review

Artist: The Brother Brothers

City Attended: Waltham, MA

Venue: Charles River Museum

Concert Date: 12-13-20

The Reason We Went: The harmonies that identical twin brothers Adam and David Moss displayed on their 2018 full-length debut, Some People I Know, were a mesmerizing window that peered into the duo’s potential as artists and songwriters. Getting to see them in the intimate setting of an industrial museum, surrounded by items from our collective pasts – including old cars, bikes, steam-powered contraptions and various equipment that helped to shape our present – was an opportunity too good to pass up.

What We Thought: Although getting out of the cold New England air and into the venue proved to be a difficult task (watch the instructional video on the Charles River Museum’s website so you don’t make the same mistakes we did!!!!), the music that The Brother Brothers offered up to the audience was so warm and welcoming that it melted the Boston-area chill. The magical, historical feel of the space combined with Adam and David’s almost-whimsical way of engaging an audience through song made this a very special night. Those in attendance familiar with Some People I Know relished in live takes of “Mary Ann,” “Frankie,” and “Colorado,” while it was an acoustic rendition of Peter Rowan’s “Angel Island” to close out the night that served as the perfect exclamation point on an exceptional evening on the Charles.

Bonus Takeaway: If the new tracks shared by Adam and David are any indication, The Brother Brother’s upcoming follow-up to Some People I Know will be an even more noteworthy collection of songs than their debut. Stay tuned for that one in 2020!

Song Title: “Madeleine”

Single Sentence Singles Review: Whether you’ve traversed the landscape of a toxic relationship yourself or were perched as a fly on the wall looking down on one, this song is eerily relatable, though it’s Biggs’ haunting delivery that makes it eerily believable.

Beyond The Track: Biggs has independently built up over 6 million Spotify streams. Want to help add to his total? Start with one of his other 2019 singles, “Miserable.”

And that means…

Song Title: “LIVE IT UP”

From The Album: Hurricane (art pictured at left)

Single Sentence Singles Review: Grab the keys to the DeLorean, wake up Doc Brown and spike up that hair – it’s time to go back to the future of punk with Booze and Glory and their latest track, “LIVE IT UP”, which pulls at all of the right punk rock nostalgic heartstrings.

Beyond The Track: Hurricane, the fifth album from Booze & Glory, drops on October 18, 2019. For more info on their upcoming tour dates, check out their official Facebook page here.

Title: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Release Date: August 9, 2019

Run Time: 1 hour 51 minutes

Directed By: André Øvredal

Written By: Alvin Schwartz (novel), Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Guillermo del Toro (screenplay), Marcus Dunstan (story by), Patrick Melton (story by)

Starring: Zoe Margaret, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush

Reason We’re Watching It: If you didn’t grow up reading “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” a novel by Alvin Schwartz, then you heard about it on the news. It is one of the most banned books at school libraries… because it terrifies children. Our staff is a little coocoo for horror, so when we heard Guillermo del Toro was bringing these stories to visual life, we had to see our childhood nightmares play out on the silver screen.

What It’s All About: One of the things that surprised us about this movie was how well the story and narrative weaved all of the scary stories together. It’s always a challenge to take a handful of separate stories and try to blend those together into one cohesive film, and it was done masterfully here. There is even what we believe to be some social and political commentary going on, as this is set during the Nixon era but parallels some of the issues that we see happening today.

Whoah! Rewind That!: There were so many great visual moments in the movie, but when the “Me Tie Dought-y Walker” (Troy James) shows up, let’s just say he knows how to make an entrance! And it was during this scene that we whispered to others in the theater, “Are you sure this is PG-13?”

Watercooler-Worthy Tidbit: James, the actor who plays the “Me Tie Dough-ty Walker,” also played the “Baba Yaga” witch in the recent “Hellboy” reboot starring David Harbour as the lovable red demon. James first showcased his contortionist skills on the hit TV show “America’s Got Talent,” and of course, played Rag Doll in “The Flash.”

And that’s why we’re giving it…

Artist: Jessica Pratt

Album: “Quiet Signs”

Label: Mexican Summer

Reason We’re Cranking It: Some music exists to make us feel good, to boost our moods and bring a smile to our faces. Pratt’s “Quiet Signs” does not deliver on those goods, but it does deliver on an entirely different feel, one that comes off as wholly original to the California-based songwriter. Most albums ignite a reaction that is more surface level, but with “Quiet Signs,” a moody and melancholy journey that we found impossible to be distracted from, the reaction Pratt pulls from you occurs distinctly at the core.

What The Album Tells Us About Them: Pratt comes off comfortable in her own musical skin, satisfied to be herself in every nook and cranny of her songwriting. That self-confidence becomes a collective experience for the listener.

Track Stuck On Repeat: We’ve spun “As the World Turns” too many times to count at this stage. A song that is the perfect musical accompaniment to the worst day of our week, it’s the sound our whiskey will make when it hits the glass just before we settle down for a long winter’s nap. Drink it up!

Coming To A City Near You: Pratt will be hitting the road this spring. Dates can be found here.

And that means…

Artist: Tallies

Album: Self-Titled (Pictured At Left)

Label: Kanine Records

Reason We’re Cranking It: As a genre, dream pop can shuttle you off to another world, but this particular album has dropped us right in the middle of a whimsical landscape that tickles all of our nostalgic fancies. If “The NeverEnding Story” was remade a bit darker and specifically for those adults who first fell in love with it as kids, this would be its soundtrack.

