Beachy Keen – Riding Retro with Philly’s Queen of Jeans

Catch Queen of Jeans touring through town on August 6th.

Our hearts are aching over the vintage charm and carefree rhythm of Queen of Jeans’ S/T EP. It's essentially what we think opening a bottle of Polar's Unicorn Kisses sounds like.

For those of you who like Habibi / Shannon and the Clams / Colleen Green. Put on your oversized, rose-colored sunglasses, grab your favorite tall boy and hit play as you enjoy porch life with this swoon-worthy summer essential.

Ranging from wistful, ethereal harmonies to mod surf rock, the arrival of Philadelphia’s Queen of Jeans to the Boston area is very apropos. Listen to the band’s seductive sounds live on Saturday, August 6th at Lilypad with Bong Wish and The Heavies (event details) and Sunday, August 7th in Providence with PsychoTropics and Space Camp (event details).

‘Queen of Jeans’ is available for listen on SoundCloud and Spotify. 12” vinyl is available for purchase via Indiana DIY label Third Uncle Records for $15 with two color options: pink / baby blue split side and pink with baby blue splatter. Follow the band on Facebook and visit their official website for additional tour dates.

Is it Summer Yet? Today Junior Releases Two Free Surf / Garage Tracks

Snag your free downoad of Today Junior's latest singles.

It's no secret Today Junior puts on a fantastic live show. I feel like you should know this because there are plenty of opportunities to see them. Also, because we tell you... A lot.

As a follow up to their 2015 'Ride the Surf'' LP, Today Junior has dropped two singles at a complimentary "Name Your Price" cost on Bandcamp. "Leaving Easy" and "Blunt Breath" have the surf / garage sound you have come to expect from the trio, getting you ready for the summer, but more immediately, their set at Firebrand Saints in Kendall Square, Cambridge on April, 16th - part of dream pop band Guillermo Sexo's 'Eclipse' release show also featuring The Furniture and Jeff Beam Music. Full event details here. Follow Today Junior on Facebook and Twitter for even more show information.

Related Stories:
Today Junior’s Sound Gets Ocean-soaked And Sunburnt in Ride The Surf

Beware the Dangers of a Squid of Impending Doom - Guillermo Sexo Premiers Music Video for "Graffiti Sky"

Today Junior’s Sound Gets Ocean-soaked And Sunburnt in Ride The Surf

Get nostalgic for the summer sun and Ride The Surf with Today Junior.

Obviously, we’ve all heard of the infamous sophomore slump. Even with bands who never really made a splash, the second album is always perceived as the most difficult to record for reasons spanning from unreasonably high expectations to production time crunches.

But sometimes the band finds its signature sound during round two and the sophomore hits the mark that the debut was initially aiming for. While Today Junior’s What’s The Skinny (2013) is surrounded by more of an indie rock air, 2015’s Ride The Surf bathes completely in the salty breeze of the ocean.

TKO – Jargon Party Premiers Music Video For “Surf Rock Anthem Number 7”

Jargon Party experiences death by video game in their debut music video.

Portland, ME surf rockers Jargon Party lose the game in their debut music video for the first single "Surf Rock Anthem Number 7" off their upcoming full-length (release date TBD).

Filmed by Jason Boasch (Red Stallion Media) on location at Arcadia National Bar in Portland, ME, temptation of the game gets the best of the band in this grainy, electrified music video. One by one the band wonders off to compete and ultimately succumb to defeat, leaving the lone singer chanting “There’s nothing left”, before he too is annihilated.

“We're pretty avid gamers of all varieties so we thought it would be fun to combine the two. We wanted the video to have a bit of an arcade feel…kind of like a game within a game, with each of us having our own battles,” singer/guitarist Zach Lewis tells Bishop & Rook. “When each of us ultimately loses, our characters reset, waiting for the game to start again as whichever totem or avatar that we'd selected.” Drummer Jake Erskine's day job of pinball repairman at Arcadia made for a perfect filming location.

Originally created as a solo project by Zach Lewis in Brooklyn in 2012, Jargon Party is now based out of Portland, Maine and operates as a 4-piece with Zach Lewis, Eric Schnare, Dustin Graham, and Jake Erskine. 

You can download your free copy of "Surf Rock Anthem Number 7" via Bandcamp (at a name your price donation). Follow the band on Facebook and Twitter for show dates and additional release information.

