Album of the Week: Spoon’s They Want My Soul

The best success a band can have is through consistency. I’m not talking about playing the same style in each album you put out, but instead putting out quality music while not being afraid to push boundaries and try new things. Coming a long way from the lo-fi punkish alternative rock sound of their debut alum Telephono back in 1996, Spoon are back with their first album in four years with They Want My Soul. It might not be as commercial sounding as their chart topper Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga that came out in 2007 or as raw and risk-taking as their earlier material, but Spoon’s new album shows originality, proving that over time they haven’t strayed from their artistic identity. They call it rock & roll; I just think it’s a breath of fresh air in a year of highs and lows.

Releasing their first album off of a new label after leaving a long-time relationship with Merge Records to join Loma Vista Recordings, Spoon is part of an eclectic brand that suits their style perfectly. A few tracks are straight-up rockers with forceful guitars riffs while others offer a mellow take with a heavy base of synth and keys. You can’t deny that front man Britt Daniel still brings his Sinatra beatnik soul, putting his heart into every track over the wonderful rhythms. There’s still that trademark groove that sets Spoon apart from a lot of other bands. You will be head bobbing and feet tapping; if you’re adventurous you might even feel the need to jump around like you’re on a pogo stick.

People are already getting sad that summer is coming to a close and it’s not even the end of August. It’s time for a last-minute BBQ or final trip to the beach to bask in the sun. It’s also time for the top tracks off of my Album Of The Week. It’ll be a great guide to what tracks to jam out your car stereo or to just wake up the neighbors in the privacy of your own home. One thing is guaranteed: Your music taste will thank you for it.

I’ve fallen in love with the first single off of They Want My Soul in “Rent I Pay.” The drum beats combine with the infectious guitar riffs to create a genuinely catchy tune that you can listen to over and over again. The bass licks really make “Rainy Taxi” special; when everything else kicks in you’ll be cutting the coolest rug on the block. A new wavy track in “Outlier” makes me think I’m at a New Order and Depeche Mode concert; this synth-groove number is definitely one for the ravers. Bluesy, soulful and a great departure from everything else on the album, on “I Just Don’t Understand” Britt’s acoustic guitar reels you in and the rest takes it over in the best way only Spoon can.

Spoon officially release They Want My Soul on August 5, and you can get a special vinyl release at select record stores listed on the band’s website. If that isn’t cool enough, Spoon will be part of a stacked bill at the 2nd edition of the 2014 Boston Calling Music Festival going on during September 5 – 7 at Boston’s City Hall. Until then, grab yourself a copy of They Want My Soul and enjoy.

Spoon’s website: spoontheband.com

Top 10 Shows at the Newport Folk Fest

Every July in Rhode Island, The City By The Sea becomes electric with some of the best musicians on the planet coming to play Fort Adams. The Newport Folk Festival has reemerged as one of the premier stops of the summer music festival season. Famous for being the site of Bob Dylan’s highly amplified rock ‘n’ roll performance back in 1965, the festival has also played host to blues legend Son House, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, My Morning Jacket and Beck. To give you a guide of what you can’t miss this time around, here are my 10 things you have to check out at this year’s Newport Folk Festival:

10.) All Newport’s Eve @ The Newport Blues Café

The night before the official start of the festival on July 24, there will be a stacked bill at The Newport Blues Café on 286 Thames Street featuring everyone’s favorite new Nashville musician by way of Providence, Joe Fletcher and his band of Wrong Reasons, fellow Nashville resident J.P. Harris and his Tough Choices, Philadelphia folk phenom Langhorne Slim, fellow Philadelphians Toy Soldiers, Dead Confederate’s T. Hardy Morris, Dallas’ Andrew Combs, The Deslondes from New Orleans, Providence’s orchestral pop act Arc Iris and New England singer-songwriter Ian Fitzgerald. If you’re in the area this is surely a pre-festival party you don’t want to miss.

