A Night At Great Scott - In Photos

All music, all on Instagram. (okay fine, some kittens too)

Sometimes we review bands and sometimes we suggest they all play together in a strategically planned lineup. Thanks to all the incredible talent that played Great Scott last night and to everyone who came out to support. Don't be lame, go to a show. Boston Shows Tumblr, 88.1FM WMBR's Concert Report and our very own Go To This Show tab feature upcoming local shows for your listening pleasure.

Traditions Sing Honest Pop Punk on 'Cycles' EP

Digital, CD and Vinyl copies of Cycles available now on Bandcamp

While every other band is fighting to claim they have the most oppression to overcome, the biggest heart break to sing about or the least amount of fucks to give, Western MA pop punkers in Traditions introduce themselves as a band that acknowledges they’re probably retelling a story in a similar fashion, they’re just doing it their way. "Every story has been written already. We know this. We’re just trying to be honest and give everyone our version."

This mission statement either sets the bar or levels the playing field of expectations for what you are about to hear.

Somos on Tour with I Am the Avalanche This Summer

Boston's Somos (Tiny Engines) will be heading out with New York's Rust Belt Lights (Adeline Records) and I Am the Avalanche (I Surrender Records) for their East Cost Summer Tour beginning July 18th in Brooklyn, NY and boomeranging back up to finish on August 2nd in Amityville, NY; making stops in Hamden, CT and Providence, RI along the way.

Somos recently released their debut LP, Temple of Plenty in March of 2014 and played a sold out Record Release show at The Middle East Upstairs with labelmates The Hotelier. (It was all ages, the Red Bull was flowing). You can purchase Temple of Plenty on vinyl and in digital format on Tiny Engines' site now and head to Bandcamp to stream the album in its entirety.

Full List of Tour Dates
FRI July 18- Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus
SAT July 19- Atlantic City, NJ @ The Boneyard
SUN July 20- Virginia Beach, VA @ Shaka's
TUE July 22- Charlotte, NC @ Milestone Club
WED July 23- Orlando, FL @ Backbooth
THU July 24- Tampa, FL @ Epic Problem
FRI July 25- Lake Worth, FL @ Propaganda
SAT July 26- Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall
SUN July 27- Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
TUE July 29- Richmond, VA @ The Camel
WED July 30- Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
THU July 31- Hamden, CT @ The Space
FRI Aug 1- Providence, RI @ The Met
SAT Aug 2- Amityville, NY @ Revolution

#BandcampRoulette

Man Bear from Kansas City, Missouri will politely burst into your apartment, drink your beer, eat your pizza, and then make the bed in the morning. Also, they really like cats. Taking heavy cues from Hüsker Dü and early Paul Westerberg, “Talking Drunk at 2AM” off of their debut 2011 EP Talking Drunk, encompasses key ingredients that perfected 1980’s Midwest pop punk.

Head to Bandcamp for free downloads of all Man Bear's EPs, including their 2013 Power Slop.

Play Bandcamp Roulette.

Bishop And Rook Presents a Night at Great Scott

Hang out with Bishop And Rook and all these fine bands May 29th.

By our powers combined, we will create a totally stacked showcase and offer it to all music listeners 18 years of age and older! Bishop And Rook and Refuse Rethink Rebuild Records presents The Dirty Looks, Yellabird, Wrong Body and The Darker Hues at Great Scott in Allston on May 29th.

Yellabird - "Dead Hand Blues"

See Yellabird May 29th at Great Scott, Allston

2014 Rock N Roll Rumble semi-finalists and all around impressive rock duo Yellabird released a new track in anticipation to their upcoming 2014 EP Debts. "Dead Hand Blues" is currently available for free download (at a name your price donation) on Bandcamp along with previously released track "Tired Eyes".

I had the extreme privilege of judging Yellabird during their Rumble preliminary round and without hesitation, immediately understood this was a band to watch out for. To put a live performance into perspective, a favorite comment of the night was, "Wait...there are only two people on that stage?" See Yellabird live when they play Great Scott in Allston along with The Dirty Looks, Wrong Body and Darker Hues on May 29th. Event details.

Precinct Changes to 'Brass Union', Discontinues Live Music

Another one bites the dust. Precinct 2.0 will no longer feature live music.

Rumor has it Precinct will change to “Brass Union”, nix live music and focus more on food and drinks. Per Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston Eater, the former live music venue / restaurant space in Somerville’s Union Square neighborhood which temporarily closed in February for what Facebook refers to as minor renovations slated to last one month, “has been pretty much gutted.”

Precinct’s website now redirects to Brass Union’s site with a “coming soon” message. First Radio now Precinct, at least Somerville still has Porchfest.

Allston Gets a Bit More Awesome During Awesome Day Fest

15 Bands, 3 Stages, One Awesome Day in Allston (Poster design by Z*L's Ian Adams)

Jesse Sherman of Boston band, Tired Old Bones, and Cameron Keiber of boutique label Midriff Records, along with O’Brien’s Pub, Regina Pizzeria, Store 54 and Narragansett Beer present Awesome Day Fest in Allston Rock City on May 24th. Originally orchestrated by Sherman, Awesome Day has historically been an all-day affair at the charming O’Brien’s Pub, complete with copious amounts of BBQ on the back patio and a stage full of the best rock Boston has to offer.

