Things get weird on “Fixtures,” a song released to Bandcamp last month by Providence band Willow.

Vocals fade in and out, muffled beneath the layered guitars that often pivot from left to right ear bud. The song previews “Slumlord,” the follow-up to “The Roanoke EP,” released last year. From the yuletide bells on “Dakota” and “Iowa” to the handclaps on “Colorado,” there are enough surprises to keep the EP from getting boring, not to mention the mixed bag of guitar tones used throughout its six tracks.

Look for the three-song “Slumlord” EP to be released in full to Bandcamp on December 1 – Jake Reed

Splitting time between Massachusetts’ Boston and Pioneer Valley music scenes, Tensor has made a name for itself statewide.

Released last Christmas, the four-piece skate punk band’s latest album, NAD, is a short but gripping listen. “Emaciated” is the only of its eight tracks to reach the two-minute mark, but its terse tracks often work to its advantage. For example, “Fester Faster,” which sounds like a 90s grunge anthem on speed, gets its point across in just over a minute.

Tensor will return to Western Mass with shows at the Palmer Historical and Cultural Center on November 16 and Chameleons Nightclub in Pittsfield on November 23.

Boston native SWF (aka Stevie Weinstein-Foner) will be returning to us for a hometown album release show on the 29th of Nov at Midway Cafe. 

If this name doesn’t register with you, you need to grab your headphones stat and dive right in to his debut LP ‘Let It Be Told’. Weinstein-Foners unique voice leads the LP with a cavernous, loose quality similar to Kurt Vile’s on Smoke Ring For My Halo (listen to Ghost Town and you’ll know what I’m saying). ‘Let It Be Told’ is underproduced to perfection, it has a live quality that’s raw and mysterious. It’s a melting pot of soul, blues and dirty rock ‘n’ roll, coated with loads of distortion and reverb. 

 “Let It Be Told," the title track from the album, is available as a free download via Soundcloud. Do yourself a favor and get it while you can and be sure to come out and support on 11/29.

The cavernous reverb and glowing synths on “Himalayas” make for a stratospheric introduction to “Falling Through Space,” the second EP by Magic Island.

The album makes skillful use of layered vocals, and its icy guitar riffs recall some of Minus the Bear’s catchiest work. The lyrics of the its third track, “Hang High,” inspired the album’s title. “[They] talk about becoming more independent and isolated while the music has some dark spaciness to it, so it all tied in well,” explains vocalist Drew Valera.

Following the set’s release in August, the Leominster-based quartet welcomed fifth member Joe Aidonidis, adding keyboard and vocal harmonies to its texturally lush tunes. The band will be bringing the songs of “Falling Through Space” – and perhaps a KC & the Sunshine Band cover or two – to the Middle East Upstairs on November 19 – Jake Reed

Hailing from Rhode Island, vocalist Tyler-James Kelly’s gruff pipes make the Silks’ debut LP, “Last American Band,” play like an Eddie Vedder side project focused on recapturing a traditional Americana sound. If you are skeptical, look no further than the American flag that adorns the cover of the disc. As vocalist, guitarist and a mean harmonica player – make sure to check out “Try all you want” – Kelly is the star of the show, but the band wouldn’t be a complete set without drummer Matthew Donnelly and bassist Jonas Parmelee, who create a perfect backdrop for the blues chords and skillful guitar solos that abound on “Last American Band.” Catch the album’s release party at Fete Music in Providence on November 29 – Jake Reed

One of my favorite Boston-area acts, Fax Holiday, are hitting the road with fellow rockers Radiator King for a string of east coast dates. The tour kicks off November 9 in Brooklyn, ending on November 16 in Willimantic, CT. I first saw Fax Holiday a few months ago at Great Scott in Allston, and I’m excited that these guys are continuing to spread the word about their music. They’ll be bringing their tunes to Radio in Somerville on November 15, so if you’re in the area, stop in and check them out.