9.) The After Parties

One part of The Newport Folk Festival that makes it so special are the shows buzzing around town after each day. On Friday, June 25 at Jimmy’s Saloon on 37 Memorial Boulevard Roz & The Rice Cakes, Torn Shorts, Pier Jump and Silverteeth will be bringing the fun while the following night at the Saloon Boston rock ‘n’ roll act Oldjack will be throwing their 2nd annual Newport Nights with fellow Bostonians Tigerman WOAH, The Rationales & Nate Leavitt with Providence blues-rockers The Silks joining in on the fray. At The Tavern On Broadway right in the heart of downtown Newport on Saturday, The Mighty Good Boys will be making you dance like you have ants in your pants for a night of jug band bluegrass you can’t miss. If that isn’t enough, Deer Tick will be playing all three nights at The Blues Café as part of their annual Folk Fest after parties. Each night is filled with amazing acts sharing the stage with Deer Tick and be prepared to expect the unexpected.

8.) Reignwolf (Friday 2:55 @ Quad Stage)

You can talk about great up-and-coming acts, and then you have to talk about Seattle blues act Reignwolf. Lead by wildman Jordan Cook on guitar and vocals, Reignwolf promises to leave quite the impression by leaving it all on the stage. These guys are just coming off from doing a tour with Black Sabbath and Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell are singing their praises. They don’t have an album out yet, but you can check out a few tracks from Reignwolf on their website at reignwolf.com.

7.) J. Roddy Walston & The Business (Saturday 1:15 @ Harbor Stage)

A rip roaring rock ‘n’ roll band out of Baltimore, J. Roddy Walston & The Business are definitely going to be the prime attraction to light up your Saturday afternoon by the sea. This quartet came out with one of the best albums of 2013 with Essential Tremors and I highly suggest picking up a copy at the merch table after you see them play.

6.) The Devil Makes Three (Friday 2:05 @ Fort Stage)

It can be weird at times to see a band perform as a trio without having any drums, but The Devil Makes Three are so good they don’t need any. This folk act from Santa Cruz, Calif., has some local roots from performing with Joe Fletcher on numerous occasions and staging a benefit show for the late David Lamb of Brown Bird at Fete in Providence last year. I had the pleasure of seeing The Devil Makes Three play The Folk Fest back in 2011 and I’ve been a fan ever since.

5.) Jimmy Cliff (Friday 5:30 @ Quad Stage)

The Newport Folk Fest always has its fair share of legends that perform and on Friday you’ll be able to experience one up close and personal with reggae icon Jimmy Cliff. Jimmy is the only living musician who holds the Jamaican Order Of Merit along with being famous for hits like “The Harder They Come” and “Many Rivers To Cross” as well as his covers of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World” and Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now.” If you like to groove and you like to move, then Jimmy should be exactly what you’re looking for.

4.) Trampled By Turtles (Sunday 4:10 @ Quad Stage) Straight from Duluth, Minn., bluegrass act Trampled By Turtles have a great cult following in the folk community and seeing them play the Quad Stage on Sunday will be a fantastic way to highlight your Folk Fest finale. A week ago they put out their seventh studio album, Wild Animals, so they’ll likely perform a few live renditions off of it. Ideal for the folk enthusiast, Trampled By Turtles very well could be one of the top live bands to see throughout the entire festival.

3.) Conor Oberst (Sunday 3:20 @ Fort Stage)

No stranger to playing Newport Folk, Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst is sure to amaze with his heartfelt songs and intense demeanor on stage. The kid from Omaha, Neb., is a trailblazer in his own right and it seems that the more he plays the more his illustrious reputation grows. Like many of the acts performing this year, Conor has a new solo album out with Upside Down Mountain. His versatility is astounding; expect Conor to bust out a few new songs to mix in with a bunch of classics.

2.) Jeff Tweedy (Sunday 4:45 @ Fort Stage)

Right after Conor Oberst plays on Sunday, stick around for something special when Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy heads up to the Fort Stage. He’s currently working on a project with his son Spencer called Tweedy and they should be putting out their debut album Sukierae this September. Who knows? Maybe Spencer will join his dad on stage. Regardless, seeing Jeff Tweedy perform is something that no music fan should miss.

