2015 Sets the Bar High for Local Music - B&R Looks Back At Our Favorite Records of This Year

May you get drunk on wine beer new music in the new year. (image credit)

The best part of our job is finding new, local music that rivals anything you're hearing on the radio today, and then getting to talk to the people who created it. Going beyond the press release, we ask the questions that deepen the meaning of the song, highlight the passion of the artist and recognize the growing talent of the New England music scene.

Not totally comprehensive, but a good representation of our favorites from this year, here are Bishop & Rook's top records of 2015 (in no particular order). 2016 is coming, click here for details on how you can submit music and written contributions to the Boston punk rock and indie music blog offering premium reviews, limit one per cocktail.

Artist: Twin Foxes

Record: S/T

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

Artist: Grenades in the Archives

Record: Dressed Up Like Armageddon

Article: All ‘Dressed Up Like Armageddon’ With No Place To Go - New Punk From Grenades in the Archives

Artist: Tied to a Bear

Record: Safe, Boring & Safe

Article: Tied To A Bear's Debut LP ‘Safe, Boring & Safe’ & Record Release Show Announcement

Artist: Choke Up

Record: Black Coffee, Bad Habits

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

Artist: Salem Wolves

Record: (Series of singles)

Article: Refining The Formula – Salem Wolves Dish on Band Growth, New Projects and a BIG Announcement

Artist: Rebuilder

Record: Rock & Roll In America

Article: Rebuiler’s Debut LP, How ‘Allston Christmas’ Influenced Album Art & What Exactly Is ‘Gnarly Rock’

Artist: Today Junior

Record: Ride the Surf

Article: Today Junior’s Sound Gets Ocean-soaked And Sunburnt in Ride The Surf
 

Artist: Mallcops

Record: The Funniest Joke You've Ever Told

Article: Sorry, Too Busy Feeling Feelings: Mallcops’ 'The Funniest Joke You've Ever Told' is an Addiction 

Artist: Bay Faction

Record: S/T

Article: Bay Faction Skips School to Sing About the Cues and Codes of Sex

Free Show: The Lowdown on 'Late Night on Lansdowne’ after The Throwdown

See these bands FOR FREE. (Follow Bishop & Rook on Instagram)

#ICYMI and have serious #FOMO, for those of you who won't be #FUBAR after the #MMB shows,  here is the lowdown on 'Late Night on Lansdowne', a FREE 2-night after party show at Bill's Bar (5 Lansdowne Street, Boston), presented by Mutiny on the Microphone and Radio BDC.

Sunday, December 27th

The Bonnets

Bundles

Special Guests - Warn the Duke

Monday, December 28th

Neutral Territory (former The Stereo State)
The Offseason

Special Guests - Diablogato

Doors at 11PM / music at 11:30PM.

21+ with valid ID.

FREE entrance based on capacity.
Facebook event link.

Related Stories:

Then After The Show, It's The After Party - ‘Late Night on Lansdowne’ December 27th+28th
The Diabolical DiabloGato - Debut Full-Length Available Now
Video Premier: Bundles - “Dead Reckoning”

The Diabolical DiabloGato - Debut Full-Length Available Now

Get your copy of Diablogato's debute full-length now.

Sweet and salty. Naughty and nice. Basement show and lounge act. Diablogato's debut S/T full-length is a proper 11-song catalog of punk rock / rockabilly with a custom, diabolical twist.


Established in 2014, Diablogato has already been stirring up interest as a premier band at The Boston Tattoo Convention, The New England Shake-Up Car Show, and 2015’s Awesome Day Fest, and recently topping the polls over at Boston Emissions. And if it’s one thing we know, when a rockabilly band is involved, you come for the music but stay for the performance. “Stage presence is a big part of putting on a good show,” says frontman Drew Indingaro (ex-Lost City Angels, Cradle to the Grave). “We try to be aware of that and hope that we entertain. If you come to a Diablogato show, you’ll definitely see Johnny Custom climbing all over his upright bass.”


The 2015 record, recorded by Jack Younger at Watch City Studios in Waltham, MA and mastered by Nick Z. at New Alliance East in Cambridge, MA, is now available for purchase as a CD via the band’s website.

While the band has tentative plans to release a 7” in the next year, East Coast tour dates are already being put on the books. Can’t wait? Catch them as the special guest during night #2 of  the ‘Late Night on Lansdowne Street’ FREE SHOW at Bill’s Bar on Monday, December 28th with The Offseason and Neutral Territory (former Stereo State), presented by Mutiny on the Microphone and Radio BDC. Event details here.

Follow the band on Facebook and Twitter for additional show information and stream a few pre-released tracks on Bandcamp now.

