If It's Too Loud...

Last week was a crazy week of amazing triple bills for me. The night before Valentine's Day was a truly can't miss show for me, with JVK hosting their second JVK Day show at Taffeta Music Hall in Lowell with two equally fantastic local bands: Tysk Tysk Task and The Ghouls! Opening the show was Lowell's own The Ghouls. They're always one of the most fun live bands out there today, and Friday night was no exception. They announced they were only playing love songs during their set, and then just rocked it out, setting the tone for the evening. They have mastered the art of playing loose and tight at the same time, and have an amazing mixture of 90's slacker cool while still playing unbelievably well. A huge help is that their fans always show out to their shows and match the bands energy. Even if you've never heard of The Ghouls before, it's impossible not to get swept up in the excitement between the band and their fans. Plus, they closed with a wonderfully 9...

I'm fairly new to Save Ferris fandom. I obviously knew of them in the 90's, but they always seemed too pop for my taste back then. Over the past few years, I rediscovered them, and it turned out I was wrong. They're fantastic. Even though I saw them again for the first time in twenty-six years last summer, once they announced a show at Taffeta Music Hall in Lowell, I instantly wanted to go see them again. This may have been my third time seeing Save Ferris, but I kind of feel like it was my first. Deftones fans pretty much made it impossible to enjoy them at the Warped Tour in 1998 (and considering I'm pretty sure Monique Powell was the only woman performing that day it feels especially egregious), and last year's show outside in Portsmouth, NH felt a little restrained in hindsight. Saturday night in Lowell was a much heavier and more punk performance with Powell being able to be herself more, including some fairly unhinged (in the best possible way) stage banter. I...

The second night of The Town and The City Festival was the traditional style for the festival with multiple bands playing venues all over downtown Lowell. For me, the night started out at Koto Asian Fusion, a relatively new music venue and a sister venue to Koto in Salem. The stage for the shows Friday night was in the main restaurant, which led to some awkward milling about before the music started. Up first was The Shallows, a Boston band I was unfamiliar with. They play a blend of gorgeous shoegaze inspired alt-rock that was for the most part laid back, and was the perfect way to ease people into an evening of music. Their set inspired some slow dancing to break out periodically, and it's easy to see why. The Shallows play shoegaze, but a version of the genre that is pop leaning, at least in that late 90's alt-rock leaning into pop way.  Lovina Falls played next. It was my third time seeing Valerie Forgione's baroque pop project live, and what strikes me is how different...

The Town and The City Festival is becoming an annual musical highlight for us. Taking over downtown Lowell for the weekend, this year's festival expanded to a third night, which was a festival kickoff with Lady Lamb, Ezra Furman, and Class President. I personally try to see Ezra Furman and Lady Lamb as much as possible, so heading out to Taffeta Music Hall was a no-brainer for me. Opening up the show was Lowell's own Class President. It had been about a year and a half since I last saw them at The Overlook (RIP Mill No. 5), and I was excited to see them again. Their version of pop focused indie rock has only improved since 2023, and I'm now officially on the bandwagon as a fan. Their songs are undeniably catchy with just enough of an edge to keep it from being pure pop, and they put on a ridiculously fun show. I might be tempted to call them pop punk, but they just barely fit into that genre and are a little too alt-rock for that. Regardless, they're a band you need to ...