We Were There :: Telekinesis|The Love Language| & Slowdim @ T.T. The Bears

There's something utterly unique about seeing bands play inside the confines of T.T.The Bears place in Central Square. Weather it's the history of the room, we once saw Paul Westerberg perform under the alias Thadeus Moonbeam to a packed house of 250 sweaty patrons in 93'. Or perhaps it's the fact that you can find the evenings performers hanging out at the bar pre and post show. Or is it the fact that we have yet to see a sub par performance at 10 Brookline street?

As you may have read on these pages last week we were eager to witness the first ever live performance from Slowdim. The Boston trio ran through their recently released Spirals EP and displayed their penchant for smart indie pop. The band began their set as duo with fronter Paul Sentz and bassist Karina Dacosta covering some the bands quieter material before drummer Ethan Cannon joined in for the remainder of the set which culminated with a jaw dropping version of Don't Cough me Out. An impressive jumping off point from one of our city's most promising new bands.

We were vaguely familiar with North Carolina's The Love Language going into this show, however what had heard we liked. Live the band jettisons the mid-fi sounds of their debut, in favor gothic twang and classic pop hooks. A performance that caused us to make a trip to the bands merch table for a copy of their Merge Records debut, Libraries. Something we should have done months ago, shame on us.

With his drum kit front and center Telekinesis mastermind Micheal Benjamin Lerner took to the stage flanked by Bassist Jason Narducy and guitarist Cody Votolato to put the cap on a Merge-centric evening. Drawing heavily from the excellent and just released, 12 Desperate Straight Lines LP, as well as selected tracks bands self titled debut. The band tore through a raucous and exhilarating set only slowing occasionally for Lerner to pick up a guitar as he did for I Saw Lightning and to assemble his buddies in The Love Language for a blistering cover of the GBV classic Game of Pricks. The evening was put to bed when Telekinesis returned to the stage one last time to play Coast of Carolina which prompted everyone in the room to raise a glass and sing along with Lerner's every word. A sweaty beer drenched Tuesday night never sounded better.

*photos taken with one of our crappy smart phones, due to the SLR being on the fritz.

Slowdim|The Love Language|Telekinesis

This Weeks Short Bursts::
Lifeguards, Telekinesis, & Hallelujah The Hills

With two solo releases and a Circus Devils album already issued this year and an upcoming release from Boston Spaceships due next week, one things clear, the reunion of the Guided by Voices' classic line up has not altered Bob Pollard's hyper prolific release schedule. Come February Pollard will release Waving At The Astronauts with Lifeguards, a collaboration with former (late era) GBV guitarist Doug Gillard. We'll get our first listen to the forthcoming album when Serious Business Records releases the Product Head 7" b/w Naught Windsor on October 5th. Waving At Astronauts is the follow up to Lifeguards debut LP, Mist King Urth.

[MP3/Stream] Circus Devils - Bam Bam Bam from Mother Skinny

Telekinesis a.k.a Micheal Benjamin Lerner has teamed up with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin for a 15 city tour that kicked off this week at Firebird in St. Louis and makes a stop in the Boston area next Tuesday at TT The Bears. Lerners' Telekinesis' will come armed with songs off the bands excellent 2009 debut as well as the just issued Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP. The new 5 song EP will be officially released on October 26, however the digital version is on sale now at the bands label, Merge Records. The EP compiles the Dirty Thing 7" as well as a couple of covers, including a damn fine version of GBV's Game of Pricks.

[Video] Telekinesis - Dirty Thing

Boston's indie pop giants, Hallelujah The Hills premiered a new video for Put The Gurus in Charge earlier this week which led to us revisiting their ace sophomore release, Colonial Drones. It's no wonder it placed so high on our year end list. The band have announced a fall tour with two local dates that bookend the upcoming trek, including an appearance at this years Allston Village Street Fair. Also in a message posted last month Hallelujah The Hills lynchpin, Ryan Walsh asked bands to send him instrumental tracks that he can provide lyrics, melodies, and vocals for. The goal being a free download album to be posted at the bands site, sometime in the not too distant future. More information on the experimental recording project can be had at the bands site.

Update- 4:15 PM: Hallelujah The Hills will play a free show tonight at The Distillery Gallery in South Boston.

HTH Live Dates:
September 12, 2010 Allston, MA Allston Village Street Fair
September 16, 2010 New Haven, CT Lilly's Pad
September 17, 2010 New York, NY The Mercury Lounge
September 18, 2010 Charlottesville, VA Tea Bazaar
September 19, 2010 Philadelphia, PA The M Room
October 14, 2010 Danbury, CT Cousin Larry's
October 15, 2010 Rochester, NY The Bug Jar
October 16, 2010 Youngstown, OH Lemon Grove Cafe
October 17, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Garfield Art Works
October 30, 2010 Allston, MA Great Scott