The Dogmatics - "I Can't Get Over You"

Boston garage/punk legends The Dogmatics are having a bit of a revival lately, at least in part due to the film The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary. They've recently released a new single, "I Can't Get Over You." This one is more vintage garage rock and early rock and roll than punk. It has a little bit of the punk edge you'd expect from The Dogmatics, but it could easily be a song from a Nuggets compilation. "I Can't Get Over You" just has that timeless quality to it that the best garage rock/power pop has. It's catchy and fun, and while it might not be a punk rager, it's hardly the easy listening style song that many middle aged punk veterans release these days.

You can watch the lyric video for "I Can't Get Over You" below. The song is available now as a single via Rum Bar Records, and can be downloaded through Bandcamp. For more on The Dogmatics, check out the band's website.

Girl with a Hawk - "Feel Me"

Photo by Kelly Davidson

Since the untimely passing of Justine Covault back in June, her loss has been felt throughout the Boston music community. Girl with a Hawk were signed to Covault's Red On Red Records, and three out of five members of the band had known her since the 80's, so this loss was particularly difficult for them. Singer Linda Viens took that pain and channeled it into "Feel Me," a song inspired by the loss felt by the entire Boston music community. "Feel Me" is a garage rock meets New Wave song that is much darker than you'd normally expect with a blending of those two genres. Viens is just pouring her heart into this one, and, as much pain as there is in the song, it's also a rock song. So far all of the tributes to Justine Covault that we've covered have been sad and mournful, but they've also rocked, which is the perfect tribute to one of the biggest champions of the Boston music scene.

Linda Viens says of her band's new single:

“I can’t say that we have closure yet; as it has only been six months since we lost Justine, but the way the song for us embodies our heartache, and at the same time confirms that our relationship is still a living thing – whether you believe that or not, brings some comfort. We feel her guiding us, and for me personally, I still feel deeply motivated to make music and to conduct myself in ways that would make her proud. I’m sure the band feels the same way.”

You can listen to "Feel Me" below. The song is officially out on November 17. Keep 'Er Lit is due out December 8 on Rum Bar Records. For more on Girl with a Hawk, check out the artist on Facebook and Instagram. If you're in the Boston area, They're playing The Square Root in Roslindale on Friday November 17 as part of the International Pop Overthrow Boston edition, and they're having an EP release at the Burren in Somerville on December 8.

Magen Tracy & the Missed Connections - "At My Age"

Boston's Magen Tracy & the Missed Connections don't make music that sounds like it's from Boston. Their latest single, "At My Age," is an anthemic country laced rocker that sounds more mid-West than Northeast. It's angry in the way that the best songs from Bruce Springsteen and Lucinda Williams are angry. It's anger festering inside of a song filled with a ton of pop hooks. Of course, many songs written in the wake of the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe vs. Wade are bubbling over with anger, and a line like "I'll burn this whole place down to get her back that right" isn't exactly subtle. "At My Age" combines country, folk, garage rock, and even some indie rock to create a familiar yet intriguing sound.

Magen Tracy says of her latest single:

“'At My Age' is a song about grief, anger, daughter/motherhood, and a women’s right to choose. It started out as a piano ballad about how much I wished I could hear my late mother’s advice during a difficult time—and her comfort and reassurance that prioritizing my own well-being isn’t a selfish act. Then, in June of 2022, the Supreme Court Dobbs vs. Jackson ruling came down. I got angry, and so did the song. I reached for my guitar this time, and it fell together–quickly, easily, and urgently. The sad ballad became an angry anthem…and a letter of love and hope to my own daughter about the kind of future I want for her."

You can watch the lyric video for "At My Age" below. The single is available now via Rum Bar Records. For more on Magen Tracy & the Missed Connections, check out the artist's website.

Stop Calling Me Frank - "My Band On Her T-Shirt"

Stop Calling Me Frank were one of many Boston bands that were fans of and friends with Justine Covault. Their latest single is a tribute to their late friend. "My Band On Her T-Shirt" is an upbeat and joyous garage rock song, which is perfect for any tribute to Justine. There is no sense of sadness with "My Band On Her T-Shirt." Instead, the song is a celebration of Justine and what she meant to the scene. It's a catchy and absolutely fun track heavy with horns, and is a perfect tribute.

