Choke Up - Pilot Passenger / Joaquin Murietta

Pilot Passenger / Joaquin Murietta might be the most beautiful punk rock I’ve heard in a long time. A really smart record.

There’s an element of fascination when art imitates life; when an artist, or in this case, a band of artists, can produce a well-rounded concept of fact and fiction; rich in detail and chiseled to near perfection with integrity and intelligence. Choke Up brings prolific talent to the Boston music scene.

A Weekend of Music via Instagram

All access music blogging.

This weekend was a fucking spectacular time for Boston punks, old school and current. Between watching some superior legends in the scene, to rocking out with a bunch of super rad dudes, The Real Kids Middle East Show and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Hometown Throwdown 16 were excellent parties. And there are pictures to prove it.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XIX

2013 has been a spectacular year for new music and 2014 will be just as rad. We'd like to give a huge internet shout out to the bands we were able to review / pimp out / meet and look forward to the next batch of shows and records to come across our desk. And an extra special flirty glance to ALL the social media kids who follow Bishop And Rook on Twitter and Facebook. We do it for you. It's all for you! Here's to dance parties for one, making something out of nothing, standing up for your opinions and your first playlist of 2014. Have a Chambord Mimosa you bunch of classy music lovers.

#BandcampRoulette

This fuzz rock import is featured on The 100 Club Series from DIY label, Odd Box Records. Let Fever Dream's lo-fi sound sooth away your holiday hangover. Subscribe to The 100 Club Series for £42 ($69) and receive installments of their limited edition 7" (1 of 100 per pressing) in the mail. Hurry, there are only a few subscriptions left.

Play Bandcamp Roulette.

Wine Them Over - Top Wines For Christmas

LOL It's Christmas. WTF.

'Tis the season to be so unfamiliar with someone's preferences that you have more of an opinion on Grumpy Cat vs. Lil Bub than you do about what they would really like for Christmas. Or perhaps this is your attempt at being a classy adult during someone's holiday party. Bottles of wine never go out of style. Before you wander aimlessly into a Target at 9:45pm on Christmas Eve, take a glance at Bishop And Rook's unofficially endorsed wines. All under $16, chosen solely on how cool the label was.

Shambles – It’s Not That Weird

Shambles rock out at O'Brien's Pub in Allston Friday Night, 12/20/13 (image credit)

A bunch of Allston kids singing songs about growing up and going nowhere fast, isn’t that what music is all about? Shambles, featured on Allston Pudding’s Fall Localz Only Free Mixtape XXMMIII, is a humble, hometown pop punk band with catchy songs averaging about 2:30, “Sorry we keep talking in between songs, but they’re all like a minute long, so we kind of have to.”

Gentlemen Hall, Mean Creek, ARmy of BRoken Toys to Play First Night Boston

Local bands rock out during First Night Boston

First Night Boston will feature some of the most talked about Boston bands including Gentlemen Hall (Island Records), Mean Creek (Old Flame Records) and Walter Sickert & the ARmy of BRoken Toys.

Pre-Order Goodies from The Hotelier

Home, Like NoPlace Is There to be released February 18, 2014

Pre-order The Hotelier’s new LP Home, Like NoPlace Is There and receive an early digital download plus a shirt.

The Pill Turns The Lights On For Good

My heart broke just a little bit. Although it's been years since I've danced to Metric's "Combat Baby" in the dark while strategically shimming away from that dude with no personal boundaries then coming up for air only to be dragged back to the floor for the mandatory "Bohemian Like You" group hustle, The Pill always will be my favorite jam.

Friday nights at the corner of Comm Ave and Harvard, dressed like hipsters before hip was cool, one upping your friends to get a guy to buy you a beer then leaving him for a chance to dance like an uncoordinated drunk indie princess, Great Scott made all my wildest dreams come true. Since 1997, the weekly dance series has been entertaining Allstonites, but will reportedly turn the lights on for good this Friday, December 20th.

Raise a glass to the best dance party in Boston. Head to Great Scott on Friday, 10pm, 21+, $5. See the official Facebook event page for details. And don't forget to look sharp.

Save Ends' 'Warm Hearts, Cold Hands' Makes Punknews Best of 2013 List

Paul Pendley of Red City Radio ranks Boston band's LP, "record of the year."

