Song Premiere: Choke Up “Hart” – Appearing on Disposable America’s 'SPECIAL INTEREST' Mixtape

Disposable America's 'SPECIAL INTEREST' out July 15th, pre-order now.

Celebratory fist pump. Bishop & Rook is pleased to premiere the new Choke Up track “Hart", recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks and off Disposable America's upcoming benefit mixtape. As expected, Choke Up continues to maintain rank as an exceptionally talented Boston band.

A Night of High Energy Rock Awaits You at O'Brien's Pub on 4/29

Forever in our top 10. Catch The Darker Hues at O'Brien's Pub on 4/29/16.

One of Boston’s most underrated bands treading just beneath the radar is decade-long passion project, The Darker Hues. “Misrepresenting the Boston Music Scene Since 2006”, The Darker Hues has produced a handful of singles, two full-lengths, and provided their sound as local support for touring acts like Rough Francis and White Lung. With melodramatic melodies of American Football and grounded basslines of Fugazi, the Hues is a uniquely layered experience of aggressive 90’s post-hardcore and comprehensive indie undertones, bounded together with zealous lyrics. Presented with a loaded setlist and on-point stage presence, you’ll find yourself white-knuckling it through a Darker Hues’ performance and wondering where has this band been all your life.

On Friday, April 29th, The Darker Hues will be celebrating the release of their 2016 ‘Needed Loss’ album at O’Brien’s Pub with Laughing Stock, Rebuilder and Hospital Beds 8PM//$8//21+ (event details here). Follow the band on Facebook and listen to "She Was Covered in Scars and Good Intentions", the first track off of 'Needed Loss' below.

Choke Up Stripped Down - Post Hardcore Punk Goes Acoustic

Choke Up gets unplugged, makes us feel feelings.

Choke Up has announced the pending series release of acoustic versions of their infamous post hardcore songs. The first video was put out earlier this week, a stripped down version of “Wildflower” off their 2015 LP ‘Black Coffee, Bad Habits’.

Fans of the band may have already figured out that Choke Up unplugged is a valuable listening experience with a number of acoustic tracks on the 2013 EP ‘Pilot Passenger / Joaquin Murietta’ and ‘Black Coffee, Bad Habits’’ ending track “Dry Out”.

Lifting the veil of the intense audio assault of a typical live show, and taking a page from the band’s early years of living room sets, these acoustic versions highlight the poetic beauty and intuitive writing skills that contribute to the faultless foundation of a Choke Up song.

You can see Choke Up live and loud at O'Brien's Pub this Sunday, November 8th with After the Fall (NY), Raw Blow and Youth Funeral. 18+ // 8PM // $8. Event details.

  Choke Up | Wildflower | Format Audio Sessions from Mason Marino on Vimeo.

Enter To Win Tickets to See Coliseum at Middle East Upstairs

Win a pair of tickets to see Coliseum! Details below.

Touring relentlessly, producing a series of full-lengths, EPs and splits, and continuously refining their sound over the last decade, Coliseum (Deathwish Records) is out on tour, supporting their fifth LP, ‘Anxiety’s Kiss’. A 10-track record that embodies the expansive life journey of a twelve-year-old band, 'Anxiety's Kiss' leans heavily on the post-hardcore, melodic side of Coliseum's sonic magnitude; standout tracks "Drums & Amplifiers", "Comedown" and "Escape Yr Skull".

The Louisville, KY punk band will stop in Boston on Monday, June 15th to play Middle East Upstairs with Child Bite, Chrome Over Brass and Raw Blow, presented by Wormwood Joint. 18+ with valid ID, $10 advanced / $12 day off, 8PM doors. View full event details.

And we have a pair of tickets to giveaway!

How do I win tickets?!

► This contest is closed. Congrats to our winner Cody!

Can’t wait? Don’t want to chance it? You can purchase tickets now. Stream ‘Anxiety’s Kiss’ on Bandcamp and purchase the record on vinyl and CD via Deathwish Records.

ROUGH FRANCIS Kicks Off Spring Tour in Allston with Varsity Drag, The Darker Hues

High punk energy at Great Scott Allston 4/30/15.

Vermont's soul / punk / garage / energy machine band, and one of the best live acts we've ever seen, ROUGH FRANCIS (Riot House Records) is kicking off their spring tour at Great Scott in Allston this Thursday, April 30th with friends pop punkers Varsity Drag (featuring Ben Deily of The Lemonheads) and post-hardcore band The Darker Hues (Refuse Rethink Rebuild Records). The show is 18+ / Doors 9pm / $10. Come out to support local music and get your face rocked off by a whole mess of talented musicians.

