BRB, Going to A Show...

After four amazing years supporting the local Boston music scene with the best damn show and record reviews our creative talents can muster, we’re taking a break. Beyond anything else, we’re so incredibly happy to see our friends grow to become featured on prominent music websites, tour nationally and internationally and continue to put out some of the best music our ear holes have ever had the pleasure of rocking out to. Browse the blog for archived favorites and follow us on Instagram at @BishopAndRook for band pics. See you at a show.

Song Premiere - Beached Boy "Hold Me Down"

Put some SPF 100 on these songs because they are sizzlin'.

It’s a new music kind of day. Amiright? Emerging from the depths of Allston with a press release soaked in puns, arrives the premiere of "Hold Me Down" off the 4-song debut EP 'Open Island' by self-proclaimed marina rock band, Beached Boy.

Comprised of singer/songwriter Brendan Grafe, Kevin DeStefano (Bad Actors), Harley Cox (Choke Up) and Will Buiel (Kitner), Beached Boy has taken Grafe’s acoustic emo material, backed it with a driving ensemble of pop punk origins and created an accelerated, scorched and scorned summer sound. Learn these lyrics because you’ll be shouting them alongside your friends at the next Beached Boy show.

Let’s party. Check out 'em out during their record release show July 1st at O’Brien’s Pub in Allston featuring Luau, Clever Girls (VT), Saccharine and Jeff Rowe (event details). 'Open Island' will be available via cassette and digital download June 30th via Prospect Records. Follow Beached Boy on Facebook for additional release information.

Life After The Band – The Okay Win Frontman Stephen MacDonald to Release ‘Local Divide’

Some fresh singer/songwriter music for summer nights on the beach.

When a lead singer announces his side project but continues to produce songs written and performed by the same person, does it sound any different?

Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Let's Face It Twenty Years Later

Let's Face It - this twenty year anniversary is making us feel old

In celebration of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' twenty year anniversary of ‘Let’s Face It’, the band has announced a 7-stop July tour from Maine to New Jersey where they will be playing the record in its entirety.

Tickets go on sale noon Friday, June 2nd. The memory impaired can also sign up for email or SMS alert reminders before the public on-sale begins via the ticket links below.

July 21 Portland ME AURA 

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/010052B99236191E

July 22 Pawtucket, RI The Met Courtyard 

http://bit.ly/MightyMightyBosstones_TheMet

July 23 Huntington, NY The Paramount

https://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/000052B8C1674B9E

July 25 New York, NY Webster Hall

http://bit.ly/mightyWH2017

July 26 New Haven, CT College Street Music Hall

https://invalid.invalid/​purchase/​event/​1493892

July 28 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer

https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1494488?utm_medium=bks

July 29 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom

http://axs.com/events/337122/mighty-mighty-bosstones-tickets

All You Ever Talk About is Vocals - The Next Stage of Horse Mode

Old horse, new tricks. Horse Mode dishes on latest EP (image credit).

The members of Billerica’s Horse Mode harnessed the DIY spirit roughly six years ago with a gruff, 6-song demo and have since turned their passion project into a true hustle, scoring a recent recording opportunity at Converse Rubber Tracks, executing a 9-stop spring tour stretching from Brooklyn to Montreal and making a master decision that will keep the band competitive in the local music scene.

The Clacking Ratchet Sounds of The Boston Typewriter Orchestra

It's exactly what you think it is.

Jeff Breeze, the proprietor of WMBR 88.1 FM’s live, local music segment Pipeline (Tuesday evenings 8-10) has his own side gig, and it’s not what you would expect, but it's exactly what you think it is.

New Personnel, New Parts, New Attitudes - Salem Wolves to Release Their First LP Tooth & Nail

The pack finds their stride. Salem Wolves to release first LP Tooth & Nail.

“We think being a singles band is evolutionarily the best thing for most bands. From a culture perspective, it makes sense because things are very content driven and the buzz cycle is short. People expect you to be pumping out new content on a regular basis.” That was Salem Wolves during a 2015 interview with Bishop & Rook. Since then, the band has produced a total of 6 singles and 1 EP. But on May 5th, the band prepares to release their first LP, Tooth & Nail (MegaHex Records), a 12-track record that is comprised primarily of previously released songs. So the question we ask is; will Tooth & Nail be enough “new content”?

This Lineup Though - Warn the Duke Vinyl Release Show

See you at the show - O'Brien's Pub Saturday August 20th.

