Tonight (2/22) GO TO: Saralee/Chaparrals @ Church

Over in the Fenway we have a cool little show going on on this fine wednesday night. First off the show features HASSLE favs SARALEE, they with a track on the HASSLE button comp, playing what I think is an usual for them…a club show! SARALEE play an infectious brand of raucous indie pop that you’ll come away humming fer sure. Also on the bill are Somerville/Cambridge’s CHAPARALLS, who we just profiled within the last week. They play an ambitious style indie/country that recalls the likes of Neil Young or Wilco on one of their better days.

TONIGHT (2/22) Go To: Sexcrement, Ancient Filth, Cleansing Wave, Condensed Flesh with B.L.O.W.W. @ Machine(!!!!)

There is NOTHING more universally appealing than seeing a RIPPER of a punk show, coupled with serious powerbombs and deadly DDT’s. Brutal thrash dudes Sexcrement head an absurd lineup, with the always angry Ancient Filth (who just released their first record, its bomb, get it here you chuckleheads), the constantly killer Cleansing Wave, the NH punks who play metal Condensed Flesh, and the HOLY Boston League of Women’s Wrestlers. So come take your chances, and see Mad Donna unleash the Flash Dance on Mami Salami, or the Pennsylvania Dutchess put the Butter Churner on poor Stank Girl. Oh yea, and this all goes down at Machine. What a weird fucking night.

Machine
1254 Boylston Street, Boston Ma
9:00 pm
$5 bring mo’

Stay Highdrayted

EARLY WARNING(2/25) GO TO: RAW MEET #4 @ Smokey Bear Cave

noise & weird on full display. this kind of party does not get any better!!

check it out this saturday(unless you’ll be in NYC for the BOSTON HASSLE show that is)…

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND(2/17-2/20 LONG WEEKEND!)

2/17 Adam Caires, R.S.O(maine), Steve Dave, Trashawk @ WWTA
2/17 Woodrow Wilsons record release show @The Aviary in JP w/ Tom Thumb and other guests 8pm All Ages!
2/17 Megalife, Black Churches (W. MA), Beagle Bone, Ladybust and Blood Lung @PA’s Lounge for 8pm 21+ $8.
2/17-2/25 BUGS BUNNY FILM FESTIVAL @ Brattle Theater
2/18 Ride The Snake Records presents… Woollen Kits (AUS, on Fan Death Records), Headband and CUFFS. @ Plough and Stars 9pm 21+ $5.
2/18 Every Other Country, Old Hag, Jill Burton, & Speaker for the Dead @ 119 Gallery
2/18 STAND BY ME(1986) Directed by Rob Reiner @ the Paramount
2/19 1pm matinee @ O’Briens RTT presents… w/ Man Without Plan, Young Leaves, Billy Raygun and Dead Ellington 1pm 18+ $7.
2/19 4pm matinee @ WWTA with SNEEZE, Shambles (mems of Yale, MA), and Born Without Bones 4pm All Ages $3
2/19 Jason Anderson and The Best! w/ Ette @TT’s 8pm 18+ $8
2/19 Workshop with Crank Sturgeon building the Boggle-Blargh, & a vocal microphone that merges DIY ethos with hardware store accessories @ 119 Gallery
2/19 Tallahassee, Ben Lear, & The Moonlight Mile @ Obriens
2/19 37th Annual 24 hour Sci-Fi Movie Marathon @ Somerville Theater
2/20 Firebad / When Particles Collide / Aviv Rubinstien @ ZuZu 10pm 21+ Free
2/20 Maxwell Citro of Old Hag at The Series @ Weirdo Records 8pm All Ages Free.
2/20 The Migs|ExPlanets|White Pages|Myocaster Coypus @ The Midway

