[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith several dozen musical acts and a host of artists, actors, chefs, performers are other doing-cool-things’ers taking over Boston for the week-long Outside The Box festival, there was bound to be some conflicts. Because of the natural and expected overlap, we figured our biggest challenge would be deciding between a musical showdown among a slate of bands on two stages in different parts of the city, Boston Common and City Hall Plaza.
But no, our biggest challenge was faced yesterday as we stood on the City Hall asphalt, cooking under the cruel Boston sun, and it had nothing to do with music. As we watched Bearstronaut and Abadabad on the stage in front of us, to our right was a food tent offering lobster rolls, and to our left, a double-shot of awesomeness: Shake Shack and Kowloon. Because the good people at the Kowloon weren’t selling scorpion bowls, the decision was narrowed down to this: my first Shake Shack experience (!!!), or experiencing the time-honored joy of scarfing down a lobster roll at an outdoor Boston music fest.
This shit was not easy. But I went with my (ever-expanding) gut. I made the right choice.
The Shake Shack vs Lobster Roll throwdown has nothing on the opening musical face-off today at Outside the Box featuring Art Decade vs. Will Dailey & the Rivals. Here’s our take on that, and the rest of the Friday music picks around the ‘Box. As always, check out the full schedule here, and choose wisely; it’s gonna be a scorcher out there. And remember, it’s all F R E E.
:: Friday, July 19 : Art Decade : noon @ the Boston Common “Park Street Stage”
With the heat out there, we’re gonna need a cool “Breeze,” and the symphonic Boston indie band has just that. We kinda wish we were on this beach with them right now.
:: Friday, July 19 : Will Dailey : 12:30pm @ the Boston Common “Beacon Stage”
The veteran Boston singer-songwriter should feel right at home in the Common, but we’re kinda curious about what this weather does to Dailey’s curly locks. We might get some ‘fro going on.
:: Friday, July 19 : Ruby Rose Fox : 2:30pm @ the Boston Common “Spiegeltent at Tremont”
Here comes a No Fair Alert! Soulful singer Ruby Rose Fox scores a coveted air-conditioned tent, and we’re told it’s the only one at Outside The Box. We’d ask how she pulled that off, but of course she’s probably keeping it chill with her own cool.
:: Friday, July 19 : Sarah Blacker : 5pm @ City Hall Plaza “Main Stage”
After a bit of hipster fun under the sun yesterday, City Hall gets re-country-fied with the passionate down-home lure of Sarah Blacker.
:: Friday, July 19 : Adam Ezra Group : 7:30pm @ City Hall Plaza “Main Stage”
So the devil went up to Boston, says Adam Ezra Group in this re-working of the Charlie Daniels classic. I’m still unsure how I feel about this thing. But here it is. The devil will certainly enjoy this heat, that’s for damn sure, we thought we saw Beelzebub sitting in traffic last night on Storrow, so maybe Ezra is on to something…
Coming Up:
Saturday, July 20: From the V:List: Buffalo Tom + The Lemonheads + The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
And previously…
Saturday, July 13: Tallahassee
Sunday, July 14: Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band
Monday, July 15: Air Traffic Controller
Tuesday, July 16: Lonestar
Wednesday, July 17: Augustana, Boys Like Girls
Thursday, July 18: Gentlemen Hall, Abadabad, David Wax Museum, Shea Rose, Bearstronaut, Nemes