Stop Calling Me Frank says of their new song:

"Stop Calling Me Frank has a new song inspired by, and dedicated to, Justine Covault. Justine was not only a terrific song-writer, bass player, vocalist, guitar player, and music impresario, she was a great friend. Justine came to a lot of our shows wearing her customized Stop Calling Me Frank t-shirt, with the collar cut off. Sometimes she would wear that shirt at her own shows! She was an enthusiastic supporter, and promoter, of many bands, and it was a great privilege that we were one of her favorites. She was one of our favorites, too."

You can listen to "My Band On Her T-Shirt" below. The single is available now via Rum Bar Records and can be downloaded through Bandcamp. For more on Stop Calling Me Frank, check out the artist on Facebook.

Cold Expectations Cover Lou Miami

Lou Miami was a garage punk artist in Boston in the 1980's. Cold Expectations are keeping his legacy alive with a cover that's perfect for Halloween. "(I Live With) Ghosts" is a weirdo garage rock song that sounds wonderfully familiar even if you've never heard it before. It has that goth punk rock 'n' roll sound that's perfect if you love bands like The Cramps or X. Cold Expectations' version is completely true to the original, just with maybe a little more melody on theirs. This is pure rock 'n' roll with a hint of a dark side, which helps make this a perfect one for the best time of year.

You can listen to Cold Expectations' version of "(I Live With) Ghosts" below. The single is out now via Rum Bar Records and is available for download through Bandcamp. It's also available on the free forty-two song After School Special: Second Semester compilation available here. For more on Cold Expectations, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook.

Jay Allen & The Archcriminals - "Sister in Crime"

Jay Allen was a friend and collaborator with Justine Covault. which has lead to him recording a tribute song to his late friend with his band, Jay Allen & The Archcriminals. "Sister in Crime" packs a ton of emotion into a six minute song. Fittingly enough, this isn't a "Candle in the Wind" style ballad, but instead it's a full on rock song. How else would you memorialize Justine Covault? 

Instead of trying to find more to say about "Sister in Crime," I'll let Jay Allen explain the song much better than I could:

"This song is dedicated to the memory and written for one of my dearest and closest friends of the last 40 years, Justine Covault. She was an amazing woman, who meant a lot to so many people and we lost her way too soon. For me she was more than a friend, she was my most ardent supporter, not just in music, but in life, bandmate, roommate, and for the last 7 plus years my co-host along with Tom Baker in our monthly residency, The Mess-Around. Her impact on our little Rock ‘n’ Roll village here in Boston is immeasurable. Not just as an artist with her two bands, Justine and The Unclean and Justine’s Black Threads, but as a supporter, fan, promoter, and most importantly the founder of Red on Red Records, who in 3 short years created a multi-media home for many artists locally and from around the world."

You can listen to "Sister in Crime" below. The song is out now on Rum Bar Records for the name your price option. For more on Jay Allen & The Archcriminals, check out the band on Facebook. Friday is A Night for Justine: A Tribute Concert for Justine Covault at the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater. More information can be found on the Facebook event page.

A Night for Justine: A Tribute for Justine Covault

The Boston music community was rocked by the sudden passing of Justine Covault on June 8. Justine formed Justine and The Unclean in 2016 and had just released the fantastic The Signal Light on June 2 (and played a great album release party that night at Faces in Malden.) She was also in Justine's Black Threads and the founder of Red On Red Records in 2020, which quickly became one of our absolute favorite local indie labels.

This Friday the 6th the Boston rock community comes together to celebrate Justine's life. It's the kind of line up that I wish was coming together for any other reason. The Unclean is playing with a bunch of guest vocalists (Andrea Gillis, Linnea Herzog, Linda Veins, Linda Bean Pardee, JoEllen Saunders Yannis, Lynda Mandolyn, and Melissa Gibbs), Tom Baker's Double Down, The Pelvic Thrust, The Bags, The Black Threads with guests, The Croaks (featuring Justine's daughter Haley Wood), and Quest for Tuna. The evening will be emceed by Rum Bar Records owner Malibu Lou Mansdorf. It's going to be a night of killer rock music to celebrate one of the biggest supporters of the Boston scene.

A Night for Justine is happening October 6 at Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater from 7:00 pm to 12:30 am. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster here, or at the Somerville Theater's box office. For more information, check out the event's Facebook page.

The Hi-End - "Where Did You Sleep Last Night"

Photo via Facebook

Sometimes you can just tell a garage rock band is from Boston. I can't explain it, but The Hi-End are definitely a Boston garage rock band. Their new single, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," is filled with fuzzed out guitars, punk rock attitude, and the kind of power pop that hearkens back to the 1970's. This is just pure garage rock 'n' roll that is aiming for bigger things. It's music without pretention and is just rock for the sake of rock. This is the kind of song you're going to want to crank up and forget about all your troubles for three minutes.

