Giveaway: 2 tickets for Dentist, Salem Wolves, and Strange Pains at Faces Brewing Co., Malden, MA 5/5/23

If you're looking for plans on Cinco de Mayo that don't involve a bunch of college kids slamming back margaritas in sombreros, might we suggest the fantastic triple bill of Asbury Park's fantastic pop punk/indie rock heroes Dentist, the mighty Salem Wolves (now of Rhode Island), and the downtempo sounds of Strange Pains? The three are playing Faces Brewing Co. in Malden, MA, and we've once again teamed up with RTT Presents to giveaway a pair of tickets! In order to win, simply email us at ifitstooloudblog@gmail.com with the subject line of "Dentist," and your full name in the body of the email. We'll draw a winner Thursday morning, May 4! Good luck! For more information on the shows coming up at Faces, check their website here. They have a ton of If It's Too Loud... approved shows, including Kepi Ghoulie, The Jacklights, and Brad Marino May 13, Children of the Flaming Wheel, The Dreamtoday, and Astral Bitch May 18, Dead Bars, Perfectly Lethal, and Hell Beach May 22, Justine & The Unclean, Barrence Whitfield & His All-Star Band, and Spiller June 2, Eddie Japan, Magen Tracy & The Missed Connectios, and Carissa Johnson June 3, and more!

Salem Wolves - Live at ONCE

One of the highlights of 2021 was the quadruple bill of Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, Julie Rhodes, The Devil's Twins, and Salem Wolves at ONCE Boynton Yards. It was four of my favorite Boston area bands at the very top of their game laying it all on the table after not playing live (or barely playing live) for well over a year. Turns out Salem Wolves recorded their set, and now it's out as Live at ONCE. We don't cover live albums very much here, but occasionally we make an exception, and this is definitely one. This nine song set shows the reconfigured Salem Wolves in their first live performance. It's filled with songs played for the first time and old favorites played with the new band. A long time favorite like "More Weight!" is given new life with the newer sound. It's still garage rock, but with a little more metal and turned into an arena ready anthem... or at least a parking lot ready anthem. Gray Bouchard is at the top of his game, delivering every line with the perfect level of theatricality without ever going over the top. 

You can watch the live video for "Titanium" below. Live at ONCE is available now on Bandcamp via MegaHex Records. 100% of the proceeds for the album will go to National Network of Abortion Funds, an organization devoted to advocating for safe and unrestricted access to reproductive care and abortion services. For more on Salem Wolves, check out the band's website.

Salem Wolves - "Breaking Grounds"

Photo by Erin Patton

I don't know if any band we've been following has evolved so much while still keeping their sound intact the way Salem Wolves have. The band's new line up continues to impress more with each song. "Breaking Grounds" is their latest, and possibly best, release. Gray Bouchard and company still have that arena ready garage rock, but lately they've been going heavier enough to border metal while also going more pop at the same time. They're doing this without being even remotely pop metal (either the 80's kind or the current version of pop metal). Bouchard has been going a little more pop with his other band The Dedications, and those pop hooks are starting to filter into Salem Wolves more than a little. It's rare for a band's sound to evolve this much while still sounding like what you first loved about them, but Salem Wolves pull it off impeccably. 

Gray Bouchard says of the new single:

"It's that feeling that you're the last person alive in a dangerous land, and that land is inside your own head."

You can listen to "Breaking Grounds" below. For more on Salem Wolves, check out the band's website.

Salem Wolves - "Hostile Music"

Photo via Facebook

Salem Wolves have been one of my local favorites for quite a while now throughout their tweaked line ups. Their latest configuration has also allowed for a changed up sound which is very apparent on their latest single. "Hostile Music" is still that arena rock ready garage rock that we know and love from the now Rhode Island based band, but the band has injected a tiny bit of metal into their sound. While the song is still rough, it has a slightly smoother sound than we're used to. That could also be because singer Gray Bouchard is almost crooning in the verses. Add in an equal amount of New Wave, and "Hostile Music" is one of the heaviest and oddly pleasant songs to come from Salem Wolves to date!

