I haven’t seen John Shade play with the Neave Quartet yet, even though he had a month long residency at the Armory, a few other shows around town and played the May Fair (I even went out into the crowd to check it out and missed it, when I got there some 15 year old kid was singing “Skid Row” from Little Shop of Horrors.) His debut album, All You Love Is Need, does not include the quartet, but it is still a beautiful album. The songs are light and funny but if you listen closely to the lyrics you’ll hear that the songs are fueled by melancholy and loneliness. Kind of like Jon Brion, but with less glockenspiel (Brion has also been known to use string quartets too.)

My favorite song off the album is “Tragedy” which I’ve been digging for a while now. I heard him sing it at a Sub Rosa show at the Lizard Lounge (Where he is also having a residency on Tuesdays in May). It floored me. "Tragedy" is beautifully composed, the melody is languid and sunshiny like a Van Morrison song, although the lyrics are heart-breakingly, well, tragic. His song, “I Hate the World (and Everyone in it)” always gets a laugh at shows. It’s actually a very depressing song despite the hopefully climatic melody, which is awesome.

But again, I haven’t seen him play in way too long. I always miss his shows, which is why I’m asking you all to go make up for my lack of not going. All You Love is Need is one of the best albums I’ve heard lately, John Shade is one of my favorite area musicians and without a doubt, he has the best sense of humor.

You can hear a track he recorded with the Neave Quartet HERE. He’s got two more weeks of the residency left, he plays with Viskesh Kapoor (May 11), and Jocie Adams from The Low Anthem (May 18). Lizard Lounge 1667 Mass Ave Cambridge, MA

–Meghan Chiampa

Dressed in a crumpled white button-down shirt, trousers, and a belt, singer/songwriter Dietrich Strause looked a little like a weary nine-to-fiver when he took the stage at the Lizard Lounge last night, but this unassuming demeanor is exactly what gives the Oberlin graduate his signature modest stage presence. A twinkle in his eye suggests that he sees a kind of humor in the situation, but his shoulders hang heavy with the weight of the observational wisdom that unfurls in his masterfully crafted songs. "As if being an acoustic guitarist/singer/songwriter weren’t obvious enough," Dietrich hesitantly thought out loud into the microphone, "I guess you could say that I’m a pretty sensitive guy. I love puppies, and this is a song about dog-walking." Unsurprisingly, the song was not just about dog-walking.

In a completely non-pejorative way, Dietrich Strause is a geek. "Jean-Louise," a song he wrote about Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, is evidence enough that this is a guy who reads. "Run along, Jean Louise, while you’re still a child," Dietrich urges, echoing the sort of perspective and insight that would sound right at home coming from Atticus Finch himself. Dietrich’s intricate, feathery-light guitar playing and smooth, clear vocals bring him aesthetically closer to folk than lit-rock, strictly speaking, but lyrically, his bibliophilic style is reminiscent of poetry-prose artists like The Weakerthans or The Decemberists. "Smart" music can sometimes run the risk of coming off erudite and snobbish, but Dietrich seems like the boy next door who breathes clean, country air. Comparisons to Paul Simon come to mind, but Dietrich probably already knows that, given his spot-on cover of "American Tune." The highlight of the evening, though, was probably "Nuns with Guns," Dietrich’s answer to Bob Dylan’s "It’s Alright, Ma" with the added bonus of a memorable sing-along chanty-style chorus. Word on the street is that Dietrich is an expert trumpeter, too; the only disappointment of last night’s show, then, is that he didn’t somehow figure out a way to play trumpet and sing at the same time. Maybe someday.

Dietrich Strause will be at No Place Special in Mashpee on May 22nd

–Stephie Coplan

Bring Our Music Back Festival (B.O.M.B.) will bring together the most promising bands in the Northeast as well as nationally recognized names on May 30th at Durham Fairgrounds in Durham, CT. Frankie Bombaci states on the home site for the festival that B.O.M.B started with the small idea of "“Hey, what if I bring some up and coming local bands and let them play at the same scene with some well-known gigs?" The festival is headlined by Lupe Fiasco, Of Montreal and Jay Electronica. The festival will also feature some stellar local bands such as M.T. Bearington, (New Haven, CT) The Band Eclypse, (Scarsdale, NY) The Shills (Boston, MA) and Clarias (Boston, MA).

