Because I don’t have enough to do with the whole “local rock god” thing, the good people over at Boston Band Crush have given me my own advice column! Check out the debut of “Dear Boogie” at 9:26am this morning!
If you’re in need of some advice, hit me up at dearboogie@bostonbandcrush.com. I promise to change your life.
This past Tuesday night at the Middle East Upstairs was yet another special night in the life of your boy Brendo. Boston Band Crush hosted a One Night Band reunion with my OTHER band, the Champagne of Bands.
As opposed to last time when we only had one day to write three songs and learn a cover, the Champagne of Bands actually rehearsed TWICE before this show. I know, I know – but we’re perfectionists like that.
The cool part of this show was that each of us performed with our individual projects before the reunion. Duncan Wilder Johnson did his spoken word thing, delivering hilarious and touching stories of heavy metal and friendship. Bo Barringer played solo. On bass. It was unbelievably compelling and innovative. Sidewalk Driver played a beautiful acoustic set, including a cover of Sade’s “Smooth Operator.” And Kuuluuko brought the house down with a scorching blues/rock set.
As for us, the Best Intentions were once again down a man, but Jason Dunn of The Luxury ably stepped in. Not to brag or nuttin, but we felt pretty g-darn good about our performance. We brought the rock and roll to this sleepy town on a Tuesday night like it hasn’t been broughten in a wee bit.
Here was the problem – I gave it all during my set… completely forgetting that I had to play ANOTHER set with my OTHER band. In that brief moment in between the two sets, I realized exactly how old and decrepit I really am.
Luckily, playing with the fellas in Champagne of Bands gets the adrenaline pumping. Here’s our first song, “Boston Band Crush: The Song (a.k.a. Ode to Sophia)”:
And here’s the new song we wrote for the occasion, aptly entitled “Reunion”:
Not to get all sensitive on you, but I do feel very fortunate to have been randomly placed in this band with these four guys. I’m grateful to not only have them as bandmates, but as friends. This is definitely not the last you’ve seen of the Champagne of Bands.
That’s right – another interview with a Champagne of Bands-mate. Today’s victim? Sidewalk Driver frontman Tad McKitterick:
Tad took a moment before his New York City show to answer a few of my stupid questions over email…
Brendan Boogie: I’ll start with the question that’s on everyone’s mind – what has been your favorite part about working with me?
Tad McKitterick: Your cologne is very appealing to me.
BB: You are the front man of the great Sidewalk Driver. In the Champagne of Bands, you had to share the stage with some of Boston’s most charismatic front men. I have a two-part question: a) What was it like to be so thoroughly outshined? and b) Are you going to cry about it?
TM: I don’t think of it as being outshined, I think of it as if I were, let’s say, Ron Jeremy, getting nailed by Jeff Stryker all whilst jerking-off Peter North. I mean everybody wins (except the audience). And yes I’m gonna cry about it. Tears of fuckin pure joy.
BB: Why don’t you give my lovely readers a brief history of your band and your creative endeavors over the past two decades or so.
TM: 2 decades ago I was 13. Singing Queensryche and Judas Priest songs in my bedroom. That’s pretty much stayed the same for the past 2 decades. Then came Sidewalk Driver.
BB: If you were to give each member of the Champagne of Bands a “For The Love of Ray J”-style nickname, what would they be?
TM: Bo – Lashes
Brendan – Fluffy
Cullen – Popeye
Duncan – Gatling
BB: What was your favorite memory of One Night Band?
TM: Other than the actual show, it would be Duncan saying “I’ve never written a song with ‘oohs’,” and Brendan replying “I’ve never written a song without them’.”
BB: Seriously, in a band full of frontmen, who do you think is the actual best frontman in the Champagne of Bands? No one’s reading this. It’s just between you and me, pal.
TM: I’m sure that Duncan, in his element, would be hard to top. So. Much. Intensity.
BB: Other than the Champagne of Bands reunion, what do you have in store in the future for us?
TM: An erotic/fun history facts calendar.
BB: What are you most looking forward to about this Tuesday’s Champagne of Bands reunion at the Middle East Upstairs?
TM: Wednesday.
Check out Sidewalk Driver’s excellent new album “For All The Boys and Girls,” available at the band’s website.
Quick update: the inimitable Ashley over at Boston Band Crush has put up a little “crush” on our band over at the site. Check it out here.
Also, Ms. Rita Cary at 92.5FM the River will be spinning us tonight at 10pm as part of the Homegrown Showcase tonight at 10pm. Listen on old-fashioned radio or on the newfangled web at www.wxrv.com.
Finally, the Oscars have snubbed me once again. I thought I was excellent in the director’s cut of Avatar as the guy in the back row yelling “Less talking, more bloobs!” (Bloobs are blue boobs.)
Those of you who are not a regular checker of Boston Band Crush… what the fuck? They’ve got all the news and updates you need to follow what’s happening around the Boston music scene. So seriously… what the fuck?
As this is the time of year for such things, the good folks over there have been asking local rock luminaries to contribute their year-end lists. Here’s me having a little fun at the expense of that asshole Mike from The Motion Sick:
Knowing Mike, revenge will be slow and bitter.
