Live Shows: Imperial Teen and Gay Meat, Warehouse XI, Somerville, MA 11/3/26

By -


This year I've been making an effort to see bands I like but haven't seen in years decades. Imperial Teen certainly fit the bill. I recall seeing the San Francisco indie pop band at a WBRU show at Lupo's in Providence way back in 1996, but the internet is fuzzy on that one. Originally they announced a Boston show at The Lilypad, which seemed far too small. Apparently I was correct, since the show was moved to the larger Warehouse XI, and they packed the place on a Tuesday.

Tuesday was a ridiculously fun night. Thirty years ago I felt more confused since Imperial Teen didn't really fit in with the other bands I remember on the bill (G. Love & Special Sauce, Local H, Orange 9mm), and I was unprepared for something so decidedly poppy. In 2026, Imperial Teen fit right into my musical taste, and they put on a great show. It was fairly informal, with lots of chatting and joking around. Any mistakes that were made on the opening night of their east coast run weren't noticed by the crowd or were ignored, and everyone seemed thrilled to have a long time favorite back.

For a band that doesn't release a ton of music regularly, Imperial Teen has a ridiculous amount of great songs. "Yoo Hoo," possibly their most well known song from the Jawbreaker soundtrack, was played about halfway through their set, and they still kept coming with great songs. Tuesday was a tough night for a band to play as many in the crowd (myself included) kept checking their phones for election coverage. What was truly great is how well the songs from their excellent new album, All Over You, fit in with decades old classics. Not many artists that have been releasing music since the 90's can thrill a crowd with their new songs, but most artists aren't Imperial Teen.

Opening up the show was Gay Meat, who are joining Imperial Teen on this tour. I didn't have a chance to check them out before Tuesday night, but they provided a perfect fit for Imperial Teen. Their sound is a mixture of pop and alt-rock, and despite their recent album Blue Water being about grief, the songs they played set the upbeat mood for the night. Definitely a pleasant surprise of an opener, and we'll be checking them out in the future!

On Repeat...

Failure - "The Air's on Fire"

By -
Image
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 ...
Read more

Hiding Places - "Waiting"

By -
Image
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 ...
Read more

Mama's Broke - "How it Ends"

By -
Image
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 .
Read more