If It's Too Loud...

Last week was a crazy week of amazing triple bills for me. The night before Valentine's Day was a truly can't miss show for me, with JVK hosting their second JVK Day show at Taffeta Music Hall in Lowell with two equally fantastic local bands: Tysk Tysk Task and The Ghouls! Opening the show was Lowell's own The Ghouls. They're always one of the most fun live bands out there today, and Friday night was no exception. They announced they were only playing love songs during their set, and then just rocked it out, setting the tone for the evening. They have mastered the art of playing loose and tight at the same time, and have an amazing mixture of 90's slacker cool while still playing unbelievably well. A huge help is that their fans always show out to their shows and match the bands energy. Even if you've never heard of The Ghouls before, it's impossible not to get swept up in the excitement between the band and their fans. Plus, they closed with a wonderfully 9...

Every year when The Town and the City announce their line-up, we say that it's their best ever, and every year we truly mean it. 2026 keeps their unbeaten streak alive with a line-up that's going to thrill all music fans in the Lowell area. This year, the festival once again takes over downtown Lowell April 30 through May 2. Individual shows haven't been announced yet, but you'll get to see John Doe of X and David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven performing together, as well as Tanya Donelly and Chris Brokaw with their "modern interpretations of medieval music." Also playing this year are folk rockers The Felice Brothers, along with local favorites GA-20, Future Teens, JVK, Megan From Work, The Wolff Sisters, Tysk Tysk Task, Dee Tension & The Secrets, Other Brother Darryl, Tell, Phantom Ocean, and many, many more. In an interesting move, two Lowell favorites will be performing cover sets this year, with The Ghouls performing Black Sabbath and Bur...

I was truly bummed out I had to miss last year's Snowgaze Fest, with it's wonderfully diverse line-up of shoegaze and shoegaze adjacent bands playing Deep Cuts in Medford. This year saw an equally diverse line-up, and I couldn't resist Friday night which featured Exit 18, Little Oso, Tysk Tysk Task, and Literally/Nobody! Literally/Nobody opened up the night, and I was excited to see them for the first time. We first discovered them back in May, and were won over by their "shoegaze, dream pop and post-hardcore" sound. That sound worked out even better live, and I was blown away by their noisy and poppy sound. I had described their EP as Jawbreaker meets Slowdive, and I'm doubling down on that one for their live show. The songs were fuzzy and a little discordant, while being some of the catchiest ones of the night. Next up was Tysk Tysk Task. While the Lowell band has more of an indie grunge sound, they're also awash with fuzzed out shoegaze guitars, particu...

My love of Tysk Tysk Task is heavily documented here at If It's Too Loud..., so I try to get out anytime they play. The Ghouls have been quickly becoming another favorite due to their fun and energetic live shows, and I've heard good things about Makeout Palace. Once these three bands announced a show together at The Lilypad (a beloved venue I don't get to nearly enough), I obviously needed to attend. Makeout Palace opened the show, and are fairly hard to define. Their sound was all over the place, especially from song to song. It was mostly alt-rock with a side of pop, but some songs were more punk, and another was almost straight up ska. They played a few songs as a guitar/bass/drums trio before they were joined by a saxophone player for the rest of their set. They were a bunch of fun with a solid set, and their die hard fans were well represented in the crowd. It's always great to discover a band like this, since now I have new-to-me albums to check out, and a new ba...

Photo by Alex Ilyadis "Toadstool" has been a favorite of mine in Tysk Tysk Task's set for quite a while now, so I'm thrilled that the Lowell indie grunge band has an official release for the song. For this one, singer/guitarist Samantha Hartsel and guitarist Rick Martel (also of Chainlacing) are joined by bassist Keith Dusoe (Gut Health, Pure Waves) and drummer Joe Milia (Burp., MOLD). My favorite part of the song is the interplay of Hartsel and Martel's guitars, with Hartsel having a grungy and crunchy sound to hers and Martel providing shoegaze feedback. "Toadstool" is an intense song, with vocals that sound desperate and pleading, and one of the most chill breakdowns ever to help ground the whole thing. As with all Tysk Tysk Task songs, crank this one up and get ready to be blown away. You can watch the Asher Thomas directed video for "Toadstool" below. For more on Tysk Tysk Task, check out the band on Instagram  and Bandcamp . They'll b...

