The blistering single “Going on a Trip” acts as a thesis statement for Ellen and the Degenerates. Dizzying riffs and hyperactive snares propel the song forward without a sense of direction and without care. It’s a low-fi and gnarly punk journey describing a road-trip gone wrong when an exit is missed and a fight breaks out between driver and passenger. It’s a non-stop barrage of energy that weaves between angst and rage as its modes of discourse. While the band promotes itself as “teen angst” and “pop punk”, it would be foolish to diminish their ferocity to something as quaint as teen angst. “Going on a Trip” is a twisted punk song that ends with heavy breathing, mirroring what every listener feels after first experiencing their music. Ellen and the Degenerates will be performing their hellish brand of modded punk at Elsewhere on June 17. You can stream their 2017 Herb Alert EP below. -Tucker Pennington

If you miss the sound of the indie rock of the early-to-mid-2000s, The Britanys might be just what the doctor ordered. Made up of four roommates based in Bushwick, the band uses their apartment as headquarters, and offers a cohesive sound of electric, upbeat and melodic indie rock filled with catchy guitar riffs and light vocals. Their latest release, “When I’m With You” shows a slight evolution in the sound compared with previous releases, more sparse and mature, and rehashes the 20-something’s saga of complicated relationship. Lead singer Lucas Long laments “We break up then we’re back together / We make up now we’re through forever.” As trends go in and out of style, The Britanys have solidified a timeless sound. Don’t miss them at Rough Trade on June 16th. –Lily Crandall

Perhaps what’s most intriguing about the Boston indie rock quartet Dutch Tulips is how quickly they establish themselves as the Real Thing. Listening to the first few minutes of their debut self-titled EP is enough to catch onto the infectious and fun fuzzy jangle rock. Where others may fall victim to the cringe-filled symptoms of trying too hard with a track named “Love You Bae,” the teflon rockers are somehow able to skirt by with a smile, a great hook and an earnest delivery. Dutch Tulips are preparing to kick off a tour at the Downtown Stage in Willimantic Connecticut on June 21 and will be on the road through July 1. Stream the full EP below. – Lilly Milman




The new single “marbles” (streaming) by the San Jose duo of pop-punkers known as The Mystic Decade packs a fun melody and an earnest delivery into a three minute timespan. The surfy guitar arrangements are a breath of fresh air, especially as they take control in the last twenty seconds of the track. The Mystic Decade recently finished up a four-part YouTube documentary series about their band called Reality_In_Monochrome, showcasing their affinity for filmmaking. – Lilly Milman