Deli: How did the band start and where did the band name, Random Variables, come from?

Random Variables: The three of us met in grad school and worked together as teaching assistants. Moreover, we all shared this great lab space in the bowels of our department’s building. Through the course of casual conversation, we discovered that we all not only loved rock, but could play it too. So, when our department announced a "Coffeehouse" event, we decided to put something together; mostly covers, but we also wrote a few parody songs about professors, courses, etc.

Of course, we couldn’t just be "Three Grad Students Playing Covers and Goofy Songs," so…click here to read the rest of the interview with Random Variables.

Listen: Random Variables — "Distract"

Head over to the MIddle East Upstairs tonight, May 7, for an indie rock show featuring three local bands and one from Florida. It might be a Monday, but this show will melt away those back to work blues and get your week off to a good start.

Blueprint For A Riot
Empty Phrases
Gospel Music (FL)
High Diner

18+, $9, Doors 8pm

Having recently announced their signing to Hollywood Waste Records, Boston’s Lions Lions has announced the release of their debut album for the label, To Carve Our Names, on June 19.  Produced by Shep Goodman and Aaron Accetta [Bayside, Four Years Strong, Get Scared, Forever The Sickest Kids], the band’s music is already grabbing the attention of post-hardcore veterans and the screamo crowd alike. A new track, "The Undertow," is currently available on the band’s Facebook page.

Following a run of dates with Comeback Kid this May, Lions Lions will join Our Last Night, Crown the Empire, Set it Off, Palisades and Alive in Standby (on select dates) on the The Freedom Isn’t Free Tour. A full list of dates can be seen below.

Tour Dates with Comeback Kid:

5/12/2012 – DeKalb, IL @ House Café

5/13/2012 – Indianapolis, IN  @ Emerson Theatre

5/14/2012 – Nashville , TN @ Rocket Town   

5/16/2012 – Toledo, OH @ Frankies Inner-City     

5/17/2012 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Smiling Moose            

5/18/2012 – Lemoyne, PA @ Champion Ship   

5/22/2012 – Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts Theatre         

5/24/2012 – Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon

5/25/2012 – Buffalo, NY @ Broadway Joe’s

5/26/2012 – Howell, MI @ Hartland Performing Arts Ctr – Bled Fest 

 

"The Freedom Isn’t Free" Tour Dates:

5/30/2012 – Manchester, NH @ Rocko’s

5/31/2012 – Providence, RI @ Fete’s

6/01/2012 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Loft

6/02/2012 – Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts Theatre

6/03/2012 – Nutley, NJ @ Radiant

6/05/2012 – Richmond, VA @ Kingdom

6/06/2012 – Springfield, VA @ Empire

6/07/2012 – Greensboro, NC @ Greene Street Canal

6/08/2012 – Jacksonville, FL @ The Pit

6/09/2012 – Orlando, FL @ Bombshell’s Tavern

6/10/2012 – Douglasville, GA @ The 7 Venue

6/12/2012 – St. Louis, MO @ Fubar

6/13/2012 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Emerson Theatre

6/14/2012 – Joliet, IL @ Mojoe’s

6/15/2012 – Detroit, MI @ I Lounge

6/17/2012 – Kent, OH @ The Outpost Concert Club

6/18/2012 – Piqua, OH @ Mote Park

6/19/2012 – Pittsburg, PA @ The Hideout

6/20/2012 – Allentown, PA @ The Crocodile Rock

 

–The Deli Staff

Next weekend brings the Spring 2012 edition of Deep Heaven Now. Continuing the bi/semi-annual tradition of the original Deep Heaven festivals of the 90s in Boston and featuring the best of the local and national ambient,experimental, psychedelic and shoegaze scenes.

The fifth installment of Deep Heaven Now is a two day event on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 at Precinct and PA’s Lounge in Somerville’s Union Square. One $10 admission fee gets you access to both venues for that day.

Highlights from night one include east coast psych/shoegaze veterans from DC Screen Vinyl Image performing the first of two different sets that weekend as well as psych rockers Lead Stones from NYC. The New Highway Hymnal (pictured), the deli’s Best Emerging Band of 2011, will also be performing.

Night two brings Thrushes (Baltimore), Nights (Cleveland), Is/Is (MN featuring Sarah Nienaber of Gospel Gossip), as well as local favorites Night Fruit and Velah (featuring two former members of Static of the Gods).

This event is sponsored by Narragansett beer and WZBC 90.3 Flyweight.

For more information, including set times and complete line-ups, check out the festival’s facebook page.–Chrissy Prisco

On Saturday, May 19, and Sunday, May 20 the School of Rock Boston is leading a brigade of the best Southern Rock artists of all time, including ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, and more. The show will take place in Cambridge, MA at TT the Bears.