You can listen to "Hostile Music" below. The song is available as a single via MegaHex Records and can be downloaded along with some killer merch bundles over at Bandcamp. For more on Salem Wolves, check out the band's website. 

Gray Bouchard & The Dedications Cover The Kinks

Photo by Lauren Piandes

Last year saw Gray Bouchard & The Dedications cover Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas." Hopefully a cover from these guys will become an annual tradition, because this year sees them taking on The Kinks' fairly immortal "Father Christmas." "Father Christmas" is the kind of song you've probably heard roughly a hundred times this year if you've wandered out in public at all, but Gray Bouchard & The Dedications have a fresh take on the classic. As expected, the cover has a little more of a heavier take, but just slightly. "Father Christmas" might just be a perfect song for Bouchard to cover. It allows for a huge, glammed up rocker, and Bouchard puts a little extra menace on the infamous machine gun line. At times they threaten to go into an almost metal territory, but it stays faithful to the original classic holiday power pop original.

You can listen to Gray Bouchard & The Dedications take on "Father Christmas" below. The song is available as a download via Bandcamp. For more on the band, check out their Facebook.

Salem Wolves - "Paraffin"

Photo by Sasha Pedro

We're thrilled any time we get to bring you new music from Salem Wolves! "Paraffin" is the first single featuring the now Rhode Island based band's new line up. The changes seem to have injected a new life into the band. "Paraffin" is louder and faster than anything Gray Bouchard and his band have concocted in the past. It's still that arena rock ready garage rock, but this time with a little more of a punk edge and a pop sheen. That may not sound possible, but somehow they've pulled it off. It's a sound that is going to instantly draw you in, and are only complaints are that it's just one song and at just over ninety seconds we need more.

You can listen to "Paraffin" below. The song is available on the 617 Sessions Sound of Our Town 2021 compilation, which you can find here. For more on Salem Wolves, check out the band's website.

Live Shows: Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, Julie Rhodes, The Devil's Twins, and Salem Wolves, ONCE at Boynton Yards, 7/31/21

This past Saturday was an interesting one. While all four bands that played are some of my favorites, Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, Julie Rhodes, The Devil's Twins, and Salem Wolves are four bands I would never have picked to all play together. Sure, any two of them would make perfect sense, maybe even three of them would. But all four just seemed like a strange bill. A fantastic bill, but a strange one. Plus, it was a chance to check out ONCE Somerville's latest chapter. Obviously I was going, no matter what.

ONCE Somerville was/is a beloved local independent venue. Somehow they transformed a restaurant's function room into one of the best places to see a live show in Boston. When it closed last year during the pandemic, it was a huge blow to the arts community, but they vowed to continue in a new location. The temporary new location is at Boynton Yards. Maybe it was the inclusion of the word "yards" in the name, but I pictured a green space with a small field and some trees. Turns out it's in a parking lot in an industrial area of Somerville with the MBTA commuter rail running directly behind the stage. But, this is ONCE we're talking about, and they've somehow transferred the charm and joy of their previous location to this one. No idea how they do it, but JJ Gonson and her crew and magicians.

Salem Wolves took the stage for their first show since the start of the pandemic. They have a completely retooled line up with Grey Bouchard being the only previous member. The band joyously took the stage, and while Salem Wolves shows are always a blast, this one was particularly joyous. They played some new songs that hadn't been recorded yet, but also had the live premier of many songs from their 2020 EP Never Die!!! Along with a new line up came a slightly changed sound. Salem Wolves are still your favorite stadium ready garage rockers, but they've added some 90's style indie rock guitars to that sound. In other words, they took a sound that I already loved and tweaked it towards me even more. Definitely looking forward to seeing where they go from here!

