Medford, MA
2/14/26
I like Deep Cuts because they serve great food and beer and are one of the biggest supporters of local music around. Apparently, a lot of other folks like them too, as Deep Cuts recently won a Boston Music Award for being the “Best Music Venue” for venues under 250 person capacity. Tonight, Diablogato is on stage as I walk in, and it makes me immediately regret not getting to the show earlier. They are part rockabilly, part twang and part punk and 100% on fire. The show features an upright bass and two guitarists, each playing hollow body guitars and their drummer is none other than the legendary Jesse Mayer, one of my favorite all-time drummers in Boston. This is a band worth seeking out.
Up next is the punk band, Spiller. Punk is like one of the favorite cousins to Americana, and there will often be a lot of crossover between musicians from either genre. Spiller dedicates their first song, an energetic banger of a song called “Sparkler” to Justine from Red on Red Records who recently passed away. It’s heartfelt, and as it also happens to be Valentine’s Day, sentiments are high. Later in the set, Spiller plays a song for the singer’s wife and the band jokes about how the singer forgot to put his own wife on the guest list. Spiller’s singer/guitarist is sporting a Red Sox hat and Sunoco sticker on his guitar, The bassist and lead guitarist (who I think may have also played in the band Upper Crust) also wear baseball hats. The drummer is the only one without a baseball hat, otherwise, I jokingly think to myself, this band could double as a softball team. Before I start to wonder how many weeks til opening day at Fenway, the band launches into a non-yodeling version of “Hocus Pocus” by 70’s Dutch prog band, Focus. They also bust out some Guided by Voices. I like this band. They are a lot of fun and the room is filled with laughs and good cheer. What a good night for music. (Kier Byrnes)