Studio 52 is a community artist space located in the heart of Allston, and is proud to support the Boston music scene and local artist community.
Last week we met the bands. Now we meet the battles.
Yes, Boston, Rock And Roll Rumble season is in full swing.
Last night on 100.7 WZLX's Boston Emissions, host and Rumble curator Anngelle Wood selected the six preliminary week lineups for next month's "World Series of Boston Rock," which kicks off Sunday, April 2 at ONCE Ballroom in Somerville. Twenty-four bands will do battle over six preliminary nights, with a winner from each group moving on to one of two semi-finals. Two wild card bands -- one from Nights 1 to 3 and a second from Nights 4 to 6 -- will round out the prelim lineups. But that's getting ahead of ourselves.
We've long said the best part of the Rumble, a Boston institution since 1979, are these first preliminary nights, where four bands from across the music scene spectrum throw down in the name of friendly competition. It brings together bands that have likely never performed on the same bill as one another, and fans and friends who may never have partied in the same room. The lineups -- drawn at random by Wood live on Boston Emissions -- represent a cross-section of the music scene, and usually break down any sort of genre barrier.
It's a good time for all. So, how does the 2017 Rumble's preliminary week shake out? Scroll through the full list below, and get all ticket information, including Six Pack passes, through the official Rumble page at ONCE. [Note: All bios below pulled from the Rumble page at WZLX.com; featured photo of Tom Baker And The Snakes.
Tuesday, April 4: Doors at 8 p.m., music at 9 p.m. [event page]
9:00 p.m.: Matt York And The Missed Flights
Location: Boston, MA. Bio: Foxboro’s Matt York caught virtually every concert held there when he was growing up. He started playing the clubs of Boston as a teenager and became the front man of Boston indie band, Wide Iris. The band saw success locally with radio airplay, multiple releases, Northeast tour itineraries, even a Rumble appearance in 2000. After an extended hiatus from music, Matt returned to songwriting and performing. Of his 2016 solo release, Boston, Texas, Boston Herald writes, ”the singer-songwriter uses basic building blocks —Buddy Holly’s chords, Hank Williams’ swagger, Steve Earle’s boozy wisdom, Paul Westerberg’s straight-up-drunk wisdom — to construct an album of beauty, optimism and heartbreak”. Matt’s live show explores a cross-section of everything from straight-up rock & roll to hints of outlaw country.
9:45 p.m.: The Rupert Selection
Location: Manchester-By-The-Sea, MA. Bio: The Rupert Selection are the creation of Zak Brown, Reilly Somach, and Peter Crofton: a trio of longtime high-school friends from Manchester-By-The-Sea, MA. What was initially intended as a fun side project in 2008 soon morphed into a serious endeavor as the band honed their skills with dozens of shows throughout 2010. Conspiritorium, their self-produced, debut album was released in early 2011. The band has since continued to write thoroughly innovative and original material and perform virtually non-stop throughout New England and, most recently, in venues in NYC, NJ, DE, and PA as their fanbase continues to grow. 2016 alone featured the release of their first official single and self-directed music video for “Funeral Party,” airplay on Boston radio, and more than 40 shows throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Sessions for an EP recently wrapped at The Bridge Sound and Stage in Cambridge, MA with producer/engineer Alex Allinson. “Tree Hands” is the first single and video released from the upcoming EP with the rest to follow in early 2017. With their high energy performances and mind-bending blend of genres, The Rupert Selection are a power trio in every sense of the word and not to be missed.
10:30 p.m.: Rolling Nectar
Location: Waltham, MA. Bio: Boston-based Rolling Nectar embrace vintage-style rock & roll influences such as Free, Jimi Hendrix, and Humble Pie to create a uniquely honest and gritty modern rock sound laced with psychedelic overtones, Americana & old-school rhythm & blues. Fronted by founder Kevin J. Graham, backed by the dynamic rhythm section of drummer Tony St. Cyr and multi-instrumentalist Todd M. Smith on bass, with the newly added Nick Moreira on guitar. Rolling Nectar are accompanied onstage by backing vocalists Leah Hinton and Christine Moser – also known as the Nectarines. In this day and age, high-quality rock & roll bands with uniquely talented members are hard to come by. Rolling Nectar are the genuine article.
11:15 p.m.: The Heave-Ho
Location: Boston, MA. Bio: Pete played the guitar and thought he might be able to sing. Barry (Keith S.) played the bass. Jason played the drums. Harlem Greenwood (Marc S.) almost made parole, broke out of a maximum security halfway house and stole a firetruck because he thought it would be funny. We figured we could be a good band. We may or may not have been right.
