Any band’s final show is always bittersweet. And the curtain call for Boston-area powerpop veterans Cassavettes will be no exception. In fact, there won’t be a dry eye in the house during the band’s final show at the Middle East Downstairs on December 18 – a night where Cassavettes’ emotionally-tinged powerpop tunes are certain to take on a deeper resonance. Remember to bring tissues with those earplugs: the band’s parting blog post draws a metaphor to a beloved pet’s passing. But hold back those tears until last call. Cassavettes are sure to infuse their final gig with the mellow guitars and soothing beauty found on tracks like “Golden Fleece,” and plenty of the joyous energy transmitted through “Ordinary Girls.” Sharing the stage on this momentous night are local rockers, The Luxury, Americana maestros, The Autumn Hollow Band and Barn .

CASSAVETTES, THE LUXURY, AND THE AUTUMN HOLLOW BAND Middle East Upstairs,

472 Mass. Ave, Cambridge Sat., Dec. 18 Doors at 8 p.m., 18+, $12

—Miriam Lamey

Check out the show at the Rosebud in Davis Square this Friday as local rock favorites, The Blizzard of 78, release their new EP “Nothing or No One.”This anticipated release is the first from the band since their acclaimed 2008 release, “Book Of Lies”. These guys are sure to deliver the good old “rock and soul” that they’re known for.

The lineup for the evening is as follows:

11:45 — Muy Cansado

10:45 —The Blizzard of 78

10:00 — The Positronic Rays – (One Night Band 2010 reunion featuring Sophie Innerfield, Nate Leavitt, Mike Epstein, Benny Grotto and Jim Collins.)

9:00 — Highly Personal Trash

Friday, 12/03 // $5 // 21+

The Rosebud Bar

381 Summer St., Davis Square

–The Deli Staff

This Thursday, put on your dancing shoes and check out the soulful melodic rock of McAlister Drive. Opening for them are the upbeat pop band The Wandas. The evening is sponsored by DIG Boston and Miller.

Free admission and free beer.

Doors 7:30/ music begins at 8:30

Oliver’s Nightclub@Cask’n Flagon

62 Brookline Ave., Boston

–Chrissy Prisco, Deli Staff

(Avi Salloway and Celia Woodsmith) are wrapping up their folk roots rock project Hey Mama and will be persuing some really great projects. Salloway will be traveling to the Middle East to study music and work with a peace program and Woodsmith will be studying for a career in health services and women’s empowerment. AWESOME! In the meantime they will be giving their fans one last taste of their unique musical experience. Get out your washboards and flannel.

11.13 – Lebanon, NH – LEBANON OPERA HOUSE

11.18 – Brunswick, ME – BOWDOIN COLLEGE

11.19 – Portsmouth, NH – THE PRESS ROOM

12.2 – New York, NY – THE BITTER END

12.3 – Falmouth, MA – GRUMPY’S

12.4 – Northampton, MA – PEARL STREET BALLROOM

12.9 – S. Burlington, VT – HIGHER GROUND

12.11 – Cambridge, MA – THE MIDDLE EAST DOWNSTAIRS

12.16 – Newmarktet, NH – THE STONE CHURCH

12.17 – Kennebunkport, ME – NEVERDUN FARM

— The Deli Staff

I’ve always taken as given that we’ll all eventually wake up in a post-apocalyptic dystopia not unlike Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. In that particular nightmare scenario, huge loudspeakers on rusted towers blast Fake Babies in all directions. Maybe it’s a society-wide kneejerk reaction to bubblegum pop that the post-industrial electronic sludge peddled by Fake Babies was voted best new music in Connecticut by The Boston Phoenix, or maybe we’re all just doing more drugs than we used to. In either case, these guys are gonna be huge. Fake Babies began as a duo in 2007 with Justin Roberts and Robert Nuzzello Jr. The group has since expanded to include Gary Velush and Jay Sirianni, and is now signed to New Haven’s Safety Meeting Records, who will be releasing Fake Babies’ debut LP We Started Blues on February 18th, 2010.

Just as miners in rural Kentucky wrote mountain ballads to express the trials of their time, Fake Babies convey the full extent of New Haven’s battle with urban poverty, crime (a national study ranked it the 18th most dangerous city in the country), and commercial blight through a brand of electronic creation that’s marked by a tendency towards improvisation and open experimentation. While I’ve heard them compared to witchhouse/rapegaze hoodlums Salem (and this is true in so much as both bands share a certain gritty aesthetic), Fake Babies have real technical virtuosity and an overarching musicality that allows them to transcend the repetitious patterns that plague most electronic groups. Let’s say I traveled back to 1968 and gave Can a laptop with Ableton and some midi controllers, then brought them back to 2010 New Haven and locked them in a room with nothing but the Devo box set–you’d pretty much get Fake Babies.

Intrigued? Can’t wait until February to slip into the ooze? Like watching naked women rub themselves with animal blood? If yes, then Fake Babies’ latest video "Sophisticated Thighs" is on the fast track to blow your mind: http://www.vimeo.com/8898362

— Ben Heller of The Ampeater Review (ampeatermusic.com)

I really like these songs. They are croony and Mid-Sixites rock/Early Rolling Stones-ish. 

Hands and Knees are putting out a Christmas 7" next week.  

