live

Better late than never. This applies to this review and to the Marked Men. The Marked Men came into my life 20 years ago and my love for them remains to this day. They haven’t even released new music in 18 years and probably will never release a new full length. They sent their ripples and are now a legacy band by choice. All their members are still active in other bands, but they just refuse to put out new...

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Photos by Zack...

Photos by: Tyler B...

I’ve got a love/hate relationships with the Spits. I love them because they’re one of the best bands out there right now. Terribly underappreciated but making some of the most fun and accessible punk music of all time. I hate them because last time I saw them live at the Brighton Music Hall, the crowd got so rowdy behind me that, somehow, in all the insanity, some guy flailed his arms over my shoulder, grabbed my glasses, and knocked them...

Photo: Kay Davila You know, sometimes life gets the best of us. Like being overworked, or started a new job (work!) or just family obligations. My “distraction” was vacation. I went to Aruba. Sue me, OK? But, I deserve it. Also, I loved it. But I mention this because right before I left, I had the great pleasure of seeing Jon Spencer’s band live. I’m talking the DAY before. And since I left, I can’t stop thinking about this show....

Photos by Kay...

Seeing a good opener can be a cathartic experience. Sometimes it’s interesting, and you check them out when you go home, but most of the time it’s forgettable. I can count on one hand when an opener has blown me away, and I don’t even need all my fingers. When I caught the last few songs of Die Spitz at an OFF! show years ago all I could think of is how loud it sounded. Then, watching them put their...

Photos by Zack...

“SOLE! SOLE! SOLE!” “HAT! HAT! HAT!” “PUP! PUP! PUP!” I can’t believe I get to go to the punk guitarist who went on the Doughboys Podcast’s band’s show! Just kidding. I’ve been listening to PUP for years now, and have been finding that, as I age, I appreciate their music more. Their new album Who Will Look After the Dogs will probably break our Top 10 of the year. Jeff Rosenstock is a no brainer. He was once the best...