Artist Spotlight: Long Lost

Closing out your Friday and headed into the weekend with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! We keep it local as always in Boston as we run into a local act that goes by the name of Long Lost. The band consists of Joe Boynton on lead vocals, Mat Morin on guitar, Mike Moschetto on bass, and Aviv Marotz on drums. If some of these guys look familiar to you, that's because the band is comprised of members of Stoneham's own Transit ( a former Artist Spotlight feature) and Aviator. The new act is gearing up to release their debut album "Save Yourself, Start Again" on August 6th. The band have also just made available a song from the forthcoming release called "This Love Will Grow", and the track is an intense, soaring rocker that hits at you almost instantaneously with it's insatiable melodies and hard nosed rhythms that show a sense of self-confidence and assurance from the group as to who they want to be as musicians and where they want to go from here. A brand new act that I can already tell from first listen has the audacity and drive to pay it all forward.

For more information on the boys in Long Lost, head on over to their Facebook page located here and see what these guys are all about. The band can be followed on Twitter as well from over here and communicate directly with the guys to find out when they'll be making their way through the Beantown area again with a concert appearance. Visit the band's official website here for all the latest up to date information surrounding their forthcoming release, and check out the band's newest track "Want", now streaming on Alternative Press's website here and "This Love Will Grow" from AbsolutePunk's website located right here.

The Relevant Elephants, Others Set To Take Part In Chi Cheng Memorial Tribute Show

The Relevant Elephants will be among several acts taking part in the Chi Cheng Memorial Show, sponsored by Rambudikon and taking place this coming Saturday at South Shore Music Hall in Quincy, MA. The show is in memory of Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who passed away a couple of months ago as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash several years prior. All money from ticket sales will be donated directly to Chi's roommate Jessica, and DJ Limitless will be playing Deftones songs in between the band's set so that Chi's memory is well represented throughout the night.

Doors for Saturday's show open at 5pm, with performances beginning at 5:30pm. Tickets for the show are $12 in advance and $15 the day of. To purchase tickets for the show, simply click on this link here and for more information on the band's performing and their set times, click on the Facebook event page here for all the latest up to the minute info.

Artist Spotlight: The Hotel Year

Got another edition of Artist Spotlight all ready for you to check out! Today, we head over to Dudley, MA and check out the vivacious sounds of The Hotel Year. The band consists of Christian, Cody, Chris, and Sam. The band's music is a mixture of early 00's post-punk bands such as Taking Back Sunday and The Early November with an innovative twist on it that is completely all their own and stands out prominently from the other types of bands currently embedded within the Boston music scene. I practically grew up on this type of music in high school, and I can clearly identify with the lyrics and melodies eloquently described within the confines of their music that takes me back to a simpler time when music was deeply passionate and bands really had a knack for affecting the moods of the listeners and reeling them in to make them feel like they're part of the act. A terrific local band that is definitely ready to take the next step forward in their careers. Some great tracks for you to check out from them include "Our Lives Would Make A Sad, Boring Movie" and "Vacancy".

For more info on the guys in The Hotel Year, head on over to their Facebook page located here and find out everything you need to know about the guys. The band is also on Twitter, and you can find them here and see if the band will be making a pit stop in the Boston area sometime soon for a concert appearance. The band's latest album "It Never Goes Out" is now available for free streaming and download via their Bandcamp page at this address here.

The Grownup Noise to Perform at Cafe 939 This Saturday

Boston's own The Grownup Noise will be playing a show this coming Saturday at Cafe 939 at 8:00pm, right near the Berklee College of Music. The band have been making the rounds in the local scene, playing at such places like Club Passim in Harvard Square and most recently at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge just a couple of months ago. If you're not familiar with them, their music is a blend of some unusual instrument selections (accordion, violin,) along with the usual guitar, bass, and drums to create a truly diverse and dynamic instrumental outlet that is unlike any other band out there.

Other artists that will be gracing the stage including Princeton NJ's Miracles of Modern Science and Krief from The Dears also contributing an appearance as well. Tickets for the show are $10 in advance and $12 the day of. For more info on the show and to purchase tickets, click on Cafe 939's website here.

Bear Language - Rememory

Boston's own Bear Language have released their full length debut album titled Rememory. The much anticipated debut album from the Berklee College of Music grads signifies a definite musical statement from these gentlemen as to who they are musicians and where they want to be moving forward. The band's indie leaning qualities and occasional dabbles into electronic territory showcase a musically adventurous and band that is musically mature and wise beyond their years.

