Your 2014 Punk Artist of the Year Award Goes To...

2014 BMA Punk Artist of the Year nominees

Congratulations to The Hotelier for taking home the "Punk Artist of the Year" Boston Music Award last night at the Revere Hotel. Home, Like No Place Is There is a great record, Tiny Engines is a fantastic label. The band sells out rooms, they play all ages shows for the kids. Deserved win. (Whether or not they even knew of their involvement in this year's BMAs).

And congratulations to St. Louis' Foxing, co-headlining band during The Hotelier's 2014 summer tour, for making their debut BMA appearance...

Because that's not The Hotelier.

Listen to "Among the Wildflowers" off of Home, Like No Place Is There, plus 9 other local songs released this year in our Local Picks for 2014 post.

View all this year's BMA winners.

Bishop And Rook's Local Picks of 2014

It's Bishop And Rook's Local Picks of 2014! Ta-da!

Oh man, 2014. We went to all the shows! We drank all the beer! But most importantly, it was another year of meeting extraordinarily passionate and talented music folks in Boston. Here's to the record release shows, the new singles, the networking, the collaborations, the venues, the local radio stations, the fans, and all the bands that submitted music to Bishop And Rook. These are some of our favorite local tracks of 2014. Let's do it all again next year.

Boston Hassle and Ignore Rock’n’Roll Heroes Presents BLACK MARKET

Start shopping Saturday, December 13th, 12p-6p.

Two floors, 60+ vendors, the second annual BLACK MARKET (presented by Boston Hassle and Ignore Rock'n'Roll Heroes) happens Saturday, December 13th at the Cambridge Elks Lodge (55 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge, MA).

Zines, crafts, records, DIY, clothing, used books, art, jewelry, music, leatherwork, secondhand, tarot readings, tapes, vintage, prints, soap, VHS, knits, baked goods, bags, patches, tea, NES, crystals, handmade books, T shirts, handmade, comics & more.

All Ages

December 13th (12p-6p)

$1 donation at the door

Bar will be open to 21+

Visit the official Facebook event page for all the details

Vendors Include:

PM PRESS, The Chubby Behemoth, Hubba Hubba, Neverleather, Smokey Bear Cave , Stimulation Addict, Nothing Mattress, eHawk, Dave Ortega, Bacteriafield, Night Wife Apothecary, Zoárd Wells Tyeklár, SMFA, Hungry Ghost Press, The Little Hop Shop, Ben Doane, Double Vision Embroidery, Lexi's Tree Fort, IAOIAOIAO, Catalina Rufin, Synonymous T Shirts, Driton Krasniqi, Holy Calamity Studio, Jam Jar Astronaut, ASM Retro, Barrington Edwards, Disposable America, Cindy Veasey Vintage, Glass Heart Press, Spooky Town, Dripping Dream Vintage, Lavandette, PRN0, Thrifty Times, Deep Thoughts, Annie Hard, Michael Montagano, Space Funkd Designs, Kitty Glitter/TeamZen, DIKSHA-T, Excessive Mortifera Flea, Boston Hassle, Big Ass Heat record & games, B.O.W. arts n' crafts, River street Bindery, Megan Gibes, Danielle Kilroy, Blood Moon Jewelry & more.

4 Bands and 1 Rockin Holiday Flea Market to See in December

Support local music, go to a show.

So successful in October, we’re doing it again! What any self-respecting music lover will tell you is, “you gotta see the live show man.” Spontaneous, interactive, at some points vastly different from the recordings, you can’t have a true opinion about a band until you catch them live. Also cocktails, mingling and sometimes fancy outfits. Here are 4 bands and 1 rockin holiday flea market to see before the end of December.

“Fun Rock” Band Baby Baby Rolls into Allston Rock City December 20th

Bowery Boston and Ryan's Smashing Life presents Baby Baby 12/20/14. (image credit)

Hey Boston. We heard you were looking for a good time.

At first listen, we couldn’t tell if Atlanta’s Baby Baby was absolutely ridiculous or totally amazing. We quickly settled on the latter, and you will too.

The Monsieurs Release New Music Video for "Young Gun". Record Release Show to Follow

Buy The Monsieurs' S/T LP today and see them live at Cantab Lounge on 12/5/14.

Boston's garage rockers The Monsieurs have released a music video for new track “Young Gun” off of their October 2014 S/T release on Black Gladiator. It’s 2 minutes and 18 seconds of dirty, distorted, enjoyable garage rock.

