Boston Goes To FEST 14

The expansive lineup for FEST 14, the country's premier punk festival happening October 30, 31 and November 1, was announced last night, highlighting the widespread reach of national and international bands. This year, bands range from local Gainesville, FL acts to European artists and even representatives from Slam Diego Punkifornia (someone get us a T-shirt with this stat!) and Hell.

Migrating down south will be several heart-on-sleeve, DIY, O'Brien's finest Boston bands including Choke Up, The Color and Sound, Foreign Tongues, The Hotelier, Lady Bones, Lenny Lashley's Gang of One and Rebuilder.

Start planning your road trip itinerary. FEST passes go on sale June 1st.

► Bands
► Schedule
► Go to FEST

The Results Are In, Your Rumble Semifinal Wildcards Are…

Thursday, April 23, 2015
Semifinals Night #1
Event link
Doors at 8:30
$10

9:30 // Wildcard: Duck & Cover



10:15 // Soft Pyramids



11:00 // Zip-Tie Handcuffs



11:45 // Dirty Bangs




Friday, April 24, 2015
Semifinals Night #2
Event link
Doors at 8:30
$10

9:30 // Wildcard: Murcielago



10:15 // Nemes



11:00 // Eternals



11:45 // The Static Dynamic




Based on what we've experienced from these bands during the preliminary round, we're predicting Zip-Tie Handcuffs for Night #1 and Murcielago for Night #2. Follow the Rock 'n' Roll Rumble on Facebook and Twitter for additional announcements and information. 

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.

Darkbuster at The Sinclair August 3rd

Get yo presale tickets!

Presale tickets for Darkbuster at The Sinclair August 3rd are now available! Use password "BoweryBoston". Public tickets go on sale Friday (4/10). This show is 18+ with a valid ID. Click here to be redirected to the Ticketmaster page.

Pre-Order Rebuilder's 'Rock & Roll In America' Limited Edition Vinyl

Pre-order Rebuilder's debut LP 'Rock & Roll In America' now.

If you didn't get a chance to pre-order Rebuilder's debut LP 'Rock & Roll In America' during their sold out record release show at hometown local legend venue O'Brien's Pub in Allston last Friday, when the band played their record in its entirety plus whipped out a punk cover of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off", here is your second chance. The self-proclaim gnarly rock band's newest record is currently available for pre-order via New Jersey label Panic State Records.

Rebuilder 'Rock & Roll In America' Ticket Giveaway

I's can haz tickets to Rebuilder record release show plz?

Ladies and fellas! Here is your chance to win a pair of tickets to Rebuilder's debut LP 'Rock & Roll In America' (Panic State Records) record release show at O'Brien's Pub (Allston), Friday, April 3rd featuring Choke Up, Bundles, Sundog and special guest WMBR 88.1FM DJ Mateo Williams! Plus listen to the first pre-released track, 'The National Bohemian', off the new record below.

You have until 4PM Friday, April 3rd to enter to win.

How do I win tickets?!

► Sorry! This contest is closed.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXXIV

It's April! Let porch life begin! (image credit)

It’s April 1st! You know what that means? Winter parking ban get lifted in various Boston neighborhoods, maybe not yours, but definitely mine, so let’s celebrate with new music and a Whiskey Lemonade! On deck for shows this month is Choke Up at O’Brien’s Pub April 3rd, Portland, OR’s Divers at O’Brien’s April 6th, and Swimmers (formally Emily’s Army) at Middle East Upstairs on April 12th.

Great Lakes USA, “Shaking Hands” Off Upcoming EP 'Stumblin’ Distance'

These guys... Stumlin' Distance is estimated to be released this June.

Check out the new track from Great Lakes USA, “Shaking Hands” off of the upcoming EP Stumblin’ Distance (Black Numbers), originally premiered on punktastic.com. Follow Great Lakes USA on Facebook and Twitter for additional announcements.

Related Stories:
New Great Lakes USA Record Confirmed
The New Punk Is Coming...

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.

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.

Related Stories:
The Stereo State is Back #TSS2015

New England Bands Head to Skate And Surf Fest

Tickets available now. #RoadTrip

New Jersey’s Skate And Surf Fest 2015 lineup consists of an entertaining array of local, national and international punk rock bands including several from the New England area. This year, the multi-day event at Asbury Park Oceanfront will host headliners, The Dropkick Murphys (Born & Bred Records), as well as Big D and the Kids Table (Strictly Rude Records), Defeater (Epitaph/Bridge Nine), Rebuilder (Panic State) and Connecticut’s Sorority Noise (Top Shelf).