You can listen to "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" below. Nothing to Hide is due out October 6 on Rum Bar Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on The Hi-End, check out the band on Facebook.

Stars Like Ours - "What's Going Wrong"

Photo via Facebook

Stars Like Ours are quickly becoming a local favorite around here. The trio's latest single, "What's Going Wrong," has a giant 90's power pop sound but a little bit of a Boston garage rock edge to it. This is Stars Like Ours' specialty, and they nail it with this one. This is a huge song with fuzzy guitars and pounding drums. If you remember back when record stores would have a stack of sampler CDs by the door or register, filled with a few songs from artists you knew but were a great way to discover new favorites, you're going to love "What's Going Wrong." Even if you weren't around for that era, it's going to make you nostalgic for it.

You can listen to "What's Going Wrong" below. Better Every Day is due out October 6 on Rum Bar Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Stars Like Ours, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram. If you're in the Boston area, you can catch Stars Like Ours at Faces in Malden on September 16 with Sidewalk Driver and Ruin the Night!

Brad Marino - "Lucy"

Hailing from Rochester, NH, Brad Marino is back with more garage pop perfection. "Lucy" is just a brilliant little garage rock song that edges into vintage pop. This is the kind of song that's begging to get played on Little Steven's Underground Garage, since it's heavily inspired by both the Ramones and the music that inspired the Ramones. "Lucy" is a simple rock n roll song drenched in garage rock fuzz, sugary sweet lyrics, early rock keys, and a few "shoo-bops" towards the end. If you grew up listening to your local oldies station, you're going to love this one.

You can listen to "Lucy" below. Grin and Bear It is due out November 3 on Rum Bar Records. For more on Brad Marino, check out the artist on Facebook and Instagram.

In Between Days Festival Preview: The Gypsy Moths

If you're going to In Between Days, you're already planning on seeing Modest Mouse, Sunny Day Real Estate, Lord Huron, and Trampled By Turtles. But, this year's festival features some amazing local bands playing earlier that are well worth your time. Today we explore why you should get there before noon on Saturday for The Gypsy Moths.

Boston has a long history of fantastic garage rock. Our latest discovery are The Gypsy Moths, who have been kicking around since 2014. They're on Rum Bar Records, which is a great way of telling that they are legitimately great. Their Bandcamp profile refers to them as "Garage soul shakers," and that pretty much nails it. Their music is rollicking garage rock with killer soul horns and vocals. They have a vintage yet modern sound. It sounds like it could have been released pretty much any time between the late 70's and now, but in a way that only a Boston garage band could. They stick out a bit from the rest of the line up, but that can be a good thing. Of all the bands playing this year's In Between Days, The Gypsy Moths feel the most Boston.

You can listen to "Tilt-A-Whirl" below. For more on The Gypsy Moths, check out the band's website, and be sure to catch them Saturday August 19 at noon at In Between Days! Tickets and more information can be found here.

Kate Redgate - "Fools, Drunks & Liars"

Photo by Darielle Rose

Kate Redgate started out in the midwest, but is now based in New England. The twenty-five plus year musical veteran has a new single out that highlights her unique blend of rock, folk, and country. "Fools, Drunks & Liars" is one of those songs that is so close to being a mainstream pop/rock song, but just doesn't quite cross the line into being fully mainstream. That's not to say that your normie co-workers aren't going to enjoy Redgate's music. "Fools, Drunks & Liars" has that kind of sound that should appeal to virtually everyone. But Redgate dances by the mainstream without fully dipping in. This song reminds me of Lucinda Williams' more rock side, but with less of a twang and more gravel in Redgate's vocals.

You can listen to "Fools, Drunks & Liars" below. Light Under the Door is due out June 1 on Rum Bar Records. For more on Kate Redgate, check out the artist's website.

Eddie Japan featuring Greg Hawkes - "Time Machine"

Photo by Joshua Pickering

Eddie Japan have been kicking around the Boston music scene for at least a decade now (they won the Rock and Roll Rumble back in 2013). For their latest single, the aptly named "Time Machine," they brought in Greg Hawkes of The Cars, which is truly a dream pairing. Eddie Japan have long seemed like a band out of time. The new song combines New Wave, pop rock, glam, art-pop, etc. to create this sound that's a modern take on the 1980's. This is a ridiculously fun theatrical pop song that both is and isn't an 80's throwback. It's heavily inspired by that decade, but it doesn't quite sound like music released back then. Eddie Japan make music that isn't going to fit any label cleanly, and that's half the fun. Plus, anyone that lets us hear Greg Hawkes on a synthesizer is ok in our book!