The 11 song vinyl LP can be purchased at Slovenly.com. CD digipack and digital downloads can be purchased on Bandcamp. 

You can see The Monsieurs live during their record release show at Cantab Lounge (Central Square, Cambridge) on Friday, December 5th with Free Pizza and Nice Guys (Presented by Eye Design). Event details.

The Offseason / Losing Streak "Split" Record Release Show

The Offseason / Losing Streak "Split" is now available for purchase digitally via Bandcamp and on Transparent Electric Blue (limited to 125) and Transparent Kelly Green (limited to 125) vinyl via Barret Records, JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS YOU GUYS!

In celebration of the new album, The Offseason will be performing a record release show at O'Brien's Pub in Allston on December 14th with The Losing Streak (NJ), Off & On, Trophy Lungs and Agree to Disagree. 8p/$8/18+. Event details.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXX

Hey guys, it's our 30th #ROWYCO playlist! Cheers! (image credit)

Hey man, holidays, whaddyagonnado. No matter how many times you’ve done it, nothing can quite prepare you for the onslaught of meaningless questions and passive aggressive accusations about your alternative life style. When are you going to get married? Is that another tattoo? You’re in band? I love Bruno Mars. He's great. Is your band on the radio yet? Here, hold the baby. Seriously guys, it’s a universal discomfort. That is why we are here to provide an escape via new, sometimes local, but always awesome music and a drink to match.

Doom Lover Breaks Secrecy Pact to Discuss Debut EP, Provides Cryptic Message, Returns to Secrecy

Purchase Doom Lover's debut EP, Until Everybody Dies now on Bandcamp.

Until Everybody Dies is a record that deserves dedicated listening time to accurately uncover the hard packed layers of emotion. From romance and heartbreak to desperation and determination, 2014 Rock N Roll Rumble alumni Doom Lover hopes their signature style is moving people with their debut 5-song EP.

Vundabar Releases Music Video for UK Track "Ashes in The Sun"

In conclusion to their European Tour, Boston’s indie/surf rock trio, Vundabar, premiered a music video on Artrocker for new single “Ash in The Sun” off of their self-titled EP released in the UK early November. The 5-song EP, which consists of four previously released songs on 2013’s Antics in addition to the new single, can be purchased on Amazon and iTunes.

The 3:12 video follows the story line of drugs, cross dressing and fun facts about common household pugs. The interior duffel bag camera really ties this adventure together.

You're Invited to a Goddamn Record Release Show

Get all the juicy details of the event here.

We know you’re busy, so here’s a February 2015 show for you to pencil into your Google calendar now, and no, it’s not Spandau Ballet.

2014 Rock N Roll Rumble champs, The Drax (AKA Goddamn Draculas) will be celebrating the release of their debut album with a rock 'n' roll blowout at the Middle East Downstairs on Saturday, February 7, 2015.

The band will be announcing special guests over the next few days via Facebook. So, you know, follow them. But have already revealed that Party Bois, a group Guestlisted with Jed Gottlieb credits with the ability to "triangulate Andrew W.K., ABBA and Prodigy". And PLANETOID, a futuristic trio from the year 3032, marooned on Earth to melt your face with their rock and roll (true story). So far so good!

Join the party and get show updates by RSVPing to the Facebook event page now.

Email newsletters for bands at ReverbNation.com

The Stereo State is Back #TSS2015

Holyoke's The Stereo State is back and ready to rock your brains with a new LP.

Back in June of 2013, the Holyoke melodic punk band, The Stereo State, called it quits, citing member migrations.

Brandon Spence took to Facebook to announce the news. "It kills every one of us to say this but unfortunately The Stereo State will not continue past the end of the year. Andy has decided to move on to bigger and better things and we will not play under the moniker "The Stereo State" without him." Stereo State officially folded after their appearance at FEST12 in Gainsville FL.

Roughly one year later, the band's Facebook page was resurrected with big news.

Middle East Presents 'All Cramped Up. Again"

An 'all-Cramps' live set collaboration. Get your tickets now.

All Cramps.
All Night.
All you need.
Again.

The Middle East Downstairs (Central Square, Cambridge) will be a totally psychobilly night of garage rockin', shakin', and crampin' hard on Thursday, November 20th.

