Deep Cuts in Medford has carved out a space for bands and their fans
A new crew of music fans have become regulars in Medford Square, and they’re all lining up outside of deep cuts.
The music venue — which also serves as a brewery and sandwich shop — opened on Main Street last May, drawing visitors to Medford with a much-needed 240-capacity performance space. Now, as Deep Cuts approaches its first anniversary, it’s not unheard of to see punks and touring bands among the area’s foodies and folks headed to a show at the Chevalier Theatre.
“Being in the Square, they really like us bringing in a whole new scene,” says co-owner Ian McGregor, reflecting on the area’s welcome influx of new faces. His relationship with Medford residents and officials budded at Deep Cuts’ first, deli-only locale on High Street, which opened in 2021 and closed when the business moved to its expanded location last spring.
Boston bands Zip-Tie handcuffs, Black Beach, and Today Junior christened the venue on May 20, 2023; two of those acts return to Deep Cuts for gigs this month, including a release show for Zip-Tie Handcuffs’ forthcoming LP “Moss.”
At a glance, the repeat performances don’t seem particularly newsworthy. But artists can only revisit a venue if it still exists, and therein lies the cause for celebration. As the recent, sudden closure of Rockwood Music Hall in Boston demonstrates, nothing is guaranteed for music venues — not even one full year in business, a milestone that the Fenway venue never reached.
Mcgregor links a portion of the business’s success to its unwavering dedication to music, contrasting Deep Cuts with breweries that treat performances as a bonus versus a core part of their identity. As the creator of Boston booking outfit Eye Design (whose existence predates Deep Cuts), he curates the venue’s show calendar, making sure to highlight the breadth of New England’s sound while also folding in performances from national acts like Texas shoegaze group Ringo deathstarr and melancholy Memphis artist Blvck hippie. His ongoing “Know Your Scene” series encourages locals to discover local bands through free showcases, such as a May 21 edition that features The croaks and doss.
“We definitely put more time into making sure the music was first, and making things sound good,” Mcgregor notes.
A January renovation further separated the venue portion of Deep Cuts from its bar and dining area, allowing hungry patrons to enjoy a brew or roast beef sandwich without feeling deafened by soundchecks. Looking ahead, Mcgregor says Deep Cuts’ next development might broadcast their sound beyond Main Street.
“We definitely want to work on some kind of festival, whether it’s in the [venue] or the Square itself,” he says.
GIG GuIde
Boston’s Big d and the kids Table and Pink slip skank into the spotlight at Crystal Ballroom on Friday for a halfway-to-Halloween ska showcase. The following night, Junto Music Club presents a roster of homegrown talent that features rappers Timi o and l.ucas, producers Rilla Force and Jiida, and
Worcester singer Faybee.
A decade after cracking open hiphop gold with their collaborative record “Piñata,” Freddie Gibbs (inset) and Madlib honor the album’s 10-year anniversary at MgM Music Hall at Fenway on Friday; pop artist Madison Beer — who rose to prominence in her teen years after a co-sign from Justin Bieber — brings “The Spinnin Tour” to the venue on Saturday.
Two 30th-anniversary rock tours align in Boston this week, starting with hot Water Music’s Friday stop at Royale, which celebrates the gainesville, Fla., punk band’s major milestone and their just-released 10th record, “Vows.” On Sunday at Big Night Live, Seattle’s sunny day Real estate revisit their 1994 debut album, “Diary,” widely regarded as one of the best emo records of all time.
Following a brief break from the stage, Rainbow kitten surprise return with three consecutive shows at Roadrunner
— Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday — to support their fourth album, “Love Hate Music Box.” On Thursday, D.C. power-pop band Jukebox the Ghost launch a similar trio of performances at the Sinclair for their “3 Albums! 3 Nights!” tour.
The Boch Center Wang Theatre welcomes diana Ross on her “Beautiful Love Performances: Legacy 2024” tour Thursday. The majority of Ross’s Boston visits since 2010 have been at the historic downtown theater, a fittingly ornate setting for the once-in-a-generation voice and former lead singer of the Supremes. Also on Thursday, the soul Rebels fill the Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville with a booming ‘n’ brassy blend of jazz, pop, funk, and soul. The eight-piece New Orleans ensemble will return to Massachusetts for a May 19 show at the Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in greenfield before embarking on a packed festival season spanning Bottlerock, the Hollywood
Bowl Jazz Festival, and the Monterey Jazz Festival.
NoW sPINNING
salem Wolves, “So Desperate.” Two years after unleashing a dose of self-proclaimed “Hostile Music,” Salem Wolves wrestle with a deflated psyche on the first single from their July record “The Psychotron Speaks.” Trading the Providence band’s typical garage rock tumult for searing introspection, “So Desperate” churns with vocalist and guitarist gray Bouchard’s palpable unease.
Neemz, “don’t forget to Dream.” Boston-based rapper Neemz levitates above ethereal synths in her new single, an exercise in recentering herself after clearing life’s various hurdles. The Palestinian artist’s inviting but mandatory pause from hustle culture affirms the value of developing a clear vision for the future, advising that “What you’re seeing can switch up your life/ If you only just put in the time.”
shannon & The clams, “The Moon Is in the Wrong Place.” “Let’s live this life to pieces!” declares vocalist and bassist Shannon Shaw on “Bean Fields,” a joyous swing standout from the Oakland quartet’s seventh studio album. Shannon & The Clams align an eclipse of surf, garage, and dusky doo-wop on the follow-up to 2021’s “Year of the Spider,” continuing their distinctly modern approach to layering vintage tones.
BoNus TRAck
After four silent years and some major renovations, Northampton venue the Iron Horse will reopen this week under new ownership. A performance from Rachael & Vilray and Taylor Ashton on Wednesday marks the big reveal under the stewardship of Western Mass. nonprofit the Parlor Room Collective. Founded in 1979, the Iron Horse shuttered in March 2020 and became part of the Parlor Room Collective last fall.