First Annual Punk Rock Groundhog Day Show

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Here's something new. The first annual Punk Rock Groundhog Day Show happens at Charlie's Kitchen (10 Eliot St. Harvard Square) on February 2nd, and features some of the area's most popular punk/gnarly rock bands including Rebuilder (Panic State Records), The Black Cheers and Great Lakes USA (Black Numbers Records).

"We figured if Dropkicks has St. Patrick's Day and Bosstones has Christmas...and if we want to follow in the footsteps of great Boston bands, we need a holiday as well," says Rebuilder frontman Sal Ellington. "So we took Groundhog Day. That way we can celebrate local music, Bill Murray and a great American holiday all in one night."

The band that celebrates Murray 365 days-a-year via tongue and cheek merch is rumored to be playing two back-to-back, potentially identical, sets in true Harold Ramis style. "We cannot confirm or deny that we have been practicing a few new songs specifically for this night. And possibly the appearance of limited edition 'Salfie' T-shirts," Ellington implies. What's a Salfie? Ask a punk.

The Black Cheers and Great Lakes USA round out the night. Admission is $5. This is a 21+ show (w/ valid ID). Get additional details on the official Facebook event page.

#BandcampRoulette – Snowed in Edition

Hey guys, we found new music for you!

Fun fact. Many local music entities including Allston Pudding, WMBR’s Pipeline! and yours truly scour Bandcamp to find the next best Boston band. As the rules of Bandcamp Roulette suggest, it’s a tough job. But then you stumble upon a record with extreme potential like this Demo from Laika's Orbit, released in January of this year.

Spunky indie pop, tagged as “diet punk”, whatever the fuck that is, Laika’s Orbit is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise blizzardy wasteland of internet uploads.

Yeah it’s muffled, and sure they list upcoming shows, but where Laika’s Orbit, where?! Of course they don’t seem to have a social media page as far as we can tell, but we’re hooked. Listen and download for free on Bandcamp, and see Laika's Orbit in Brooklyn 1/31, Cambridge 2/5 and Allston 2/20. Locations TBD/unknown/super secret/ask a punk?

Play Bandcamp Roulette now.

Resolutions / Teen Agers Split

Resolutions (Germany) and Teen Agers (Orlando, FL) teamed up for a split 7" on No Panic! Records (GER) and All in Vinyl (UK) to promote their upcoming European tour this spring. Mastered by Stephen Egerton (Descendents / ALL), the 2-track record can be downloaded for free (at a name your price donation) on Bandcamp. Physical 7” on red/blue split (100), clear with blue and red splatter (150) and clear with red haze vinyl (250) can be purchased via No Panic! Records’ online store for a few pounds.

Dan Webb & The Spiders + Nonpareils Record Release Show + Art Show

Free rock n' roll + art show in Somerville, 1/31/15.

Fresh off their European tour, Dan Webb and the Spiders will be celebrating the release of their forth full-length record, Perfect Problem (Gunner Records) at their home base of operations, Starlab Studios (453 Somerville Ave., Somerville).

The Offseason, Stripped Down and Keeping it Classy

Support local music. Stop by Sound Lion on 1/30 and say 'hi neighbor'!

UPDATE 1/25/15
Happy to announce that Narragansett Beer will be the official beer sponsor for the night!

Bishop And Rook and Boston Scene Party present The Offseason at Sound Lion in Harvard Square on Friday, January 30th, sponsored by Narragansett Beer. This exclusive in-store performance features the softer side of pop punk during the Sound Lion Sessions, a monthly series of stripped down performances by Boston area bands in an intimate setting, curated by local music blogs. RSVP to the event here.

In addition, sketch artist Louis Roe of Squishy Sandwich Art will be doodling the show and complimentary beer will be served. This event is all ages, 21+ with a valid ID to drink. Music starts at 8pm.

Limited edition colored vinyl of The Offseason's latest 10" and digital download cards are available for special in-store prices of $10 and $3 respectively, now through January 31st. Buy some music, and get 10% off your entire Sound Lion purchase (see store for complete details).



