Thurs. April 22 

Screech to a halt! Feel free to read about the band - they're good - but know that their Great Scott concert Thursday April 22 has been scrapped due to volcano. We just got the word. Yep, the Swedish band was one of those airborne toxic event victims. No word yet on a make up.

Here's what we had written; Singer-songwriter Philip Ekstrom brings his quaret the Mary Onettes from Sweden to Great Scott Thursday April 22.  Should you expect to party hearty? Not exactly. Songs on their new disc, "Islands," like "The disapperance of my youth" and "Cry for love" were written in his girlfriend's mother's estate after her death. Says Ekstrom: "The songs are almost too personal and I've had a hard time playing them for friends. It's like all I want to do is keep them for myself." But, being in a band, recording music ... well, that sort of forces the music out into the world, and, hey, you know he wants to do that, however painful the process might have been. And these songs are not mopey drones; there's a shimmering guitar pop sparkle to them, aiding the inrosuctive and retrospective lyrics. On the album, there's strings, a piano and a children's chorus. Probably none of that at T.T.'s but the melancholic charm the Mary Onettes have should waft through the small club. Of "Islands," Ekstrom says, "I see the tracks as small islands in different shapes and forms every song is like a record of its very own." Hear/learn more at www.myspace.com/themaryonettes or www.themaryonettes.net. Show starts at 9 with Of the Opera and Bearstronaut opening. Tix: $10. No opener announced yet. The MO should be on 10-ish.

1222 Commonwealth Ave., Allston, 617-566-9014 www.greatscottboston.com