the-sound-underground-blog

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Hey friends and followers, 

If you've noticed or not, I've been absent from this blog for a couple of months. It wasn't on purpose, and it doesn't mean this project is over. Since graduating, I've had a little trouble getting a foothold in my writing, and with a bit of soul searching, I've been experimenting with more personal/creative projects. I have still been active in music - in fact, I feel more active than ever before. My good friend Coach asked me to join coachandsons, a fantastic DIY booking company, and I've been contributing here and there to the Boston Hassle. In addition to all that, I've been working on my own music. I feel bad that this blog, something I was once so excited about, has taken a backseat to other developments, but I said it when I made it, and I'll say it again, I made this blog for myself, and it will always be here when I want it. 

In all my education in writing, I've learned that the most important thing for you to grasp is your voice. Good writers are clear and precise, but great writers have a voice. They make their words dance on the page and come to life in your eyes, and I feel like my voice and I haven't been on the same page at all lately. I suppose it's all part of the post-grad existential crisis, but with each day comes new clarity, and I'm hoping that soon I'll be back at this - pairing beers and bands and coming up with witty ways to talk about my friends' music. Until then, I'll be writing in journals and letters and hoping that something works. 

Thanks for caring if you do, 

Jess 

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Bitter Tuesdays @ Elks Lodge #music #cambridge #boston #bittertuesdays (at Massasoit Elks Lodge)

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SHOW TOMORROW 6/25/14: Coach Presents Acoustic Punk Night with Fall Risk/Outerspaceman/Jake Simmons/Andrew F-Word Lowerey/Paul Coppola

ACOUSTIC PUNK NIGHT FALL RISK (acoustic) Outerspaceman  Andrew F-Word Lowrey (Meracula) Jake Simmons Paul Coppola - music $5 7:00pm

Facebook Event

coachandsons​ is putting on acoustic punk night with solo acts and acoustic versions of your favorite local punk groups at the Loser Lodge this Wednesday night. Message on Facebook for address! 

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Updated my "About" section to be less cringe-y. 

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Since I first moved to Boston, I’ve been writing for other people, so I made this blog selfishly with myself and my writing in mind. I realized, though, that in my writing I had the opportunity to help others around me. My friends in music are, in a word, a community - an inclusive, hard-working and impressive one, too. This is my contribution to that community. Read here, visit on Facebook, spread the word, enjoy. 

- Jessica Leach, Founder 

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Check me out on your Tumblr mobile app!

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A Beer & A Band, Third Edition - up on the-sound-underground.tumblr.com now! #abeerandaband #aguynamedguy #roguedeadguy #beer #music @aguynamedguyma

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#latergram Sports. @ the Womb, 5.23.14 #music #sports #allston #basement

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Boston Calling Spring 2014 and One Girl's Journey Through Her High School iPod

Brand New plays through songs on my high school iPod.

  My first iPod was a bright blue nano. I got it for Christmas when I was 14, and I put a whole bunch of different songs on it. I was really into classic rock at the time, because I've always been a middle aged man at heart, but there was also that certain selection of indie and alt rock that every teenager in 2007 had (you can probably thank primetime TV like The O.C. for that shizz because lord knows none of us even knew wtf Pitchfork was). 

I forgot all about this iPod in this incarnation with these songs on it until Boston Calling announced its third installment lineup - a smattering of names I hadn't seen on concert bills in ages. Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, Jack Johnson as headliners, supported by my personal favorites - Brand New, Jenny Lewis, Built to Spill and Tegan and Sara. 

I'm not really into big music festivals (and honestly, I hate festival culture - enough so that my friends and I played a game where we'd punch each other every time we saw a flower crown, and there were enough where some of us got punched four times in a row), but I've gone to Boston Calling twice thus far, and I've enjoyed myself silly both times. 

This year, the lineup meant a little more than names and songs I've familiarized myself with through music blogs and party playlists. Most of these bands were bands I had long-formed and distinct memories with - songs that took me back to that pair of black Converse shoes I wore until the soles fell off, and lyrics I typed into my AIM away message as passive attempts to seem deep or cool. 

