Boston, MA

Christmas is over. Find out where you can relax and catch some great live music

Published

5 months ago

December 27, 2023

Press Room

Christmas is over. Find out where you can relax and catch some great live music

Jay N. Miller
| For The Patriot Ledger

It’s a shorter list of shows this week, as many venues take some time off, but there are still some nice options.

Sarah Blacker releases EP

Sarah Blacker grew up in Wellesley, and her parents now live in Hull, while she has settled in Salem, so they’ve got Boston surrounded. Blacker has travelled all over the country singing her songs, acoustic rock and soul, with jazz elements, but most recently she’s settled down and devoted time to her day jobs as musical therapist, and psychotherapist. But on Friday, Jan. 5, she’s unveiling her latest EP, “Horizon Line,” recorded at Sean McLaughlin’s 37′ Productions studio in Rockland, with Blacker and husband/percussionist Aaron Z. Katz co-producing. Blacker’s tunes on the disc involve finding inner strength and tenacity amid today’s chaotic world, which is surely a theme we can all appreciate. Blacker will be fronting a quartet at the Club Passim gig, and tickets are $20 in advance, check Passim.org for details. Blacker is also the manager of BrucefromSalem, the Instagram phenomenon whose adventures delight thousands of online fans – in real life Bruce is a Black Lab of remarkable personality.

The always lively Adam Ezra Group lights up the Narrows Center in Fall River. Local rock takes the spotlight when The Quins and The Birch Swart Band take over Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Folksinger Dar Williams is worth a trip to City Winery in Boston. An outstanding Americana band from upstate New York, The Felice Brothers jam at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Road trip: The Cabot Theater in Beverly welcomes L.A. rockers Dawes.

Enter The Haggis adds some Celtic spice to your holiday music at the Spire Center in Plymouth. Blazing blues trio GA-20 hits the Narrows Center in Fall River. Scituate’s Dalton & the Sheriffs bring their country rock to the House of Blues in Boston. The Proles and four other young area rock bands heat up a benefit at The C-Note in Hull. Jazz Is Led – a jazzy tribute to Led Zeppelin – at The District in Taunton. Kindred the Family Soul – a husband-wife duo – harmonizes at City Winery. Badfish – the tribute to Sublime – has sold out their show at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. The Purple Disco Machine takes over Big Night Live in Boston. Head back up to Beverly, where the Cabot Theater hosts Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

SATURDAY, Dec. 30: Aldous Collins Band playing in Marshfield

Baltimore funk outfit Pigeons Playing Ping Pong opens a two-night stand at the House of Blues in Boston. Draw the Line – the Aerosmith tribute – has sold out their show at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. New Bedford guitar prodigy Quinn Sullivan has sold out his Narrows Center concert in Fall River. Folksinger Ellis Paul opens his two-nighter at Club Passim in Harvard Square. Another Tequila Sunrise – the Eagles tribute – are sure to warm up the Spire Center in Plymouth. Hanover’s tireless Aldous Collins Band sings at The Levitate Backyard in Marshfield. Craig Carter and the Hurricane rock The Next Page Cafe in Weymouth. Won’t Back Down – a Tom Petty tribute – fires up The District in Taunton. Brian Thomas and the BT All Stars bring some big band fun to the Fallout Shelter in Norwood.

Sunday, Dec. 31: Booty Vortex rings in New Year in Pembroke

Booty Vortex brings the disco era to life at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Funk band Ripe takes over Roadrunner in Boston. Brian Glowacki headlines a comedy night at the Spire Center in Plymouth. Quincy folk-rocker Suzanne McNeil warms up The Voyage in Humarock. Gimme Gimme Disco is the frivolity index at Brighton Music Hall. The ’70-’80s sounds of The Glitter Boys gets The Sinclair in Cambridge hopping. Saxman Elan Trotman heats up Scullers Jazz Club in Boston. The smart style and music of Divas with a Twist at The District in Taunton. Workman Song’s classic rock, plus two more bands, keep The C-Note in Hull jumping. The Fat City Band plays Chan’s in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Coming attractions

JAN. 5: Drew Dunn tops another comedy night at the Spire Center in Plymouth. Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman harmonize at the Narrows Center in Fall River. Playing Dead returns to Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Mia x Ally is the duo with an electric violinist and a bagpiper, whose unlikely music has been an internet sensation, with covers like Dropkick Murphys’ “Shipping Up to Boston,” and they’re at Brighton Music Hall.

