Monday, March 18, 2024

Charm of Finches - "Middle of Your Mess"

Photo by Jeff Andersen

Charm of Finches are Melbourne based sisters Mabel and Ivy Windred-Wornes. The duo's latest single, "Middle of Your Mess," combines modern folk with alt-pop. The song reminds me of First Aid Kit meets Lucy Dacus. It's a lush and melodic song that swirls around the listener in an embrace that might not be warm. As lovely as the song is, there's a strong sense of anxiety and trouble within the song, which comes through for the listener. "Middle of Your Mess" is a compelling listen, with the sisters' voices laying out all of the emotion of the song.

Charm of Finches say of their new single:

“’Middle of Your Mess’ is a tongue-in-cheek bop on when sometimes women like to blame other women for their own internal issues when it comes to relationships. At the time of writing this one, we were listening a lot to Nora Jones’ album ‘Little Broken Hearts’ and we think some of her brazen brutal honesty was an influence on this song.”

You can watch the "Wes Anderson meets Heathers" video for "Middle of Your Mess" below. Marlinchen in the Snow is due out April 19 on Spunk Records. For more on Charm of Finches, check out the artist on Instagram and Facebook.

The Jellybricks - "All About You"


Harrisburg, PA's The Jellybricks formed in the late 90's and play a very distinct style of power pop. The band's latest single, "All About You," borrows from four decades of power pop. It has elements of 60's and 70's power pop, especially with its sugary melodies. Some of the guitarwork in the song has a very distinct 80's sound, like Tommy Tutone or The Knack. It's all put together in a way that's reminding me a lot of 90's era power pop, in particular Fountains of Wayne. The Jellybricks are just fun power pop with a little of the edge of garage rock, which is what you truly want with the genre.

You can listen to "All About You" below. The single is out now on Wicked Cool Records. For more on The Jellybricks, check out the band's website.

Chanel Beads - "Embarrassed Dog"

Photo by Lauren Davis

Chanel Beads, the musical project of New York City's Shane Lavers, is quickly becoming one of the leaders in experimental music. The project's latest single, "Embarrassed Dog," is a mostly electronic track that also blends elements of hip hop and indie rock. It reminds me a little of late 90's electronic artists that would create a sound collage out of existing elements, but "Embarrassed Dog" also has a much more organic feel to it. It also sounds like Lavers created a bunch of different pieces for different songs, and then decided to mash them all together to create "Embarrassed Dog." And somehow made it all work into a cohesive piece of music.

You can watch the video for "Embarrassed Dog" below. Your Day Will Come is due out April 19 on Jagjaguar, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Chanel Beads, check out the artist on Instagram and Bandcamp. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


Fri. May 17 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *Sat. May 18 - Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey *Tue. May 21 - Denver, CO @ Perplexiplex *Thu. May 23 - Austin, TX @ Parish *Sat. May 25 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall *Tue. May 28 - Toronto, ON @ Axis *Wed. May 29 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall * * = supporting Mount Kimbie

Alison Brown & Steve Martin - "Bluegrass Radio"


Alison Brown and Steve Martin teamed up on last year's "Foggy Mountain Breaking" and that went so well the duo has released another song. "Bluegrass Radio" sees Martin taking lead vocals on a song that showcases Martin's sense of humor perfectly. It also features banjo solos from both Brown and Martin, which is exactly what we all want from a song featuring both artists. "Bluegrass Radio" is a fun song that allows some of the top bluegrass musicians (Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Trey Hensley, and Todd Phillips) a chance to shine. It's also an ode to the various genre radio stations and festivals throughout the country.

