Scruffy the Cat Announced as Part of TT the Bear's Farewell Blowout Showcase

1980’s staple rock ‘n’ roll Boston band Scruffy the Cat has been announced for final night of TT the Bear’s 8-night Farewell Blowout showcase on July 25th. Tickets to be released soon. Event details. Visit TT's concert calendar for up-to-date show information.

Scruffy the Cat played out from 1984 through 1990. The band reunited in 2011 for a few shows in the Boston area, with the initial show being arranged as a benefit concert for cancer-stricken lead singer, Charlie Chesterman*. Chesterman passed away in November of 2013 after losing his battle with colon cancer, he was 53.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scruffy_The_Cat

Regina Pizzeria Parent Company Files For Bankruptcy

Historic Regina Pizzerias files for bankruptcy (image credit)

Earlier this afternoon, Boston Globe* dropped a bomb that Regina Pizzeria parent company (Boston Restaurant Associates Inc.) filed for bankruptcy in federal court Wednesday (5/20).

In addition to 17 Regina Pizzerias, including the historic North End location (established in 1926), Boston Restaurant Associates also owns two Polcari’s Italian Restaurant locations in Saugus and Woburn.

The decision was said to have been made based on changes in sales, high leases and operating costs.

It is reported that the Regina Pizzeria locations in Allston and at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut are operated by other companies that license the Regina name, and are not expected to be affected by the bankruptcy.

Read the full story at www.bostonglobe.com

*Originally reported by Dan Adams

Sorority Noise Releases Teaser Video for Upcoming LP "Joy, Departed"

Sorority Noise's sophomore LP and debut release on Topshelf Records available 6/19/15.

Hartford, CT emo rockers Sorority Noise have released a teaser video for upcoming record “Joy, Departed”. The band's sophomore LP, and Topshelf Records debut, will be available June 16, 2015 on CD, vinyl and digitally.

Get notified when pre-orders for the album become available via Topshelf Record's website. Head to Bandcamp to stream and purchase the 2014 LP "Forgettable" (Storm Chasers Records) now.

Taco Party To Open Storefront in Somerville - Everyday Reported to Become 'Taco Tuesday'

Taco Party coming soon to Somerville.

Taco Party, the all vegetarian / vegan Mexican-inspired food truck slinging Chimichurri Tempeh Tacos, Tofu Tacos and Chorizo Seitan Tacos, is getting a brick and mortar store of its very own according to a recent Facebook announcement.

"Checks have been written, keys handed over. I can now officially announce Taco Party the restaurant! We've always had such great experiences in Somerville so we've chosen Ball Sq as our new home. 711 Broadway is the spot. I won't be so bold as to choose the opening date yet but we will act fast! Can't wait to put a roof over your heads!"

Taco Party hit the streets in 2013 with Keith Schubert (ex-The Raging Teens) behind the wheel. The truck can be found in the Boston area Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and is also available for catering. Follow Taco Party on Facebook and Twitter for updates and truck schedules. And visit www.tacopartytruck.com for complete information.

An All Call for New England Bands - We Want Yo' Music For A Terrible Mashup

It's about to get wicked Terrible up in here.

Calling all bands. Bishop & Rook is partnering with local mashup artist, Terrible, to create a very special localz only, all-encompassing Boston music scene remix. In an effort to celebrate the diverse and talented music community that we strive to champion on a daily basis, Bishop & Rook and Terrible are looking for tracks to sample.

To get on board with this project, email your isolated instrument and vocal tracks and contact information to Terrible at musicterrible@gmail.com. Current participants include Mr. Fritz, Viva La Hop, LA Jeff, Penalty Kill, and Zip-Tie Handcuffs. Deadline is July 1st.

Terrible is the curator of 'Bike.Barista.Bullshit' and 'Going van Gogh'. When Terrible isn’t producing tracks, he’s Max Shaffer, studying nerd stuffs in Cambridge, and when Max isn’t hitting the books, he’s spinning the records in the underground rock department, The Record Hospital on WHRB 95.3 FM (Harvard Radio Broadcasting).

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Boston Fuzzstival 2015...Is Coming...

Art by John Magnifico and Will Thomas from Boom Said Thunder

Boston Fuzzstival 2015 is coming!

The goal of Boston Fuzzstival is to highlight the best bands in the region that make psychedelic/fuzz/garage/surf rock and to build bridges within the local music community. This years Fuzzstival is a 3 day event, with 2 shows at The Middle East Upstairs and the 3rd show at The Middle East Downstairs, hosted by Illegally Blind.

Join the event on Facebook for future information including schedules and lineups.