The cast and crew of rock school students, ages 8-18, take the stage after three months of preparatory rehearsals under show director Bassam Habal and assistant director Anderson Mar for a wild celebration of Southern Rock, a subgenre of rock music that was developed in the Southern United States from an amalgamation of rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally around electric guitar and vocals.  In the Boston scene, this genre is usually tagged as “Americana”.

This show is all ages. Tickets are available for $10 in advance by calling 617-923-3434 during School of Rock business hours, or can be ordered online by going to http://sorock.eventbrite.com ; there will also be tickets available at the door day-of-show at the price of $12 per person.–The Deli Staff

Deli: How did the band start?

James Newman: Martin and I started the band in ’05 with Suzanna and Jorge. The owners of the rehearsal studio we practiced at invited us to record an album, but unfortunately that band fell apart during the sessions. So, Martin and I wound up handling all the instrumentation while we searched for a new singer. Eventually, we found Kathryn, finished recording and then pieced together a band to play out while we mixed.

Where did the band name Plumerai come from?

Eliza Brown: I’m convinced the Newman brothers had no idea what it meant before I came along, but they say I’m rude to say that. It’s a verb that comes from a French children’s song called "Alouette, je te plumerai"…

Click here to read the rest of the Q&A with Plumerai.

I’ll always have a soft spot for pop-punk. Ever since I first heard Enema of the State, I’ve been drawn to the fast-paced—at times whiny, I’ll admit—sounds of that particular style. So, for me, Shambles‘ latest release, Shambles EP, is a great record. It holds true to the standards of pop-punk with airtight guitar work and catchy—and at times emotional—lyrics.

I thought the band handled the vocals well throughout this record. The band utilizes gang vocals more often than they use a solo vocalist, which I thought really added depth to the songs. The end of the fourth track, “ATL…DTF?,” is a perfect example of the group vocals. The band uses several different harmonies during the last two times through the chorus, which I thought was quite impressive.

Shambles will be playing a gig at Great Scott in Allston on Wednesday, April 25, so if you’re in the area be sure to head on over and check them out. You can also check their bandcamp site for a free download of the Shambles EP and information on how to get free merch, swag, or whatever you prefer to call it.–Daniel McMahon

The term “garage rock” is sometimes passed around to denote a lack of quality or accessibility in a band’s sound. However, there is also a sense of purity and tradition in the genre, with the genesis of most major and influential movements in the rock and roll history originating in one corner of a basement or another. Straight from central Mass’ dirty burg, Sun Sister proudly parades their passports from Garageland with their premier EP, Rich American White Kidz; a four song shoegaze sample populated with songs of love and hate for junkies

Rich American White Kidz is also a surf/pop album produced with a loving amount of abandonment — the production is low-fi, with a heavy focus on Stacy Baird’s phased-out vocals, which give the songs a distant and manic depressed feeling. Lyrically, the songs are reminiscent of such acts as The Velvet Underground, with first person looks at shady figures and burnouts with hearts.

The EP, out April 30 on the British-based indie label Tye Die Tapes, is now available for pre-order. Fans of shoegaze garage rock such as The Pillows, Plumtree, or The Moldy Peaches would be well off checking them out.–Anthony Geehan

Propelled by emotional choruses and massive guitars, The Roman Numeral Three are on the fast-track to make a name for themselves far outside their hometown of Raynham, MA. While their sound is heavily rooted in punk, the band manage to add their own unique twist, creating a genre that is something more than just “punk”—it’s damn good music. I found myself particularly drawn to the second track from their most recent release, On Baker Road. The song, “Woke Up Sick” really focuses on the rhythm section, with verses that feature a driving back-beat of snare and bass drum. Towards the end of the song, drummer Kevin O’Connor really lets loose, showcasing his talents with a series of tight fills.

Not to be shown up, track six, “Still Alive” features the blistering guitar work of Mike Rague. Rague’s guitar work is swift and accurate, getting messy at some points but just messy enough that you are able to tell that this guy really knows his stuff. After listening to their entire record, this is clearly a group of talented musicians with a clearly defined sound.

I was also impressed with the band’s use of gang vocals throughout the entire record. I thought they added to the energy of the songs and really served to engage the listener (or more specifically me, the blog writer). I was picturing myself throwing my fists in the air in the middle of the pit as I listened to this record.

Overall, On Baker Road is a great record. I could easily picture this band on the roster of Asian Man Records, playing a gig with Matt Skiba or something like that.–Daniel McMahon