Another great thing about B.O.M.B festival is the inexpensive ticket price (A one-day advance ticket price of $50). What is done with the profits is even better than the price itself. A percentage of the money goes to foundations such as The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and The Connecticut Children’s Hospital. Last year’s festivities raised $30,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Deli will be attending this year’s festival so come find us and say hello!

You can purchase tickets HERE – $50 advance $60 dos
B.O.M.B Festival – Durham Fairgrounds in Durham, CT

–Nicholas Palumbo

Tomorrow Burlington ambient/drone music label Mars Pyramid will be celebrating their Spring batchof releases with a pretty sweet lineup of people at the Radio Bean starting at 11pm and rolling until about 2am. Label owner VIKOMT will be heading up the night along side Lendway’s Kevin Lynam, a collaboration between the two called Antaeus, as well as Yellow Knife, and local fuzzy alt rockers Ghost Weapons. Releases include VIKOMT’s Twilight Visions, Alma Daae’s Wormwood Star, and Kevin Lynam’s Tune Cloud. Check the MP site for details. Going to be a pretty sweet night.

–The Deli Staff

Brothers McCann is a folk-pop roots group who describe themselves as "…a “ground-up” New England band through and through." Brothers McCann has influences of Ben Harper and moe. type roots, but with more funk and soul and less jamband sap. Their debut release Different Colors is made out of 100% organic materials (!!!) and they are selling it for only 10 bucks. They will be playing Radio Bean on Friday the 30th and Johnny D’s on May 6th. These guys are down with the New England scene and successfully capture the beauty, energy and diversity of the area with their sound.

Radio Bean  – 8 N. Winooski Ave. Burlington, VT

Johnny D’s – 17 Holland St. Davis Sq Somerville MA

—The Deli Staff

 The WBCN Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble is a timeless tradition in Boston. With the recent demise of WBCN, Rob Potylo has decided to revive the contest, but in a non-traditional fashion. The WBCN Rumble had a reputation to promote local bands in a competitive way through an elimination contest even though they rarely played local music on their station. WBCN has a place in my heart. I don’t know what that place looks like, possibly my bedroom at age fifteen listening to Nik Carter’s show writing angry notes (that would be folded into hearts) to my friends about what a stupid bastard Nik Carter is and wondering who is picking this music? As grunge died off and corporate America consumed the music business, the station turned to crap and died. The Rumble this Thursday is in celebration of local music and the Boston music community. I will be one of the "judges". Come rejoice with the sounds of:
HUMANWINE
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
Rob Potylo (Full-band)
KING HELL

Quiet Desperation is a sitcom about the Boston music scene. Check out episode nineteen above.

Great Scott – Allston MA 8pm, 8 bucks, 18+

–Meghan Chiampa

Rubblebucket will be releasing a new single along with three remixes on April 29th at Higher Ground in South Burlington, Vermont and online everywhere. It’s called "Came Out of a Lady" Hard copies will be available at all their upcoming shows in the Northeast as well as nationally. This is the first episode of a new series called "MASTERS From Their Day" where it shows the formation of the song "Came Out of a Lady" which took only six hours to make and record.

The show at Higher Ground will also feature Vermont’s Tooth Ache and Villanelles.

All Ages

$10 adv/$15 dos

Doors 8PM

Tooth Ache 8:30 Villanelles 9:15 Rubblebucket 10PM.

–The Deli Staff

Will Etheridge, founder of Portland’s Eternal Otter Records recently released Death, Rebirth and Transformation, a small collection of vinyl singles performed by Portland locals, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Cerberus Shoal and Blaque Boose. He’s been a strong influence of Portland’s music scene.

Deli: When you moved to Portland in 2008, what was your first impression of the music scene? What has changed since your arrival?