1.) Jack White (Saturday 6:15 @ Fort Stage)

This one is kind of an obvious choice to be #1, but can you blame me? The rock ‘n’ roll enigma from Detroit who is now based in Nashville has his second solo album out, Lazzaretto, which is pretty damn good. He’ll be the headliner for the festivities on Saturday. Jack White is a treat to see perform and he lives up to the billing as one of the best guitarists on the planet.

Besides these 10 things that you can’t miss at this year’s Newport Folk Festival, there will be so much talent floating around Fort Adams and plenty of activities to partake in. The best part might be Boston’s Dan Blakeslee strumming his black kraken adorned acoustic guitar as the festival goers embark on their nightly escapades. For all the info on what else is happening at The 2014 Newport Folk Festival, check out newportfolk.org.

Album Of The Week: Field Mouse’s Hold Still Life I’ve noticed bands dabbling in the style of shoegaze lately. An excellent example of this phenomenon is Field Mouse from Brooklyn — that melting pot of creativity. This gothic fuzz pop quartet have an album titled Hold Still Life out this week and it’s quite a jewel from the independent underground. Imagine if Depeche Mode, Blood Red Shoes, Jesus & The Mary Chain and The Cranberries melded together. Field Mouse is the closest thing to that.

Field Mouse has a British alternative rock influence, separated from the norm by Rachel Browne’s exquisite voice giving a velvet sheen to the rigid tones. The album was self-produced with Kyle Gilbride from Philly act Swearin’ on mixing duties. The tracks form pictures in your mind and as the album goes along, a story influenced by the fast-paced lifestyle of living in The Big Apple unfolds. The emphasis of the guitars give Field Mouse’s sound a lot of energy.

As we approach the dreaded dog days of summer it’s important to cool off and relax. Do both by listening to the top tracks off my album of the week. Best with a refreshing beverage in hand, they’ll show you what’s good without making you break a sweat.

The opening number, “A Place You Return To In A Dream,” starts with monster bass licks and chords that display the beauty in simplicity. Old-school new wave with a nice edge, “Two Ships” makes you believe you’re in an ’80s discotheque when the synth kicks in. Deep and dark tones are abundant in “Happy.” This one rocks with reckless abandon and takes the amplification to a whole new level.

You can check out Field Mouse at Great Scott in Allston, Mass., on August 10, and they’ll be doing spectacular tour of the midwest and southeast United States in September with Prawn, Diamond Youth and A Great Big Pile Of Leaves. Hopefully they’ll come through Providence soon, but until then grab a copy of Field Mouse’s new album Hold Still Life. It’s another one of those awesome albums by a band you might not know much about, but pressing play could make you a fan.

Field Mouse’s website: fieldmousemusic.com Album of the Week: Stardeath and White Dwarfs’ Wastoid

It can be a daunting to be related to a music superstar. Enter Dennis Coyne, nephew of Wayne Coyne, the insanely enigmatic frontman of acid-punk act The Flaming Lips. Dennis’ band Stardeath and White Dwarfs have a new album out called Wastoid and you can see the influence of his uncle throughout each track. What sets this act apart is the heavy fuzz from the bass and guitar distortions that can make your head spin. It can be tough living up to someone else’s fame, but Wastoid shows that Stardeath and White Dwarfs are looking to forge their own path.

If you have heard the Dark Side Of The Moon cover album Stardeath and White Dwarfs did with The Flaming Lips, Peaches and Henry Rollins back in 2009, then Wastoid should show a lot of similarities. There’s a great psychedelic presence on the album with each song taking you from one place to the next. Each track provides a different experience but each is a pleasant one. Staying true to their crazy and weird Oklahoma roots, Stardeath and White Dwarfs never cease to astound from start to finish with their new album. It’s groovy, fun and trippy with a taste for the abstract that comes together to form something unique and wonderful.

So the World Cup is finally over. Since a portion of your day is all the sudden freed up, dive into my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week. Maybe it’s not as fun as watching a bunch of dudes run around for 90 minutes, but it surely won’t be boring.

The jungle beats and the raw riffs of “Frequency” make it a funky number at the start and then it gets all acoustic with Dennis strumming on his six-string. It reminds me a bit of mid-90s era Blur. A wonderful example of the fuzz is “Guess I’ll Be Okay;” the guitars hit you like a stick of dynamite over a nuclear power plant and it’s my personal favorite off of the album. Cool psych-jazz goodness is all over “Sleeping Pills and Ginger Ale,” a very entrancing song that features piano chords giving it a full body.