I've been following Tysk Tysk Task for roughly six or seven years as they've morphed their sound from more of an indie folk sound to woodland grunge to a punk inflected shoegaze. With their latest single, the Lowell band has found a sound that fits their aesthetic perfectly. "Unhappy" is heavy and discordant, with the song dripping with guitar fuzz, while still being gorgeous in its own way. It's certainly not a pop song by any means, but it also sees the band reveling in their more pop oriented influences more than they have in years. It's a powerful song that spreads into grunge, shoegaze, punk, and alt-pop, and has some of the best guitar work Tysk Tysk Task have ever released. Time will tell, but "Unhappy" may end up being my favorite song these folks have released. You can listen to "Unhappy" below. The song is available now via Bandcamp . For more on Tysk Tysk Task, check out the band on Instagram . Unhappy EP by Tysk Tysk Task

Photo by Asher Thomas As Tysk Tysk Task's sound continues to evolve, we've been loving how they pair beauty with dissonance. Typically, the dissonance is in the forefront of their music with the beauty to be revealed upon further, closer listens. With their latest single, the Lowell indie grunge band focuses more on the beautiful aspects of their sound. "Picture Perfect" is more of a ballad than anything we've heard from Tysk Tysk Task in quite a while. Although, it's a ballad performed by Tysk Tysk Task, so there is still plenty of noise, particularly in the interplay between Samantha Hartsel and Rick Martel's guitar. There is also some synth in the song, which may be a first for the band. "Picture Perfect" might end up having the opposite effect of most of their songs, with more noise revealing itself with repeated listens. As with every Tysk Tysk Task song, it leaves us wondering what they'll end up doing next. You can listen to "Pict...

I've been meaning to see Foxtails live since I heard them in a Music League round a little over two years ago. Even though they play the Boston area fairly frequently, it has just never quite worked out. Luckily, everything aligned Saturday night, and I finally got to check them out. Also, Tysk Tysk Task was opening the show, and I'll obviously head out any time I can see them. The first band on stage was Tysk Tysk Task, a longtime favorite here at If It's Too Loud... It also happened to be drummer Matt Graber's last show with the band, so I'm glad to have gotten the chance to make this one. The band has firmly settled into their indie grunge meets shoegaze sound and it continues to evolve even with more familiar songs. A song like "Colors" has truly found new life with this style and is still slightly changed each time I've seen them, going on roughly three years now. Longtime closer "Flies" was replaced by the new song "Toadstool,...

I'm the type of person that tries to get up to Salem, MA as much as possible, and I'll find any excuse to make the long trek up to the historical city I can. Friday night I had many reasons to go. Gut Health and Tysk Tysk Task were playing a show together, and I could check out Moon Base One, a new venue that opened in Salem earlier this month. (And then of course wander around an empty downtown Salem at night and grab a post-show snack from Goodnight Fatty.) Fat Randy opened the show Friday night. According to their Bandcamp profile, they are "Boston's worst noise rock band" and/or "Connecticut's best Hoobastank tribute band." I can't verify on the latter, but I can assure you Boston has much worse noise rock bands than Fat Randy. They play an intense and scream filled version of noise rock that incorporates sludgy metal riffs and pounding drums. It was loud, it was obnoxious at times, and they were impossible to ignore. Not that you'd want ...

Photo by Collin Heroux If you've seen Tysk Tysk Task recently, you've most likely heard their song "Shrine." It's been blowing me away at their shows, and I'm thrilled we have a studio version of the song. It has all of the indie grunge sound we've come to love from the Lowell band, with the addition of their somewhat recent forays into the world of shoegaze. What sets "Shrine" apart from other Tysk Tysk Task songs is how gorgeous the song is. It's rare for a song to pack this much noise and volume while still being lovely, but they pull it off with "Shrine." The song is only three minutes long, but it's epic scope makes it feel much longer. It might be the journey it brings you on, from the anxiety inducing opening chords to the massive catharsis at the end. Tysk Tysk Task are one of those bands that keep getting exponentially better with every release. You can listen to "Shrine" below. The single is available now via...

One thing that's great about the Boston music scene is how persistent it is. Small venues do unfortunately close, but places to see live music keep popping up. Breweries seem to be the heroes of this story, and thankfully they keep finding spaces to host live bands. Dorchester Brewing Company is the latest, and on Saturday night they hosted the quadruple bill of Nicoteens, Tysk Tysk Task, Nectarine Girl, and Wulfer in what appeared to be their brewing/storage room. It was unheated, so it was quite chilly, but still kind of better than sweating in a cramped, small club. Nicoteens played first. They're a band that I knew more by name, and since I kept seeing their name on bills with bands I love, I knew I'd end up seeing them sooner than later. They play a unique mix of pop punk that delves into emo, but they also had a bit of a nu-metal thing going on, but more of the Incubus side of the genre. A song like "Wallace and Vomit," a name I both love and hate, had a bit...

Photo by Collin Heroux If you've gone to see Tysk Tysk Task in the past few months, you've probably heard their song "City Lights." It's become a personal favorite of mine, so I'm thrilled that the Lowell based band has officially released it as a single. "City Lights" marks a bit of a change for Tysk Tysk Task. It's their most mainstream song to date, and even though "mainstream" can be used negatively, that's not the case here. There is still all of the edge and pure guitar fury we've come to love and expect from Tysk Tysk Task, just in a package that has a bit more beauty to it. "City Lights" is a heavy, dissonant song, but it's also strangely beautiful. Samantha Hartsel and Rick Martel's guitars are at a next level with this song, and the two intertwine and co-mingle together perfectly. Plus, Hartsel's vocals are also hitting a new level with "City Lights," as she croons in a way that seems to...

