The Dambuilders - "Shrine 2026" and "I Hope We're Not Too Late"

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It feels crazy to write this, but it's 2026 and we have new music from The Dambuilders. The Boston alt-rock legends have released a reworking of their 1994 single "Shrine" and a new b-side, "I Hope We're Not Too Late." The band reformed in 2025 with two new members, guitarist Sean Eden of Luna and violinist Claudia Chopek of Bright Eyes and Father John Misty. "Shrine 2026" doesn't change too much from the original except it has some modern production, but still sounds like it could have been released in 2026, and is guaranteed to give you some serious mid-90's 120 Minutes flashbacks. "I Hope We're Not Too Late" is the more mellow of the two songs while still sounding like it belongs in The Dambuilders' catalog. This would be the VH1/Adult Contemporary version of the classic Boston rockers' sound, and I mean that as a good thing. This is one of the most underrated bands from the 90's Boston alt-rock boom, and we're thrilled to have them back.

You can listen to "Shrine 2026" and "I Hope We're Not Too Late" below. The songs are currently available on Bandcamp. For more on The Dambuilders, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram. They'll be playing a show at Mercury Lounge in NYC on April 24 and at Myrtle in East Providence, RI on April 25. Both of those shows are with Sleepyhead.

"Shrine 2026":


"I Hope We're Not Too Late":

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

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Photo by Alexa Viscius This may be Liam Kazar's debut single, but the Chicago based musician already has an impressive resume, having worked with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, and others. "Shoes Too Tight" features childhood friend Spencer Tweedy on drums, Lane Beckstrom on bass, and Ohmme on vocals. It's an absurdly fun and groovy little song that is a party waiting to happen. What he gives us here is a timeless song that could truly have been released any time since the 1960's (ok... maybe not the 80's...) There are elements of classic rock, 60's crooners and R&B, indie rock, modern Americana... it's really just packed with everything in a cohesive song that maintains the vibe the entire way through. You can watch the video for "Shoes Too Tight" below. For more on Liam Kazar, check him out on Instagram and Twitter . He's also raising money on his Bandcamp for Constellation and The Hungry Brain. ...
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J Mascis - "See You At the Movies"

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Photo via Instagram Any time J Mascis releases new music will always be a big deal at If It's Too Loud... November will see the release of Elastic Days , his new solo album. Judging by the first single, "See You At the Movies," Elastic Days  will be exactly what we expect and want in a Mascis solo album. The first single is much prettier than Dinosaur Jr is. Mascis's solo work tends to be calmer and almost folky. "See You At the Movies" is exactly that, and is even almost orchestral in some places. You add in some of Mascis's guitar solos (a more tame version than Dino Jr's thunderous ones), and you've got a classic Mascis solo track. It's a typically great song, but at this point I'd like to see Mascis mix things up a bit. You can listen to "See You At the Movies" below. Elastic Days will be out November 9 on Sub Pop Records. There are some pretty reasonable pre-order bundles available, including a CD and t-shirt for $24....
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Izzy Heltai - "Father"

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Photo by Joanna Chattman I've been referring to Northampton, MA based Izzy Heltai's music as mainstream modern folk with just enough of a unique spin to keep it appealing to music snobs, too. His latest single, "Father," might be the perfect example of that. It's a quiet, deeply personal song that starts off painfully sparse but ever so slowly builds and builds as it goes on. It walks that line between accessible/mainstream and indie expertly.  You can watch the video for "Father" below. Father , the upcoming debut album from Izzy Heltai, will be out October 9. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Izzy Heltai, check out the artist's website .
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