Dinah DeVille and The Bloodstains, Boston's fresh and filthy and brutally sexy abomination of performers, are getting together with some serious rockers, The Egos and The Skeleton Beats, to bring you the SECOND EDITION of All Cramped Up!, an all-Cramps live set collaboration. This will be a night of swingin' fringe, killer rock and roll, spinning tassels, a delight for all the senses and a seriously psycho party!

Special guest, Rock n' Soul Ichiban's Kogar the Swinging Ape (from New Jersey's independent radio station WFMU, the longest running freeform radio station in the United States), will be holding down the house music.

Buy tickets in advance now.
Full event details.

Learn how to get a song on itunes at ReverbNation.com

Choke Up Latest Boston Band to Join NJ Label, Black Numbers

Boston's Choke Up sign to Black Numbers. Set to release debut LP in early 2015.

All the big news. One of our favorite bands emerging from the local Boston punk scene, Choke Up, has signed with independent New Jersey label, Black Numbers (Great Lakes USA, The Color and Sound). Yay!

Bishop And Rook Joins Boston Scene Party

Join the party at www.bostonsceneparty.com

Ermahgerd you guys! We’re making friends and making history! Bishop And Rook is proud to announce our involvement in Boston Scene Party, a community group of local bloggers brought together by a shared commitment, enthusiasm and genuine love for the Boston music scene.

Rebuilder Plays WMBR's Pipeline! November 11th During Pledge Week

Rebuilder plays WMBR's Pipeline! 11/11 8p-10p during Pledge Week. (image credit)

Days after recording their upcoming LP (due out early 2015 via Panic State Records), Boston’s self-proclaimed “gnarly rock” band and 2014 Boston Music Awards "Punk Artist of the Year" nominee (vote now), Rebuilder, will be offering up some brand new music live and on air tonight during WMBR’s local music segment Pipeline! with the one and only, don’t get him started on the best ice cream in town, Mr. Jeff Breeze, as pledge week continues for the free format community radio station.

Keep Safe Boston Benefit Show and Compilation

Download your copy of the entire compilation today.

"Everyone worries about what we should be doing​. Do whatever you can,"
-Gloria Steinem

Keep Safe Boston, an upstart community organization founded by Boston radio deejay and local music scene advocate, Anngelle Wood, has announced its inaugural event to benefit Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts on Wednesday, December 10th (Human Rights Day) at Brighton Music Hall in Allston, MA. In support of the upcoming show, the organization has also released a 50-song music compilation comprised of local musicians and previously unreleased tracks.

Music Video: Banditas - "When He Comes Home"

In case you missed it, Somerville’s retro garage band, Banditas, premiered a video for “When He Comes Home” off of their 2012 Save the Rats LP (Hard to Kill Records). Directed by local filmmaker Ben Phillippo, the video won Best Music Video at the Atlanta Shortsfest in October.

Sinister in pearls, a disgruntled Stepford Wife takes matters into her own hands when she suspects the worst of her husband, and the outcome is dire.

You can purchase 'Save the Rats' on vinyl for $12 or digital for $9 at Bandcamp today and see them live at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge on November 15th.

Banditas - When He Comes Home from Ben Phillippo on Vimeo.

It’s WMBR's Annual Pledge Week!

Donate to the BEST free-format community radio station in the Boston area.

The community radio station we turn on EVERY.SINGLE.DAY to provide us with the latest and greatest in all genres including punk, rock, ska, indie and local music, as well as giving us a heads up of what's happening in the clubs around town with their daily concert reports, is asking for your help.

One of the only existing free-format community radio stations in the Boston area, WMBR 88.1 FM (located on the campus of MIT in Cambridge) is noncommercial radio, offering many hours of programming that cannot be found on any other radio station anywhere. They are 100% volunteer, with no paid staff. Roughly 5% of the station's budget comes from MIT, but the primary source of income is listener donations. Donations are used to improve the station in order to provide you with high-quality radio close to 24 hours a day.


If WMBR was a man, I’d marry him. But it is in fact a radical radio station with many different shows that make choosing impossible. From the British duo Nick Saloman & Paul Simmons of The Scene (Fridays 7a-8a), who I may or may not have geeked out to hard when I ran into them at TT’s over the summer, to all of the Breakfast of Champions and Late Risers Club DJs that get us through the week day mornings (M-F 8a-10a, 10a-12p respectively), and to our good friend Jeff Breeze who supports the local music scene from the depths of the basement of the Walker Memorial Building on Pipeline! (Tuesdays 8p-10p), WMBR is an institution. A historical entity. A damn good cup of coffee in the buffet of radio frequencies.


