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.

Kurt von Stetten's 9th Release, 'Animals'

The 9th full-length by Kurt von Stetten is available now.

Before anyone can even begin to reflect on Broken, But Not Undone’s one year anniversary, Kurt von Stetten has released a brand new LP because he can't stop, won't stop, and clearly has way more follow through than most people. Animals (Static Motor Recordings), is the Boston solo artist’s 9th full-length record. Since 2006 von Stetten has released a full-length album every year on which he plays every instrument.

Somos Joins the No Sleep Family

So much news! So much touring! So many links! Boston indie/emo band, Somos, announced today that they are the newest addition to the No Sleep Records family.

Five Boston Bands to See in October

Friends tell friends about good music. Five Boston bands to see before the end of the month.

Friends tell friends about good music, and hey, you seem cool. Out of the DOZENS of shows happening this month, we’ve pulled five must-see Boston bands you need to catch in person before the end of October. So immerse yourself in cultural activities, sleep when you're dead and go to a local show.

Support Music Education, Feed A Zombie

One day only in Central Square, Cambridge.

On Sunday, October 12th from 3-6pm, (ONE DAY ONLY YOU GUYS!!!), two zombies will be humanely chained to the patio at Thelonious Monkfish 524 Mass Ave, Central Square, Cambridge (the best damn sushi place in town) to benefit the Johnny Hodges Fund, a program designed to support the musical aspirations of Cambridge students.

Synopsis: It has been 10 long years since the Zombie Apocalypse. 80% of the human population has been infected, most succumbed to a dead-fall life...a life of the same boring routine of working day in and day out. Work, Eat, Sleep, Work, Eat Sleep. A life in which creativity, fun and joy were a long lost dream.

How can you help? You can buy Zombie Bits for a minimum donation of $5 and feed the Zombies.

Thelonious Monkfish in association with Trapped in a Room with a Zombie presents: Feed Our Zombies. A 1-Day Event in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Proceeds for the event will be used to support local musicians through the Johnny Hodges Fund...because Music Cures Zombism.

Learn more about the event at the official Thelonious Monkfish website.

Bugs and Rats "Adidas" LP Available on Vinyl

Purchase your limited edition pressing of Bugs and Rats Adidas vinyl now.

Lurking in the basements, blowing your eardrums out, Bugs and Rats Adidas Record is now available on vinyl via Feeding Tube Records, so get some. The Boston grunge rock trio’s 2010 11-track LP is underground noise rock at its finest and limited to 250 copies for your collecting pleasures. Bugs and Rats is part of the super expansive and slightly overwhelming Boston Hassle Fest 6 project featuring roughly 43 bands (we counted several times, we might have been a bit drunk, but still, that’s a lot of bands). An epic festival that is currently crowd sourcing an Indie Go Go donations account. Spare some change Mister?

Listen to the entire Bugs and Rats discography, including their 2014 S/T record, on Bandcamp and buy the Adidas Record on Feeding Tube Records today.

VUNDABAR / IDIOT GENES / BRAZIL @ GREAT SCOTT

Indie/surf band Vundabar is throwing a "goodbye" show with grunge rockers Idiot Genes (Eye Design Records) and experimental outfit Brazil on October 8th at Great Scott, Allston before they head off to Europe for a month-long tour.
They made a video about it.

The Offseason / Losing Streak Split

Pre-order your copy via Barrett Records now.

New music from Boston’s pop punkers The Offseason! Barrett Records (Ann Arbor, MI) will release a six-song split 10” with The Offseason and New Jersey’s Losing Streak later this fall. Pre-orders are available now for Transparent Electric Blue (limited to 125) and Transparent Kelly Green (limited to 125) vinyl. One lucky pre-orderer will receive a test press. Stream two tracks on Bandcamp now and head over to the Barrett Records site for purchasing details and other information.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXVIII

You're Not My Real Dad cocktail, garnished with a cigarette (image credit)

We went to Portland, Oregon and all I got was an ironic, thrift store t-shirt. Portland is exactly what I think a town would be like if it were run by children. Every restaurant serves pizza, burgers and macaroni and cheese. If it’s at all possible to put a car seat on a unicycle, someone in Portland will do it first. A ridiculous, pretentious town were people say idiotic things like “I’m pretty religious about cassette tapes” and homelessness is the final stage of hipster. Needless to say, you’re better off staying in Seattle.

But if you must visit, check out the Sapphire Hotel for a “You’re Not My Real Dad” cocktail. A cerveza that up until recently, was garnished with a cigarette. Turns out you legally cannot do that. Or you can just grab the recipe after the jump, turn on Portlandia and rock out to the October playlist featuring Weird Womb, LVL UP, Black Beach and No Bails.

Chaparrals' LP Release Show: Local Music, Local Food, Local Beer, No Cover

Local music, local food, local beer, no cover.

