Man, I’ve been waiting to let this out for weeks!
On May 27, Seven Days and Higher Ground will present a show that will surely go down in local music history.
Get ready for a performance from Burlington’s long-lost rawk heroes, The Pants. And I’m talking original lineup, too. Plane tickets have been purchased, accomodations arranged. The band is prepared to rock one last time.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with these four geniuses, I’ll try to catch you up.
In the ’90s, there was a musical renaissance in ‘ol B-town. The scene boasted dozens of good bands, and a smaller circle of truly great ones. Smack dab in the center were The Pants.
Featuring Tom Lawson, Neil Cleary, Paul “Pistol” Jaffe, and Eric Hutchins, the group created vibrant, intricate, balls-out rock that lives on in the hearts of fans.
The chemistry between the band, while never as volatile as say, The Police, contributed greatly to their power and presence. Ask anyone who saw one of their shows, and they’re sure to agree.
In fact, a lot of powerful folks took an interest in their career, including members of Phish. Needless to say, The Pants should’ve been huge.
Unfortunately, the band sputtered out before taking their music to a national level. For many, myself included, this was fairly upsetting.
Since then, Burlington has weathered some lean years. Clubs came and went, and for a while, the scene appeared to be on life-support.
But it’s a lot better now. In fact, one local band in particular, The Jazz Guys, remind me of The Pants in their prime. It’s been my long time wish that the new batch of rockers could have the opportunity to see these trailblazers.
Now, after a great deal of negotiation, it’s gonna come true.
Memorial Day weekend ’06 is looking pretty awesome. Make sure to buy your tickets this Friday, ’cause if this first show sells well, they’ll add a second one.
Here’s an excerpt from The Pants’ “Sometimes”for your listening pleasure.
Stay tuned to this blog, as well as my SoundBites column for updates, interviews and behind-the-scenes hullaboo.
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Aaaaahaha.
Not unless they start being nice to me. 😉
Honestly, I just hope nobody from Phish gets involved.
A band I was in played a dozen or so shows with Red Telephone in and around Beantown. That was years ago, though. I thought they had finally called it quits. Matt’s brother Shawn told me he was writing a book…
Matt & Sean who took off to Boston together, and from what I heard that Warner Brothers contract turned out to be more curse than blessing (score one for Steve Albini). They became the Red Telephone, which I think they still are.http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/music/cellars/documents/00439627.htmThe drummer in Venus Envy (or just Envy, as it came to be called) was Anne Mindell, who since married Sean, so I guess no bridges burned there.
Venus Envy. Hmmm. I think Mr. Hutton burned a few Burlington bridges when he ran off to Boston with that WB contract in his hand.So that was Melanie, Sean, Matt and… What was the drummer’s name?
I’m going to try my best to be there, as long as it doesn’t interfere with my band’s whirlwind summer ’06 tour of Ohio! What about Envy? Have they ever reunited? I apparently missed the Rocketsled reunion… reunite again.
Yeah, from what I hear the Jazz Guys have been fitting into openings all over town.
Opening band is TBA… I personally think Jazz Guys would be a nice fit, no pun intended….
Are The Jazz Guys getting the opening slot?