Pledge week happens today, Thursday, November, 6th through Wednesday, November 12th. You can donate by calling the station directly during on-air hours at 617-253-8810 or online using their secure online pledge form. And to say thank you, WMBR is offering cool premiums for your donation.

Learn more about pledge week.

Donate online now.

Listen to WMBR online now or download the Apple app and listen on the go.

Chandos Sign to Carpark Records, Plan to Release Debut LP in 2015

Chandos sign to DC label, Carpark Records. (image credit)

Chandos (formally Chandeliers) of Allston Rock City have some big news. The band took to Facebook earlier this morning to announce they have signed with DC label Carpark Records (Cloud Nothings, GRMLN, Speedy Ortiz) and are releasing their debut LP, Rats in Your Beds, on January 27, 2015.

To celebrate, the band has shared a track from the LP, the electrifying “..Pretty Sure it’s ‘Tang Top'” via Impose Magazine. Per the label’s website, “Expect shows in the Northeastern U.S. this winter and a larger tour in January.” You can pre-order the 11-track LP at Carpark Records now.

Cocked N' Loaded is Calling it Quits and Going Out in Style

See Cocked N' Loaded play their last two shows at O'Brien's Pub 11/7 and 11/8

Cocked N’ Loaded is calling it quits and going out in style. The band took to Facebook to announce their two farewell shows featuring a whole mess of special guests.

Music Video: The Offseason - "I'll Never Leave"

Local pop punk band, The Offseason, has premiered their first music video for “I’ll Never Leave” on music blog, More Than Sound Collective. The track is off of the upcoming 7” split with New Jersey's Losing Streak, which Bishop And Rook reported on back in October, and due out 11/11, pre-order available now via Barrett Records.

Directed by Erik Rojas and Matt Ciampa, the video sees its protagonist being literally haunted by a Jack Skellington look-alike that…get ready for this…never leaves.

Catch The Offseason at O'Brien's Pub in Allston on November 15th with Rebuilder, Up For Nothing (NY) and Bottlecaps. Event details here.

Related Stories:

The Offseason / Losing Streak Split

The Velvet Hands - “La Belle et la Bête”

Time for some free music from across the pond.

#BandcampRoulette #SoundCloudRoulette! More accurately, SoundCloud submission that we really liked.

The Velvet Hands is a four-piece band (with a singer who strikes a shocking resemblance to Alex from Target) from Cornwall, England, that will probably most likely not come to Boston anytime soon, but hey, you can still download this track for free.

“Described as ‘Cornwall’s latest snotty kids on the block’ by Lee Trewhela of [presumably very important British paper] Cornish Guardian.” Super megastar British paper also reports that The Velvet Hands is comprised of teenagers. If you like The Libertines, English accents and new music, you’ll like “La Belle et la Bête” off of the 2014 S/T EP by The Velvet Hands. Download your copy today. Bollox.

Play Bandcamp Roulette.

Dead Cats Dead Rats Refresh Their Name, Sign to Ocelot Records and Get Real with "Raw" EP

DCDR's Raw EP out this November. Pre-order available now.

An uncompromising combination of 1990’s punk and grunge, and in the most effective manifestation of short bursts of adrenaline, Raw is Boston-based DCDR's best album yet.

Why So Serious Courage Cloak? Post-Rock Shoegaze with Hardcore Punk Roots

The debut S/T LP from Courage Cloak is available now.

When you mix 3/5 post-hardcore band Life & Limb with 1/5 of hardcore band Matahari, you get Boston’s post rock/shoegaze band, Courage Cloak.

Music Video: Mean Creek "Anxiety Girl"

Boston's Mean Creek have released a music video for "Anxiety Girl" off of the 2014 LP Local Losers (Old Flame Records). Catch them live on November 6th at TT the Bear's in Central Square, Cambridge with The Young Leaves, PUJOL and Screaming Females.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXIX

Garnish with cranberries and punk rock.

 

Did you know that songs featured in each edition of Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out are curated via upcoming concert calendars, college radio playlists and new local music? And did you also know that each cocktail has been personally tasted and approved by Bishop And Rook? We're like this super trustworthy BFF that stays on top of the scene and the bar to keep you current and inebriated. So make your fancy cocktail, press play, and look for these bands in a venue near you soon.

