• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

FOTOBOM: THE CHILLS @ THE MIDDLE EAST

Written by TIM BUGBEE Posted February 25, 2019 Filed Under: Fotobom, MUSIC, Reviews

All Rights Reserved / © Tim Bugbee

 

The word ‘seminal’ gets tossed around a bit cavalierly these days, when any decent band with a pulse and a couple of dusty records are suddenly reissued on some boutique label, and are suddenly yanked out of obscurity and proclaimed the as long-lost Beatles or some such nonsense. Martin Phillipps is a rare case of underselling that particular adjective. As the man responsible for some of tightest, most sweetly crafted pop songs emanating from a farflung corner of the world, the packed room at The Middle East was buzzing with excitement.

 

If you are wondering what he’s been doing since the last time they played town (was 1996 really that long ago?), you can refer to the preview published a few days ago. Phillipps and his crack band breathed new life into the classics and the new material nestled in like a long-lost twin sibling. The fairly short but sweet set at ~70 minutes hit all the right marks, from the sublimely perfect and oh-so-aptly titled “Heavenly Pop Hit” to the mid-tempo soul-bearer of “Deep Belief,” and especially the song that Phillipps proclaimed a song of optimism (despite the current leader), “America Says Hello.”  A sideways love song in “Wet Blanket” showcased the supple bass lines of James Dickson, and the ever-lovely yet subtly harrowing “Pink Frost” had the timeless chiming chords burrowing in skulls all around the room. The encore closed with another song about a vanished friend, with the rave-up guitar  lines punctuated by Erica Scally’s keyboard lines that carried the melody. A much needed return from a true master of songwriting; Martin, don’t wait a few decades until the next time!

 

NYC-based quintet Brion Starr played the tour kickoff in Gotham the night before and traveled up with the band to lend support again. Starr’s backing band and their youthful visages suggested that they might have had a hard time actually gaining entrance to club had they not been playing that night, but they have definitely checked out their parent’s Velvet Underground collection.

 

Photos from both bands:


Created with flickr slideshow.

TIM BUGBEE

Primarily based in Boston, Massachusetts, Tim Bugbee is no stranger to traveling throughout the country or overseas to capture the best live music photos.

Related posts
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: DRY CLEANING + FAKE FRUIT
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: INTERPOL + TYCHO @ ROADRUNNER
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: DESTROYER + ROSALI @ THE SINCLAIR
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: CAT POWER @ THE PARADISE

Filed Under: Fotobom, MUSIC, Reviews Tagged With: Brion Starr, Cambridge, Flying Nun, Fotobom, Martin Phillipps, New Zealand, The Chills, The Middle East

WHAT’S NEW

Mass Supreme Court Sides With Asshole Sheriff In Prison Phone Fee Decision

Mass Supreme Court Sides With Asshole Sheriff In Prison Phone Fee Decision

State Wire: Mass Group Says Campus-Based Supports Needed For Former Foster Youth

State Wire: Mass Group Says Campus-Based Supports Needed For Former Foster Youth

Assange Supporters To Protest AG Garland At Harvard Commencement

Assange Supporters To Protest AG Garland At Harvard Commencement

We Turned the North End Restaurant Lawsuit Against Mayor Wu Into a Musical

We Turned the North End Restaurant Lawsuit Against Mayor Wu Into a Musical

Photo by Mike Connolly

Opinion: Defending the Right to Abortion

Longtime Anti-Nuclear Activist On Trial This Morning In Plymouth

Longtime Anti-Nuclear Activist On Trial This Morning In Plymouth

Primary Sidebar

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • We Turned the North End Restaurant Lawsuit Against Mayor Wu Into a Musical
  • Do You Want To Work For the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission?
  • Inbox: Red Bull Cliff Diving Returns To Boston Waterfront
  • How Long Can Major Cannabis Cultivators Sustain Massive Indoor Grows In Mass?
  • Drunk On Drug Money, Easthampton Councilors Approve Second Tesla For Police

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 24.08 – 04/21/22

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]