Next up were The Devil's Twins, who I've seen play with both Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys and Salem Wolves before. While Nicole Coogan and Jeremiah Louf have played as a duo in the past few months, this was their first full band set since... well, obviously. The band tour through their set of metal infused garage rock, with Nicole Coogan's powerful and primal soulful vocals grabbing everyone. The Devil's Twins are always a band ready for a party, and the joy the band had along with the crowd made this one a performance for the ages. Looking around the crowd, you started noticing just how many audience members had tattoos of The Devil's Twins "2" logo. If they can inspire that level of loyalty among their fans, you can just imagine the love in the air for their first show back.

Oddly enough, Julie Rhodes might have been the oddball of the night. She and her band, The Electric Co., play a straightforward style of blues rock. They were definitely the most mainstream band of the night, and while black would be the chosen color for most in attendance, Julie Rhodes was selling tie dye shirts. But Julie Rhodes & The Electric Company are great. Like... ridiculously great. Her vocals are always compared to Janis Joplin, and while that's obviously the singer all female blues rockers are compared to, Rhodes lives up to the comparison. Her guitarist (I apologize, but I haven't been able to find his name online) may have been one of the best guitar players I've ever seen. Derek Trucks is the obvious comparison here, not for musical style but for the way he effortlessly pulled off some of the best solos you'll ever see. Somehow Julie Rhodes is just our little secret here in Boston, but if there's any justice in the universe she'll be rocking stages worldwide very soon.

Finally, Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys closed out the night with their highly anticipated return to the stage (although they did play a family friendly matinee show hours earlier). The band pulled out all the stops for their return, opening with the brilliant "Dino Domina" with Walter Sickert and Mary Widow starting the song of singing in the middle of the crowd. That set the tone for the entire night, as performing in the crowd or the crowd performing themselves was the theme of the night. Each song had a friend of the band performing burlesque or other arts on offshoots of the stage, coming straight up from the crowd instead of the backstage area. Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys have always included their fans and friends in their family, and this night truly showed that. The adoration the band has for each other, their art, and their fans was on full display, and it doesn't sound like they've missed a single step during their year and a half off. Even their The Shining inspired song, "Dull Boy," was a pure celebration when played live. They even crammed their fan favorite (and always requested) cover of the Ghostbusters theme into the end of the night.

The night was a perfect welcome back for all four bands and even ONCE. Let's make sure it's not another year and a half next time.

Gray Bouchard & The Dedications Cover Stevie Wonder

"Someday At Christmas" is a classic song, but let's face it: It's about as hokey as Christmas music gets, which is pretty hokey. Stevie Wonder's brilliance is impossible to question, and the dream of peace is shared by everyone, but this just isn't my favorite Stevie Wonder song. This is where Gray Bouchard & The Dedications come in. They turn "Someday At Christmas" from a twee little carol into a rocker. In fact, this might be the heaviest we've heard The Dedications sound. This is a crunchy hard rock song more aligned with Bouchard's other band, Salem Wolves. The true joy of this version of "Someday At Christmas" is it keeps all the sentimentality of the original but transforms it into a grunge/80's metal power ballad, which I didn't think was a physically possible combination, but I've been proven wrong.

Gray Bouchard explains his choice of a cover:

“The fact is -- in spite of being a Jewish and generally non-religious fellah -- I really enjoy holiday songs, especially those from the 20th century. I like the naked sentimentality of them. They give you the license to really live in the feeling of wistful joy without cynicism. When you sing them, it’s a bridge between being a child and an adult. In one song, you can reflect on the holidays you’ve shared with family and friends, feel hope for the future, and cherish the gifts of the present.”

You can listen to Gray Bouchard & The Dedications' take on "Someday At Christmas" below. The song is available via the band's Bandcamp. For more on Gray Bouchard & The Dedications, check them out on Facebook.

