If It's Too Loud...

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. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday September 13 Jedediah Parish and Mike Gent at Q Division Studios, Cambridge, MA DeVotchka and Savoir Faire at The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA Buffalo Tom and Belly at State Theater, Portland, ME Bongwish, Mother Fungus, The P.A.'s, and Little Miss Echo at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Feminine Aggression, Perennial, and Juana B Ontop at Holyoke Media, Holyoke, MA Saturday September 14 Moon Over Salem Festival featuring Actor Observer, Hell Beach, dropbear, The Freqs, Oldsoul, Astr...

I'll use just about any excuse I can find to go hang out in Salem, MA, especially in the Fall. Looks like I'll be clearing my calendar to head up there in mid-September for Moon Over Salem. Formerly Hope Fest, Moon Over Salem is going to be taking over six venues (Bit-Bar, Gulu Gulu, CHAGALL PAC, Cinema Salem, Koto, and Ames Hall) from 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm for a full day of music. How great is the line up? It features Actor Observer, Oldsoul, One Fall, Radio Compass, Astral Bitch, dropbear, Molly O'Leary, The Freqs, and many, many more, including a few to be announced later this month, which includes a national headliner. Plus, it's September 14, which is just late enough to truly be Fall without Salem becoming too crazy (although it will still be pretty crazy, even in September!) September has quietly become the best month for music festivals of the year in New England, but you're going to want to drop everything for this one. Moon Over Salem takes over downtown Sal...

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. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday May 31 The Wolff Sisters and Molly O'Leary at Askew, Providence, RI Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Kal Marks, and Idiot Genes at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Buffalo Tom at The Drake, Amherst, MA Hubby Jenkins at The Porch Southern Fare & Juke Joint, Medford, MA The Promised End, Origami Summer, Miniluv, and One Fall at Koto, Salem, MA Abigail Lapell and Helen Hummel at The Parlor Room, Northampton, MA Saturday June 1 Abigail Lapell and Audrey Pearl at Club Passim, Cambridge, MA Fiel...

Photo by Maggie By the Millimeter New Bedford's Molly O'Leary just released a new single that was written for their older brothers. "Echo" is a captivating folk-pop song that starts off quietly before sweeping the listener up in a wave of sound. O'Leary is almost whispering at some points in the song, which gives "Echo" a confessional feeling, almost like this is truly meant just for their siblings. The song reminds me of a cross between Mary Lou Lord's major label period and early The Cranberries. O'Leary's latest is the rare song that fixes folk, pop, and indie rock in equal measures and works perfectly. Molly O'Leary says of their latest single: “I wrote this song for my big brothers. I wanted them to know that, even as we get older, I will always need them. My brother  Tommy is a drummer, and my brother Teddy is a cardiologist (aka a heart doctor), hence the references to the drum and the heart in the bridge. I think it’s interesting ...

Photo by Maggie By The Millimeter New Bedford, MA's Molly O'Leary might have the most endearing song inspired by a panic attack of all time. Their new single, "Ticking of a Clock," starts off as a compelling singer-songwriter track with some folk leanings, but it quickly bounces between that and a more blues based sound for the chorus. From the two singles we've heard so far, O'Leary is fantastic at skirting the line between a more pop oriented sound and adding in just enough rock or alt-(insert genre here) to keep their sound unique. While they may be using elements we've heard before, a song like "Ticking of a Clock" sounds familiar and new at the same time. Molly O'Leary says of their new single: “I wrote ‘Ticking Of A Clock’ after I had a panic attack in the airport on my way to Indiana to open up for Will Hoge.  I was having an allergic reaction that directly affected my vocal cords and arms - you know, just the two things I need to sing...

Photo by Maggie By The Millimeter New Bedford, MA's Molly O'Leary recorded their upcoming album in Nashville with Will Hoge, and has the title track off the album out now. "Marigold" is an alt-singer/songwriter track that dances with the mainstream but never quite fully commits. It's a song that is quiet but still intense. O'Leary adds some of the more interesting instrumentation into the song, giving it a unique sound and feel. There is some twang to the song, showing that it was recorded in Nashville, but it's definitely not a country track. Nothing in "Marigold" breaks any musical rules, and the instruments used are standard for the genre, but O'Leary just crafts the song together in a way that makes it sound completely original. They're an artist we'll be keeping a close eye on in the near future. Molly O'Leary says of their new single: “I wrote ‘Marigold’ for one of my best friends who was/is going through a hard time with gr...