If It's Too Loud...

At this point in 2011, I had already seen David Wax Museum twice: The Newport Folk Festival and earlier that month at the Arlington Street Church on December 2. While I consider the Arlington Street Church show the single greatest concert of my 21 year regular concert going career, I consider this show at Lizard Lounge in Cambridge to be the most special I've seen of theirs. (Besides, Jeff already wrote about the Arlington Street Church one first...) On a personal note, it was the first concert I had attended with my now-wife. Aside from that, it was completely different than the other two previous times I saw David Wax Museum. After seeing them at an outdoor festival for 10,000 people and a large church, seeing them in a barely lit basement club with 105 people was a revelation. They completely altered their presence and sound to fit the space. Instead of playing huge to get the attention of the guy standing in a beer line 100 yards away, they got smaller and more intimate. In...

I was beginning to think I was destined to never see Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside. I missed their set at the 2011 Newport Folk Festival, and even though they had played in Massachusetts 3 times this year, none worked out with my life. I was thrilled to see they were playing the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge . It seemed like an odd venue that would be way too small for them (it allegedly holds 80 people, but it always seems more like 30-40 to me). Sure, it was a Wednesday night, but I obviously had to go. On their Dirty Radio and Untamed Beast , Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside are an amazing amalgam of white girl soul, rockabilly, and indie rock. Live her voice is absolutely striking, with more than a hint of Eartha Kitt’s sultry purr to it. At the Lizard Lounge, there really is no stage, just an area surrounded by reserved seating tables where the band sets up. The intimate setting feels more like you’re hanging out and watching people you know play, so the few mista...