Grown Up Avenger Stuff: Your Friendly Neighborhood Rock Band

Independent Music Promotions sent us the new single from North Carolina rockers Grown Up Avenger Stuff — and with a band name like that, how could we not give the song a listen?  “Pins” is a fun slice of indie pop that builds from a single guitar to a raucous house party.  Check out the… Continue reading Grown Up Avenger Stuff: Your Friendly Neighborhood Rock Band

Album Review: The Shape’s Masque of the Red Death

The Shape is a band that’s in it for the long haul. According to their Facebook biography, they have returned to the scene after a five-year hiatus — and what a return it’s been. Playing several shows a month for the past year and dipping their fingers into the booking pie as well, they’ve made… Continue reading Album Review: The Shape’s Masque of the Red Death

Khasm Ticket Giveaway and Interview with Bassist Keith the Wretched

From 1994-2003, gothic metal band Khasm was a force in the Connecticut music scene.  As Ryan Bair wrote last year, their “enthralling blend of dark imagery and theatrics, heavy and melodic compositions, and cerebral concepts… introduc(ed) our local audience to then-unheard-of elements that were popular in European metal.”  For almost a decade, they were riding… Continue reading Khasm Ticket Giveaway and Interview with Bassist Keith the Wretched

EP Review: Atomics by Problem With Dragons

A reader just turned “us” (me) on to stoner rock trio Problem With Dragons and I’m really enjoying their 2012 EP Atomics.  Hailing from Easthampton, Massachusetts, these guys deliver fuzz-laden anthems in manageable 3-4 minute chunks. The EP opens with “Wanting,” catching the listener with a doomy hook almost immediately.  That guitar riff builds gradually,… Continue reading EP Review: Atomics by Problem With Dragons

Slavery and Segregation… In Connecticut?

  While watching the documentary Freedom Riders with my middle school students last week, one of them stumped me with a great question: was there racial segregation in Connecticut? This led the class on a broad fact-finding mission where we learned some positive and negative things about our state’s history. Here are a few of… Continue reading Slavery and Segregation… In Connecticut?

Swamp Blues from Sweden? Insubordia by The Lost Poets

When I picture Scandinavia, it’s all fjords, At the Gates, and the Northern Lights.  “Swamp” and “blues” are probably the last words that come to mind.  But it seems that my preconceived notions are getting challenged a lot these days — most recently by Stockholm duo The Lost Poets.  These Swedes in top hats have a predilection… Continue reading Swamp Blues from Sweden? Insubordia by The Lost Poets

goste (Lower Case on Purpose) Strikes The City

  If there’s three things that piss me off, it’s misspelled words, bad grammar, and electronic music.  But somehow, this guy goste’s new EP Eugene ended up in the inbox and I gave it a listen. Eugene is goste’s third EP.  He uses a mix of samples and real instrumental tracks, and also does his… Continue reading goste (Lower Case on Purpose) Strikes The City