Transmissions :: Titus Andronicus

Join Glen Rock, NJ's punk titans, Titus Andronicus as they guide you on a six minute tour through The Garden State. According to fronter Patrick Stickles' introduction, this aint no Jersey Shore or Sopranos, this is the real New Jersey. The No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future, video was directed by WMFU's Tom Scharpling.

Sunday Afternoon All Ages Show :: Varsity Drag

Remember when you used to hang out at all ages shows? The good old days are back. Don't miss the titanic pop sounds of Varsity Drag featuring Ben Deily, co-founder of The Lemonheads at The Midway Cafe this Sunday!

Ryan Walsh on The Digital Return of The Stairs

Today's a pretty special day for fans of Boston's sorely missed pop treasures,The Stairs.

You see on this fine Tuesday in April the bands two full lengths, 2003's Miraculous Happens and 2005's On Sleep Lab our available for the first time in digital formats exclusively through Bandcamp. To honor this occasion we had the pleasure of corresponding with Ryan Walsh, founding member of The Stairs and current fronter of the always fantastic Hallelujah the Hills to get some insight on the reissues as well as his thoughts on the legacy of The Stairs. Thanks to Ryan for helping put this together and for being so gracious with his time.

Bryan Hamill: Can you tell us how the digital reissues of The Stairs two full length came about?

Ryan Walsh: I had an idea of what these sounded like in my head after years of not listening to them. Then someone very close to me made me play them one night. I liked the sound of them so I wanted to bring them back for people to hear.

Bryan: Are there any plans for a reunion show or to record any new material with your former band mates?

Ryan: No. The last show we ever played was so beautiful and out of control and special. I don't ever want to tarnish that with a reunion show.

Bryan: Was this the first time that you've revisited Miraculous Happens and On Sleep Lab , if so what was your reaction to these songs ?

Ryan: Surprise! Surprised at the naivety and surprised at the quality of most of the songs. You have to understand the ratio between "knowing what we were doing" and "the scope and quality of what we had promised to the grant committee" was so wide you could sail a planet through it.*

* we were given $10,0000 to record a community pop album. Read more here.

Bryan: Will this be the final chapter of The Stairs or do you have a secret lost album locked away somewhere?

Ryan: The truth is there are LOTS of Stairs albums! We were recording all the time. The quality of songwriting and recording I cannot speak for but I do have piles and piles of actual crafted albums with titles, cover art, and full track listings. I imagine some of these songs will end up on the "rarities" CD I've promised our Kickstarter backers though. I'm hoping those songs are still there. I've read some terrifying things about the degradation of CD-R quality over the last couple of years.

Bryan: If there's one thing we should know about The Stairs, it's___________________

Ryan: we had no idea what we were doing, we loved music and hanging out with each other, and we were just delusional enough to make it all kinda work.

In addition to the digital reissues hard copies of both albums can be ordered by contacting Ryan at band@hallelujahthehills.com. We recommend that you order yours in either format immediately. For more information on both the physical CD's, digital reissues, and everything you need to know about The Stairs, visit Mostly Accidental the bands recently launched Tumblr site.




Tumblr|Hallelujah The Hills|Bandcamp

Grass Widow, Doomstar!, & Major Stars| @O'Brien's| April 22

Reviewed :: Eldridge Rodriguez - You Are Released

You Are Released is the fourth solo outing from Eldridge Rodriguez, co- fronter of Boston's post-punk luminaries, The Beatings. The product of a very fertile time, the album was written between and during the recording of The Beatings 2009's high water mark, Late Season Kids. The album was tracked at Taunton's Liberty & Union Studios with Ray Jeffrey and carries on Rodriguez' tradition of deftly deconstructing pop songs with noisy orchestration, beats, and loops. I can only imagine ER creating a pristine pop song and then breaking it down and adding a bit of cacophony. A little like what Wilco did on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, only You Are Released hits a lot harder.

Normally I end up listening to an album I'm slated to review several times, usually more. But with You Are Released it was more like a month of solid listening. Not because I didn't get it on the very first spin, I did. The issue was that once I started listening I didn't stop. After nearly a month of daily listening I feel ready to share some thoughts on what has quickly become one of my favorite album of 2011.