Related Stories:
Bishop And Rook, The Offseason, Sound Lion, All January Long

Music Video: Soft Pyramids - “Around This Town"

Somerville’s Soft Pyramids have debuted a new music video for “Around This Town”, the second single off their 2014 release Fossils of the Free World. The DIY video was recorded in the band’s practice space, The Napoleon Complex. “Around This Town” is a clean, classic Tom Petty type rock and roll song and one of the stronger tracks on an otherwise dreamy record. Ideal for nighttime rides on the highway.

12” vinyl and digital downloads of Fossils of the Free World can be purchased via Bandcamp.

OBERON Presents: BRING US YOUR WOMEN

Tickets available now.

An evening of music, film, and dance celebrating historical, holy, and mythological women.

Bring Us Your Women will present a live program of music, dance, and film premieres at ART’s Oberon Theater in Harvard Square on Friday, February 27th with an international cast and crew of musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, dancers, and poets. The program looks to share the untold, recontextualized, or reimagined stories of iconic women including Joan of Arc, Sirens, the Queen of Sheba and Eve, who have often been overlooked or defined only by their role in the context of men.

Bring Us Your Women is the brainchild of guitarist-composer Catherine Capozzi and includes local musicians Sophia Cacciola (Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling), and Michael J. Epstein (The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library, The Motion Sick).

Tickets are available now via this link.

To get an idea of what the night involves, check out this super uncomfortable teaser video.

Listen to the Entire Superglue 1998 S/T Record

"Pop punk with marvelous keyboard sounds (equals) superglue"

Big news you guys! Someone uploaded the entire Superglue S/T record to YouTube two years ago and we just found out!

I mean, I've got my own copy (#streetcred) but now you can listen too!

If Weezer and Math the Band had a lovable cousin, it would be the short-lived Boston-based band Superglue. Formed in 1997, the 6-member ensemble recorded one 15-track record in 1998, released via Fork in Hand, before breaking up shortly after. The album now boarders obscurity. So lapsed that the top Google searches for "Superglue Fork in Hand" rendered discography listings and some half-witted guy named Alex Biffen's Twitter status. If only he knew he was channeling the great, late Boston band.

Don't be an Alex, listen to the album in its entirety (including the secret track!) on the video streaming site while simultaneously referencing interpunk.com to know exactly what track you're listening to.




Unedited Fan Testimonials

(5 stars) "I can't believe it that no one ever writed a review about this album!!Fuck the "Reggie and The Full Effect" & "the Reunion Show"!!!they suck!!Superglue is definite ten times better than them though they broke up!!Buy this album!I promise you will listen to it again and again ~~ "pop punk with marvelous keyboard sounds" = superglue"
-Liao from Taiwan

Overseas, Diger, Old Flings and Camiches Release International 4-way Split

Costa Rican pop punk bands Overseas and Diger have collaborated with Old Flings (NC) and Camiches (Mexico City) to release an international DIY 4-way split.

A combination of networking and touring brought these four bands together. “Overseas and Diger share the same drummer. I'm booking a Central American tour for Camiches in July and they’re booking a Mexican tour for Overseas and Diger in September,” explains Overseas bassist, Alejandro Guerrero. As for the American band, “We played the same show [with Old Flings] in Montreal in 2014 at Pouzza Fest, as soon as the idea of the split came out I contacted them and they really liked it.”

The unique record contains four tracks, layered in English and Spanish, created by bands with similar sounds and a desire to spread awareness of new music from various countries.

4 Way Split can be downloaded for free on Bandcamp.

Old Gray "Do I Dare Disturb The Universe" Released at 5PM Today

On sale 5PM EST on January 22nd. Don't miss out.

Things that will sell out fast. New Hampshire emo rockers, Old Gray, will be releasing "Do I Dare Disturb The Universe", on a one-sided 12" with an etched B side. The unique record will be available through Broken World Media beginning at 5PM EST on Thursday, January 22nd.