Guitarist/singer Paul Pendley of Red City Radio includes Save Ends’ Warm Hearts, Cold Hands LP in his top picks of 2013 for Punknews. “I agonized over this list for hours, begged the bureaucrats at Punknews to let me do a list of 20 instead of 10, and debated David Frenson as to whether EP’s count (Fuck you, Dave, you sack of shit, my list, my rules) as a “record” or their own category. 2013 was such an amazing year that paring down a list of releases deserving of mention was extremely difficult.”

Boston Does Christmas - Local Bands Release Christmas Songs

The Field Effect is offering a free download of their "Blue Christmas" track.

Local bands are getting into the Christmas spirit with original tracks and holiday covers. Take a listen and snag yourself some limited edition EPs, free downloads and festive tunes.

TT the Bear's Holiday Party and Anngelle Wood's 2nd Annual Gift Drive

Head to TT's on December 17th for local music and holiday fun!

Join Boston Emissions and the fine folks at your favorite neighborhood music venue for TT the Bear's Holiday Party and Annegelle Wood's 2nd Annual Spectacular Gift Drive on December 17th! The evening features performances by Corin Ashley (8p), Butterknife (8:30p), Ad Frank (9p), The Derangers (9:30), Aquanutz (10p), Sinnet (10:30p), 3/4 of Scamper (11p), Mike the Considerate and the Interns (11:30p), a Secret Holiday Themed Guest and more to be announced. For additional information on this free event, please visit the official Facebook event page.

Bring a new, unwrapped gift for a child of any age - toys, electronics, clothing, winter coats/hats/gloves, gift cards are all accepted. Donations go towards the DCF Kids Fund. The DCF Kids Fund was established in 1998 to supply emergency items such as diapers, hot meals, warm clothes, or a new toothbrush to abused and neglected children entering the care of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Monetary donations can also be made directly on the DCFKidsFund.com website.

Anngelle will also be accepting donations during the December 14th Indie Rock Ranger Holiday Spectacular at The Middle East Downstairs.

Indie Rock Ranger's Holiday Spectacular

Celebrate the holidays with Indie Rock Ranger - and don't forget your toy donation (poster credit)

On Saturday, December 14th, The Middle East Downstairs will host Indie Rock Ranger's Holiday Spectacular featuring some of Boston's favorite hometown bands.

Comcast Center Gets A New Name

What's in a name? Effective 12.11.13, the Comcast Center to is now the Xfinity Center (image credit)

The Wall Street Journal reported that Comcast and Live Nation today announced that the amphitheater, formerly called the Comcast Center, has been renamed the Xfinity Center, effective today, December 11, 2013.

The renaming of the venue reflects the Xfinity brand's strong awareness and resonance with consumers. The venue, which opened in 1986 and formally known as Great Woods and The Tweeter Center, has a capacity of 19,900 and hosts 35 to 40 concerts per year. "Live Nation and Comcast have developed a strong and rewarding relationship, and we are delighted to continue our alliance through 2017," said Don Law, president of Live Nation New England.

"We look forward to working with Comcast to make the newly rebranded Xfinity Center an entertainment destination for people across the greater Boston region and beyond." The 2014 season will be the venue's 29(th) year of world class live music concert events. Artists such as Jimmy Buffet, Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, One Direction and Boston's own Aerosmith have graced the stage at the Xfinity Center.

Read the full story over at The Wall Street Journal.

Boston Does Boston Vols. 1&2 – To Benefit The Animal Rescue League of Boston

26 record songs, 16 live bands, 3 nights, 2 venues, 1 cause.

Boston Does Boston is a startup benefit series, where diverse musicians and bands of the local music scene re-interpret each other's material for charity CDs and live events. All sales and ticket proceeds to benefit the Animal Rescue League of Boston. If you haven’t heard Sarah Rabdau & Self-Employed Assassins cover Dead Cats Dead Rats’ “No God in Massachusetts”, then you haven’t lived yet.

The Regulars - That's Fancy

The Regulars (Boston) at The Precinct 12.6.13 (image credit)

The Regulars, comprised of members of Big D and the Kids Table and Far From Finished, rocked out at Precinct Bar in Union Square, Somerville last night. With a current line up consisting of Marc Cannata (ex-Far From Finished, vox), Billy Bean (ex-Smartbomb, ex-Outbreak, Callback Holly - Guitars and Vox), Dave Siegel (Guitars), Steve Foote (ex-Big D and the Kids Table, Nick and the Adversaries - Bass) and Rick Smith (The Pomps, Rebuilder - Drums), this band is a collaboration of seasoned local musicians, creating a sound oozing with pop. Their live show was nothing short of entertaining with Smith and Bean generating some showmanship moves on stage during an anticipated energetic post midnight set. You can purchase their 5 song EP (Are You) A True Regular? for $3 on Bandcamp today. Check out their sound.