Having just graduated from college, I am deep into retrospect and nostalgia, and for that I'm appreciative of the music I listened to during simpler times. Hearing Death Cab's Ben Gibbard croon through "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" or Brand New's Jesse Lacey scream my favorite lyrics from "Sowing Season" helped prevent looming adulthood from kicking my ass too hard, and took me back to frizzy hair and bad eyeliner and the time when scrolling through songs meant caressing your iPod in a circular motion like it was a freakin nipple or something. 

So, thank you Boston Calling, for being the best post-grad gift to myself. I'm a little more grateful that I can still enjoy the sounds of my adolescence without the awkward training bra. 

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A BEER AND A BAND THIRD EDITION: A GUY NAMED DEAD GUY ALE

Beer: Rogue's Dead Guy Ale Band: A Guy Named Guy 

"I know it's hard to say goodbye," but it is necessary - A Guy Named Guy, my favorite local ska/punk band, is losing three of its members after their show this Sunday, May 25, so to ease the pain of their loss, I'm giving them a beer pairing that I hope will only do their sound and this change justice.

With equal parts of their sound rooted in traditional ska and pop punk, A Guy Named Guy is inherently difficult to pigeon hole, especially in terms of flavor. So, I figured their beer would have to equally incorporate two distinct yet complementary tastes. I thought of Rogue's "Dead Guy Ale," a unique take on the German Maibock, light in body yet rich in hoppy flavor - a good balance. 

For the past six months or so, I've had the pleasure of listening to and watching A Guy Named Guy through every skaliday, and I've sensed that same delicate balance in their sound - heavy in pure punk at times, and pure ska in others, but also a perfect in-between of both. Their "Chin Up, Kid" EP plays on that traditional ska sound, threaded with horn melody and tongue twisting verses, while their split with D-Cent Jerks is a distinctly darker take on it, with louder, fuzzier guitar and screaming vocals. The Rogue Dead Guy balances a similar dichotomy, resting in balance between the sweet bitterness of a pale ale and the heavier, strong flavors of a Maibock. 

Unfortunately I posted this too late as a pregame opportunity, but you can still drink a Rogue Dead Guy while listening to A Guy Named Guy - And, as a bonus, if you want to drink like the band - drummer and Coach Alex Pickert tells me that they all swear by Yuengling. 

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BOXED WINE // KID MOUNTAIN // BENT SHAPES // VUNDABAR @ THE WOMB 5-2-14

"Friday night at the Womb," is a phrase that has become intrinsic to the Allston vernacular. In fact, using "Friday" may be too specific for how frequently this venue produces quality house shows, but in this particular instance, on Friday May 2, newbie booking co. Jams du Jour brought New Jersey native Boxed Wine to the twinkling basement, supported by locals Kid Mountain, Bent Shapes and Vundabar. 

To kick off, Vundabar packed in an enthusiastic crowd like thrashing sardines, playing through favorites off their album Antics. "Holy Toledo," recently released as a music video (with a premiere on CMJ), was happily shouted back by the band's growing number of fans. The Emerson College trio have plans to set off for a European tour this summer starting later this month, so this show was America's last chance to see them before they blow up across the pond. 

Following Vundabar's wildin' out, the very jangly Bent Shapes kept everyone dancing in the basement heat. The group has an arsenal of indie rock treasures - listen to all of Feels Weird right now if you have operational ears. In sound, the group can invite comparisons from all over the spectrum, like selections for a primetime teen drama soundtrack in 2005, but in a good way, of course -  because Bent Shapes, in all their familiar fun, are certainly in a category (and league) of their own.

Then there was Kid Mountain, who hail from both my home Providence, RI (aaayyy) and Boston. The group, compared to the others on the line-up, definitely have a more ethereal, mellow quality to their take on indie rock, but with strong rhythm, they got the best hipster head bob out of all of us. 

Topping off the night was Boxed Wine, visitors from the land of New Jersey, and they definitely get credit for having more quality than their namesake. After a loud and what can only be described as "metal-as-fuck" cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark," I was a hooked on the band's carefree approach to indie pop. Later on in the set, they surprised with another cover, this time of the late 90s electronic classic "Better Off Alone" by Alice DeeJay, as if they knew exactly how to please a crowd of drunk kids (I mean their name is Boxed Wine it's probably in their blood to do this). Mixed in with equally dance-y originals, Boxed Wine definitely made some new fans in Boston. 

