Recently shuttered venue. Nine refined musicians crammed onstage. Immaculate mix, not too loud. Mounted cameras plus roving lensman. Invitation-only audience, mostly players themselves. Silly banter to keep things loose. No taboo against restarting songs after flubs. Comfortable.

(King Radio at the Divine Theater, Holyoke, Mass., 4/3/24)

* Concise Historical Impression of a Recording or Performance.

There’s a challenge going around Facebook that asks users, over 10 days, to post the covers of 10 albums that influenced them. To put my own obnoxious twist on it I did back covers, in reverse alphabetical order by title of the closing track. And you’re not supposed to do reviews, but I did reviews. And tweeted them.

1. The Streets – Original Pirate Material (2002)

DIY orchestral rap by a white guy from London? At first my enjoyment of this album was probably ironical, but it would have ceased to be so by about the dozenth time my roommates and I put it on. This is legit, and there’s real pathos here.

2. Field Music – Tones of Town (2007)

Genteel string arrangements alongside bass fuzz and a synthesizer riff straight outta Dr. Dre. Lyrical themes of impermanence on top of songcraft and recording perfectionism meant to be enduring. Pop that knows it’s smart and invites you to feel smart for enjoying it.

3. Liars – Drum’s Not Dead (2005)

This band started out with some excellent dance-punk records, then decided to go conceptual and weird. Primitive drumming, imprecise loops, out-of-tune guitars droning and blasting noise, mostly falsetto singing. Great for zoning out in the dark and imagining you’re high.

4. Medeski Martin & Wood – Friday Afternoon in the Universe (1995)

I can hum every solo, bass run, drum fill and group improvisation — to give you an idea of how many times I listened to this as a teenage music snob. I like most of what MMW did subsequently, but here the vibe is so specific. It sounds deep maroon, just like this back cover.

5. Ben Folds Five – Whatever and Ever, Amen (1997)

In hindsight, this album is a lot. Goofiness contrasted with melodrama, male solipsism and casual misogyny alongside tenderness and longing. Those three-part harmonies. A rock band led by a piano, for chrissakes!

6. Sonic Youth – Screaming Fields of Sonic Love (1995)

A compilation, if not strictly an album. Crucial in my initiation into SY, nonstandard tunings, merging new ideas of songforms and freedom. Also a gateway drug into noise and free jazz.

7. XTC – Skylarking (1986)

The story is well known how “Dear God” was dropped from the original release because it was considered too controversial. Then they put it back, and dear god, the track that got bumped, “Mermaid Smiled,” is a goddamn masterpiece, a microcosm of this perfect record.

8. Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978)

A record that a shy teenager could be forgiven for believing is about him. Clinical descriptions of social awkwardness, accompanied quirkily. As for influence: Where would I be as a bass player without Tina Weymouth and “Found a Job”?

9. Mates of State – Our Constant Concern (2002)

There’s the mystique of the adorable couple having intimate conversations through lyrics no one else has the context to decode. Bonus: the hokey awesomeness of the Electone. If this can be indie rock, anything can be indie rock.

10. Fugazi – The Argument (2001)

I just didn’t get this one for a long time, couldn’t reconcile it with their past work. But once it clicked, I understood that any music that didn’t immediately jibe with my sensibilities was music I should pay closer attention to.

* Concise Historical Impression of a Recording or Performance.

When Paul Flaherty’s at home, does he practice scales? Is he ever caught humming familiar melodies? Does he ever play old favorites in the town band down at the gazebo?

(Mette Rasmussen/Chris Corsano/Paul Flaherty at the Root Cellar, Greenfield, Mass., 6/21/19)

* Concise Historical Impression of a Recording or Performance.

No one better have recorded Hot Dirt playing at the Sierra Grille last week. Those sounds existed to disappear and if you missed them too bad. Putting them on tape would be like unwithering a flower. Just because you can do a thing doesn’t mean you should.
(Photo via https://instagram.com/p/BxnnGs1BCZ1/)

* Concise Historical Impression of a Recording or Performance.