As I was walking through Union Square in Somerville, MA last night, I couldn’t help but notice this portable bathroom–looking far more plush looking than a mere porta-potty. Nice logo bug. Looks like the neighborhood is being taken over by yuppie construction crews. Gentrification.
What happens when you leave your hoodie unattended around Boston rock stars???
Sons of bitches….
Ps: Ulrich… your ass is mine!
Someone snapped a photo of this guy on the train one day and apparently liked it so much he/she framed it and hung it up. I found it abandoned on a wall next to some dresser drawers that had also been left on moving weekend…
Anyone know this guy?
Next Thursday (June 3), the band and I have the distinct pleasure of opening for Dennis Brennan at Atwood’s in Cambridge, MA. Rob, Mariana, Chri$ and I hit the stage at 8:30pm, so come early and stay late!
Hope to see you there!
Some months ago, I met a fellow musician named Dan. He explained that he’d been a street musician in Switzerland, and that he’d just returned to the states after more than two decades. Apparently, his gimmick was that he was a one-man band with a truck that acted as his multi-instrument noisemaker. He described it as a sight to be seen. According to Dan, after years of success, his truck was confiscated by the Swiss government, and without his money machine, he had no choice but to return to the US.
So, I was delighted to spy him on Newbury Street yesterday with, well, a slightly more compact version of his old getup.
Look at that kid. He’s mesmerized. Dan uses pedals and a stick, which he uses to hit both the guitar and percussion instruments. He sings through a headset attached to an on-board PA. And all those stuffed animals dance around to the beat of his kick drum. As for the performance, he puts on a show that makes kids bouncy and gleeful–and moms part with their money. Cool.
As you may recall, El Pelon, the famed Fenway taqueria, burned to the ground last January. Being a big fan, I wrote this blog post which included a line that found its way onto the cover of the Metro:
If this were a movie, I’d be out on Peterborough St in the pouring rain looking to the heavens screaming, “Why, God? Why?!!!”
While all kinds of stuff (I don’t know or care about) prevents El Pelon and the other restaurants to rebuild on Peterborough St, owner John Hoben just opened a new store at 2197 Commonwealth Ave in Brighton (right next to the BC T stop). Friday night at 5pm was the grand opening, and it was bedlam!
I don’t think they were quite prepared for the onslaught that was to ensue. I hit the line to order around 6:30, and wasn’t able to actually make that order until 6:54. It took about another half hour until I was walking out the door, chicken plato and fried plantains in hand. It also seemed like the Fenway had rented buses to bring people there. And the Fenway alumni association rallied a good crowd as well. I recognized many faces from the old neighborhood, and as everyone reached the front of the line, they congratulated Hoben and said stuff like, “I used to live around the corner on Jersey St.”
You always have to expect messes on opening night, but it was a MESS: missed orders, slow kitchen, couldn’t order side dishes because they had no side cups, stressed employees, looming customers. But like I said, it was to be expected, and everyone was in good spirits. As I was leaving, they began barring people from entry. I wonder if the 2.5 hour grand opening was the shortest in Boston history. No wonder Hoben is not running for re-election for selectman in Yarmouth to focus his energies on tacos and burritos exclusively from here on out.
Oh, and most importantly, the food is still awesome. I was only disappointed that they didn’t have my favorite homemade hot sauce, the sickly hot “JD” (named after the initials of the creator). According to Hoben, they are still missing one spice. I look forward to its return. One thing is certain: I will return. But I just may let the madness die down first.
Earlier today, I decided to check my SPAM folder, just to make sure. One caught my eye. It was from someone at the Boston Phoenix. This must not be SPAM, I thought. I have to rescue this email from its terrible fate. Unfortunately, I discovered that my spam filter’s aim was true!
I received an email from a probably very nice unassuming unpaid intern only identified as “MarketingIntern3@phx.com”. He/she wrote, “I thought you may be interested in a recent article highlighting Boston hot spots for those of us with two left feet.”
Now, I have never subscribed to a Phoenix mailing list in my life, and I certainly didn’t identify myself as rhythmically-challenged. I guess it’s that I’m a blogger, so they consider me a “media connection”. Still, are they so hurting for eyeballs that they have a battalion of marketing interns churning out SPAM emails like “Hi, I’m Mary. Remember me?” to trick unsuspecting Bostonians to click links and convince their advertisers that there is one reason in hell to give them money? C’MON!!!
Well, obviously you wanted me to pass on the info on via my blog. I am happy to oblige! Welcome to the cruel world of 2010. I’m so glad you could join me here…
Hi MarketingIntern3@phx.com, I just wrote a blog post about interns blasting SPAM emails to try and inflate web traffic, and I thought you may be interested!
You can say that again…
Seeing this almost inspired me to plan a cross-country trip to vandalize every Love ST in the country. Well done… whoever you are.
Whenever you put yourself out there, you’re taking a risk. If you are a performer, musician, artist or writer, you come to expect harsh criticism, snarky comments, mean-spirited rumors, etc. Still, you rarely expect to have your life threatened. Death threats are generally reserved for popes, presidents and high profile superstars. As a performing musician, I’ve never felt threatened. There have been a few times when I’ve had to duck out of the way of a fight in progress. In a bar or rock club, you expect to see more of that–fueled by drugs, alcohol and jealousy. Ironically, I’ve only felt threatened while blogging in coffee shops.
The first time was when I brought attention to the Boston Chargers scam–first with this article and then this one. Eventually, Fox 25 News broke the story with this report. Still, I had received some emails and comments not-so-politely requesting that I stop writing And given the outpouring of emoton on my blog and emails I received after the Fox 25 report, it was abundantly clear that team members and people involved were following the posts and comments all along.
Today, as I sat here trying to decide on the topic de jour, it presented itself in the form of a 375 lb guy brandishing a knife. He started opening the blade as he approached me, but suddenly stopped a few feet away and said, “Wanna buy it?” Then, he approached two girls sitting at the next table as I got up to alert the manager. He left. Apparently, we weren’t the first because as the manager ran out the door to find the guy, he found the man surrounded by police near the corner of Huntington Ave.
I said to a friend, “Doesn’t he know I love homeless people?”
He just replied, “Or that you can’t afford a knife?”
Ha ha.
I think I’m going to stick to dive bars and rock music. It’s too dangerous out here! 
Dave Alpert (Dave, Rob, Mariana, Chris and Mark) is in the running for “best emerging artist 2009″ in the Deli Magazine, a cool region-based online music magazine. Please take a moment and lend us your support. It literally takes than 30 seconds.
Here’s what you do:
1. go to http://newengland.thedelimagazine.com/
2. find the list on the right site of the page. You’ll see “Dave Alpert”.
3. click the ‘vote’ button at the bottom of the entire list.
4. vote for us
Thanks for all the love in 2009. We look forward to rocking you in 2010!!!
Peace,
Dave, Rob, Mariana, Chris and Mark