Upcoming Jargon Party Shows:
October 8th - Ralph's Diner, Worcester
October 9th - Fran's Place, Lynn
October 10th - Northeastern University
October 11th - O'Briens, Allston with The Versa Contrast, Black Hatch and Super Hide - presented by Lysten Boston

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XXXIX

New music, our picks for September shows and THE SHARK PUNCHER.

Welcome Back Freshman. Moving blow. Go to a show. Providence, Rhode Island’s emo trio Twin Foxes will be at Charlie’s Kitchen in Harvard Square with Tied to a Bear on September 14th, New Hampshire’s spunky Little My is with Fucko at Middle East Upstairs on September 22nd and New York garage band Soda Bomb is playing at O’Brien’s Pub with Sneeze on September 23rd. All of this and more featured in our September Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Spotify playlist, plus partake in The Shark Puncher - a spiced rum recipe for you and your friends.

Kids Like You & Me's 6th Anniversary Party July 1st

Party on with Kids Like You And Me July 1st at Middle East Up.

The creators of local music blog, Kids Like You And Me (KLYAM), are celebrating their 6th anniversary with a birthday bash at Middle East Upstairs on Wednesday, July 1st featuring The Barbazons, Nice Guys, G. Gordon Gritty and Providence's Atlantic Thrills. We discuss what one can learn after kicking around the Boston music scene for 6 years, how KLYAM released their first record and the best time to pee at a house show.

Zip-Tie Handcuffs Premier Music Video for "Weird Being"

2015 Rock 'N' Roll Rumble participants, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, released another trippy video utilizing projections, this time for track "Weird Being" off of their 2014 LP Sundream, available to stream and purchase on Bandcamp now.

Zip-Tie Handcuffs will be battling it out along with Nate Leavitt Band, The Dirty Looks and Murcielago during night #5 (4/17) of the Rumble preliminaries at TT the Bear's in Central Square, Cambridge. Tickets are available now.

Related Stories:

2015 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Preliminary Schedule
Zip-Tie Handcuffs Melts Your Face with “Psychotic Dance”

Eye Design Presents Premiere Show at Firebrand Saints

New show, new venue, get on this. Saturday, March 7th.

Celebrate the first show at Firebrand Saints featuring indie shoegaze band Guillermo Sexo (Midriff Records) meow metal until we can't meow metal anymore you guys, experimental noise rockers Linear Downfall (TN) and surf rock outfit Beach Toys, presented by Eye Design. This show is $5, 21+ with valid ID and starts at 9pm. Get full event details here.

Firebrand Saints is located at 1 Broadway in Kendall Square, Cambridge. Close to the T, offers free parking and the kitchen is open until 11pm.

Vundabar Releases Music Video for UK Track "Ashes in The Sun"

In conclusion to their European Tour, Boston’s indie/surf rock trio, Vundabar, premiered a music video on Artrocker for new single “Ash in The Sun” off of their self-titled EP released in the UK early November. The 5-song EP, which consists of four previously released songs on 2013’s Antics in addition to the new single, can be purchased on Amazon and iTunes.

The 3:12 video follows the story line of drugs, cross dressing and fun facts about common household pugs. The interior duffel bag camera really ties this adventure together.

VUNDABAR / IDIOT GENES / BRAZIL @ GREAT SCOTT

Indie/surf band Vundabar is throwing a "goodbye" show with grunge rockers Idiot Genes (Eye Design Records) and experimental outfit Brazil on October 8th at Great Scott, Allston before they head off to Europe for a month-long tour.
They made a video about it.

Fifth Annual StarlabFest Music & Arts Festival

StarlabFest is a Rock and Roll, Film, Comedy, Cookout, Flea Market Party, and it’s happening Saturday, July 19th from 10a-9p in Somerville. This year's event will take place at two locations; 32 Prospect St. (the old Starlab studio where the rocking and the rolling will commence on two stages) and 453 Somerville Ave. (the new, current Starlab Studios showcasing comedy, film and art show). It is a short, half-mile walk straight through Union Square between locations.

A flea market organized by Somerville's High Energy Vintage will be available at both locations. Admission is $10, all ages welcome, 21+ with valid ID to drink. Advanced tickets can be purchased online. Visit www.starlabstudios.com and the official Facebook event page for more information.