Pack up your summer vacation early and head to Allston this weekend. Brooklyn, NY's Warn the Duke (former members of Big D and The Kids Table and River City Rebels) will be in town on Saturday, August 20th at O'Brien's Pub to promote the vinyl release of their 2015 debut LP ‘Ghost Be Gone’: recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jay Maas at Getaway Studios and distributed by Wire Tap Records. In celebration of the vinyl tour, the band has released an animated music video for “Noreaster” (originally premiering on punkrocktheory.com).

Like drinking a big glass or red wine, the nostalgic sound of loud 90’s alt/rock and prolific punk gruff along with catchy choruses and bright guitar riffs give you the warm sensation of satisfaction. Standout tracks are “Coastline”, “Harry O’Donnell” and “Chicago Lights”.

Supporting the touring band and making this a completely stacked show are locals Dan Webb and the Spiders, Diablogato, and Bundles. This show is $10 // 21+ // event details here // see you there.

‘Ghost Be Gone’ is available to stream on Bandcamp, iTunes and Spotify. Vinyl can be purchased at the show and via Wire Tap Records (limited pressing of 200).

Related Stories:
Free Download. State Line Records: Boston's Burning Vol. 1

Beachy Keen – Riding Retro with Philly’s Queen of Jeans

Catch Queen of Jeans touring through town on August 6th.

Our hearts are aching over the vintage charm and carefree rhythm of Queen of Jeans’ S/T EP. It's essentially what we think opening a bottle of Polar's Unicorn Kisses sounds like.

For those of you who like Habibi / Shannon and the Clams / Colleen Green. Put on your oversized, rose-colored sunglasses, grab your favorite tall boy and hit play as you enjoy porch life with this swoon-worthy summer essential.

Ranging from wistful, ethereal harmonies to mod surf rock, the arrival of Philadelphia’s Queen of Jeans to the Boston area is very apropos. Listen to the band’s seductive sounds live on Saturday, August 6th at Lilypad with Bong Wish and The Heavies (event details) and Sunday, August 7th in Providence with PsychoTropics and Space Camp (event details).

‘Queen of Jeans’ is available for listen on SoundCloud and Spotify. 12” vinyl is available for purchase via Indiana DIY label Third Uncle Records for $15 with two color options: pink / baby blue split side and pink with baby blue splatter. Follow the band on Facebook and visit their official website for additional tour dates.

Record Premiere: Getting Our Zen on With Iron Elbows and 'Sanity Breath'

Record premiere! 'Sanity Breath' by Iron Elbows

Try this Zen Exercise on Your Way to Work.
Put in your earbuds in.
Click play on track “Epicurus”.
And just let the music walk with you.
Do you feel just the slightest bit more enlightened?

Iron Elbows is a Boston-based experimental guitar/synth brainchild of Derek Hixon (AKA Mint Pillow) and Zac Trainor (AKA Gold Must Die) formed in 2007. The pair combines guitar riffs and rhythms with atmospheric synths and mashed out sounds and minimalist sessions like standout track “Epicurus” on their sophomore album, and Bishop & Rook premiere, ‘Sanity Breath’.

“The name of the track was inspired by the Philosopher Epicurus,” Hixon tells Bishop & Rook. “Particularly with his teachings of ataraxia—peace and freedom from fear.”

Once both situated within the Boston area, Trainor relocated to North Carolina, resulting in a new, almost pen-pal approach to recording their second record.

“A lot of our songs, which are usually between 3-4 minutes, start off as a 20+ minute jams we did together. Recording in the same room is the desire, but it's just not our reality anymore,” Hixon explains of his partner’s relocation to NC. “We can only do the minimal now, so trading tracks is what we started doing which yields different results [than recording together]. You never know which way a track is going to turn when you hand it over and it's fun to hear how the other interpreted what you did. It's similar to the fold-in technique of creating poetry.”

In addition to Iron Elbows, the duo maintain passion projects including Hixon’s Visions of the Unexceed Boston music blog and podcast and Mint Pillow DJ nights, and Trainor’s music and visual art.

You can catch an all vinyl Mint Pillow DJ set this Thursday July 28th 9PM at State Park in Kendall Square, Cambridge (flyer below). Follow Iron Elbows on Facebook and visit the official websites of Visions of the Unexcued, and Zac Trainor for additional information. ‘Sanity Breath’ is available on Bandcamp for free (at a name your price donation).