"This has been in the works for quite some time and were so happy to finally get it out!" states a Facebook page post. 

"Do I Dare Disturb The Universe" is the first release by the band since the 2014 7" split with Minnesota's Tiny Moving Parts. Listen to more Old Gray tracks on Bandcamp.

►Purchase link.

New Music! Rebuilder – “Singing For Our Future”

New music from Boston's self-proclaimed gnarly rock band.

New music has emerged from the Rebuilder camp in anticipation of the band's debut full-length, Rock & Roll In America on Panic State Records out mid-March. “Singing For Our Future”, a single not featured on the upcoming LP, is a good old-fashion, real-to-real analog recording done at Mystic Valley Recording Studio with Alex Garcia-Rivera. Head over to New Noise Magazine and take a listen.

Rock & Roll In America Tracks:
1) The National Bohemian
2) Look What You’ve Done
3) Heart Attack
4) Le Grand Fromage
5) Adults
6) Empty Streets
7) When I Grow Up
8) Lukewarm
9) The White Flag
10) Hope Diamond
11) American Dread

Upcoming Shows:
Jan 22 – Shaskeen – Manchester, NH
Feb 02 – Charlie’s Kitchen – Cambridge, MA
Mar 06 – Mill Hill – Trenton, NJ
May 15 – Pouzza Fest – Montreal, QC

Great Lakes USA Rumored to Release New Record in 2015

Rumor has it...

Rumor has it a new Great Lakes USA record is on the horizon. At least that's what the internets told us. The band has been dropping hints via Instagram and Facebook at a follow up to their 2012 Live Fast, Die Whenever LP (Black Number Records). Pro tip, if you go to a live show, you can maybe possibly hear new, unreleased tracks.

In the meantime, see the Boston punk band at Charlie's Kitchen on February 2nd during the first annual Punk Rock Groundhog Day Show with Rebuilder and The Black Cheers.

Influence The Next Hard Times Punk News Story

Have I got a story for you!

Influence the next The Hard Times punk news story with your own observations of ridiculous scene shenanigans.

Arguably one of the most trending music website since the Sinclair Is Not Open Tumblr, and the most entertaining online read next to the Apple Cinemas Yelp reviews, The Hard Times, essentially the Onion for punks, has captivated the internets.

With compelling and eerily familiar headlines such as "Man Acts Like He Is First Person to Hang from Rafters", "Punks Organize Benefit Show to Fund Future Benefit Shows" and our personal favorite "Huge Monday Night Show Draws Almost Every Band Member" (James Tran, the band’s drummer, is still a “Maybe” on the Facebook event.), it's easy to begin thinking of your own breaking news stories.

Put your subpar typing skills to the test and submit 10 headline ideas and a sample article to: Ideas@TheHardTimes.net. From social media, to live shows, word of mouth tales and press releases, we've got at least 20 ideas so far.

Follow The Hard Times on Twitter and Facebook.

War Games Release New Single "Foundations"

Pre-order War Games' upcoming full-length now.

Westport, MA progressive alt rockers, War Games, have released the first single titled "Foundations" off their upcoming full-length, Holding Patterns, due out March 10th.

Originally premiering on Absolute Punk, “Foundations” is available for purchase via iTunes and Bandcamp. Pre-sale for Holding Patterns is available now via Etsy and their CD release show will happen March 6th at The Met in Pawtucket, RI. Follow War Games on Twitter and Facebook for additional release and show information.

Hipsters Go Home, Antique Records Wins. Limited Edition Sledding With Tigers Swag on Pre-Sale Now.

Hurry. Special sale ends at 4PM EST 1/16/15.

We're fairly certain Boston indie label, Antique Records, is including digital downloads of Sledding With Tigers' single "A Floppy Disk Worth Of A Song" on actual floppy disks.

The limited edition, numbered disks are available in various pre-order bundles of SWT's first ever vinyl pressing of Not the Beatles Yet (limit to 300). Place your order at Antique Records before 4PM EST today (1/16/15) and you could also get an equally limited edition (some say never to be printed again), Vonnegut inspired T-shirt*.