Stardeath and White Dwarfs will be performing at The Wichita Psych Fest in Wichita, Kansas, on July 19 and at The Center Of The Universe Fest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on July 26. If you’re willing to make the road trip to one of these festivals I highly suggest you do. Hopefully they make it up to New England soon, but until then grab yourself a copy of Stardeath and White Dwarfs’ Wastoid. It’s the perfect album for the person who lives in another state of mind.

Stardeath and White Dwarf’s Website: stardeathandwhitedwarfs.com Album Of The Week: My Goodness’ Shiver + Shake

There must be something in the air wafting around Seattle. Ever since the early ’90s alternative rock explosion that made flannel a prime fashion statement, the music scene in The Emerald City has seen a variety of acts come through. Hardcore punks Blood Brothers, math rockers Minus The Bear and more recently, soul, blues and folk acts like The Cave Singers, Pickwick and Reignwolf come to mind. Now there’s another act that’s part of this historic lineage of awesome bands from Seattle in My Goodness. This hard rockin’, foot-stompin’ blues duo have their debut album, Shiver + Shake, currently out and it’s something spectacular.

Before you let your mind go to those White Stripes & Black Keys generalizations, do some research and you’ll find that My Goodness’ musical roots are deeply entwined in the Seattle sound. Working with an absolute pro in Rick Parashar (who produced both Pearl Jam and Blind Melon’s debut albums) has paid dividends on Shiver + Shake. With a perfect quality that makes you feel every riff and beat, turn this baby up and you’ll be compelled to think My Goodness is playing live in your kitchen. The raspy howling of guitarist and vocalist Joel Schneider’s voice gives this gem a rigid edge, like covering a smooth ivory stone in beige sandpaper. Listening once won’t be enough. Once you hear Shiver + Shake, I guarantee you’ll have it on repeat.

I love it when people say rock ‘n’ roll is dead and then it turns out they haven’t bought a new album since Milli Vanilli were being made fun of on “The Arsenio Hall Show.” Educate yourself by listening to the top tracks off of my Album Of The Week.

The fuzz that’s abundant in “Check Your Bones” exudes pure rhythmic sweetness; Schneider’s six-string snarls like a dog in heat. Jumping out of the speakers is “Say You’re Gone,” a mosh pit anthem that will have you bumping into anything that moves in no time. Soft at the start and then raucous throughout, “Cold Feet Killer” got the fever to make you get down with the bluesy disease. As always, I only can name a few so consider this just a tease. Don’t like being teased? Then go buy Shiver + Shake and listen to the whole damn thing. It’ll bring shivers up your spine, make you shake like a leaf on a tree and bring you to the place you want to be.

My Goodness don’t have any shows going on in the immediate future, so let’s hope they roll on through New England before the end of the year.

My Goodness’ Website: mygoodnessmusic.com

Album Of The Week: Cretin Stompers’ Looking Forward To Being Attacked

A great underground punk jewel, you might have to rummage through your local record store to get a physical copy, but once you listen to Looking Forward To Being Attacked the search will be all worth it. Have you ever heard an album that is so weird and creepy sounding that it’s absolutely brilliant? There’s a cool shoegaze punk act called Cretin Stompers out of Memphis and I recently stumbled upon their debut album, Looking Forward To Being Attacked. Billy Hayes, Big Muff and Alex Gates have joined forces to start a band that sounds like a combination of My Bloody Valentine and The Sex Pistols. It’s one of the most inventive musical projects I’ve heard in a long time. With Hayes’ resume consisting of playing with the late Jay Reatard and Gates being the guitarist of San Diego surf punk act Wavves, you shouldn’t expect anything less than a mind-blowing album. Good thing Cretin Stompers’ debut lives up to the hype.

