Tag #GARAGE ROCK

The Dogmatics Are Going Places Fast With Lively New Album, “Nowheresville”

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First Album In 39 Years

We recently had the stellar opportunity to check out the album, “Nowheresville” , via Rum Bar Records, from Boston, garage legends, The Dogmatics. You can listen to “Nowheresville – on Spotify Here, Apple Music Here

The Dogmatics, are a timeless energy that is vibrantly on display on the positively electrifying “Nowheresville”

Photo Credit: Nicole Tammaro Photograph

The common thread that links the band from its ‘80s heyday to now is family. Music history is littered with collectives known loosely as family bands, but it can be argued there has never been a family band quite like The Dogmatics. The sentiment fueled their inaugural run 40 years ago, launching out of the vibrant Boston music scene in 1981, and is the creative conduit that energizes this awe-inspiring second act.

The best part of this new era is what it has always been – fun and friendship,” says co-vocalist and guitarist Jerry Lehane, joined in The Dogmatics by longtime confidants Peter O’Halloran (rhythm guitarist and vocalist); Jimmy O’Halloran (bass); and Tom Long (drums), with 2019 recruit James Young on mandolin, guitar, and assorted vocals.  

Everything The Dogmatics do revolves around this keen sense of family pride, and the album reflects this on several fronts: Honoring fallen brother and bassist Paul O’Halloran, whose tragic 1986 death brought a sudden end to the first iteration of the group; presenting Nowheresville with artwork of a vintage photo snapped by Mary Lou O’Halloran depicting two kids from the Pacific Northwest, rocking perhaps the very first Dogmatics t-shirt design several decades ago; and taking its title from a song Lehane and Paul O’Halloran were working on just before he passed, enduring after only as a long-lost live recording on WERS’ classic Metrowave radio show and a few efforts to record it with later projects that never came to fruition.  

Even the album’s record release party, a raucous one-day mini-festival at Waltham’s French American Victory Club on Saturday, July 26, serves as a communal collection of The Dogmatics’ extended network of friends and family. The inspired lineup, in addition to The Dogmatics, features Black Cheers, Jay Allen and the Archcriminals, Last Stand, Gypsy Moths, Tom Baker and the Double Down, Stop Calling Me Frank, and Band 19.

“The 10 songs on the album show a lot of variety and breadth beyond the classic garage-rocking reputation,” says Young, who grew up listening to the band before officially joining for this second act. “As a new-ish member to the band who started as a fan, it’s great to see the feedback about the band making new music that’s relevant today, and not just being a reunion act. I’ve always had so much respect for the individual band members as musicians, it’s a pleasure and privilege to be part of demonstrating the flex of those skills.” 

Nowheresville is more than just a straight garage rock record. The 10 tracks offer an eclectic spectrum of genres and styles. Recorded at Edsbarn in Canton, produced and engineered by Ed Riemer, and mastered by Dave Westner,

We found ourselves endlessly basking in the eclectic glow of “Nowheresville “ Tracks like “You’ve Got What I want, and “Library Girl” give off a Ramones/ Descendents vibe. While , we felt a folk/country / rockabilly feel with “Con Job” .So many bands tend only have one gear – this is definitely not the case with The Dogmatics on “Nowheresville”

Every track on “Nowheresville” , from The Dogmatics, is better than the last . This is an album that is a must listen.

The Dogmatics Have Exactly What We Need With New Single, “You’ve Got What I Want”

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We recently had the stellar opportunity to check out the new single, via Rum Bar Records, “You’ve Got What I Want”, from Legendary Boston garage rock band, The Dogmatics. You can listen to “You’ve Got What I Want” on Spotify Here, Apple Music Here and on Bandcamp Here

Brimming with classic Dogmatics punkabilly and surf n’ skate energy at an economical 95 seconds in length, “You’ve Got What I Want” is the final single before the band unleashes its first new full-length album in nearly four decades, arriving on Friday, July 18. 

“You’ve Got What I Want “ is a melodic and sonic dream. Nobody brings it like The Dogmatics…. NOBODY! We were dancing and singing along instantly.

