An Evening With...

Album Reviews & Concert Photography by Timothy Patrick Boyer.

[aneveningwith]

My Top 10 Albums of 2015

1. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

Favorite Track(s): Pedestrian at Best; Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party

2. Leon Bridges – Coming Home

Favorite Track(s): Twistin’ & Groovin’; River

3. My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall

Favorite Track(s): In Its Infancy (The Waterfall)

4. Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material

Favorite Track(s): Dime Store Cowgirl; Somebody To Love

5. Ryan Adams – 1989

Favorite Track(s): Out of the Woods

6. Houndmouth – Little Neon Limelight

Favorite Track(s): Black Gold; Gasoline

7. The Lone Bellow – Then Came the Morning

Favorite Track(s): Watch Over Us

8. Mumford & Sons – Wilder Mind

Favorite Track(s): Monster

9. The Ballroom Thieves – A Wolf in the Doorway

Favorite Track(s): Here I Stand; Bullet

10. Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool

Favorite Track(s): Your Loves Whore; You’re a Germ

Honorable Mentions (Rounding Out My Top 25, In Alphabetical Order): Alabama Shakes’ Sound & Color; Brandi Carlile’s The Firewatcher’s Daughter; Chris Stapleton’s Traveller; Dwight Yoakam’s Second Hand Heart; Faith No More's Sol Invictus; Father John Misty's I Love Your, Honeybear; Florence + The Machine's How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful; Grace Potter's Midnight; JD McPherson's Let the Good Times Roll; Josh Ritter's Sermon on the Rocks; Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats' Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; The Decemberists' What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World; The Tallest Man on Earth's Dark Bird is Home; twenty one pilots' Blurryface; Wilco's Star Wars.

Note: These were chosen out of the 150-ish albums I listened to in their entirety throughout 2015.

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

[aneveningwith]

My Top 10 Albums of 2014

1. Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker

Favorite Track(s): Wicked Waters; Spoon Out My Eyeballs

2. Hozier - Hozier

Favorite Track(s): Angel Of Small Death And The Codeine Scene; Foreigner's God

3. Broken Bells - After the Disco

Favorite Track(s): Leave It Alone; The Angel and the Fool

4. Spoon - They Want My Soul

Favorite Track(s): Outlier; New York Kiss; Knock Knock Knock

5. Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World

Favorite Track(s): White is Red; Right On, Frankenstein!

6. Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways

Favorite Track(s): The Feast and the Famine; Congregation

7. Royal Blood - Royal Blood

Favorite Track(s): Ten Tonne Skeleton; Blood Hands

8. St. Vincent - St. Vincent

Favorite Track(s): Birth in Reverse

9. Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots

Favorite Track(s): The Selfish Giant; Photographs (You Are Taking Now)

10. Jack White - Lazaretto

Favorite Track(s): Alone in My Home; That Black Bat Licorice

Honorable Mentions (the handful that kept shifting into and ultimately out of the 8, 9, and 10 spots): First Aid Kit's Stay Gold; Old Crow Medicine Show's Remedy; Ryan Adams' 1984; Shakey Graves' And the War Came; Taylor Swift's 1989; and Trampled by Turtles' Wild Animals.

Not the best year for music, especially seeing now how epic 2015 is looking to be, but there were several great albums atop the rest of 'em.

Merry Christmas!! And Happy New Year!! (I'm making An Evening With... a priority in 2015, so be on the lookout.)

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer

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Zac Brown Band #1 - Comcast Center - 8.15.13

(Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013)

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The Avett Brothers: “I and Love and You” - Newport Folk Festival - 7.27.13

(Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013)

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My Top 10 Albums of 2013

1. The Lone Bellow - The Lone Bellow

Favorite Track(s): Green Eyes and a Heart of Gold; Bleeding Out

2. Kings of Leon - Mechanical Bull

Favorite Track(s): Beautiful War

3. Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse

Favorite Track(s): Late March, Death March

4. Josh Ritter - The Beast in Its Tracks

Favorite Track(s): A Certain Light; Nightmares

5. The Virginmarys - King of Conflict

Favorite Track(s): Bang Bang Bang; You've Got Your Money, I've Got My Soul

6. Lorde - Pure Heroine

Favorite Track(s): Ribs

7. Arctic Monkeys - AM

Favorite Track(s): Do I Wanna Know?; No. 1 Party Anthem

8. The Head and the Heart - Let's Be Still

Favorite Track(s): Another Story; 10,000 Weight in Gold

9. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

Favorite Track(s): Flashbulb Eyes; Here Comes the Night Time: It's Never Over (Oh Orpheus)

10. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Favorite Track(s): Giorgio by Moroder

Merry Christmas!! And Happy New Year!!!