Local music, a food truck, a brewery and no cover. We could just stop there, but we'll also throw in a record release for good measure. On September 26th, indie band, Chaparrals, will be celebrating the release of their debut LP, Elpis, with Soft Pyramids and Kirk Swan Music (LA) at Aeronaut Brewing Company in Somerville.

Food will be available from Pennypackers Food Truck (specializing in Porchetta, sandwiches, house made sausages, soups, and salads) all night for purchase.

5:00pm - 11:00pm (Music from 8:00pm - 11:00p). Additional details can be found on the official Facebook event page. Snag a free download from Chaparrals and Soft Pyramids below and be on the look out for Soft Pyramids' record release show for Fossils of the Free World  October 3rd at Lilypad.

Boston Ska (dot) net Presents 'Get It Together, a Ska and Punk Night'

A night of local ska and punk September 22nd in Allston.

Wagering they have a better alternative to your typical Monday night, Boston Ska (dot) net is presenting Get It Together!, a ska and punk night at O’Brien’s Pub (Allston) on Monday, September 22nd.

“Here at Boston Ska (dot) net, we think a lot about community: communities of musicians, communities of show-goers, the larger Boston music scene and our smaller ska scene. We set out to help build that community by promoting bands, telling stories, and keeping folks informed about shows in the area. We like to think we’re doing an okay job of that but we know we can do more.”

The line up for your better than average Monday evening includes:

The Pomps
The Srew-Ups (RI)
Meracula

And more TBA, MCed by Boston Ska’s Jacob Wake Up! (8p/21+/$5). Horns and righteousness and good vibes to be had. Details surrounding Get It Together! can be found on the official event Facebook page. Follow Boston Ska for additional shows and local ska music news.

Rebuilder "Punkin' Spice Tour" This Fall

Hey ladies, Rebuilder is going on tour.

Always keeping it classy, Boston’s gnarly rock band, Rebuilder, has announced they will be hitting the road mid-October during the eleven-show, East Cost/Midwest "Punkin' Spice Tour" to promote their first full length record due out in early 2015. The soon-to-be released record will be recorded at Getaway Recording with Jay Maas (Defeater) and released by Panic State Records (NJ). The tour kicks off in Burlington, VT, crosses into Canada and ends in Baltimore, MD during the Feed the Scene Birthday Show with The Dead Milkmen, before playing their homecoming show at historic O'Brien's Pub in scenic Allston.

In lieu of a Kickstarter campaign to fund the new recording, people are encouraged to purchase merchandise that includes strategically placed Bill Murrays and Bill Cosbys, via Rebuilder’s Bandcamp page. Donations can also be made to refuserethinkrebuild@gmail.com via PayPal.

The 2014 Rock N Roll Rumble alumni's 2013 S/T EP and Rebuilder Christmas EP can be downloaded for free (at a name your price donation) on Bandcamp now. Follow Rebuilder on Facebook and Twitter for additional show and release information.

Listen to Rebuilder live on Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood (9/14/14).

Tour Dates

October 16 242 Main Street Burlington, VT
October 17 Atomic Cafe, Montreal, QC, Canada
October 18 Hard Luck Bar Toronto, ON, Canada
October 19 Small’s Hamtramck, MI
October 20 Reggie’s Chicago, IL
October 21 Candlekeep House Cleveland, OH
October 22 TBA Pittsburgh, PA
October 23 House show Richmond, VA
October 24 The Hook Up Virginia Beach, VA
October 25 Metro Gallery Baltimore, MD w/ The Dead Milkmen
October 30 O’Brien’s Allston, MA

Treat Yo Self: Creative Industry Night & Onslo Tape Release Party & Free Nachos

All of this awesomeness happens 9.29 at Charlie's Kitchen.

Do we have a night for you?! A jam-packed event is packing into our jam, Charlie’s Kitchen, on Monday, September 29th. The first Treat Yo Self! to be held at the Harvard Square rocker bar (that serves excellent sangria), will feature live music from Sneeze, Onslo (Eye Design Records) and Zip-Tie Handcuffs. You know, that band that melted your face last week? Art from Brian Barresi Art (creator of this snazzy flyer), Kristina Denis Artwork, A RAFFLE because why not, and will celebrate the release Onslo’s S/T album, available on cassette tape at the show.

If you’re unreasonably hard to please that’s not enough, Charlie’s will be offering FREE nachos with a purchase of a beer. It sounded too good to be true, so we double checked. It's true.

We suggest you get there early for so many reasons, a major one being the max capacity of this room is 83 people. Fact. The second is probably, definitely free nachos. Show starts at 9pm, $5, 21+. Get full details on the official Facebook event page.

RAFFLE DETAILS!

You could win:

• Artwork
• Merch from each band
• 2 tickets to an upcoming show at O'Brien's Pub
• 2 tickets to the next Treat Yo Self!

Getting Personal with Promotions: A Boston Music Media Event

Join us for our next Boston Music Media Networking Event

We're excited to announce the second installment of Boston Music Media Networking with "Getting Personal with Promotions" on September 23rd at Middlesex Lounge, Central Square, Cambridge.