We start things off with "Fake Is Real" an intense, shattering rocker that sees the band evolving greatly from their debut EP, and putting more emphasis on their hard rocking characteristics that make them a well rounded group in the process. Lead singer Luca Buccellati's vocals have a Thom Yorke like composure to them that allows the songs to have their own identifiable blueprint that fans can relate to quite easily. "Can I Resist?" is a more downtempo rocker that features delicate guitar riffs and Luca's marvelous vocal abilities weaving in and out through the chord progressions and tempo shifts that unravel a different side of the band that we haven't had the opportunity to witness until this point. My favorite track off the album is the upbeat "Questionable Commodities" a piercing, take no prisoners track that features gradually shifting guitar riffs and varying degrees of tempos that show the step that these guys have made in their musical maturity, and the career arc that they're currently taking looks very promising as evidenced by this highly advanced track. "Meet Me Outside" is a beautiful, dreamy track that features more toned down rhythms and Luca's mysterious vocals lurking in the background that provide the perfect atmosphere and a sense of serenity as we head into the latter stages of the album.

The disc's second half features "You Have Jive" an eerie, mysterious number featuring a purely instrumental based number with the absence of vocals that allows you to squarely hone in on the band's highly methodical talents that truly showcase the band's abilities that is put on display for all to see and marvel over. The album starts to close on "I'm Looking" a fast paced, frenetic rocker that is one of the longer tracks on the album clocking in at just over 7 minutes, but it covers alot of ground for such an expansive track with sharply focused instrumentation and Luca's vocals providing the perfect accompaniment as we head towards the disc's conclusion. "Hybernation" ends it all here with a melancholy, laid back tune that totally encapsulates the band's dynamic and shows all their capabilities together in one fell swoop, and connects the pieces from the first track of the album to showcase a well rounded and diverse effort heard here. I was totally sold on Bear Language from the moment I heard "Mary Go Round", I was assured that this band would be going places and were capable of achieving all of their musical goals and ambitions, and they have clearly accomplished that assignment clearly to a T, so Luca and the boys have the world squarely on their shoulders and ready to accomplish anything that stands in their way musically.

Overall, a terrific debut effort from Bear Language, a band that is finally coming into their own and showing everyone their musical strengths on display. This is just the beginning for the guys and is the first step towards a long and promising musical career moving forward.

                                                                                                                             Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Fake Is Real
2. Can I Resist?
3. Questionable Commodities
4. Next Time
5. Meet Me Outside
6. I Heard
7. You Have Jive
8. I'm Looking
9. Hybernation

Mark Rogers & Mary Byrne to Perform At Gallery 263 in Cambridge

Brooklyn's own Mark Rogers & Mary Byrne will be performing in the Boston area this coming Saturday, July 13th at Gallery 263 in Cambridge, MA. The duo's music is an organic, acoustic based blend of folk rhythms and earthy melodies that combined with the thought provoking lyrics create a musical tour de force that is unlike anything ever heard before. Their stage layout is pretty simple, using only a couple of microphones and their wooden instruments, but they pack a serious punch for a folk act and are one that you definitely don't want to pass up on.

They'll also be sharing the stage with Paige Chaplin with the doors opening up at 7:30pm, Paige Chaplin taking the stage at 8pm, and Mark & Mary taking over at 9pm. The suggested donation to attend the show is anywhere between $5-$10 so donate whatever money you see fit for this concert. For more information on the venue and the show in particular, head on over to Gallery 263's website here and for more information on Mark & Mary, click on their Facebook page here and follow them on Twitter over here.

Artist Spotlight: The Weeds

Starting off your Tuesday with another brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we stay in the lovely confines of Boston and uncover the indie enhanced sounds of The Weeds. The band consists of Justine DeFeo on lead vocals and guitar, Joe Lacy on vocals and lead guitar, Jarek Maj on bass, and John Hadley on drums. The band has an intense, deeply resonating sound similar to that of The Pixies and Saves The Day with a strong instrumental component that accentuates the lyrics quite well, and fills out the band's repertoire pretty nicely also. I stumbled across these guys random online, and I was impressed with the band's ability to keep things relatively simple, and not try to overdo it in terms of excessive and unnecessary experimentation as some other upstart bands fall victim to. But these guys clearly have a sense of the type of music they want to play and who they are as musicians, and that will serve them well a great deal moving forward. A terrific undiscovered band that is well worthy of press here on the blog. Some great tracks for you to check out from them include "Sunset Eyes" and "Death Valley".

