Local News Roundup: September 2

Passion Pit, BMS’ 2009 Band of the Year, are getting read to start at work on a followup to their full-length debut, Manners. In a recent interview with NME at England’s V Festival, frontman Michael Angelakos described the new material as “really fantastic, exciting, beautiful, gorgeous record”. Fans can expect the new album to drop next Spring as the band is hoping to align its release  with the Farmers’ Almanac. Watch the full interview here.

We’re a few months away from the Hometown Throwdown but fans of the The Mighty Mighty Bosstones will probably want to head down to Connecticut on Saturday to see the band open for Aerosmith at Mohegan Sun Arena. It’s been nearly 17 years since the “Plaid Boys of Boston” shared the stage with “Bad Boys of Boston” at the old Boston Garden. Tickets are still available for $135 and $185.

Americana standouts Kingsley Flood got the ‘NPR bump’ after their 13-minute feature on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday, Aug 22. The band’s debut album, Dust Windows, hit #1 on Amazon’s Movers & Shakers (biggest gainers), Folk Rock, and Roots Rock categories (and almost two weeks later, it remains at #13 and #7 on the latter). It also charted at #48 on iTunes (between Vampire Weekend and Bob Marley). You can also hear the band’s hit single “Cul De Sac” used frequently in commercials for WBZ-TV news.

Mission Hill will kick off a Thursday night residency at Hennessy’s Hooley House tonight with help from Shadwell, Audrey Can’t Die and Evey’s Late Night Dinner. The pop-rock standouts will play the next four Thursdays with a wide array of supporting acts. 25 Pearl, Twin Berlin, and Alex Paraschos will play on the 9th, Biscuits N’ Gravy will play on the 16th, Project Blue Book, T4 House Band, and Stuedabakerbrown play the 23rd while Six Day Slide, Leaders Led, and Kings of Crisis help bring it to an end on September 30. Admission is $10. Also, be sure to listen into the band’s set on WMBR’s “Droppin’ Knowledge” with Joeg next Thursday, September 9 at 4 p.m.

Spending the summer trekking across the country as part of the Vans Warped Tour, Far From Finished released their new album, Forgetabble, this past Tuesday. Combining everything from a string quartet to a children’s choir to craft their most ambitious collection of tracks to date, the band will play celebrate the album’s release with a show at the Middle East Downstairs on Saturday. The Have Nots, Burning Streets and Lenny Lashley of Darkbuster will open the show, which will also mark the band’s last before spending the remainder of the Fall overseas touring throughout Europe.

The Heritage Farm Ice Cream and Restaurant Summer Concert Series will come to a close on Monday, September 6 with a great night of live music to benefit both The Merrimack Valley Food Bank and The Lowell Humane Society. Air Traffic Controller will headline the show, which also features guitarist Matt Jackson and singer-songwriter Liz Longley. All those planning to attend should bring non-perishable food donations and/or pet food and supplies to the event.

Brad and Andrew Barr of The Slip have released a new self-produced album as The Barr Brothers. The band is describing their ten song self-titled debut as a “hushed Americana and future-primitive delta blues lined with classical motifs and West African poly-rhythms”. The brothers are bolstered by the harp playing of Sarah Page (Lhasa de Sela, Amon Tobin) and bass work of Miles Perkin (Lhasa de Sela, Jorane). Check out the band and form your opinion when they play a free show at the The House of Blues Foundation Room on Wednesday, September 8.

iLa Mawana have had quite a a busy year of touring since the release of their debut full-length album Soldiers Of Sound in may. Next Thursday, September 9, the Boston-based octet will play their biggest hometown show yet, opening for Collie Buddz at the House Of Blues.

The Cover-Up Series continues next weekend with a two-night tribute to the Traveling Wilburys. Hosted by Brendan Boogie and co-organized by Andrea Kremer, the Cover-Up is a live music series, where stars of the Boston music scene pay tribute to favorites from the past. Next weekend’s shows at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge will pay tribute not only to the Traveling Wilburys but also to each of the member’s own bands. Kingsley Flood will perform as Bob Dylan, Jason Dunn of The Luxury will take on George Harrison, Spirit Kid will play Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Mercy James honors Jeff Lynne and Brendan Boogie does Roy Orbison. Each will play individual sets before they all join in for a grand finale of Traveling Wilburys tunes.

Of course, selfishly, we ask that you attend night #2 of the above. Why? The 3rd Annual BMS Battle of the Bands is on Friday! With the Johnny Lingo Band, Kingston 530, Streight Angular, Veneer and the Whiskey Poet Band all set to compete, this is sure to be a great night of music. Beyond the glory of victory, the 2009 BMS Battle of the Bands winner will receive over $5,000 in prizes and join the company of Shadwell and Hello Mahalo as BMS Battle of the Bands Champions. Join us at Oliver’s Nightclub for $10 or send us email for the chance to win free tickets! The show starts promptly at 8.