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXXIII

'She Knows' how to make mean cocktails (image credit)

Happy almost spring you guys! Have you gone to a show lately? The Class of the 2015 Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble was announced, we have Rebuilder’s ‘Rock & Roll in America’ record release coming up, Great Lakes USA and The New Warden are playing Friday 13th. Get out there and socialize. And maybe order an Irish Sprite while you’re at it. Here's our March 2015 Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Playlist.

Stream "The National Bohemian" off of Rebuilder's Upcoming Debut LP

Rebuilder's 'Rock & Roll In America' release show - April 3rd at O'Brien's Pub, Allston

In celebration of their upcoming debut full-length album ‘Rock & Roll In America’, Rebuilder (Panic State Records) is scheduled to play their record release show at O’Brien’s Pub in Allston on Friday, April 3rd. We’re keeping it local and celebrating the immense talent of the Boston music scene by featuring post-hardcore band Choke Up (Black Numbers Records), Somerville indie punk outfit Bundles and kitschy ‘spaceman looping artist’ Sundog, along with special guest DJ Mateo Williams of WMBR 88.1 FM’s Late Risers Club (MIT) who will be spinning vinyl records of the punk variety in-between sets. The event is presented by Bishop & Rook Music Blog, is 21+, $8 and doors are at 8pm. Advanced ticket link available here. Get additional details via the official Facebook event page.

Stream an exclusive first listen of "The National Bohemian" off of Rock & Roll In America after the jump.

Party with Trophy Lungs this Sunday 3/8

Punk rock party at the Middle East Upstairs 3/8.

It’s his birthday and he’ll drink all the beers if he wants to. Head to the Middle East Upstairs on Sunday, March 8th to celebrate Trophy Lungs guitarist, Kevin Bogart’s, birthday with performances by After the Fall (Albany punks recently signed to Bridge Nine Records), Remnants (NY, ex-members of The Broosevelts), Tied to a Bear (members of Choke Up / collectively decided to be too cool for the internet), Bear Child (NY, Justin from Deep Pockets), presented by Wormwood Joint.

Doors are at 8pm, $10, 18+ with valid ID. Additional details can be found on the official Facebook event page.

Remember, Sunday is Daylight Savings Time, turn those clocks forward one hour and don't miss the first act.

Bishop And Rook Returns to Mutiny on the Microphone (for some reason)

Bishop And Rook was this week's guest DJ on New England music podcast Mutiny on the Microphone. Here's 60 minutes of complete nonsense, local music and probably a whole mess of misinformation. For the record, we were invited back. LISTEN NOW. #norules #nogods




On a mobile device? Click here to listen!


Also, go to a show. Next Bishop And Rook shows!!!
March 2nd - Charlies Kitchen - fting Sports., Fall Risk, Dirt Naps
April 3rd - O'Brien's Pub - fting Rebuilder, Choke Up, Bundles, Sundog


February 19th Playlist:

Bundles - B&E
Jetavana Grove - Hope is a Bus (That I Missed This Morning)
Choke Up - Rust
Laika's Orbit - Circumstance
Sports. - Mo Vaughn
Fall Risk - No. 1
Sundog - Superstition
Dirt Naps - Bees Knees
Julius Earthling - 575

Related Stories:
Bishop And Rook Guest DJs the 'Break Out Bands of 2014' Podcast For Mutiny on the Microphone

Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly with Mariachi El Bronx Come to Boston June 19th

Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly, Mariachi El Bronx June 19th.

Good news! Gogol Bordello recently announced they will be touring with Flogging Molly. More good news! They will be playing Boston on June 19th with special guest Mariachi El Bronx. Bad news, it's at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion.

General public pre-sale tickets go on sale February 20th at 10am EST.

If you can't wait to see the gypsy punks, head to Lupo's in Providence, RI on February 28th. Tickets for that show available now.

Nice Guys 'Chips In The Moonlight' Record Release Show

Nice Guys Record Release Show at Club Bohemia 2.12.15

Illegally Blind presents Nice Guys' Chips in the Moonlight (456 Records) EP Release Show at Club Bohemia (738 Massachusets Ave, Cambridge) on February 12th.

All good music aside, this December 2014 KLYAM review is why we'd go see a live Nice Guys show.

"Nice Guys errr ahhh here we go, these cats, these guys rumble. A swift kick in the nads. That’s their music. If you wanted a description, that’s what you’re going to get. That feeling you get when you get kicked square in the nads, it’s like that, but pull back a little. It’s that full on attack, but without the pain and misery."

Rounding out the bill is The Monsieurs, Slow Jerks (MD) and Black Beach. This show is 21+, $8. Full details can be found on the official Facebook event page.

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.

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.