Rumstock

Evan Shore- Muck and the Mires

Summer has arrived, and this means lots of outdoor festivals - particularly music and arts oriented! ONCE Somerville, the one-time brick and mortar music venue turned floating music production entity that puts together events at various locations, has this past year been putting their summer festival series at Boynton Yards, an otherwise nondescript parking lot in Somerville that transforms into a vibrant area replete with arts, food and beer vendors, merch tables and, of course, a makeshift stage for local bands.

This year’s kick-off was an all-day Rumstock festival, featuring eight bands signed to Rum Bar Records, and it couldn’t have been a better day weather wise! I caught the evening half of the show, which featured four of Rum Bar’s best known acts.

Shang Hi-Los

Shang Hi-Los got things going with a stellar set of their power-pop originals like "Sway Little Player", "Billy", "Plymouth Rock" plus a cover of ‘70s glam rocker Sweet’s "Love is Like Oxygen". Vocalists/guitarists Jen D’Angora and Dan Kopko write and sing delightful tunes and, along with bassist Lee Harrington, beguile you with soaring harmonies.

Muck and the Mires

Next up was the unstoppable Muck and the Mires, who demonstrated why they are one of the most exciting live acts to see with their high energy playing and acrobatic stage presence! The crowd was absolutely whipped into a frenzy and my hips were shaking uncontrollably! "Take Me Back to Planet Earth" indeed, as one of their best known songs (and album) requested, and thank goodness we got ‘em back home!

The Dogmatics

Then came The Dogmatics, who had a decidedly more polished, rootsy approach, particularly with the addition of a mandolin (courtesy of James Young) with their two guitar attack. Their song (and title of current Rum Bar EP) Drop that Needle name-dropped Muck & the Mires, demonstrating their support of their label mates as well as their shared rock chops!

Gypsy Moths

Finishing off was the Gypsy Moths, a RI-based band that brought some soul and boogie into their sound with sax and keys. They highlighted their new Rum Bar release Following the Races, along with a cover of now-rocktogenarian Paul McCartney’s 'Maybe I’m Amazed' which was a pleasant surprise.

Amazing time for everyone attending, and more power to Rum Bar for building such an impressive roster of some of the greatest loco garage/power pop acts around today!

Chuck Ferreira - Shang Hi-Los

Dan Kopko - Shang Hi-Los

Lee Harrington - Shang Hi-Los