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Live Shows: Boston Bitdown, Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater and The Rockwell, Somerville, MA 3/7/26

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Last year's Boston Bitdown was one of my unexpected musical highlights of 2025. I was only able to make it one night last year, but I was blown away by how diverse a festival of chiptune bands could be, and how much fun I had. I wanted to make it to more dates in 2026, but life and family obligations prevented me from taking in as much of the festival as I wanted. I made it on Saturday to bounce between Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater and The Rockwell. I wasn't able to take everything in, but what I saw was fun and great. The first artist I saw wasn't chiptune at all, but still fit in with the vibe of the festival. Boston Typewriter Orchestra are one of those artists I've been meaning to check out, and Saturday night was my chance. They're a band that consists of all members playing typewriters. Yes, virtually every sound coming from the stage is coming from an old fashioned, non-electric typewriter. It's the sound from the keys, drumming on the back, bel...
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DOOMBIA - "Doombia Viene"

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Photo by Brendan Deiz Sometimes a band is just named exactly what they are, and that's certainly the case with DOOMBIA. The Portland, OR band blend doom metal with cumbia, and their latest single is a fantastically fresh sound. "Doombia Viene" is a psychedelic burst of rock and Latin music that you never knew you needed until just now. It's going to make you want to rock out just as hard as it will make you need to dance. It's easy to get jaded when you cover a lot of different bands, so when you find one as unique and refreshing as DOOMBIA, it's an extra special thrill. As great as the heavier, head banging moments in "Doombia Viene" are, it's the more quiet, psychedelic ones that end up drawing me in the most. Strap yourself in and block off some time to listen to this one on repeat today. You can watch the video for "Doombia Viene" below. El Diablo Que Conoces is due out in the Fall. For more on DOOMBIA, check out the band on Instagr...
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Middle-Aged Queers Cover Taylor Swift

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Photo by Mol White Back in January we were treated to Middle-Aged Queers covering Mazzy Star's iconic "Fade Into You." This month, they've released a cover of Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero," aka the "I'm the problem it's me" song. It's a straight up punk version of the song in the way that only Middle-Aged Queers could pull off. It's obviously ridiculously fun, but there's an unexpected amount of heart behind the cover. A punk band covering a pure pop song is kind of a novelty cliche, but this one ends up being more than that, especially towards the end when Middle-Aged Queers slow it down into something more heartful... but still silly and fun. Lead vocalist Shaun Osburn says of the band's new cover: "Covering 'Anti-Hero' is part of our multi-tier plan to lure Taylor Swift fans to punk rock. Not only will we be known as musical ambassadors, we can also appropriate that big Swiftie money to further the gay agend...
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JVK - "Machine"

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I hadn't expected JVK to go full synthpop in advance of their debut album, but I'm fully here for it. The Boston band's latest single, "Machine," is a two minute burst of synth heavy rock music. They've always melded pop and rock into one, but lately JVK has been getting more pop and more punk at the same time. As synth-focused as the song is, the guitars are pure hard rock. Also, I can't remember when a song demanded you dance while being this anti-capitalist. JVK are one of those bands I stumbled on at a random show, instantly became a fan, and have enjoyed watching them grow and morph into their current form and sound. Monday morning or not, crank "Machine" and have a cubicle dance party (which is kinda fitting). You can watch the video for "Machine" below. Pop Culture Affair is due out March 20 and is available for pre-order here . For more on JVK, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video and includ...
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Live Shows: Lucid Express, High., and Sophie's Body, O'Brien's Pub, Allston, MA 3/5/26

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Photo by Aileen Lam One of the negative aspects of having a music blog is that you start discovering bands from all over the world that you'll never get the chance to see live. It's fairly cost prohibitive for a band to fly across an ocean all the way to the U.S. to tour small clubs, and given everything going on right now, I certainly wouldn't expect a band to fly all the way over here since who knows what could happen. Imagine my surprise and delight when Lucid Express announced they were coming to the U.S. to tour, and were playing the tiny O'Brien's in Allston. Opening the show was Boston's own Sophie's Body. They were a band I was completely unfamiliar with but they quickly won me over with their bubblegrunge sound. It was a fun, quick set filled with fuzzy indie rock gems with a strong pop streak. Vocalist Sophie McMinn implored the crowd to dance, but the Boston hipster crowd isn't known for its willingness to dance. By the end, many in the crowd ...
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The Eradicats - "I Ate a Sandwich"