32 PROSPECT ST.
(PARKING LOT)
12PM-9PM
ROCK AND ROLL SHOW

BEWARE THE DANGERS OF A GHOST SCORPION! 8-8:45
BLINDERS 7:30-8
ABADABAD 7-7:30
NICE GUYS 6:30-7
LUNGLUST 6-6:30
BOOGIE BOY METAL MOUTH 5:30-6
STEPHEN KONRADS & THE ETERNALS 5-5:30
THE DAZIES 4:30-5
ANIMAL MOTHER 4-4:30
CONGRATULATIONS 3:30-4
FUTURE SPA 3-3:30
THE SUN LIONS 2:30-3:00

Other Location Details
FREE BURGERS, HOT DOGS AND VEGGIE OPTIONS
plus
FREE TREATS FROM LOCAL VENDORS
and
$3 NARRAGANSETT TALL-BOYS

♜

453 SOMERVILLE AVE.
10AM-6PM
COMEDY, FILM AND ARTS SHOW

Comedy Block:
MYQ KAPLAN (featured on Conan, The Late Show, Comedy Central Presents) 5-6
DAN BOULGER (featured on The Late Show) 4:30-5
STEVE MACONE 4-4:30
with support from
SAM IKE, CAM MacNEIL & RYAN DONAHUE 3-4

Short Films by:
PAUL VILLANOVA
TIM BIERBAUM
PADRICK RITCH
ELLIOT KAFFEE
JIM DANDEE
ANTHONY KNASAS
KEVIN REUNING
Playing at 11:30AM and 2PM

Visual Arts Show featuring:
HEATHER SEELEY
MARS JUPITER
LEEANNE DAVIGNION
EQM

What's A Girl Gotta Do For A Record Release Show?

From snow storms to shit shows, Atlantic Thrills will finally get to play their Record Release Show.

Man, Atlantic Thrills can't catch a break. First, the Providence, RI garage surf band’s Record Release show was canceled due to the impending February 15th snow storm. Now, in light of the Great Tasty Burger Debacle during a 2/22 Eye Design show, the band’s rescheduled date happening this Friday (2/28) and co-presented by The Boston Hassle, Treat Yo Self and Eye Design, will to need change venues.

Have a Crushed Out Valentine's Day

Special 24-hour only free download of Crushed Out's "Sweaty Dress" single.

For 24-hours, the rock n' roll surf blues duo, Crushed Out, will be offering a free download of their single, "Sweaty Dress", on Bandcamp in honor of Valentine's Day. The Brooklyn band will be in the area on March 29th at The Press Room in Portsmith, NH.

Download "Sweaty Dress" now.

Message from the band:

"Happy Valentine's Day! We are celebrating with a FREE DOWNLOAD of our slow dance love song Sweaty Dress. It will be available for the next 24 hours only. Enjoy! XOXO - Franklin & Moselle."

#BandcampRoulette

Here's a little jam by Boston's Só Sol that's as quaint as the snow on your windowsill. "A Good Place" off the band's 2012 Bereavement EP is as coffeehouse as we can get. For the love of wax, someone put them on vinyl! Catch Só Sol with Somerville's horror-surf rock outfit, Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion, next Monday (1/27) at Zuzu for a free Monday night show.

Play Bandcamp Roulette.

#BandcampRoulette

#BandcampRoulette – Polaroids (Boston) adds a dreamy surf vibe to their cover of Grimes' "Oblivion". Download this song for free on Bandcamp.


Play Bandcamp Roulette.

#BandcampRoulette

#BandcampRoulette – Happy Friday the 13th. Here's Vultures of Cult (Burlington, VT) with 'Thank God It's Doomsday' off of their 2013 SVRF EP. Download the entire album for free (with a "name your price" donation) on Bandcamp today.

Play Bandcamp Roulette.

Rock Out With Your Cocktail Out Vol. XII

It's beginning to feel a lot like sprummer. Sometimes warm, sometimes cold, sometimes butt sweat hot. New England, you are a menopausal woman. While Boston is figuring out if it's a spring or a summer, do the porch life thing and make June's ROWYCO playlist your background music to outdoor fun times. And while you're being a bunch of classy kids listening to this extra groovy mixtape, have a Betty Ford. And drink responsibly.

Betty in Barcelona. It's the irony that makes it delicious. (image credit)