(2/19-2/20) GO TO: the 37th Annual 24 Hour Science Fiction Movie Marathon

This sunday we hunker down(me for my 15th year) for what is probably the most fantastic and fun movie going experience that Boston(or anywhere for that matter) has to offer year in and year out: the 24 Hour Sci-Fi movie marathon. And lest you think that such a thing is purely a rabid freak fest and nerdery…well you would of course be completely right, that’s what it is! But are you not such? I dare say YOU MIGHT BE!, if you let yourself be. Science Fiction itself, and the movies that represent the genre have the ability to titillate in so many different and competing fashions. This is what gives the genre its almost singular ability (amongst genres) to carry the weight of an occasion such as a 24 hour marathon. Science Fiction films can make you think, pondering what was or could be, and how we look(ed) at it. They can horrify you, and gross you out. They can make you ooh and ahh with atomic explosions, and feats thought impossible. And of course they can make you laugh out loud(most enjoyable when it is unintentional). Come experience the many strange rituals and out of this world oddballs that congregate but once a year. This sunday on into monday @ the glorious Somerville Theater.

MORE: THE ‘THON WEBSITE

WAR OF THE SATELLITES (1958) Roger Corman’s 8 day wonder starring Boston’s own tragic Susan Cabot.
BRAINSTORM (1983) Natalie Wood’s last film from sfx wizard Douglas Trumbull.
FRANKENSTEIN (1931) Rare studio archive print of the classic.
MISSION GALACTICA: Cylon Attack (1979) 2nd of the ‘Galactica’ movies.
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932) Archive print of HG Wells’ classic.
PAUL (2011) Sci-fi comedy from the folks who gave us ‘Shaun of the Dead’.
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011) Stirring re-imaging of the classic.
SCANNERS (1981) David Cronenberg’s brain exploding ground breaker.
RE-ANIMATOR (1985) H.P. Lovecraft as channeled by Stuart Gordon.
ATTACK THE BLOCK (2011) One of our faves for this year
COWBOY BE-BOP (2001) Cult hit based on the TV show.
Boston Premiere! THE ROBOT ENHIDRAN It has Thon written all over it. Bollywood here we come.
North American Premiere DIMENSIONS (2012) Think what if PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre had a sci-fi edge? Part of The Fest.

Plus DUCK DODGERS, BAMBI MEETS GODZILLA, Fest shorts, Trailers guests and more.

Tonight (2/17) Go to: Woodrow Wilsons Record Release and Steve Dave Solo Show

Hello friends. There are two top notch choices to keep you busy tonight..

If you just love energetic punk and early rock and roll check out living legend Steve Dave (of SCAMPS) playing a solo set at WWTA w/ R.S.O. (On tour from Maine), Trashawk (ZZ Top scumbag stoner crust, loud as fuck), and Adam Caires (Apocalyptic hymnes from Now Denial/Bar Sinister dude).7pm at WWTA in Allston Bring $$ for bands NO BOOZE, DRUGS or ASSHOLES
Meanwhile over in Jamaica Plain.. Check out the Woodrow Wilsons Record Release show!

These Jamaica Plain folkies have been keeping plenty busy with various projects but there’s something very special that happens when the Wilsons get together. Also enjoy Tom Thumb and SWAY at The Aviary 8pm All Ages and bring cheddar for the wax silly!

Listen To: SHIGETO

NY native beat producer Shigeto has been building steam for a couple years now with a series of drumkit-centered bass bumpers, but his latest effort, Lineage, takes his project to new heights. Channeling the best of the California beat scene, Shigeto mingles crisp drums with tantalizing snippets of electro-acoustic percussion samples and touches of jazz piano melodies, all backed by sustained synth grooves. Alternatively restrained and exuberant, this is beat music at its most seductively smooth and cerebral, with innumerable layers of intricately crafted ear candy. Perfect headphone music to keep you warm and comfy on those stark windy nights You can pick up Lineage now from Ghostly Intl, or better yet buy it from the man himself when he rocks Boston with label-mate Mux Mool at the Wonderbar next Wednesday, Feb 29. Don’t sleep.

LISTEN TO: 3 Leafs

Space rock jams supreme from 3 LEAFS who apparently have a few records out, though this is the first we’ve put our ears to. Tim Cohen from White Fence is one of the six members of this San Francisco group who really lay out the jams. On their new record, CANAL SMARTS, there are tracks that reach the 12+ and 20+ marks. The long haul, and these guys are in for it. “Apprentice Destroyer” is the longest track, and the most worthy of being called space rock. The melodies and rhythms shift often over the course  of the song, but each remain compelling throughout. To play this kind of music and not suck you must actually have the chops, and here they are on display. Late 60s Miles vibes for sure. “Gucamole Window” comes across as more of a kraut rocker, with the bass player making this as funky as a funkier CAN track with the vocals swirling above the rhythmic section, off on some other tip. Just three jams, some long yes, but it’s over before you know it. Pretty cool improv heavy headiness.

MORE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/3-Leafs/101031226664279?sk=wall

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KNOW YR BOSTON HISTORY: MOVING TARGETS

One of those indisputable, tour-de-force, no-matter-what-ye-into, corner-you-at-the-party-and-make-you-see-it-my-way bands that should have been, could have been, huge. Nimble and crisp as all get out, Moving Targets had it all: melody, ferocious ability, and boundless energy- they could really f’n PLAY! Truly one of Boston’s finest, appealing to literally everyone. Mid-Eighties power-pop heaven!

MORE TO THE STORY!

LISTEN TO: Chaparrals

Bands message us all the time with their music here at the Hassle, and we encourage that fully(especially when sending vinyl records)! And when there’s time we even get to listen to what we can. The sad thing is that not toooooo much of it is really what we’re looking to put our ears on. Sometimes however, you get an email, get to listen to it, and take a shining to the music right off. And that right there is the case with CHAPARRALS, a newish Somerville/Cambridge band featuring members of KAYO DOT & EHNAHRE, but sounding NOTHING like those locals heavy heavyweights. CHAPARRALS’ steez is more in the vein of a very pop indie-folk kind of thing. I must admit that I generally run for the hills whenever I see or hear mention of the term “indie-folk”, but quality, interesting songwriting will shine through every time, no matter what genre it is cloaked in. And that is what we have here. There are hints of indie, in the guitars, and folk(and/or country) in the harmonies and melodies and beat, and it all comes together beautifully and very fully formed. “Bridge Don’t Break” is a reverb slathered bit of loud quiet loud rumbling Neil Young territory kind of country pop. The hooks keep me coming back, and the raunchiness of the guitars don’t make me feel dirty for wanting to. And there are other songs on this little EP that are just as good. Hopefully they’ll be playing live in my neighborhood(and yours) soon. Check this bunch out, especially if you live in Boston! Catch them @ Church on 2/22.

LISTEN TO: woollen kits

WOOLLEN KITS make their way to Cambridge’s Plough and Stars on saturday night to play with the like minded HEADBAND and CUFFS. Their appearance on these shores continues the Australian invasion of underground music that has been going down for a couple of years now. And what have we in this Melbourne band? A keeping it simple, letting the vocal and guitar melodies take the lead approach is what they bring to the table, and happily for them, and us, they have the knack. Sporting two vocalists can always be a dicey game to play. But it works for WOOLLEN KITS as each of their singers has a distinct, pleasant voice; one cops a Calvin Johnson baritone space, the other a more nasal sing song yelp. They’ve come to the U.S. with a new LP under their arm that has just been self released. This follows a couple 7″s on labels like R.I.P. SOCIETY. The LP is full of the stripped down indie garage pop that this gang is so very adept at pulling off. “Out of Whack” would fit pretty much right alongside the songs on BLANK REALM’s new 7″ which we mentioned the other day. It’s a sunshine day pop tune, fitting coming from the land of FLYING NUN. The baritone takes a backseat here providing the backing vocals, while the other singer somewhat snottily says what he’s got to say over a full on jangle guitar, and bouncy rhythm section. Coming all the way from Australia, if you don’t see them now, who knows when you’ll get another shot??

MORE: http://woollenkits.tumblr.com/