Armatrading, Carson Kressley
July 4 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Joan Armatrading, Carson Kressley
July 5 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Rosie O’Donnell, Joan Armatrading, Carson Kressley

immediately striking and enjoyable, bluesy rock with rootsy jive

a sociologist by day and a songstress by night — her CD release party, she and her piano were accompanied by B. Sterling Archer (a whiz on many instruments) and Brett Staggs, still strikes me as solid and genuine, she is a more mainstream Fiona Apple, I was so proud

a bearded mystic singer/songwriter, his set improved greatly when his one-man-band moved from cheesy keyboard to guitar