Murcielago Moves On - Last Shows Announced

After 7 years, Murcielago ends their run. (image credit)

Portland, Maine rockers, Murcielago, have called it quits. The 2015 Rock 'n' Roll Rumble participants took to Facebook to announce the decision.

"Hi All,

We've decided to take a long bow after an excellent 7 year run. Thank You all who have come to our shows, bought our music and merchandise, and told your friends. We are grateful and humbled.

Many thanks to Nick Lamberto for getting us going, huge thanks to Benny Grotto and Mad Oak Studios for excellent work. Many thanks to the bands and promoters we've been lucky enough to work with during our time.

Thank You,

Murcielago"

May we always remember the times these veteran rockers blew our faces off with impressive 70's style riffs, hardrock power, and mesmerizing performances. We shall wear our Board of Maine shirt in respect.

You know you want one. Everyone wants one. (shop it)

Catch the band during their last few shows in Vermont and Maine.

• July 22 @ Higher Ground in Burlingto, VT., with Scissorfight and Hey Zeus
• July 30 @ Matrix Fest in Fort Lee, ME, with "too many awesome bands to recount"
• August 6 @ Portland House of Music and Events in Portland with Eldemur Krimm and Pigboat

Then After The Show, It's The After Party - ‘Late Night on Lansdowne’ December 27th+28th

Because we know you'll be in the area...

These internet radio hosts have created a late night, local music party on Lansdowne Street just for you.

Oh, and it’s free.

“I don’t think it’s a choice to keep your passion going to be honest with you. It’s a weird thing, a force that pulls you in. And then it defines you, and you don’t even question it.”

Mutiny on the Microphone and RadioBDC have announced a free, 2-night event entitled ‘Late Night on Lansdowne’ featuring a nightly lineup of now trending bands along with special guests all happening at Bill’s Bar December 27th and 28th.

“With this year’s [Hometown Throwdown] theme being a throwback to The Rat, some people are talking about how the 'scene died’ when The Rat closed, or reminiscing about the past, thinking that our current set up just isn’t the same. I’d like to counter that argument with this showcase,” Mutiny on the Microphone founder and host Adam Blye explains.

“‘Late Night On Lansdowne’ pays homage to our experiences and excitement of discovering new music organically while attending shows. Back in the day you would get handed bags of swag after a show; flyers, pins, stickers, CDs of local bands of similar sound. Although that might not be the thing to do anymore, we can still connect listeners with music in a creative, natural way. It’s our job as curators to guide people to these bands.”

Both digital airwaves co-presenters are compromised of former terrestrial radio personal. With the fall of influencers like WBCN and WFNX, changing formats, shifting genres, closing clubs, and the looming fog of a bygone era in music, it’s easy to wonder how some people maintain their passion. “I don’t think it’s a choice to keep your passion going to be honest with you,” Blye confesses. “It’s a weird thing, a force that pulls you in. And then it defines you, and you don’t even question it.”

Participating 'Late Night On Lansdowne' bands are being announced daily, with night #1 already set to include The Bonnets (3 piece punkadelic band from Lyndonville, Vermont) and local favorites Bundles plus special guests yet to be revealed. The remaining bands for night #2 will be announced on the Facebook event page on December 10th and 11th. Both nights are FREE, 21+ with valid ID and entry is first come first served.

Follow Mutiny on the Microphone on Facebook and Twitter for additional information and take an interest in the event page to get automatic announcements, lineup details and more.

Lineup So Far:

December 27th
The Bonnets
Bundles
::Special Guests::

December 28th
::Band 1 announced December 10th::
::Band 2 announced December 11th::
::Special Guests::

Maas No Mas - Jay Maas Leaves Defeater

Defeater made a big announcement via social media tonight.

Per the band's Facebook page:

"Over the weekend it was decided to move forward as a band without the participation of Jay Maas due to personal & creative differences. All scheduled Defeater shows and tours will go on as planned and we wish Jay luck in his future endeavors. Thank you"

Their Wikipedia page has already been updated.