AUGUST 6 @ Middle East Upstairs

AUGUST 7 @ Middle East Upstairs

AUGUST 8 @ Middle East Downstairs

Gone Punk Rocking, Be Back Never - Converse Presents Free All Ages Residency at The Sinclair

Enter for a chance to win tickets. Registration starts Monday 4/20/15.

For five nights, Converse Rubber Tracks Live is taking over The Sinclair in Cambridge. Each night, local Boston bands who have recorded at a Converse Rubber Tracks recording studio will open for a line-up of internally recognized artists including The Replacements, The Descendents and Slayer.

“In anticipation of Converse’s momentous move from North Andover to Boston, we wanted to bring our Converse Rubber Tracks music platform to the city in the most incredible way possible,” said Jed Lewis, Converse Global Music Marketing Director. “The city of Boston has always supported us and this free, five-day concert series featuring local artists is our way of showing our gratitude and appreciation to the residents who continue to embrace Converse as part of the community.”

You can register for a chance to win tickets to one of the five shows. (We're rooting for Night #1 with The Replacements, Dinosaur Jr. and local favs The Young Leaves.) Tickets will be distributed at random. Starting noon, Monday April 20th, pick your two favorite nights, cross your fingers and think positive thoughts by registering at www.converse-music.com/boston. Winners will be notified via email by Wednesday, April 22nd.

► View the full lineup.

Refused Comes to The Sinclair June 1st

Refuse comes to Cambridge 6.1.15

The Sinclair in Harvard Square announced that quintessential Swedish hardcore band, Refused, will be coming to town June 1st. Ticket pre-sale will be on sale Friday, April 3rd at 12:00PM EDT. Event information can be found on The Sinclair's website.

The New Punk Is Coming...

Fuck yeah punk rock! (image credit)

Several local punk bands holding prime positions on our music radar are revealing that new music is in the works for 2015.

Great Lakes USA finally confirmed after years many months of hearsay that their next LP Stumbling Distance is in the works with a tentative release date of June.

The Black Cheers uploaded an ominous teaser video to their Facebook page yesterday.

And word on the street is Grenades in the Archives have some new jams on deck.

Get ready. Do you have new music you want to submit to Bishop & Rook? Learn how here.

New Great Lakes USA Record Confirmed

Stumbling Distance due out June 1st, 2015.

Boston punks Great Lakes USA confirmed via Facebook this morning that their highly anticipated and long awaited follow up to 2012's Live Fast, Die Whenever is happening.

"We are stoked to announce we are once again working with Coffeebreath And Heartache (they will be handling vinyl) & Black Numbers (CD & Digital) to release our new EP, 'Stumbling Distance' on June 1st 2015!

This is the first collection of jams featuring Mike Przygoda shredding on every song and we could not be any more stoked about this.

You are all in for a treat."

Cheers! You can see Great Lakes USA with After The Fall (NY / Bridge Nine Records), Heartsounds (CA) and Tied To A Bear at O'Brien's Pub in Allston on May 12th.

WTF Radio 92.9 FM...

Tell us how you really feel... When you hear the word "spring", some might think beer gardens, others may revel in parking ban lifts, Radio 92.9 FM went for cleavage. This morning, Boston's alternative radio station that "plays more music and less blah blah blah" posted this picture on Twitter with the caption "Welcome back Spring!". Pure class and noted.

According to the station's bio, "Our music geeks are connecting Boston’s passionate music fans and keep you up to date with music news, concerts info, and chances to meet and hang out with the biggest artists in Alternative." And inappropriate, audience alienating, tasteless commentary.

The Stereo State - Just Kidding

Holyoke's The Stereo State have some bad news.

After announcing an indefinite hiatus after their FEST appearance in 2013 and a surprise resurgence a year later, Holyoke's The Stereo State was back in the game, scheduled to open for Banquets in Allston and play Montreal's notorious Pouzza Fest this year.

Unfortunately, the melodic punk band took to Facebook (again) tonight to break news of changing plans.

Per the band's Facebook page:

"Unfortunately we are not going to be able to play May 15th in Allston or head North for Pouzza Fest, sorry about that, we are very bummed! Thank you to @ryanagate and everyone at @pouzzafest for having us, we'll make it up later this year or next year! We do have a release to announce very soon, so stay tuned for that! In the meantime, I'm going to have my baby girl and we are continuing to write a killer fucking record!-Andy & TSS"

Which leads us to the question, #‎TSS2015‬?

Follow the band on Facebook for further details.

