If It's Too Loud...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday May 10 The Forest Effect, Ruin the Night, and The Magic City at Warehouse XI, Somerville, MA Sarah Shook & The Disarmers and Nicolette and the Nobodies at The Cut, Gloucester, MA Fishbone's Angelo Moore, Threat Level Burgundy, and The Agonizers at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, Greenfield, MA Margaret Glaspy and Ryan Lerman at The Stone Church, Brattleboro, VT BURP, WarGraves, The Downhauls, and GhostWaves at Thirsty First, Lowell, MA Saturday May 11 Walte...

Photo by Heather Saitz Hailing from Ontario, Nicolette & The Nobodies are making classic country. The band's latest single, "Show Up," sounds like your favorite classic torch song from the 1970's. It's completely timeless in its appeal, with only a more modern production keeping it from sounding like it was recorded fifty years ago. Plus, singer Nicolette Hoang has one of the most fantastic voices in all of modern alt-country. You can always hear the emotion of the song just pouring out of the singer's voice in the best country, and Hoang just nails that. The pain in her vocals is completely tangible. Nicolette Hoang says of her latest single: “‘Show Up’ is a reckoning about coming to terms with loving someone that will never love you back. These moments are so painful and so drawn out that you’re just hanging on for any little thing to release you from it. The song is that last look over your shoulder when you are still convincing yourself they’re going t...

Photo by Dzesika Devic Hailing from Guelph, Ontario, Nicolette & The Nobodies just released their debut single. "Rodeo" is a rollicking country song that may have some pop hooks and some 70's style rock guitar solos, but this is a country song in its roots. It has this perfect amount of twang to keep it country and not that "too rock for country and too country for rock" level. More important than anything, "Rodeo" is just a fun song. The best country songs are either heartbreaking or are just a blast, and this one fits the latter adeptly... while still being about heartbreak. Nicolette Hoang says of her new single: “‘Rodeo’ is about when you’re struggling to sit in the feeling of where you are. It's a little bit of suffering in silence. You want to be better than ever right now, but under the surface you’re struggling with your vulnerability. I have a tendency to be practical and try to skip the part where I have to recognize and process the e...