Welcome to the first in a series of posts previewing the 2016 Rock And Roll Rumble, our city’s annual throw down that doubles as a monthlong local music festival unlike any other. This year’s Rumble goes down April 3 to April 22 at ONCE Ballroom and Lounge in Somerville, is organized and presented by Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood, with the Verb Hotel and Vanyaland on board as official sponsors. For our full Rumble coverage, click here; for tickets and venue information, click here.
What You Need To Know:
Rock And Roll Rumble Preliminary Night 1
Sunday, April 3 at ONCE Ballroom, 156 Highland Ave. in Somerville MA
With The Digs, Gold Blood & the Associates, Weakened Friends, Big Time Kill
Doors at 8 p.m., 21 to drink, $10 in advance and $15 at the door
Advance tickets, Facebook event page
How The Night Stacks Up:
If this year’s Rock And Roll Rumble has a so-called Group of Death (a term borrowed from soccer’s World Cup, where four strong countries are assigned together with only two able to advance), it’s likely Night 1. We’re not in the business of predictions (at least not this year), but we will say that any of the four bands on this night can easily advance — The Digs could set a tone and breakneck pace early with their sweaty, punk-fueled garage rock; the rock and soul dynamo known as Gold Blood And The Associates could be a dark horse to win the entire thing, following a recent Rumble tradition of older, more seasoned bands showing the new-jacks how it’s done; Weakened Friends come armed with some of the catchiest and punchiest guitar-rock songs in New England; and the glitchy, industrial-pop fury of Big Time Kill is designed to electrify and awe. All told, Night 1 is a varied evening of very distinct sounds. Get to know each of the four bands playing the Rumble’s opening slate below; use the slider to scan back and forth through each participant.
Get To Know The Bands:
9:00 p.m.: The Digs
HOMETOWN: Boston, Massachusetts
SONG YOU NEED TO HEAR: “Manic”, off the November LP of the same name
BIO: Together since 2013, the Digs play a chaotic blend of melodic rock and hook-heavy pop punk defining their “too rock for punk, too punk for rock” attitude. Full of powerful riff rockers, pop punk anthems and catchy choruses, the band’s 2015 release Manic “packs a lot of sound and technical acumen into the package of a rock trio” (Dying Scene). They all love rock and they all love punk. That is the recipe for this band as they bring the two genres together and create something that gives both rock and punk music fans the best of both worlds.
VIDEO YOU NEED TO WATCH: “Ready Set”, off Manic
WHY THEY CAN WIN: Bullshit-free garage rock and roll goes a long way in this town, and the Digs have the balls and the chops to make an instant impression. The trio’s songs are as memorable and they are energetic, and the band could arrive with a guitar-rock confidence very similar to that of 2014 champs the Goddamn Draculas.
TWITTER: @DigsBoston
