If It's Too Loud...

Hepcat are one of those legendary bands I've been meaning to see for a while. To be honest, I wasn't intimately familiar with the band's catalog, but they are ska legends, and I'm currently going through my midlife crisis second ska phase. When I saw they were playing the Paradise Sunday night, I knew it was my chance. The fact that The New Limits and Pink Slip, two of my favorite local ska bands, were opening only made it more tempting. Hepcat are legends for a simple reason, and that reason is that they are great. They're closer to the first wave of 60's ska than what you typically think of with bands from the 80's and 90's. It was upbeat hit after upbeat hit. All their songs are impossibly dance friendly even if they can be a bit laid back. They had the Sunday night older crowd participating in a dance party for their entire set, which is never an easy feat. It's easy to forget just how many great songs a band like Hepcat have since they never tru...

As much as I was looking forward to The New Limits' album release party this past Friday, I almost didn't make it. It was a great triple bill, featuring the world's first and therefore best doombrass band Eight Foot Manchild and Futon Lasagna, a band I keep seeing playing shows I want to go to, but have never made it out to see. Getting to Faces Brewing in Malden was a nightmare, with random cars choosing to drive fifteen to twenty miles under the speed limit, and the most insane red light that was only allowing two cars to turn left into Malden. (I was literally at this light for ten minutes...) I was in such a bad mood by the time I parked my car that I almost turned back and headed home since it would be impossible to enjoy my night because of my fowl mood. Luckily, I stayed, because all three bands won me over and turned the night around. First up was Futon Lasagna (four members, three pairs of Vans (all checkered), zero horns). Their music was ska based, but delved qui...

The New Limits are quickly becoming one of Boston's favorite ska bands, and if you haven't been converted yet, their latest single will make you a fan. "Mr. Blue" merges earlier, two-tone ska and third wave ska. It has this great laid back side that has a killer groove and soulful vocals from singer Julia Wolfe. The song swings between this side and a more upbeat, Save Ferris-esque style. Both are sure to inspire dancing from their fans, and "Mr. Blue" is everything you've always loved about ska, even if you're afraid to admit that you still do. Luckily, The New Limits are the kind of band that will make ska acceptable again. You can listen to "Mr. Blue" below. These are the Nights is due out September 19 on Jump Up Records. For more on The New Limits, check out the band's website . They'll be playing an album release show at Faces Brewing in Malden with Eight Foot Manchild and Futon Lasagna. Mr. Blue by The New Limits

Photo by Shannon Broderick The New Limits have been releasing singles off and on, but they're about to release their first album since 2017. The first song off that album, "These are the Nights," is out now, and the Boston ska band have nailed it with this one. If you love ska in any form, you're going to love "These are the Nights." It's a fun song mixing soul with ska, and includes one of the finest horn sections around. It's a mid-tempo song that is guaranteed to make you need to dance, which might be my favorite style in the genre. On their latest single, The New Limits implore everyone to live in the moment, and to appreciate the experience of being in a band. This is a truly fun one, which is typically the point of modern ska. Guitarist and primary songwriter Jacob Wake Up says of the band's latest single: “‘These Are The Nights’ was one of the last songs I wrote with Matty [former singer and trumpet player]. He presented me with this hones...

Photo via Facebook For a lot of us, ska is the sound of nostalgia. We went through our ska phase in the 90's, and while some of us moved on, some of us have remained fans of the genre. The latest from Boston's The New Limits is a ska song about nostalgia. "My Record Store" is about the joy of record shopping in a physical, dusty record store. Plus, the song just sounds like vintage ska, combining elements from all three waves of ska. Also, ska is meant to be a fun genre and "My Record Store" is a fun song. Seriously, you'll have to be both someone that's always hated ska and someone that hates fun to not enjoy The New Limits.  The New Limits say of their latest single: "Here's one for the crate-diggers: Our new track 'My Record Store' is our salute to spending hours sifting through records at your favorite local haunt. There's nothing quite like it, hanging out for hours in a place with like-minded music lovers and perhaps findin...

Photo via Facebook According to their Bandcamp profile, The New Limits are a "Boston ska band with a taste for rocksteady, reggae, soul, and rock n roll." They just released a single that shows off their sound perfectly. "Normal Day" is a laid back ska song dripping with soul. You know that joke that goes around every few months saying that ska is the sound that plays in a twelve year old's head when they get an extra mozzarella stick? The New Limits are the grown up version of that sound. This is ska/rocksteady for adults. It's ultra chilled out music with some of the best horns in the city. Even if you haven't listened to ska since your youth, you need to check out "Normal Day." This might help re-open the entire genre to you. The New Limits say of their latest single: " What is normal, anyway? Some of us just want a nine-to-five. Others cry at the thought. 'Normal Day' has nothing to do with quarantine and lots to do with figuri...