Rock-n-Romp - A Rock and Roll Show for the Fam

Rock on kids...rock on. Presented by Boston Bowery and Girl Friday Industries.

Got kids? Love music? Then Rock-n-Romp is for you. Started in the Washington D.C. Rock-n-Romp is "a family friendly concert series showcasing fantastic local-area musicians and bands. Shows are held during the day in a relaxed, kid-safe environment. The volume might be low, but the music is designed for parents and kids both in mind. Kids enjoy the music, dance, or just enjoy the other activities available to them, and parents get the ever-so-rare opportunity to listen to great live music and enjoy a beer with other parents. Romps give parents who miss that aspect of their social life a chance to get out, enjoy some music that might be new to them, and expose their kids to great bands in a safe, friendly environment.

Head to The Sinclair in Cambridge on Saturday December 7th 11:30a for performances by  Tallahassee and The Susan Constant. See full event details on the official Facebook event page.

Poster by Daykamp Creative.

#BandcampRoulette

Philadelphia punk band, Scarier Area, may have broken up in 2011, but they still rock. Specifically at 9am while I sat in the parking lot, refusing to leave my car until I found out who made such wonderful noise on the radio. You can now find Nick in The Great Explainer (Chunksaah Records) and Jeff in The Holy Mess (Red Scare). 

Play Bandcamp Roulette.

The Young Leaves - 'Alive and Well' and Addictive

The Young Leaves 2013 full-length is 'Alive and Well' and Addictive

It’s garage, it’s indie, it’s the band from your 1994 prom, it’s The Young Leaves.

I had the pleasure of catching The Young Leaves' record release show with Born Without Bones and Save Ends back in October before all three jetsetted to Florida for FEST, and ever since then, I’ve wandered back to the band whenever I crave some solid local music.

Local Bands Nominated For 'Coolest Song In The World 2013'

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages (Boston) and The Connection (New Hampshire) are nominated for ‘The Coolest Song in the World 2013’, hosted by Little Steven’s Underground Garage. Up for the win is the 2013 Boston Music Awards nominee, Barraence Whitfield & The Savages’ “The Corner Man” off the 2013 Dig Thy Savage Soul, as well as three tracks from the groovie international sensation, The Connection, including “Comes and Goes” off of their 2012 self-titled LP and “Girls in This Town” and “Crawling From the Wreckage (Of a Saturday Night)” both from the 2013 Let It Rock! LP.

You can vote once every 24 hours up until 12PM December 28th. Vote Now.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XVIII

'Tis the season for Nutty Irishmen and playlists filled with New England bands.

For your cutthroat shopping pleasure, the December Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Playlist is released early for Black Friday! While we hope you're spending all your hard earned cash at your local record store, to each their self destructive own. No matter what you're doing, you should be doing it with a cocktail in one hand, maxed out credit card in the other, and the December playlist on in the background. This month's cocktail is the Drunk Uncle Nutty Irishman which pairs well with the likes of Brendan Boogie & the Best Intentions, Barrrence Whitfield & The Savages, Freeze Pop, Bandleader, A Wilhelm Scream, The Connection, Opposition Rising and Bent Shapes.

Boston Cookie Takedown at The Middle East

It's an old-fashion cookie takedown, just like Mom used to do.

The Takedown commences on Sunday, December 1st between 2p-4p at Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge. The first stop on a 3-city tour brings radioactive special powers of tummy destruction to Boston!

Enjoy the home baked cookies of 20+ Bostonites, chug [Bishop And Rook advises against chugging] Sailor Jerry cocktails and, at the suggestion of The Takedown, laugh. Unlimited cookies. Only $15. This is an 18+ event, valid ID required. For additional information including advanced ticket ordering, please visit the official Facebook Event Page. Come hungry.

“In the spirit of two wholly American pursuits — overeating and winning — comes the Takedown, a cooking competition where anything goes.” – New York Times

The Takedown was established in 2003 in Brooklyn, NY and has since grown into a nation-wide event including Sugar Takedowns, Chili Takedowns, Cat Painting Takedowns, and of course, Cookie Takedowns. For a more colorful narration and upcoming events, please visit the official Takedown website.