Sneeze + Raw Blow Fall Tour

Boston's post hardcore/grunge/punk/loud bands Sneeze and Raw Blow will be heading out on a fall tour beginning November 7th in support of their 2014 records Wilt and Slow Choke respectively. The 18-stop gallivant hits the East Cost and Midwest, ending in Harvard Square, Cambridge for a homecoming show at Charlies Kitchen on November 24th.

You can snag a free download (at a name your price donation) of Raw Blow's very new EP, Slow Choke, on Bandcamp now. And purchase Sneeze's Wilt LP for $10 via the band's Big Cartel site.

UPDATE 10/31/14:

One week before tour, Sneeze took to Facebook to report van loss.

"Our van was just totaled in a car accident yesterday morning. We leave in one week. Does anyone have any suggestions / willing to rent us their van? If you can help in anyway that would be awesome. Everyone involved in the accident is OK and we really don't want to cancel this! Thanks!"

Sneeze can be contacted via email at sneezeband@gmail.com.

No Sleep Records 2014 Fall Sampler

Huntington Beach, CA label, No Sleep Records, recently released their 2014 Fall Sampler which includes a track by Boston's Foreign Tongues. "Luxury", off of the 2014 The Felix Culpa / Foreign Tongues Split, is one of 18 tracks on this free, limited time digital download. Snag your copy here for free before they're gone.

A Wilhelm Scream Announces Holiday Shows with The Holy Mess

Happy early Christmas. Dying Scene reports that A Wilhelm Scream have announced two holiday punk shows with The Holy Mess (PA).

12/12/14 with The Holy Mess and Chumped at Boot & Saddle in Philadelphia, PA (TICKETS)

12/13/14 with The Holy Mess, Blind Mice and Sweet Jesus at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA (TICKETS)

'Bike. Barista. Bullshit.' This is Terrible Music

This is a mashup! Download your free copy on Bandcamp today.

Terrible (AKA Max Schaffer) worked as bike messenger for the summer. He drank a lot of coffee. He talked to a lot of baristas. He tried to weed out the bullshit from what he had learned in college. But mostly he just made this album for his friends to dance to.

Like most things, Terrible Music started for shits and giggles and eventually grew into Bike. Barista. Bullshit. (2014), the debut LP featuring 166 sample sources in 50 minutes, all at 130 beats per minute. A project that took 19 years of listening, three months of using (and crashing) Logic, and from what we can tell, a lot of caffeine.

The Newbury Comics Scavenger Hunt

Game on! Over $10,000 in prizes will be given away during Newbury Comics’ game of seek and find. As a smart phone owner who is also 16+, you can register to join the #newburyhunt via free app Scavify, and start your mission by completing a series of tasks, each assigned a different point value. First task will be taking a selfie. Baby steps. But play at your own risk. If you break the law during this scavenger hunt, you’re outta da game.

Prizes include the grand prize (1) $500 Newbury Comics gift card, and runner up prizes of (2) $400 gift cards, (3) $300 gift cards, (5) $200 gift cards, (15) $100 gift cards, (50) $50 gift cards, (75) $25 gift cards, and (100) $10 gift cards.

Full game information including terms and conditions can be found here.

The Best Part of Oklahoma was in Boston Last Night

I'm just saying. Monday night is alright for punk rock. Beers and cheers and rock and roll. (image credit)

Altercation Punk Comedy Tour 2014

Coming to Boston on Tuesday, October 21st.

JT Habersaat and the Altercation Punk Comedy Tour will embark on a 7K mile tour this fall with some of the comedy scene’s fastest rising underground stars. The tour stops in Boston on Tuesday, October 21st at TT the Bear’s (Central Square, Cambridge) with Deadair Dave, Ken Reid, Nick Lavallee, Jay Whitecotton and JT Habersaat. 8:30pm doors, 18+. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the day of, and can be purchased on line now.

For a complete list of dates and additional show information, visit New Noise Magazine.

Go To This Local Show

R'N'R Cat says go to a show.

Go to a show. A reminder to always visit the 'Go to This Show' tab above (link in the collapsible top navigation bar if you're a mobile user) for local flyers and show links, updated on the regular.

Follow Bishop And Rook on Facebook and Twitter for day-of reminders. View upcoming Boston-area shows now.