Western Education Dishes On 'Let Your Secrets Out' LP

Hear Western Education's new LP live on July 5th at Middle East Downstairs.

In 2012 Western Education hit the scene with their indie pop S/T EP and synth pop The Weekend Sessions EP. In 2013 they showed their teeth with noticeably harder rock values on the single “Rivals”. And in 2014 the Lowell-based quartet proved ambition and a snazzy blazer could get you far in the 35th Annual Rock N Roll Rumble.

With their name still fresh in the media; Western Education prepares to release their first full-length Let Your Secrets Out (7/8/14) - a fusion of all their musical efforts up until now, with a large synth overlay and an abundance of confidence.

The Color And Sound Signed to Black Numbers

The Color And Sound Signed to Black Numbers. Wrapping up next EP Peace of Mind.

 

Boston's rip roaring all for one and one for all indie band The Color And Sound are officially signed to Black Numbers record label (NJ). And to kick off the relationship, Black Numbers is re-releasing team Color and Sound's Spring Tour EP, available for the first time on vinyl.

If you act on this pre-order now, you could snag one of the limited edition vinyl records on gold (100), blue (150) or white (250). Also available is the "3 Pack" bundle which includes all 3 variants and the "Test Press Pack" bundle that includes all 3 variants and a test press (limited to 30).

In addition to the re-release of the Spring Tour EP, the band states, "[We're] excited to announce that we have wrapped up our next EP Peace of Mind, which will be released this fall." You can catch The Color and Sound live at The Sinclair in Harvard Square, Cambridge on July 19th along with Sidewalk Driver, The Venetia Fair and Salita.

Pre-order your The Color And Sound Spring Tour EP vinyl now.

Followers of Bishop And Rook can attest to our admiration for the 2014 Rock N Roll Rumble alumni. In an effort not to rewrite the book for the third time, we quote ourselves from the spring 2013 review, The Color and Sound – The Kids Just Want to Have Fun, "As skeptical as one can be when keyboard, xylophone and banjo appear together at a punk rock show, the infectious romp stomping celebration and high velocity stage presence of The Color and Sound are extraordinarily successful in raising one’s adrenaline level."

Black Numbers is also home to Tiny Moving Parts, Crimes, Banquets and fellow Boston band Great Lakes USA.

In the News: Sharks and Beer

A Great White Shark was spotted off the shores of Cape Cod [VIDEO]. In other news, Narragansett re-releases the iconic 1975 can from ‘Jaws’. Discuss.

Annear, Steve. “Video: ‘That Is a Huge White Shark, Dude’.” Bostonmagazine.com. 24 Jun. 2014. Web. 25. 2014

Glass, Jeremy. “Narragansett Re-Released Their 1975 Can From ‘Jaws’.” Supercompressor.com. 20. Jun. 2014. Web. 25. 2014

Slothrust – Who Here Ever Went to Summer Camp?

Slothrust at O'Brien's Pub 6.21.14 (Instagram)

Not only do I have a giant XX chromosome girl crush on Slothrust front lady Leah Wellbaum, but the New York three piece as a whole is a pretty fucking awesome band and rocked the room at O’Brien’s Pub in Allston during Friday night's As Built Presents show.

Slothrust (Ba Da Bing Records) is a bluesy indie rock band with hints of nostalgia and a bit of a bite, like a fine boxed wine that gives no fucks. And in case your wet dreams weren’t moist enough, dare I say, “Black Sabbath cover?”

Convinced their lyrics are rhetorical non sequiturs, scribbled down on Post-it Notes and rearranged like magnetic poetry tiles, Slothrust’s songs string together these abstract thoughts to create epic singer songwriter brain garble set to tremendously powerful music.

I like cats, do you like cats? Of course you do you sassy motherfucker.
-“Crockpot” (Of Course You Do)

Slothrust is the type of band that seduced me into writing music reviews. Do yourself a favor and see them at TT the Bears (Cambridge) on July 17th with Licious, Mal Blum and Sylvana Joyce & The Moment, because no matter how much you dig them on Bandcamp or Spotify or Soundcloud, nothing compares to the cupid's arrow of their live set.

Follow Slothrust on Facebook and Twitter and purchase Of Course You Do on CD and vinyl via Ba Da Bing Records now.

Mikey Erg, Guillermo Sexo, Slothrust Play Allston 6.20.14

Hang out with us, As Built Presents, and all of these bands at O'Brien's Pub!

Boston based boutique music promotion, booking and management company, As Built Presents, brings us a super stacked show at O’Brien’s Pub, Allston this Friday, June 20th.

Hang out at Allston Rock City’s premiere (and our favorite) venue for new music as locals Kal Marks, Guillermo Sexo and Lady Bones share the stage with New York grunge rock band Slothrust and Transatlantic gruff and grunge punk outfit Pale Angels featuring Mike Santostefano of Crimes (NJ), The Arteries' (UK) Jamie Morrison and a guy named Mikey Erg.