Related Stories:
You Can Shut Down the Government But You Can’t Shut Down Rough Francis

Choke Up Announces Summer Tour

Get ready all these other states, a killer act is about to be in you.

Post-hardcore punk band Choke Up recently announced a June tour with Philadelphia punks, Ma Jolie, in support of their debut LP 'Black Coffee, Bad Habits' out on Black Numbers Records. "This is our first time out since "Black Coffee, Bad Habits" was released and we're stoked to play those songs for some folks outside of Boston," states the band's Facebook page.

According to the internets, there are just a few copies left of the first pressing, and inventory will not be replenished until after the June tour, so snag your copy here.

Choke Up is also slated to play FEST 14 this year. You can the band prior to tour on May 11th with Living Room (Brooklyn), Typesetter (Chicago) and Heel and Arrow at O'Brien's Pub in Allston (event details).

Related Stories:
Boston Goes To FEST 14
Choke Up's Debut LP Leaves Us Speechless - Pre-order 'Black Coffee, Bad Habits'

Party with Trophy Lungs this Sunday 3/8

Punk rock party at the Middle East Upstairs 3/8.

It’s his birthday and he’ll drink all the beers if he wants to. Head to the Middle East Upstairs on Sunday, March 8th to celebrate Trophy Lungs guitarist, Kevin Bogart’s, birthday with performances by After the Fall (Albany punks recently signed to Bridge Nine Records), Remnants (NY, ex-members of The Broosevelts), Tied to a Bear (members of Choke Up / collectively decided to be too cool for the internet), Bear Child (NY, Justin from Deep Pockets), presented by Wormwood Joint.

Doors are at 8pm, $10, 18+ with valid ID. Additional details can be found on the official Facebook event page.

Remember, Sunday is Daylight Savings Time, turn those clocks forward one hour and don't miss the first act.

Bishop And Rook Returns to Mutiny on the Microphone (for some reason)

Bishop And Rook was this week's guest DJ on New England music podcast Mutiny on the Microphone. Here's 60 minutes of complete nonsense, local music and probably a whole mess of misinformation. For the record, we were invited back. LISTEN NOW. #norules #nogods




On a mobile device? Click here to listen!


Also, go to a show. Next Bishop And Rook shows!!!
March 2nd - Charlies Kitchen - fting Sports., Fall Risk, Dirt Naps
April 3rd - O'Brien's Pub - fting Rebuilder, Choke Up, Bundles, Sundog


February 19th Playlist:

Bundles - B&E
Jetavana Grove - Hope is a Bus (That I Missed This Morning)
Choke Up - Rust
Laika's Orbit - Circumstance
Sports. - Mo Vaughn
Fall Risk - No. 1
Sundog - Superstition
Dirt Naps - Bees Knees
Julius Earthling - 575

Related Stories:
Bishop And Rook Guest DJs the 'Break Out Bands of 2014' Podcast For Mutiny on the Microphone

Anonymous Post-Hardcore Band Premiers New Track Off Debut EP

At the Heart of It debut EP out March 3rd. Pre-order available now.

New Hampshire’s At the Heart of It revolves around the belief that music is a tool for social awareness and a means to open the lines of communication with their listeners. Looking to keep the focus on the music and message, rather than on the band as individuals, ATHOI chose to be interviewed as a single entity. “We are a five piece, and will go by our first initials for identification's sake. R. A. J. T. N.”

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXXI

We're getting fancy up in here with Patron XO Cafe. (image credit)

Who else is super excited about new music in the new year?! In this month's playlist we've got local pop punk band The Offseason who are playing an exclusive acoustic set at Sound Lion later this month. Charly Bliss from Brooklyn will be in town in February. And a whole mess of other shows are happening. Get pumped up with the January Spotify playlist and The Onyx cocktail.

Choke Up Latest Boston Band to Join NJ Label, Black Numbers

Boston's Choke Up sign to Black Numbers. Set to release debut LP in early 2015.

All the big news. One of our favorite bands emerging from the local Boston punk scene, Choke Up, has signed with independent New Jersey label, Black Numbers (Great Lakes USA, The Color and Sound). Yay!

Why So Serious Courage Cloak? Post-Rock Shoegaze with Hardcore Punk Roots

The debut S/T LP from Courage Cloak is available now.

