Sat. Jan. 16 

Ok, there's not the amazing, wonderful shock of "Oh my god! Mission of Burma is playing live again!" That was the story back in 2002 the improbable reunion when the original trio, guitarist Roger Miller, bassist Clint Conley and drummer Peter Prescott (plus Shellac's Bob Weston filling Martin Swope's slot on looping the sound in concert). Mission of Burma has found a reason to exist - at least on a semi-permanent basis - and they've got a two dates - it's Jaunary, they do these things this month! - at the Paradise for two shows wrapping up Sat. Jan. 16. They've also got a new-ish album, last fall's "The Sound The Speed The Light," which we loved, and showed the band to as jarring - if in a sorta familiar way - as ever.

What to expect for this show? Miller checked in with us recently: "Well, it's 2010, and it's been 8 years since we reformed: that's fairly insane for a band that thought they'd never play together again.  Over the last few years, though, we felt we were playing better and more consistently than we ever did.  We felt comfortable recording 'The Sound the Speed the Light,' and the new material fits right in w/the earlier songs.  One thing we got from SSL is the fact that, bizarre as it may be, we really are a band and there's no good reason to stop.  Maybe that's what happens when you actually make a 3rd album and step back to think about what you've done." 

Yet  we noticed that, if anything, we had kind of "settled in" to a way of working.  Of course, that bothers us.  So we're looking for new ways to irritate our process, looking for some new edges to punch out.  Chart some potentially new territory for ourselves.  To that end, we'll have a new song for the Paradise shows that has a few different turns.  But still sounds like Mission of Burma.  You can take Mission of Burma to the rock, but you can't take the rock out of Mission of Burma.  (Or something like that).

Prescott described the "SSL" thus: "The new album sounds far more spacious and dynamic. It is more or less divided into 4 sets or suites of 3 songs. Each suite explores a set of moods or colors, across the usual dizzying array of lyrical topics, from alcoholism to fleshly concerns. The anthemic, catchy opener, our first MP3, is a classic Burma rocker on a level with “This Is Not A Photograph” or “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate.” Other tracks, such as “Feed,” “Forget Yourself,” and “Slow Faucet,” the latter a live favorite for some time, are slow, hypnotic builders. “Good Cheer” is a burst of almost uncontainable joy and fun that literally explodes from the speakers.'

Burma has playing scattered dates around the country, supporting the record. "The feeling I get is pretty important and some level of physical exertion is a really cool part of it," says Prescott. "It's a rush. Usually, 50-year-old farts don't get that, or maybe it's our version of skiing or jumping out of airplanes. ... When this is done, what am I gonna replace it with?"

In 2008, Mission of Burma had two full-length studio LPs on Ace of Hearts Records remastered and re-released by original producer Rick Harte and re-isuued (with bonus tracks) on Matador. They dug it, but stilll ... At the time, Miller talked about the reissue and playing some of those songs live, "I'm much more interested in the present than the past. Last year, we played five shows and didn't play 'Revolver' or 'Academy' (Burma's best-known songs). We played songs from the 'Obliterati" album and brand new stuff. That was our thrust (in part because) we were aware the reissues were going to come out. We're learning the songs we haven't played in 25 years. They sound fine. But if it wasn't for us playing them, I wouldn t go back and listen to them."

Tix for the Boston shows are $20.  The Bennies open Saturday at 9.
 

967 Commonwealth Ave., 617-562-8800 www.thedise.com