BOOM SAID THUNDER:: The cover darlings of our Class of 2013 feature, Boom Said Thunder get to prove why they led the charge of Boston's best new bands. Debut LP Exist drops tonight, lighting a sparkplug to this powerful trio's unstoppable kinetic energy. The night is augmented by a future-sounds bill with Avoxblue, Nightmare Air, and the Lost Rivers. :: March 27 :: Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Boston :: 9 pm :: $8 :: greatscottboston.com
SLOWDIM:: Paul Sentz has been slowly building his rep as one of Boston's best indie rock songcrafters, and tonight his magnetic band Slowdim unveils their long-awaited debut record of ambient grunge on a mind-loss bill with Night Fruit and Fedavees. :: March 28 :: Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Boston :: 9 pm :: $8 :: greatscottboston.com
ROCK & ROLL RUMBLE:: Oh sure, the semifinals (April 18 and 19) and big finale (April 26) are a good time, but the real joy of the Rock & Roll Rumble comes in those six marathon preliminary nights (Sunday to Tuesday, break on Wednesday, then Thursday to Saturday, kids). Watching 24 Boston bands duke it out in a one-time-ferocious battle that's now more a celebration of our city's music scene is a something to behold. Yeah, winners are announced each night, and people do care who still moves on, but pairing four bands that would likely never share a stage together and watch their fans get exposed to other acts is the best part of the Rumble year in and year out. :: Preliminary rounds April 3-9 :: T.T. the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge :: ttthebears.com
KINGSLEY FLOOD:: In Boston's weather version of rock-paper-scissors, the blizzard beat the Flood in February when it sure felt like the worst snowstorm since '78 postponed the Kingsley's record release party for Battles. It was an unwinnable war anyway for the band just selected to play at this year's Newport Folk Fest, and now the whole shebang, including support acts Air Traffic Controller and Velah, is back up and running right in time for a spring hurricane, or tornado, or earthquake. In any event, by then Kingsley Flood will truly be Battles-tested. May 3 :: Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston :: 8 pm :: $12 :: 617.779.0140 or ticketmaster.com
THE BREEDERS:: The Breeders reunion tour hits Boston! Finally, we have a reason to use that "Divine Hammer" once again. :: May 9 :: Royale, 279 Tremont St, Boston :: 8 pm :: $25 :: 800.745.3000 or ticketmaster.com
