Two Alt-Rock/Punk Legends are Playing Boston Soon!

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We don't normally do posts for individual shows, but sometimes we feel the need to make sure you're aware of upcoming events. 

Bikini Kill
Photo by Lance Bangs

First is Bikini Kill returning to Roadrunner on September 22. I was in attendance for their 2023 show at Roadrunner, and it was even better than I imagined. It was my first time seeing the riot grrrl legends, and there was something about seeing those songs live that was much more emotional than I expected. (I'm sure some of it was the heightened emotions coming out of COVID, too...) This time around they'll be joined by Providence political punks Downtown Boys, and how can you say no to that double bill? You can find more on this show here. 

Photo by Robert Fagan

October 26 sees L7's The Last Hurrah Tour come to Boston. It's L7's farewell tour, and their first since bassist Jennifer Finch's tragic death earlier this year. You never know how final farewell tours actually are, but L7 has never seemed like the kind of band to not mean what they say, so you're going to want to be there for this one. The Wilbur seems like an odd venue for one of the finest bands to ever mix punk and metal, but I'm sure some of their fans will welcome a seated section. I've only been able to see them once, and that was certainly not enough, so I'm hoping to get a second, and final, show of theirs. You can find info for L7 at The Wilbur here.

On Repeat...

Hiding Places - "Waiting"

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Photo by Calli Westra Brooklyn's Hiding Places are originally from North Carolina, and that sound is all over their latest single. "Waiting" has a strong alt-country meets dark indie rock sound. The song is as hypnotic as it is heartbreaking. Even if you're not paying attention to the lyrics, the vibe of the song is overwhelmingly dark and somber. There's plenty of country twang and indie rock fuzz throughout the song, with the music carrying the weight of the song as much as vocalist/guitarist Nicholas Byrne's voice does. The song is stunning, both in its beauty and mood. I feel like I've been sitting on "Waiting" for a while now until I could fully wrap my head around it. Hiding Places has something truly special here. Nicholas Byrne says of his band's latest single: "Hiding Places’ first bassist, Anthony Cozzarelli, left the band in July of 2022. I wrote the chorus the day before Anthony left the band. I recalled the slow death of my ...
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Failure - "The Air's on Fire"

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Photo by Lyndsey Byrnes With their upcoming seventh overall studio album, the highly influential band Failure will have released more albums since reuniting in 2014 than they did during their first run. The first single from that album, "The Air's on Fire," shows the band expanding their sound while still being rooted in what has always made them great. The song is a dark and moody one that is always threatening to explode but never quite does. This is an example of 90's alt-rock meets art rock at its very finest. It's the kind of song that could easily have come out thirty years ago, but that doesn't mean it sounds dated. After the first listen, "The Air's on Fire" will sound like a killer alt-rocker from a 90's band that hasn't lost a step at all. The more you listen, the more complex Failure get on the single, and the more the song reveals itself to you. Ken Andrews says of his band's latest single: “That song is directly about my ...
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Mama's Broke - "How it Ends"

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Mama's Broke, the post-folk Canadian duo of Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, have just released a break up song that might be their most accessible yet. While the previous singles from their upcoming album have a certain darkness or a sense of foreboding, "How it Ends" sounds relatively upbeat. Considering this is a song about how you never think you'll find someone as good as your ex after a break up, that's quite a feat. This is a traditional folk song with some slightly modern folk harmonies. As much heartbreak as their is in "How it Ends," there is also the warmth of remembering a recent relationship. You can listen to "How it Ends" below. Narrow Line is due out May 13 on Free Dirt Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Mama's Broke, check out the artist's website .
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