Bang Camaro at Avalon

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

The Cinematics

Silversun Pickups

Photos by Caitlin E. Curran

Most overheard comment when OTD first walked down Lansdowne St. last night: "Kings of Leon aren’t playing?!" Yep, KOL backed out at the last minute (minus many cool points for them) but it was truly their loss because the crowd at Best Music Poll was plentiful and apparently fueled by Red Bull - nearly seven hours after they trickled in, as the Cinematics played an ear-splittingly loud cover of a Beck track from Sea Change on the outdoor stage, Axis was packed to capacity as Silversun Pickups began their explosive set 15 minutes early, explaining that they were bored backstage and everyone was there already anyway.

Amy Winehouse
at Avalon
May 7, 2007
Photos: Kelly Davidson

Screamin' Jay Hawkins always maintained that "I Put a Spell on You" was the product of a plastered night in the studio, but if so he was one motherfucking miracle of a drunk. He was a frustrated opera singer, and even on "Spell" he had the elocution of a baptist -- that is, when he wasn't howling like a jive voodoo priest.

This, dudes, is going to sell out quickly. We'll have VIP tix to give away eventually, but do you really want to rely on OTD's spotty blogging schedule to get into this?

FNX/Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll Concert 2007
June 6 at Avalon, Axis, Bill's Bar, and outdoors on Lansdowne Street
Tickets $32.50

Elvis Costello at Avalon
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $55
On-sale Saturday, April 7, 2007 at NOON

Velvet Revolver at Avalon
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $55.00
On-sale Saturday, April 7, 2007 at NOON

John Mayer and Ben Folds at the TD Banknorth Garden
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $49.50 and $59.50
On-sale Saturday, April 7, 2007 at 10:00 am

Photos: Carina Mastrocola

The Pogues began a multi-night stand last Thursday at Avalon, in what is generally recognized as the official jump-off for St. Patrick's Day weekend, which in Boston Irish circles lasts about two weeks, give or take a month. Pogues fans have been back in force for the group's last two tours, which marked the return of their original vocalist: a tall glass of Guinness stout.

Killswitch Engage

Dragonforce

Chimaira

He Is Legend

Killswitch Engage, Dragonforce, Chimaira, and He Is Legend
February 24 at Avalon
Photos (c) Carina Mastrocola

If you flipped through those photos casually, we want you to go back and check out how focussed Dragonforce's beer-through-a-straw game is.

Incubus and Albert Hammond Jr.
January 30 at Avalon
Photos (c) Carina Mastrocola

Sez our lovely ace photographer Carina: "There were so many kids there looking to buy tickets who didn't end up making it inside because it was sold out. I've seen incubus a bunch of times in arenas so it was absolutely awesome to see them at Avalon in a much more intimate setting.

If you're working press at the BMAs, they hand you the list of winners when you walk in. Which usually makes for a serious anticlimax. But we can't front: maybe it was just that a bunch of bands we actually like won shit or played or bought us drinks, but this was the best year of the Avalon-era music awards. We know, big whoop: That and an undisclosed sum of money might someday get this event to break even mean something.

Sexy: back.

Justin Timberlake
Sexy Back club tour
August 26 at Avalon

Setlist:

Cry Me a River
Senorita
My Love
Like I Love You/Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
Until the End of Time
Lovestoned/I Think She Knows
Take It From Here
What Goes Around
Last Night
Rock Your Body
Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics)

You would think someone would tell us this beforehand, but no, we found out the same way you did -- by opening up the paper and seeing the ad. Because young Spitz didn't bother to scroll to the bottom of the LiveNation email list this week, which clearly stated that Justin Timberlake is playing Avalon on August 26.