Vocalist and songwriter David Santos says of the new song:

“The song is about trying to get back to that early stage of a relationship when everything is magical – the rush of new love. It’s sort of the flip side, thematically, to the first single ‘Walk Away,’ wherein the relationship is coming to an end. The male character in the song/relationship realizes the error of his ways and wishes he could start over via time travel, figuratively speaking. We’ve probably all wished we had a time machine for one reason or another.”

You can listen to "Time Machine" below. Pop Fiction is due out on April 28 via Rum Bar Records. For more on Eddie Japan, check out their website.

Live Shows: The Shang Hi Los, The Dogmatics, and The Chelsea Curve, Faces Brewing Co., Malden, MA 2/10/23

As small, independent venues seem to be dying out in Boston proper, breweries in the suburbs seem to be filling that gap. The most prominent one is Faces Brewing Co. in Malden, MA, which has a dedicated backroom with a stage that puts on shows regularly. I've been meaning to check it out for a while, and I finally had a chance to with a killer Boston garage rock punk triple bill filled with bands from two of my favorite record labels: Rum Bar Records and Red On Red Records! In a weekend filled with fantastic shows, I could not pass up seeing The Dogmatics, The Shang Hi Los, and The Chelsea Curve!

Opening the night were Boston legends The Dogmatics, who have been kicking around in various forms since 1981. They play a blend of punk and garage rock that has barely slowed down in their forty plus years. It's the kind of gritty rock music that you wouldn't expect to see in a high end venue/restaurant, but that's what happens with a band starts hitting their fifties and sixties. Interestingly enough, they played "Sister Serena" as the second song in their set, which might be their most well known song. Even more interestingly, they closed out their set with "Drop That Needle" and "Automat Kalashnikov," which were two songs from 2022's excellent EP Drop That Needle. It was a move that broke pretty much every setlist rule for a band that's been around over forty years, but The Dogmatics made it work perfectly. "Drop That Needle" seemed to get the biggest response of their set which proves just how great their new songs are. Hopefully it doesn't take me this many years to check them out again.

The night also doubled as an album release for The Shang Hi Los, who released the great Aces Eights & Heartbreaks last month. I expected the Boston garage rock supergroup to be good, but The Shang Hi Los are ridiculously great live. They play a style of garage rock that leans heavily into the 1960's, and Friday night every song sounded like a megahit. Songs like "Takes One to Know One," "Monsieur Valentine," and "Ingenue" simply need to be seen live. They played with the tightness of a band that's been playing large theaters for decades and not a band in a bar that released their first album less than a month ago. "Sway Little Player" sounds like The Oneders needed a second hit to make That Thing You Do! 2. I knew I'd enjoy their set, but I'm now a rabid Shang Hi Los fan.

Closing out the night were The Chelsea Curve. On last year's All the Things, they play a slick as hell version of garage rock borrowing heavily from pop and maybe dipping their toes a bit in oldies rock. Friday night they were much louder than I expected and far more punk sounding. They had much more of a Ramones sound than The Archies. Plus, The Chelsea Curve just emanated cool. Some bands just have that captivating factor as soon as they walk on stage, and The Chelsea Curve are stars just waiting to happen. They're another band you're going to need to check out sooner than later. Just be prepared to get rocked far harder than you thought they could.

Matweeds - "Stay"

Matweeds are one of those great forgotten Boston bands. The band was formed in 1987 by Jerry Lahane after the Dogmatics broke up. They opened for the Ramones and recorded at the legendary Fort Apache, but never released any music. That changes in March when Rum Bar Records puts out the never before released album from Matweeds. If you're dying to hear what they sound like, you can check out a single, "Stay." This is going to be one of those difficult to define songs, because it's almost a lot of things but isn't quite any of them. It's a little too mellow to be punk or garage rock, although it's definitely both of those. It might be power pop, but there isn't quite that power needed. It's a lot more melodic than I would have expected, with multiple singers throughout, so it's almost like Bang Camaro before Bang Camaro. "Stay" is a great rock and roll song that is basically timeless, and if you're a fan of power pop or garage rock coming out of Boston at any time, this one is for you.

You can listen to "Stay" below. Hooligans in the Vestibule is due out March 17 on Rum Bar Records, and can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp. 