Those who know me know that I have an affinity for the fuzzy stuff when it comes to music. The interesting thing about this album is the high-pitched chipmunk-esque vocals on most of the tracks mixed with loud guitars and powerful drums. It’s almost as if the Pixies took acid, tried sounding like The Flaming Lips and Cretin Stompers was the end result. A great underground punk jewel, you might have to rummage through your local record store to get a physical copy, but once you listen to Looking Forward To Being Attacked the search will be all worth it.

Governments are mishandling tax money, there’s mass protesting everywhere, and there’s another militia working on taking over the entire Middle East. If your outlook on the world needs a little brightening, take a gander at the top tracks off of my Album Of The Week.

The trinity of the high pitched vocals, loud guitars and powerful drums is excellently exemplified on “Project: Object.” Each time I listen to it part of me wants to be freaked out, but it’s a truly wonderful track that puts me in a blissful mood. A punk rager to the fullest extent is “Adult Child;” the guitars definitely have that trademark shoegaze effect with raw energy upping the ante. If I had to pick any hit single off of Cretin Stompers’ debut, it’ll be “Eye Of The Storm.” There’s a nice pop aesthetic that pleases the senses while also being very catchy. Another great tune is “Cowboy From Mars,” a total rocker that has a lot of soul and blues tones.

There have been no tour dates announced by Cretin Stompers so unfortunately, who knows when and where they’ll be playing next. Hopefully they’ll come play in the New England area or even better, they’ll hit up a venue in a Providence soon. Until they come and raise hell in your hometown, grab a copy of Cretin Stompers’ Looking Forward To Being Attacked. It’ll give your ears that rock ‘n’ roll fix they’ve been craving.

Cretin Stompers’ BandCamp page: cretinstompers.bandcamp.com

Album of the Week: Troop of Echoes’ The Longest Year On Record

Listening to a brand new album from a band you haven’t seen play in ages is a lot like running into an old friend. Track by track, you catch up on things while seeing how much they’ve changed over the years. Hopefully, they impress you with every note. This is where the long-awaited new album from Providence experimental alternative jazz-rock act A Troop Of Echoes comes in. The Longest Year On Record shows that this amazing quartet of musical visionaries is back and here to stay after a little hiatus, and the timing couldn’t be better. In Providence the quality of music, art and creativity is at an all-time high, and A Troop Of Echoes’ new album reintroduces them to the local consciousness in the most emphatic way possible.

With the luxury of local sound engineer Graham Mellor (who has worked with the likes of Gov’t Mule and ZZ Top — no big deal) assisting in the recording process, there’s no wonder why the production on The Longest Year On Record is so good. The raw, sonic riffs from Nick Cooper’s guitar give the grit while Peter Gilli makes it smooth on sax and Dan Moriarty exudes sheer power on the drums. Add the solid bass licks from Harrison Hartley and you’ve got one hell of a band. Top it off with a few violins and cellos and you really have something special. The new album from A Troop Of Echoes never ceases to astound me with the depth of each song. Think of it as a trifle — each layer is something different, but all are equally delicious.

I’ve seen a few weird things lately: people wearing boots as hats, a restaurant named after a piece of revealing underwear, and drivers cutting people off without a care in the world. Okay, the cutting off thing isn’t really that weird since people in Providence see it every day, but I think you’d catch my drift. To take a break from the weirdness around you, dive into the top tracks off of my Album of the Week. Even if you like keeping it weird, you should still give it a shot. Anyways, here goes something:

Gilli starts it off with his sax on “Arecibo” and then a wall of sludge comes crashing down from Cooper’s guitar to do some serious brain-melting. The baroque pop of “Kerosene” is magnificently pleasant on a track that includes a xylophone, violin, cello and a full horn section. The starting number on the album, “Manifest and Legion,” can almost make your head cave in when Moriarty unleashes hell on the drums. I only named a few, but don’t you worry; The Longest Year On Record is one of the best albums you’ll ever hear coming out of The Creative Capital.

A Troop Of Echoes will embark on a tour of the midwest United States and parts of Canada starting with a super-duper secret nine-band show at the band’s practice space in Providence on June 14. They’ll be joining fellow Providence indie act Taperstries at Club K in Baltimore the following night, and will close out the tour at AS220 in Providence with Hannes Buder, Dylan Sevey and The Gentlemen, Bored With Four and Headless Nixon on June 24. If you go to any of these shows, grab a copy of The Longest Year On Record. Once you press play on this bad boy, you’ll never want to stop listening.