Show Picks for July + August

Friends tell friends when there is a good show happening.

Looking for a good time? Perhaps you’re in the mood for new music, or cheap beer, or a place to hang with friends. Maybe you’re too broke to go on vacation and you blew through every available TV series on Netflix to the point where you’re wondering if your excessive abuse of the streaming service will render surcharges. #netflixshame Whatever your reason, here are some shows we’d go to this summer.

Song Premiere: Choke Up “Hart” – Appearing on Disposable America’s 'SPECIAL INTEREST' Mixtape

Disposable America's 'SPECIAL INTEREST' out July 15th, pre-order now.

Celebratory fist pump. Bishop & Rook is pleased to premiere the new Choke Up track “Hart", recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks and off Disposable America's upcoming benefit mixtape. As expected, Choke Up continues to maintain rank as an exceptionally talented Boston band.

Murcielago Moves On - Last Shows Announced

After 7 years, Murcielago ends their run. (image credit)

Portland, Maine rockers, Murcielago, have called it quits. The 2015 Rock 'n' Roll Rumble participants took to Facebook to announce the decision.

"Hi All,

We've decided to take a long bow after an excellent 7 year run. Thank You all who have come to our shows, bought our music and merchandise, and told your friends. We are grateful and humbled.

Many thanks to Nick Lamberto for getting us going, huge thanks to Benny Grotto and Mad Oak Studios for excellent work. Many thanks to the bands and promoters we've been lucky enough to work with during our time.

Thank You,

Murcielago"

May we always remember the times these veteran rockers blew our faces off with impressive 70's style riffs, hardrock power, and mesmerizing performances. We shall wear our Board of Maine shirt in respect.

You know you want one. Everyone wants one. (shop it)

Catch the band during their last few shows in Vermont and Maine.

• July 22 @ Higher Ground in Burlingto, VT., with Scissorfight and Hey Zeus
• July 30 @ Matrix Fest in Fort Lee, ME, with "too many awesome bands to recount"
• August 6 @ Portland House of Music and Events in Portland with Eldemur Krimm and Pigboat

Tell All Your Friends. Taking Back Sundae Ice Cream Pop-up & DJ Night is Back

Eat your feelings.

Para-smore, 30 Seconds to Mars Bar, Pistachio at the Disco, Something Chocolate, MODEST MOOSE TRACKS! We’re getting off genre and you get the point. Taking Back Sundae: An Ice Cream Pop-up and DJ Night is making a return this summer. The “anti-social” event will take place at Great Scott in Allston on Friday, July 15th // 10PM // 21+ with valid ID // $5 at the door (price includes admission + cone). 

Featuring music spun by RTT Presents and ice cream courtesy of locally sourced, small batch company, The Parlor Ice Cream Co. Check the official Facebook event page for additional details.

How Many Instruments Does it Take to Make a Mr. Vertigo Record? Veteran Rockers Spill on the Value of Studio Time & Their 7th Release

Download 'Dreaming on the Left Side' for free.

Spin a recent Mr. Vertigo record and be prepared to hear a project that might include up to dozen people, about 20 instruments and roughly a decade of collaborative experience. The alt-rock band (existing in one form or another since 2002) will be celebrating the release of their 7th official record entitled ‘Dreaming on the Left Side’ Friday, July 8th at O'Brien's Pub in Allston.

New Noise from We Can All Be Sorry + Release Show Details

Celebrate with We Can All Be Sorry on July 21st.

Boston label, Eye Design Records, to release 'Weekend Sorry' by locals We Can All Be Sorry. The bedroom pop band’s newest recording will be available via cassette tape and digital download ($5 each) on the label’s site. As a preview, you can stream the first track off the new record, "Nowhere Us" now.

Continuing the band’s distinct wistful and off-kilter sound, 'Weekend Sorry' is a perfect record for muddled and mild summer porch life. We Can All Be Sorry will play their record release show on July 21st at Great Scott in Allston with Spook the Herd and Kiss Concert (details).  And head to Plough and Stars on July 31st for the next free ‘Know Your Scene’ event presented by Eye Design featuring Plastic Waves and Violet Intent (details).