From the charging opener, The Big Windup to the gorgeous duet with local Americana starlet, Sarah Borges on Miss Me When I'm Gone, to Disposable Stars, a track that could easily be mistaken for a long lost Silkworm song. You Are Released hits on all of ER's strengths with jarring post-punk, smart indie pop, and lovely acoustic strummed ballads. All the while delivering his best lyrical compositions to date with tales of neglected responsibilities, hard drinking, and giving up. Defeat has never sounded better. And it certainly doesn't hurt that You Are Released is an absolute triumph.

Eldridge Rodriguez will play the Middle East, upstairs on May 12th.



Midriff Records|The Beatings|ER Facebook

New Sounds Now :: Copy Haho

We are on the brink of what looks to be a superb weekend to get out and catch some live music in our fine city, at least on paper. I know, I know, over the last week we've all learned that sometimes things look better on paper than they actually are. Well trust us, this is not one of those cases. With Obits, Buffalo Tom, The Hush Now, The Rock and Roll Rumble Prelims, and WHRB's Record Hospital Fest all happening over the next couple of days. This might just make up for missing this years SXSW.

You're probably asking yourself what on gods green earth does any of this have to do with Copy Haho? And to that we humbly reply absolutely nothing, other than we wanted to remind you of the fantastic live music weekend that awaits you. Plus we've had too much coffee and now have a hankering to tell you about a new track from Scotland's indie pop phenoms. Dying Breed comes from the Copy Haho's self titled debut LP, which they recorded at Chemical Underground's Chem 19 studios with Jamie Savage (The Phantom Band). The album will be issued by the bands own, so new it doesn't have a web presence yet, Slow Learner Records on June 20th. Pre-orders and other inquires can be made via slowlearnermusic@gmail.com. You can also visit the bands site and grab this track at the cost of your electronic whereabouts.


Dying Breed by copyhaho

Copy Haho|Facebook|Twitter

Maritime :: The Ash Gray Proclamation Interview

After closing the book on the Milwaukee's seminal emo stalwarts, The Promise Ring in 2003, Davey von Bohlen and Dan Didier along with Eric Alexson of the then recently disbanded The Dismemberment Plan formed In English. The bands first label passed on their J. Robbins produced debut, so a new label and a name change was in order and Maritime was born. Alexson exited in 2006 and was replaced by Justin Klug. What they have lacked in prolificacy, they more than made up for in quality, with three albums and an EP filled with sterling pop songs that have aged extremely well. The albums seemed to come in quick succession until the release of 2007's Heresy and The Hotel Choir and then Maritime went quiet. Their fourth longplayer was released earlier this week. Human Hearts, a record four years in the making is proving to be well worth the wait. Earlier this week the members of Maritime agreed to answer a few questions from us on the new album, their new label, and the legacy of The Promise Ring. A huge thank you goes to the members of Maritime for so being gracious with their time and to Dangerbird Records for supplying us with a copy of the album to give away. More on that at the end.

Bryan Hamill: It's been four years since you released Heresy and the Hotel Choir, whysuch the long wait between albums?

Davey von Bohlen: Life happened. As important as the band is, it is important to experience life outside of it too. It is has been an especially busy outside time.

Justin Klug: Yeah, In large part it's due to the fact that we all have families & jobs that keep us pretty busy. With music taking more of a backseat in that respect, we haven't really felt the urgency that we may have in the past.

BH: Was Human Hearts a product of four years of writing or are the 10 tracks on the album newer compositions?

Justin Klug: It was definitely a product of all four years. Looking back,we've played a handful of these songs for quite some time. Without having any sort of real deadline, we were able to work on individual tracks for longer periods. For better or worse, each song on Human Hearts has been the product of thorough vetting.

BH: I read somewhere that you recorded the bulk of the album on your own, was there a conscious decision within the band to record that way , instead of bringing in a producer?

Dan Didier: Well, for this record we had Billy Bush (not the Access Hollywood Host) as the Executive Producer and we produced it ourselves. We bounced ideas and sounds off of Billy throughout the process and recorded everything but the drums at our studio. It is something I always wanted to do and I feel weall enjoyed the freedom to set the recording schedules ourselves. In contrast, for Heresy we only had two weeks to record it all. Going into this record I certainly wanted to not do that again!