For more information on The Weeds, head on over to their Facebook page located here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well so that you can stay in the know of everything that they have going on. You may follow the band on Twitter as well from over here and find out when the band will be stopping by the Beantown area again with a concert appearance. The band's latest EP titled "Roots/Routes" is now available for free streaming via their Bandcamp page at this destination here.

Body Language Release Music Video For "Well Absolutely"

Brooklyn's own Body Language have just released a music video of their brand new track titled "Well Absolutely". The video is a terrific slice of magic with a summer infused beat providing the perfect accompaniment as your eyes are stimulated with a plethora of colorful images that are designed to keep you in the summer mood as the dog days of the season are upon us, and also gives us some eclectic instrumentation to cool us off and keep us motivated as we enjoy our summer.

The song is the first single off their forthcoming album "Grammar", which is due to be released on September 10th. If you would like to hear the track in its entirety, head on over to their Soundcloud site located right over here and experience what musical treat the band have concocted for your listening pleasure.

Interview w/ Lower Lands

Proud to bring you another installment in my continuing interview series! Today for you, we head across the pond to Lincoln, England to find out more about the emerging sounds of Lower Lands. These four lovely lads have been making a name over there with their debut EP "Canvas" making an impression on thousands of listeners, and they're hoping that their sound can transfer over well to U.S. listeners as well. The boys were nice enough to sit down for an interview as we talked about the genesis of their music and their hopes and aspirations of their music moving forward. And here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and your roles in the band?

My name's Jacob and I play bass and sing, Benji sings and plays guitar, Paul plays guitar and sings and Rob plays the drums.

How did you come up with the name "Lower Lands" and how did you guys all meet?

Lowlands was the name of a local football team and we thought the name rolled off the tongue pretty well but we didn't want to copy it, so we changed it up a little bit.
A few of us were friends and in bands since we were about 13 then we got to college and all got obsessively in to Reuben so we made Lower Lands.

When is the earliest moment you can recall being exposed to music?

I remember my mum always singing me Bob Dylan songs when I was a kid.

Then when I was four I really fell in love with Elvis, I just thought he was the coolest guy ever. I even asked to get my hair cut like his.

What music did you listen to growing up and how has that helped shape who you are today?

I was really lucky to have parents who were into cool music.

I grew up listening to loads of punk like Stiff Little Fingers and The Sex Pistols. The Cure were also a huge influence on me as a kid, I remember watching their music videos and being blown away by how different they were to anything else I'd ever seen.

When I was 9 my mum took me to my first proper gig which was Iggy Pop and Green Day. Seeing bands like that on stage just made me want to be doing do what they were doing.

Growing up in the U.K., were there many opportunities or outlets to play music or was finding venues to play difficult?

There are quite a lot of shows going on in England and we haven't ever really struggled to get them. We're blessed to have people contact us regularly asking us to play their event.

The only problem being that there's so little money in the live music scene these days promoters can't even cover bands costs most of the time, every penny we've ever made on merch has gone straight into petrol. So if you see us live buy a shirt, trust me the money doesn't get wasted.

Take us behind the recording of your latest EP "Canvas" and what that whole process was like?

We recorded at The Ranch with Neil Kennedy and it really couldn't have gone better. The guy is a genius and he made everything sound exactly how we wanted, it was a privilege to work with him.

What are some of your favorite songs you guys have recorded so far?

I love the title track of the new EP 'Canvas'. I think it just drops people straight in at the deep end of our new stuff and shows people what we're all about.

What do you guys like to do for fun when you're not playing or recording together?

We play a lot of FIFA and it gets pretty intense. I'm the best and Benji knows it but he's just too proud to say it.
We love looking at stupid stuff on the internet and quoting stupid movies. Will Ferrell is the funniest man alive.

What does the rest of the year hold for you guys? Playing any shows in the U.S. sometime soon?

We've got a few one off shows coming up over summer and a UK tour to announce soon. We all want to make it over the Atlantic as soon as we can, but I'm not gonna give anything away.

Any last words to those who may be reading this interview?

I hope you like Lower Lands and if we ever play a show near you sometime come say hello, we'd all love to meet you. Thanks for paying attention to what I had to say right to the end too.

Thanks once again to the fine chaps of Lower Lands for being so kind and gracious for carving some time out of their busy schedules to conduct this interview! For more information on the band, please visit their Facebook page here and check out their music via their Bandcamp page located right here.

MusicBoxPete Podcast to Launch This Fall!

