Live Shows: Dabda and Good & You?, Deep Cuts, Medford, MA 11/12/26

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Dabda are one of those bands I never expected to see live. The Seoul based math rock/post-rock band would have to travel quite a distance to play in the US, and it's understandably cost prohibitive. Plus, a lot of bands from other continents skip Boston and just do short Los Angeles/Chicago/New York City tours if they come to the states. But, when Dabda announced their first ever US tour, it included a stop at Deep Cuts in Medford. Obviously, I needed to go.

Dabda's set started with drummer Lee Seunghyeon introducing the band, and the yelling "Let's go!" to kick off the music. And wow... what a set. The band's style encompasses many genres, with songs ranging from indie rock to alt-pop to prog rock. Plus, Dabda is such a fun band live. They brought an infectious energy that quickly swept up the crowd. I'm sure some of it was getting to see a band they never expected to see, but the entire crowd was dancing or moving in some form right from the start. (If you've been to a show anywhere around Boston, you know how rare actual dancing can be.) 

I still can't get over how fun Dabda's set was. The band seemed genuinely excited to be playing, and songs like "DDDD!" are irresistibly fun. It was truly an evening of joyous music, which math rock isn't known for. I can't recommend going to see them if they make it to your city. If not, vocalist/guitarist Kim Jiae said that maybe they'll be back next year, so fingers crossed for us all!

Boston's Good & You? were a last minute addition to open the show after the original headliner dropped out earlier this week. It was so last minute that their bassist was unable to make it since he was in Ireland, so it feels weird to "review" their set with only three members of their band. But, even playing a man down, they out on a great show with two guitars and drums. They play an instrumental, upbeat version of alt-rock meets prog, and they nailed their set. (Plus, I'm going to love any band that does a song about outdoor showers on the Cape.) We'll definitely be keeping an eye on them in the future.

On Repeat...

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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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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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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