Sheer Mag Doesn’t Actually Hate Boston (so stop saying that!) [Show Review]
written and photographed by hunter astrid b.
more photos + rest of the gallery can be found here.
I always love discovering and experiencing new music and new venues. So venturing to the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA for a intimate show featuring Pile and Sheer Mag, a venue I had never gone to and two artists I had never had the pleasure of listening to before, was a very ideal plan for a rainy Sunday night.
Pile -
Pile is an indie-rock band based in and from Boston, Massachusetts. In the late 2000s it was started as a solo project by guitarist and vocalist Rick Maguire; it made the transition to a group in 2010, marked by the release of the album Magic Isn’t Real. The band currently consists of guitarist and vocals Rick Maguire, bassist Alex Molini, drummer Kris Kuss and guitarist Matt Connery. Since Pile’s creation there have been 8 studio albums released, All Fiction being the latest release in 2023. Coming out of the Boston DIY Scene, the band has become ‘hometown hero’ type deep in the Boston music community, their music now spreading throughout the globe. Their music has been reported by The Village Voice as a “distinct blend of melted guitars and howling-wolf vocals.” In their more recent music the sounds that stick out are “scorched-earth” riffs and blistering drums mixed with eerie synths and “elegiac strings.”
Their set was a wonderful way to start the evening. Their music is intimate and raw, which is very apparent in the lyric choices of their songs. The synths and electronic elements over their music makes me think of how you would feel if you were stuck in a dystopian world, devastation around you. Yet, somehow, you have a sense of hope and belief for the future. One of the things that I truly enjoyed about their set is that you can very clearly tell that the four of them genuinely feel the music that they are performing. And that is always such a special thing to witness.
MY FAVORITE SONG: “Only For A Reminder” off of Hot Air Balloon EP (2024)
Sheer Mag -
Forming in 2014, Sheer Mag is a punk rock/power pop band from Philadelphia, PA. The core quartet of the group consists of singer Christina Halladay, guitarist and keyboardist Matt Palmer, and brothers Hart Seely (bassist, and Kyle Seely (lead guitarist and backing vocals). They were joined on tour by drummer Evan Campbell. The quartet met when they were all attending SUNY Purchase and afterwards they all moved to Philadelphia together to form the band. In their house, lovingly referred to as the ‘The Nuthouse,’ they recorded their debut self-titled EP and released under their record label, Wilsuns RC. They have released four studio albums their creation, Playing Favorites being their latest release in March of 2024. Known songs of them include “Expect The Bayonet” off of Need to Feel Your Love (2017), “FAN THE FLAMES” off of COMPILATION (I, II, & III) (2017), and “Silver Line” off of A Distant Call (2019).
In reference to the title of this article, Tina Halladay talked about that whenever they go on tour someone always DM’s her telling her that they need to come to Boston, creating the thought that Sheer Mag doesn’t come to Boston and that they don’t like. She wanted to reassure people that this was not true at all, given they come to Boston whenever they are on tour.
Their set was intimate and fun with upbeat riffs, strong vocals and layered sounds. The group’s influences and inspirations come from old rock and roll bands and although you notice those influences in their music, their overall music is immediately recognizable as their own. Coming up through sweaty DIY basements and punk warehouses, their music is filled with massive hooks, powerful anthems and lyrics and riffs charged with gripping emotions. “Nobody seems to write straight up rock bangers anymore-more than anything else we want this record [Playing Favorites] to put huge, catchy songwriting front and center.”
MY FAVORITE SONG: “FAN THE FLAMES” off of COMPILATION (I, II, & III) (2017)
