Oh the Humanity! - "Blues"

Massachusetts based OH THE HUMANITY! are following up their 2021 album with a new single. "Blues" falls into the melodic hardcore category. I'm tempted to call "Blues" pop punk, but it doesn't quite go far enough into the world of pop. It's too fast and heavy of a song despite how ridiculously catchy and tuneful it is. The song seems to careen out of control with OH THE HUMANITY! struggling to keep it under control with harmonies. It just charges straight ahead sonically with gang vocals and pounding drums. And all of this happens in less than two minutes.

You can listen to "Blues" below. The song is available as a single via Bandcamp. For more on OH THE HUMANITY!, check out the band on Facebook and Twitter.

Live Shows: L7 and Downtown Boys, Big Night Live, Boston, MA 10/9/22

L7 are one of those bands I've known since high school but I had just never gotten to see them. I think I realized that a few years back and became determined to see them, but it just never quite worked out. Finally schedules aligned and I was able to see these absolute legends live.

First, let me just say how much I hate Big Night Live as a music venue. The name itself is terrible and sounds like it was spit out by an AI or at least a corporate pitchman who's at least in his seventies. Being right in the TD Garden doesn't help, and it's just a giant corporate music venue with no real personality. There seemed to be sound issues all night, with the bass turned up far too high, bassist Jennifer Finch's microphone barely on at times, and a buzz that lasted throughout almost the entire night. Let's hope they go back to the Paradise next time they come through town.

The true draw of this tour was the thirtieth anniversary of their huge 1992 album Bricks Are Heavy. They played the album from start to finish, which is always a good time. This lead to their biggest hit, "Pretend We're Dead," being the third song they played and singer/guitarist Suzi Gardner announcing that if anyone leaves after the hit they would be tracked down. Obviously no one did. It's easy to forget how amazing this album is with all eleven tracks sounding like hits from the stage. Even B-sides like "Diet Pill," "Monster," and "This Ain't Pleasure" were monsters live. It's no wonder they've always appealed to fans of grunge, punk, and metal.

Once the required playing of Bricks Are Heavy was done, the L7 hands logo banner dropped and was replaced with the block letters in a circle one. The band also seemed to relax a bit, and kicked in for another ten killer songs. With an album like Bricks Are Heavy, it's easy to forget that they have a whole career of killer songs, but they reminded us with songs like "Andres," "Shove," and "Fast and Frightening." At one point they asked if Gail was in the audience, meaning Gail Greenwood of Belly and L7 bassist from 1996-1999. Turns out she was in about the third row just rocking out as a fan all night. The band came back with a one song cover of David Bowie's "Suffragette City" and used it to implore fans to get out and vote next month.

Providence's Downtown Boys opened with a blistering thirty minute set. They started out by handing out resources to get free birth control, which is exactly what I'd expect from the highly political punk band. As political as they are, the "I'm just here to rock" crowd was easy to spot with arms folded and not moving at all, but they won over the majority of the crowd before their set was done with songs like "A Wall" and "Wave of History." Towards the end of their set Victoria Ruiz climbed from the stage to sing in the crowd, much to the chagrin of the venue security. But punk rock is punk rock, and Downtown Boys ended their part of the show by asking the crowd to aid and abet abortion, which I assume most of us already planned to.

Frenchy and the Punk - "Come in and Play"

Photo by Alice Teeple

Frenchy and the Punk, the duo of Samantha Stephenson and Scott Helland (Deep Wound) have released a new single that is going to be beloved by fans of cabaret punk and classic 80's goth. The immediate comparison you're going to make when you hear "Come in a Play" is Siouxsie and the Banshees. Stephenson's voice is particularly Siouxsie on this one, and it just has that entire vibe going for it. But this is a much more organic and less New Wave version of that sound which gives it a Dresden Dolls feel, without being too Dresden Dolls-like. It's October, and this kind of music is even more appealing than it normally is, but "Come in and Play" should become a favorite year round.

You can listen to "Come in and Play" below. Zen Ghost is due out October 28 and can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp. For more on Frenchy and the Punk, check out the artist's website.

The Surfrajettes - "Banshee Bop"

Last year The Surfrajettes covered "Satan's Holiday" for Halloween. Now "Toronto's premiere psychedelic instrumental surfing group" are back with another song just in time for the best holiday of the year. "Banshee Bop" is exactly what we want in a retro Halloween surf song. It's that glorious mix of garage rock and surf, but spooky because it's Halloween, after all. Plus, we're always for a band using a theremin, especially to make ghost sounds. For some reason retro rock and roll style songs always work the best for Halloween, and that's exactly what "Banshee Bop" is.

You can listen to "Banshee Bop" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp. For more on The Surfrajettes, check out the band's website.

Live Shows: Hallelujah the Hills and Cassie Berman, The Lilypad, Cambridge, MA 10/8/22

I almost didn't post about this show. I went mostly because it was a Hallelujah the Hills show at the eighty person capacity Lilypad, and that just can't be missed. But, I'm completely unfamiliar with Cassie Berman, and I'm embarrassingly unfamiliar with Silver Jews or the music of David Berman despite it being right in my musical sweet spot, including time period. The evening started off with Cassie Berman and Silver Jews touring guitarist Peyton Pinkerton playing music, and then slowly joined by members of Hallelujah the Hills as her backing band, coming and going as was necessary. Eventually Berman and Pinkerton left and it became a Hallelujah the Hills show, with both Berman and Pinkerton rejoining at various times.

As I decided I wouldn't be posting about this show during Cassie Berman's set so I didn't embarrass myself, a funny thing happened. Slowly the enthusiasm the majority of the crowd became contagious. I may have not been a Silver Jews disciple like everyone else, but I slowly got sucked in just by how special the performance was. Even if this wasn't someone's style of music, and if they didn't particularly enjoy Berman's performance (which seems silly to say), they would have ended up mesmerized simply by osmosis from the rest of the audience. From what was said from the stage, much of the set was unreleased solo songs, so let's hope those end up recorded and released someday soon.

For the Hallelujah the Hills portion of the evening, they opened with their two newest songs, "God is so Lonely Tonight" and "Superglued to You." Considering how brand new these songs are, it's shocking how quickly they've been integrated into their sets and how they've become fan favorites. From there, it was like a greatest hits set with favorites like "Hallelujah the Hills" and "People Keep Dying (And No One Can Stop It)." How great does a band have to be to turn a song with the chorus of "People keep dying and no one can stop it" into a feel good, shout along song? They also played a few songs from their current incredibly ambitious project DECK, where they'll be releasing four albums of fifty two songs, one for each card in a deck of cards. The brand new songs sound like they're going to be fantastic, and include one I believe is called "I Was Too High to Say Hello." 

Closing out the evening was a rendition of Silver Jews' "Punks in the Beerlight," which was a giant audience favorite. Despite being woefully ignorant as to David Berman's music, it was the kind of show that's made me dive straight into the late artist's catalog, and can you truly ask for any more from a musical experience?

First Listen: New Releases for 30 September 2022

Artist: Fujiya and Miyagi
Album: Slight Variations
Quick Thoughts: I can't quite remember how I discovered Fujiya and Miyagi, but I've been a fan since "Collarbone" and haven't looked back. Some efforts have been better than others, but I have to say that Slight Variations feels like a return to form for an act that never really lost it, but never quite reached their heights again. I really loved this listen, both as a fan and otherwise, check this one out.
Songs of Note: "New Body Language," "Feeling the Effects (Of Saturday Night)"

Artist: Titus Andronicus
Album: The Will to Live
Quick Thoughts: I have struggled with Titus Andronicus over the years, as they're a band I want to like a lot more than I do. But The Will to Live? Exactly what I've wanted to hear from this band for however long I've been aware of them. Really grungy, dirty indie rock with just the right balance throughout? Sign me up.
Songs of Note: "My Mother is Going to Kill Me," "(I'm) Screwed," "Baby Crazy," "All Through the Night"

Artist: SMALL
Album: Decathexis
Quick Thoughts: SMALL is anything but, with a sharp indie rock sound that we love here. Would be worth the time in a busy week, but in a a lighter one it's even more critical, because songs like "Coyote" are going to get stuck in your head right away and not want to leave. Absolutely worth your time.
Songs of Note: "Coyote," "CC"

Artist: Pretty Sick
Album: Makes Me Sick Makes Me Smile
Quick Thoughts: Gotta love an album cover with vomit all over the place, but there you have it. Pretty Sick makes pretty... sick... indie rock with that alternative sheen, and it just works. Not much to say except that you should make it part of your rotation.
Songs of Note: "Drunk," "Bound," "Self Fulfilling Prophecy"

Of note:

* Steven Page - Excelsior (Latest solid solo effort from the former Barenaked Lady.)
* Tyler Childers - Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven (8 good songs 3 good ways.)
* Freedy Johnston - Back on the Road to You (His best effort in decades.)
* Maryanna Devlin - A Great Many Things
* OFF! - Free LSD
* The Bad Plus - The Bad Plus
* Bjork - Fossora
* Yawn Mower - To Each Their Own Coat
* The Advisory Circle - Full Circle
* Bloods - Together, Baby!
* Perera Elsewhere - Home
* Mamalarky - Pocket Fantasy
* Shygirl - Nymph
* Lung - Let It Be Gone
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Cool It Down
* Sure Sure - Spirit Mission
* Beverly Kills - Kaleido
* Alison Sudol - Still Come the Night
* 2nd Grade - Easy Listening
* Freya Josephine Hollick - The Real World
* Shannen Moser - The Sun Still Seems to Move
* Crow Follow - Red Velvet Radio
* The Big Pink - The Love That's Ours
* Hannah Schnieder - Ocean Letters
* Brooke Annibale - Better By Now
* Julie Odell - Autumn Eve
* Clark - 5-10
* DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ - Bewitched Singles
* Ian William Craig - Music for Magnesium_173
* Miracle Blood - Melter
* Stop the Presses - Got It