This year, however, Awesome Day Fest transforms into a tri-venue experience with the addition of TWO MORE STAGES. Three times the music, three times the beer, just remember to cross with the crosswalk.

ACME Band Supply - Local, Knowledgeable, No Bullshit

"Band merch is fashion and branding. It’s not slapping some ink on a shirt."

"Bands needed a quality, local, knowledgeable, no bullshit, and inexpensive place to source their merch needs. ACME was started out of necessity;
both personal and for the scene."

With a combined 30 years of experience, veteran screen printers and co-owners of ACME Band Supply, Shawn Flores and Chris Huer, have been outfitting local and national bands with custom products since the late 90's, specializing in stock specifically designed for the music industry.

To get a sense of the deep rooted capacity of the headlining establishment that is ACME, you need to understand its bedrock, which includes Shawn Flores one upping a band with its own merchandise.

“While in high school one of my classes was Graphic Design and Print Production. The school copy center. Everyone who ever took that class literally used it to bootleg band shirts. I heard a year or two ago that my screens were still intact and kids were using them. Anyways, Big D and the Kids Table had horrible merch.”

Trifecta: Year One - Pop Up Arts & Culture Event

4-day event celebrating the diverse artist community in Boston.

 

Trifecta Editions is a print collective based in Boston and Cambridge, focused on producing innovative, top-quality, limited edition, affordable screen prints and art objects. Those hip T-shirts, elaborate show posters and custom record jackets you love so much? These guys do that. The collective currently works with a diverse group of artists—from illustrators, comic artists, painters and printmakers to designers, sculptors, graffiti artists and architects.

Between May 22 through 25, Trifecta Editions will be celebrating its inaugural arts and culture event, Trifecta: Year One, at the Fourth Wall Project 132 Brookline Ave., Boston.

#BandcampRoulette

See New City Ghost open for The Okay Win at TT the Bear's 5.17.14.

Pensive and emotive, New City Ghost channel the all the melodramatics of Mayday Parade with their upcoming 5-song EP Ossa Cava. Previewing two songs on Bandcamp now, the Rhode Island quartet are withholding their alternative rock, show-us-your-teeth track "Wake" for the May 20th release date. But you may be able to get an advanced listen during their set at The Okay Win's Record Release Show May 17th at TT the Bear's Central Square, Cambridge.

Follow New City Ghost on Facebook and Twitter for additional shows and record release information.

Play Bandcamp Roulette.

Somerville PorchFest 2014

Somerville Porchfest May 17th 12-6p.

On Saturday, May 17th musicians and bands throughout Somerville will celebrate and utilize an underused public venue: The Porch. Acts—ranging from bollywood funk, cosmic americana, killer blues, Moroccan, Balkan, gospel, American space rock and clawhammer banjo—will serenade passersby from porches throughout Somerville fo’ free.

There are three time slots are based on three quadrants of the city; east to Central will be 12-2; Central to Willow will be 2-4; west of Willow 4-6.

Preview the bands, get an idea of what your Saturday itinerary should look like and play around with an interactive map at the official Somerville Arts Council’s website.

Some of our favorite names this year are “Lonely Winter Hill Hammered Dulcimer Club (of One)” at 11 Fenwick St. (12-2p), “Grump Old Men’s Old Time String Band” at 10 Willow Ave. (2-4) and “The Parking Tickets” at 242 Willow Ave. (2-4).

Oh and then there are these punks covering Toto's "Africa" at 5 Forster St. (12-2p).

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bots

MC5 meets The Stooges meets The Black Keys meets our eardrums. See them at Church 5/14.

First there was Rough Francis (Riot House) from Vermont, then Missouri’s Radkey (Replay, Wreckroom), now Glendale, California brother band The Bots (FADER) are breaking the sound barrier with their version of face smashing, passionate noise. Is it just us, or are these family groups getting younger and younger?

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXIII

A Gin Gimlet because we're turn of the century classy folks who like new music. (image credit)

Hanging on the porch, listening to new music, sipping on gin and juice. That’s how it goes right? First all the of the snow, now all of the rain. But that’s not stopping us from cleaning off the patio furniture and buying citronella candles. WE WILL DAY DRINK ON OUR PORCH THIS MONTH. And we shall do it with a Gin Gimlet while listening to the May Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out playlist featuring Plague Vendor, Mean Creek, The Okay Win, Banner Pilot and PINS.

Soccer Mom - S/T

Soccer Mom's self-titled LP drops May 1st. Get your copy now.

May Day! After a nearly 2-year production intermission, Boston’s Soccer Mom releases their self-titled full-length album today. Soccer Mom (100m Records) is the follow up to the band’s 2011 EP You Are Not Going to Heaven and 2012 double single Brides/Canoe.

"Soccer Mom is a painstakingly crafted, likely career-defining collection that positions the act for national attention. The LP contains powerful and beautiful music explosively rendered from charred shadow and blinding light."

-Clicky Clicky Music

The band will be celebrating the release of the LP this Saturday, May 3rd at Great Scott (Allston) with Palehound, Bedroom Eyes and Infinity Girl. The event is 18+, $9 and 9p doors. View the official Facebook event page for full details. Soccer Mom is available on limited edition vinyl and in digital format and can be purchased via the 100m Record Store. Follow the band on Facebook for additional show dates.