A 'do-it-yourself love letter' to the local music scene

"I never sleep," said Tessa Simonds this past Tuesday night, having zoomed into a restaurant booth for an interview and some fries, taking a break from putting up flyers around town for a concert she'd organized. "I don't like being bored."

Local musicians rally to help longtime friend

For decades, Donal Rooke has been a zen man-about-town, quietly acting as a steady-working engine for the local music scene.

Hooked forever: Remembering Tommy Ardolino

This happy new year darkened considerably on its first Friday as news spread across the Internet overnight: drummer Tommy Ardolino had died at age 56.

The Springfield-born, self-taught musician was best known as NRBQ's drummer of 30 years, but if you were a local record store employee (as this writer was), you also knew him as a huge music fan. And a regular.

Aimee Mann goofs up (just a little), goofs off (just enough) at Iron Horse

Aimee Mann ran out of the still-abuzz Iron Horse, made a little leap over a slushy snowbank and sprinted across the street into the safety of unlit steps, a shortcut to the hotel. A fan on the sidewalk spied her superhero getaway and called after her with a "Thank you!" The words echoed around the quiet street in the foggy winter night.

One night only: Scud Mountain Boys reunite at Pearl Street

"I'm really excited to play in that band again," said Stephen Desaulniers. "It's going to be intense. It was a really magical thing when it was going on."

Hindsight: A look back at 2011's musical highlights

Before 2011 gets too small in the rearview mirror, here's a look back at some of last year's memorable shows.

Los Straitjackets brought its surf-and-spy rock instrumentals and deadpan humor back to town at the Iron Horse in February. The Nashville musicians were, as always, nattily dressed in suits and ties and Mexican wrestling masks.

Clubland: What 'one little record can do'

I was at the tender young age of minus 4 when the Wildweeds had a regional hit with "No Good To Cry" in 1967. But as I flowered into a music nerd - and a fan of NRBQ, which then included "Big Al" Anderson, who'd been the Wildweeds' frontman - that song's legend grew.