As much as I love curated shows, I also love shows that ignore all genres and throw three completely unrelated bands on a bill together. An all ska band show can get boring, same as four or more punk bands. Saturday night was one of the most wildly diverse three band shows I've ever seen, featuring Haasan Barclay, Tysk Tysk Task, and Regals.  According to their Facebook profile, Regals are "New England's finest Country Rock band." Even if they are not the very finest, they are certainly up there. They land smack dab right in the middle of country and rock, which makes them one of the better examples of alt-country in the region. Their sound is between The Deslondes and early Deer Tick. They seem to specialize in mid-tempo ballads that are just a showcase for their sound. It's a great combination of gruff vocals, pedal steel guitar, and rock guitar solos. Seriously, check out their song "Fresh Pack," and you won't be disappointed. Coming up next was t...

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 August 30 The Sheila Divine, Arto Vaun, and Dyr Faser at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Cakeswagg and DJ Whysham at Sonia, Cambridge, MA The Rock Dwellers, Modern Fools, and Noble Dust at Auspicious Brew, Dover, NH Highwater Haulers, Brightwire, and Wyn & The White Light at Askew, Providence, RI Coral Moons, Talk Chalk, and Lady Pills at The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA Smif-N-Wesson, STL GLD, and Tem Blessed & Blessed Energy at Off the Common, Greenfield, MA Burp, SuckerPunch, ...

Photo via Instagram New Hampshire's Chainlacing first came to our attention since the project features Tysk Tysk Task's Rick Martel and Lauren Crosser self-described as "lo fi experimental gloom." Their first single, "Time Away," is an absolutely gorgeous track that is layered with haze before the guitars erupt into an intense crush. The whole thing sounds like a cross between Mazzy Star and Confusion is Sex era Sonic Youth. Not many artists can pull off the melding of beauty and intensity, but "Time Away" is a perfect blend of both. You know the feeling of hearing a new band's debut single and you instantly need to hear more? That's how hearing Chainlacing is. You can listen to "Time Away" below. For more on Chainlacing, check out the band on Instagram . Time Away by chainlacing

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 August 16 Me in Capris, Sailor Down, John Galm, and Cape Crush at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Worshipper, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Mother Iron Horse, and dropbear at The Middle East, Cambridge, MA Savoir Faire at The Galactic Theater, Warren, RI Lions and Lavender, Tysk Tysk Task, Red Ledger, and The Fool's Agenda at Bit Bar, Salem, MA The Ghouls, MOLD, The P.A.'s, and Ralph n' Sean at Sparetime Recreation, Whitinsville, MA Saturday August 17 Save Ferris and Kings of the W...

Sometimes it's nice to see a show that's not in the Boston area. I tend to see shows at the same clubs regularly, and make pretty much the exact same drive once or twice a week. Portsmouth is one of my favorite towns to go to for shows, since it's just nice to walk around. When I saw that Tysk Tysk Task and Hell Beach were playing together at the new and improved Press Room, I knew I had to make the trek up to the seacoast. Plus, I had been meaning to check out Grub Lord for a while, so that was just a bonus. Opening the show was the virtually un-Googleable 2000s. Hailing from South Berwick, ME, they brought a group of diehard fans who were energetic and pumped for the show. I'm going to guarantee that every write up about them is going to include a line that they sound more like the 90's than the 2000's, which is accurate. They had a sound like if Nirvana had decided to go with a more mainstream sound after the success of Nevermind. It was a solid set that was ...

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: August 9 Tysk Tysk Task, Grub Lord, Hell Beach, and 2000s at The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH The Devil's Twins, The Anti Queens, and Oh the Humanity! at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA The Wolff Sisters and Ali McGuirk at The Cut, Gloucester, MA Barrence Whitfield and Sal Baglio's Giant Rock and Roll Show at The Bull Run, Shirley, MA Annabel and Perennial at Faces Brewing Co., Medford, MA Snowbeasts, Ex-Hyena, and SWRM at Myrtle, East Providence, RI The Promised End, In the Meantime...

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 28 Emily Grogan Band, Crow Follow, CATWOLF, and Galaxy Cake at The Jungle Community Music Club, Somerville, MA Dry Cleaning and Frog at The Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA Buffalo Nichols and The Glass Hours at Askew, Providence, RI Cathedral Bells, Video Days, Middle Part, and Ex-Hyena at O'Brien's Pub, Allston, MA TELL, The Daylillies, and Church & Puppets at Warp and Weft, Lowell, MA Saturday June 29 Wes' Rib House Block Party with Sage Francis, Provi...