Not The Beatles Yet is set to be available on January 27, 2015. The 14-track album includes previously released tracks, studio cuts and live sample tracks. Stream the first single from the release, "Quit Yr Job", below.

*Bundle inclusions vary, see website for details.

Metal Break - Veteran Boston Rockers Create Worshipper

Score free metal. Download the 2-song single from Worshipper now.

Maybe the Boston Music Awards' Metal category will get some new blood this year.

As a newly-forged brainchild of veteran Boston rockers John Brookhouse (Rule, The Dirty Truckers), Dave Jarvis (Mellow Bravo), Bob Maloney (Cult 45, Cracktorch, Slim Jim & The Mad Cows), and Alejandro Necochea (Bang Camaro, Township), metal band Worshipper plays the kind of darkly epic rock that can only be found in the vinyl collection of your “cool uncle.”

It’s melodic, it’s driving, it’s legendary; it’s what I picture Vikings listening to. Hungry, sleep-deprived Vikings who are on an infinite quest to find the 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts but a drunk girl gave them the wrong directions and there is absolutely no cell phone service! For context, let’s call this deceitful place Marlborough, Massachusetts! It’s also going to share a stage with the glitter glam pop sounds of Sidewalk Driver on Saturday, January 17th at The Sinclair in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Sure, why not.

Worshipper currently has a two-song single available on Bandcamp as a free download (at a name your price donation). Get familiar with the band now, then see them on Saturday with Sidewalk Driver, The Organ Beats and Leo*Leo, presented by Indie Rock Ranger. Full event details here. Follow the band on Facebook and Twitter for additional release and show information.

We Measure Twin Foxes' Emoness with Debut EP, Courtesy of Disposable America

Catch Providence's newest breakout band at Middle East Up on 1/26.

Be still my unflinching affection for emotional rock.

Allston-based indie record label, Disposable America, is preparing to release their first record of 2015 with Providence, RI emo rock band, Twin Foxes. Stream the first single now.

Anarchy in the G.Y.M. Punk Rock Aerobics is Back

Anarchy in the G.Y.M. Pnks against calories!

Punk Rock Aerobics is holding a one-off class fundraiser for Girls Rock Campaign Boston at The Sinclair in Harvard Square on January 31st. Bring a mat and wear your favorite workout gear. Soundtrack provided by DJ Sit and Spin. This event is all ages. Ticket price includes a 15% discount on brunch food after class. 

Get your tickets here.

About PRA

The work out that rocks out.™ No more sucky classes full of braindead bimbos in spandex thongs. PRA is for fun people with discerning taste. An hour and a half cardio and strengthening class that will have you pogoing and skanking your butt off!!!

Somos Joins Tigers Jaw and Lemuria on Spring Tour

Snag ticket information over at Ground Control Touring.

Keeping up with Somos. Back on tour! But not the old tour they dropped off of. It's a new and improved tour.

Less than a week after Somos announced their decision to drop off the Dads / Roger Harvey Tour in February due to personal issues that would render a tour "daunting and unmanageable" at this time, the band came back on a high note by revealing they will join Tigers Jaw and Lemuria on tour this spring. The whopping 33-stop tour will begin with a two-night kickoff at The Sinclair in Harvard Square. Tickets go on sale Friday, 1/16 at 10am. Information can be found here.

So emo.


Related Stories
Somos Drops Off February Dads Tour

Pulitzer Prize Fighter Releases New Single "Lies" Off Upcoming EP

Download your free copy of "Lies" via Bandcamp.

The smooth operators in indie rock band Pulitzer Prize Fighter have released a new single “Lies” off their upcoming EP, The End of the World, the follow up to 2012’s debut EP All Sweetness and Light. “Lies” is available for free (at a name your price download) on Bandcamp.

See Pulitzer Prize Fighter during their record release show at TT the Bear’s on Sunday, January 25th with Some Assembly Required (first show in 5 years), Jack Romanov and special guest The Whammy Bars. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Full show details can be found on the official event Facebook page.

