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Live Shows: Poison Ruin and Peace Talks, The Stone Church, Brattleboro, VT 4/15/26

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Poison Ruin have released one of the most intriguing punk/metal albums of the year with Hymns from the Hills. Lots of bands blur the lines between punk and metal, but no one does it quite like them. Their tour has brought them to a few venues around New England, and considering how much I love The Stone Church in Brattleboro, VT but rarely get there, that was the date I chose to check out. Poison Ruin are an absolute beast live. It's loud, it's heavy, and it's great. Just pure, no nonsense punk mixed with metal. They play shred heavy rock without being overly showy. What's truly great about Poison Ruin's music, and in turn their live show, is how diverse their sound can be. Some songs are more punk, some are more metal, and some had an undeniable groove that leaned into funk. This is the kind of band that attracts hipsters in ironic mullets and metalheads in unironic mullets. And both crowds make complete sense at a Poison Ruin show, and both had a great time. It wa...
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The Chelsea Curve - "Ride"

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Boston garage rock mods The Chelsea Curve are back with a new single off their upcoming album. "Ride" is everything we want from the trio. It's an unbelievably catchy rock track with pop hooks and more of a mod sheen than your typical garage rock song. These days we could use as much fun as we can possibly get, and a song like "Ride" perfectly provides that. This is the perfect song for anyone who has ever had a soft spot for garage rock, mod, or even Brit pop. Plus, The Chelsea Curve get huge on this one. At some points, especially towards the end, it feels like they might be doing their best to channel The Who.  You can listen to "Ride" below. The Rideout is due out on May 1 on Rum Bar Records, and is available to pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on The Chelsea Curve, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . They'll be playing a killer bill at The Burren in Somerville on June 12 with The Gruesomes and Muck & the Mires. Ride by The...
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Andrew Sa - "Under You"

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Photo by Alexa Viscius Andrew Sa has a magical sound that combines classic country and modern indie folk. His latest single, which was written by collaborator Liam Kazar, is titled "Under You" and has this dreamy quality to go along with the twang. It sounds like a song written and recorded decades ago by a time traveler from the 2000s. Sa has taken a sound incredibly familiar and comfortable and tweaked it just enough to make it fresh and all his own. "Under You" is a truly special song, and I have a feeling Sa's debut album is going to be blowing a lot of us away in June. Andrew Sa says of his latest single: “Liam Kazar is a friend whose songwriting I’ve admired for some time now. He knows my voice intimately and my infatuation with epic Roy Orbison tunes. ‘Under You’ is about feeling fully taken over, euphorically consumed by the obsessive spell of love.” You can listen to "Under You" below. American Rough is due out June 26 on Bloodshot Records, an...
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Abigail Lappell featuring Pharis Romero - "So Long"

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Photo by Jen Squires Abigail Lappell's upcoming album is a collection of nine songs, each representing a month of pregnancy. Her latest single, "So Long," is the seventh song on the album. It's a powerful and uplifting track featuring vocals from Pharis Romero. According to the press release, it's "... a ballad of maritime tragedy and reproductive choice." It's a waltz featuring acoustic guitar and accordion, giving the song a classic and traditional folk feel. Plus, the harmonies between Lappell and Romero are absolutely mesmerizing. We've long been fans of Lappell's, so we're obviously thrilled to have any new music from the Toronto artist. When a song is as transfixing as "So Long," you'll quickly see why we're such fans. You can listen to "So Long" below. Shadow Child is due out May 8 on Outside Music, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Abigail Lappell, check out the artist on Instagram and ...
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Orquestra Pacifico Tropical - "Entre La Montana"

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Psychedelic cumbia group Orquestra Pacifico Tropical are back with a new single. "Entre La Montana" is an intense, horn heavy track with sparse vocals. The Portland, OR band are taking traditional cumbia and mixing it with salsa and northwest style psychedelia. This is a fun track, and calling it dance friendly is an understatement. The level of horns are going to remind many of us of brass bands, and Orquestra Pacifico Tropical are laying down some intense grooves on this one. Plus, as fun and dance friendly as "Entre La Montana" is, there's an edge to the track lurking just under the surface.  You can watch the video for "Entre La Montana" below. El Poder is due out June 19, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, check out the band's website .
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Tori Amos - "Gasoline Girls"

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Photo by Kasia Wozniak Living legend Tori Amos has a new single out off of her upcoming concept album about being married to a dangerous and powerful billionaire. "Gasoline Girls" takes place while the narrator encounters a lesbian motor bike gang that aids in her escape. If you've been a fan of Amos' since the 90's, you're going to adore this single. To me, it sounds like it could have been a lost track from Boys for Pele or Scarlet's Walk. It combines the more stripped back sound of her earlier albums with the more full band sound of the 00's. This one is a perfect reintroduction for lapsed fans, and if you've been with Amos for the last three decades, you're obviously going to adore "Gasoline Girls." Tori Amos says of her latest single: “This is a metaphor for many different transformations - from a teenage girl becoming a woman, to shifts in gender identity or fundamental belief systems, to the life changes that come with pregnanc...
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