Hip To Be Square

Yep, that's right, the name of this band is The White Thighs. While most playboy bunny's write down as one of their turn offs, "really white thighs on guys" - these guys from Rhode Island are showing theirs off, and doing so with pride. The band originated after a spontaneous "Nude" jam at a local party around the town of Little Compton, RI (Location may be wrong). But nonetheless, these cats are Rhode Island boys - tried and true. In more ways then one, their just down right goofy.

Frontman, Pete Bates, is the brain child behind the Thighs. His antics play a major role but not without help from the following individuals -

Simon "Phantom Hog" Desjardins - guitar, vocals and keys
Dan "Digs-Deep" Hurley - bass, vocals, banjo, keys, "Girly" voice
"Liquid" Fred Tizzle - mandolin, dobro, vocals, bass
Ethan "Twice" Fry - child's drum kit, mandolin, chickens (don't ask, I don't really know what this means)
They also feature...
James B. Fleshwistle - banjo, guitars, piano, bass, fleshwistle (again, don't ask), vocals
Boo Radly - drums

There are a couple of other individuals involved but I think you get the picture, they are just one big ho-down. On any given night you will get some of their original tunes - "Hog on a Log", "High Road" - or you might find some extravagant cover gracing the sound waves from their speakers. Covers are usually 80's or a traditional gospel and bluegrass number. Their sound in general has a Traditional blusey feel to it. Just straight up old school jammin, which to me, always makes for a good time. Good time = good food, good beer, good friends and great music to bring the circle of good vibes together.

While the The White Thighs mainly play in the Rhode Island area, they are heading out west for a short road trip. Yes, look out westcoasters, The Thighs are headed your way.

They are playing at the Historic Red Vic Hotel in San Francisco, CA and The Blue Coyote in Lake Tahoe, CA.

Check out some of their original tunes on their myspace page, here. And don't be shy to comment on how white their thighs really are.

Really love this shot of some graffiti that I took while out in Vancouver. I was using the Vivid setting on my digital camera to take it and you can kind of notice the colors jumping out at you.

Anyway, enough about my camera work (which still needs lots of improvement). I thought I'd provide a couple updates on Boston shows coming up. Of course, there is the Belle & Sebastian / New Pornographers gig at Avalon. Unless you have a ticket, both nights are sold out. However, that doesn't mean you can't go. Check out Craigslist for available tickets. Saw a couple for face value ($27.50).

Then I head out for a conference in Vegas and Ft. Lauderdale (all expenses paid). I know, I have a tough life. But I don't miss much when it comes to music, thankfully.

When I return, March 7th, there is a hip-hop show that is must, RZA from Wu-Tang (not that I should have to tell you that) with DJ Muggs from Cypress Hill (that one you may not know). Should be a sick show at Paradise. Although, like my one friend said, "I am often disappointed in hip-hop shows". But this one should deliver.

The next night, March 8th, Serena Maneesh hits TT and the Bears. If you haven't heard about these cats, go read Pitchfork's review and then download a couple tracks below for your own opinion. Should be an interesting show.

And finally, March 9th, there are two shows. I am kind of torn but I think I know what my decision will be. You've got Boy Least Likely to playing at Great Scott but then there is Nada Surf with Rogue Wave at Paradise. Probably going with Rogue Wave and Nada Surf.

But that's about it. Not sure if I'll get to posting again before I leave for my conference's next week so I thought I'd toss one up before the breakdown in communication. Unless my recent collaborator decides to do his first post.

Download Serena Maneesh tracks below:
Drain Cosmetics
Un-Deux

You can listen to the new Belle & Sebastian album, "The Life Pursuit", over at Indie Radio. Go here to listen - click on "Album of the month".

Currently they are on tour with The New Pornographers. If you have yet to see either band, go get your self a ticket right now - if they are still available. Click here to see if they are playing near you.

Read the Stylus Magazine review of "The Life Pursuit", here
Read the Picthfork review, here

P.S. You may have noticed, if you are the one or two that are regulars of The Square, that my blog skin is different. I'm just messing around right now. I'm not your typical music geek blogger that knows all about html. I know a little. But I usually use blog skins designed by others instead of designing my own. Feel free to comment about this one. Might be a little too provocative for some. Also, I noticed myself that the girls hip was deleted and then filled in with some shoddy Photoshop work. This probably won't last too long as my skin.

By the way, I don't mean to offend any "typical music geeks" that know how to do html. Actually, I'm quite jealous of those that can.

Doesn't get much better then this...

Introducing Jenkins. More to come. Just returned from a trip to Whistler, British Columbia. I'll have music posted and pictures, as well as a video here and there.  

If you were one of the fortunate souls to come across my blog about 3 months ago when I first started, you'll know that I saw Sigur Ros for the first time during their first Takk tour in the states. Now on their second leg of the tour, I once again saw them here in Boston. Why, you may ask. Well, one thing is I didn't have a girlfriend 3 months ago that favors a taste for music similar to mine and, well, that's pretty much my only excuse for seeing them a second time. But I don't really care if they pretty much played the same show, it was still amazing.

This show helped me to finally put into the books that Gong is by far their best song off of Takk (at least in my opinion). And I think I can also say that the finale to their show (again, the exact same ending as 3 months ago) is by far the most intense five minutes of music you will ever experience.

Download Gong for a listen, if you don't already own the album. If you don't, go purchase the album, here.

A couple other things I learned during this show - 1. Don't sit in the last few rows on the orchestra level of the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, I can explain in more detail if you'd like. And 2. I really need to figure out how to get a good shot with my digital camera during a concert. I am new to the camera thing. The picture attached to this post is an example of shot I took last night.

I always got the throw aways but now that I've got a digital, I want to take a ton of pictures. It's just a point-n-click but it's pretty good one. It's a Canon PowerShot. You know, the one that Maria Sharapova promotes.

Anyway, if any one knows any good settings for this camera, leave a post or shoot me an email.

So I'm lazy today and my buddy just sent me along this little tid bit. JefitBlog is hosting a lost and forgotten album, "Volume One", from The Traveling Wilbury's. Who are these guys you may ask. Well it's just made up of the following members:
Bob Dylan,
Tom Petty,
Roy Orbison,
George Harrison,
and you can't forget ELO's front man, Jeff Lynne

So, go get yourself an out-of-print copy of this album, here.