You can watch the video for "Bluegrass Radio" below. The single is out now on Compass Records, and is available here. For more on Alison Brown, check out the artist's website.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Zip-Tie Handcuffs - "The Runaround"

Photo via Facebook

Boston "stoner-punx" Zip-Tie Handcuffs are back with a brand new single. "The Runaround" fits the stoner-punx label perfectly. It has the edge, speed, and heaviness of punk rock, but with a little bit of laid back stoner charm. It's a fuzzed out punk rock song that comes charging at you full speed, but in a warm and cheery way. It has a lot of the style of proto-punk that you would get from The Stooges, but through a mid-90's post-grunge filter. As hard as the song it, there's an unmistakable groove flowing throughout, as well as a sense of pop hooks. It's a good reminder that sometimes punk rock can be fun while still delivering a message.

Zip-Tie Handcuffs say of their latest single:

"This song is about society's attachment to social media, and how so many people project a completely false personality online. Feeding off of the digital validation of 'likes' and 'shares' as opposed to existing with other people face to face, no filters and no edits. Humans aren’t perfect, and to me that is what makes us each so interesting. I can appreciate certain merits of social media, and connecting with the world in a few clicks, but sometimes it can be hard to see the line between fabrication and the truth. All I'm saying is, some folks are giving us The Runaround."

You can listen to "The Runaround" below. Moss is due out May 31 via King Pizza Records. For more on Zip-Tie Handcuffs, check out the band on Facebook. They have a show coming up on March 24 at Deep Cuts in Medford with Teen Mortgage and Death Lens.

Zeta Cover Radiohead

Photo by Alejandro Goussot

I first discovered Zeta opening for Sparta last summer, and I've been a huge fan ever since. Earlier this week the Venezuelan post-rock band announced they were releasing a cover of Radiohead's "The National Anthem," and my anticipation immediately started building. I was curious as to how a hardcore version of a Radiohead classic would sound. Instead, Zeta's version is much more faithful to the original than I expected. It's a lot heavier, but it's not as far off from Radiohead than I assumed. It's also a lot funkier than the original, but that was too be expected. Zeta might have been my favorite musical discovery of 2023, and "The National Anthem" just makes me an even bigger fan.

You can watch the video for Zeta's cover of "The National Anthem" below. The single is available here. For more on Zeta, check out the band's website.

Abigail Lapell - "Rattlesnake"

Photo by Jen Squires

The latest single from Toronto's Abigail Lapell exists as a conundrum. "Rattlesnake" is based in traditional folk, but it also sounds completely modern. The track sounds like it has a looping element, and Lapell's electric guitar sounds completely modern. The guitar might be the secret weapon of the song, as it has a modern quality that is somehow haunting. The way the guitar mixes with Lapell's vocals creates this element that is oddly comforting while still clashing a bit. It's like the modern and the past are being forced to find a common ground, and while they are, it's not entirely comfortable.

Abigail Lapell says of her latest single:

“Rattlesnake is an ode to love and superstition. The trad-inspired track combines powerhouse vocals and slightly distorted finger-style electric guitar. The serpentine melody unspools around a catchy refrain, doubling vocal lines about archaic love omens and herbalist incantations to timeless yet modern effect."

You can watch the video for "Rattlesnake" below. Anniversary is due out May 10 on Outside Music, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Abigail Lapell, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


04/10/24 Penticton, BC - Dream Cafe
04/11/24 Nakusp, BC - Bonnington Arts Centre
04/12/24 Vernon, BC - Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
04/13/24 Vancouver, BC - Blueshore
04/14/24 Rossland BC - Flying Steamshovel 
04/16/24 Calgary, AB - The Ironwood
04/17/24 Edmonton, AB - The Aviary
04/18/24 Regina, SK - Artesian
04/19/24 Saskatoon. SK - The Bassment
04/21/24 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre 
05/09/24 Toronto, ON - Both Sides Now, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell | Harbourfront Centre  
05/10/24 Toronto, ON - Both Sides Now, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell | Harbourfront Centre
05/11/24 Toronto, ON - Both Sides Now, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell | Harbourfront Centre
05/12/24 Hamilton, ON - Mills Hardware
05/17/24 Ottawa, ON - Red Bird Live
05/18/24 Napanee, ON - Doghouse Studios
05/22/24 Toronto, ON - TD Music Hall
05/25/24 Greenbank, ON - Greenbank Folk
05/29/24 Montreal, QC - Casa del popolo
05/30/24 Saratoga Springs, NY - Caffe Lena
05/31/24 Northampton, MA - Parlor Room
06/01/24 Cambridge, MA - Club Passim
06/02/24 Exeter, NH - The Wordbarn 
06/04/24 Portland, ME - Oxbow
06/05/24 New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine
06/06/24 Brooklyn, NY - Cafe Wha?
06/07/24 Monkton MD - Loft at Manner Mill
06/10/24 Pittsburgh PA Club Cafe
06/13/24 Chicago IL - Schubas
06/15/24 Ann Arbor MI - The Ark

