If It's Too Loud...

Some nights music can transcend the space you're in. This is especially true for shows that you don't have high expectations for. You go kind of on a whim, and end up being blown away by every artist you see. That was the case Saturday night at The Cantab Lounge with the triple bill of Ghais Guevara, student 1, and Cavalier. Cavalier opened the night. As with most indie hip hop shows, he played his backing music on a laptop. Usually that's not the best option, but Cavalier made it work. He has this ultra laid back flow that immediately engaged the audience. His style was very lo-fi in a way that only added to his sound. This was my first experience even hearing Cavalier, and I was a fan by the time he left the stage. Up next was student 1. Much like Cavalier, he had an incredibly laid back style. With someone manning his laptop, he came on stage almost immediately after Cavalier and kept the music going. Even the songs he introduced by saying they were aggressive or dance s...

Photo by Will Stockwell Veteran performer Seasick Steve has a new blues rock single out, and it's pretty great. "Bootstraps" is a rollicking new single that blurs the lines between blues and rock 'n' roll. It's classic blues through a modern lens. That might be the most striking thing about this new song: As much as it's rooted in the past, it doesn't sound like a classic song. Something about "Bootstraps" sounds completely modern, and it's not just the subject matter. This is earnest blues rock, and Seasick Steve is one of the best currently doing it. You can listen to "Bootstraps" below. The Last Season of America is due out September 18 on Eastcote Records, and is available to pre-order here . For more on Seasick Steve, check out the artist's website .

Boston hardcore/post-punk/noise rock duo BEDTIMEMAGIC released their new album last week, and you're going to want to buckle up for this one. Lie Down With Dogs is a brutal and punishing thirteen song release. It's noisy and certainly not meant for everyone, but the songs on the album groove just as hard as they rock. All the songs on Lie Down With Dogs have titles that reference sleep ("Dreams (And the People Who Love Them)," "The Slumber Party (Part II)," "Narcoleptic," "Nap Quest," etc.), which is interesting since I can't imagine sleeping during any of these songs. Part of me worries that I'm warning potential listeners and making them not want to listen, but I have a feeling that anyone who is going to enjoy the audible experience that BEDTIMEMAGIC provides aren't going to be deterred, and are going to more excitedly listen to Lie Down With Dogs . BEDTIMEMAGIC are one of the most underrated bands in Boston, and this lates...

Photo by Avery Norman One of the highlights of Angela Autumn's set at this year's Green River Festival was the brand new song "Heavy Tobacco." Yesterday she released the song as a single, and it's just as great. The song fits snugly into the singer-songwriter/folk spectrum of music, but there's just something a little unique about the song. There's a haunting, almost noise rock lite element to the song. As Autumn's vocals reach a hypnotic quality, the music starts to swirl around her in a nearly supernatural way. Sure, "Heavy Tobacco" is a folk song, but it's certainly not a traditional one, and is more folk-adjacent. Autumn has a rather unique sound to her music, and this song is a perfect example of it. Angela Autumn says of her latest single: "This is a song about the tobacco spirit.  In many cultures, particularly American indigenous, tobacco is regarded for its purification abilities. I don’t think many folks see tobacco as ‘hea...

Photo credit to House of Vixen The latest single from Karen y Los Remedios is a dreamy, organic sounding electronic song. "Ninfa" is perfect for a chill out room while still keeping some energy to keep the night going. Or, it's perfect to listen to first thing in the morning when you have the house to yourself. It's hypnotic, and relaxed without causing a shred of boredom. It's a lovely and engaging song that's perfect for whatever mood you need from it. "Ninfa" is a great way to ease yourself out of the work week, or to start getting ready for your weekend. It's a truly gorgeous song that our readers are going to adore. Ana Karen G. Barajas says of her latest single: "I’ve always been drawn to the myths of water nymphs, which inspired Ninfa . For me, the song represents death as a metaphorical turning point, an opportunity to leave behind what is no longer good for us. The water symbolizes rebirth and serves as a reminder to keep flowing, l...

Photo by Matt Burgos Friends of the blog Sapling have a new single out credited to Sapling & Friends. In this case, Friends are members of Anchors Away Brass Band, which means "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" includes a horn section. Even by Sapling's standards, this new single is bonkers. They claim it's their most fun single yet, and we're certainly not arguing. The horns just seem to go off in their own directions, and the result is an out of control party. It's a wonderfully unhinged song, partially about tequila and bodega cats. It's noisy in the best possible way, and there's no other band that could pull this off besides Sapling. You can listen to "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" below. The song is available over at Bandcamp . All proceeds will go to New England Justice For Our Neighbors, which "provides free, expert legal aid to Massachusetts immigrants seeking humanitarian-based visas. Our clients include unaccompanied minor...