The Dogmatics, and their new single, “You’ve Got What I Want” represent a feeling and a sound that feels like a celebration that is a reserved for your birthday and the Fourth of July. It just feels right

A raucous record release party at Waltham’s French American Victory Club follows the release on the next weekend on Saturday, July 26, and the lineup is pretty much its own one-off music festival. Joining The Dogmatics from afternoon to evening are a host of friends and family, rounding up the definable sound of Boston across several decades: Black Cheers, Jay Allen and the Archcriminals, Last Stand, Gypsy Moths, Tom Baker and the Double Down, Stop Calling Me Frank, and Band 19. 

Photo Credit: Nicole Tammaro Photography

Recorded at Edsbarn in Canton, Massachusetts, and produced and engineered by Ed Riemer with mastering by Dave Westner, “You’ve Got What I Want” is a link to The Dogmatics’ past that also allows them to embrace the future. After reforming in 2019, the band has gigged regularly around New England, releasing a series of well-received singles and a 2022 EP for Rum Bar in Drop The Needle. Uninterested in being purely a throwback or nostalgia band, the newly-released Dogmatics material sounds like it came from a new band emerging out of an Allston basement or Somerville loft.

We are all in on “You’ve Got What I Want” from The Dogmatics, and know you will be too!

The Coolies Absolutely Slay With New Single, “Bad Bad Boy” (b/w “Over You”)

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Joining members Melanie Vammen,Palmyra Delran and Kim Shattuck (in spirit and sound) are longtime collaborators Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s) on bass and the late Clem Burke (Blondie) on drums.

We recently had the stellar opportunity to, to check out the new single, “Bad Bad Boy “ , accompanied by the B-side “Over You”, from The Coolies,via via Wicked Cool Records.

This release marks a deeply personal milestone for the band, featuring a lineup of musical legends and a tribute to a dearly missed friend.

You can check out , “Bad Bad Boy” and the B-side, “Over You” Here

Joining members Melanie Vammen,Palmyra Delran and Kim Shattuck (in spirit and sound) are longtime collaborators Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s) on bass and the late Clem Burke (Blondie) on drums. Notably, Clem recorded his drum tracks while courageously undergoing cancer treatment—a testament to his unwavering dedication and love for the music. The band extends their deepest gratitude and love to him.

Bad Bad Boy” was co-written by Kim Shattuck and Palmyra Delran, and carries what the band lovingly refers to as “Kim’s ghost echo,” preserving her unmistakable spirit in every note. The release serves as both a celebration of life and creativity and a tribute to Kim’s enduring influence.

We are absolutely digging the vibe on “Bad Bad Boy“ , from The Coolies . This is definitely a song you can’t afford to miss.

The Coolies are beyond excited to share this new music with fans around the world and invite everyone to join them in honoring the legacy, friendship, and passion that fuels every track.

Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones Have Once Again Captured Our Hearts With Their Extraordinary New Video For “#1 Most Likely”

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Courtesy Of The Band

On Valentines Day , we were absolutely smitten with the release of “#1 Most Likely “ from Boston based garage/glam octet Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones. We now have been smitten X 2 , with the release of the absolutely fabulously fantastic video for “#1 Most Likely” You can check out the awesome video for yourself below.

You can also listen to “#1 Most Likely“ on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here

Smitt E Smitty & The Fezztones definitely did not disappoint with another glorious visual spectacular . ( which, if you are scoring at home is brought to you in beautiful“FezzAScope” . )

One listen to the mesmerizing “#1 Most Likely” and the song was floating effortlessly in our soul . We couldn’t help but get swept away by the hypnotic melody. sing along. We felt exactly the same way about the video.

Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones, are know for first rate oddball fun and that is exactly what we got with the amazing video for “#1 Most Likely”

“We are going to have some FUN with this video,” Smitty concludes. “Since this is not a traditional ‘love song’ by definition, the music video should also not be traditional. We promise to make it very unusual. Turn it on its side. Without giving too much away, we will be doing an homage, of sorts, to a filmmaker we all know and love, but I don’t want to spoil it by saying too much.”

“I love all that oddball stuff, and I love good bad art,” Smitty says with a laugh. “#1 Most Likely” was recorded with Alec Rodriguez at New Alliance Audio in Somerville, MA, and the Fezztones are returning to the studio to prepare additional releases for 2025.

