The fiery enigma that is Lowell’s Tysk Tysk Task is an artist that’s just as compelling now as when we first heard them and even more so when you factor in the visual element surrounding the mystique (Read: Get to a Tysk Tysk Task show!) After a relatively quiet year on the recording front, but definitely not on the live front with multiple appearances during the 2023 Rock & Roll Rumble resurrection among other shows throughout last year, Tysk Tysk Task kicked off 2024 by not only unveiling a brand new song featuring the fresh new TTT lineup band but also with the recent announcement that the band would be taking part in this year’s annual Boston Calling music festival appearing on Day 3 of the stacked lineup which also features Killers, Megan Thee Satllion, Hozier & more over Memorial Day weekend from May 24th through May 26th.
[Read more…]Local Look ’24: The RNRF Guide To Some Of What’s Incoming From Some Of Your Favorite New England Artists
This past year we decided to do things a little differently as we approached our year end round up as we felt that a lot of local talent gets overshadowed when we do our annual year ender so instead of doing just one MASSIVE list to include everything that we thought was rad we divided the list in two so that both National and Local acts got time to bask in the glow of their 2023 achievements. With that over, and working out pretty well, we felt the need to do the same when it came to our new year preview so prepare yourselves for the inevitable informing that’s to come in this New England-based look at some of what you can expect from your local faves.
[Read more…]Kristen Ford bids Boston adieu at the Middle East on May 24th!
Courage comes in many forms. There’s facing your fears head on, quitting a job you hate to take care of your kids, running into a burning building while others run away, or leaving behind the city you know and love to live in a van and tour full time. While those are some extreme ends of the courage spectrum, it’s the latter that we’re talking about today because that’s scary and that takes a lot of courage. Which is what brings us to Boston’s own Kristen Ford who will be saying goodbye to Boston for a while but not before gracing us with one last show at the Middle East (Tonight!) which also serves as a record release for her new album, Dinosaur.
For over four years Kristen Ford has been a staple of the Boston indie rock scene. Whether singing the national anthem at Fenway, playing all over the area with her band or organizing various queer dance parties or open mics, Kristen has constantly given back to the place she calls home. On Dinosaur, Ford is poised to break out of Boston and conquer the world. Just listen to her subtle vocoder vox on “El Camino” that breaks into cries of “Music’s gonna save my soul” or the soul scorching guitar cries that complement Ford’s heartfelt words on “Be Your Girl” and tell me that Dinosaur isn’t an album destined for great things. If ever an album was meant to be taken live on the road cross country, it was this one.
Produced by Jesse Ciarmataro (AKA Quill, who will be one of the support acts this evening along with Goli and the George Woods Band) and Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sounds in Jamaica Plain, Dinosaur will be available at the show tonight. However, if you’re impatient you can grab it over on bandcamp now. When you get tired of Boston Calling (And you will!), head on over to the Middle East in Cambridge to say goodbye to Kristen and wish her luck (And maybe buy some merch, too?). Doors are at 6:30 (18+, $10) and tickets are available here. For more on Kristen Ford, head on over here and here.