Vundabar have always been hard to categorize. Their guitar music is both penetrating and oddly out of sync with the surrounding influences, leading many to label them as post-punk, likely due to the experimentation that is central to their creative process.
Their new album 'Surgery and Pleasure' is now available on Loma Vista Recordings, and as singer Brandon Hagen puts it, it represents a "grown-up Vundabar."
In essence, this means working with purpose and finding renewed energy in their songwriting. The music is emotive without being overly sentimental, introspective yet aware of the external world. It's a powerful body of work that will be supported by a rare European tour.
As an essential part of the Boston music scene, Vundabar connects with the city's unique creative communities and its openness to diverging from the conventional.
Writing for CLASH, they highlight the top spots for shopping, dining, drinking, and partying in their hometown.
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Hello, we’re Vundabar, and here’s how we would spend a perfect day in Boston from morning to night. For breakfast, we’d grab coffee at Nine Bar Espresso in Somerville or Barismo in Cambridge. At Barismo, we recommend the hot draft coffee, created using their own unique wild draft coffee system, and at Nine Bar, their espresso drinks. If you’re hungry, Jim’s Diner in Brighton is a great choice for a classic Boston diner breakfast.
After breakfast, we suggest exploring the city’s used goods. For music lovers, Cheap-O Records in Cambridge is a great spot to sift through records. They offer a 3 for $5 deal on vinyl, so you’re likely to uncover something amusing, if not necessarily good. It’s a fun way to stumble upon musical oddities.
For vintage shopping, we’d head to Garment District in Cambridge, which boasts a large selection of used and vintage clothing organized by era at reasonable prices. You could also check out Boomerangs in Central Square, which, while less curated, has some hidden treasures, or Vivant Vintage in Lower Allston, known for its carefully curated collection. If you’re still craving more second-hand clothes, Rasberry Beret has numerous booths from independent sellers, providing a varied yet stylish shopping experience. If shopping has left you questioning life, we recommend visiting Blackbird Books, Cambridge's top used bookstore, to pick up some Sartre.
And if reading about existentialism has left you pondering, perhaps it’s time for a drink. We recommend The Druid, undoubtedly the best Irish pub in the city, known for its excellent Guinness and fish and chips, along with authentic Irish staff who split their time between Boston and Ireland. If you’re in the mood for tequila, Lonestar offers an extensive selection of Anejo, Reposado, and Mezcal, and their chips and small plates are also noteworthy.
If the drinks don't alleviate your existential malaise, dinner might be in order. Habaneros delivers authentic Salvadoran cuisine at a wallet-friendly price, Punjabi Dhaba has outstanding masala chai, and Muqueca offers fantastic Brazilian dishes. For something to take home, check out Central Bakery in East Cambridge for delicious Portuguese muffins.
Now, if food hasn’t satisfied you and you feel a deeper yearning, perhaps what you need is culture—or more alcohol. Fortunately, our nighttime suggestions provide both. For cinema, The Brattle, Somerville Theater, and Coolidge Corner are excellent choices. Each theater has affordable tickets and showcases everything from cult classics and indie films to international features and blockbuster showings. One of our favorite aspects of the city is the vibrant film scene, ensuring you won’t run out of options.
For live music, we recommend the Lily Pad for local acts and DIY touring bands—it's a cozy 120-capacity venue conveniently located next to The Druid. If you want to experience the quintessential Boston punk scene, O’Briens is an essential stop, renowned within the national touring circuit. It's a small, intimate venue that’s steeped in PBR.
Finally, if you're looking for a midsize venue to catch a national or international artist, The Sinclair is an excellent option. It boasts great aesthetics and sound, and many bands love performing there. If we had to tour indefinitely, playing 100 nights in a row at The Sinclair would be a dream. Alternatively, you could wind down at State Park or Irish Village for a nightcap.
And there you have it—Vundabar’s ideal day in Boston, MA. Enjoy and hallelujah!
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'Surgery and Pleasure' is now available.
Catch Vundabar live in the UK:
May
4 Leeds Gold Sounds
5 Manchester The Deaf Institute
6 Birmingham Hare and Hounds
8 London Scala
9 Bristol Strange Brew
10 Brighton DUST
Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez
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Vundabar have consistently been hard to define. Their guitar music is both striking and strangely misaligned with the surrounding influences.