The band recently wrapped up their U.S. fall tour that ended with a sold out Middle East Downstairs show and will embark on a European tour next month. Maas owns and operates Getaway Recording in Haverhill, MA and has worked with local bands such as Rebuilder, Trophy Lungs and most recently, Somos.

Checkin' In With The Stereo State

Holyoke's The Stereo State has been quiet - so we checked in on them.

You know what we were thinking? What’s The Stereo State up to? So we checked in on them.

Here’s what we know so far:

• October 2013 – The Stereo State plays FEST12
• November 2013 – The Stereo State announces “indefinite hiatus”
• November 2014 – The Stereo State is back ya’ll! Band announces surprise resurgence
• March 2015 – Rut roh, The Stereo State cancels local show and tour to Pouzza Fest
• May 2015 – The Stereo State checks in with fans, is still writing but “very excited” about new songs
• June 2015 - The Stereo State takes a break from writing; turns to Twitter for answers 

Latest update:

We’ll keep you posted on additional Stereo State news. #‎TSS2015 #moeslipons forever.

Related Stories:
The Stereo State is Back #TSS2015
The Stereo State - Just Kidding

Dropkick Murphys Play Final FINAL (we mean it this time) Beachcomber Show

Hometown heroes Dropkick Murphys announced a return to Quincy, MA to play (yet another) final Beachcomber Show. Rumored forever ago to be closing its doors, the longtime beachfront divebar on Quincy Shore Drive finally confirmed back in August that the 56-year old establishment would cease to exist come the fall. Since then, at least three farewell 'comber shows have been scheduled.

The Dropkicks say:

"We are proud to announce that we will be performing a special show in honor of the closing of the world famous Beachcomber - Quincy in Quincy, Mass. The owners, the McGettrick family, are lifelong friends of Ken’s, and we are honored to be playing the final show there. Only 250 tix will be on sale. Here’s how you can get tickets: 150 tickets will be available online, starting at NOON TOMORROW. 100 tickets will be on sale at the Beachcomber starting at NOON SATURDAY. You can purchase a maximum of 2 tickets. The times for Saturday night are as follows: Doors 7pm - Show 9pm."

Tickets go on sale 12noon Friday 10/2/15. Ticket Link.
The Beachcomber is located at 797 Quincy Shore Drive, Quincy, MA. 

World Premier: Bundles' Streams 2 New Tracks – Exclusively on Mutiny on the Microphone

Listen here first - Bundles premiers two new tracks off upcoming EP.

In anticipation of their sophomore EP, Boston’s indie rock trio Bundles is releasing two new songs; “Dead Reckoning” from their 2015 Converse Rubber Tracks session and “Prisoners” off of the forthcoming EP. The songs will debut this Thursday, October 1st exclusively on Mutiny On The Microphone Podcast. Listen to the band's episode below (for those of you who can't wait, try marks 5:58 and 29:25).

Bundles introduced themselves in the spring of 2013 with their debut self-titled EP; a 4-track collection of tight, lo-fi songs, produced within 10 hours of studio time - available to stream and purchase on Bandcamp. After a string of successful shows opening for bands such as A. Sinclair, Cayetana and Beach Slang, the band returned to the studio (for more than 10 hours this time) to produce their 7-track sophomore EP, recorded, mixed and mastered at Phoenix Down (Somerville) with John Scott and David Age (of Favorite Atomic Hero), set to be released as soon as someone will pay for it. You’ll find that these new songs, while still very much a Bundles record, move the band into a tighter and more polished sound.

Follow Bundles on Facebook and Twitter for additional show and release information.

