Chrissy Vaccaro rocked some bare bones tunes as part of the Stars Like Ours single release show at The Midway.
Chrissy Vaccaro @ Midway Cafe 9.25.2015
Ringtail @ Midway Cafe 9.25.2015
Ringtail handled their debut show like the pros they are. They brought their sonic excursions to The Midway for the Stars Like Ours single release show.
Cujo @ Midway Cafe 9.25.2015
Cujo were a last minute fill-in as part of the Stars Like Ours single release show at The Midway. All they did was turn in the best show I’ve seen from them yet. No big deal.
Eric Salt & The Electric City @ Lizard Lounge 9.19.2015
Eric Salt & The Electric City closed out a night of great songs performed by fantastic musicians at a wonderful club. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. We’re lucky to have people like this in our town.
Stars Like Ours – Hand Shy (2015)
Stars Like Ours
Hand Shy
2015
The ’90s revival gods are smiling down on Boston lately. Between the Gloomy Tunes EP from Weakened Friends and this pair of singles from Stars Like Ours we’ve had a couple of new bands breathing life into an old sound. For their part, Kristin Edmonston and Michelle Paulhus build walls of thick guitars and driving bass that they smash through with kinetic melodies. “High” and “The Callout” are solid, driving tunes that show that Stars Like Ours are ready to play. I’m in.
Where to get it:
OldJack @ Lizard Lounge 9.19.2015
OldJack had a steady burn going at The Lizard, rolling through a rock solid set of soul-tinged tunes. It felt good to settle into their sound again.
Nate Leavitt Band @ Lizard Lounge 9.19.2015
Listening to Nate Leavitt, Dan Nicklin and Magen Tracy sing in three part harmony on a stripped-down version of “Taking The Long Way Home” is everything that’s right in the world. The rest of the set was pretty darn good, too.
Sidewalk Driver @ Lawn On D 9.18.2015
Dear Science,
Lawn On D is a magical place. I need an easier way to get there. Please perfect teleportation. Thank you. Also, Sidewalk Driver is pretty great. My whole family loves them. Thankfully, the naughty bits from their songs went right over our boys’ heads. Is there some way to ensure that they* never grow up and understand what “Five Steps” is about? I don’t think I’m ready for that. Also, also, an invisibility cloak would be pretty rad.
Sincerely,
Johnny
*Our boys, not Sidewalk Driver.
Parlour Bells – “Wetware” (2014)
Parlour Bells
“Wetware”
2014
Let’s give a listen to Parlour Bells’ 2014 space rock ballad, shall we? “Wetware” opens with a guitar line that carries the tune like The Edge with less digital delay. It’s a melody that skillfully intertwines with the vocals during the ever evolving us-against-the-world chorus. Parlour Bells do a great job creating a charged atmosphere. The bass, synthesizers, piano fills and ethereal backing vocals all find a place in the mix. Oh! Check out the rhythmic accents under the “I’m not perfect, but I’m human” part! Nice touch.
Where to get it:
Weakened Friends – Gloomy Tunes (2015)
Weakened Friends
Gloomy Tunes
2015
It’s hard not to get excited about Weakened Friends. “Won Yet” was one of the best debut singles I’d heard in a long time. Now I’m listening to their Gloomy Tunes EP and I’m grinning from ear to ear. “Miserable” is brilliantly self-deprecating. “Main Bitch” has a distorted “Woo-ooo” melody that has me bopping my head despite my best efforts to remain stoic. “Won Yet” is included here, continuing the bad-vibes-make-good-tunes theme. Linear and unconventionally-structured mini-epic “Honestly” closes out this fine EP, making me feel exceedingly lucky to have Weakened Friends joining us for the Daykamp Poster & Photo Show. I can’t wait.
Where to get it: