Hollow Mountain, the debut album of UK-based solo artist Resurfaced Mutant, conceived by multi-instrumentalist Pete Brennan, is a culmination of rock and new wave’s best influences crossed with ingenious originality. The album contains ten distinctly different yet somehow coherent tracks, each with its own personality and a light dusting of topical relatability sprinkled in for … Continue reading
More than the Music: a Social History of Boogaloo
Music has always told a version of history not quite captured by the history books. It is a universal language with the ability to reflect social attitudes and environments in a way no other medium can achieve. This is true for every genre of music throughout history, as each one – every individual song within … Continue reading
Balto Shakes the State Room
Guitarist and frontman Daniel Sheron stepped onto the stage, eyes sparkling, his signature walrus mustache failing to hide the beaming grin underneath. He was flanked by three equally radiant band mates, bassist Ben (Bronco) Mower, guitarist Carl Osterlof, and drummer Seth Mower. For the Mower brothers, this was a hometown show, a reunion of old … Continue reading
Tashawn Taylor: Breaking Barriers
In the era of DIY hip hop, it’s not hard to find someone who makes music on Soundcloud. But it is hard to find one of them that stands out. Boston-based artist Tashawn Taylor has managed to shine through the monotony with his latest EP, ‘Women Make Me Strong.’ Containing just three fiery tracks, the … Continue reading
Rainbow Road: The Review
Boston-based group The Arkadian is ready to raise the bar for the entire (albeit niche) genre of video game rock with their debut single “Rainbow Road.” The track, which will appear on the EP coming out in early April, is an intricate masterpiece that combines creative lyrics with tightly delivered hard rock- and metal-inspired instrumentation … Continue reading
A Blast from the Past with Human Sexual Response
There’s nothing quite like going to a show in a band’s hometown. Especially if the band is Boston’s infamous Human Sexual Response, an 80’s cult favorite that hasn’t played more than a small handful of shows in the past two decades. It was a brisk Friday night, and House of Blues was packed with middle-aged … Continue reading
The Menzingers Melt Webster Hall
Hartford, CT is not known for its punk scene. The city, which bears a rough-around-the-edges feel, is home to a strong and thriving rap and hip hop scene, supplemented occasionally by country artists on their way to the bigger cities nearby. So, the people who show up to weekday punk shows in downtown Hartford are … Continue reading
Diet Cig: the Review
Considering that the lead guitarist learned how to play the guitar after joining the band, New York pop-punk duo Diet Cig does pretty well. The duo, which consists of Alex Luciano on guitar and vocals and Noah Bowman on drums, has been working together since 2014, when they met under happenstance circumstances at a house … Continue reading
Punk is Dead and Pop Punk Killed It
“Punk is not dead. Punk will only die when corporations can exploit and mass produce it.” These are the famous words of Jello Biafra, spoken two decades ago when he was still the frontman and lead vocalist of the Dead Kennedys. In those days, the Dead Kennedys were an icon in the southern California punk … Continue reading
At the Skate Park
Bryce Lawes enters the apartment without knocking, and with a casual, “Hey, what’s up, guys,” he grabs a beer from the fridge and makes himself comfortable on the cramped sofa. It’s not his apartment, but it is his fridge, and no one thinks twice about his entry to the room. He is wearing torn khaki … Continue reading