Welcome to the latest 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 4
Thursday, April 7 at ONCE Ballroom, 156 Highland Ave. in Somerville MA
With 21st Century Fugitives, Abbie Barrett, I Was Awake, Johnny Blazes and the Pretty Boys.
Doors at 8:30 p.m., 21 to drink, $10 in advance and $15 at the door
Advance tickets, Facebook event page
How The Night Stacks Up:
After a much-needed day of rest, we’ll all be recharged and roaring to Rumble come Thursday’s Night 4. And it’s a good thing we’ll have slept early the night before, as this night’s slate is perhaps the most movin’ and shakin’ of the entire prelim week. There’s reckless youth (21st Century Fugitives) and seasoned vets (Abbie Barrett and her band), heavy guitars (I Was Awake) and heavy glitter (Johnny Blazes and the Pretty Boys). It all adds up to a night that’s impossible to predict, though we have to admit we could see Barrett winning the whole thing.
Get To Know The Bands:
9:30 p.m.: 21st Century Fugitives
HOMETOWN: Boston, Massachusetts
SONG YOU NEED TO HEAR: “Losing Time”, off the December EP of the same name
BIO: 21st CENTURY FUGITIVES, also known as 21CF, formed in 2011 when band members were the tender age of 11 and 12. Together now for more than 5 years, they have been perfecting their style of guitar-driven pop/punk rock through the Northeast. Momentum has been building for the young band; they were named Limelight Magazine’s “2014 NE Young Performer of the Year,” and, in 2015, they won the Pavoh Award which recognizes rising musical talent under 21 years of age. The band caught the attention of Dropkick Murphy’s Ken Casey and were invited to open for them on their St. Patrick’s Day tour in Boston in 2014, and again in 2015. Three of their singles have appeared on the Boston Emissions New Song Poll Top 3.
VIDEO YOU NEED TO WATCH: Watch them cover Nirvana in front of a bunch of Dropkick Murphys fans.
WHY THEY CAN WIN: Because as noted above, they covered Nirvana while opening for the Dropkicks during St. Patrick’s Day week at the House of Blues two years ago. That in and of itself takes some balls, but 21CF then turned the song on its fucking head midway through. Check the guitar solo about two minutes in. They were also eight years old when it happened.
TWITTER: Follow 21st Century Fugitives on Twitter @21CFboston.
