Pretty kickass week for Boston rock. Got a slew of new jams and we’re recapping the preliminary round week of the 2012 Rock and Roll Rumble. Though regarded more as a music festival showcasing our city’s rock scene more than its traditional billing as a Battle of the Bands, respect goes out to the nightly winners: Cask Mouse, Bow Thayer & the Perfect Trainwreck, Motherboar and wild card winners Thick Shakes (set to perform Semifinal Night 1 on Thursday, April 12) and the Rationales, Garvy J, Ghosts of Jupiter plus wild-card winner #2, TBA later tonight (playing the Semis Night 2 on Friday, April 13). But we also got a fuckton of new jams, so let’s dive right into the playlist, shall we?
HALLELUJAH THE HILLS “Get Me In A Room” – New music from Ja Hills kicking off Accents, the lead track off new record No One Knows What Happens Next. Album drops May 22 and the release party goes down May 26 at the Middle East Downstairs.
SEER GROUP “Wounded Animal” – Solo project from Jason Rozen of Grinding Tapes Recording Company, joined on the Owlpine record by a slew of guests, including Elijah Wyman of the Decent Lovers and Chris North of his Dream Quartet and the Points North. “Band” playing their first, and possibly last, show June 6 at the Middle East Up.
GRAND RESORT “All I Want To Do” – Another track off the upcoming Vanguard Dreams record, following BA staples “Recreation” and “Microscopic.” Currently unreleased.
BEARSTRONAUT “Birds of Prey” – Summer anthem from Somerville/Allston dance pop duo, the first single off an upcoming EP. Seer Group’s remix of “Moniker” is also pretty killer.
RM HENDRIX “Summer Dresses” – Seasonally minded track channeling New Order, etc., from this Cambridge solo artist. It’ll show up in the Boston Phoenix Mp3 of the Week slot eventually, I have a feeling.
GLASS T33TH “Hurt Me” – New jam from Xavier Glass, sampling Haddaway’s “What Is Love.” Glass Teeth DJs the Parallels / Casey Desmond / Bearstronaut show at Church on May 3, a Boston Phoenix presents kinda gig.
JOHN BARERA “Sound Love” – Towering deep house track from Boston DJ/producer’s recent Mile End EP, released off Ortloff Records and gaining momentum around the world. Catch him DJing Gallery this Tuesday, April 10 at the Middlesex Lounge. This is Barera’s vinyl debut, and it goes quite well with…
SPF 5000 “Doorknocker” -- … the latest jam from SPF 5000, who perform live at Great Scott June 15.
GENTLEMEN HALL “All Our Love (Flam Clap Remix)” – WFNX’s current Local Exposure artist and our current Mp3 of the Week band in the Boston Phoenix partied hard last night at the Brighton Music Hall in Allston. Now they’re back on the road for their 14-date Spring Fling tour. We miss them already.
JESSICA SUN LEE “Beautiful Girls” – Former Sun Lee Sunbeam and Secret Satellite voice gone solo, laying heavy electro fuzz and channeling Alison Goldfrapp on her Honestly, Darling EP. Cool track.
FAT CREEPS “Leave Her Alone” – Latest single from the Creep ladies, who play Great Scott on April 22 with Ava Luna despite still seeking a drummer. WHO GONNA DRUM FOR THE CREEPS WILL IT BE YOU? Holla at them if you can keep a beat.
THE POMPS “A Shaky Truce” – New from the Sterns / New Collisions / Have Nots ska supergroup, off debut record Top of the Pomps.
PERSONAL FINANCE “Jesus Is Coming” – Song written on Easter Sunday exactly a year ago, released as a holiday-appropriate jam this weekend to celebrate a young man’s resurrection. The slick gents of PFinz play Streight Angular’s Streight Night this Wednesday, April 11 at Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge.
HOUR 2: RUMBLE RECAPS plus more new music. For detailed nightly Rumble preliminary round recaps, go to thephoenix.com/onthedownload, and Nights 5 and 6 will be posted tomorrow morning.
STREIGHT ANGULAR “Everyone Is Syncopated” – Performed at Saturday’s Night 6.
THE RATIONALES “Radio” – Won Sunday’s Night 1.
THE TIN THISTLES “Accidents Happen” – Kicked ass at Tuesday’s Night 3.
THE FAGETTES “Mystery Pills” – Party trained Thursday’s Night 4.
THICK SHAKES “Deep Pockets” – Opened up Monday’s Night 2, and secured the Wild Card entry to Night 1 of the semis this Thursday night.
PARLOUR BELLS “Pet Names” – One of my favorite performances of the week, holding down Thursday’s Night 5.
ENDLESS WAVE “Ocean Drive” – Gazed up opening night, Sunday’s Night 1.
GARVY J “Celebration” – Won Monday’s Night 2 with a finely-tuned rock and roll show.
THE BYNARS “Asking Your Mom For Money” – Adding a few dashes of quirky pop to Friday’s Night 5.
SUREFIRE “Find A Way For Us” – Lead single off new record Another Take On The Same Difference, which dropped in January.
MUY CANSADO “Not For Nothing” – Latest single + video from this veteran Boston quartet, which performs live at the second night of the Mount Peru residency at Davis Square Theatre in Somerville on April 26.
PLUMERAI “Trip” – Off new self-titled EP, catch Plumerai May 19 at Radio in Somerville.
PRETTY & NICE “Yonkers” – Closing out with banger track from these fun-loving and devastatingly handsome pro-party dudes. Off the new record, which should be out before Christmas. Maybe.
xoxM.
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