JAN. 6: The Funky White Honkies get down and bluesy at the Narrows Center in Fall River. There, There is at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Don’t miss the Ken Clark Organ Trio at the Fallout Shelter in Norwood. Folkie Don White – always fun – at Club Passim. Zakk Sabbath – the Black Sabbath tribute band led by guitarist Zakk Wylde – shakes up The Paradise Rock Club in Boston.

FUTURE SHOTS: Don’t forget the Swinging Steaks on Jan. 11 at the Fallout Shelter in Norwood. The rootsy band Spafford spends a weekend at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke on Jan. 13-14.

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2024 NBA playoffs bracket, schedule, scores, results: Timberwolves blow out Nuggets, force Game 7

Published

4 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

2024 NBA playoffs bracket, schedule, scores, results: Timberwolves blow out Nuggets, force Game 7

The Minnesota Timberwolves forced Game 7 against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets with a 45-point blowout in Game 6 on Thursday night. The Wolves bounced back after losing three games in a row, and the second round will see at least one Game 7. It could see as many as three. The New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks are both up 3-2 in their respective series against the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, and they’ll try to close things out this weekend.

The Boston Celtics became the first team to punch their ticket to the conference finals in the 2024 NBA playoffs. The Celtics ousted the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night with a Game 5 win. The victory moved Boston to the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth time in the last eight years and the third year in a row. The Celtics will face either the Knicks or the Pacers in the next round, starting on Tuesday.

The postseason field started with 20 teams, and now we’re down to seven. The Warriors, Kings, Hawks and Bulls were ousted in the Play-In Tournament before the Pelicans, Suns, Clippers, Lakers, Heat, 76ers, Bucks and Magic were eliminated in the first round. And now the Cavs have been sent home in the second round.

Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, as well as all the playoff scores. All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBA TV are streaming on fubo (try for free).

Thursday’s playoff scores:

Game 6: Timberwolves 115, Nuggets 70

Below is a look at the complete playoff bracket.

2024 NBA playoff bracket

Kim O’Reilly, CBS Sports

Upcoming NBA playoffs schedule

(All times Eastern)

Friday, May 17
Game 6: Pacers vs. Knicks, 8:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Saturday, May 18
Game 6: Mavericks vs. Thunder, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Sunday, May 19
Game 7*: Knicks vs. Pacers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
Game 7: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, TBD

Monday, May 20
Game 7*: Thunder vs. Mavericks, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Tuesday, May 21
Game 1: Celtics vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Wednesday, May 22
Game 1: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Thursday, May 23
Game 2: Celtics vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Friday, May 24
Game 2: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Saturday, May 25
Game 3: TBD vs. Celtics, 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo

Sunday, May 26
Game 3: Western Conference finals, 8 p.m., TNT

Monday, May 27
Game 4: TBD vs. Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Tuesday, May 28
Game 4: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Wednesday, May 29
Game 5*: Celtics vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Thursday, May 30
Game 5*: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Friday, May 31
Game 6*: TBD vs. Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Saturday, June 1
Game 6*: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Sunday, June 2
Game 7*: Celtics vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo

Monday, June 3
Game 7*: Western Conference finals, 8:30 p.m., TNT

NBA playoffs: Second-round scores

Celtics vs. Cavaliers
Game 1: Celtics 120, Cavaliers 95
Game 2: Cavaliers 118, Celtics 94
Game 3: Celtics 106, Cavaliers 93
Game 4: Celtics 109, Cavaliers 102
Game 5: Celtics 113, Cavaliers 98
(Boston wins series 4-1)

Knicks vs. Pacers
Game 1: Knicks 121, Pacers 117
Game 2: Knicks 130, Pacers 121
Game 3: Pacers 111, Knicks 106
Game 4: Pacers 121, Knicks 89
Game 5: Knicks 121, Pacers 91

Thunder vs. Mavericks
Game 1: Thunder 117, Mavericks 95
Game 2: Mavericks 119, Thunder 110
Game 3: Mavericks 105, Thunder 101
Game 4: Thunder 100, Mavericks 96
Game 5: Mavericks 104, Thunder 92

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves
Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 99
Game 2: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 80
Game 3: Nuggets 117, Timberwolves 90
Game 4: Nuggets 115, Timberwolves 107
Game 5: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 97
Game 6: Timberwolves 115, Nuggets 70

NBA playoffs: First-round scores

Celtics vs. Heat
Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94
Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
Game 3: Celtics 104, Heat 84
Game 4: Celtics 102, Heat 88
Game 5: Celtics 118, Heat 84
(Boston wins series 4-1)

Knicks vs. 76ers
Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104
Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
Game 3: 76ers 125, Knicks 114
Game 4: Knicks 97, 76ers 92
Game 5: 76ers 112, Knicks 106 (OT)
Game 6: Knicks 118, 76ers 115
(Knicks win series 4-2)

Bucks vs. Pacers
Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94
Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
Game 3: Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)
Game 4: Pacers 126, Bucks 113
Game 5: Bucks 115, Pacers 92
Game 6: Pacers 120, Bucks 98
(Indiana wins series 4-2)

Cavaliers vs. Magic
Game 1: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
Game 2: Cavaliers 96, Magic 86
Game 3: Magic 121, Cavaliers 83
Game 4: Magic 112, Cavaliers 89
Game 5: Cavaliers 104, Magic 103
Game 6: Magic 103, Cavaliers 96
Game 7: Cavaliers 106, Magic 94
(Cleveland wins series 4-3)

Thunder vs. Pelicans
Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
Game 2: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92
Game 3: Thunder 106, Pelicans 85
Game 4: Thunder 97, Pelicans 89
(Oklahoma City wins series 4-0)

Nuggets vs. Lakers
Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
Game 4: Lakers 119, Nuggets 108
Game 5: Nuggets 108, Lakers 106
(Denver wins series 4-1)

Timberwolves vs. Suns
Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
Game 2: Timberwolves 105, Suns 93
Game 3: Timberwolves 126, Suns 109
Game 4: Timberwolves 122, Suns 116
(Minnesota wins series 4-0)

Clippers vs. Mavericks
Game 1: Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
Game 2: Mavericks 96, Clippers 93
Game 3: Mavericks 101, Clippers 90
Game 4: Clippers 116, Mavericks 111
Game 5: Mavericks 123, Clippers 93
Game 6: Mavericks 114, Clippers 101
(Dallas wins series 4-2)

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Billionaire surprises students at Massachusetts college with big graduation gift

Published

12 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

Billionaire surprises students at Massachusetts college with big graduation gift

Billionaire and Celtics co-owner surprises UMass Dartmouth grads with $1,000 each

00:59

DARTMOUTH – Students at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth got an amazing graduation gift from their commencement speaker Thursday. Billionaire Robert Hale surprised more than 1,100 graduates with $1,000 each.

“Each of you is getting $1,000 cash right now,” he said.

Gift comes with one “catch”

There was one instruction to go along with his gift. Hale said $500 is for the graduates to keep and $500 is for them to give to others. He invited them all to share in the joy of giving by gifting the money to a cause or person who needs it more than they do.