When you mix 3/5 post-hardcore band Life & Limb with 1/5 of hardcore band Matahari, you get Boston’s post rock/shoegaze band, Courage Cloak.

Sneeze + Raw Blow Fall Tour

Boston's post hardcore/grunge/punk/loud bands Sneeze and Raw Blow will be heading out on a fall tour beginning November 7th in support of their 2014 records Wilt and Slow Choke respectively. The 18-stop gallivant hits the East Cost and Midwest, ending in Harvard Square, Cambridge for a homecoming show at Charlies Kitchen on November 24th.

You can snag a free download (at a name your price donation) of Raw Blow's very new EP, Slow Choke, on Bandcamp now. And purchase Sneeze's Wilt LP for $10 via the band's Big Cartel site.

UPDATE 10/31/14:

One week before tour, Sneeze took to Facebook to report van loss.

"Our van was just totaled in a car accident yesterday morning. We leave in one week. Does anyone have any suggestions / willing to rent us their van? If you can help in anyway that would be awesome. Everyone involved in the accident is OK and we really don't want to cancel this! Thanks!"

Sneeze can be contacted via email at sneezeband@gmail.com.

A Night At Great Scott - In Photos

All music, all on Instagram. (okay fine, some kittens too)

Sometimes we review bands and sometimes we suggest they all play together in a strategically planned lineup. Thanks to all the incredible talent that played Great Scott last night and to everyone who came out to support. Don't be lame, go to a show. Boston Shows Tumblr, 88.1FM WMBR's Concert Report and our very own Go To This Show tab feature upcoming local shows for your listening pleasure.

Bishop And Rook Presents a Night at Great Scott

Hang out with Bishop And Rook and all these fine bands May 29th.

By our powers combined, we will create a totally stacked showcase and offer it to all music listeners 18 years of age and older! Bishop And Rook and Refuse Rethink Rebuild Records presents The Dirty Looks, Yellabird, Wrong Body and The Darker Hues at Great Scott in Allston on May 29th.

Old Gray, Tiny Moving Parts Split

Old Gray Tiny Moving Parts split out mid May. Pre-orders available now.

NH manic emotional poetic musicians Old Gray will release a split 7” with equally heart-on-sleeve Minnesota band Tiny Moving Parts mid May.

The brain melting post-hardcore collaboration will be put out by Kind of Like Records and Broken World Media, and limited to 500 copies.

Wrong Body Has Right Sound with "Big"

Big out now and available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Big, the first LP from Boston's Wrong Body, takes notes from Fugazi-era post-hardcore, modern indie rock and dare we say a pinch of hard rock harmonies and riffs, but has all post-punk heart. Ghost Thrower summed it up best when they tweeted "Fucking @WRNGBDY is the best band you're not listening to."

Ask The Dead...About Their Latest EP

Catch Ask The Dead live at O'Brien's Pub in Allston on March 30th.

Ask The Dead are loud, determined, and not at liberty to divulge certain information.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XX

We're spritzing in the month of love with cocktails, playlists and self promotions.

We can count up to made it to XX! We ❤ music, especially local tracks from bands like The Appreciation Post, The Dirty Looks, Vundabar and Old Gray. And to prove our undying affection, we are tri-hosting a show on February 15th with RTT Presents and Refuse Rethink Rebuild Records featuring Shambles, Rebuilder, Save Ends and Save Ends' Canadian counterpart, Laureate from Montreal.

To toast the fresh tracks on this February playlist AND the upcoming Bishop And Rook’s Flirty Thirty Birthday Show, try an Aperol Spritz submitted by Jay over at Boston music blog, Clicky Clicky Music.

New Music - Salita Hits the Scene with Vibratious Force

Assaulting audiences with organic, loud and epic rock anthems.

For many locals, the moniker, “Kicked in the Head”, brings back nostalgic feelings and miscellaneous shenanigans of the young, wild and evolving Boston music scene of the late 90's and early 2000's.

After three records and a nine-year hiatus, KITH singer, Gary Hedrick, has returned to front the new rock outfit, Salita, with the help of bassist Peet Golan (Waltham), guitarist Rich Crimlisk (The Morgan Knockers) and drummer Eric Taranto (Dysentery). This four-piece reaches back to the old school punk/post-hardcore sounds of the DC era while assaulting audiences with organic, loud and epic rock anthems that turn the senses inside out.