Next show at the Womb is this Sunday (May 11, also mother's day so call your mom please) featuring Animal Flag, Dylan Ewen (with the Sulk Scouts), Brazil and Indian Twin. Check it out here. 

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// NEW RELEASE // "TIME WILL TELL YOU WELL," ALBUM BY GREY SEASON

Time Will Tell You Well, the first full-length from Grey Season, is a perfectly calculated mix of captivating originals and reinvented covers. Recorded at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock and funded by Kickstarter, the 10 track release represents a whole set of achievements by the local folk rock group, especially in musical growth. Two of the album’s tracks, “Roslyn,” and “New Kind of Dirty” were previously featured on their debut EP Troilus (released in May 2013) and are the best examples of their steady evolution. Lead vocalist, Jon Mills, gets writing credit for the originals, with lyrical genius standing out in tracks like “Lost and Found” and “Look At Us Now.” Stylistically, they remain in the spectrum of folk rock, but Grey Season has no problem playing around with their influences. In their cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mama You Been On My Mind,” they strip down to echo-y a cappella, enter southern rock territory with dobro riffs in “Wicked Wolves,” and get catchy with lead single “Satellites.” As time will tell you (well), this is an album not to be missed. 

Available for purchase here. 

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UPCOMING: BUFU FEST, THE ONLY DIY FEST THAT MATTERS (RIGHT NOW)

Yes, this is real. Yes, this is happening this weekend. The label that has mastered the art of "chilling hard," BUFU Records, is putting on its first ever local music fest, sponsored by the Boston Hassle and Eye Design. Spanning over two days at the Cambridge Elks Lodge, the fest will bring together local acts from all over the genre spectrum, from BUFU label homies like Free Pizza and ACLU Benefit to legends like Krill, lovechild and Fat Creeps. Who will you stop by to see? 

$10-15 sliding scale, 55 Bishop Allen Rd. // Facebook

FULL LIST OF BANDS:

Bands: Acidosis (Miami, FL) * ACLU Benefit (Boston, MA) *  @bbigpigg (Brooklyn, NY) *  B L A C K I E... All Caps, With Spaces (Houston, TX) Bugs and Rats (Boston, MA) The Channels (Boston, MA) * CHARLIE Chrome Over Brass (Boston, MA) Cult & Leper (Boston, MA) Dylan Ewen (Boston, MA) * Fat Creeps (Boston, MA) The Founding Fathers (Past, The) Free Pizza (Boston, MA) * Funeral Cone (Boston, MA) Gangbang Gordon (Boston, MA) * Guerilla Toss (Boston, MA) GYMSHORTS (Providence, RI) Hurricanes of Love (USA) Ian Medford (Boston, MA) idiot genes (Boston, MA) In Heat (Providence, RI) *\ The Jellyfish Brothers (Miami, FL) * Juan Wauters (Brooklyn, NY) Krill (Boston, MA) * The Lentils ft. Luke Csehak of Happy Jawbone Family Band and more! Brattleboro, VT Littlefoot (Providence, RI) lovechild (Boston, MA) Malportado Kids Via Interwebz (Providence, RI) * Muhammad Ollie ft. members of Designer (Boston, MA) * NICE GUYS (Boston, MA) Skinny Bones (Boston, MA) Sneeze (Boston, MA) UNSTOPPABLE DEATH MACHINES (Brooklyn, NY) ZEBU! (Northampton, MA) * indicates band is on BUFU Records

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// SHOW TONIGHT // MILK, THE SUN LIONS AND LUCY AT THE SUN PALACE

The Sun Palace brings back their legendary house shows TONIGHT with some dirty Allston rock n' roll by Lucy, Milk, and The Sun Lions. Show kicks off at 8, and it should be sick. RSVP HERE / read what the Sun Palace dudes have to say: 

"Lucy The Sun Lions Milk (band) and emceed by yours truly, Mulled Cider. Don't miss the second first Sun Palace show of 2014. Really excellent line up will be performing and the more people we can get to share in some live music, the better! Refreshments will be colder than Billy Joel's dead left foot, and available to imbibe. If you bring a few dollars to help cover that ol' barrel cost we'd appreciate. Come on by at 8:00 for rock and roll and your chance to add a masterpiece to the chalk wall!! Bring your friends and your daughter's friends and your pet guinea pig and your dancing slippers and largest smiles and dad, but don't bring the pain of yesteryear along... Music will be cooling off at midnight so get on over early and make a night of it. If you needa know where in the kingdom of Allston our palace sits, send a message We love you and look forward to FLYING around with you in the kitchen this weekend! http://thesunpalace.bandcamp.com/."

