The Basement Beat

A few years back, I was in Panama. I met a woman, while on a canopy tour (yes, I am the quintessential, stereotypical tourist, and I love it). This woman, whilst flying from tree to tree, in fear, shed crucial insight on the music industry. She, this woman, you see, managed groups, for a living: big groups. She also liked punk rock music, a lot. So I was, I guess you could say, unnerved, when I found out she played manager with a bunch of top 40 artists. Her response, or at least part of it, however, stuck with me. She said, something close to, “you have your passion projects, the groups you like, and want to make big from the beginning, and then you have the established, for whom, you work for, regardless of sound, so you can continue to help the smaller”. The Basement Beat, I like to think, is my first of many “passion projects”. Pardon my lame-girl language right now, but they rock! There isn’t much more to say. I found this group, a few months back, when Gabe, the Beat’s front man posted a link to their Summer EP on my college’s Facebook page. The group is un-established; however, based off their Summer EP, I can tell big things lie ahead, for these Boston locals.

I caught their show, upstairs at The Middle East, Last Monday. Just like their EP, I was pleasantly surprised to find, they sound great. I dragged my photographer friend, Tasos, and his huge camera across Boston, and into Cambridge, in hopes of catching some of The Basement Beat’s charm on film. The mission was a success; at least I found it to be. With that said, one of the coolest parts of the group is their chick drummer, which I was unaware of until their show, was a member: she is the essence of cool. With that said, the group played all their tracks off the latest, previously mentioned EP, and then a Strokes cover of Someday. Which seemed almost unfair, considering the weak spot in my heart for Julian, Albert, Nikolai, and Fabrizio (aka NYC rock Gods, The Strokes).

Furthermore, the Basement Beat’s five tracks, on the Summer EP, epitomize youth, quirk, and fun; yet possess a certain amount of refinement and finesse in their production. Fellow Emerson College attendees of moi, croon about those little things I, and most “young adults” on the verge of “real life”, and “life-changing” choices, partake in: they are the voice for us rebels without causes: they offer camaraderie to those not quite ready to grow up. Each track is original in its’ own sense, but lends itself to the following in a way, many fail to succeed in accomplishing, these days. There is a general theme, or maybe tone? found in the EP’s breeziness. If anything, BB’s Boston references in songs like Vacation 1 instill a sense of optimism for individuals, like myself, calling the bean home, for yet another summer. With that in mind, The Basement Beat alludes to such greats as The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, and Voxtrot. Overall, the group’s relatable lyrics and distinctive melodies are fresh, and undeniably, well, good, for lack of better term. So, do yourself a favor and download the Summer EP, by The Basement Beat on their band camp, and start the summer fun early.

With Love,

Madi - The Music Stache

A few years back, I was in Panama. I met a woman, while on a canopy tour (yes, I am the quintessential, stereotypical tourist, and I love it). This woman, whilst flying from tree to tree, in fear, shed crucial insight on the music industry. She, this woman, you see, managed groups, for a living: big groups. She also liked punk rock music, a lot. So I was, I guess you could say, unnerved, when I found out she played manager with a bunch of top 40 artists. Her response, or at least part of it, however, stuck with me. She said, something close to, “you have your passion projects, the groups you like, and want to make big from the beginning, and then you have the established, for whom, you work for, regardless of sound, so you can continue to help the smaller”. The Basement Beat, I like to think, is my first of many “passion projects”. Pardon my lame-girl language right now, but they rock! There isn’t much more to say. I found this group, a few months back, when Gabe, the Beat’s front man posted a link to their Summer EP on my college’s Facebook page. The group is un-established; however, based off their Summer EP, I can tell big things lie ahead, for these Boston locals.

I caught their show, upstairs at The Middle East, Last Monday. Just like their EP, I was pleasantly surprised to find, they sound great. I dragged my photographer friend, Tasos, and his huge camera across Boston, and into Cambridge, in hopes of catching some of The Basement Beat’s charm on film. The mission was a success; at least I found it to be. With that said, one of the coolest parts of the group is their chick drummer, which I was unaware of until their show, was a member: she is the essence of cool. With that said, the group played all their tracks off the latest, previously mentioned EP, and then a Strokes cover of Someday. Which seemed almost unfair, considering the weak spot in my heart for Julian, Albert, Nikolai, and Fabrizio (aka NYC rock Gods, The Strokes).

Furthermore, the Basement Beat’s five tracks, on the Summer EP, epitomize youth, quirk, and fun; yet possess a certain amount of refinement and finesse in their production. Fellow Emerson College attendees of moi, croon about those little things I, and most “young adults” on the verge of “real life”, and “life-changing” choices, partake in: they are the voice for us rebels without causes: they offer camaraderie to those not quite ready to grow up. Each track is original in its’ own sense, but lends itself to the following in a way, many fail to succeed in accomplishing, these days. There is a general theme, or maybe tone? found in the EP’s breeziness. If anything, BB’s Boston references in songs like Vacation 1 instill a sense of optimism for individuals, like myself, calling the bean home, for yet another summer. With that in mind, The Basement Beat alludes to such greats as The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, and Voxtrot. Overall, the group’s relatable lyrics and distinctive melodies are fresh, and undeniably, well, good, for lack of better term. So, do yourself a favor and download the Summer EP, by The Basement Beat on their band camp, and start the summer fun early.

With Love,

Madi - The Music Stache