Exploit Boston TV Episode #9: Mark Pinansky Solo at TT The Bear’s Place

Marc Pinansky, front man and guitarist for Boston rock band Township, previewed some of his new solo (and more subdued) material at TT The Bear’s Place in Cambridge on April 16, 2009. Amazing!

Exploit Boston! TV Episode #5: Township at Church

The Lights Out hosted an EPIC night of music at the third installment of the band’s Wednesday’s in November residency at Church. They convinced five bands who typically play Friday night shows around town to join them for a Wednesday night of 20-minute sets dubbed “The Red Light Special.” The Who’s Who of Rock & Roll Awesomeness included The Crushing Low, Static of the Gods, MEandJOANCOLLINS, Midatlantic (formerly The Bleedin Bleedins), Township and hosts of the night, The Lights Out.

Township played songs from their new, self-titled CD, including the song “Sinister Minister” that we recorded in the music video below. What I like most about Township is their unabashed love for the music they play. A band smiling on stage, enjoying what they do? Crazy, yet true. Buy the new album at iTunes. Nownownownow!

Photos! The Finals at WBCN 30th Annual Rock & Roll Rumble

Until this year, I skipped every other WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble since moving to Boston in 1994. I’m glad I finally ended that tradition and made it out to some of the shows at this year’s 30th annual rumble. The finals night was no exception. The winners, Girls Guns & Glory, played their best show I’ve ever seen (and I’ve been to a bunch). I finally got to see A.K.A.C.O.D., the union of Dana Colley (former Saxaphonist for Morphine), bass player and singer Monique Ortiz and drummer Larry Dersch. Low-rock awesomeness! Despite being a big fan of Girls Guns & Glory I thought there might be a chance that The Great Bandini would win it all. In the end, the rumble belonged to Girls Guns & Glory. Not bad timing for them: next week they’ve got their CD release party for “Inverted Valentine” downstairs at the Middle East on May 2nd. (Not so subtle hint: go, go, go!)

The Neighborhoods, who won the first Rumble thirty years ago, performed at the end of the night to a very enthusiastic crowd. After the music was over, Marc and John from Township, the 2007 Rumble winner, crowned Girls Guns & Glory as the 2008 Rumble winners. Yes, there was a tiara.

To view all the photos I took at the WBCN 30th Annual Rock & Roll Rumble, check out the photo set at Flickr.

Photos in this entry: David Minehan, The Neighborhoods; Marc Pinansky, Township