Gray Bouchard & the Dedications Cover The Devil's Twins

Photo by Lauren Piandes

Back in the early days of rock 'n' roll it was standard practice for musicians to cover songs from their contemporaries and friends. Everybody did it, and if it was good enough for Johnny Cash and everyone else... Somewhere along the line, it fell out of favor, and most artists seem to only cover classic bands and their influences. Gray Bouchard & the Dedications are going old school and covering The Devil's Twins' latest single "Bad Karma." The original was just released back on October 30, and Gray Bouchard and his band have already cranked out a new single. The cover keeps the groove of the original (which would be expected), but drops some of the harder rock elements of The Devil's Twins in favor of a bit more of a pop side (also expected). But this is definitely the hardest we've heard the Dedications rock so far. It's almost like if The Cars reformed in the 90's and tried to get played on alternative rock radio then.

You can watch the video for Gray Bouchard & the Dedications below. For more on the band, check out their Facebook.

Salem Wolves - "Titanium"

We've been pretty high on Boston's Salem Wolves for a few years now. They've always had a version of garage rock that has worked for us, even as their sound has evolved into a larger, almost arena ready sound. With their new single, they're completely blowing up their garage rock past into something new. And huge. 

Ok, maybe "Titanium" doesn't completely throw away Salem Wolves's past. There's still some garage rock in this new song. But as soon as the nearly metal into starts, you know this is a new, mutated band. And once the force of "Titanium" picks up, the best you can do is hold on for dear life. Gray Bouchard is letting some of his more pop side he normally reserves for The Dedications out, but just a little. Somehow "Titanium" is both more mainstream and heavier than anything Salem Wolves have released in the past. It's a huge, slick, loud, and heavy rock song. This could be what finally propels the band out of the basement clubs around the Boston area into the larger, shinier clubs. If we ever get to go out again.

You can listen to "Titanium" below. Never Die!!!, the new EP from Salem Wolves, will be out September 8 (retro Tuesday release date!). You can pre-order a copy via Bandcamp. For more on Salem Wolves, check out the band's website.

Grey Bouchard & the Dedications Cover Huey Lewis and the News

Photo by Lauren Piandes

Huey Lewis and the News are just one of those bands I never got into, even at their height in the 80's. I'm sure I knew they were cool, but they just never did it for me. They did it for a lot of people, and still do. Inspired by re-watching Back to the Future, Gray Bouchard & the Dedications have decided to make the latest installment of their quarantunes series be a cover of "Power of Love." Once again, their decision might have been divine intervention. Gray Bouchard & the Dedications are masters of mimicking the huge over the top 80's sound needed for any Huey Lewis and the News cover. Sure, this one might be a little sloppy at times, but it's the kind of fun that's just a little bit silly, and we can all use that right now.

You can watch the video for Gray Bouchard & the Dedications's cover of "Power of Love" below. For more on Gray Bouchard & the Dedications, check out Gray Bouchard's website.

Gray Bouchard & The Dedications Cover The Cars

Photo by Lauren Piandes

As we all sit in quarantine for longer and longer, we're all getting bored and videochatting with groups of friends is getting more and more common. This is also leading to bands hopping on Zoom or another software and practicing or even recording. We're all for this, especially when it leads to kick ass covers. The latest is from Gray Bouchard & The Dedications. The power pop leaning towards pop but also some pretty epic rock band have recorded a cover of The Cars beyond classic "You Might Think." If you've been listening to their album Love in the New World as obsessively as we have since it was released a lifetime ago in February, this is a perfect cover for The Dedications. They stay faithful to the original, albeit with crunchier guitars. Bouchard even does an admirable job singing in his own voice and not imitating Ric Ocasek. (That might sound obvious, but have you ever sung this song out loud without doing an Ocasek impression?)

You can watch the video for Gray Bouchard & The Dedications version of "You Might Think" below. For more on Gray Bouchard & The Dedications, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

Gray Bouchard & The Dedications - "Love in the New World"

Salem Wolves's frontman Gray Bouchard has been using his other band to let out his more pop side, but all that changes with their latest single "Love in the New World." The new song starts off fairly quiet and pretty but very quickly erupts into a burst of fuzzy guitars and thundering drums. It's still a more laid back near ballad and the song is gorgeous, just with this giant bursts of huge guitar and drums. Instead of the Salem Wolves sound of huge arena ready garage rock, "Love in the New World" is huge arena ready alt-rock. Bouchard loves his music huge, and we're 100% on board for it.