Rum Bar Records Once Again Raises The Bar With “Second Shot”

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Boston independent garage rock and power-pop record label wraps a lively 2024 with free 38-track comp today, (Tuesday, November 26)

You can check out “Second Shots “ on Bandcamp Here

Rum Bar Records brilliantly captures the true heart and soul of the local Boston music scene and beyond and, this is on full vibrant display on “Second Shots”

Lou Mansdorf’s ( an absolute music legend) esteemed and independent Boston-based label, which last year celebrated its 10th anniversary, caps a wild and busy 11th year of operation with Second Shot, a free 38-track compilation of garage rock, power-pop, pub rock, indie, punk, and swaggering rock and roll set for digital release and available for download starting today , (Tuesday, November 26. ) Seriously there is something for every music lover on planet on “Second Shots”

Serving as a look back at Rum Bar’s active 2024 – full of both homegrown and national bands and artists – and a peek into what next year may bring, Second Shot drops just ahead of Black Friday, and for good reason: Those who use the discount code niceprice20 at checkout will score 20 percent off all purchases on Rum Bar’s Bandcamp page through December 31, including pre-orders, all physical and digital music purchases, and merchandise.

In addition, the label is donating 20.25% of all profits during the month of December to Planned Parenthood. And Rum Bar is offering a “brown bag special,” where during December fans can get 5 CDs, randomly selected by Mansdorf, as well as a label koozie and sticker, for just $15.   

“From day one, this has been a labor of love,” Mansdorf says. “All we want to do is create one fan, one listener, one follower, one customer a day, a week, a month, a year, so we can just keep helping these artists spread their gospel and grow their fanbase.”

The free compilation features music that extends well beyond the Boston scene, rounding up tracks from Slamdinistas, The Hellflowers, Tom Baker, The Glimmer Stars, The Legendary Swagger, The Mochines, The Dogs, The Amplifier Heads, Tim McCoy, J Prozac, The Cretins, The Yum Yums, Boris The Sprinkler, Pavid Vermin, WiMP!, Shaggahs, Rick Barton, Jittery Jack with Amy Griffin on Guitar, Cindy Lawson, Girl with a Hawk, The Wynotts, Hotbox, Joe Jennings MVP’s, The Spackles, The Carnivals, Tony Marsico and the Ugly Thingz, The Hollywood Stars, Junior Varsity, Muck and the Mires, Gene Campagne, Diablogato, The Cornfed Project, The Hi-End, Richard Duguay & The Beautiful Decline, Cheap Cassettes, The Shang Hi Los, The Dogmatics, and Stop Calling Me Frank. 

The songs on “Second Shot” are seriously the finest collection of music around….. hands down. We are talking 38 tracks and not a bad one in the bunch . From the Amplifier Heads , “The Best It’s Gonna Be” , Girl With A Hawk, “Way With Words” , Muck and The Mires, He’s Not The One” – absolutely amazing!

Lou Mansdorf, Rum Bar Records , “Second Shot” and all the artist involved represent all that is good in music today . If you consider yourself self a music fan this is one compilation, you can’t miss”

Legendary Garage Band The Chesterfield Kings Announce New Album “We’re Still All The Same”

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Rochester, NY, garage rock legends TheChesterfieldKings,have announced an October 11 release date for their new album ‘We’re Still All The Same” via Stevie Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records

Fronted by Andy Babiuk (guitar historian/consultant and esteemed author of ‘Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four’s Instruments from Stage to Studio’, ‘Rolling Stones Gear’ and other acclaimed books), The Chesterfield Kings’ new 14-track album features the recent singles “Fly The Astral Plane”, “Electrified“ (co-written with Stevie Van Zandt), and “Meet You After Midnight

‘We’re Still All The Same’ was recorded at Fab Gear Studios in Rochester, NY and produced by the legendary Ed Stasium (The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Smithereens, Mick Jagger to name a few) and serves as the band’s first LP in 15 years, after a lengthy hiatus.

Throughout the recording of the album, The Chesterfield Kings used over 50 vintage guitars and a massive amount of vintage amps and keyboards (culled from Babiuk’s vast collection), resulting in an electrifying blend of classic tones that resonate with a timeless rock ‘n’ roll spirit, while maintaining a modern edge.