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CW: Eating disorder Kansas City, MO band The Eradicats have a new bubble grunge single out that tackles singer Kristi's eating disorder recovery. "I Ate a Sandwich" is an upbeat and bubbly new track with just the slightest punk edge to it. It's a serious subject matter, but it's also a celebratory song about overcoming her disorder. It's an irresistible song that merges melodic alt-rock with the energy of 90's pop punk. Not many bands could pull off a song with such a serious subject matter into something that sounds fairly silly and have it work, but The Eradicats did it quite well. I know we'll be diving into their back catalog after hearing "I Ate a Sandwich." Kristi says of her band's latest video and her recovery: "I knew I had a problem when I cried on the floor in the pasta aisle at the mere thought of eating spaghetti. But it took me another couple of years to walk into an eating disorder clinic and ask for help. "I'...
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The Melmacs - "Bad Seeds"

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Photo by Dave Mante The press release for "Bad Seeds" says that the events in the song are a true story that never happened, but also happened exactly as described. If you like statements like that, the latest from The Melmacs is for you. The Dresden, Germany band pack a ton of fun and energy into the song, which is described as "punky power pop." The song is both pop punk and power pop, all while creating its own sound. Plus, if you like your songs extra hooky and catchy, you're going to love "Bad Seeds." This is rock and roll that demands you shake your ass, or at the very least to bop up and down. The Melmacs aren't a band for worrying if people think you look cool. This is a band to have fun and rock out to. You can watch the video for "Bad Seeds" below. Euphancholia is due out April 10 on Spaghetty Town Records, and is available to pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on The Melmacs, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram .
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Other Brother Darryl - "Peaceful Alibi"

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Photo by Pat Piasecki Other Brother Darryl have quietly become one of my favorite Americana artists in Boston. The Boston based cosmic canyon alt-country artists just released a single off their upcoming sophomore album, and "Peaceful Alibi" is a dream come true. It's a laid back country jam, along the lines of Gram Parsons' oeuvre. As great as the vocal harmonies are in the song, it's the guitar solo that's going to keep you coming back for more, which you will. Maybe it's just the genre, but this is the kind of song that has me desperately longing for warm summer days and nights. It's the perfect song for driving around when you're not in a rush, or just hanging around outdoors. Of course, "Peaceful Alibi" is also the kind of song that you're going to want to give your full attention to. Other Brother Darryl are one of the finest Americana artists around, both locally and nationally. Nate Leavitt says of his band's latest single...
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Tinariwen - "Amidinim Ehaf Solan"

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Photo by Marie Planeille Tuareg musical pioneers Tinariwen are back with a new song that you're going to want to hear. "Amidinim Ehaf Solan" is a perfectly laid back song with some of the best guitar work you've heard in a while. The band has been around for forty-five years, but you'd never know it from this latest single. The guitar is wonderfully hazy, held together by a consistent beat that is going to imbed itself in your soul. As great as the vocals, drums, and other instrumentation in "Amininim Ehaf Solan" are, it's the guitar that's the true hero of the song. This may be a laid back song, but Tinariwen are going to get you moving with their latest. You can watch the video for "Amininim Ehaf Solan" below. Hoggar is due out March 13 on Wedge, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Tinariwen, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. North America is not included due to the current trave...
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Tigers Jaw - "BREEZER"

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Photo by Rebecca Lader One of the biggest hits of this year's Something in the Way Festival, Tigers Jaw, are back with a new single. "BREEZER" is a giant alt-rock meets emo power ballad. You know how mainstream emo and pop punk bands used to cover 80's power ballads ironically and for a laugh? Tigers Jaw are working a power ballad completely earnestly, and the results are fantastic. This shows the Scranton, PA band wearing their hearts fully on their sleeves, and Brianna Collins' vocals are stunning here. "BREEZER" isn't a song concerned with being cool, it's a song that's pure emotion, and it's making us love Tigers Jaw even more. Brianna Collins says of the band's latest single: “I tend to romanticize past versions of myself in moments of uncertainty, while also finding comfort in life’s unpredictability. ‘BREEZER’ is about the ebb and flow of insecurity, doubt, and escapism, and my gradual acceptance of the cyclical nature of these...
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