Beach Rats - "Rat Beat"

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Photo by Matthew Gere

We throw the term "supergroup" around here a lot, but Beach Rats are a bona fide supergroup... in the right circles. Brian Baker was a founding member of Minor Threat, founded Dag Nasty, has played with The Meatmen and Government Issue, and has been a member of Bad Religion since 1994. He's basically a supergroup on his own. While living in Asbury Park, NJ a few years ago, he founded Beach Rats with Lifetime frontman Ari Katz, Bryan Keinlen and Pete Steinkopf of Bouncing Souls, and Let It Burn's Danny Windas. The band's new single, "Rat Beat," is a minute and a half punk explosion. Is loud and fast and leans strongly into the emotional hardcore range you'd expect from a group consisting of members of these bands. Beach Rats aren't breaking new ground with this one, but if you think a supergroup made up of members of these bands is going to be great, you're correct, and you're going to love this one.

You can watch the video for "Rat Beat" below. Rat Beat, the album, is due out July 29 on Epitaph Records, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Beach Rats, check out the band's Facebook and Instagram.

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

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Photo by Alexa Viscius This may be Liam Kazar's debut single, but the Chicago based musician already has an impressive resume, having worked with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, and others. "Shoes Too Tight" features childhood friend Spencer Tweedy on drums, Lane Beckstrom on bass, and Ohmme on vocals. It's an absurdly fun and groovy little song that is a party waiting to happen. What he gives us here is a timeless song that could truly have been released any time since the 1960's (ok... maybe not the 80's...) There are elements of classic rock, 60's crooners and R&B, indie rock, modern Americana... it's really just packed with everything in a cohesive song that maintains the vibe the entire way through. You can watch the video for "Shoes Too Tight" below. For more on Liam Kazar, check him out on Instagram and Twitter . He's also raising money on his Bandcamp for Constellation and The Hungry Brain. ...
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Dutch ReBelle - "GOONIEZ"

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How is Dutch ReBelle not a national superstar at this point? The Boston MC just released "GOONIEZ," and I know I'm a bit out of touch with current mainstream hip hop, but this song is absolutely killer. It's a stripped down hip hop song that has this futuristic space age sound to it. Plus, ReBelle's flow is unsurpassed. You can't listen to her and not be completely sucked in. The song has a feel reminiscent of classic Missy Elliott. As much as I love that we can still see Dutch ReBelle in smaller Boston venues, "GOONIEZ" proves she should be playing much larger venues nationwide very, very soon. You can watch the video for "GOONIEZ" below. For more on Dutch ReBelle, check out the artist's website . 
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The Freqs - "Witch"

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Photo via Facebook When you're a rock band from Salem, MA, you have to have at least one song about witchcraft. The Freqs have fulfilled their obligation with a banger of a song. "Witch" is this giant monster of a song, filled with fuzz and strained, screaming vocals. This is the type of song that doesn't usually exist in this century. It's giving me some serious 90's flashbacks, like if Hum got aggressive or Alice in Chains decided to do some damage on the college charts. As great as the vocals are in "Witch," what's really drawing me in is the instrumental break down that takes over about halfway through. This is the kind of song to make the hipsters and the headbangers equally excited. You can listen to "Witch" below. For more on The Freqs, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . The Freqs · Witch
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