Photo by Tim Hardiman The more I hear from The Animeros, the more I wish I had been able to check them out at this year's Green River Festival. The trio's latest single, "Descarga Royal," is a swirling psychedelic cumbia song just begging to be played live. Seriously, if you can listen to this one without moving a little, you might not have a soul. With virtually no lyrics, The Animeros completely captivate the listener/dancer with an irresistible groove and rhythms. As great as "Descarga Royal" is recorded, I can only imagine how much better it would be live. I'm sure we'll all be checking their tour dates for a (hopefully soon) return to New England. Nick Tozzo (drummer/percussionist) says of his band's new single:  "’Descarga Royal’ is a cover of a song by classic Peruvian band Los Royals de Pucallpa. Like all 'descargas,' this is an open jam that allowed The Animeros to explore some psychedelic solos and push the energy to the li...

Photo by Shannon Marks Chicago's Plum are a post-punk band that are more along the lines of The B-52's than the darker, noisier side of the genre. Their latest single, "Bodies in Motion," is a quirky and fun song that's a little too oddball to be any form of pop music. It demands that the listener dance, and you're going to want to comply. The song is still noisy, but it's pleasant and fun noisy instead of abrasive and aggressive noisy. It feels like classic songs from bands like Talking Heads and Gang of Four without sounding like it's four decades old. Plum take that classic sound and update it for 2026. "Bodies in Motion" keeps getting more and more fun with every listen. Vocalist/guitarist Jeff Kelly says of his band's latest single: "The lyrics stem from a dream I had; I woke up in the middle of the night and immediately expanded it into a short story. The idea is that a frequency starts being broadcast from every electronic dev...

I never knew how much I needed doom jazz in my life, but now that I've heard the new single from Enneads, I'm fully on board with the genre. The band consists of Zach Layton, Hamir Atwal, and Phyllis Chen. Much of the sound on "Metanoia" comes from a seventeen string electric bass and an amplified piano. This will completely deconstruct your idea of what jazz is, and it sounds more aligned with noise rock than I expected. "Metanoia" is delightfully experimental besides being considered doom. Enneads aren't going to be for everyone, but I highly doubt universal appeal is their end game. This is one of the most unique and interesting sounds we've covered this year and defies any of our genre expectations. Zach Layton says of his band's new single: "unusual instrumentation of 17 string electric bass with natural plucked string harmonics produced inside the lid of a grand piano and drums, 'chopped and screwed' - slowed down - to produce ...

Photo by Kimberly Ha Thao (formerly Thao and the Get Down Stay Down) has announced her first album in six years, and has released a fantastic new single that features guest vocals from Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards and The Linda Lindas. "Sick of the Times" is a protest song that only Thao could have released. It's a perfectly dance friendly song that sounds like it's both a club anthem and a folk song. It starts off simply enough, but more and more elements are slowly added as it goes on. Eventually the song becomes a chaotic swirling mess, which perfectly reflects how many of us feel with each and every passing day. "Sick of the Times" is the perfect way to dance through your anger, and what starts as a fun time eventually devolves into rage. Thao Nguyen says of her latest single: “I wanted it to be an anthem that will be used at political rallies, grass roots organizing and mutual aid events, anything that can help us emotionally prepare to activate and to ...

Photo by Jeff Fowler It's been twenty years since Dinosaur Jr's original line-up of J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph reunited, and the trio keep releasing killer music. Their latest single, "Blowin' Up," is a Lou Barlow penned and sung song. This song is interesting because it has that raw, almost DIY sound you expect in a Barlow song, but in a fully fleshed out rock tune that you expect from Dinosaur Jr. It may be mid-tempo, but "Blowin' Up" is a huge sounding song. Plus, as always, you get killer guitar from Mascis. Not many bands that formed four decades ago can be as captivating and sound as fresh as Dinosaur Jr, but the western Massachusetts indie rock veterans inexplicably keep pulling it off. You can listen to "Blowin' Up" below. There Near is due out August 28 on Jagjaguwar, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Dinosaur Jr, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. Thu. July 30 - Dave...