boston

If you were to ask me to name one artist that is at the forefront of punk rock, I’d have to say Jeff Rosenstock. It’s not just that he makes fresh, interesting, relevant, progressive pop punk, it’s also that his whole approach to making music is commendable. The man puts out his music for free, for God’s sake. And even though at times his music seems to be getting ahead of itself, there’s no denying there’s something...

WHO: The Monsieurs WHAT: Deux WHY: Deux is the long awaited sophomore release from these Bostonians. It’s gritty, raw, loud, and kicks like a mule. Deux ups the ante for these garage rockers and is a testament to the fact that this New England city has got the goods. I pity anyone who hasn’t heard this album. Be forewarned: it might be too much for you to handle. Check them out on...

Myers+Chang at Home: Recipes from the Beloved Boston Eatery by Joanne Chang & Karen Akunowicz One of the joys of living in Boston is that it’s exposed me to the wonderful cooking of Joanne Chang. She’s reached almost superstar status with her flagship Myers + Chang restaurant in the South End: a spot my wife and I cannot seem to get enough of. It’s a must-go especially on Mondays and Tuesdays when they have their date nights and their tasting...

Photos by Greg Scranton, M.F.A. gregscranton.com surviving the golden age...

There is no doubt that the Oh Sees (formerly Thee Oh Sees, and now actually just OCs) are an unstoppable force. Releasing what seems like their 40th album this year and another one already announced, it’s important sometimes to step back and assess what you’re getting with this band because their catalog can easily meld together into a metropolis of music. With all this published material, what would front man John Dwyer choose to highlight in a live set? The...

Originally appeared April 2015 I’m sitting on a couch backstage at the Brighton Music Hall in Boston on a rainy spring day with Jon Spencer next to me while he looks at my record collection. They happen to be Blues Explosion records and now that I’ve finished interviewing him and I asked him to sign a couple records (What can I say? That side comes out of me sometimes). He’s taking his time looking at them. Almost as if he’s...

A deeper look at the grooves pressed into the Fortieth Anniversary, Legacy Celebrates edition picture disc reissue of Boston’s debut album. How does one attempt to celebrate the release of an album like Boston? To date, the record has sold twenty-five million copies worldwide. The breakthrough single from the album, “More Than A Feeling,” has attained a status which makes it rank among some of the most instantly recognizable songs of all time; the average Joe on the street might...

  WHO: The Woodrow Wilsons WHAT: Devil Jonah WHY: If you mingle in certain corners of Boston chances are you might have heard of the Woodrow Wilsons. Their stylings have been one of the many bright spots in New England’s musical history and certainly underrated. At times their songs are a folk rock freight train and other times just a beautifully bubbling simmer. And it’s over before you know it. It’s anyone’s guess whether the Woodrow Wilsons will ever reform...

WHO: The Subprime Lenders   WHAT: On the Automile   WHY: New England has no shortage of great bands and no matter how hard I try I will always be way behind on who the cool new act in the area is. What I do know is that the Subprime Lenders most definitely qualify as one of the outstanding bands in Boston (though technically they’re from Lowell). Their latest release (although a couple years old) pulls from all the right...

WHO: THE OTTOMANS WHAT: Their SELF-TITLED debut WHY: There are some changes brewing here at Ground Control Magazine and this includes a new partnership with Red Sound Records. If you didn’t know yet, Red Sound Records is an online label focused on distributing free music, plain and simple. The bands control the process from beginning to end, and pass on the savings onto you. Or something like that… Having gone dormant for a while, Red Sound Records is back with an...