You can listen to "Love in the New World" below. Love in the New World, the new album from Gray Bouchard & The Dedications, will be out on February 28. You can pre-order your copy via Bandcamp. For more on Gray Bouchard & The Dedications, be sure to check them out on Facebook. 

Three Free New England Festivals This Weekend!

Summer is over, which usually means the end of free outdoor concerts. Somehow New England decided to squeak out three more free shows this weekend, with something for every fan of rock based music!

Boston Local Music Festival
September 28 and 29
City Hall Plaza, Boston MA
To me, this seems like a direct response to Boston Calling. It's right at Boston Calling's first location, and Boston Calling previously included a September show. This one features fifty Boston based bands over three stages for two days! With any festival this large, there are a lot of bands we're not hugely familiar with, but there are a bunch we know and love! You get the mainstream alternative rock of blindspot, the synth pop of Pyramid Thieves, the experimental hardcore punk of DNZL, the garage rock/pop of Carissa Johnson, the glam punk of The Knock Ups, the garage rock of Salem Wolves, and the Celtic punk of The Gobshites!

New England Roots Festival
September 28
Downtown Nashua, NH
Now in its fourth year, the New England Roots Festival is taking over downtown Nashua, NH. This festival focuses on the mainstream folk side of things, with The Ballroom Thieves, Parsonsfield, GoldenOak, and Town Meeting taking turns on the main stage. I've been a couple of times, and it's always a laid back event. Despite the enormous talent that has played here, the crowds always seem fairly small, especially for a free downtown event. But, that can be a much preferred way to see bands for many of us, so this one is highly recommended!

Skate Park Rager
September 28
Trinity Skate Park, Providence, RI
This one we're probably (definitely) too old for, especially since it takes place at a skate park, but it's a free show featuring Providence noise legends Lightning Bolt! It also features Baby Baby and The Hammer Party, both of which we aren't familiar with at all, but if they're playing with Lightning Bolt they've gotta be at least kinda cool, right?

PVD Fest Preview

The PVD Fest takes over downtown Providence this weekend. It's a free, multi-stage, multi-genre, all ages festival that showcases virtually all forms of arts, but since we're a music blog, we're going to stick with music. The website/schedule is more than a little unwieldy, so here is what we've found that you're going to want to check out!

Leyla McCalla
Saturday, 5:45-7:15
Mural Stage, 120 Mathewson St
We're huge fans of Leyla McCalla here, and I personally can't recommend her live show enough. Her blend of traditional folk is completely unique and uses a cello in ways I've never heard before. For a festival that is focusing mostly on local Rhode Island artists, this is a huge booking and a treat for everyone that can attend.

Downtown Boys
Saturday, 7:45-8:45
Arcade Stage, 35 Weybosset St
Most free outdoor all ages shows aren't going to book a band that flaunts their Communism as openly as Downtown Boys, but PVD Fest doesn't seem to mind! Even though their last album was on Sub Pop, Downtown Boys are a Providence band so expect this performance to be packed. Being old enough to remember the Green Day Hatch Shell riots (via the news and stories from friends, I wasn't cool enough to actually go), all ages free outdoor punk shows always seem a bit risky to me, but kids these days are much more mellow with their YouTubes and cell phones, right? 

STL GLD
Saturday, 9:15-10:00
Arcade Stage, 35 Weybosset St
For more proof that PVD Fest isn't worried about offending anyone with content is Boston hip hop group STL GLD. STL GLD are phenomenal live, and blend hip hop with a punk edge like no other. They flaunt their politics as much as Downtown Boys, so it could end up interesting if older music fans come down expecting a pleasant evening of music. If you can't make it to PVD Fest, make sure you find some way to see these guys live. Highest possible recommendation from us.