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

[throughdigitaleyes]

Saw the amazing Parkington Sisters at Fete Lounge in Providence this Friday night. Such an amazing show. I didn’t go intending on taking pictures, and I didn’t (these are the only two keepers, and even they’re only ‘meh’). This was my first time seeing this band as a headliner (fifth time total), and I just wanted to have a good time; it was an intimate, low-key show, so that’s how I treated it. I sat back, had a few drinks and got lost in this talented band and their beautiful voices. Their final song, Sail Home (?), is still lingering within me; so damn gorgeous.

(Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013)

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Paul McCartney - Fenway Park - 7.9.13

I worked security for this show.

I love working Fenway shows. Most of what we do is check tickets to make sure people are where they're supposed to be and watch the show. (That's most of what we do in general, but even more so at Fenway.)

Last night was especially easy, though. The crowd was mostly polite, and overall very cooperative. They made my life easy. And even more, they made it easy for me to enjoy the show.

Paul's been doing mostly the same show for a while now. The stories he told here were the same stories I remember from his 2009 Fenway visit; Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, the intro to Here Today, etc.

But I'm not complaining, they're all good stories and the audience eats them up. He's a Beatle for God's sake...

Highlights: The Let It Be into Live and Let Die into Hey Jude portion of the show was absolutely breathtaking. Outside of that, though, I have to say the highlight of the show, for me, was Paul giving us All Together Now and Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (I Saw Her Standing There ending the first encore was pretty amazing, too.)

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

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Dispatch Great Woods - Comcast Center - 6.8.13

I watched Guster's set, but don't have any pictures and have very little to say other than they exist. I'm not a fan and wasn't made one by this show. They weren't terrible, they weren't great, they just were.

Now Dispatch, they are just perfection. Every time I see them is a religious experience. This time? No different.

The set list was chock-full. From Passerby to the Railway tag in Here We Go. From Lightning to the set ending with Josaphine into Bats in the Belfry into The General. They were just on in a way that made me forget about just how messy and disappointing Circles Around the Sun is.

Even Pete showed up! (Mentally, that is.)

Highlights: The encore was great. Cut It Ya Match It with a For What It's Worth tag was very entertaining, and ending the show with Elias is always (always) satisfying. Throwing a stellar rendition of my favorite song (Flying Horses) between them? Amazing. That's not it, though. The tags throughout the night were just mind-blowing. The aforementioned Railway (in Here we Go) and For What It's Worth (in Cut It Ya Match It) were only the tip; Out Loud into Mrs. Robinson was pure bliss, and Friend of the Devil in Bang Bang was the stuff that dreams are made of.

Who am I kidding, the whole show was a highlight. (Of course, being at the barricade doesn't hurt the experience any.)

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

All Photos by Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013.

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Josh Ritter - HOB Boston - 5.16.13

Briefly: The Felice Brothers do absolutely nothing for me.

Josh Ritter on the other hand...

One of the happiest performances I've ever seen. This guy just wouldn't stop smiling, and I loved every second of it. Extremely contagious attitude mixed with a phenomenal set made for a great night.

I haven't been a fan of Josh's for too long (before The Beast in Its Tracks, I had only even heard a random sampling of his songs, and even then not too much), but since the release of his newest album I've been devouring everything Ritter I can get. Now, having seen him, I'm a fan for life.

Highlights: A completely unplugged rendition of In the Dark. Ritter howling on his knees during Wolves is a close second.

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

All Photos by Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013.

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A Benefit for Boston... - HOB Boston - 4.28.13

This being a day show kinda threw me off, really. That, and there was a Sox game that afternoon, also. Because of these factors, I took the commuter rail into Boston. Because of taking the commuter rail I showed up late. Because of showing up late, I missed most of the first band's set.

Thankfully, that band was only BarRoom Heroes. I'm not saying they were bad, no. I'm just saying that missing their set wasn't anything to cry over. They're kids, all in their mid-teens and their music is the generic punk you'd expect from kids just starting out, trying to emulate their idols, who they just so happen to be opening for.

After their set, it was time for The Old Brigade. Again, a decent band that had a lot of fun performing, but I'm not writing home about how blown away I am by them. 

Next up was a band that I definitely would write home about, the Parkington Sisters. This was my fourth time seeing these girls since first seeing them open for Chadwick Stokes at The MET in 2011, and with each show they just get better and better.

Big D and the Kids Table followed them, and were probably the biggest surprise of the day. I like ska. I'm not wild about it, but I like it well enough. A couple years ago I saw Big D while working the Warped Tour and absolutely hated them... just hated them. This time, though, they were actually pretty great. Still nothing I'm running out to see every chance I get, but a solid ska performance.

