Live Shows: Perennial, Miracle Blood, and Sinaloa, Deep Cuts, Medford, MA 9/19/26

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I'm probably going to be oversharing here, but last week was a rough one for my mental health. I couldn't seem to enjoy anything. Any music I put on wasn't "right." I had a few shows on my maybe list that I chose to stay home instead of going out. I'd try to watch things and couldn't focus. I had plans to head out to Perennial's album release show on Saturday night, and despite Perennial and Miracle Blood being two of my favorite live bands, I didn't want to go. I dragged myself out of the house more out of obligation than actual interest, and I'm truly glad I did.

Up first was Sinaloa, a band I was unfamiliar with. They almost immediately won me over with their noisy version of old school emo and post-hardcore. They were loud in that smart way that I didn't know I needed. Their style of emo is much more Rites of Spring than even Sunny Day Real Estate, and was wonderfully abrasive. Sinaloa's set seemed to get a little more mellow as it went on, which somehow added to my adoration for them. They don't seem to be playing many shows of late, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for anything that they do from now on.

Up next was Miracle Blood. They're the kind of band that bounces between the worlds of punk and metal effortlessly, and while those genres are overwhelmingly angry, Mircale Blood always feel like a celebration. Song like "Hello Hell" are meant to be heard live, and they're one of the most underrated live bands in the Boston scene. There's no possible way to ignore them, even if you're listening from another room. A Miracle Blood performance is always a fun time, and they channel their aggression into something positive. We'll never pass up a chance to see these guys.

Closing out the night to celebrate their brand new and excellent album was Perennial. Deep Cuts might be the most traditional venue I've seen them play in, and they crushed it. I had the most fun of any of the times I've previously seen them, and their live show has the perfect mix of being chaotic and loose while still being tight. They opened with the kind of chaos and noise bands tend to end with, and had more audience participation than any other band of their level. It certainly didn't hurt that the members of Perennial spent a large chunk of the show in the crowd, particularly on "Up-Tight," which even saw drummer Ceej Wolf wandering the crowd while playing a cymbal. To truly get Perennial, you simply have to experience the Perennial sound live. The more time goes on, the more I realize their sound is a mixture of punk with mod and Motown, which has evolved into one of the most fun and engaging musical styles out there today. If you haven't picked up a copy of Modernism, you're going to want to. 

I know this may not work for everyone, but Perennial's album release show was the mental health reset I needed, and provided a perfect injection of joy. I've had the opposite experience with some shows, and have left early as a result. But Saturday night reinvigorated my love of music and live shows.

On Repeat...

Failure - "The Air's on Fire"

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Photo by Lyndsey Byrnes With their upcoming seventh overall studio album, the highly influential band Failure will have released more albums since reuniting in 2014 than they did during their first run. The first single from that album, "The Air's on Fire," shows the band expanding their sound while still being rooted in what has always made them great. The song is a dark and moody one that is always threatening to explode but never quite does. This is an example of 90's alt-rock meets art rock at its very finest. It's the kind of song that could easily have come out thirty years ago, but that doesn't mean it sounds dated. After the first listen, "The Air's on Fire" will sound like a killer alt-rocker from a 90's band that hasn't lost a step at all. The more you listen, the more complex Failure get on the single, and the more the song reveals itself to you. Ken Andrews says of his band's latest single: “That song is directly about my ...
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Mama's Broke - "How it Ends"

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Mama's Broke, the post-folk Canadian duo of Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, have just released a break up song that might be their most accessible yet. While the previous singles from their upcoming album have a certain darkness or a sense of foreboding, "How it Ends" sounds relatively upbeat. Considering this is a song about how you never think you'll find someone as good as your ex after a break up, that's quite a feat. This is a traditional folk song with some slightly modern folk harmonies. As much heartbreak as their is in "How it Ends," there is also the warmth of remembering a recent relationship. You can listen to "How it Ends" below. Narrow Line is due out May 13 on Free Dirt Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Mama's Broke, check out the artist's website .
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