THE RUMBLE RUNDOWN: NIGHTS FIVE AND SIX

I AM NOT IMMUNE. The fated “Rumble plague”--aka the hack-y, sneeze-y, sore throat-y nastiness that’s settled into Rumble patrons after a few consecutive nights of partying--showed me no mercy over the weekend, so my apologies in writing up Friday and Saturday nights in a timelier fashion. Without further ado, the latest Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Rundown!

NIGHT FIVE (Friday 4.8.11)

Moving on to the finals: Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.

Also rad, though not moving forward in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble: Tired Old Bones, Stereo Telescope, Keep Me Conscious. The energy at TT’s was electric on Friday night, and no small credit is given to the bands who made it happen. I was especially impressed with Tired Old Bones (who I had never seen before — shame on me!) and Stereo Telescope, who filled up that stage with the might of ten people, let alone two.

NIGHT SIX (Saturday 4.9.11)

Moving on to the finals: Sidewalk Driver.

(Yes, we know this video isn’t from the Rumble. No, we don’t care, because Tad is wearing a tiny Santa hat while belting out CeeLo. TINYSANTAHAT.)

Wildcard pick #2!: Black Thai!

Also rad, though not moving forward in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble: The Year Million, Cradle to the Grave. Again, all bands brought it for the final night of preliminaries, but none proved to come anywhere close to cracking Sidewalk Driver’s bedazzled, glitter-encrusted fortification of unapologetic pop rock. Tad (McKitterick, vocals) whipped out glitter cannons and showered the sold out room with confetti. GLITTER CANNONS. Talk about breaking out the big guns, right?

Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble: Semi-finals Schedule

THURSDAY 4.14.11: Spirit Kid (9:30pm), Sidewalk Driver (10:15), Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling (11), Mellow Bravo (11:45).

FRIDAY 4.15.11: Black Thai (9:30pm), Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents (10:14), Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys (11), John Powhida International Airtport (11:45).

Now’s the time for catching up on sleep and Sudafed, because I sure as hell will not be missing what’s going down at TT’s at the end of the week. If you know what’s good for your eardrums and your Boston music education, you won’t be, either.