BH: Human Hearts was released earlier this week, the first for your new label. How did the signing to Dangerbird come about?

Davey von Bohlen: Jeff managed our old band, and we ran into one another at a benefit show for the organization (Pablove) Jeff runs with his wife. It was a right time right place thing.

BH: With families and jobs is it hard to get away on a full fledged tour these days?

Davey: Yes, to put a fine point on it. There are a lot of people to consider, most under 3 feet tall.

BH: How does this album differ from the bands past releases?

Dan Didier: I think it is a natural progression from We, the Vehicles to Heresy to this one. The difference, though, is most likely from the relaxed recording environment.

BH: What are the band plans for the rest of 2011?

Justin Klug: Well, we hope to get out and support the record with as many live shows as we can. Given that we really don't tour in the traditional sense much anymore, we have to be a bit more discerning with our time. We try to do as many regional shows as possible and then plan longer weekend-ish trips out to the coasts.

BH: The music and legacy of your former band, The Promise Ring, means a great deal to many, myself included. How do you look back on the time you spent with the band?

Davey von Bohlen: Fondly. The further away I get from it, the luckier I feel that I was part of it.

Dan Didier: Yeah, I agree. There are definitely worse ways to spend your twenties.

Contest/Giveaway: If you would like a copy of Human Hearts just send an e-mail to us at ashgrayproclamation@yahoo.com with Maritime in the subject line. We will pick and notify our winner on Friday at noon. Or you could do what we did and take chance out of the equation and order it from Dangerbird.

Maritime - Paraphernalia
Maritime Official | Myspace | Facebook

Forthcoming :: Get Help

We're thrilled to find that the new long player from Get Help, The Good Green Earth will be released by Midriff Records on May 10th. For the uninitiated, Get Help is Tony Skalicky from Boston's post punk giants, The Beatings and Mike Ingenthron from NYC's Microdot. Get Help, started as a collaboration project between Mike and Tony, often involving the trading of MP3's back in forth via e-mail while the two added various instrumentation to the tracks. Since their inception the band has made a few personnel changes but the line up was solidified shortly after the release of their exceptional debut, The End of The New Century with drummer Gene D'Avolio and bassist John Van Atta. The newish rhythm section brings a bit of muscle and confidence to the new material. The Good Green Earth was recorded with assistance from Ray Jeffrey between 2010 and the winter of 2011 at Liberty & Union Recording Co. in Taunton, MA.

Get Help celebrate the album release with a show The Trash Bar in Brooklyn on April 30th. We think and hope an announcement of a Boston release show is imminent.

This Just In: Tony has just informed us that Get Help will play PA's Lounge on May 26th, so make with the quickness and get on that.

Until then check the superbly crafted pop of You Should Be Home Now and It's Only Your Head from, from The Good Green Earth below.



Official|Bandcamp|Facebook|Midriff

Reviewed :: Mars Classroom - The New Theory of Everything

Late last year when it was announced that Robert Pollard had a recorded an album's worth of material with Gary Waliek of our beloved Big Dipper we nearly fell out of our chairs. But after we gave it some more thought we realized that this dream team collaboration, made perfect sense. After all we witnessed Pollard's Big Dipper fandom first hand when he tapped them to open a show at The Paradise for his Boston Spaceships in 2008. Not to mention that he was perched at the side of the stage for Big Dipper entire set that evening, showing his obvious appreciation. Was it that fall evening in Boston that the seeds of Mars Classroom were planted? Who knows. More importantly what would the pairing of the magnanimous Robert Pollard and Gary Waliek, founding member of both Volcano Suns and Big Dipper sound like?

Rest assured, Mars Classroom works on every level. With assistance from Pell Mell's Robert Beerman , Pollard and Waliek have issued an instantly satisfying collection of mostly chiming guitar power-pop with a few curve balls to keep us on our toes. The album works so well because of the pristine and varied guitar driven underbelly that Waliek provides throughout, which allows Pollard to insert some of his most direct and stirring melodies. The New Theory of Everything is book ended by two of Pollards most instantly satisfying tracks. The title track had us reaching for the repeat button from fist listen and the albums final track, Wish You Were Young is a gorgeous, albeit melancholy gem, that reminds us a bit of the quieter moments from GBV's 2001 TVT released, Isolation Drills. But our odds on favorite track is the jagged Pre Meds A Trip which finds the trio upping the noise and prog factor all the while pummeling you with blistering pop hooks. But then again this record has a habit of revealing a new favorite with each listen.