Pythies - "Eclipse"


Pythies are a witchy grunge band out of Paris, France. Their latest single, "Eclipse," was written around the time of the 2023 lunar eclipse. It definitely fits being compared to 90's grunge, although the song is a bit more straightforward rock than that description might imply. It's more along the lines of a band like L7 meets The Donnas, and it includes a killer hardcore-esque breakdown. The song just charges straight through you and Pythies are barely able to control the ferocity. But, like with the best of grunge, there is a surprising amount of melody for such a fast and heavy song. 

You can watch the video for "Eclipse" below. The single is currently available via Bandcamp. For more on Pythies, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Doing Anything This Weekend?: March 15-17


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. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend:

Friday March 15

GA-20, Muddy Ruckus, and Troy Mercy at starlite, Southbridge, MA

Miracle Blood, The Freqs, Psychic Weight, and Billy at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA

Viv & Riley at Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, Waltham, MA

Cloudbelly, Jake McKelvie, and TIFFY at O'Brien's, Allston, MA

Burp., Tysk Tysk Task, Night Visions, and Cross Girls at Thirsty First, Lowell, MA

The Shirts and Shoes, The Roscoes, and WLKRZ at Faces Brewing, Malden, MA


Saturday March 16

Matt Charette and the Truer Sound, The Roland High Life, LoboHombre, and Christian Marrone at Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA

Micah Schnabel & Vanessa Jean Speckman, Little Low, and Matt Murphy at Faces Brewing, Malden, MA

Dose of Thunder, Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight, TJ Welsh & The Wasted at Redemption Rock Brewing, Worcester, MA

Ravagers, The Downhauls, and Loretta at O'Brien's Pub, Allston, MA

GA-20 and Ward Hayden at The Met Cafe, Pawtucket, RI

Jittery Jack with Amy Griffin on Guitar and The Soapbox Saints at Nick-A-Nee's, Providence, RI

Rachel Baiman and Nicholas Jamerson at Club Passim, Cambridge, MA


Saigon & Fredro featuring Grand Puba - "Think Twice"


Saigon and Fredro have been working on their tribute to the golden age of hip hop, and they brought in a heavy hitter for their latest single. Grand Puba joins the duo on "Think Twice," and if you love early 90's hip hop, this song will be a true delight. Besides just being a great solo artist, Grand Puba was a member of Brand Nubian, and "Think Twice" has that early 90's alternative hip hop sound. This legitimately sounds like a forgotten song from a hip hop heavy soundtrack from my high school days, so I'm in old school heaven on this track. 

Saigon says of his latest single:

“Growing up, Brand Nubian was one of my favorite groups, and Grand Puba as a solo artist shaped and molded my fashion sense at that time, and he is my favorite artist of all time. Grand Puba has never gotten his due respect.  Before Kanye, it was Puba who made the rugby with the knapsack look cool.  He also always made sure there was some kind of a positive message in his music.  While making this song, I tried to channel Grand Puba Maxwell from Masters Of The Ceremony (his first group), with the Puba from his Reel to Reel album, and I came up with 'Think Twice.' It was a pleasure and honor to work with this legend.” 

You can listen to "Think Twice" below. The Jordan Era is due out May 3 on Payday Records. For more on Saigon, check out the artist on Instagram. Fredro's Instagram can be found here.