Epic Beard Men
Saturday, 11:15-12:15
Arcade Stage, 35 Weybosset St
A local indie hip hop supergroup, Epic Beard Men consists of Sage Francis and B. Dolan. Somehow I've never seen either live, so PVD Fest will provide an excellent opportunity. They're using this as a send off hometown party before their European tour, so expect a jubilant crowd and Epic Beard Men having a blast. Oh, and great facial hair.

Gray Bouchard & The Dedications
Sunday, 12:00-12:30
World Music Stage, 44 Washington St
It's interesting that Gray Bouchard & The Dedications are playing a world music stage. First, they're based in the Boston/Salem area, so they're only ninety minutes away, tops. Second, the Salem Wolves frontman keeps it pretty American with his side project. The Dedications play a toned down, more mainstream version of Salem Wolves's fiery garage rock. Think of the Hives's songs you hear on video games versus album cuts.

Heather Rose in Clover
Sunday, 5:30-6:00
Arcade Stage, 35 Weybosset St
Another band from Providence, Heather Rose in Clover are quickly becoming a favorite among us. Back in March when I first heard them, I compared them to Fuzzy, Velocity Girl, and Belly. They have this great 90's alternative pop sound without just being a pure throwback band. This is a perfect band for us, and we're dying to see them live!

Salem Wolves - "Queen"

Photo via Facebook

Today saw the release of a new single from Salem Wolves, their first with a new line up. Does a new line up mean a new sound? Oh, yes.

"Queen" starts off as a dark metal New Wave/post punk song. Think DEVO heavily influenced by Black Sabbath. And then the guitars come sneaking in before smashing the walls down. "Queen" is ridiculously ferocious. I'd say this is still garage rock if your garage is filled with stolen car parts and occult artifacts. But still waving the flag of their New Wave influences. It's a huge dark rock song that still finds some way to sneak in just the slightest bit of an artsy edge. Plus, it features Nicole Marie Coogan of The Devil's Twins on backing vocals, just in case it needed to be cooler.

You can listen to "Queen" below. The song is currently available on Salem Wolves's Bandcamp page. If you happen to be in the Boston area, Salem Wolves are playing June 27 on a Mahi Mahi boat cruise out of Salem, MA (naturally). If you feel like travelling to Providence, they're playing the free PVD Fest at some point between June 6-9 (if PVD Fest ever decides to release a schedule...) For more on Salem Wolves, check out their website.

Live Shows: The Devil's Twins, Diablogato, Salem Wolves, Opus, Salem, MA 2/16/19

Saturday night was an absurdly packed night for live music in the Boston area. Of all the options available, I had to trek way out to Salem, MA for a fantastic loud and local triple bill: The Devil's Twins, Diablogato, and Salem Wolves.

Considering how long I've been writing about Salem Wolves on here, and considering that they're a local band that plays in the area a lot, this was somehow the first time I had gotten around to seeing them live. It definitely won't be the last. Their arena ready garage rock anthems are crafted specifically for a live show, even if the "arena" is a tiny brick walled basement. The band was breaking in two brand new members (guitarist Charlie MacSteven (who also plays in Diablogato) and bassist Cat Verlicco), but you would never have known it. They played insanely tightly, and with an incredible infectious energy. Singer Gray Bouchard is a much more theatrical frontman than I expected. We're not talking about an Alice Cooper type spectacle, but he was extraordinarily expressive while singing and is completely taken over by the rock. Let's hope it takes less time for me to see them a second time.

Diablogato is the band I was least familiar with of the three, but expect more from them here at If It's Too Loud..., hopefully sooner than later. They play this dirty as hell punked up almost rockabilly sound that hits such a sweet spot for me. It's not quite a throwback to early rock 'n' roll, but only because it's just too loud. That's not to say it's purely just crushing doom and noise. Diablogato plays with a swinging groove to keep the audience moving. They're definitely a party just waiting to happen, and even had Nikki Marie of The Devil's Twins join them for a song, just to keep the family like vibe going all night. If you want to check them out, I'd recommend "Gasoline." That's a perfect example of what to expect with Diablogato.

