Slacker garage rock band Black Hatch is streaming the latest single to come out of Merrimack, New Hampshire. Stream / download / mosh to your copy of “The Wizzard” via Bandcamp right now for free (at a name your price donation).
You can see Black Hatch at PA's Lounge in Somerville on April 2nd with Jamie Farnan, Mindset X, The Heavy Howl and Japanese Monster (presented by WEMF). Follow the band on Facebook for additional release information and show announcements.
Worcester-based startup label, Honest Face Records, is offering its latest production, a moody 4-song split with progressive indie/emo bands, oldsoul (Lowell) and Speirs (Rochester, NY), on Bandcamp at a name your price donation.
A label that doesn’t necessarily “sign” bands, Honest Face releases enjoyable music that needs to be heard, without requiring any long-term agreement from the bands. Honest. Their current list of affiliate artists include several acts of the indie, rock, alt, punk, and/or emo variety including oldsoul, Sleeping Patterns, and JANK (PA).
See Dead Trains February 22nd at Charlie's Kitchen, Harvard Square
Dead Trains, Boston’s self-proclaimed punk blues band, is a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, and maybe most likely went through a weird metal phase in high school. Primus meets TigermanWoah, Dead Trains utilizes irregular chord progressions, swift tempo changes, and pulsing bass and guitar lines to create frantic, slightly unstable, rock and roll with a twangy swagger.
In anticipation of the upcoming 7-track LP, ‘Country Road Bound’ (set to be released later this month and featuring two previously recorded songs off of 2015's 32/20), Dead Trains has released a music video for the first single “County Road Bound/Mean Town Blues” (directed by Humar Miranda and originally premiered on Dying Scene) which is available to purchase on Bandcampnow.
Catch Dead Trains live on Monday, February 22nd with Lesser Knowns and The Shallow End Divers at Charlie's Kitchen in Harvard Square - $5 // 21+ with ID // 9PM (event details) and follow the band on Facebook for additional release information.
Salem Wolves (MegaHex Records) has a new track for your ear holes. “Peach”, recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks studio, produced, engineered and mixed by Dave Minehan mastered by Brad Krieger and featured on Chronicle (cuz we fancy now), continues the band’s mission to pump out high quality singles. “I've always been a "songs over albums" kinda guy, hooks over a jam,” Gray Salem told Bishop & Rook during a sit down over the summer.
You can stream the garage rock track on Soundcloud now and see the band live on February 26th with The Evil Streaks, The Devil's Twins and Damnation at Ralph’s Diner in Worcester (sponsored by Polar Seltzer // event details) and be on the lookout as the band visits WMBR’s Pipeline for a live in-studio session on March 15th.
Woke up on the punk side of the bed this morning, craving new music and a winter sangria with pomegranate, blood orange, and apple. February is short, make it count. Press play.
Winter Sangria with Pomegranate, Blood Orange, and Apple
1 (750-ml) bottle white wine, such as sauvignon blanc
1-1/2 cups unsweetened apple cider
16 ounces 100% pure pomegranate juice
2 to 3 tablespoons agave nectar or real maple syrup, to taste
2 cinnamon sticks
1 large ripe blood orange, cut into wedges
1 honeycrisp apple, cored and cut into wedges
Add the wine, apple cider, and juice to a large pitcher. Add the cinnamon sticks, chopped blood orange, and apple. Serve chilled. Note: cover and place in the refrigerator overnight for more citrusy-cinnamon-y flavor.
Want more booze need more tunes? Find all of our Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Playlists here.
One of the O'Brien's the cities best feel-feelings band, Save Ends, has signed to Black Numbers Records, joining friends Great Lakes USA, Choke Up, and most recently, Fucko. To celebrate, the band will be releasing the 'Hug Your Friends' EP, follow up to 2013's 'Warm Hearts, Cold Hands' (Tiny Engines).
In anticipation, NPR Music has released the first single to the 4-song EP entitled "I Fell Asleep", and the band released the record cover art, dedicated to a staple individual of the Boston punk scene.
The photo was taken by our friend Adam Haut, one of the best humans to ever live, who passed away in August. He walked dogs for a living and would take tons of great nature photos on his walks. This shot is one of those pictures. The Boston punk community, and humanity at large, lost an amazing person that day. His passing really put a lot of things into perspective. Especially how important it is to show those close to you how much they mean. Hug your friends, everybody.
True Story:
'Hug Your Friends' will be out later this year, get your pre-order on here.
Watch the official music video for "Speech of Foxes" now.
Airy and placid, Gem Club’s “Speech of Foxes” is an example of how a simple song can be the perfect canvas for interpretation, and how the marriage of audio and visual can create the necessary ballast to a piece of work. “The track really resonated with me on a personal level,” Director Ben Phillippo explains. “I wanted to create visuals that explored loss in a symbolic way, depicting something poetic as well as tragic. I imagined a wooden man, and how vulnerable and fragile he might be if exposed to fire, and the concept grew from there.”
The wooden man evolved into weathered flesh and blood, as the main character (played by Jack Goldman) demonstrates how connected we are to memories and experiences in the official music video for “Speed of Foxes” off Gem Club’s 2014 ‘In Roses’ (Hardly Art). Both solemn and satisfying, we travel the journey of a man's life has he reflects on the past. “It snowed unexpectedly on the day, and we rolled with it-- I'm glad we did, because it took the drama up a notch,” Phillippo added.
Local artists interested in working with Ben and his team can find contact details at benphillippo.com.
Purchase ‘In Roses’ by Somerville dream pop band Gem Club at most online retailers including Bandcamp - $10 digital, $11 CD, $16 double vinyl with digital download code.
Director/VFX: Ben Phillippo
Producers: Cara Campanelli and Katherine Griwert
Purchase your copy of The Okay Win's 'Cannon Mouth' now via Bandcamp.
Singer / songwriter gruff with an orchestral country twang, The Okay Win’s 2016 ‘Cannon Mouth’ continues the contemplative and powerful vibe synonymous with the band, however, the EP almost didn’t happen.
'Paws, Rewind' benefits the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Discover new music and help out some animals in need.
Head vs. Heart Tapes, a recently launched boutique label out of Waltham, has released their first benefit compilation ‘Paws, Rewind’ with 100% of the proceeds going to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
The 17-track compilation features a mix of HVHT artists and other local bands spanning a wide range of genres with contributions from Lady Bones, The Fake Boys, The Digs, Nashoba, Kal Marks, Pile, Deacon Bill, Psychic Dog and more. You can purchase ‘Paws, Rewind’ as a limited edition, hand numbered purple cassette tape ($5, shipping February 26th, run of 100) or digital download ($3) via Bandcamp.
A release show celebration is scheduled for Friday, February 26th at Club Bohemia in Central Square, Cambridge and will feature Idle Pilot, NICE GUYS, DCDR, Think Tank and Great News. (9PM doors // 21+ // $8 // event details).
Follow Head vs. Heart Tapes on Facebook and Twitter for additional information about ‘Paws, Rewind’, the record release show, and upcoming releases.
The New England Deli has released their year-end Best of 2015 Local Artist Poll, segmented into genres covering Alt Rock to Garage/DIY, Punk Rock and “Other”. Nominated by anonymous music contributors and presented to the public to vote on, here is your chance to voice your opinion.
But there can only be one champ per category, and the punk noms are contenders: Choke Up, Tied to a Bear, The New Warden, Mall Cops, Rebuilder, Psychic Dog, Trophy Lungs, Warn the Duke.
