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Rumble Preview Night 1: The Digs, Gold Blood & the Associates, Weakened Friends, Big Time Kill

Welcome to the first in a series of posts previewing the 2016 Rock And Roll Rumble, our city's annual throw down that doubles as a monthlong local music festival unlike any other. This year's Rumble goes down April 3 to April 22 at ONCE Ballroom and Lounge in Somerville, is organized and presented by Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood, with the Verb Hotel and Vanyaland on board as official sponsors. For our full Rumble coverage, click here; for tickets and venue information, click here.

What You Need To Know:

Rock And Roll Rumble Preliminary Night 1
Sunday, April 3 at ONCE Ballroom, 156 Highland Ave. in Somerville MA
With The Digs, Gold Blood & the Associates, Weakened Friends, Big Time Kill
Doors at 8 p.m., 21 to drink, $10 in advance and $15 at the door
Advance tickets, Facebook event page

How The Night Stacks Up:

If this year's Rock And Roll Rumble has a so-called Group of Death (a term borrowed from soccer's World Cup, where four strong countries are assigned together with only two able to advance), it's likely Night 1. We're not in the business of predictions (at least not this year), but we will say that any of the four bands on this night can easily advance -- The Digs could set a tone and breakneck pace early with their sweaty, punk-fueled garage rock; the rock and soul dynamo known as Gold Blood And The Associates could be a dark horse to win the entire thing, following a recent Rumble tradition of older, more seasoned bands showing the new-jacks how it's done; Weakened Friends come armed with some of the catchiest and punchiest guitar-rock songs in New England; and the glitchy, industrial-pop fury of Big Time Kill is designed to electrify and awe. All told, Night 1 is a varied evening of very distinct sounds. Get to know each of the four bands playing the Rumble's opening slate below; use the slider to scan back and forth through each participant.

Get To Know The Bands:

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GoldBlood1

9:45 p.m.: Gold Blood & The Associates

HOMETOWN: Boston, Massachusetts

SONG YOU NEED TO HEAR: “Devil’s Sugar”, off last June’s Vol. 1 EP.

BIO: Gold Blood & Associates are a soul band that rocks, a rock band with soul. Intense and powerful, Gold Blood and Associates seamlessly blend the best parts of soul, rockabilly, psychedelic, and punk into a stage full of energy, and a room full of impassioned sound that has to be experienced. They aim to please. With an evolving cast of “associates” bringing in the sounds of horns, the five core members of the band write music drawing influence from Mike Patton to The Cramps to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds to Medeski Martin and Wood to James Brown. Jed Gottlieb of the Boston Herald wrote, “This 8-piece chases Stax soul with such frantic pace, and they do it in combat boots.”

VIDEO YOU NEED TO WATCH: “Get Out,” live at the Magic Room in Brighton

WHY THEY CAN WIN: Like champions Eddie Japan in 2013 and John Powhida International Airport two years prior, veterans bands tend to do well over the Rumble’s three grueling nights. The seasoned presence of Gold Blood & The Associates, who know how to work a stage, will be a rock and soul force to be reckoned with. Their varied sound, versatile approach and tireless stage show will no doubt help them playing a second and third time around in the semis and finals — if they advance that far.

TWITTER: @GoldBloodAssoc

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