Follow Pulitzer Prize Fighter on Facebook and Twitter for additional release and show information.

The DRAX Record Pre-Sale Is On

Pledge now, get an advanced copy of the new DRAX record, see the show in February.

2014 Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble champions and all around nice dudes, Goddamn Draculas, have partnered with crowd sourcing platform Pledge Music (dot com) to pre-sell their upcoming debut record.

Pre-order the physical album for $20 now and snag an advanced digital copy. Merch is also available including apparel, posters and package deals. All items are in limited quantities so hop on it and get new music in your hand-ears.

Catch The Drax during their highly anticipated record release show on February 7th at Middle East Downstairs with special guests. Buy your tickets in advance and save $3. See the official Facebook event page for complete details.

Watch a video of Duggan telling you how you can pre-order and score some sweet DRAX stuff now.

'Going van Gogh' - Terrible Has an Ear for Music

Download the second record from local mashup artist, Terrible.

In-between school and his part-time gig as a radio DJ for The Record Hospital on WHRB 95.3 FM (Harvard Radio Broadcasting), Max Schaffer makes Terrible Music.

The New York mashup artist, now residing in Cambridge, has followed up the 2014 Terrible debut record, Bike. Barista. Bullshit, with Going van Gogh.

The roughly 46 minute concoction that took four months to create features over 200 samples of retro, rap, indie, pop and rock songs (increasing his reach from last year’s 166 samples). “I’m super excited to release it,” Terrible says. “I think it’s exponentially better than the last album.”

Thoroughly entertaining and something for everyone; if you ever wanted to know how Foster the People, Gorillaz and Fat Boy Slim synch up, you should listen to Going van Gogh. Download your free copy on Bandcamp or Soundcloud today.

Terrible is always looking for new to sample. Submit your music and band contact information to musicterrible@gmail.com. And follow Terrible on Facebook for additional information.

Related Stories:
'Bike. Barista. Bullshit.' This is Terrible Music

Somos Drops Off February Dads Tour

Somos takes some personal time (image credit)

Somos frontman, Michael Fiorentino, took to Facebook this afternoon to announce the band's decision to drop off the 12-stop February Dads / Roger Harvey tour, citing personal matters.

Per Facebook:

"We have some unfortunate news to share: we are no longer on the February tour with Dads and Roger Harvey. Dropping a tour is a tough thing to do, and I want to be very open about why we came to this decision. I have struggled with anxiety and depression, and it eventually built up to the point where touring in February was daunting and unmanageable. I recently started to get serious about treatment, but we want to have a few months off while I pursue the goal of dramatically improving my mental health.

We plan on continuing to tour and make music, once I take the proper time to address my health. We sincerely apologize to Dads and Roger Harvey, as well as to anyone who bought advance tickets.

-Michael"

Choke Up's Debut LP Leaves Us Speechless - Pre-order 'Black Coffee, Bad Habits'

Pre-order your copy of Black Coffee, Bad Habits today.

This band. This goddamn band. I need a moment to compose myself.

The production and orchestration of a Choke Up record never ceases to amaze. 

Black Coffee, Bad Habits (Black Numbers) is well-polished hardcore at its most sophisticated level. The type of punk you listen to with a cigar and a brandy snifter. Each incarnation of this band is an elaboration of the previous record. And each record is like a dramatic composition; Characters, plots, story lines, heroes, villains, damsels, foreshadowing, reflection and conclusions. In an effort to articulate the grandeur and intelligence of the debut LP from Boston's Choke Up, we can only muster, "Buy this fucking amazing record."

Pre-orders of the LP are available now in Forest Green (100), Clear with Blue Smoke (150) and White vinyl (250) for $12. CDs for $8. Test Press Pack for $50 and Three Pack for $30 are also available. Pre-orders ship on or around February 2nd.