Related Stories:
Free Show: The Lowdown on 'Late Night on Lansdowne’
Then After The Show, It's The After Party - ‘Late Night on Lansdowne’ December 27th+28th

Then After The Show, It's The After Party - ‘Late Night on Lansdowne’ December 27th+28th

Because we know you'll be in the area...

These internet radio hosts have created a late night, local music party on Lansdowne Street just for you.

Oh, and it’s free.

“I don’t think it’s a choice to keep your passion going to be honest with you. It’s a weird thing, a force that pulls you in. And then it defines you, and you don’t even question it.”

Mutiny on the Microphone and RadioBDC have announced a free, 2-night event entitled ‘Late Night on Lansdowne’ featuring a nightly lineup of now trending bands along with special guests all happening at Bill’s Bar December 27th and 28th.

“With this year’s [Hometown Throwdown] theme being a throwback to The Rat, some people are talking about how the 'scene died’ when The Rat closed, or reminiscing about the past, thinking that our current set up just isn’t the same. I’d like to counter that argument with this showcase,” Mutiny on the Microphone founder and host Adam Blye explains.

“‘Late Night On Lansdowne’ pays homage to our experiences and excitement of discovering new music organically while attending shows. Back in the day you would get handed bags of swag after a show; flyers, pins, stickers, CDs of local bands of similar sound. Although that might not be the thing to do anymore, we can still connect listeners with music in a creative, natural way. It’s our job as curators to guide people to these bands.”

Both digital airwaves co-presenters are compromised of former terrestrial radio personal. With the fall of influencers like WBCN and WFNX, changing formats, shifting genres, closing clubs, and the looming fog of a bygone era in music, it’s easy to wonder how some people maintain their passion. “I don’t think it’s a choice to keep your passion going to be honest with you,” Blye confesses. “It’s a weird thing, a force that pulls you in. And then it defines you, and you don’t even question it.”

Participating 'Late Night On Lansdowne' bands are being announced daily, with night #1 already set to include The Bonnets (3 piece punkadelic band from Lyndonville, Vermont) and local favorites Bundles plus special guests yet to be revealed. The remaining bands for night #2 will be announced on the Facebook event page on December 10th and 11th. Both nights are FREE, 21+ with valid ID and entry is first come first served.

Follow Mutiny on the Microphone on Facebook and Twitter for additional information and take an interest in the event page to get automatic announcements, lineup details and more.

Lineup So Far:

December 27th
The Bonnets
Bundles
::Special Guests::

December 28th
::Band 1 announced December 10th::
::Band 2 announced December 11th::
::Special Guests::

Song Premiere: “A Girl From Quincy” by Art Thieves

'For Free!' will be available for free download on December 31st.

It is with our unwavering pleasure that we present to you “A Girl From Quincy” by Art Thieves.

Working on their material under the radar, Bishop & Rook caught Art Thieves earlier this year in their natural South Shore habitat (RIP Beachcomber) and gave our stamp of approval. It was the band’s on stage chemistry and thoroughly entertaining live set that later earn them a spot in the Boston Scene Party Showcase.

“A Girl From Quincy” is off the band’s debut 10-track record entitled ‘For Free!’, available as a free digital download on December 31st. Listen to a few per-released songs on Soundcloud now. See Art Thieves on February 13th at O'Brien’s Pub in Allston with Warn the Duke (NYC), The Warning Shots, and You Scoundrel. And follow the band on Facebook for additional release and show information.

Air Traffic Controller Releases Music Video + Tour Dates

See Air Traffic Controller at BMH on November 30th.

In the spirit of family holidays, here is an endearing, poppy video for you. Boston’s Air Traffic Controller releases the music video for “The House” off of the band’s next studio album (originally debuting on MTVU and written/directed by Michael Parks Randa and filmed on location in Randa's hometown of Sherborn, MA). “It's a true story about Dave [Munro] growing up in greater Boston, Brady Bunch style, and I'm sure it will bring a smile to your face.” It did. We also have the overwhelming urge to throw glitter. And Paris Peterson is our spirit animal. "The House” accompanies new songs “People Watching” and “On the Wire” – all of which have been featured on Spotify’s official New Music Tuesday playlist.

See ATC during their all ages show at Brighton Music Hall on Monday, November 30th with Jared & The Mill and Amy and the Engine – purchase tickets here.

Full Tour Dates:

11/27 - Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. - Purcellville, VA

11/28 - Jammin Java - Vienna, VA

11/29 - Knitting Factory - Brooklyn, NY

11/30 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA

12/2 - The Cave - Toronto, ON

12/3 - Beachland Tavern - Cleveland, OH

12/5 - Beat Kitchen - Chicago, IL

12/6 - 7th St Entry - Minneapolis, MN

12/7 - The Riot Room - Kansas City, MO

12/8 - On Air - 89.9 WLCA St. Louis

12/8 - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO

12/9 - Albert S George Youth Center - Barnesville, OH