"James Brown Died on Christmas Day" is the A side, and "The Biggest Snowflake" is the
B side.  See and listen to it here:

http://handsandknees.bandcamp.com/album/james-brown-died-on-christmas-day.

Shows for December:
Wednesday 12/1 at the Middlesex Lounge with Doomstar! and Magic Magic
Thursday 12/2 at the Sierra Grille in Northampton, with Whistejacket
and Tony the Bookie
Friday 12/3 at The 201 in Providence with Viva Viva and The Invisible Hours
Sat. 12/4 at the Cakeshop, Queers Beers and Rears dance party
Sat. 12/17 at the PA’s Lounge Christmas Party

–The Deli Staff

The Boston Music Awards are a big deal. Again, this year they are being held at the beautiful Liberty Hotel (used to be a jail, it’s a really sweet hotel, worth it enough to check it out if you are into design) BUT this is about music. They will have live performances by DOM, Barry & The Remains, Jennie Dee & the Deelinquents, Mystery Roar, Kingsley Flood, Kon, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper and many others. In the meantime, VOTE! This is a democratic country (we think) so exercise your right!

Many acts featured in the Deli are up for awards, including Sodafrog,The Organ Beats, Jesse Dee, Club D’elf and the one and only, Tim Gearan.

Voting closes at 5:00PM on Monday November 29th. Winners will be announced December 5 at the Liberty Hotel.

VOTE HERE

And if you want to buy tickets to this event go here.

–The Deli Staff

Bloc 11 Café is throwing their Year of Music Anniversary special. Known for their delicious food and amazing lattes, Bloc 11 Café is also proud to list themselves as live music venue every Wednesday and open mic host every Thursday. On Wednesday, December 1st, Bloc 11 is going all out to celebrate their year in music, with a new sound system, beer and wine, catered food, and an evening of performances by 7 talented musical acts.

One Happy Island will be playing their ukulele inspired Twee-pop, while the Kristen Ford Band delivers rock and reggae. Audrey Ryan will become her one-woman music machine. Kevin Byrne offers a folk-country-Irish blend, while Charlie Cover and Colin Kelly swing more towards Blues and Americana. Last but not least, Abbie Barrett will be doing her best wild-west saloon impression. 

Everyone loves birthdays. Help make Bloc 11’s one they’ll never forget.

Wednesday December 1st, 6:30pm-12am
Bloc 11 Café
11 Bow Street, Union Sq. Somerville
$8 All Ages

–Chrissy Prisco

Check out this killer line-up at O’brien’s on the 17th. Brought to you by the fine folks at AS BUILT PR. 

The Broken River Prophet – Solo set by Adam from Allston’s sludgy americana mainstays

Mount Peru. – Acoustic set from Somerville’s up and coming "Cosmic Americana" Glam Hangover/Powerpop act Mount Peru. 

Huddled Masses – Brooding side project from Elliott (Bass) and Reuben from Guillermo Sexo.  

Summer of Aden – Breezy indie pop upstarts.

$8 // 9PM // 21+

— The Deli Staff

Deep Heaven Now 2 is taking place this weekend at PA’s Lounge and at Precinct in Union Square in Somerville. Featuring the very best of the East Coast & Mid-West Ambient/Psychedelic Rock scene. 

The second edition of Deep Heaven Now is a 2 day event starting Friday, November 12th through Saturday, November 13th! Happening outside during the day will also be a big tent with band’s merch tables and other various local vendors.

The show is also sponsored by narragansett , the first 50 people on Saturday get 2 free beers. 

Here’s the line up:  

Day 1: Friday, November 12

stage 1 – Precinct________________stage 2 – PA’s Lounge

1230am – Endless Wave_______12am- Electric Zeus
1130pm – Quiet Loudly (NY)___11pm-MMOSS
1030pm – Transient___________10pm – QUILT
930pm – Hadoken_____________9pm- Herbcraft (ME)
830pm – Night Fruit___________8pm- Mind Yeti

Day 2: Satuday, November 13
stage 1: – Precinct________________stage 2 – PA’s Lounge

12am – 28 Degrees Taurus_____1130pm – The December Sound
11pm – Gospel Gossip (MN)____1030pm-Screen Vinyl Image (DC)
10pm – The Vandelles (NYC)__930pm- Bobb Trimble & the Flying Spiders
9pm – Roh Delikat___________830pm-Sounds of Kaleidoscope (PA)
8pm – Brief Candles (WI)_______730pm – Ghost Box Orchestra
7pm – Dirty Dishes____________630pm – Dead Leaf Echo (NY)
6pm – The Crushing Low______530pm – Joe Turner & 7 Levels
5pm – MMOSS
4pm – Amoroso
3pm – Second Day Venom

Check out Rubblebucket’s new video! They will be playing tonight at the Middle East with The Rex Complex. Welcome them home by checking out an awesome bill. Rubblebucket will be releasing their new EP, Triangular Daisies. Both bands have recently re-located to New York, but both are "from the area". We miss you guys!

— The Deli Staff

This is why I do what I do; why I spend endless hours searching for new music on the Internet, at the record shops and in clubs. I’ve seen more great shows than I can ever count (plenty of terrible ones too), but every once in a while I get turned on to something truly exceptional. Otis Grove falls into the latter category, and if their new album, The Runk, didn’t prove it on its own, their CD release party at the Lizard Lounge did.  (Continued.  Read the full review here.)