On a mobile device? Listen here. Catch Bundles live in November:

October 23rd // 8PM // Ticket link

Cuisine en Locale // 156 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA

RTT Presents Masked Intruder and Friends

Featuring Masked Intruder (WI // Fat Wreck Chords), The Copyrights (IL // Redscare Records), Not Scientists, The New Warden, New Grenada and Bundles

Full Track Listing:
1. The Dornishman’s Wife
2. The Glow
3. Prisoner’s Dilemma
4. Oh, Brazil
5. In Like a Lion, out on the lam
6. TKC
7. Normans at the Battle of Hastings
8. Dead Reckoning


Related Stories:
Bundles - S/T EP
Masked Intruder and Friends Announced at Cuisine en Locale

Iggy Pop Goes Topless in H&M's 'Close the Loop' Campaign Video

Iggy Pop and others cameo in the promo video for H&M's global recycling initiative.

Iggy Pop makes a cameo in the recent H&M promotional video highlighting the Swedish retail-clothing company's global recycling campaign ‘Close the Loop: The Garment Collecting Program’.

The advertisement promotes making and breaking the rules of fashion trends and faux pas in an effort to recycle your clothing and to not let fashion go to waste.

After you’ve worn your clothes in every possible combination and are ready to move on, consumers are instructed to leave their unwanted clothes—regardless of their brand or condition—in the garment collecting boxes at your local H&M store. The clothes are then taken to a processing plant, where they're sorted and graded into three categories: rewear, reuse and recycle. Find an H&M near you.

The initiative comes months after H&M, along with other inexpensive fashion retailers, were featured in a social awareness documentary entitled ‘The True Cost’ by Andrew Morgan (available to watch on Netflix), that exposes and examines fast fashion’s high demand and negative impact on society and the environment from the roughly 40 million garment workers in the developing countries to the more than 11 million tons of textile waste discarded from the U.S. alone.

“When everything is concentrated on making profits, what you see is that human rights, the environment, workers’ rights get lost,” states the documentary.

Watch both trailers below.

New Band Alert - Kitner Plays First Show At O'Brien's Pub on 9/23

See you at a rock and roll show.

Comprised of members of Choke Up, Save Ends, Holiday Music and a few other folks around town, new band Kitner will be playing their first show at O'Brien's Pub in Allston this September. Sources say the guitar driven sound is "like Weakerthans meets Bruce Springsteen." We do not have the words to describe that, so we'll have to hear it live for ourselves.

Head to O'Brien's Pub in Allston Rock City on Wednesday, September 23rd to catch Kitner open for Lee Corey Oswald (PDX), Soda Bomb (Long Island, NY) and local band Sneeze. Killer lineup = will sell out ∴ buy tickets in advance here. The show is 18+ // $10 // 8PM doors. View the official Facebook event page.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Hometown Throwdown #18 Announced

It's a very Rathskeller Christmas.

“If you weren't there back in the day, here's your chance to get as close to the full Rat experience as we can possibly provide."
-Dicky Barrett

It's officially the end of summer when The Mighty Mighty Bosstones announce the annual Hometown Throwdown. The iconic Boston ska punk band took to Facebook to plug the upcoming 18th edition of the 3-night holiday event taking place at The House of Blues December 26th, 27th and 28th.

The 2015 lineup consists of acts that performed on the stage of Kenmore Square's infamous subterranean Rathskeller club. "We’ll be Throwing Down this year with groups that literally built Boston’s underground music scene while paving the way for future generations and inspiring countless bands including the Bosstones," the band states.

Shows are all ages. Tickets go on sale Saturday, September 12th at 10AM EST via Ticketmaster.

The Lineup:

December 26th

The Mighty Mighty BossToneS
The Neighborhoods
The Upper Crust

December 27th

The Mighty Mighty BossToneS
The Real Kids
The Queers

December 28th

The Mighty Mighty BossToneS
The Outlets
Stranglehold

The Ducky Boys Celebrate 20 Years By Offering Two Special Gifts To Fans

Save 20% on your State Line Records purchase now through 10/31/15 using promo code DUCKYBOYS20.

The Ducky Boys' frontman Mark Lind took to Facebook to announce the 20th anniversary of the Boston-based punk band by offering two special offers for fans. In celebration of two decades of rock, the band is offering a 20% discount on any item in their State Line Records Store. Use promo code DUCKYBOYS20 – offer is good through the end of October 2015.