Will Etheridge: I moved in next door to an old friend of mine, John Fountain, who was a musician involved in the scene and he helped introduce me to a lot of great bands. I was just immediately blown away by the quality of the music. I hosted a radio show in college and now DJ for WSCA 106.1 fm in Portsmouth, so I’m constantly listening to new music – and I honestly believe some of the best stuff is being made in the little city of Portland, Maine.

Read the whole interview by Meghan Chiampa HERE

I’m proud to announce SOS (Save Our Store) fundrasier for It’s a Gift this weekend in Somerville during the open studios. The line-up is amazing and I’m so happy to see bands from all over New England supporting their community and the arts. There are even bands from Vermont and Western Mass. It’s a Gift is a store which sells crafts and clothes made by people with physical and mental disabilities which needs support to remain open due to financial troubles.

Here’s the line-up:

Saturday May 1st: 1:00-Jaime Farnan. 1:30 (*)., 2:00, Michael Bernier/ The Evolvement. 2:45, Danielle Doyle. 3:30, Christoph Krey/McAlister Drive. 4:45, Black Rose. 5:30, Jason Scolnick/Shakyfoot. 6:15, Brad Shur. 6:30, Brad Shur. 6:45, Yoni Gordon.

Sunday May 2nd: 1:00, Mary Casiello. 1:45, Brendan Hogan. 2:30, Axiom. 3:00, Ghost Quartet. 3:45, Justin Emile/Big East. 4:30, Fully Powered Halo. 5:15, Peter Bertrand/Stop Gravity. 6:00, Sarah Privlar. 6:15 Stephie Coplan. 6:45, OTP. 7:15, Slow Loris.

$5 suggested donation to save It’s a Gift.

29 Union Square Somerville, MA

–The Deli Staff

When Dan Shea of Bodies of Water Shows last put together a Round Robin the bill included current world conquerors, Beach House and other indie greats. TONIGHT  he brings his Midas touch to Jamaica Plain for the Boston Underground Summit II. Ten bands will set up in one room, play a song each, round and round, for the whole show. It’s like a real life mixtape, stocked with some of the best underground music talent in New England. Look for the sonic surf of Young Adults, the post-rock glitchcore of Truman Peyote, the psych sounds of Quilt, and many more. It’s all happening TONIGHT!

Line up as follows:

Prince Rama of Ayodhya
Viva Viva
Quilt
Truman Peyote
The Scamps
Big Big Bucks
Theory Engine
Young Adults
Lord Jeff 

The Temple – 670 Centre St.
Jamaica Plain, MA – all ages – 10 bux – 7pm-1am
(on the 39 bus line, or Orange Line to Green St.)

 –Mike Gutierrez

Laminated Cat is an eclectic band originally from Boston but says their roots are in Coastal Maine. They carry a sound with includes the strangeness of Daniel Johnston, the rock of The Velvet Underground and the creativity The Flaming Lips. Laminated Cat is just what indie music needs, something completely different. Their songs range from calm space-songs like "Grenadine", a sweet song with light, flowery harmonic vocals to the hard-hitting, ingeniously written "Kill ’em Shorty" with angry keys, angst-ridden 70’s garage guitar and creepy, desperate vocals. Laminated Cat is playing tonight with Generationals and the m’f’in’ Apples in Stereo at the Middle East Downstairs. I highly, highly recommend this show. Honestly, Laminated Cat is one of the best bands I’ve heard since I started the Deli New England.

–Meghan Chiampa

Hard-rocking and aptly titled Aloud is touring around New England promoting their sophmore album Fan the Fury. Aloud will be playing two shows next weekend. One at TT’s (Look at that line-up!!! BAH!)  and another at Geno’s in Portland. I saw them play at the Rock and Roll Rumble in 2007 and they were incredible.

Friday, April 30th, 2010
TT The Bears
10 Brookline Street, Central Square, Cambridge, MA
Doors at 9:00pm, Aloud at 9:05pm
with Flying Machines, The Lights Out & Everyday Visuals
$10, 18+

Saturday, May 1, 2010
Geno’s
625 Congress Street, Portland, ME
Doors at 9:30pm, Aloud at 11:00pm
with aLEX kEATON & Metal Feathers
$5, 21+

–Meghan Chiampa