Depending on who you ask you might get a slightly different answer, but to say that Robert Pollard has been on hot streak over the last few years is a gross understatement and Mars Classroom manages not only to continue the streak it manages to raise the bar a bit. Tell you're old college buddies, you know the ones you talked into that GBV reunion show, to pay attention, Mars Classroom is the Pollard pop record they've been waiting for, and frankly so have we. Let's hope this is not the last we hear from Mr's Pollard, Waliek, and Beerman as Mars Classroom because it's too good to be a passing fling.

Buy it via The Factory of Raw Essentials|Official|Facebook

Reviewed :: The Grownup Noise - This Time With Feeling

Boston's baroque pop stalwarts, The Grownup Noise are poised to celebrate the release of their second long player, This Time With Feeling on Saturday with an impressive line up at The Middle East. More on that in a bit. First allow us to provide the obligatory back story. The Grownup Noise formed in 2005 after Adam Sankowksi (bass/vocals) and Paul Hansen (guitar/vocals) paths crossed while attending Berklee College of Music. They released their self titled debut in 2007 and now four years later the band are about to drop This Time With Feeling. The album was recorded in and around New England and according to the press released some of the albums vocals were tracked in Hansen's bathroom. The album was mixed in North Carolina by studio engineer/producer Scott Solter (The Mountain Goats/Spoon), who also provides additional instrumentation to several of the albums tracks.

For the past several weeks I've been struck by the simple beauty of This Time With Feeling. From the very first listen I connected immediately with lyrical imagery of looking back on our youth as well as to present, to the struggles or adulthood. There's something incredibly honest and comfortable about these songs, something almost familiar. The albums rich textures are in large part due to each member being a gifted multi-instrumentalist, it's also what gives the album a true collaborative feel. on This Time.., the Grownup Noise deftly tread the line between Folk and Americana to reveal 12 complex and engaging pop songs. Some of our favorite moments come when Paul Hansen's croon is complemented by the angelic voice of Katie French(cello) on a handful of the albums tracks. With the should be hit single Just So You Know as well as our personal favorite Six Foot Solemn Oath, The Grownup Noise have issued a record that's both irresistible and eclectic, not to mention completely addicting from the very first listen.

Contest/Giveaway:

We are pleased to be able to offer up a pair of tickets to The Album Release Show that also features, Kingsley Flood, Spouse, & Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons at The Middle East as well as two copies of the new album. Yes, you and your +1 will both get a copy of This Time With Feeling. If you wish to enter, just send an e-mail to ashgrayproclamation.com with The Grownup Noise in the subject line. Due to the show being tomorrow we will announce our winner today at 5PM. Good Luck

Transmissions :: Double Dagger

Whenever we get the opportunity to share anything from the world of Baltimore's Post-Hardcore wizards Double Dagger, we jump at the opportunity. This video was shot a couple of nights ago by a fan named Rob Brulinski. That same evening an other fan reportedly not Rob shot video with the web cam on his Macbook. Why haven't we attempted this yet? Probably because we're not sure how we'd explain our laptop being smashed to bits to our bosses and significant others. If you're looking for a crystal clear recording of this band, look elsewhere. However if you would like to witness the glorious chaos of a Double Dagger show, look no further.

*Not recommended for those prone to motion sickness

Official/Myspace/Thrill Jockey

Transmissions :: Crystal Stilts

Brooklyn's Crystal Stilts are ready to drop their new LP, In Love With Oblivion on April 12th via Slumberland Records. Through the Floor is the second single taken from an album that we can't wait to get our mitts on. They continue their minimalist approach to all things Crystal Stilts in this video in an almost non-video, instead letting the excellence of the track speak for itself.

