There’s no denying it: The Antlers are indie darlings and have been since the release of their first album, Hospice, this past March. The band may be based in Brooklyn, but Pete, Mike and Darby have hardly spent any time recently in New York’s hipster haven: When we caught up with them before their Sunday set Upstairs at the Middle East a couple of weeks ago, Jessie and I were faced with three content, though slightly bewildered, guys who were making the last stop on a memorable jaunt about the country.

The past year has been a good one for the Luxury. Between playing for a packed house at the BankNorth Garden last August while opening for Coldplay, snagging the spotlight and the coveted title at WBCN’S reputable Rock N’ Roll Rumble and putting the finishing touches on In the Wake of What Won’t Change, their highly anticipated sophomore album, this Boston-based Brit pop quintet is in a prime position for musical prowess of epic proportions.

Jared Marsh of Taxpayer. Photo: Gabrielle Petraglia.
The men of Taxpayer are popular fellas.  In the hour and a half we spent with them sitting at a back table by the side door of the Middle East, a handful of moms clad in Taxpayer t-shirts and other excitable friends came over to say hi to [...]

I had noticed his hunter green, poppy-emblazoned cowboy shirt before our official introduction, but Chris’ warmth and contagious enthusiasm for music, Canada and all things Rock Plaza Central left a far more lasting impression than his sick fashion sense.

What’s not to like about a band that brings their own “stage monsters” on tour? While getting their gear ready for their set at TT the Bear’s in April, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down had a slew of propped up imaginary creatures, painted on plywood, with shaggy fur, horns and toothy smiles nestled amongst their cables, amps and kick drum. The whimsical touch was a fitting one for the fiercely talented threesome, who has solidified their place in the hearts of indie rock lovers across the country with their sing-songy melodies, uplifted beats and lesson-teachin’ lyrics.

thick as thieves! left to right: aaron benson, tyler littwin, mike cotter, kellen kleinfelter.
When Gab and I arrived at the apartment of Thick as Thieves members Kellen and Tyler, we didn’t even have to ring the doorbell: The boys of the band were upstairs on the balcony of the apartment just outside Central Square catching [...]