Discover how promotional organizations from the Boston area help bands grow in popularity by public relations, brand management, and distribution.

A panel of guest contributors from Midriff Records, Pirate! and Last Dance Productions will discuss the importance of business ethics, maintaining an artist/client balance, and how media outlets (like us) play an important role in growing/maintaining a band's audience as well as reputation and character. We'll open the floor to questions and have some networking time so you can meet other like-minded people in the industry! Don't forget your business cards.

This FREE event is open to all music media folks including but not limited to bloggers, podcasters, journalists, promoters and label/PR managers.

Bundles - S/T EP

The S/T debut EP from Boston's indie rock trio, Bundles, available now.

Maybe it’s my long-standing fondness for Jetavana Grove, but Bundles’ debut S/T EP is quickly moving up the submission food chain to becoming a top favorite for 2014.

Emerging from just below the radar at an accelerated pace, the Boston indie rock trio has played their first show, racked up appearances at several venues including The Cantab, O’Brien’s and Great Scott, and released a 4-song 7”, all within what seems to be a five month period.

But it was a strategic matter. Taking shape in the fall of 2013, Bundles quietly developed their sound before pressing a record and playing a sold out release show. After a lineup change earlier this year, bassist Brian Jones explains, “We decided it was time to record and hit the ground running. This whole thing was a long time coming. It just seems that things are starting to come together now.”

With lyrics so intensely fanatical that they're sung at a partially inaudible level, Bundles mirrors the feverish and desperate pleas of The Lawrence Arms. Painting a picture of a habitually plagued protagonist and representing the underdog endeavor with energetic and infectious live shows. Also, this mustache.

Rightfully hitting their stride, Bundles plans to continue writing and potentially release another EP in 2015. In the meantime, you can and should see them rock out at O'Brien's Pub in Allston on November 23rd with Astpai (Austria) and Art Thieves, and purchase their S/T 7" (available in coke bottle clear, white and black vinyl, limited to 300) on Bandcamp today. Follow Bundles on Facebook for additional show dates and release information.

Zip-Tie Handcuffs Melts Your Face with “Psychotic Dance”

Sorry we’re late to the media love-fest for this video, we’re blaming it on the hypnotic trance of constantly hitting the repeat button.

I’d like to mention this may cause psychedelic seizures (side note, killer band name). As you may now know, Zip-Tie Handcuffs released a music video for single “Psychotic Dance” off the soon to be released album Sundream. It’s 2:38 minutes of dizzy distorted fuzz rock, ending with a ripping dance party.

One can only hope such a trippy sensation could be reenacted during their live show tomorrow, September 11th at O’Brien’s Pub, Allston with The New Highway Hymnal, Esh the Monolith and Boogie Boy Metal Mouth (21+/$7).

Who Are Lesser Knowns?

Meet Lesser Knowns and download their new songs for free.

“This is the point of the show where we introduce the band.”

Nick LeBlanc, Dan Letourneau, Dan McMahon and Riley Mello are Lesser Knowns and by the sounds of it, they’re rocking out whether you know of them or not.

In true Blues Brothers fashion, you literally get a rundown of the rocking and rolling quartet with “How Y’all Doin Tonight”, one of two new tracks in the first of many EP releases this fall.

“It won't really be a traditional record,” explains McMahon (guitar). “We wanted to mix it up a little bit and try releasing EPs in batches and in multiple formats,” with the first release available on cassette tape later this month, and digital and vinyl formats reserved for future tracks.

The comprehensive catchy, riffy, swagged up rock and roll project will be the band’s 5th “record” and will be celebrated on September 15th at Charlies Kitchen (Harvard Square) with Spectral Bat and L.A. Jeff.

“How Y’all Doin Tonight” and “She Loves to Dance” from the first installment are available for free download (at a name your price donation) on Bandcamp now. Follow Lesser Knowns on Facebook and Twitter for additional release information and show dates.

My Heart Belongs to the Boston Music Scene

We support local music. Follow Bishop And Rook on Instagram for more pictures.

Shoe string guitar straps, punks playing violin, $4 Coors Lights and impromptu sing-alongs. Kids, this is what I live for. The Clear Channels and the big box stores can have their corporate recommended listens and curated compilations; I’ll take my music genuine.

The streets they’re singing about? You’ve walked on them. The bars you frequent? They’re drinking there with you. This show tonight? This show is happening for you.

Every day you support local music, you grow closer to a community, its people, its quirks and inside jokes. Its struggles. Its inspiration. The humble camaraderie. And the savvy ambition of a person who never gives up. By a steady amount or observation you begin to realize everyone around you is drunk off of passion, respect and gratitude. This is the scene. You can go to any no name place in any town, buy a drink and have no purpose. These venues have purpose, you have purpose. If you just show up.

Everything is better in person. Just go to a show.
Submit your music to Bishop And Rook.