Boston's the Welch Boys "Bring Back The Fight" with their new record!

The Boston street punk scene has been very good to its listeners thus far in 2013.  The Ducky Boys earlier this month put out a class A record entitled "Dead End Streets"  and now Boston's street punk giants, the Welch Boys put out their first full length to follow up after for years, from "Drinkin' Angry" (2009) which was an incredible album.  The great thing about the Welch Boys is that they are a band who strives to evolve and improve themselves without losing their signature Oi!, and Boston street rock sound.  "Bring Back The Fight" packs a tremendous punch and is the perfect opening track after a clever intro that makes makes you feel you're are about to witness a boxing match amongst a group of skinheads.  This title track is a raucous anthem that begs the Boston music scene to literally bring the fight back and the honesty in the music and culture.  Vocalist Ed Lalli lays down the perfect vocals as he demands the scene to "Bring Back Your Reputation.  Bring Back Your Dignity.  We Need To Find Redemption.  We Need A Victory." Its a perfect call to arms for any scene, anywhere to take hold of the integrity and honesty underground music once held on a regular basis.  

Another stand out track, "Hand Grenade" was written for and about the MMA fighter (featured on UFC), Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis from Maine.  He is a local fighter and in fact uses the song for his intro to fight.  On this record, you will find two well done covers of ACAB's , "Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone?" and "Someones Gonna Die Tonight" by the Oi! legends, Blitz.  Two perfect Oi! songs for a perfect Oi! band if I do say so myself.  Not many bands can pull off covers as well as these Boston fellas did.  I honestly feel that the band covering an ACAB jingle brought more awareness from the now defunct band from Malaysia.  Like any good old street punk band would, a record wouldn't be a record without a couple of drinking anthems such as "Whiskey and Beer" and "I Feel Like Drinking".  These two will most definitely bring the crowd together to put up a few cans of PBR in the air and sing along.

Overall, I must say the Welch Boys never fail to put out quality Street Punk and Oi! music.  They miraculously keep evolving into better song writers, and musicians while catering to the Boston crowd and beyond.  Even though "Bring Back The Fight" has been really over due, it was definitely worth the wait and the anticipation for it to be finished.  When a band processes a clear work ethic of "quality over quantity", you know they are doing the right thing and the listener will be happy with the final product. I know I was!   If you are looking for a fantastic album that will pack a punch, make you want to put your boots, braces and your nicest Fred Perry on, plus have a drink with your closest friends, then this is the album for you.  It's a record for unity, brotherhood, and to literally "Bring Back The Fight" in music.  If you are looking for bubble gum, lack of substance and honesty, I suggest you turn the other way.  The Welch Boys are real the fuckin' deal and there is no getting away from that at all. A job well done, lads! Cheers!

 You can buy "Bring Back The Fight" on Sailors Grave Records, out now!

 

Band and Record Label Information:
Welch Boy's Offical Webpage
 The Welch Boy's Offical Facebook Page 
Sailor's Grave Records Offical Webpage

 

From Kalamazoo, Michigan: The Hex Bombs!

2013 thus far has been a big year for great music and street punk music in particular.  For the record, I am not talking about the typical spiked hair band spewing the message of "Smash The System" and the other suburban anarchist slogans that some claim to participate in.  I am talking about street punk with substance. Two new releases from Boston's own punk rock veterans, Ducky Boys (Dead End Streets) and the Welch Boys (Bring Back The Fight) have set the standard in the last week for brand new material.  Today though, the Hex Bombs from Kalamazoo, Michigan were brought to my attention during a break in class.  Almost instantly, I was emailed by Mark Ian from East Grand Records in Michigan. He was generous enough to send me the band's brand new two song 7 inch E.P. This is being released in cooperation of Pirates Press Records out of San Francisco.  I have to say, I was very impressed!  The Hex Bombs bring their flavor of punk rock and roll that is very much reminiscent of the Street Dogs, the early days of Dropkick Murphys, the Bouncing Souls, and even Cock Sparrer. 

The first track on side A, "None Shall Be Forgotten" features Mike McColgan of the Street Dogs himself.  This four minute and fourteen seconds anthem is an ode to those who serve their country and may not return.  It's a clear tribute to the everyday middle and working class average Joe or Jane who makes sacrifices for their family and country.  Lastly, its for the unsung heroes who do the jobs that nobody else wants to do and yet, make our society run!  This is a song for the common man and women!  I honestly feel this is a punk rock song that can be appealing to someone who may not be interested in punk rock all the time, but can appreciate it. 