Secondly, Lind states, “The other thing is a free-bee on me. It's been a decade since the rights to the first two records reverted back to me as owner of the songs and recordings. I had ‘Dark Days’ remastered with bonus tracks and called it ‘Dark Days & Lonely Nights’. I'm never gonna get around to doing anything with it. And if I don't do it then no one will. I think all the guys in that line-up of the band would prefer to know that people are still hearing the music so you can have the remaster [download] for free on our Bandcamp site.” In addition to the remastered version of ‘Dark Days & Lonely Nights’, fans can also score 3 additional B-side digital tracks as a free digital download. The CD version of the record is not free, but again…there’s that 20% off promo code.

Although the band has no plans on a 20th anniversary show, they assure The Ducky Boys are not fading away. “It's been a little over two years since we played a show where we could do a full length set. I suspect it will happen again when the time is right for all of us…Thanks for being there for us all these years. Thanks to all present and past members of the band. You all affected us in one way or another and we're grateful for the piece of the road we shared with you. Mostly.” 

► Head to State Line Records to purchase music and save 20% with promo code DUCKYBOYS20

► Download your free digital copy of the remastered 'Dark Days & Lonely Nights' (does not include CD)

► Download your free digital copy of the 3 additional B-side tracks

Refining The Formula – Salem Wolves Dish on Band Growth, New Projects and a BIG Announcement

Download your free copy of "Teenage Wonder" by Salem Wolves now.

Salem Wolves is one of those bands we’ve been watching out of the corner of our eye. Kicking off the year with their dirty, reverb-saturated garage music featured on the 4-song EP 'Black Books' (MegaHex Records), the band has developed their sound at an accelerated pace with the premier of two additional tracks this summer. Their second single release “Teenage Wonder” (follow up to July’s “More Weight”) pulls in influences from doo-wop and soul while staying true to their lo-fi foundation.

Frank Turner is Omnipresent - Will Be at 3 Newbury Comics Locations on 9/26 at 2PM

Where in Boston is Frank Turner?

Singer, songwriter and man who defies logic, Frank Turner will apparently be at three Newbury Comics locations on Saturday, September 26th at 2pm. Per bandsintown.com, Turner will be at both the Faneuil Hall and the Newbury Street locations depending on which copy you're looking at. While Newburycomics.com claims he'll be the Harvard Square store. Newbies does love their Scavenger Hunts.

Regardless, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls will be at the House of Blues in Boston on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th.'Positive Songs For Negative People' is out now on iTunes and in a store near you.

UPDATE 1:01 PM: We have confirmation that Frank Turner will be at the Harvard Square location (36 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA) on Saturday, September 26th at 2PM. #mysterysolved

Blackbutton Announce the Upcoming Release of Their Third and Final Record

Join Blackbutton on August 29th at Great Scott. (image credit Hannah Cohen Photography)

Boston's gritty grunge rock outfit Blackbutton has announced the upcoming release of their third and final record, 'The Absence of the Other'.

2013 Rock 'n' Roll Rumble participants and winners of the Providence, RI Midday Social, Blackbutton have been supporting their 'Stripper Series Singles' for the past year, which you can stream via Bandcamp.

The band will hit the road on a 7-stop tour to support the new record, ending with a hometown release show scheduled for August 29th at Great Scott in Allston, featuring Rye Pines, The Knock Ups and Skinny Pigeons, presented by Do617. The event is 21+ // 9PM // $10 // ticket link. Follow the band on Facebook and Twitter for additional updates.

