Yesterday I picked up a copy of the Boston Herald, as I do most every day from spring training through the World Series, and was a bit disconcerted; not only had the Red Sox won an unthinkable second World Series title, there in the A&E section was the top-billed "Scamper Scurries Into Retirement" article. Oof. I hope you got your copy -- that's some serious collector's item stuff.

Anyhow! I've recovered from the birthday and Red Sox riots and I'm ready to start bothering you on a weekly basis once more.

Firstly. If you haven't seen Okay Thursday lately, you need to. I'll somewhat abashedly admit that I hadn't seen them in many months, and had yet to bear witness to their new lineup and new sound. But I caught them opening for the mighty Imperial Teen at TT's last week, and my sweet holy hell. They were good before, but they are TREMENDOUS now. I think there's some irony in that the music has a lot more balls now that there's a second girl in the band, but I don't think anyone knows what irony means anymore. So forget it.

Secondly. Tomorrow is Halloween, which means local bands do cover shows. Funny how something that is so sneered upon becomes super-cool for this one silly night. My recommendations this year will be short and sweet: Baker (The Cars) and Self-Righteous Brothers (Beatles) at the Middle East up, and/or The Motion Sick (Poison) and The Luxury (Def Leppard) at TT's. I will not be dressed like Bert this year -- because I, as any self-respecting grown up should do, have stopped going to Supercuts.

Nextforth. The Decemberists are doing two shows this weekend at the Orpheum; the fun twist on this tour is that they play one show of short, poppy songs, and one full of the long sea shanties. Alas, I'm not going to either one, but I do highly recommend seeing these laddies and lassies live. (If you're looking for me, as I suspect you are, I'll be working the door at the Paradise for the Superdrag show on Saturday.)

Subsequently. The International Pop Overthrow is rolling through town again, this time housed at Great Scott in Allston. Highlights: the recently rebirthed Rooftop Suicide Club on 11/2 and Brett Rosenberg's triumphant return to Boston on 11/5.

Penultimately. Boston has a new venue for the live rock and roll: Church now occupies the space formerly known as the Linwood. With the recent losses of the Skybar, the Kirkland, the Overdraught, and evidently the Basement at the Baseball Tavern, any new venue is hot business. I've yet to see the place, but initialy reviews have been spectacular. So go there and drink beer.

Finally. When I first moved to Boston, I was a regular reader of the Improper Bostonian and the Phoenix. I've come to not care for either publication in the years since, turning my allegiances -- as many have -- to the Dig. But once a year, the Improper trumpets the local rock scene and gives credit where credit is due. I recall the Fly Seville (oh how I miss them!) gracing the cover back in 2000 or 2001, and dreaming of a day when perhaps Scamper would see their name highlighted on that glossy, pretentious cover. In the end, we never got so much as a glance askance from Ezra et al. But do pick up the current issue (pictured below). That Casey, she's gonna conquer the world.