On side B, the second track "Destination USA" is a gritty three punk chord street punk song. This song has a sociopolitical message to it and reminds me of some of the early singles by Boston's own, The Unseen.  If you look into current social issues of America, gun rights and religion seem to be in the top 3 and the band most definitely  taps into that.  The chorus goes, "Got my gun/Got my bible.  Semi-automatic/Church and the bible".  The two Gs that seem to come up in American culture is God and Guns and the band clearly taps into that.  It's nice to see a band who puts out an honest portrayal of what is going on around them politically and socially. 

The Hex Bombs are a band that will be doing great things in the coming future.  It's exciting to see the Pirate's Press Records have been signing new and diverse street punk bands with substance!  This is a band who will fit in well with the Pirate's Press and will be in good company with bands such as the Street Dogs, and Downtown Struts.  Keep the Hex Bombs on your radar because you won't regret it!


For More Information:
Hex Bombs Facebook Page
Hex Bombs Bandcamp Page
East Grand Record Company Facebook Page
Pirates Press Records Facebook Page
Pirates Press Records Offical Web page

5 out of 5 Stars for "Dead End Streets" by the Ducky Boys

The City of Boston is a relentless city.  Through history, music, sports and April's Marathon Bombing tragedy, the strength, size, and fortitude of Boston never fails to show.  This also goes for Boston's street level rock and roll band, the Ducky Boys who have been playing their brand of the genre since 1995. In the last year, it's fair to say the band put more new music out than any other band in the city.  In January 2012, the band released "Chasing The Ghost" which was their follow up from the 2006 release "The War Back Home".  Eventually in May 2012, the band released the "Chemicals" EP only available online digitally.  Here we are now in 2013, and the Ducky Boy's are getting ready to release their sixth album, "Dead End Streets" which proves the band's dedication to what they do.

The Ducky Boy's sixth release of their musical career still proves that the band has what it takes and the creative influences to keep writing and playing but entirely on their own terms.  It was understood that the band needed a generous amount of help from their loyal supporters. The decision was to release a Kickstarter campaign to raise the right amount of funds to record the album with different options of payment.  From July to August 2012, the band raised over fifteen thousand dollars to reach their goal.  Now a year later, the final results were well worth the wait and the contribution in my opinion.

The opening two tracks "You Don't Wanna Know Me" and "Enough of my time" opens with a catchy riff and an energetic street punk spin to it . Both songs in their highly energetic taste spread the universal message that there are people not worth your time, and some relationships are deemed to frustrating to continue.  One of the many great traits of this band is their ability to connect with the everyday experiences that the average person has to face.  My personal favorite was written by guitarist Doug Sullivan.  His sociological perspective in the song "The Gravest Generation" is a spin off of the term "The Greatest Generation".  The message is there are many days that its hard to see the world in a less than bleak light but the beauty of this song could be called for a unity song.  Sullivan sings as the band backs him up, "There's nothing for us, A rising chorus" which uplifts the listener.

Personal ballads such as the title track, "Dead End Streets" performed by the front man himself, Mark Lind. This song itself comes off as a personal memoir about himself or in a way, the band as a whole.  The song gives off a more introspective overview or look into ones life before anything else.  On another note, the song "Up, Down, and Wrong" gives more of an outward focus and message that life may be uglier for another person somewhere in the world. The line "You think you've got it bad?  Then look overseas or across the street" which makes you rethink the minor bumps and bruises of everyday life. The final track on the album, "'Til The Wheels Fall Off" in my own perspective shows the tenacity, strength, and dedication that the Ducky Boys have delivered in their music over the years.  One person could easily identify with the chorus that music is a calling and a way of life.  As it goes, "'Cause we heard a calling and we answered it, And we held the course when they abandoned it, And we're running 'til we drop, And there's nothing that can change it..."  This is the perfect final track for this release because it summarizes the band's promise and dedication to the genre they play: street level rock and roll!

In my opinion, "Dead End Streets" deserves 5 out of 5 stars!  Why, you might ask?  The album is a perfect example of how a band creatively writes a new record without losing their signature sound.  It's a perfect reminder that quality over quantity is an important methodology and work ethic to go by while in a band  The Ducky Boys stick to what they know and only what they know and fully delivers on each album released.  In the year of 2013, "Dead End Streets" stands as album of the year thus far!  Not many bands can top a band like the Ducky Boys and release three portions of music within one year with all three releases being absolutely powerful.  Like stated, the dedication and honesty is in the music and it's worth giving a listen to! 

"Dead End Streets" record release show info:

Sunday, June 9, 2013
The Middle East Downstairs

Swingin' Utters
Ducky Boys "Dead End Streets" Record Release Show
Goddamn Gallows
Welch Boys

18+ $15
NOTE: 7:30pm Doors

TICKETS: http://www.ticketweb.com/fb/3528314/mideastrestaurant 

http://swinginutters.com/ 
http://www.duckyboys.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/goddamngallows
 http://www.thewelchboys.net/

 Facebook Show Invite
Record Label Info:
State Line Records