Listen to "KC" below (courtesy of punknews.org) and "Thicket And Vine" currently streaming over at Brooklyn Vegan. And see Choke Up during their record release show with Pile, Raw Blow, Loom and Banquets (NJ) at O'Brien's Pub in Allston on January 24th, guaranteed to sell out so get there early.

Follow Choke Up on Facebook for additional release and show information. And find additional releases on Bandcamp.

Tour Dates

• January 23rd – Philadelphia – Golden Tea House
• January 24th – Boston – O’Brien’s Pub
• January 29th – Portsmouth, NH – The Red Door
• January 30th – Brooklyn, NY – Legion
• January 31st – Atlantic City, NJ – The Boneyard

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXXI

We're getting fancy up in here with Patron XO Cafe. (image credit)

Who else is super excited about new music in the new year?! In this month's playlist we've got local pop punk band The Offseason who are playing an exclusive acoustic set at Sound Lion later this month. Charly Bliss from Brooklyn will be in town in February. And a whole mess of other shows are happening. Get pumped up with the January Spotify playlist and The Onyx cocktail.

#BandcampRoulette

#BandcampRoulette…things we haven’t done in a while…

Bandcamp Roulette is a game of wits, luck, and perseverance. Log onto Bandcamp.com, pick a tag, any tag, search your guts out, get super discouraged and outraged at what the internet lets people upload, then, when you think all hope is lost, you find something tolerable.

For this edition, we take it back to Boston for an incredibly ridiculous electro/parody track called “Really Cool Wig” off of Lemon Demon’s 2011 Nature Tapes EP. If you enjoy this Weird Al meets Devo stuff, there’s also a song dedicated to Jaws.

Find more music, play Bandcamp Roulette now.

Trophy Lungs Join Antique Records, Plan Debut Full Length, Drink More Beer

Boston's Trophy Lungs join local label, Antique Records

Boston party punks, Trophy Lungs, join local boutique label, Antique Records (Born Without Bones, Sledding With Tigers, Blind Mice) and announce plans for a debut full-length record entitled Day Jobs, out later this spring.

Trophy Lungs recently spearheaded the Solidarity Mixtape, a punk compilation to benefit the Black Lives Matter organization. The band will be hitting the road at the end of January to play the likes of Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

You can download their 3-song 2013 EP No Judgement (Death to False Hope Records) on Bandcamp for free (at a name your price donation) now. Follow the band on Facebook for additional release and tour details.

A Warm and Fuzz Homecoming - Boom Said Thunder's Boston Single Release Show

Boom Said Thunder Single Release Party, 1/23 at Great Scott.

Fuzz rock trio Boom Said Thunder will return to Boston on Friday, January 23rd to debut their two-song single. A moody concoction including 6:43 fuzz rock steamroller of a track “Carnivore” and 5:45 worth of luxurious and intoxicating trance rock in “Summer Twin”, both of which you can listen to via the advanced demos streaming on Bishop And Rook.

Rock 'n' Roll Rumble 2015 Announced

#RUMBLE2015, it's coming to get ya.

Rock 'n' Roll Rumble 2015 dates were announced last night by event organizer and local music advocate, Anngelle Wood of Boston Emissions on 100.7 WZLX.

Ch ch check it out and follow The Rumble on Facebook and Twitter for additional announcements.

Preliminaries: Sunday, April 12, 13, 14 // 16, 17, 18
Semifinals: Thursday, April 23 + Friday, April 24
Finals: Friday, May 1

Read up on last year's champs.

Today Junior is Playing A Lot of Local Shows in February and is Letting You Know About It

25% of February will be a Today Junior set. YOU CAN'T ESCAPE.

Allston indie band, Everyday Today Junior, recently posted a flyer on Facebook listing upcoming February shows. 7 dates in all. Please note, Somerville, Allston and Cambridge are not in different states. 25% of the month will be a Today Junior set. You can't be busy every day! Eventually you'll see this band!

An ominous "MORE DATES TO COME..." message leads us to believe there will be a highly anticipated Jamaica Plain show in the future. But we can only speculate.