2 Boston Gigs / 1 Night: Does that make me CRAZY?

August 6, 2006 10:31 AM

I live in Boston and have tickets for Gnarls Barkley and Throwing Muses/50 Foot Wave on the same night. GB are at Avalon and TM/50FW are at the Middle East. I think this might be doable with a good plan. HELP me AskMefi. You're my only hope! (lots more detail in the full post)

I'm holding tickets for two gigs this summer: Gnarls Barkley and Throwing Muses/50 Foot Wave. Guess what. SAME FREAKIN' NIGHT!!! I am considering a plan to see them both. To make matters worse, it's the same night as the Sox are in town.

GB are at Avalon and TM/50FW are at the Middle East. Now I know that the Middle East is known for having extremely late shows.

Here's the trip we need to take (click on the map for more detail):

I found a set list from a very recent show on Stereogum which may help us strategize. Seems they are doing "Crazy" before the encore, but we will still miss some good songs afterwards.

I really can't believe this. the TM/50FW show is pretty special. Kristin Hersh just NEVER does songs from both catalogs. I mean, I have to be there. She's only doing that once, here, in Boston, where I happen to live. It's crucial.

posted by abbyladybug to travel & transportation (15 comments total)

Last act at the Middle east usually goes on at 12:30. YMMV
posted by Gungho at 10:43 AM on August 6, 2006

Sell the GB tickets and buy some for Montreal or NYC. They'll probably play again in the next year or so.
posted by k8t at 10:49 AM on August 6, 2006

I concur with k8t's recommendation. GB are a lot of fun--and "Crazy" was an obvious-at-first-hearing hit, but their music is--I dunno, how about: "not renowned for its scarcity."

They'll play again, soon. Come to NY and hear them at Central Park summerstage. Tickets.
posted by Phred182 at 11:04 AM on August 6, 2006

Both pretty intimate venues, with the Middle East being slightly larger capacity. Unfortunately you're going to need a ride, because having to go from the B line in the heart of Boston University all the way back down to Park St. to transfer to the Red line and then back up to Central will take f o r e v e r. Also, as Gungho mentions, the Middle East show will be the later-ending of the two. If history is any indication, directly after the TM/50FW show, they'll switch to some thump-thump-thump music for the BU crowd until the night ends.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:07 AM on August 6, 2006

(This history of Avalon, that is, not TM/50FW).
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:08 AM on August 6, 2006

The GB Avalon show apparently starts at 7, so really 8ish, with no opener (is that right?) It'll be a short one set show, probably ending by 10 or 10:30 so they can usher in the later dance party. You could then walk all the way to ME, or walk from Lansdowne to Mass Ave and take the #1 bus, or take a $10 cab. Do not take the T, especially around that time with a sox game on. My guess (slightly educated) is that the headliner at the ME will go on just before midnight, say, 11:45. Sounds like you want to see 50FW as well, though.
posted by neustile at 11:20 AM on August 6, 2006

"She's only doing that once, here, in Boston, where I happen to live. It's crucial."
Actually she's doing that here in NYC too.
posted by blaneyphoto at 11:29 AM on August 6, 2006

I just walked from Avalon to the Middle East today. It took 20-25 minutes.

The route you have by map is not the optimal one. In fact, walking from Central to the Fenway/Lansdowne area today involved a 'race' between two parties, one going over the Smoot Bridge (Mass Ave), the other over the BU Bridge. BU Bridge is faster and takes you straight to the Middle East.

From Avalon, head up to Kenmore then left down Comm Ave. Take a right to cross over the BU Bridge. Walk under an overpass (lit, not sketchy) then straight down the street (Brookline Street). The Middle East will be on your right hand side when you hit Mass Ave.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:17 PM on August 6, 2006

I'd go to Avalon and stay until 10ish and then hop in a cab to Central. Gnarls Barkley you will be able to see again, Throwing Muses? Maybe not! Plus, you don't want to have to stand in the very back of the Middle East downstairs for Kristin Hersh.
posted by jdl at 4:21 PM on August 6, 2006

actually, dude, all discussion of whether you should wait on Gnarls Barkley aside, this is the route that you should plan on taking assuming that you are either bike-enabled or driving. Mass Ave is a parking lot in the evening, and you're looking at, minimum, five long traffic lights between Lansdowne and Brookline St. You've got four lights if you go down Brookline to Park to the BU bridge, and once you're over the bridge and past the rotary, you're home free.
posted by bl1nk at 5:36 PM on August 6, 2006

Craigslist currently has 2 posts for people looking to sell their GB tickets for 10$+ over face. 10$ extra buys you a cab and both shows. Sell your GB ticket and you'll get an extra 10$ for drinks at the TM show. Seems like a win either way.

Since this is BostonFilter, let me plug the planned Boston MeFi Meetup on August the 26th in scenic Kendall Square. Further updates will follow in that thread.
posted by enfa at 7:55 PM on August 6, 2006

Just a contrarian opinion here...stay at Gnarls. Word has it they put on a crazy show, I'm not sure I'd want to miss it.
posted by jckll at 8:09 PM on August 6, 2006

It looks like most every night at Avalon they start the DJs at 10p, you can check their calendar online. Might want to call the club and ask. If that's the case, the GB show will have to be over by 9:30 to rotate the audience. You can make it to the start of the 2nd act of the ME show, walking, bus or cab. There'd be no problem.
posted by neustile at 8:38 PM on August 6, 2006

These are very helpful comments. I only showed that route because it was an easy way to show the location of both places. It was just the Googlemaps route - not my intended route. I think the cab is a good idea. If DJ's go on at 7pm, we should be completely fine. Thanks for the heads up about the MeFi meetup. I've never been to one.
posted by abbyladybug at 4:18 AM on August 7, 2006

For anyone else interested in this thread, I got more information on the Throwing Muses site that you might be interested in.
posted by abbyladybug at 4:11 PM on August 7, 2006