Category: Blog

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Viva Viva – Viva Viva (2011)

Viva Viva - Viva Viva - Cover
Viva Viva
Viva Viva
2011

Viva Viva is on to something good. The band takes a romp through the best music of the ’60s and ’70s before giving it an updated spin. This is garage rock with pop hooks and an indie rock mentality.

“Heartbreak Sweepstakes” gets things off on the right foot with some fuzz guitar bliss. The sweet organ and kick-heavy drum breakdown are just the icing on the cake. Want more? Viva Viva keeps it coming on the very next track, “Keep Lookin’, Good Lookin'”. What a great opening one-two punch.

Viva Viva isn’t just a big garage rock party, though. “Dial Tone” brings out the band’s pop side. “Little Dirty Angel” is a scuffed up ’50s balled with a Luna influence. “Sympathy For The Devil’s Little Helper” is an unforgettable smoldering blues dirge.

Viva Viva - Viva Viva - Numbered

“The The Only Way To Live” brings all of their influences together into one stellar 2:46 pop song. Just for good measure they do it all again on “First Time I Saw Her”, although this time we get 3:37 of enjoyment.

Viva Viva return to their garage rock ways with “If You Really Want It” before wrapping things up with “Nothings Getting Any Easier”. The record closes as strongly as it opens, with nary a lull in between.

Viva Viva - Viva Viva - Letter Press

This 2011 vinyl version of the band’s 2010 release is the limited to 100 numbered copies in letter press jackets from Repeat Press. There are also digital download and CD versions available.

Where to get it:

Viva Viva - Viva Viva - Vinyl

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Miskatonic – Let Us Entertain Us (2007)

Miskatonic - Let Us Entertain Us
Miskatonic
Let Us Entertain Us
2007

Toss The Cars and the B-52s in a blender. Add a dash of Fountains of Wayne and a smidge of The Rentals. Voila! Miskatonic. What we have here is a band that is having fun creating quirky, poppy, indie rock songs. We’ve got boy/girl vocals, chirpy synths, buzzing guitars, and moving bass lines. Heck, the rhythm section makes these songs almost danceable, you know, if people in Boston actually danced.

Miskatonic has a nerdy innocence about it, much like early Weezer or Nerf Herder. “Sno-Cone Girl” and “Extra Terrestrial Girl” are ‘80s-tinged upbeat rockers with fun twists on the boy-girl pop song. Paul Wisner’s synth melodies are featured prominently on these songs. “Mach 4 Blackout” and “Consternation Land” really dial up the B-52s vibe. Singer Elizabeth Firger absolutely wails during “The Fall,” which also features some intense drumming from Mark Patti. “The Extra Mile” slows things down and features a cool falsetto vocal and Steve Kelly’s melodic bass line.

The highlight of Let Us Entertain Us is the new wave meets punk anthem “Dregs Of The World.” It sounds like The Buzzcocks with keyboards and cool little guitar leads. Tim Farrell shines on this track with his spitting vocal delivery. I love this song.

Where to get it:

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Full Body Anchor -3 Songs (2009)

Full Body Anchor - 3 Songs
Full Body Anchor
3 Songs
2009

Full Body Anchor’s debut EP impresses with its frenetic vocals and aggressive guitars. “Borderline” opens the set. Despite being the most accessible tune of the bunch, it still packs a punch thanks to the rock solid rhythm section of Kevin Pickering (drums) and Dennis Carver (bass).

“Catch/Release” becomes downright hostile. Full Body Anchor deftly ratchet up the tension during the verses, releasing it with a violent fury when the chorus hits. This song absolutely kills.

“Fly By Night” opens with a cowbell groove and thickly layered guitars from Amy Griffin and Kristin Edmonston. Add in Eric Edmonston’s manic vocals and you’ve got another winner.

Where to get it:

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Sourpunch @ The Rosebud Bar 7.16.2011

Sourpunch is from Providence. They had their debut show at The Rosebud the other night. Twice.

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Tijuana Sweetheart @ The Rosebud Bar 7.16.2011

Don’t mess with Tijuana Sweetheart. They want what they want and they want it now. They might even know karate. I’m not kidding. You’ve been warned.

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The Fagettes – The Fagettes, Vol. 1 (2011)


The Fagettes
The Fagettes, Vol. 1
2011

The Fagettes are chock full o’ ’60s garage rock goodness. They’ve got simple, snappy back beats, handclaps and boy-girl vocals. The guitars are soaked in reverb, tremolo and crackly distortion. The Fagettes put the “F” back in fun. I don’t really know what that means. It’s just how they make me feel. This EP is a blast.

Now on to Volume 2…

Where to get it:

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The Dirty Truckers – Bush League Romance (2000)

The Dirty Truckers - Bush League Romance
The Dirty Truckers
Bush League Romance
2000

Tom Baker is the closest thing this city has to Paul Westerberg. He’s also the man responsible for creating the ragtag group of rock ‘n’ roll revelers know as The Dirty Truckers.

The Dirty Truckers share a kindred spirit with The Replacements. The Boston band’s debut record, Bush League Romance, feels as rough and tumble as the those of their Minneapolis forefathers. “Been Around” and “The Rise & Fall” sound like they could have been on Let It Be or Tim. “Settle Down” is cut from the same cloth and is still a live favorite. The ripping “Any Offers” would be a better fit on Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. We’re even treated to a cover of “Sixteen Blue” (there’s a cover of Squeeze’s “In Quintessence”, but I’m foolishly and stubbornly talking about The ‘Mats right now).

The record also has a ‘90s indie rock vibe to it at times. “Backpack” could have been a hit on WBRU back in the day. “Thanksgiving” has a J Mascis-esque guitar solo (by David Minehan) that soars over its plaintive intro. On “The Bar” we get our first glimpse of Tom Baker’s love for The Rolling Stones, an influence that becomes more prominent on later Truckers’ records.

While the songs may not be quite as hooky as those to come, Bush League Romance is a solid rock record by a band that has become a perennial favorite around town. The Dirty Truckers know how to play good old fashioned rock n’ roll. We’re lucky’ to have ‘em.

Where to get it:

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Abbie Barrett And The Last Date @ The Rosebud Bar 7.9.2011

Abbie Barrett came out with dark grey clouds hanging over her set. She was up to some serious business. This was quite a shock to me, as my only previous knowledge of Abbie’s work was the song she wrote and recorded (oh, and performed on this very night) with Brendan Boogie that includes a reference to clubbing baby seals. I wasn’t exactly ready for the brooding songstress that came out with her band, The Last Date.

All storms eventually pass, and such was the case at The Rosebud. Midway through her set, Abbie and her band ventured into some more lighthearted material. The transition made me appreciate both the cloud and its silver lining.