“These trying times have heightened the need for sharing, caring and giving,” he said. “Our community needs you and your generosity more than ever.”

Hale is the CEO of Quincy-based Granite Telecommunications, which he founded in 2002, and a co-owner of the Boston Celtics. Forbes estimates his net worth at $5.4 billion.

Graduation surprise becoming a tradition

And Hale has done the same thing before. Last year, he gave $1,000 to all 2,523 graduates at UMass Boston. And in 2021, he gifted the same amount to 230 Quincy College graduates.

College graduates can certainly use the cash. It’s been less than a year since the COVID-era student loan payment pause ended. The Education Department said that roughly 40% of student loan borrowers who owed a payment when the pause ended in October 2023 failed to make that payment by mid-November.

Neal Riley

Neal J. Riley is a digital producer for CBS Boston. He has been with WBZ-TV since 2014. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. Neal is a graduate of Boston University.

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When will the Eastern Conference Finals tip off for the Boston Celtics?

Published

18 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

When will the Eastern Conference Finals tip off for the Boston Celtics?

BOSTON — The Celtics are on to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third straight season and the sixth time in the last eight years. But who they’ll play for a trip to the NBA Finals and when the series will tip off will remain unknown for a few more days.

Boston finished off the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, thanks to Al Horford turning back the clock and leading the team to a 113-98 series-clinching victory at TD Garden on Wednesday night. Now the Celtics will get at least a few days off before their next playoff bout begins.

We’ll have a better idea of how it will all shake out over the next two days. Boston gets the winner of the Knicks-Pacers series, with New York leading the set 3-2 heading into Friday night’s Game 6 in Indiana. A Knicks win on Friday would set up a highly anticipated Boston-New York conference finals, which would tip off either Sunday or Tuesday at TD Garden. If the Pacers even the series and force a Game 7 in New York, that would take the Sunday afternoon slot.

The Timberwolves-Nuggets series in the Western Conference also factors into Boston’s future. If the Timberwolves force a Game 7 against the Nuggets with a win on Thursday night, that deciding game would also take place on Sunday and the Eastern Conference Finals would be pushed to Tuesday.

For those who like to plan ahead, here are two schedules for the Eastern Conference Finals, depending on how things play out in the NBA playoffs the rest of the week.

Eastern Conference Finals schedule if Knicks-Pacers and Nuggets-Timberwolves finish in six games

Game 1: Sunday, May 19 at 3:30 p.m. in Boston
Game 2: Tuesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. in Boston
Game 3: Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 p.m. in New York or Indiana
Game 4: Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. in New York or Indiana
Game 5: Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. in Boston*
Game 6: Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. in New York or Indiana*
Game 7: Sunday, June 2 at 8 p.m. in Boston*
* If Necessary

Eastern Conference Finals schedule if Knicks-Pacers or Nuggets-Timberwolves go seven games

Game 1: Tuesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. in Boston
Game 2: Thursday, May 23 at 8 p.m. in Boston
Game 3: Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 p.m. in New York or Indiana
Game 4: Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. in New York or Indiana
Game 5: Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. in Boston*
Game 6: Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. in New York or Indiana*
Game 7: Sunday, June 2 at 8 p.m. in Boston*
* If Necessary

The Celtics will obviously be rooting for the Knicks and the Pacers to go seven and exhaust each other further. Horford could use a few extra days rest after his monster Game 5 against the Cavs, and if the Celtics are lucky, maybe Kristaps Porzingis could return early in the Conference Finals. (That may be wishful thinking, but time will tell.)

Either way, the Celtics should take full advantage of the rest they get before starting their battle for a spot in the NBA Finals. That will be important against either team, with the Pacers playing every game like a track meet and games against the Knicks resembling more of a boxing match.

Matt Geagan

Matthew Geagan is a sports writer and producer for CBS Boston and wbz.com. He has been part of the WBZ sports team for nearly 20 years.

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