EPs:

* Magic Shoppe - Patty Hearse
* clipping. - REMXNG 2.2 and REMXNG 2.3
* A+A - 060
* Melody's Echo Chamber - Unfold
* Mr. Tophat - This Is Pop
* Pixey - Dreams, Pains and Paper Planes
* Dan Wilson - Dancing on the Moon
* Sam Prekop - The Sparrow
* dodie - Hot Mess
* Sumeau - This is a Dreamix
* Grave Goods - Tuesday. Nothing Exists.
* The Cactus Blossoms - If Not For You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1)

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* Justin Martin - Ghettos & Gardens Remixes Vol. 1 (10 Year Anniversary)

Also out:

* Officer X - Hell is Coming
* Nick Cave and Warren Ellis - Blonde (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film)
* Freddie Gibbs - $oul $old $eparately
* Bladee - Spiderr
* Kakkmaddafakka - Revelation
* Pixies - Doggerel
* Lambchop - The Bible
* Kid Cudi - Entergalactic
* Plastic Mermaids - It's Not Comfortable To Grow
* Dropkick Murphys - This Machine Still Kills Fascists

Travels With Brindle - "Something's Wrong"

Photo by Susan Margot Ecker

An "indie pop ukulele project" is right up our alley here at If It's Too Loud..., so we're thrilled to have a new song from Travels With Brindle, Chelsea Spear's indie pop ukulele project. "Something's Wrong" is going to immediately remind you of The Magnetic Fields, especially Claudia Gonson's songs. It has that stripped down quality along with a storytelling feel to it. It's almost even more theatrical than you would get with The Magnetic Fields despite having bare instrumentation. A lyric like "I read his emails by the glow of the Coke machine" just sets a mood completely. "Something's Wrong" is going to be nearly impossible to resist for many of us.

Chelsea Spear says of her new single:

"'Something's Wrong' is a musical establishing shot that sets the tone for the album, the way an 'I Want' song sets up the rest of a musical. You get a snapshot of who the narrator is and where she's at in her life... in this case, attending a school with high expectations and pining for someone she can't have. I hesitate to say it's a retreat into my comfort zone, but girl-group pastiches have always been my sweet spot."   

You can watch the video for "Something's Wrong" below. Notes from Undergrad is due out in 2023. For more on Travels With Brindle, check out the artist's website.

The Prefab Messiahs - "The Ghost of Rock and Roll"

Image by Xeerox Feinberg

Worcester, MA's finest classic garage psych rockers are back with a new track just in time for Halloween! "The Ghost of Rock and Roll" is just pure vintage style garage rock. It sounds and feels like a classic novelty Halloween song that could have come out fifty or more years ago, except for the references to things like Spotify. It's groovy and fun, and what more do you really want in a spooky rock and roll song? It  sounds like it may include some killer musical call backs to things like The Munsters theme. If you have an odd fondness for classic garage rock and novelty holiday songs, you need to check this one out.

You can listen to "The Ghost of Rock and Roll" below. The single will be available on October 14 via Bandcamp. For more on The Prefab Messiahs, check out the band's Facebook.

STL GLD - "Resisting"

We're unabashed fans of STL GLD here at If It's Too Loud..., so we're thrilled that the Boston hip hop band has a new album coming out next month. "Resisting" is the first single off the upcoming album, and if you know anything about STL GLD you can guess exactly what this song is about. Musically "Resisting" is a new direction for the band. While they've always been pure hip hop, they've always peppered their sound with punk and metal. This one stays hip hop and also adds in some post-punk and electro clash. This one is not the party jam of 2018's "Donut Shop." "Resisting" is drenched in dread and anxiety, in the best possible way.

You can watch the video for "Resisting" below. Rock Boyega is due November 11 on AR Classic Records. For more on STL GLD, check them out on Facebook and Instagram.

The Smugglers - "Rock 'n' Roll Was Never This Fun"

I can not figure out if I remember The Smugglers at all. They were first active between 1988 and 2004 which was a perfect time for me to discover them. The name sounds kind of like a band I saw open for Ben Folds Five back in 1996, but I'm not sure? Regardless, the Canadian band is about to issue their 1993 album In the Hall of Fame on vinyl for the very first time. They put out a single for the release, and "Rock 'n' Roll Was Never This Fun" needs to be heard. It's from 1993, so it would most likely get labelled post-grunge or bubble grunge, but "Rock 'n' Roll Was Never This Fun" is much noisier than those labels tend to be. It's like this bizarre combination of pop punk and grunge with a heaping amount of garage rock thrown in. Plus, as noisy as it is, there are some really catchy moments that sound like they belong more in a song from the 1960's than the 1990's. This is a great song from a forgotten (or maybe never known) band that is worth revisiting.

You can watch the video for "Rock 'n' Roll Was Never This Fun" below. In the Hall of Fame is due out on vinyl on November 4 on Lavasocks Records and can be pre-ordered here. For more on The Smugglers, check out the band's website.