 For more info about the band (and to get more details about the tour), check out their tour Facebook page.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

Boston’s popular emerging electronic artist and producer André Obin truly values the seductive nature of synth-pop. With euphoric transgressions and catchy hooks he creates a world of amplified power for your eardrums. His forthcoming EP titled ‘The Arsonist Remixes’ consists of intelligent remixes by talented electro-minded producers of some of the best tracks off of his debut LP ‘The Arsonist’.

‘The Arsonist Remixes’ (a prelude for his sophomore LP due out next year) will drop on 11/12 via Sky Council Recordings. You can premiere a personal favorite off of the EP below, titled “Gazelle (Artisan Loyalist Remix) which seems to take after LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy in sound, style and execution – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

And The Kids is a Northampton quartet who got their start busking on local streets, and playing in an underground studio/performance space in Holyoke run by lead singer Hannah Mohan and drummer Rebecca Lasaponaro.
The band, who tag their genre “indie folk rock glitter popsicle crisis” have a haunting wild sound generated by unruly riffs and melodies and Mohans unmistakable rich dreamy voice.
Their most recent LP Neighbors, released last month, is moody, mystical, youthful, rowdy, dark and fun all at once.
Although comparisons can be drawn between And The Kids and indie folk rock, dream pop artists like Cults, Lykke Li and Florence and the Machine – the band have definitely forged their own stand out style.
See them live at Toad, 1912 Massachusetts Ave, Friday Nov 1st

Based in Rhode Island, Boo City is a six-piece “black country soul rock” band (in their own words).


With a wildly creative musical style Boo City effortlessly straddles a number of vastly different musical genres.
In one track you might hear Indie Rock elements rolled in with Country and Blues, while another track will be Reggae inspired, Folky with a Retro Soul feel.
With a constant groove set by classic drum arrangements and heavy bass lines, the bands five song LP is driven by the soulful, smokey voices of lead singers Tai Awolaju and Andrew Moon Bain.
Check them out at the premiere of their music video for “Nobody Knows” at The Met, Rhode Island on Nov 21.

Hailing from Boston, Krill is a trio made up of drummer Luke Pyenson, guitarist Aaron Ratoff and bassist/vocalist Jonah Furman.
Their sound is hard to pin down. It’s genius in its madness.
Leading the procession is Furman’s rangy, nasally voice – reminiscent of early Modest Mouse, Violent Femmes, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
Their most recent offering, an 11 song LP titled Lucky Leaves, was smashed out live at The Silent Barn in Brooklyn in an insanely brief 10 hours of studio time.
Each song lurches randomly and beautifully, like a mad man walking a wire. From rambling riffs and languid bass lines in one instant to sharp succinct collisions of guitar/bass/drum/vocal in the next.
Krill are a band to be watched. See them live on Halloween 10/31 Allston, MA @ Regina Pizzeria.

Kal Marks’ latest effort, Life is Murder, is full of my favorite things: huge drums, heavy guitar riffs and ear-catching vocals. As I was listening to this record, I couldn’t help but be caught-up in their immense stoner/90s-rock grooves. The whole thing kinda sounds like if Isaac Brock and Frank Black got together, smoked and drank ridiculous amounts, and then made some kick-ass songs. The rhythm section on this record is spot on–I love the pounding bass tone they dialed-in for these tracks.

I would definitely recommend checking these guys out; and luckily for all of you readers, they’ve got several shows coming up. October 27 they will be at Obrien’s in Allston. They will also be making an apearance at Boston Hassle Fest 5, taking place November 8 & 9 at the Cambridge Elks Lodge. Check their Facebook page for more details and show updates.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

"Pop music you can’t dance to" is the description Bored With Four give for their sound and it’s about right. With a killer voice singer Andrew Brown and his band mates Nick Sollecito and Alex Chapman take the traditional pop song formula and smash it up in such a way that you can’t tear your ears away. Their EP We Are Friends* is a happy marriage of catchy melodies, simple lyrics, jazzy drumbeats and funky bass lines. Layered on top of all of this are the violin, synth, cello and viola. It’s a feel good combination and a distinctive sound that the band themselves describe as “weird”. Definitely good weird. – Brescia Mascheretti