OC45 Tour Kickoff Show at Charlie's Kitchen 10/5

Beer, burgers, punx, repeat.

Boston DIY thrash punks OC45 are coming to a city near you, but first beer. 4 shows into their long-ass 2-month tour to support new EP 'Burn It' (which you can buy on Bandcamp for $4), OC45 will celebrate a hometown send off at Charlie's Kitchen in Harvard Square, Cambridge on Monday 10/5 with Grenades in the Archives and Lowell natives Pet Sounds and War Nerves. The U.S. trek that takes the band to Florida during FEST and out west to Texas, will eventually end back in Boston on November 21st.

Monday's show is 9PM // 21+ // $5. Official Facebook event link. Grab Grenades in the Archives, Pet Sounds and War Nerves music for free now.

Refused Comes to The Sinclair June 1st

Refuse comes to Cambridge 6.1.15

The Sinclair in Harvard Square announced that quintessential Swedish hardcore band, Refused, will be coming to town June 1st. Ticket pre-sale will be on sale Friday, April 3rd at 12:00PM EDT. Event information can be found on The Sinclair's website.

Hardcore Helps the Homeless – March 22nd

O’Brien’s Pub in Allston will be the venue for Hardcore Helps the Homeless on March 22nd. The event features several local hardcore bands including Lunglust, Kimachi, Empty Vessels (CT), Vultures and Mass Graves, and benefits the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

Choke Up's Debut LP Leaves Us Speechless - Pre-order 'Black Coffee, Bad Habits'

Pre-order your copy of Black Coffee, Bad Habits today.

This band. This goddamn band. I need a moment to compose myself.

The production and orchestration of a Choke Up record never ceases to amaze. 

Black Coffee, Bad Habits (Black Numbers) is well-polished hardcore at its most sophisticated level. The type of punk you listen to with a cigar and a brandy snifter. Each incarnation of this band is an elaboration of the previous record. And each record is like a dramatic composition; Characters, plots, story lines, heroes, villains, damsels, foreshadowing, reflection and conclusions. In an effort to articulate the grandeur and intelligence of the debut LP from Boston's Choke Up, we can only muster, "Buy this fucking amazing record."

Pre-orders of the LP are available now in Forest Green (100), Clear with Blue Smoke (150) and White vinyl (250) for $12. CDs for $8. Test Press Pack for $50 and Three Pack for $30 are also available. Pre-orders ship on or around February 2nd.

Listen to "KC" below (courtesy of punknews.org) and "Thicket And Vine" currently streaming over at Brooklyn Vegan. And see Choke Up during their record release show with Pile, Raw Blow, Loom and Banquets (NJ) at O'Brien's Pub in Allston on January 24th, guaranteed to sell out so get there early.

Follow Choke Up on Facebook for additional release and show information. And find additional releases on Bandcamp.

Tour Dates

• January 23rd – Philadelphia – Golden Tea House
• January 24th – Boston – O’Brien’s Pub
• January 29th – Portsmouth, NH – The Red Door
• January 30th – Brooklyn, NY – Legion
• January 31st – Atlantic City, NJ – The Boneyard

Cocked N' Loaded is Calling it Quits and Going Out in Style

See Cocked N' Loaded play their last two shows at O'Brien's Pub 11/7 and 11/8

Cocked N’ Loaded is calling it quits and going out in style. The band took to Facebook to announce their two farewell shows featuring a whole mess of special guests.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXVIII

You're Not My Real Dad cocktail, garnished with a cigarette (image credit)

We went to Portland, Oregon and all I got was an ironic, thrift store t-shirt. Portland is exactly what I think a town would be like if it were run by children. Every restaurant serves pizza, burgers and macaroni and cheese. If it’s at all possible to put a car seat on a unicycle, someone in Portland will do it first. A ridiculous, pretentious town were people say idiotic things like “I’m pretty religious about cassette tapes” and homelessness is the final stage of hipster. Needless to say, you’re better off staying in Seattle.

But if you must visit, check out the Sapphire Hotel for a “You’re Not My Real Dad” cocktail. A cerveza that up until recently, was garnished with a cigarette. Turns out you legally cannot do that. Or you can just grab the recipe after the jump, turn on Portlandia and rock out to the October playlist featuring Weird Womb, LVL UP, Black Beach and No Bails.

Choke Up - Pilot Passenger / Joaquin Murietta

Pilot Passenger / Joaquin Murietta might be the most beautiful punk rock I’ve heard in a long time. A really smart record.

There’s an element of fascination when art imitates life; when an artist, or in this case, a band of artists, can produce a well-rounded concept of fact and fiction; rich in detail and chiseled to near perfection with integrity and intelligence. Choke Up brings prolific talent to the Boston music scene.

The Welch Boys Present the 5th Annual Ron Holbrook Memorial Pine Street Inn Benefit Shows

Two days of hardcore punk for charity

The 5th Annual Ron Holbrook Memorial / Pine Street Inn Benefit Show happens this Saturday (11/16) and Sunday (11/17) at Great Scott in Allston.

After a year off, this annual 2-day event is back and ready to rock. All proceeds will be donated to the Pine Street Inn, a non-profit through which neighbors and friends can help to meet the basic needs of others; and to serve as a national leader in the fight to end homelessness. The shows are performed in memory of The Welsh Boys' former drummer, Ron Holbrook, who passed away in 2007.

Night 1 is 21+ and Night 2 is 18+. Both shows are $15. For additional show info include full lineup and links to advanced ticket ordering, please visit the official Facebook event page.