The Return of Comet Gain

For the better part of two decades England's shambolic pop pioneers, Comet Gain have been churning out endearing and highly influential records of lo-fi pop.But the band's been a ramshackle affair from the beginning, something the bands founder refers to as the Comet Gain Curse. Since forming by David Feck in 1993 the band has gone through several line up changes, in fact as they're constituted today Feck is the only original member. Not to mention the frequent label changes, Comet Gain has released albums for Beggars Banquet, Kill Rock Stars, What's Your Rapture? and on May 16th they will release their seventh long player, Howl of The Lonely Crowd via their new and hopefully long-term label Fortuna Pop!.

The album features a heavy weight production team anchored by Edwyn Collins (Orange Juice), with assistance from Ryan Jarman (The Cribbs), Brian O'Shaugnessey (My Bloody Valentine/Primal Scream) and Alisdair MacLean (The Clientele). Partially recorded at Collins' West Health Studios, Howl Of The Lonely Crowd is the bands first official studio LP, since 2005's City Fallen Leaves and follows 2008's superlative compilation Broken Record Prayers. We assume you prefer to get bad news from us at the end of a post,so here goes, it saddens us to inform you that as of today there is no word of U.S. release date. But we're hopeful that one of America's esteemed independent labels will step up and find a place on their rosters for one of Britain's best and as far as we can tell criminally under appreciated bands. C'mon Matador, Merge, and Slumberland Records, (to name but a few) we're counting on you.

Comet Gain have given the privilege of debuting the first track from the album, Working Circle Explosive to Clash Music. You can grab it here.



[Video] Comet Gain - You Can Hide Your Love Forever

We Were There :: Telekinesis|The Love Language| & Slowdim @ T.T. The Bears

There's something utterly unique about seeing bands play inside the confines of T.T.The Bears place in Central Square. Weather it's the history of the room, we once saw Paul Westerberg perform under the alias Thadeus Moonbeam to a packed house of 250 sweaty patrons in 93'. Or perhaps it's the fact that you can find the evenings performers hanging out at the bar pre and post show. Or is it the fact that we have yet to see a sub par performance at 10 Brookline street?

As you may have read on these pages last week we were eager to witness the first ever live performance from Slowdim. The Boston trio ran through their recently released Spirals EP and displayed their penchant for smart indie pop. The band began their set as duo with fronter Paul Sentz and bassist Karina Dacosta covering some the bands quieter material before drummer Ethan Cannon joined in for the remainder of the set which culminated with a jaw dropping version of Don't Cough me Out. An impressive jumping off point from one of our city's most promising new bands.

We were vaguely familiar with North Carolina's The Love Language going into this show, however what had heard we liked. Live the band jettisons the mid-fi sounds of their debut, in favor gothic twang and classic pop hooks. A performance that caused us to make a trip to the bands merch table for a copy of their Merge Records debut, Libraries. Something we should have done months ago, shame on us.

With his drum kit front and center Telekinesis mastermind Micheal Benjamin Lerner took to the stage flanked by Bassist Jason Narducy and guitarist Cody Votolato to put the cap on a Merge-centric evening. Drawing heavily from the excellent and just released, 12 Desperate Straight Lines LP, as well as selected tracks bands self titled debut. The band tore through a raucous and exhilarating set only slowing occasionally for Lerner to pick up a guitar as he did for I Saw Lightning and to assemble his buddies in The Love Language for a blistering cover of the GBV classic Game of Pricks. The evening was put to bed when Telekinesis returned to the stage one last time to play Coast of Carolina which prompted everyone in the room to raise a glass and sing along with Lerner's every word. A sweaty beer drenched Tuesday night never sounded better.

*photos taken with one of our crappy smart phones, due to the SLR being on the fritz.

Slowdim|The Love Language|Telekinesis

Transmissions :: Times New Viking

This just released short film, from Columbus OH, lo-fi goliaths,Times New Viking features a few samples of the bands forthcoming Merge Records debut. These tracks as well as the previously shared No Time to Live sound decidedly more melodic and dare we say listener friendly, while maintaining they're DIY charm. Dancer Equired will be released on April 26th. The band is headed to Austin later this week to play 5 shows at this years SXSW, lets hope it won't be too long until TNV returns to the Boston area.