A Troop Of Echoes’ Website: atroopofechoes.com

Album of the Week: The Orwells’ Disgraceland

Rock ‘n’ Roll from Chicago

What do you get when a group of kids in their late teens and early 20s grab a bunch of instruments, turn the amps up to 11 and join forces with a lead singer who looks like Robert Plant? You get a rip- roaring, brain-melting rock ‘n’ roll band from Chicago called The Orwells. They have their second album, Disgraceland, out this week and it’s a doozy of a record. Each track has the right amount of grit, angst and devil-may-care attitude to give your ears exactly what they need. If Disgraceland doesn’t kick popular music on its ass in 2014, I might actually lose faith in humanity. It’s that good. Despite being so young, this quintet has been making music together since high school. Seven years later, you could consider them music vets even though they can’t legally drink. What impresses me the most about The Orwells’ new album is the perfect combination of production quality and powerful songs. Ranging from tales about innocent teenage love, to dramatic suicide and one night stands, Disgraceland is as rock ‘n’ roll as it gets. After listening to this beauty, I can’t imagine a better album coming out in 2014.

Racist owners of sports franchises, angry middle-aged men throwing rocks at Ferraris, neo-Nazi reality TV one-hit-nevers and people talking about how World War III is going to happen by the end of the decade. We live on a pretty crazy, messed-up planet. Take a break from all the madness and ease your mind with the top tracks off of my Album Of The Week. It might not stop the impending apocalypse, but at least it can serve as the perfect soundtrack. Anyways, here goes something:

If you have long hair and you don’t plan on cutting it anytime soon, “The Righteous One” is your ideal jam. This is an anthem for youth rebellion that will have you going crazy in an instant; once you hear that hook you won’t be able to stop. Another rocker on the album is “Let It Burn;” the drumming is simply seismic as the backbone for a song about lighting up a cigarette after a one-night stand. I always love the deep tracks of an album and “Gotta Get Down” is an exception. Those dueling guitars electrify the whole song by getting louder and louder with each riff. Disgraceland is a complete masterpiece from front to back.

The Orwells will be one of the premier acts to see at Riot Fest in the band’s hometown of Chicago between September 12 and 14, which is a perfect way to finish off your summer music festival season. They’ll be going on tour with New York City punk act Skaters this fall with a stop at Brighton Music Hall in Boston on October 9. Hopefully The Orwells come down to Providence sometime and show us music fanatics what rock ‘n’ roll is all about. Until then, get yourself a copy of Disgraceland. It’ll blow your music taste away to new heights and you’ll never want to come down.

The Orwells’ website: theorwells.com

Interview with The Menzingers Chatting with Tom Way

On May 29 at The Met, you have the opportunity to check out one of the most exciting punk bands out there today — The Menzingers. Hailing from The City Of Brotherly Love, they have a new album out called Rented World and have been electrifying crowds on both sides of the pond. I chatted with co- guitarist and vocalist Tom Way about the band’s current tour, working with Epitaph Records and what it’s like for a punk band in 2014.

Rob Duguay: The Menzingers are currently on tour with Buffalo punks Lemuria, fellow Philadelphia rock act Cayetana and PUP from Toronto. Last time I saw you guys at The Met you opened for Hot Water Music last January and it was a hell of a time. What is it about The Met that makes The Menzingers want to come back?

Tom Way: New England has always been a special place for us. When we first started playing out of state in high school bands, New England was on the edge of our charted territory. You can always count on a good show and a good diner. There’s something inherently comfortable about the area.

We first played The Met a few years back with Anti-Flag and it was such a great time. A very dear friend of mine went to RISD and we ended up having one of the most memorable nights of tour yet. It’s just a great venue in an interesting place.

RD: Last month, The Menzingers came out with their fourth studio album, Rented World, off of the legendary label Epitaph Records. Being your second release off of Epitaph, how is it working with Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz and the organization as a whole?

