Run For Cover: A Playlist

The more music lovers I meet, the more it becomes clear that everyone has a favorite indie label.  For most, it’s one that puts out release after release that their library would be incomplete without, one that just gets them, you know? For this girl, it’s Boston-based Run For Cover Records. With their hardcore roots and current roster of outstanding pop-punk, post-punk and indie rock artists, the label is a… continue reading

Five Shows Not to Miss This Fall

We may only be halfway through summer, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start buying tickets for great tours rolling through Boston this fall. So whether you’re returning to Beantown in September or just keeping up with your 9 to 5, here are five shows you won’t want to miss come autumn ‘€“ mark your calendars! Two Door Cinema Club 9/08 @ Royale I have a terrible confession:… continue reading

Mama Knows Best

Last week, my mom and I bought our tickets to XPoNential Music Fest in Philly. Yeah, that’s right, when I’m back in Pennsylvania my mom and I are going to a music festival together. See, I’m one of those kids who’s lucky enough to have parents that share my indie-leaning tendencies, and I actually find that when I’m at home I go to shows with my family more often that… continue reading

Against Me! @ Paradise 6.9.11

“There probably won’t be a lot of moshing, right? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show at the ‘Dise where people were all-out moshing.” That was me, justifying my foolish decision to wear strappy gladiator sandals to Against Me!’s June 9th show to my much wiser, sneaker-clad friend. Well… I’m just gonna go ahead and file that under ‘€œFamous Last Words,’€ because I greatly underestimated the Floridians’ live energy,… continue reading

Balance & Composure – Separation

Moldy | Stale | Edible | Fresh | Tasty!

“Tear it down, break down every wall,” frontman Jonathan Simmons rasps on ‘€œGalena,’€ the sixth track from Balance and Composure’s most recent offering Separation. And really, that could act as the five-piece’s manifesto, given that it’s exactly what they’re doing to everyone’s preconceived notions of what pop-punk should be. There are no glitzy, overproduced tracks or predictable breakdowns on Separation, the group’s first full length since they came together in… continue reading

An Interview with Tokyo Police Club

With their uptempo riffing and wild post-punk energy, Tokyo Police Club are a band you definitely don’t want to miss live. Lucky for you, the endlessly-touring Canadians are playing AfterHours on Wednesday (4/6). But before you get a chance to check out their animated live show and find yourself crowd surfing to their dynamic indie rock, we caught up with Tokyo Police Club keyboardist Graham Wright to get the lowdown… continue reading

21 Tales of Tastemakers: Emily Cassel

I had no idea what the hell I was doing when I joined Tastemakers in the fall of 2009. I mean, I’d written the odd story for my high school newspaper, but being at Northeastern surrounded by cool, confident, plaid-wearing journalists had me second-guessing myself like no other. So I was beyond psyched when I pitched a story about protest songs to the TM content team and everyone okayed the… continue reading

A Q&A With: The Local Natives’ Andy Hamm

2010 has been a good year for the Los Angeles-based Local Natives. The haunting but groovy melodies that fill their debut, Gorilla Manor, earned them Pitchfork’s coveted ‘€œBest New Music’€ label in February, and their driving rhythms and four part harmonies blew away the crowd at SXSW. Taking a break from preparing for a three-week tour in Europe, bassist Andy Hamm spoke with Tastemakers about what Local Natives are up… continue reading

An Interview With Dicky Barrett

They’ve been playing together for more than 25 years, but Boston locals the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are still repping plaid prints and fueling push-pits with their unique brand of skacore. The 8-piece toured this summer to support their latest album, 2009′s Pin Points and Gin Joints, and are headlining this year’s Riotfest, held October 6-10 in Chicago. Tastemakers got the chance to chat with legendary Bosstones frontman Dicky Barrett about… continue reading

Das Racist – Shut Up, Dude

Das Racist may have started attracting attention with novelty jam ‘€œCombination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,’€ but on Shut Up, Dude Himanshu Suri, Victor Vazquez and sometimes Ashok Kondabolu (‘€œDap’€) rhyme about way more fast food. The three have created a diverse, amusing mixtape that’s perfect for kicking back, relaxing and ignoring whatever work you should be doing. The Brooklyn-based weed rappers are at the top of their game on… continue reading

Summer Reading List

Ever since elementary school, English teachers have been ruining our summers with the dreaded reading list: 15 to 20 “classic” titles. No offense to Dickens and Steinbeck, but some of those old standbys are a little worn out.