Random Rumble Ramblings: 2015 (Part III)

Anngelle has uncovered the finest t-shirt distributors in the Northeast. Some good bands, too!
Anngelle has uncovered the finest t-shirt distributors in the Northeast. Some good bands, too!

There’s never a dull moment with the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. The 2015 edition has been a wild one. Zip-Tie Handcuffs and Nemes won their Semifinal nights to move on. The Static Dynamic snagged the wildcard. The Finals will go down Friday night at TT’s. Before you head on over, here are a few things buzzing through my head regarding the Semifinal Round…

Rock ‘N’ Roll Variety Show

Check out the creative stylings of Zip-Tie Handcuffs at the Rock 'N' Roll Rumble.
Check out the creative stylings of Zip-Tie Handcuffs at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble.

It has become pretty common to reference the wackiness of individual Rumble night lineups. Can you remember a non-Rumble show with bands as varied as Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Soft Pyramids, Dirty Bangs and Duck & Cover? Diverse bills occasionally happen in the wild. They’re commonplace in The Rumble. Thursday night’s Semifinal was a goodie.

The NFL’s Got Nothin’ On The Rumble

Nemes & Semifinal Night #2: Inspiring sports analogies since 2015.
Nemes & Semifinal Night #2: Inspiring sports analogies since 2015.

In sports, you always hear about league parity. Any given Sunday and all that jazz. The big leagues could take a few pointers from The Rumble. Trying to get inside the judges’ minds during the Friday night Semifinal showdown between Nemes, The Static Dynamic, Eternals and Murcielago was an exercise in futility. Hunches? Sure. Confident predictions? Unlikely. That’s parity.

Boston’s New Favorite Band

Murcielago: Secretly holding stock in plastic surgery companies.
Murcielago: Secretly holding stock in plastic surgery companies.

If my Facebook feed is any indication, Boston’s new favorite band is from Portland, Maine. The number of times Murcielago appears next to some form of the phrase “face-melting” is alarming. Not that I disagree. These guys have been a Rumble highlight for me, too.

Fun With Numbers

Four guys in a band called Eternals.
Four guys in a band called Eternals.

  • Four for four: There were 4 quartets competing in the middle round. Eternals, Murcielago, Nemes and Duck & Cover represented.
  • Two way tie: There were 2 ties in this year’s Rumble Semifinals. Evan Kenney of Dirty Bangs sported a bolo tie, while Ian Grinold of Zip-Tie Handcuffs sported more traditional neck attire.
  • One for three: Zip-Tie Handcuffs were the lone 3 piece band in the Semifinals. Winning their night assured they will be the lone trio in The Finals.

Play Me Out

In the end, it’s all about the music, right? Here are the songs stuck in my head from the Semifinal Round.





Zip-Tie Handcuffs @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.23.2015

Hmmm. How to describe Zip-Tie Handcuffs’ set at Rumble Semifinal Night #1? Well, the “teach aliens about punk rock” angle is already taken. Let’s just say that these guys have been the wildest, most inventive, least restrained band of this year’s event. Their reward? Zip-Tie Handcuffs are headed to the Rumble Finals.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble 2015 Semifinal Night #1
Duck & Cover
Soft Pyramids
Zip-Tie Handcuffs (Winner)
Dirty Bangs

The Juliana Hatfield Three @ Cuisine en Locale 4.19.2015

Old songs! New songs! Solo songs! The Juliana Hatfield Three played it all at Cuisine en Locale. The trio culled tunes from their two albums* and Juliana’s solo work for the memorable set. The end result was wonderful. The band sounded great. The crowd was appreciative. I can’t think of a better way to have spent a Sunday night.

* There’s a 22 year span between those two records. I love ’em both.