March Live Dates:
13 | Birmingham, AL, Bottletree
14 | Little Rock, AR, Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack
15 | Beaumont, TX, Victoria House
17 | Austin, TX, East Side Drive In (Pitchfork #offline)
18 | Austin, TX, Urban Outfitters Back Lot (Ground Control Touring party)
18 | Austin, TX, The Parish (Merge Records showcase)
19 | Austin, TX, Home Slice Pizza (MXTS - Music by the Slice)
22 | Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge
23 | Asheville, NC, Grey Eagle

Tumblr|Facebook|Myspace

Forthcoming :: Lets Wrestle

Certain bands leave their mark on very first listen. These are the bands that freeze you ever so briefly in time. You remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you first heard their music . Lets Wrestle came along just when I needed them most, I had recently been laid off and working a horrible stop gap, pay the bills job. The bands debut resonated with me and as a result became my go to album that year. So I'm thrilled to be able to share the news of the bands new LP. On May 17th London's skewed pop stalwarts, Lets Wrestle will issue Nursing Home their second long player via the impeccable Merge Records. The album was tracked last year at Electrical Audio in Chicago with Steve Albini and features the bands now signature dim world view and razor sharp wit. Last week the trio shared up the album track Dear John, a jarring and unrelenting slice of noise pop. To follow the transcendent, In The Court of Wrestling Lets is no small task, but if Dear John is any indication it certainly sounds like they're up for the challenge.

Let's Wrestle - Dear John

Myspace|Facebook|Blog|Merge

Introducing :: Slowdim

It's not all that often that we get witness a bands first ever live performance. Sure we've had the good fortune to catch some national acts as they've made their first Boston performances. But this is a horse of a different color. Boston's ascending indie pop trio, Slowdim hit the stage at TT The Bears tonight as part of a Merge-centric line-up that features North Carolina's The Love Language and Seattle's pop treasure,Telekenesis. Slowdim is the brainchild of Paul Sentz (This Car Up) who wrote and recorded the bands debut EP in his apartment during one of Boston's most brutal snow filled winters in recent memory. The band also features drummer Ethan Cannon and Karina DeCosta (28 Degrees of Taurus). Slowdim released the Spitals EP last month via their bandcamp page for low price of $5.00, we recommend you grab it immediately. The band will hit the TT's stage at 9PM for their first public performance, but get there early for a chance to grab a FREE 3-song tape that band will be handing out to the first 25 people through the door. Be there.



Myspace|Bandcamp|Facebook

Transmissions :: Bird of Youth

Brooklyn's rising folk pop ensemble, Bird of Youth have recently recorded an acoustic video series to tease the upcoming release of their Will Sheff [Okkervil River] produced debut album, Defender, which will be released on May 24th. Bird of Youth is fronted by former music journalist, Beth Wawerna and features contributions from members of The National, Nada Surf, The Wrens, and The Mendoza Line. Check out the bare bones and gorgeous version of the album track, The Great Defender, above.

The Figgs| Precinct, Sommerville| March 4th

Reviewed :: BOAT - Dress Like Your Idols

Seattle's self proclaimed sloppy pop outfit, Boat return with their fourth full length, Dress Your Idols. The album is set to be released on March 22nd on the band's long time label, Portland, OR based Magic Marker Records. Dress Like Your Idols picks up where 2009's Setting The Paces left off. A bit of polish has been applied to D. Crane's catchy as hell pop songs due to Boat recording at (the now defunct) Two Sticks Audio in the bands home town. This marks the first time the band have balanced their tried and true method of recording at home with the benefits of professional studio tools. Well, after this they might have to abandon that sloppy pop tag, because Dress Like Your Idols is filled with perfectly executed and irresistible pop moments, with the bands signature tongue and cheek wit intact.

It's on tracks, Bite My Lips, Forever In Armitron, and the John Roderick (The Long Winters) guested Landlocked that Boat deliver on the promise of their previous recordings, and then some. These are fully realized and instantly addicting pop nuggets that have us reaching for this LP on a nearly daily basis. Elsewhere the band shines on home recordings such as, Water it Down ,which provide charming and albeit brief interludes that assist in the flow and superb sequencing of Dress Like Your Idols.

Not only have Boat achieved the dubious task of following up a high water mark album like Setting The Paces, they've managed to surpass it. Albums about love, girls, and idols aren't supposed to be so consistently rewarding, but Dress Like Your Idols isn't just another indie pop record. Far from it.

BOAT - (I'll Beat My Chest Like) King KongBOAT -