The continuing and ever evolving expansion of the MusicBoxPete blog rolls on. Today, I'm proud to announce that the blog will be venturing into the world of podcasting with the launch of the official MusicBoxPete podcast! The podcast will feature all of the components you regularly see here on the blog, plus some added bonus features as well to complement the existing outlook. The podcast will feature:

- Songs by local area bands and artists from the Boston and New England region.
- Interviews with local area artists and prominent members of the music community.
- Upcoming album releases and a featured album review spotlighted on the blog.
- Artist Spotlight of the week feature highlighting a local area band that you should be listening to regularly.
- Periodic news updates on everything concerning the world of music.

This is an incredibly exciting venture for me, and I hope you guys will come along for the ride, we're going to have an awesome time together! The official launch date for the podcast is still being finalized, but stay tuned to the blog for further details as the layout of the show is being solidified at this time.

Today Junior - What's The Skinny?

Allston, MA's own Today Junior have released their full length debut album titled What's The Skinny? The three piece band have crafted an exquisite collection of tunes for the masses that are primed and ready to be delivered to your earlobes at a steady pace.

We start things off with "Sweet Dee Part I" a straightforward, melodic jam that is a no frills affair with steady guitar licks delivered to you courtesy of Harry O'Toole and his lead vocals providing the perfect accompaniment for the rest of the disc to follow. "The Antidote" features a neat percussion arrangement by Mike O'Toole that shows off the cleverness and ambition that the band have clearly demonstrated in the beginning stages of the album, and how they intend to move forward. "Fresh Air" is a organic, simple structured format tune that shows off the band's chops and their ability to dabble in varying degrees of tempos that aren't too strong or too soft, but hit at you at just the right level where it isn't too overwhelming for the prospective music listener.

The second half gets underway with my favorite track off the album, "Sunspots" an upbeat, passionate tune that just reeks of summertime with wistful guitar melodies and Harry's vocals providing the perfect soundtrack to your trips to the beach or summer barbecues that will get even better with this song playing in the background. "Squeeze" is a fast paced track clocking in at just under 2 minutes that manages to cram alot of musical goodness in such a short span of time, and ensures that your time listening to the track is well spent. The disc begins to conclude with the album's title track, a pleasant sounding track that shows off the band's dynamic that is well constructed and shows the communication between the other members of the group and how they all stay on the same page musically.  We end matters here with "Sweet Dee Part II", a song that incorporates elements from songs we heard at various points throughout the album, and presents an encapsulated synopsis of the album at large and the various tempos we've encountered in our journey towards the finish line. I caught these guys in concert last year at Copperfield's right near Fenway Park, and I was impressed with the band's stage presence and how genuine they were when I chatted with one of the members afterwards, and I got a sense that these guys love playing music in general and from living in Allston Rock City, these guys are exposed to music on a constant 24/7 basis.

In summary, a well executed and constructed effort from Today Junior, who are a band making their way through the confines of the Boston music scene, and delivering to the crowds music that they really take to heart and are extremely passionate about.

                                                                                                                        Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Right Where You Left It
2. Sweet Dee Part I
3. The Antidote
4. Tiger Eyes
5. Fresh Air
6. Sunspots
7. Getaway
8. Squeeze
9. What's The Skinny?
10. Sweet Dee Part II

Artist Spotlight: That Racket

Kicking off the month of July with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head up to Andover, MA and check in with the emerging and vivacious sounds of That Racket. The band consists of Matt Giolito on drums and percussion, Daniel Short on lead vocals, Alex Mazzarese on guitar, and Guy Landerson on bass. The band has an intense, frenetic sound that takes influences from all over the musical spectrum such as The Rolling Stones and The Ramones with a fast-paced, intense sound that features dynamic changes in tempo and a strong musical sense of who they are as musicians. I caught these guys in concert this past Thursday at The Middle East Upstairs where they opened up for Dave Crespo's After Party, and I was completely blown away by their stage presence that totally had me sold from the get go, and I was impressed with the collective musical knowledge that they have amassed at such a remarkable young age. From Daniel's spastic gyrations on stage that evoked Mick Jagger, to Matt's impeccable shirtless drum skills, these guys definitely have all the components necessary to take it to the next level. A great undiscovered local band that is best experienced live in concert. Some recommended songs for you to check out from them include "Mandarin Oranges" and "Too Close To Home".

For more information on the boys in That Racket, head on over to their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well so that you can stay up to date with all the happenings going on in their world. The band's music is available on their ReverbNation page located right over here for your listening pleasure, and check out their official YouTube page located here so that you can see firsthand what these boys are all about.

Mac Miller - Watching Movies With The Sound Off

Pittsburgh, PA's native son Mac Miller is back with his sophomore studio album titled Watching Movies With The Sound Off. The follow up to his 2011 debut Blue Slide Park finds the rapper (real name: Malcolm McCormick) aiming for a more deep and introspective sound this time around that really cuts to the core and finally reveals his true persona that has been yearning to be revealed for a few years now.