8pm doors / $10 / 21+. View the official Facebook event page for more information. Come early, stay late and support local and touring bands. It's always a pleasure watching Mikey Erg play, but we're stoked for the energetic and majorly talented Lady Bones' set.

About As Built Presents: As Built PR is a Boston based boutique music promotion, booking, and management company specializing in new media and unique online promotions created by Michael Rodriguez in January of 2007. We pride ourselves on our selective and eclectic roster of artists. For more information, visit www.asbuiltpresents.com. Poster by William Malizia.

2014 Granite State Music Festival

Get your tickets for the 2-day New Hampshire music festival.

Head to Concord, New Hampshire June 21 and 22 for the Granite State Music Festival. This year’s bands include Lucius (NY), Adam Ezra Group (MA), Kingsley Flood (MA), Tristan Omand (NH) and more.

In addition to live entertainment, the non profit organization offers the new Kid Zone, an activity and music area for kids 16 and under, locally sourced food and a solar powered beer tent and beer garden along the beautiful Merrimack River.

For complete event information, please visit the official Granite State Music Festival website. Buy your tickets now.

Music Through the Pen of Sketch Artist Louis Roe

"Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."
~Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

The Boston scene is in no way perfect, but it does expand beyond literal music, constantly evolving to feature new artistic forms of appreciation and participation by way of writers, photographers, bakers, clothing makers and sketch artists like Louis Roe.

It's Getting a Little Burrrlesquey in Boston

Revenge of the Robot Battle Nuns takes the stage 6/30 and 6/29 at Club Oberon.

If you haven't taken in a burlesque show at Harvard Square's Club Oberon (2 Arrow St., Cambridge, MA), you are missing out on some of the city's most talented, empowering, sometimes gory but always entertaining underground choreography.

This month, Club Oberon will be hosting two, 2-night events of bodacious babes wearing little to nothing for your viewing pleasure. Blood and glitter will plaster the stage! Buy your tickets now!

17th Annual Taste of Allston

Taste of Allston happens June 28th. Buy your tickets now.

For one day only, you can save 52% off Taste of Allston tickets via Groupon.

Admission for two – Was $60, now $29

Admission for four – Was $120, now $58 

Buy now

The 17th Annual Taste of Allston features over twenty restaurants, live music, beer tastings and kid friendly fun. The event happens June 28th at Harvard Athletic Complex (65 North Harvard St., Allston, MA). Kids 10 and under get in for free.

All profits raised by the festival go straight to the Allston Village Main Streets, a nonprofit revitalization effort working to keep the community safe. Regular priced non-Groupon tickets can be purchased here.

Mellow Bravo Calls It Quits

This morning, Boston’s rock n’ rollers Mellow Bravo took to Facebook to announce the end to a five year era.

“Greetings friends and fans. It is with heavy hearts that my band-mates and I must report that Mellow Bravo is calling it quits. Sorry for the news, but as Alexander Graham Bell once said ”When one door closes, another one opens…” You can expect to see each of us pursuing other musical endeavors down the road soon. Thank you for all of your support and friendship over the past 5 years. Respect and good tidings.”

The announcement comes just three months after a teaser post hinting to an upcoming third full-length album.

Mellow Bravo’s 2011 LP Strut along with the 2013 EP Ripper and a few singles can be downloaded for free on Bandcamp. The 2012 S/T LP is available for purchase via Small Stone Records.

Eye Design Records, Harris Hawk Record Release, Treat Yo Self Extravaganza

Eye Design Records debut during the June Treat Yo Self / Harris Hawk Record Release show

Eye Design, a local booking outfit and co-curator of the monthly art and music series Treat Yo Self, will present an extra special show Wednesday (June 11th) along with partners in crime and musical DIY champion Boston Hassle, at Middlesex Lounge on Mass Ave. in Central Square.

In addition to the June installment of the local blended medium event, Eye Design will present the debut showcase of newly established label, Eye Design Records. The night will consist of musical stylings of the current EDR roster, Onslo, Horsehands (which we previously described as gremlin rock) and Idiot Genes as well as a record release celebration of 2014 Rock N Roll Rumble alumni Harris Hawk.

Showgoers can also enjoy art from Eric Perkins, Adrienne Pizzo and Sylvie Mayer. Preview the awesome that you are in for by listening to Eye Design Records' first compilation below and available on Bandcamp for free (at a 'name your price' suggested donation).

The show starts at 9pm, is 21+ and has a $5 cover. Full details can be found on the Facebook event page.

Follow Eye Design, Eye Design Records and Treat Yo Self for additional shows and label information. Middlesex Lounge is located at 315 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXIV

Looks like coffee. Tastes like delicious.

 

I recently read an article about how it's 'finally iced coffee season'. Clearly that person was never inches away from certain death by snow plow while en route to the 24 hour Dunkin' Donuts for some cold brew during a blizzard. But now that it is "socially acceptable" to drink your coffee over ice, why not add some Frangelico? And I mean, since you're on your wild streak, you might as well listen to new music by The Bamboos, Masked Intruder, Speedy Ortiz, White Murder and Dry Heeves. Drink up. Press play. Get down with your bad self.