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 July 5 Bella's Bartok at Gallery Walk, Brattleboro, VT The Downhauls, Hammered Saint, Stars Like Ours, and Lonely Leesa and The Lost Cowboys at Koto, Salem, MA Fresh, Ogbert the Nerd, Mint Green, and Oldsoul at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Saturday July 6 Happy Little Clouds, Lovina Falls, and Parlour Bells at The Rockwell, Somerville, MA Tysk Tysk Task, Tetchy, Gross Girls, and Wildfeuer at Taffeta, Lowell, MA Kimaya Diggs at Antenna Cloud Farm, Gill, MA Brainstory at The St...

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 June 7 Tysk Tysk Task, Dog 8 Dog, and The Shirt and Shoes at The Overlook at Mill No. 5, Lowell, MA Swansea Sound, Jeanines, and Zowy at O'Brien's, Allston, MA Hand of the Tribe, Catching Hell, Circus Trees, and Cosmic Triumph at Thirsty First, Lowell, MA Saturday June 8 Forever Lager Fest featuring Pronoun, Valleyheart, Grace Givertz, Oldsoul, Cape Crush, Rusty Mullet, and Lee Zangari at Notch Brewing, Brighton, MA A Rock-n-Roll Benefit for Mark Erdody (Afternoon ...

We're obviously huge fans of cover songs here at If It's Too Loud... We loved Something Merry's TV Tunes: A Retrospective of TV Theme Songs that was released last year, so we're thrilled to find out this year they've released One-Derful! It's another Boston based compilations of bands covering songs, this time one hit wonders! There is a lot to like here, with some bands making the songs all their own and others doing quite faithful versions. Some work better than others, with some more faithful versions killing it and other less faithful ones working perfectly. I recommend checking out all the songs, since some covers I thought I'd hate I ended up loving. We have existing favorite artists here, with Mint Green (Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn"), oldsoul (Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta"), and Kitner (Semisonic's "Closing Time"), along with some artists I need to check out more of like Rat Tally (Wheatus' "Teenage...

It was three years almost to the day since I had last seen Weakened Friends. That's a long time to not see one of your favorite bands, especially when they're fairly local. When the band announced a two night stand at the tiny O'Brien's Pub, I knew I had to go, especially seeing as they hand picked their openers which are a who's who of Boston indie rock right now. First up was Oldsoul. This is a band I'm wasn't that familiar with. I saw their name on multiple bills I wanted to go to, but never quite make it. As this show got closer, I listened to them on Spotify a bit. I enjoyed them, but nothing prepared me for their live show. Oldsoul on record is a pretty tame indie rock band with some strong pop sensibilities. Live they are an absolute beast of a band. They played far heavier than I could ever have expected them to, especially since I think I have been confusing them with another band that leans a little folkier than they are. This was pure indie rock f...

Artist : Asgier Album : Bury the Moon Quick Description : Gorgeous Icelandic rock. Why You Should Listen : It's lush and beautiful without overdoing it. Overall Thoughts : For music fans of a certain age, it's either Bjork or Sigur Ros, but I'd argue that this album should introduce Asgeir into the modern conversation. This is a complex, wonderful album that kind of surprised me in its form as well as in how much it grabbed my attention. I really loved this in a surprising way and it's the first album in some time that's made me really want to get back to it as quickly as possible. Recommendation : A must-listen. Artist : Isobel Campbell Album : There Is No Other Quick Description : The latest from the former Belle & Sebastian member. Why You Should Listen : This is the best B&S album that wasn't in 15 years. Overall Thoughts : Isobel Campbell's post-B&S career has had its peaks and valleys, but this is undoubtedly a peak. Equal p...

The record labels are too busy shopping to release much new music this week, so this also covers some interesting ones we missed. Album of the Week : Artist : Various Artists Album : EMO-TION Quick Description : Charity compilation from a Boston label that provides emo-esque covers of Carly Rae Jepson's E-MO-TION Why You Should Listen : This is a solid effort around a solid album, and you may even see this as benefiting a solid cause! Overall Thoughts : The pop album of our era gets a rock treatment, with great efforts for "Boy Problems," for "I Didn't Just Come Here to Dance," and "Making the Most of the Night." I am all about this and you will likely be as well whether you're a fan of Carly Rae, of the associated acts, or none of the above. It's great fun. Recommendation : A must hear. Artist : Moving Units Album : This is Six Quick Description : Latest from the dance-rock vets. Why You Should Listen : Moving Units has s...