We start things off with "The Star Room" an eerie, laid-back jam that sees Mac bringing down the tone several notches from his prior album, and aims for a more pure, unadulterated sound that gives Mac some diversity and depth as both an artist and person. My favorite track off the album is "Avian" a piano aided rhymer that shows a musically sophisticated side of Mac that we haven't seen before, featuring a simple rhyming scheme and a slow, steady beat that truly represents the artistic vision that he was looking for when he was in the studio recording this album. "S.D.S." is a more traditional, simple format hip-hop track with dazzling hooks and clever rhymes that set this track apart from the others and in a class all its own. "Bird Call" is a jazzed up tune featuring more upbeat instrumentation, and Mac's killer rhymes making an indelible impression on you from the get go and shares a side of Mac that is almost an instant revelation and makes us think of him in a totally different light than what we're used to. "I Am Who Am (Killin' Time)" is a throwback jam featuring some nostalgic beats set amidst a backdrop of clever rhymes set forth by Mac that continues the journey that we embarked on at the beginning of the album. "Objects In The Mirror" features a neat percussion based beat that runs silently in the background, but is more noticeable towards the end of the track, and gives us a more organic, unadulterated feel that is very well recorded and allows us to make an easy transition into the second half of the album.

And the second half of the album kicks off with "Gees", an inventive, cleverly styled hip-hop opus featuring Mac's killer rhymes and thoughtful, inquisitive beats making up the bulk of the arsenal here. The disc's title track is a more toned down affair from the prior tracks, and features a more subtle, layered approach that shows off Mac's diversity as an artist, but better yet the maturity that he's made from his last effort. "Remember" is a terrific, densely populated track that has an eerie, mysterious nature to it, but it all makes sense when you go back and listen to it in its entirety and see what Mac was aiming for when he was in the studio laying down this song. We get ready to close out the album with "Aquarium", a distorted, musically toned out track that features a repeating loop that gives it almost a throwback feel, and that starts to bode well for the conclusion of the album. The disc comes to a close on "Youforia", a synth heavy jam that takes in all the musical elements we've heard in succession one after another, and brings about a sense of finality as the disc fades to black. I'm a huge Mac Miller fanatic, and while I don't listen to hip-hop that much, I genuinely admire Mac's talent and charisma that has me in awe to be in his musical presence, and watch the magic unfold right before my eyes and ears. He totally exudes confidence and likability in everything that he does, and it's just awe-inspiring to watch everything fall into place right here.

In summary, a well executed and implemented second effort here from Mac Miller, who has shown considerable growth and maturity as an artist, and is quietly becoming one of the more prominent hip-hop talent coming up in music today.

                                                                                                                       Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. The Star Room
2. Avian
3. I'm Not Real (f/Earl Sweatshirt)
4. S.D.S.
5. Bird Call
6. Matches (f/Ab-Soul)
7. I Am Who Am (Killin' Time) (f/Niki Randa)
8. Objects in the Mirror
9. Red Dot Music (f/Action Bronson & Loaded Lux) 
10. Gees (f/Schoolboy Q)
11. Watching Movies
12. Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes (f/Jay Electronica)
13. Remember
14. Someone Like You
15. Aquarium
16. Youforia  

Alexander Release New Music Video For "Say Hello", Updates on Lower Lands and Maycomb

U.K's own Alexander have just released their brand new music video for the song "Say Hello", the title track from their album of the same name. The clip features the band walking down a London sidewalk while holding a placecard that reads the song's namesake, all while passing by fans walking down the street waving to the band as they casually stroll by. This is a very simple and inventive clip that really strips the song down to the essence of what it's all about, connecting with the audience and fostering and nurturing a relationship with them as well. Here is what the band had to say about the song: 

"The song is about getting away from something that is really dragging you down, finding something fresh and just feeling great, even if it's just for a week. The video is about being open and just smiling at people saying hello. It's a message for people to just let everything go and be happy and open. The star signs which are featured on the bottom of each sign, are a symbol of who we are and it's a metaphor to show we are opening up to people." 

You can download "Say Hello" on iTunes at this link located here. 

In other British related band news, Lower Lands have just released their brand new EP titled Canvas as a free digital download which you can check out for yourself right here. Maycomb are slated to film their first music video within the next couple of weeks, and we'll have periodic updates regarding this very soon. Check out the bands on their respective social networking sites here and here to get a sense of the music emanating from the other side of the pond.