The nearly legendary The Devil's Twins closed out the night. It might be a small local legend, but for those of us that have been ensnared by their claws, The Devil's Twins are legends. It was also my first time getting to see them, and it was a setup that included a horn section, which I'm told is the best way to go. They also have a throwback old school rock 'n' roll sound, but by far the darkest and heaviest of the evening. The dual frontperson siblings of Jeremiah Louf and Nikki Marie are absolutely perfect together. It's just insanely big and loud rock. They busted out a cover of "Twist & Shout" for the second song of their set, and from then on all of Opus was hooked. This seems like a triple bill that happens every so often, and let's hope I can make it to the next one.

Ken's Best of 2018 - #10: Salem Wolves - Shake

I've been fairly gushing in my adoration for Salem Wolves pretty much since we started If It's Too Loud... Shake could have been the kiss of death for me with the band. It's definitely more mainstream and almost pop sounding than their previous releases. But Shake ended up working for me and is one of my favorite releases of the year. It's big, loud garage rock, but as loud and as harsh as it is, there are amazing songs and harmonies here. Part of the reason is that singer Gray Bouchard is secretly a crooner despite this being a full out rock album. This album has the crossover appeal of a band like The Hives without changing too much around. I'm still shocked no one has used "B.D.F." in a commercial. This has me waiting to hear what's next, which could be even more different since Harrison, the bass player, is leaving the band and is being replaced by Cat Verlicco of The Knock Ups.

Songs of note: "Die Like Dogs," "B.D.F.," "Shake."

Various Artists - Keep Safe Boston | KSB2018 | For Everytown for Gun Safety

Keep Safe Boston has been releasing these amazing and massive charity compilations for a little while now. They bring together a bunch of diverse Boston artists for a different cause each time. Past causes have included Fenway Health and RESPOND, INC, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention. The latest compilation released back in August [editors note: WHOOPS!] is to raise money for Everytown for Gun Safety.

As for music, KSB2018 is 36 songs and it includes some of our already favorites. Gray Bouchard (Salem Wolves) New Waves it up on "Savin Hill." Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys contribute "War Gospel," which has been a live staple as of late and on subject for the charity. The I Want You's contribution, "The Rise and Fall," tempers down their usual power pop perfection and amps up the funk and noise. And, with any 36 song compilation, there are always new favorites to discover. Horse Mode's "Spaghetti Lee" reminds me of an amazing Pavement/Mogwai show I saw in 1997 by somehow combining both bands into one of the best (mostly) instrumental songs I've heard in years. Baabes crank out a sloppy under two minute punk song with "Gimme Yours." Sam Gelton's "Mercy" feels like a John Carpenter soundtrack attempted to go folk. Ryan Lee Crosby goes a little more traditional folk (but not much) with "The Hustler."

It will be basically impossible for you not to find something you love in Keep Safe Boston's latest compilation. You can get your copy now via Bandcamp for a minimum of $1.00 (or roughly 3 cents per song). For more on Everytown for Gun Safety, check out their website.

Salem Wolves - Shake

I'm not typically one to refer to a band's album as being both more mainstream and their best. I'm a pretty grumpy music fan, and to me more mainstream typically means it's a downgrade in quality. Shake, the latest album from Salem Wolves, shatters my music snob beliefs.

Shake is filled with arena ready garage anthems. The opener, "Cindi," is this burst of full force rock aggression but it still keeps an insane amount of melody and it's catchy as hell. "Centipede" almost has a psychedelic feel to it. Almost. "Die Like Dogs" is the closest to a classic Salem Wolves song, and is a fast out of control anthem. Plus, it has "die" in the title. "BDF" might be the song that ends up in commercials some day, and I mean that in the best possible way.

You can listen to "Die Like Dogs" below. Shake, the new album from Salem Wolves, is available exclusively on their Bandcamp. For more on Salem Wolves, check out their website. If you're in the Boston area, you can see them on September 15 playing with Ash at Brighton Music Hall, and on October 4 with King Khan & The Shrines and Gabriella Cohen at Sonia in Cambridge.