Loving and Listening
Thursday, Mar. 2
Polysics, Los Abandoned, The Thieves, The Mediks
Berbati’s Pan, 9:30 p.m. $7 adv. $8 DOS. 21+
Two words: anime cheerleaders. Ok, so more words: Polysics play crazy Japanese electro-punk that’s probably not very listenable outside of a live context, but there’s nothing like anime cheerleaders to get your feet to movin’.
Friday, Mar. 3
Animal Collective
Wonder Ballroom, 8 p.m. $13.50. All Ages.
Those expecting a bunch of live versions of songs off Animal Collective’s latest album Feels are probably in for a rude awakening. The AC are notorious for playing mostly new material live, and that new material could range from experimental weirdness to strange but catchy psych-pop and a lot that falls in between. Granted, yelling out requests for "Grass" and "Daffy Duck" all night just might be the motivation the band needs to let go of their snobby "creativity" and play some songs you know.
Robyn Hitchcock, Minus 5
Doug Fir, 9 p.m. $18 adv. $20 DOS. 21+
Without Robyn Hitchcock, there would be no Colin Meloy, but if you’re sick of the ubiquitous Decemberists frontman, don’t blame Hitchcock. As the leader of the British cult band the Soft Boys, Hitchcock represented for the musical weirdoes who thought "Visions of Johanna" was cooler than any Clash song. Since then, he’s been recording a string of amazing solo albums full of odd wordplay and packed with hooks. Even if you don’t go to this show, go buy a new or used copy of Jewels for Sophia; you won’t be disappointed.
Saturday, Mar. 4
Matt Pond PA, Youth Group, Parks and Recreation
Doug Fir, 9 p.m. $9 adv. $10 DOS. 21+
Matt Pond PA does a terrible cover of Oasis’ "Champagne Supernova." It’s awful and sucks all the swagger out of the original. Couldn’t someone have told him that the song’s about doing coke and partying? According to Ben Gibbard, if you don’t like Youth Group, you’re "dead inside." I guess I’m dead inside.
Sunday, Mar. 5
Stereolab, Hot Chip
Wonder Ballroom, 8 p.m. $16. All Ages.
Chances are, you like one of Stereolab’s dozens of albums. The band’s mix of Krautrock, cocktail music and electronics is always enchanting, though you’d be forgiven for thinking their records start to sound alike. But that’s not a terrible thing, especially
when the blueprint that keeps being repeated is so good.
Monday, Mar. 6
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Willy Mason,
Whispertown 2000
Aladdin Theater, 8 p.m. $15. All Ages.
I saw Jenny Lewis on “The Late Late Show” with Craig Ferguson last night. She performed "Rise Up With Fists," a Dylan-esque (or maybe Jackson Browne-esque) put-down song that was absolutely amazing. The song was stripped down from its album version and it sounded gorgeous and spare. Lewis’ delivery managed to be fiery, sad and resigned all at once. If her live show is anything like I saw, this should be an absolutely stunning show.
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