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Exclusive Beach Slang Afternoon Show at Firebrand Saints

See Beach Slang at Firebrand Saints this Saturday 3/14/15

Here's your exclusive, VIP insider tip of the day. Beach Slang (PA) will be at Firebrand Saints (1 Broadway, Kendall Square, Cambridge) this Saturday, March 14th, for a very special midday show before their SOLD OUT show with Cursive at The Sinclair later that night. The band will be accompanied by Boston post-hardcore band, Choke Up.

2PM / $5 / 21+. Presented by Eye Design. Facebook event details. Boom.

Bandcamp Reports Fans Have Given Artists $100 Million USD

Dolla Dolla Bill, Y'All. Bandcamp reports major milestone.

Bandcamp took to Facebook to announce a major milestone. Per the music streaming website, fans have now given artists $100 million USD through Bandcamp. Fans give artists $3.5 million every month on the site, and buy more than 16,000 records a day, which works out to about one every five seconds, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"So a big, big thanks to everyone supporting artists on Bandcamp, and to all the artists and labels posting great music too. We wouldn’t be here without you. P.S. We worked out of the public library for the first four years of Bandcamp’s existence. In May 2009, fans gave artists $12,823.12. It was the first time we’d crossed the $10K-in-a-month mark."

Read more via the Bandcamp blog.

25% Off Vinyl Records at Newbury Comics

3 days only (3/6-3/8), receive 25% off all vinyl records at Newbury Comics. Find a location near you. See website/store for complete details.

Eye Design Presents Premiere Show at Firebrand Saints

New show, new venue, get on this. Saturday, March 7th.

Celebrate the first show at Firebrand Saints featuring indie shoegaze band Guillermo Sexo (Midriff Records) meow metal until we can't meow metal anymore you guys, experimental noise rockers Linear Downfall (TN) and surf rock outfit Beach Toys, presented by Eye Design. This show is $5, 21+ with valid ID and starts at 9pm. Get full event details here.

Firebrand Saints is located at 1 Broadway in Kendall Square, Cambridge. Close to the T, offers free parking and the kitchen is open until 11pm.

First Batch of Awesome Day Fest 2015 Bands Announced

So ominous it must be important. Coming May 30, 2015.

The first batch of participating Awesome Day Fest 2015 bands has been announced! It’s happening! The annual neighborhood music event will be held on Saturday, May 30th, 2015 in “The Aspen of the East” beautiful Allston, Massachusetts, curated by Jesse Sherman and Midriff Records.

“Awesome Day Fest is a day long party celebrating the music, art and spirit of Allston “Rock City”, MA. With bands and BBQ during the day and rock at night we hope that folks will come out, spend the day with us and experience what makes Allston, MA so special. Make a day of it!” states Midriff Records.

Confirmed to participate in this year’s event is Weird Womb, Sidewalk Driver, Kudgel, Shatner, Vic Firecracker (reunion), Petty Morals, Guillermo Sexo, Crooked North, Eldridge Rodriguez, Party Bois, Codetta (reunion) and Diablo Gato. More to come.

Additional information including individual show tickets, “all venue” wristbands and a full lineup of participating bands will be added to Midriff Record’s blog regularly. Follow Awesome Day Fest on Facebook and Twitter for announcements and attend the all-day event May 30th.

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Velah Calls it a Day

Velah Calls it a Day

Boston alt-indie band Velah has ceased to be a band. Per Facebook this afternoon, the band stated:

"Hey everyone! Apologies to be the bearers of rather crap news but we've decided to call it day. We had a blast for the time we were together but unfortunately we just ran out of gas. Thanks to everyone who came out to shows and supported us the last few years - we are eternally grateful. Have no fear, we're all still making music though! Check out Jen and Mike in Pale Hands, Danny's work in Black Foliage and Justin drumming his heart out in Blackbutton. Nick is working on guitars which you can ogle at here, somervilleguitarco.tumblr.com XO"

The band recently played with now Brooklynites, Boom Said Thunder during their homecoming single release show back in January of this year. You can stream Velah's releases on Bandcamp.

The Hotelier Press Debut Record + Tour All Over The Damn Place

Grab the first pressing of The Hotelier's debut record now.

Did you know The Hotelier, at the time The Hotel Year, had a record before Home, Like Noplace Is There? True story. Originally released in 2011, their debut full-length It Never Goes Out was unfortunately kept in label limbo in regards to a proper physical release, but now current label Tiny Engines has made all your emo hearts explode with the announcement of a proper vinyl pressing!

Meet The Rock 'n' Roll Rumble Class of 2015

The Rock 'n' Roll Rumble Facebook page made a simple yet exciting announcement last night. Your 24 new favorite bands unveiled on Sunday, March 8 on Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood

100.7 WZLX and BostonEmissions.com