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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 se...
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First Listen: New Releases for August 2026

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...and a bit of July, but don't tell anyone. Artist : Cheekface Album : Podium Quick Thoughts : Cheekface is prolific, unique in their sound, and still somehow puts out winner after winner. This album actually does mess with the blueprint a bit, with some different vocal choices and some sonic additions (like the record scratches in "Hostile Street"). Overall, though? Another great listen from your favorite local band. Songs of Note : "Hostile Street," "MFT," "Black Site, "U Can't Do It," "I Decline" Artist : Homeboy Sandman and Jack Splash Album : Resonance Frequency Quick Thoughts : I generally enjoy what Homeboy Sandman does, but this collaborative listen is likely to become one of my favorites of his catalog. Lots of interesting samples compliment his flow perfectly and it creates a really fun album that's worth your time. Songs of Note : "TWENTYFOURSEVEN," "Weed Stores Everywhere,...
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Jake Blount - "Shady Grove"

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Photo by Renee Cornue Studios The good news is that we're getting a new album from Providence's Jake Blount in two weeks! The bad news is that it will be his last string album before he starts a new project in 2027. The first single from his upcoming album, "Shady Grove," is a masterful traditional folk track. This is vintage Appalachian music, and shows how great Blount is it this style. It will be great to hear him expand on a new sound in the near future, and Single-Footing Horse is a great way to hear him play the style of music that made us fans years ago. The fiddle work in "Shady Grove" is fantastic, and fans of roots music are going to be blown away by this one.  Jake Blount says of his latest single: "This version of Shady Grove is adapted from one played by Jon Bekoff of Greenfield, MA. I didn't get to meet him before he died, but Jon was a major influence on many of my own mentors. His tunes are queer and full of mystery, and his version ...
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Lily Seabird - "Lightspheres on Their Way"

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Photo by Rick Soszynski Lily Seabird has seemed to be right on the verge of blowing up, and she just might based on the killer singles from her upcoming album. The Vermont artist's latest single, "Lightspheres on Their Way," keeps Seabird's indie rock meets folk sound intact. While most of her songs lean one way or the other, this latest one lands right between the two genres. It's a mostly solo song (for the first half, at least), with gritty and fuzzy guitar before the full band kicks in. It goes from Neil Young guitars to a Springsteen anthem at the halfway mark, all while keeping Seabird's indie sound in place. Of all the songs we've heard from her over the years, "Lightspheres on Their Way" sounds the most like it could end up being a breakthrough hit. Lily Seabird says of her latest single: "Lightspheres are so many things throughout this record, UFOs, memories, dreams, people, an unknown force pushing and pulling us through. Without b...
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The Rupert Selection - Music for Horses

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Album art by Crystal Araiza Music for Horses wasn't planned to be out now. The latest album was planned for release sometime later in the fall, or early spring 2027. But over the summer, co-founder and creative leader Reilly Somach was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, so the album was released early. The album is a powerhouse of alt-rock meets psych and prog. It's a little all over the place with some tracks being under a minute long, and the second song on the album, "HPPD," being an epic fourteen minutes. Even if it was shorter, the song would be epic. It's a huge sounding, monster track that brings listeners on a journey and somehow leaves them wanting the song to be longer as it cycles through styles and tempo changes. Music for Horses is the kind of album that will make you wish local modern rock radio was still a thing, since it's filled with songs that should be huge hits, at least locally. ("HPPD" might be too long for radio play, but the ...
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Perennial - "Emma Peel"

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Photo courtesy of Perennial Anticipation continues to grow for Perennial's upcoming album, and the New England band have a new single out! "Emma Peel" closes out Modernism , and clocks in at one minute and twelve seconds. It's a fast and not that furious modern punk song. While there is still plenty of Perennial's mod sound, this one leans more into their art punk side. It's an absolute blast of a song, and a quick sonic burst that could never outstay its welcome. Considering how great their live show is, "Emma Peel" is the kind of song I'm already imagining hearing live, and absolutely can't wait. It will fit right in with Perennial's high energy, chaotic live performances. From what we've heard, Modernism is already a strong contender for album of 2026. Chad Jewett (electric guitars/vocals) says of his band's latest single: “This is shortest song on the album, and also the most packed with stuff! At first the song was built enti...
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Schaefer Llana - "Wednesday Is Green"

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Photo by Kaylee Vaughn Artists like Schaefer Llana are teaching me that mainstream can be a good thing. Her latest single, "Wednesday Is Green," is a perfect example of mainstream folk. It's a little folk pop, but only because it's so infectious. The melody of this song is going to get stuck in your head before you memorize any of the words, and I don't believe there's anyone who likes any form of Americana that won't love "Wednesday Is Green." Llana's vocals have this simple quality that ends up being the song's secret weapon. This is the perfect song for lovers of folk artists that fill stadiums and indie folk snobs. Llana is just that great of an artist. Schaefer Llana says her latest single  “... started when I was sitting by a river out in the Mississippi country. Everything was green – the water, the weed, and the turtles. Years later, I added to the song in Texas and Florida, and it ultimately became about embracing solitude and be...
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Bad Waitress - "Loving Kind"

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Photo by Calm Elliott-Armstrong Toronto's Bad Waitress are a punk band, but not in the traditional sense. Their latest single, "Loving Kind," injects a whole lot of metal into a punk base. Punk doesn't usually sound this huge, but Bad Waitress pull it off. There is also a lot of noise throughout the song, and the chorus is a monster. There's something very 90's about this song, kind of like it's a odd amalgam of punk, very early nu-metal, and noise rock. The last minute of the track is intense, and just bursts out into pure chaos. If you're into bands like L7 and Die Spitz, you're going to like Bad Waitress. Crank "Loving Kind" up, roll the windows down, and get ready to have your face melted. You can watch the video for "Loving Kind" below. In the Hollow is due out October 30, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Bad Waitress, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook .
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Live Shows: Mike D 5D, Royale, Boston, MA 8/30/26

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August 6, 2007 was the last time Beastie Boys played Boston. I was there, in the very last row of the Bank of America Pavilion, and it was an amazing show. We all know what happened after that, and I thought those songs were lost forever. When I saw that Mike D was showing up at his sons' band's shows, and then started playing solo shows, I was hopeful, but didn't know what that meant. Last Friday saw the release of Mike D's first solo album, the really great Thank You , and he returned to Boston for a show at Royale. Unsurprisingly, Mike D 5D focused on their just released album Sunday night. That doesn't mean that Mike D's previous band was ignored. There was plenty for those that had never heard the songs on Thank You , or were there only for Beastie Boys classics. Opening with "Hello Brooklyn," they also played "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun," "Remote Control," and a one song encore of "So What'cha Want." The ne...
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Materializer - "Dopamine Ravine"

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Photo by Micah J Mathewson The Nashville stoner metal/doom brother duo of Materializer is back with new music. "Dopamine Ravine" isn't what I expected from the genre of stoner metal/doom. It's a surprisingly lovely song with a dark vibe throughout. The entire song is oddly melodic, although there is a sense of foreboding throughout the full length of the song. There's tension, but a beautiful tension. It's almost quiet, and you'll be waiting and waiting for a sonic explosion to break the song's tension. There is some catharsis towards the end, but nothing truly dispels the hypnotic effects of the song, and "Dopamine Ravine" will be lurking in your subconscious for a while, even after the song ends. Materializer says of their latest single: “ As The Body Flies is a cathartic release for us. The first record of a new project and a vulnerable look inside the years leading up to the beginning of Materializer. Putting this together has been an ex...
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