“Part garage-punk, part glam, part pitch-black rock’n’roll ferocity, The Gala is the party you’ve never been invited to but always dreamt of; a swirling kaleidoscope of debauchery and decadence that you probably wouldn’t survive. But you can handle a song, at least.” – Sleazegrinder / Classic Rock Magazine
That was my introduction to The Gala following an introductory message from band member Chris Kenneally (guitar). A little bit about The Gala – they’re a 5-piece garage punk group from Boston, MA, signed to record label Dead Beat Records.. Their latest release is Bad News, which has been out since March. I’ve listened to the album, and as the quote describing them suggests they are a bit of everything to be sure – punk, glam, and rock.
The lead female vocals from Emily Doran are super powerful and are fantastic. I really liked the subtle touches throughout the album – like when the organ cuts through just a little bit to create a fuller sound. This group really takes me back to some of the indie music we used to play on our college radio station almost 15 years ago.
Another cool thing going for the band – they’ve released ‘Bad News’ on cassette! I’m not sure why that’s a thing bands do these days, but that’s how I used to consume my albums growing up, so it’s awfully tempting to buy some more. I wonder if tape players are becoming popular again – they’re definitely not in cars anymore.
I can’t say enough good things about this group – I’ll definitely play one or two of their tracks on an upcoming podcast episode. In the meantime – you should check them out live! Chris told me about a May 10th show at O’Brien’s Pub in Allston, MA. Details at their website, or direct link here:
https://www.bandsintown.com/e/100831617?app_id=WIX&came_from=267&utm_medium=api&utm_source=public_api&utm_campaign=event
Alternative Airwaves 