WCABS Tour Dates:

7/2 Raleigh NC
7/3 Athens GA
7/4 Atlanta GA
7/5 Nashville TN
7/6 Bloomington IL
7/8 Chicago IL
7/10 NYC
7/12 Boston MA
7/15 New Haven CT
7/20 Providence RI
7/21 Allston MA
7/22 Washington DC

Free Download. State Line Records: Boston's Burning Vol. 1

Free download your local music sampler here.

State Line Records has released an 18-track, local music compilation based on the Boston’s Burning semi-annual punk rock show series and includes contributions from artists such as Dan Webb & The Spiders, The Old Edison, Duck & Cover, Rebuilder, Diablogato and more.

Label founder Mark Lind (Ducky Boys, The Warning Shots) took to Facebook to announce the free download.

“Do you like Boston bands? Do you like discovering NEW Boston bands? Well, this FREE download comp is for you. I collected enough songs to complete two comps and then some. This is Boston's Burning Volume 1 on my label, State Line Records. You need to listen to it in full to really enjoy the flow of the various bands. Stream it. Download it and listen when you can. But if you hear any band that you really like then please support them by buying their proper albums or by seeing them play live. Rock n' roll music is dead and none of us sound like Kanye West. We need to spread the word to keep rock n' roll alive. So I'm doing my part. Will you do yours?”

'State Line Records Boston’s Burning Vol. 1' is available for free on Bandcamp.

Music Video: Air Traffic Controller “On The Wire”

Purchase 'Black Box' from Air Traffic Controller now.

Air Traffic Controller has released the newest music video associated with their 2016 ‘Black Box’ album. (We thoroughly enjoyed the band's previous music video for "The House" last fall). The audio/visual is for track “On The Wire”, originally premiering on Bullet Media and written and directed by Olivia Saperstein and Max Lapointe.

The video depicts a young woman who has had enough of her unhinged relationship and joins up with another spirited wonder on her adventure to experience life in the now. “On The Wire” evokes feelings of relief and freedom, spotted with the tinge of uncertainty as the two characters embark on whatever is to come next. 

Air Traffic Controller kicks off their summer tour next week, stopping in Lowell, MA on July 15th and Portsmouth, NH on August 6th. View the full tour dates.

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Air Traffic Controller Releases Music Video + Tour Dates

Earth Heart’s Debut Full-Length ‘Homesick’ Sounds Like Fun

Earth Heart. Can you dig it?

Varying degrees of delirious carnal lo-fi noise originating from the basements of Allston and perfected in the studios of Somerville/Cambridge, the debut full-length ‘Homesick’ by local act Earth Heart is one primal joyride we’ll keep on repeat this summer.

‘Homesick’ (out August 5th) is the 10-track polished successor of five DIY self-recorded, self-produced EPs; professionally recorded and mixed by Shaun Curran at Napoleon Complex in Somerville, MA and mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance in Cambridge, MA.

Frontwoman Katie Coriander (vox/guitar) handles the expert task of capturing the genre’s dynamic persona both vocally and instrumentally.

While the first single and title track off the LP is certainly saturated in classic lo-fi distortion, it hardly represents the turbulent path this holistic project takes. Standout tracks: “Demons”, “NSA Song”, “Chicken And Rice”.

Catch Earth Heart at Out of The Blue Too Gallery in Cambridge on July 13th. For additional show and release information, follow the band on Facebook and purchase single “Homesick” on Bandcamp for $1 now.

The Rayguns Got No Money and Are Playing O’Brien’s Pub June 7th

See The Rayguns at O'Brien's Pub in Allston on June 7th.

New music from punky outfit The Rayguns. Pimping out their second release ‘Live Forever’ (released March 2016) on their DIY label, Public Alley Records, the local quartet is gearing up to play a Boston-area venue near you this summer.

Another band to make the great Northeast tour of Jamaica Plain, Cambridge, Allston and Somerville, you can catch The Rayguns at O’Brien’s Pub on Tuesday, June 7th before they head up to the 3rd Annual Shuffle Fest in Bath, NH; a punk festival featuring a variety of acts, including acoustic artists, folk punk to hardcore punk, and jam bands. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own tents to camp out and thrash. (But, please pick up your trash).

Follow The Rayguns on Facebook for additional show information. ‘Live Forever’ was recorded/mixed/mastered by Richard Marr at Galaxy Park Studios and is available for purchase via digital download and cassette tape on Bandcamp. Those interested in submitting music to Public Alley Records can do so by emailing publicalleyrecords@gmail.com.