By Dustin Verburg – General Manager/Producer: The Negative Zone

In a few years, this whole “lo-fi/noise pop/beach punk” thing is going to look like it was a fad. Young bands will move on to the next big thing and it will be a footnote in rock and roll history. There will be some bands, however, that will be remembered for rising above the movement, brushing past the genre confines and concentrating on making great records. Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls are exactly one of those bands. They are true believers that stand out among the pack of clones, weekend warriors and fashionistas based in the “lo-fi sound.”  On their third LP, Share the Joy, Vivian Girls make a vital and soulful entry into the canon of underground rock.

Read More >>

By Denny Spinks – Program Director/Producer – All Things Metal

It has been three years since Straight Line Stitch (SLS) released, “When Skies Wash Ashore.” Now, SLS have released their new offering for the masses called, “The Fight of Our Lives.” SLS have been touring relentlessly brutalizing the metal scene while dealing with some line-up changes while on the road. Through thick and thin, SLS have solidified metal fans that they are indeed here to stay and are going to command that you to take notice.

Read More >>

by Dusty Aunan – Music Director/Producer: “What The Folk”

Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and John McCauley of Deer Tick all hanging out together. What does that mean for us? This generation’s Traveling Wilburys with deadly swagger. It’s not every day that three stellar song writers, all incredibly talented, come together to make music. And it’s even rarer that it becomes more than just three respected names sharing liner notes.

Read More >>

By Dustin Verburg – General Manager/Producer: The Negative Zone

With 2008′s Receivers, Brooklyn’s Parts & Labor transfigured themselves from a scrappy, noisy punk rock band into something much different. The band did not simply move into “noise pop,” a term which brings to mind the tedious realm of Michael Cera movie soundtracks: instead, they rose above the narrow confines of subgenres entirely . In 2008, Parts & Labor created 8 life-changing, futuristic, chaotic rock and roll anthems. 2011′s Constant Future sees them creating 12 more.

Read More >>

 By: Alex Weiss – Promotions Director (Derek Younger contributed a majority of this review)

Massachusetts’ Defeater seems to have just exploded out of nowhere after the release of their first studio album, Travels, in 2008. They since released Lost Ground in 2009 and most recently Empty Days and Sleepless Nights. Released on March 8^th 2011, Empty Days and Sleepless Nights continues the story told in both previously released albums.

Read More >>

By Dusty Aunan – Music Director/Producer: What The Folk

The Low Anthem’s 2009 release, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, goes pole to pole from slow-burning and haunting ballads to hoarse, pounding rock. The Providence, RI group’s latest release Smart Flesh comes across as less polarized but still beautiful and bold. The album is distracting. The webs these songs spin will have you unable to do much else aside from listening. In Layman’s terms, Smart Flesh is a must-have.

Read More >>

By Denny Spinks – Program Director/Producer: All Things Metal

Helloween has released 7 Sinners, their 13^th album  since their debut over 25 years ago. Helloween is best known as the inventor of ‘German Melodic-Speed-Metal’, and this is by far their most aggravated assault ever: the music is harder and heavier than before.

Read More >>

By Dustin Verburg – General Manager/Producer: The Negative Zone

It’s hard to believe, but the San Francisco-based experimental rock band Deerhoof has been around for a little longer than 16 years. Deerhoof Vs. Evil, the band’s latest effort, proves that they’re not going anywhere and that they’re not about to go stale.

Read More >>

Local artist Brother Dan has released a new album, “The Orb,” and has released a music video for the song “Igor Pops.”

Check out this excellent article at The Arbiter to view the video and to read more about Brother Dan.

By Alex Weiss – Promotions Director

In the 90’s and 2000’s, The Get Up Kids were at the forefront of the emerging “emo” genre. The Get Up Kids were to emo as Nirvana were to grunge.

Read More >>