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NEW RELEASE: "SATELLITES," NEW SINGLE BY GREY SEASON

Allston folk rock group Grey Season (my first beer and band pairing) has released the first single "Satellites" from their upcoming full-length Time Will Tell You Well (recorded at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock and available April 26). The tune kicks off simple with their staple acoustic guitar and banjo sound, but as it progresses, it builds into one of their more powerful tracks. Highlights include the feedback fade in at 2:38 and each howling chorus by vocalist Jon Mills. This is only a taste of what's to come on the album. 

Available now on bandcamp and Soundcloud. 

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FRANKIE COSMOS IS SUPER COOL. #vsco #vscocam #afterlight #music (at neverland)

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! UPCOMING HOUSE SHOWS ¡ (4/13-4/20)

Sun April 13 BUFU presents Frankie Cosmos, Free Pizza, ACLU Benefit, IAN, Littlefoot @ Neverland

BUFU Records' brings Frankie Cosmos, NY's dreamiest indie pop goddess, back to Boston to rock "Neverland" with some sick local groups like the very tasty noise punk trio Free Pizza and sad girl songstress IAN. More info below:

Frankie Cosmos (NY) http://ingridsuperstar.bandcamp.com/ Free Pizza (MA) www.freepizzarocks.bandcamp.com ACLU Benefit (MA) www.aclubenefit.bandcamp.com IAN (MA) www.eyyunn.bandcamp.com Littlefoot (RI) www.littlefootlittlefoot.bandcamp.com  www.bufurecords.com

8pm @ Neverland, bring $$ for touring musicians, message for details. 

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Sat April 19 Coach Presents: The Takeaways, Everything Ever (RECORD RELEASE)(NJ), SPORTS, Germ Head

Coach & Sons, your new favorite local booking company, put together a sick punk show featuring NJ's Everything Ever, who are releasing their record Solid Ground. The show is free - go buy albums and merch and shit.

The Takeaways (MA) Everything Ever (NJ)  Sports. (MA) Germ Head (MA)

www.facebook.com/CoachBooking

7pm @ the Monkey Palace, free show, be nice and smooch your local Coach.

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Sun April 20 LES RHINOCEROS (DC), DAVID DOMINIQUE, LESIONREAD (BUFFALO, NY), CULT & LEPER, PARTICULARS @ THE WOMB

Womb shows are the best shows. B.O.W wants you to blaze it 420 style with DC's Les Rhinocéros with some trippy, minimalist tunes.

Les Rhinocéros (DC) http://lesrhino.bandcamp.com/ David Dominique http://daviddominique.bandcamp.com/ Lesionread (Buffalo, NY) http://lesionread.bandcamp.com/ Cult & Leper http://cultleper1.bandcamp.com/ Particulars (Nick Neuberg new project) https://soundcloud.com/nick-neuburg www.bowshows.org

8pm @ da W0mb, $5-10 sliding scale, be cool.

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NEW RELEASES: "SEA MONKEYS" (SINGLE) BY PALM SPRING LIFE + WE'LL GET TO IT EVENTUALLY (EP) BY SPORTS.

We'll Get To It Eventually (EP) by Sports. Listen/download here. 

Since its release last week, I've listened to Sports.' debut EP backwards and forwards. In an area with no shortage of uprising emo/punk groups, the Berklee trio works with the genre, and where it's headed, to create a substantial debut worth listening to. Favorite tracks: "Illinoisy" and "Mo Vaughn." 

"Sea Monkeys" (single) by Palm Spring Life. Listen/download here. 

Palm Spring Life, a new band out of BU's crowd, debuted their first single "Sea Monkeys" last week, and it is tasty slower jam. Channeling the feel of an Sgt. Peppers' Beatles tune with a lo-fi indie twist, Palm Spring Life put out a solid teaser for future releases.