Weblog
Everyone could stand to see a little more live music. The amount of shows being played in Boston on any given night can be bewildering. For example, I know for a fact that there are at least ten different clubs, bars, lounges or venues providing live entertainment on this particular weeknight. Tourfilter knows what’s playing when and where.
Back home, around seventh or eighth grade I discovered a local venue where a lot of my favorite bands would come to play. Being well under the legal age to drive, getting back home around midnight would have been impossible had it not been for my father’s willingness to drive myself and my small group of friends back from this club, even on weeknights. I didn’t think anything of it at first, but eventually realized this was not typical its-a-weeknight-get-to-bed parenting and asked my dad one night why he had no problem driving our freshly teenaged selves about at all hours of the night.
Years ago, one of his best friends offered him an extra ticket to go see Jimi Hendrix in New York City. Rather than accept this offer, my father went to go see his girlfriend at the time instead, figuring he would see him “the next time he came around.” Months later, Hendrix was found dead, and my dad had missed an opportunity to see one of the most innovative and influential guitar players of all time. Bad call. Because of this, my dad was willing to provide transportation to shows whenever possible — hey, you never know when it might be the last time to see that act. This isn’t to say that the lead of your favorite indie band will be found asphyxiated on wine and vomit, but no one likes to be in class the day after and have that annoying kid that sits in front of you talking loudly to his friends about HOW AWESOME that show last night was. Anyway, back to internet-stuff.
Make an account at tourfilter (takes five seconds) and start filling in your favorite acts. The site tracks the online listings of Boston-area venues and posts them all in an easy to read format. Whenever a band that you have added to your list makes plans to come to town, tourfilter sends you a heads-up via email so you can get your tickets well in advance. The site is so easy to figure out that it’s barely worth trying to detail the minutiae, just try it. However, one feature that is worth noting just because it’s fucking sweet is the little gray link at the top of the page that reads “tourfilter mixtape.” This launches a flash player that generates a radio station composed exclusively of music that will be soon appearing in this fair city. Hear something you like, add it, and the show is listed in your “upcoming” list. I think I’ll go see if there’s anything that strikes my fancy for this weekend. Rock on, kids.
Photo courtesy Flickr user skyfaller under Creative Commons license.