TW: Working with Epitaph is nothing short of fantastic. It is the label I have aspired to be on since I was a kid. Actually signing to the label and coming full circle is a lot like some kid from south Philly throwing around a baseball his whole life and signing to the Phillies. While we were starry eyed at first, we’re now a lot more comfortable with our working relationship with Epitaph. The people who work there are stand up individuals. Brett Gurewitz is Brett Gurewitz. I mean c’mon — how cool is that?

RD: Whenever I interview a punk act, I ask this question: In your opinion, what’s the state of punk in the 21st century? Do you think it’s fallen off from being out of the mainstream or do you think it’s right where it belongs with people having to look for punk albums rather than having it shoved in their faces?

TW: Ahh, to quantify the unquantifiable and label the nameless. What is punk? I have no idea, but I know whole heartedly that the idea of “mainstream” is so much different than what it was that it’s difficult to even call it “mainstream” anymore. People don’t buy records and people are leaving the radio in droves. Warped Tour may not have punk bands on it anymore, and bands that were huge punk bands in the ’90s can oftentimes barely draw anyone to shows. But why shouldn’t it be that way? That was 20 years ago. TWENTY YEARS. Twenty years before those punk bands peaked in the ’90s, punk didn’t even exist.

Has particular pigeonholed styles of aggressive rock & roll fallen off? Sure. However, the ethics of accomplishing things on your own and starting your own bands, and your own venues, and throwing your own shows are as strong as ever. Things are certainly weirder now, and the music itself has changed, but the part of “having to look for punk albums” has gotten even easier than it was when it was more mainstream. The days of the internet are here. I’m sure that there will always be some shitkicker in a Casualties t-shirt walking around the mall causing trouble. At least I hope so.

RD: After this tour in support of Rented World, what does the rest of 2014 have in store for The Menzingers?

TW: Lots of touring! Heading to Europe in the fall with our dear friends in The Holy Mess and The Smith Street Band. We’re so excited!

It should be one hell of a show with The Menzingers, so I highly suggest you go. Tickets and showtimes available on The Met’s website at themetri.com. I’ll see you there!

The Menzingers’ website: themenzingers.com

Album of the Week: Clear Plastic Masks’ Being There

Garage Rock from New York

It’s always refreshing when you stumble upon an album by a band you never heard of and it rocks your socks off. The other day I got to listen to one from a group of Nashville garage rockers by way of New York — Clear Plastic Masks. Their debut album, Being There, is hitting record store shelves and (legal) music download websites all over the globe and I can safely say it’s one of the best releases I’ve heard this year. It’s a tad bit of punk and a touch of old-school soul thrown in a rock & roll sundae, and then you have a rhythmic cherry to put on top to make one hell of an album. It’s ideal for the hopeless romantic who wears their heart on their sleeve, so scream your heart out and get ready for a wild ride.

Andrew Katz’s howls mirror an amalgamation of Iggy Pop and Tom Waits — heart-trembling sounds that will hit you like a wrecking ball to the mind. The drumming from Charlie Garmendia is on point as well; endless amounts of power and vigor pound through each track. Vintage and timeless in its own right, Being There is bound to astound you by not letting up at all in its intensity. Clear Plastic Masks and their brand new debut is definitely going to make sure that rock & roll is here to stay.

And now for my favorite tracks off the album:

Katz starts getting philosophical on “In Case You Forgot” about life realizations and broken hearts, saying that we truly are nothing and everything. The bluesy fuzzification (is that an actual word? Because I don’t care.) of “So Real” pretty much sums up this album in a nutshell — an injection of rock & roll into a musical vein will cure any ills. Getting you high and letting it fly, “Pegasus In Glue” is groovy as hell with infectious riffs and psychedelic tinges. Being There from Clear Plastic Masks is bound to have you in a trance as soon as you press play.

Opening up for Spanish Gold, which features My Morning Jacket’s Patrick Hallahan on drums, at T.T. The Bear’s in Cambridge, Mass., on May 30, Clear Plastic Masks are bound to put on one hell of a show. If you’re in the Boston area, you’d better go. While you’re there, grab a copy of Being There. It will electrify you in a way a police officer’s tazer could never do.

Clear Plastic Masks’ Website: clearplasticmasks.com