Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
Space Cranes
Merrily On High
2014
Let Space Cranes take you on an eclectic, electro-retro journey this holiday season. This dynamic duo and friends are back with another collection of mostly instrumental musical cheer. My favorite? I’ll take the samba-ized version of “Jingle Bell Rock” appropriately renamed, you guessed it, “Jingle Bell Samba.”
Where to get it:
Secret Lover
“Waffle House Christmas Baby”
2014
Secret Lover’s “Waffle House Christmas Baby” feels like a long-lost classic, with achingly, heart-breakingly perfect vocals shining bright through a blizzard of reverb, sleigh bells and rattling guitars. It’s essentially a depressing country tune played with the soul of early rock ‘n’ roll. Set at Christmastime. At a Waffle House. All holiday songs should be this good.
Where to get it:
David Jackel
“Time Keeps Slipping Away”
2015
David Jackel’s first proper single is a heady mix of ’80s new wave and neo-psychodelia. The Daily Pravda frontman serves up a harmony-happy, reverb-drenched number layered in jangling guitars, stringy synths and swirling effects. It’s a sound you can get lost in. He says there’s more coming. I’m waiting…
Where to get it:
Ringtail
“Mask Of Bees”
2015
Frenetic drumming, staccato guitar rhythms and a rippin’ guitar solo make for a spirited first single from Ringtail. There are shades of Mission of Burma on this post-punk nugget. The band balances the biting bits with and reigned-in verses and tastefully chosen effects. “Mask Of Bees” is a promising debut.
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Here are The Sheila Divine, a band I hold in the absolute highest regard. To have them close out The Daykamp Poster & Photo Show was an honor. To have them do so while celebrating the release of their wonderful new record, The Morbs, leaves me at a loss for words. I am thankful.
I’m crazy about Sidewalk Driver. I write about it in these pages after every one of their musically and visually dazzling performances. I can’t imagine ever loving this band more than I did watching them play The Daykamp Poster & Photo Show, but I’ve been through this before. They always prove me wrong. I’m so thankful they spent the night with us at The Sinclair.
Thanksgiving Eve found us at The Sinclair hanging stuff on the walls, listening to music and having a few drinks for The Daykamp Poster & Photo Show. Weakened Friends are everything I was hoping they’d be after obsessing over their Gloomy Tunes EP. They opened the night with a loud, beautifully bummed-out, ’90s-inspired indie rock gut punch. We’re thankful to have found another new favorite band.
It’s Black Friday. Black Friday is still terrible. Supporting local art isn’t. Here’s a quick list of alternative ways to spend your hard earned dollars than fighting crowds at the chain stores.
If you do go out to the stores today, think about keeping it local. Oh, and pick up something for Anngelle Wood’s Spectacular Gift Drive for DCF Kids Fund.
Friends of Fred
“Ode to the Somerville Turkey (Fred’s Song)”
2011
This is a song from Friends of Fred. It’s about a turkey. His name is Fred. He lives in Somerville. He supports the arts. He sounds like a good bird. His theme song is catchy. Don’t listen to it if you don’t want to have it playing on an endless loop in your head all day tomorrow.
Where to get it:
Walter Sickert And The Army of Broken Toys
“Where’s Your Ghost”
2015
Walter Sickert And The Army of Broken Toys are masters of the haunting and ethereal. “Where’s Your Ghost” is the first single off the band’s upcoming 3rd album, Come Black Magic. The steamcrunk Pixies delicately balance the harmonic and discordant on this slow-burner. All the plodding tension built by accordion and viola swells eventually spills over into a saturated wall of beautiful distortion. Glorious.
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