What The Album Tells Us About Them: With their first professional record, the Toronto-based quartet is putting music fans on notice. Although we’re only two weeks into the new year, they’ve made a strong push for best debut of 2019.

Track Stuck On Repeat: The band should be very proud of “Not So Proud,” a song that feels like the rebellious offspring of The Strokes and The Go-Go’s. We’re hooked.

Coming To A City Near You: The band is currently not on tour, but you can keep track of when they hit the road here.

And that means…

Movie: Maze Runner: The Death Cure

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Release Date: January 26, 2018

Run Time: 2h 22m

Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Ki Hong Lee, Rosa Salazar, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dexter Darden, Will Poulter, Jacob Lofland, Giancarlo Esposito

Director: Wes Ball

Reason We’re Watching It: Unlike most sequels that can often fall short of their predecessors, it seems that the “Maze Runner” series gets better and better with each installment. This third film follows that trend and ups the ante with non-stop action that doesn’t let up. In fact, this movie is so good that even after one of our staffers broke a tooth on a stray popcorn kernel, they just kept watching the movie and tearing up, not only from the pain but from the dramatic moments and farewells to some of our favorite characters of the series. (Editor’s Note: This tooth incident actually happened. Dental appointment scheduled. Careful with those kernels, folks!)

What It’s About: “Death Cure” picks up where “The Scorch Trials” left off. Thomas (O’Brien), along with the main cast, are trying to rescue all of the Immunes from WCKD’s clutches. In particular they are trying to rescue Minho (Hong Lee) who was captured in the last movie. Thomas is forced to confront Teresa (Scodelario) after her betrayal that led to Minho being captured in the first place. There is a group of rebels in the mix as well that are out to burn WCKD to the ground along with anyone or anything around it.

Whoah! Rewind That!: Without giving anything away we will just say there is a scene that involves a bus full of people, a skyscraper-sized crane and a rescue attempt… all while in the middle of a war zone! There were so many great action sequences in the film, but this one will have you squirming in your chair.

Watercooler-Worthy Tidbit: O’Brien was seriously injured and hospitalized while filming “Death Cure” in May 2016, which pushed the film’s release date from February 2017 to January 2018.

One more tidbit, Rosa Salazar who plays Brenda in “Death Cure” and “Scorch Trials” will be starring in the highly anticipated “Alita: Battle Angel” as the computer-generated cyborg.

And that’s why we’re giving it…

Artist: Porches

Album: “The House”

Label: Domino Recording Co.

Reason We’re Cranking It: The Oomph! Oomph! Oomph! of the beats in our chest are a pleasant distraction from the pounding of the daily grind in our heads, but it is Aaron Maine’s whimsical yet identifiable lyrical presentation that keeps us invested.

What The Album Tells Us About Them: You can’t have a porch without a house and you can’t have “The House” without Porches. While Maine’s third album under the Porches name gives us impressions of artists who have come before (Sean Lennon’s “Into the Sun” comes to mind), it is wholly originally and entirely his.

Track Stuck On Repeat: The vulnerable vocal delivery by Maine on “Country” makes this flash of a track (clocks in at just 1:53) an instant replay. Beautiful and memorable from start to finish, we long for more time in the “Country.”

Coming To A City Near You: Porches hits the road in February. Check out the list of cities/dates here.

And that means…

Artist: Santa Cruz

Album: “Bad Blood Rising”

Label: M-Theory Audio

Reason We’re Cranking It: Because it’s music meant to play on the loudest setting possible. Let your speakers do what they were manufactured to do!

What The Album Tells Us About Them: This is a group built for the stage. As much as we’re enjoying the retro reminder of what a high octane rock ‘n’ roll vibe should sounds like on a record, seeing a band like Santa Cruz in a live setting is how your ears were meant to enjoy not only their music, but the experience. See you in the front row!

Track Stuck On Repeat: There’s a lot to like here, but we can’t seem to escape “Fire Running Through Our Veins,” a song crafted for a Monday morning repeat session when you’re looking for more than a cup of coffee to get you amped for the week ahead.

Coming To A City Near You: The band is setting out on the road in support of Fozzy. Check out the list of cities/dates here.

In Their Own Words: The recent TrunkSpace interview with Santa Cruz can be found here.

And that means…

Artist: Jocelyn & Chris Arndt

Album: “Go”

Label: Self-Released

Format Reviewed: Digital Advance

There are very few power-driven vocalists in music today. There are even fewer in rock. Jocelyn Arndt is on a path to change all of that.

“Go,” the latest album from Jocelyn and her brother Chris, is a sort of punch to the gut of the music industry… a reminder that you can sometimes fix what’s not broken. Just because pop is at the top (at least in terms of the mainstream), it doesn’t mean that every music fan is being represented. Given the versatility of this album, there’s never been a better opportunity than right now for an act like Jocelyn & Chris to rip their share of the pie from the pie pan.

An auditory stimulant, “Go” sucks you in with the first track “Footprints on the Moon,” a wondrous showcase of Jocelyn’s vocals that, like the title suggests, is out of this world. Her voice is straight up mesmerizing and it deserves every bit of the attention this album could (should) bring it. Accompanied by Chris’ take-no-prisoners guitar play, Jocelyn’s bluesy warble continues to hypnotize throughout the entire album (“Home” is particularly spellbinding), infecting your brain with its breathy sultriness.

Do not pass “Go.”

No. Buy it instead.

And then read our exclusive interview with Jocelyn & Chris here.