By Chris Collins

We may have Boston in our name, but we like to keep the pulse on all of New England. And what gets our blood pumping? All the fantastic freaks living out in Brattleboro and Worcester! This trio of basement dwellers gives us hope that pop lives on, and can be weird, compelling and honest. These fantastical creatures live in an alternate universe where cartoons live and lions sleep in your bed. Check out this smorgasbord: GRAPE ROOM (led by Peter Nichols of Great Valley) swims in a misty maze of pink clouds and prickled melodies; THE LENTILS (led by Luke Czelak of Happy Jawbone) are a sparse stew of bared emotions metamorphized into fierce imaginative creatures. SECRET LOVER does their duty, keeping smiles bright and visions cloudy with their ebullient exuberance and stoner chill. So take a load off and have a dream on us.

GRAPE ROOM (Brattleboro, VT)

THE LENTILS (Brattleboro, VT)

SECRET LOVER (rare duo set) (Worcester, MA)