Now for the big bands, State Radio and Dropkick Murphys.

I've seen State Radio more than any other band, and still, to this day, I'm blown away. (Even if the setlist is sub-par, which this one mostly was.) Chad just has an 'at home' air about him up on stage, and is so invested in his music that everything just pours out of him with such passion and authentic intensity. It was also great to be able to shoot Castro up close this time around (his gas can guitar seen above and below). Oh, and they played Mr. Larkin... that's always a treat.

Finally, it was time for the guys who made this day possible, the Dropkick Murphys.

I've seen them a few times, and every show is as solid as the one before it, just as long as it's a club show (I saw them twice at the Comcast Center... they're just not a big venue band). They're reliable, and they're a whole lot of fun.

This show, however, was different. Everything they were putting out felt like more. (More everything.) And their setlist was phenomenal. For Boston opening with the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums was breathtaking (them opening with For Boston is always breathtaking, but ten times so during this show, for this cause), Black Velvet Band and Time to Go in their main set were serious treats and ending the show with Skinhead on the MBTA into a great cover of Dirty Water into Boys on the Docks was downright perfection.

Then there was The Dirty Glass with Nora Parkington; one of my very favorite DKM songs (behind Good Rats and maybe one other) with Nora on vocals was completely mind-blowing.

All in all if was one of the best shows - if not the best show - I've seen from the Dropkick Murphys.

Add the always amazing State Radio and the fantastic Parkington Sisters to the mix, along with the others? Needless to say, it was a damn fine show, a damn fine show, indeed.

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer

All photos by Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013.

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The Virginmarys - Firehouse 13 - 4.5.13

This was the first show I had been to in quite some time where I was going solely to see the opener. A couple months before the show I stumbled upon them and within the first thirty seconds of the first song of theirs I listened to, I bought my ticket to see them live. They're incredible.

This was also my first show at Providence's Firehouse 13. It's a kinda great little club. Very small, very simple. The perfect venue for garage-friendly rock bands. The Virginmarys sounded right at home there.

Not knowing the venue I got their early but not too early, which turned out to be way, way too early. I was fine with it, though. I shot some photos of the neighborhood, then when the doors opened I got a drink and hung out by the stage.

I'm fairly certain I was the only person in the crowd who was there for The Virginmarys. Others got into them, naturally, but no one really seemed to know anything they were playing other than their one song on the radio (which is fine, because now they do). They kicked ass to put it simply. Exactly the show I was hoping for.

After their set, I spent most of the rest of the night talking with the band while the headliner, IAMDYNAMITE played. All three of the guys were grateful and extremely nice. If they want to be the next Foo Fighters or The Strokes, I'm confident they can do it. They have the talent, they're passionate/driven enough, and their music is the perfect mix of catchy and filthy.

Even though I was talking to The Virginmarys through IAMDYNAMITE's set, I was still paying attention to their show (it'd be disrespectful to ignore them completely, especially because of how good they are). They're a two-man band that pack a serious punch. If these guys get a stylist (at least the drummer), they could very well be the next The Black Keys.

Overall a great little show. If you haven't heard of The Virginmarys, search them out and have your mind blown. They deserve the fans and your ears deserve their music.

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

All Photos by Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013.

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Frightened Rabbit - Fete Ballroom - 4.3.13

This was my first show at Fete in Providence, RI. I kinda love the venue. I kinda hate the stage. There's no reason a venue as small as Fete should have a stage as high as theirs. It's completely unnecessary. Anyway, on to the show.

I was right against the aforementioned stage all night, just where I like to be for concerts.

The opening band was the kinda great Wintersleep. I enjoyed them thoroughly. Especially their last couple songs. Very good song. Look them up. You won't regret it.

Frightened Rabbit was absurd good. I love these guys on their albums, and their live sound completely makes their albums sound like shit... that's how good they sounded. Great setlist, too... even if they didn't play my favorite song.

They did play my second favorite song, Poke, though. Scott played it alone, and because of issues with his acoustic guitar setup, he did it completely unplugged. His guitar wasn't hooked up to the amps and neither was he, no mike, nothing. Just Scott and us... and it was one of those moments that make me love live music as much as I do. Pure magic.

Frightened Rabbit needs to come back around here... now. I loved this show.

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

All Photos by Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013.

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Tenacious D - Lupo's - 3.3.13

All these years and this was my first time seeing Tenacious D live... unbelievable.

I arrived fairly early (at least I thought), almost an hour before the doors. And still, I was down the block and around the corner. Again, unbelievable.

Still, though, I got a decent spot once in the venue. Right in front of the mixing board. This actually would've been a fantastic spot if I were only a few inches taller, but decent's better than awful.

