Copley series highlights; and crit tips

This is only my second years at WBOS, after working at the Boston Globe for -- gasp -- 30 years. But one of the true pleasures has been to broadcast my Thursday show (with John Laurenti) from the site of the WBOS concert series in Copley Square. I've had a bird's-eye view on some great talent there this summer, including Brandi Carlile, Fountains of Wayne, and the incredibly energetic Cat Empire from Australia, which had people dancing around the square as though it were midnight on Lansdowne Street.
I have to say that the crowds have been bigger this year -- a factor of the generally good weather, but also of the hip bookings that have often featured a Boston band opening up. And we're talking good Boston bands -- Eli "Paperboy'' Reed & the True Loves, Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles (hey, maybe they wouldn't be broken if they got together with the True Loves), and the powerful Dennis Brennan Band.
Brennan kicked things off on July 12, setting the tone for this year's more rocking series. He and his bandmates -- led by guitar gods Duke Levine and Kevin Barry -- played a ringing streak of rootsy tunes that probably echoed all the way to offices in Kenmore Square (hey, get out of those offices and come on down!). He was followed by Carlile, who drew the biggest crowd of the summer, as people packed the grass and the sidewalks around it. She was a treat with her soothingly personal, folk-country songs, though the best moment came on a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son.'' It was the most rocking tune of her set -- and she should add more uptempo fare to better balance her presentation. She has the pipes for it.
The second week was rained out just as the event was about to begin. It was a bummer, but give headliner Martin Sexton credit for leaving the wet stage and going out into the soggy crowd to sing some up-close-and-personal acoustic songs to make sure that fans got something special. Opening act Chad Perrone did the same thing. The artists got soaked, but it was a beautiful thing to see. They care about their audiences.
The Cat Empire held down the third week of this six-week series and they were everything as advertised -- a percussive juggernaut that combined rock, funk, swing, and salsa, with a touch of the Australian mania for which they're known. They came all the way from Melbourne and weren't going to allow a little 90-degree heat to slow them down. No doubt they're used to it. And opener Eli "Paperboy'' Reed and his troupe sweated up a similar storm with their galvanizing, horn-stoked R&B. Catch them around town when you can. They're for real.
Another great bill followed with Latin rockers DeSol (riding a new album) bringing a unique blend of Santana psychedelia mixed with Springsteenian rock a la Asbury Park, where DeSol is from. I liked it thoroughly. I had never seen them live, but they had a clear spark that was infectious. And opener Ryan Shaw -- it almost feels weird to call him an opener because he's so good -- brought his retro-soul to Copley and won a slew of new fans in the process. He's like a young Al Green crossed with Otis Redding and Bobby Womack. Ryan peaked with Womack's "Looking for a Love,'' which was popularized around Boston by the J. Geils Band.
Next up was Fountains of Wayne, which drew the second-largest audience of the series. They were a crowd-pleasing bunch of Mensa-society, Brit pop-influenced rockers whose slyly twisted lyrics connected time and again with their brainy fandom. I didn't think they were as good on stage as they are in the studio, but hey, that's just a minor quibble. And openers Sarah Borges and her band were a complete delight, belting out Lucinda Williams-influenced country-rock 'n' rockabilly with a masterful touch. They're starting to break out nationally and it's easy to see why.
If you've missed out on the fun, there's one more concert to go: Matt Nathanson and Jonatha Brooke at Copley on Thursday, Aug. 16. Hope to see you there.

And more crit tips for the week ahead:
Sleepy LaBeef -- at Johnny D's on Thursday, Aug. 16. The Arkansas rockabilly giant is still busting his gut in the roadhouses. He's a walking encyclopedia of early rock 'n' roll.
WBOS boat cruise -- leaving from Long Wharf on Friday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. A tasty night in the harbor with Chad Perrone, Tim Blane, and OSB.
Al & the Transamericans -- another cruise on Friday, Aug. 17, this one leaving from Rowes Wharf at 8 p.m. Al Schnier of jam-band moe. plays with friends such as Gordon Stone and Eric Glocker of Strangefolk.
The Saw Doctors -- at the South Shore Music Circus on Friday, Aug. 17. Fresh off a great performance at the ICONS Festival in Canton, the Doctors are ready to prescribe the next dose.
James Taylor -- at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday, Aug. 18. Taylor isn't playing the Tweeter Center this summer, so you'll have to head an hour north of Boston to see him.
Download Festival -- at the Tweeter Center on Saturday, Aug. 18. WBOS faves Guster and Modest Mouse are among the acts.
Kashmir -- at the Rocketbar on Saturday, Aug. 18. A great Led Zeppelin tribute band roars into this new Lansdowne Street club.
Come Together -- a Boston tribute concert at the Bank of America Pavilion on Sunday, Aug. 19. The lineup has been in flux, but the mission is the same -- to raise money for the Brad Delp Foundation in the departed singer's honor. The performers include a reunited Boston (with guest vocalist Matthew Sweet), Godsmack (yes, you read this correctly), Extreme, RTZ, Farrenheit, and Ernie & the Automatics. I'll be there and I can't wait.