Full Tour Schedule

August 19th - Brattleboro, VT @ Metropolis

August 20th - Portland, ME @ Oxbow Blending & Bottling with Jargon Party

August 22nd - Albany, NY @ Parish Public House with Pitchfork Militia, Noise Between Stations 

August 23rd - Worcester, MA @ The Lucky Dog Music Hall with 95 Hyde, Levity 

August 27th - New York City, NY @ Throne Watches 

August 28th - Providence, RI @ Fatt Squirrel with Cookie & The Monsters, Marijuana Boyscouts, and the Andy Lambert Band. Presented by New England Artists’ Association and Midday Presents

August 29th - Boston, MA @ Great Scott with Rye Pines, The Knock Ups, Skinny Pigeons, Presented by Do617

Related Stories:
Blackbutton Single Release Show - January 17th
Blackbutton Premiers New Single "AM Clouds PM Sun"

Goodbye Indignant—Hello, Winter Hill Brewing Company!

Indignant Brewery in Somerville will be called ‘Winter Hill Brewing Company’ going forward. A recent email from the company stated the name change was due to naming rights. “Another small company—from Chicago—has a beer that they release once a year called Indignant … Even the small companies are quickly filing to federally own not just their company name, but also their beers and basic descriptors … However, we’re not swayed by the aforementioned climate. We’re changing our name and moving forward.”

Jeff Rowe, Head Brewer/Co-owner and frontman for punk rock band Tied to a Bear, goes on to express the company’s excitement to represent the Winter Hill neighborhood and hints at ‘exciting things to announce in the coming weeks’ including beer list and menu. Winter Hill Brewing Co. is located at 328 Broadway in Somerville, MA and is set to open later this year. Follow them on Facebook for additional information.

Read the full article here.

Masked Intruder and Friends Announced at Cuisine en Locale

The masked pop punks from Fat Wreck Chords, Masked Intruder, have been announced to play Cuisine en Locale in Somerville on October 23rd along with The Copyrights, Not Scientists, Bundles and The New Warden.

►Get on this before it sells out.

$10 presale / $12 door

Related Stories:
Masked Intruder - Why Chance it, Narragansett

3 Straight Nights of Diarrhea (Planet) in Allston this November

DP coming at you this November in Allston.

Boston music blog Allston Pudding presents three nights of wonderful rock and roll with Nashville, Tennessee's Diarrhea Planet (Infinity Cat Records) at Great Scott in Allston on November 13th - 15th. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 24th. Hands down, one (or 3) of the best live shows you'll go to this year.

Related Stories:

Diarrhea Planet - Not Grandfather Approved

Z*L Calls It Quits

Midriff Records announced today via Facebook that fuzz rock band and 2014 Rock 'N' Roll Rumble participant Z*L has called it quits.

"It is with great displeasure and a tear in our eye that we announce that the great ZL has called it quits. We'll update you on any future projects of its members. RIP Z*L."

 Digital download of Z*L's S/T full-length is available for purchase via Midriff's website.

A Midsummer Night's Dance Party. The Pill Returns For A Reunion Weekend

Dance your heart out Boston. The Pill returns for a reunion weekend.

Big news. Huge news you guys. The Pill Boston, the city's finest indie dance party, returns this summer for two nights of modern indie bliss. Rejoice in the resurrection Friday, August 14th as DJ Ken & Michael V spin the best in Britpop and beyond, then stick around for a rare Saturday session, August 15th, as The Sons & Heirs (A Tribute to The Smiths & Morrissey) take the Great Scott stage. Dress to impress.

Ticket info to come. RSVP to the Facebook event page to get update notifications.

Related Stories:
The Pill Turns The Lights On For Good

The Underground Railroad to Candyland AND Toys That Kill Come to Allston

June 21st and 22nd at O'Brien's Pub. Tickets available now.

Humble, local music hub, O’Brien’s Pub, has some excellent news. The Underground Railroad to Candyland AND Toys That Kill will be playing back to back nights in Allston Rock City’s premier dive bar venue thanks to the mad booking skills of Ryan Agate.

Converse Rubber Tracks Contest: Enter to Win a Chance to Record at One of Twelve Iconic Studios

Register for your chance to win. Deadline is 6/24/15.

Converse Rubber Tracks is providing emerging artists, bands, and musicians of all genres the rare opportunity to record at the some of the most iconic recording studios across the globe.