Cal Rifkin - "Bummer Days"

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Photo by Micah E Wood

Hailing from Washington D.C., Cal Rifkin formed in the Fall of 2018. The band's latest single, "Bummer Days," is a hypercharged indie rock meets power pop blast. It has the harmonies of The Beach Boys mixed with the discordant indie rock of Guided By Voices and Sonic Youth. I'll even dare to say there's some stealthy country trying to remain hidden in the background. It's already a great song, and then there is a somewhat chaotic indie rock burst towards the end that will undoubtedly win you over. "Bummer Days" comes charging at you like a train, albeit a fully under control and well regulated one.

Songwriter Eric Grimm says of the band's latest single:

"Bummer Days is the heaviest and darkest song we’ve put out. Sonically it is meant to capture the oppressive feeling of DC humidity and heat in the peak of summer. For me, different seasons and times of the year always trigger specific memories and emotions. The summertime can trigger feelings of loss and feeling weighed down, which the song explores.


"The song was produced and mixed by Liam Hughes of Ekko Astral. In the mixing stage he sent multiple instruments through his guitar pedal board, adding and taking away different effects throughout the song which enhanced its chaotic and explosive nature. I wanted this song to have the same rawness as bands I love like Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. and Joy Division. At least that’s my excuse for the slightly out of tune guitars."

You can listen to "Bummer Days" below. The single is out now on Really Rad Records. For more on Cal Rifkin, check out the band on Bandcamp.

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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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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Live Shows: Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, Eight Foot Manchild, and Lovina Falls, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 7/12/25

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One of my favorite things is going to see a diverse live bill. Anyone can put together a show with three pop punk bands on it, but it's a challenge (and far more interesting) to put three unique bands on the same show and have it work out perfectly. Saturday night at The Sinclair saw the steamcrunk of Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, doombrass heroes Eight Foot Manchild, and the baroque pop of Lovina Falls, and it was perfect. Opening the show was Lovina Falls, the current musical project of Valerie Forgione of Mistle Thrush. This was my third or fourth time seeing them in just a few months, and I'm still entertained every time. It's been interesting to watch Lovina Falls adjust and discover their sound over the past two or so years, and I think they've nailed their current sound down. It's an engaging blend of the baroque pop they started out with mixed with a more rock based sound. Songs like "Ellery Way" and "Vaulted" continue to ...
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