Babiuk says, “When we set out writing the songs for the new album we stuck to our roots and what people know us for. Our producer Ed Stasium came to Rochester, and we recorded 20 new songs in August of 2023. We had a blast working with Ed pulling out a ton of vintage guitars, amps, keyboards and other odd instruments, coming up with interesting sounds that you really can only get out of vintage equipment. Ed took the tracks back to his studio in California and did an amazing job mixing the LP and also mixed the record in the new ATMOS format.”

“The title of the LP comes from a track on the album ‘We’re Still All The Same’. It’s a song I wrote that’s a social statement about people and humanity in general,” adds Babiuk. “People should stop fighting about religion, politics, race and everything else and realize that we may have different opinions or ideologies but in the big picture of things it really doesn’t matter. We actually have more things in common and in the end we’re really still all the same. If you think about how small the world is compared to the universe, we are all just a speck of dust. We should just be happy that we are all human, alive and we get to make it around a flaming sun once a year!”

Pre-save “We’re Still All The Same” Here

The Chesterfield Kings represent all that is good in music . They have a sound and vibe that will never go out of style. We can not wait for “We’re Still All The Same”

The Chesterfield Kings are:

Andy Babiuk

Mike Boise

Jeff Okolowicz

Ted Okolowicz

John Cammarosano

The Amplifier Heads Deliver Otherworldly Goodness With New Album, “Songs From They Came To Rock”

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We recently got the amazing opportunity to check out The Amplifier Heads new album “Songs From They Came To Rock” which is available today (April 5th) via Rum Bar Records . You can check out “Songs From They Came To Rock” on Bandcamp Here

Courtesy Of The Artist

This record is the soundtrack to executive producer Norty Cohen’s immersive rock opera about an alien invasion and its undeniable connection to rock and roll. Amplifier Heads leader and Boston music scene icon Sal Baglio has crafted a masterclass in extra-terrestrial rock with a sound that spans decades, compiling an all-star crew — Dave Mattacks, Jen D’Angora, Dan Kopko, Barrence Whitfield, Richard Hilton (Nile Rogers Band), Henley Douglas Jr., and Tom West (Peter Wolf) — for a 10-track, eight transmission interlude record. 

First debuting in Nashville three years ago and receiving praise from Rolling Stone, Cohen’s theatrical production of They Came To Rock details a story about friendly little green men coming to Earth – which they call The Vinyl Frontier – in search of the type of music heard through static and noise on their radio.

“The term rock opera has come to mean different things to anyone’s interpretation,” Baglio says. “There is a lyrical and musical line that follows through the record. Some fantasy, some fact. It is a musical speed rocket trip and the seat belt sign is off!”

“Songs From They Came To Rock” from The Amplifier Heads, is literally a musical work of art that is out of this world.

We first came into contact with “Songs From They Came To Rock “ by way of the epic title track “They Came To Rock,” featuring Barrence Whitfield.

“Songs From They Came To Rock is very different from all of my previous Amplifier Heads records which are essentially recorded solo with the assistance of one or two other musicians,” says Baglio. “With it being a soundtrack, I chose to work with many good friends which gives the record an entirely varied and different sound than anything prior.” 

There’s Whitfield declaring arrival with a soul dynamo fever on the title track; D’Angora shaking out a ‘60s retro-pop bop in “Something Went Down,” about the most famous UFO event in England’s history, taking places at Rendlesham Forest on Christmas 1980; and a ‘70s psych-glam transmission through “Bienvenue” and Kopko’s “Dead Star.” Early single “Space Cadette,” a riff-rocking shaker that landed in 2022 and received heavy airplay and attention on Little Steven’s Underground Garage on SiriusXM, details Betty and Barney Hill’s 1961 encounter of a UFO on a deserted highway in New Hampshire.

“Songs From They Came To Rock” is an intergalactic musical experience, that you can’t afford to miss.

The New Music Video “The Growler” From Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones Is Both Wicked Spooky And Wicked Awesome

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We recently checked out Boston based garage/glam octet Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones and their new wildly wicked fun video for “The Growler”

You can listen to “The Growler “ on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here

You can check out the video for “The Growler” below .

