Free Local Music at House of Blues

As reported in "Bringing bands to the front" on boston.com, the free music series in the front room at House of Blues Boston starts in June. Check the poster below for details.

The Big Star Story

Nothing Can Hurt Me: The Big Star Story is a feature-length documentary about the massive acclaim, dismal commercial failure and enduring legacy of pop music’s greatest cult band, Big Star.

The film is still in production and includes coverage of the Big Star/Alex Chilton tribute shows at SXSW 2010 on Mar 20 and at Levitt Shell in Memphis on May 15, 2010.

Below is the trailer for documentary produced and directed by Drew Denicola and Danielle McCarthy. More info at bigstarstory.com, kickstarter.com or  follow them on Facebook.

Paradise Home Improvements

As reported in "Makeover in Paradise"Jim Sullivan, Paradise Rock Club will undergo a major renovation over the summer. The improvements will close the club from about July 4 to Labor Day. It should reopen with a larger capacity, to around 1000 from 728. 

The stage (shown here) will also be moved away from the middle pillar, which sits right in front of the band. I only recently learned, from Dennis Brennan's mailing list that the pillars are from the space's former life as a parking garage. Who knew?

Anyway, Paradise is still my favorite big rock club and bigger doesn't always mean better, so I'm a little nervous about the changes. Although I really won't miss the old bathrooms or the crowded ticket booth and merch areas.

The timing probably couldn't be better, though, since the many bands will be playing festivals and other summertime venues anyway.

Be sure to check out Buffalo Tom at the "old" Paradise on June 11.

Exile on Late Night

TONIGHT: Mon, May 10 marks the beginning Rolling Stones Week on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, channel 7,  12:35AM). It is scheduled to be a celebration of the re-release of Exile on Main Street and a companion documentary "Stones in Exile", which will be aired with limited commercials on Fri, May 14.

All the details are on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon blog. Here's the info for the performers from the press release:

• Mon: Green Day and Taj Mahal
• Tue: Keith Urban
• Wed: Sheryl Crow
• Thu: Phish
• Fri: "Stones in Exile" documentary

Mayfair in Harvard Square

Mayfair in Harvard Square
May 2, 2010

Photos from the 27 Annual Mayfair in Harvard Square

Performers shown:

The Last 55s 

Todd Thibaud Band