A guy dressed up as the Sasquatch opened for The D. He played the guitar and some drums and did some shockingly bad-ass covers of very well-known rock songs.

Finally it was time for Jables and Kage to hit the stage. They were great. Hilarious and genuinely rockin'! My only problem was the setlist. Good enough but lacking some of my favorites. There was no Karate, no Explosivo and no Wonderboy... the omission of the first and last of those were quite shocking and saddening to me.

I'm still glad I finally got to see them live, though. However, for the price of the show, I expected all of my dreams to come true. I'd definitely see them again, just not for that kind of money.

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

All Photos by Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013.

[throughdigitaleyes]

[aneveningwith]

Me and Snake Talk about you every day. I can't wait to see your face, And he tells me he feels the same.

-Snake, Frightened Rabbit.

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Frightened Rabbit #2 - Fete Ballroom - 4.3.13

(Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013)

[aneveningwith]

A Year Ago Today...

Last April Fool's Day, I had the honor to be involved in the filming of Dispatch's music video for their first single off of their album Circles Around the Sun, Not Messin'. (Click the song title to see the video on YouTube.)

Filmed at The Mishnock Barn in West Greenwich, RI, this was anything but a professional shoot. (Not to take away from the hard work and amazing final product. I'm talking merely in terms of atmosphere.) Being there felt more like being at a party chock-full of family and friends than it did a music video shoot. 

It was a long day of standing around and acting excited, dancing, listening to Not Messin' on repeat and meeting a whole bunch of people great people (including, but certainly not limited to Chetro, Pete and Braddigan).

Even I myself can only spot myself in three or four very brief spots throughout the video; regardless, it was a great, great experience... hanging out with one of my all-time favorite bands for a day was quite surreal, and seriously awesome.

Adding to the awesome, those of us who toughed it out and stayed until the end were treated to a very awesome - and extremely brief - set from the band.

Here is the setlist, along with a few shots I got from the set (from my iPhone 4, and processed through Camera+ and/or Instagram)...

Setlist: Dispatch at The Mishnock Barn, April 1, 2012.

1. Here We Go

2. Bang Bang

3. Carry You

4. The General (with a tease of Sublime's What I Got)

Thanks for revisiting this memory with me. 

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

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Review: Pedestrian Verse - Frightened Rabbit

Tied for my favorite album of the year so far (with The Virginmarys' King of Conflict, which I'll be reviewing next), this newest outing by Frightened Rabbit is just... perfection.

Best Track: Late March, Death March

Grade: 10/10

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

[aneveningwith]

Aesop Rock - The MET - 2.13.13

I've really liked Aesop Rock for years, but was never into him enough to go to one of his shows. After last year's brilliant Skelethon, I figured it was time.

I like The MET... it's intimate and simple. It's also, however, got some pretty poor sound (at least for this show, when I saw Chadwick Stokes there in 2011 it sounded perfect). But I may just be making excuses for what's to come.

I was also very, very sick... more excuses. But still true.

There were two openers. I didn't get there early (maybe like 20 minutes before the first opener took the stage), and was still able to get front and center. Yes. I like this show already.

Then B. Dolan takes the stage. He's not bad. I mean, hell, with the amount of shitty, shitty rappers out there, he's actually refreshing - aside from the awful noose hanging around his neck and his super lame stage presence (you're awkward, man... stop it). Oh, and the lyrics. Again, stop it. (Still not terrible, though... so there's that.)

Next was Busdriver... another rapper I had never heard of before this show. He gets up there and... wow. I mean, like... holy fucking shit! Pure insanity. One of the fastest rappers I've seen live. No, probably the fastest... and I've had my brains spoon-fed to me by Tech N9ne before.

He was brilliant. Just, just brilliant.

Now it was time for Aesop Rock. Sorry, Aesop Rock and Rob Sonic.

Okay...

Aesop... get rid of Rob Sonic... please. He's awful and did nothing but detract from your show.

Other than that. Aesop Rock was good. Honestly, I expected better, but wasn't too surprised that his flow didn't come through as well live as it does on his albums. He was still really good, though. And I may be thinking less of his performances because of all the odds stacked up against him... you know, Busdriver being life-changing, Rob Sonic being complete shit, me being sick and The MET's sound being very uneven (or, me being sick and one of my ears quitting for the night).

Decent show overall. It'd be great simply because of Busdriver is I had been in good health, but still decent. I'll definitely be going to another Aesop Rock show (as long as Rob Sonic's not there).

Hopefully The Uncluded come around? That'd be cool.

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

All Photos by Timothy Patrick Boyer, 2013