We were instantly hooked on “The Growler” right from the first note. “The Growler” is a well crafted gem that proves that you can rock out and have a blast doing .

We were absolutely mesmerized by the visuals in the video for “The Growler” from Smitt E. Smitty And The Fezztones . It had this creature double feature movie feel with a dash of sideshow/ carnival vibe thrown in for good measure, Absolutely perfect !

Friday October 13th is the absolute perfect day for the summer radio hit, which has become a fixture on Little Steven’s Underground Garage.

When asked about the amazing visual that is “The Growler” , Smitt E. Smitty commented

“I wanted to take the idea of living with ‘reckless abandon’ and add an old-time horror movie element to it. A genuine ‘growling’ protagonist. One-hundred percent Mr. Hyde without any Dr. Jekyll. Plus, we did a live show at The Met in Rhode Island, and I was able to use that footage to capture the energy of our performance for the song. When people come to our live shows, they are always blown away by the energy and passion we put forth. It’s that passion that is captured for this music video.”

The Growler” was recorded at New Alliance Audio in Somerville, engineered and co-produced by Alec Rodriguez, and mastered by Dave Stawecki.

The idea for Smitty’s latest barnstormer came to the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter while he was on a cross-country flight, flying to a gig at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. The captain spoke over the intercom in a slow, deliberate drawl as he addressed passengers on the flight – “like an idling old motor car engine,” quips Smitty – and soon after, the seeds of “The Growler” were planted.

“I took the idea of ‘The Growler’ and crafted lyrics, using a more existential, and less specific mind set,” admits Smitty. “Who truly is… ‘The Growler’? The point of view I used was to imagine myself as a much more rough and tumble, devil may care, living in the moment type of creative. Charles Bukowski in a rock band. Full on untethered, unfiltered, and reckless abandon. Basically me, only hyper amplified to the nth degree. I may have used some past real life experiences and magnified them, for a greater effect. The song was really fun to write. I describe it as decadence on parade.”

Smitt E. Smitty & Fezztones are a musical energy that you can’t ignore . Go check out the cinematic fun that is the video for “The Growler”

Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones perform at ‘The Night of The Living Fez’
at The Magic Room in Norwood on November 3

Space Cadet Delivers A Truly Otherworldly EP “Suede Original “

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We recently got to check out the new EP “Suede Original” from Clinton,Massachusetts/Brooklyn, New York based band Space Cadet.

You can listen to the”Suede Original “ EP on Spotify Here and on Bandcamp Here and Apple Music Here

We have been playing the latest EP “Original Suede on a constant loop , We are officially hooked on their infectious vibe and sound .

Space Cadet is the musical brainchild of Dave Walsh and Matt Hock . The two have been friends for almost 25 years and ,previously made music in the band The Explosion .

Space Cadet was formed in 2020 when Matt and Dave wanted to expand their collective sound beyond punk rock. The following year, they channeled influences of shoegaze, Brit rock, new wave and punk into their acclaimed debut LP on Wiretap Records, ‘Lion on a Leash.’

Now two years later, the band has just released ‘Suede Originals,‘ a 4-song EP and the first release by Brooklyn’s Miserable Neighbor Records. The record is a concentrated dose of driving guitars, big choruses, and insistent hooks. Initially slated to appear on the next Space Cadet full-length, these songs deserved to stand on their own.

‘Suede Originals’ was produced by Pete Steinkopf (Bouncing Souls) at Little Eden in Asbury Park and mastered by Alan Douches. It features Matt Olsson on bass and drums.

All four songs : “Suede Originals“, “Sunshine State “, “What’s The Matter With You “ and “Ya Ya Ya” four of the finest song you find anywhere. Space Cadet have truly out done themselves on “Suede Originals “

If your not grooving and singing along to “Suede Originals “ instantly, you may want consult with a medical professional.

You can check out the video for “Ya Ya Ya” and “Suede Originals below

So if incredible melodies and harmonies coupled with flawless vocals are your thing … Then you need to check out the absolutely amazing EP “Suede Originals “ from Space Cadet …You won’t regret it