Cindy Lawson - "Hey Santa"

Rum Bar Records have become our go to for killer neo-garage rock and power pop, and this year they've been killing it with Christmas singles. The latest (that we've discovered, at least) is Cindy Lawson's "Hey Santa." The song has a slightly updated take on 60's rock and roll holiday classics with a little bit of 90's power pop injected into it. It reminds me a little of Go! era Letters to Cleo with the 90's slickness cut back and the 60's sound cranked up. It's a fun sounding song until you realize Lawson is asking Santa to do something about the environment and climate change. So... a little less fun than your average Christmas song, but it definitely has its place.

You can listen to "Hey Santa" below. The single is available via Rum Bar Records over at Bandcamp. It also includes a cover of "Mr. Scrooge" from The Orchids. For more on Cindy Lawson, check out the artist's website.

Beebe Gallini - "You Ain't Getting Nothin"

Beebe Gallini is the more garage rock side of Miss Georgia Peach's musical repertoire. They've released a new Christmas song that is a killer. "You Ain't Getting Nothin" is a parent's rant to their misbehaving child about how they aren't getting any Christmas presents this year due to their behavior. It's one of the most punk rock songs ever written from the perspective of a parent. It's dripping with a certain venom, but it also reflects the love and frustration of a parent, especially at Christmas. "You Ain't Getting Nothin" is just a fun holiday song... at least for parents.

You can watch the video for "You Ain't Getting Nothing" below. The song is available as a single with a cover of "That's What Christmas Means to Me" featuring Cindy Lawson via Rum Bar Records. You can get a copy through Bandcamp. For more on Beebe Gallini, check out the band's website.

The Shang Hi Los - "Takes One to Know One"

The Shang Hi Los are one of the stand out bands of the Boston garage rock/power pop scene. The supergroup consists of members of Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, The Dents, The Downbeat 5, Watts, The Neighborhoods, and Eddie Japan, and just released a brand new single. "Takes One to Know You" is a huge garage pop rock song. It's reminding me a lot of Go! era Letters to Cleo, but a little more edgy. It has that incredibly poppy and catchy vibe with just a little grime on the sunniness. Like anything with The Shang Hi Los, this is a fun rock song, and if you have a soft spot for power pop and garage rock there is simply no way you're not going to love this one.

You can listen to "Takes One to Know One" below. Aces Eights & Heartbreaks is due out January 20 on Rum Bar Records. The album can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp. For more on The Shang Hi Los, check out the band on Facebook.

The Amplifier Heads - "Zombie Moon"

When it's eleven days away from Halloween, we simply can't resist a song called "Zombie Moon." It helps when it's a great song from a band like The Amplifier Heads. The Boston band's new song has this great 60's pop feel mixed with 70's power pop along with a modern indie rock vibe. "Zombie Moon" is kind of an amped up crooner song with some harder drums and a slacker vibe. The Amplifier Heads have crafted a song that's more Frankenstein's monster than zombie, with pieces taken from genres and just pieced together. The genres don't meld together, but are more stitched to each other. But, it's as fun as a song released in October called "Zombie Moon" should be.

You can listen to "Zombie Moon" below. Rectifier is due out October 24 on Rum Bar Records. For more on The Amplifier Heads, check out the band on Facebook.

Ruin the Nite - "Sang to Me"

Photo by Pat Piasecki

According to their press release, Ruin the Nite are Boston's "premier Dad Bod Rock Band." They were formed from the ashes of Goddamn Draculas, and have this party rock vibe that isn't punk but punk adjacent. Their new single, "Sang to Me," is dripping with punk attitude and has a punk edge, but this is far too melodic to truly even be pop punk. It's much closer to classic early rock and roll and R&B. The horns are truly of the stars of the song, adding a layer of class that smooths out the rougher edges. This is oddly making me think of a fictional punk prom band in some non-existent 80's high school movie. "Sang to Me" is all about harmonies, despite vocalist/bassist Chris Duggan's rough vocals, but that's what creates the true charm of Ruin the Nite.

Chris Duggan says of the new song:

"I think ['Sang To Me'] is basically a story about lack of communication in a relationship. It's about letting down your walls and being free to say what needs to be said. Being vulnerable to express your truth, no matter how sharp and pointed those words might be... Lyrically, the words just came. No real thought behind them. The chorus was just fun to sing."    

You can listen to "Sang to Me" below. Sound the Alarm is due out November 11 on Rum Bar Records. For more on Ruin the Nite, check out the band on Facebook and Twitter.