The Chelsea Curve feel the heat and the action with ‘How Can I (Resist You)?’
The Boston mod-pop trio return with a ripper of a new single streaming everywhere on Wednesday, May 10 via Red On Red Records
New single is the first dose of new music and an EP set for fall release
Photo credit: Joshua Pickering Photography
Listen to The Chelsea Curve: Bandcamp x Spotify
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BOSTON, MA [May 10, 2023] -- The Chelsea Curve may lift their band moniker from a zig-zagging stretch of highway just north of their native Boston, but the mod-pop trio’s arc over the past year or so has taken on a rather direct course. From a commanding set at the Boston Calling Music Festival to lively shows across the United Kingdom to holding court at scooter rallies in Las Vegas, The Chelsea Curve have been all over the literal map since the March 2022 release of debut album All The Things. But there’s a straight line of action from then to now, a band distinctly on the rise, and the next dose of inspired rock and roll action arrives Wednesday, May 10, when the band unleashes new single “How Can I (Resist You)?” via Red On Red Records.
This infectious new ripper lands a few days after The Chelsea Curve crashed the finals of the vaunted Rock & Roll Rumble, the “World Series of Boston rock” that’s both a friendly competition within the city’s music scene and a nine-night festival showcase. After battling for the Rumble crown over the weekend, The Chelsea Curve now welcome British mod band Sharp Class for a trio of gigs around New England: May 11 at The Parlour in Providence, R.I.; May 12 at Geno’s in Portland, Maine; and May 13 at The Jungle in Somerville, Mass.
It’s a busy time for the band, but in reality, the stylish, retro-fashioned trio – bassist/vocalist Linda Pardee; guitarist/vocalist Tim Gillis; and drummer Ron Belanger – haven’t eased up since launching the Singles Scene in early 2021, when they reeled off eight singles over eight straight months. This time around, The Chelsea Curve are stretching things out a bit, kickstarting a new chapter with “How Can I (Resist You)?” before releasing new music over the summer and capping it all off with a new EP in the fall, around the time they’ll support The Len Price 3’s American invasion. So while sitting still isn’t exactly the band’s style, this new single will marinate for a bit while they fill the live calendar. And that’s in line with the tune’s lyrical theme.
“‘How Can I (Resist You)?’ is a song of longing and desire, of pining from afar, of an obsessive love… but exactly who, or should I say what, is the mystery,” says Pardee. “I had a melody line in mind that reminded me a bit of The Lemonheads and Elvis Costello. The melodies for the verses and chorus have a decidedly ‘80s bent to them. We went through a few arrangement ideas as a band to get it just right. Lyrically and vocally, I’m singing about yearning/loving from afar and as the song goes on you can hear the narrator getting more and more obsessed.”
While “How Can I (Resist You)?” shares some sonic DNA with the tracks from All The Things, it also shows off The Chelsea Curve’s musical versatility. It could easily slot in with the garage rock scene, or the power-pop crew, or the Britpop revivalists. It’s melodic and inviting, but with just enough punk snarl to keep things snappy. And it's got soul. “We think it continues our direction of not being tied down to a particular genre,” says Gillis. “It fits really well with the next wave of material, and with All The Things too.”
Belanger agrees, adding: “Our material comes from a lifetime of listening to all genres of rock, from the ‘50s to modern day indie rock. So I guess it's inclusive of some of the newer stuff we like, but our formula is rooted in simple, catchy, punch-you-in-the-nose style of rock. I think this new single fits that bill to a T.”
With a strong, cult-like following around Boston and a growing global fanbase, spurred by international blog love and indie radio airplay, “How Can I (Resist You)?” is positioned to take the band to the next level. And they’re ready for the challenge, eager to take on crowds of all sizes and get them moving. Because hey, let’s face it, if a band can make a Boston audience move and loosen up those traditionally stiff shoulders, they’ve got something goin’ on.
“We've had the chance to play everything from porchfests to major festivals, so that wide experience has given us real confidence that we can kill it each night we take stage,” Belanger says. “We know what we have to do each night, whether we're playing to 30 people or 300 or more. 2023 is the year we really hit the gas on The Chelsea Curve.”
And along the way, they’ll have fun doing it. It can be heard in the music, upbeat sounds for downtrodden times, and seen on the smiles flashed by the band while they’re rocking out on stage. They’re no ego here, no pretense, no attitude – just inclusion, friendship, and good times had by all. Everyone is welcome in The Chelsea Curve’s clubhouse. And after the past few years, we can all use that kind of invitation.
“We have fun – it’s our top priority!” exclaims Gillis. “When we’re having fun, things just work – from the music to the live show. And we think people can hear and see that.”
With The Chelsea Curve, it’s all very hard to miss.
Please direct all press inquiries to Michael Marotta at michael@knyvet.com,
and reach The Chelsea Curve at thechelseacurve@gmail.com.
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The Chelsea Curve are:
Linda Pardee: Bass and vocals
Tim Gillis: Guitar and vocals
Ron Belanger: Drums
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‘How Can I (Resist You)?’ single artwork:
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‘How Can I (Resist You)’ single credits:
Music by The Chelsea Curve
Lyrics by Linda Pardee
Recorded at Mad Oak Studios, Allston, MA
Mixed at Bluetone Studio, Somerville, MA
Recorded and mixed by Mike Quinn
Produced by The Chelsea Curve
Mastered by Dave Locke / JP Masters
Cover design by Linda Pardee
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The Chelsea Curve bio:
The Chelsea Curve want to make you move. But how you do it is up to you.
Inspired by Boston and British culture, the mod-pop trio switched on in 2019 with a singular mission to create infectious, punchy, sing-along rock and roll. Armed with an arsenal of catchy tunes appealing to both the clubs and the pubs, and properly bonded over a love of ‘70s punk and the mod style of sound, The Chelsea Curve are composed of Linda Pardee (bass and vocals) and Tim Gillis (guitar and vocals), with Ron Belanger (drums) holding down the steady backbeat.
An immediate fixture on Boston’s live music circuit, the fledgling Chelsea Curve joined the Whistlestop tour at the start of 2020. But as the pandemic shook up the music landscape, the trio shifted gears from the stage to the screen, linking up with New England-based independent label Red On Red Records to outline a grand plan of releasing colorful new music while the clubs remained dark. With a full album’s worth of material at the ready, Pardee, Gillis, and Belanger launched The Singles Scene in 2021, an eight-month rollout of one new song every four weeks, earning a steady presence on both social media and in-the-know radio stations and shows around the world.
The Chelsea Curve kickstarted The Singles Scene with the rambunctious “Girl Cavedog,” staying the course with new music through the year before wrapping the series with the melodic thump of pub-rocking rave-up “Top it Up.” As the world slowly re-opened, The Chelsea Curve returned to stages as varied and diverse as their own driveway (Melrose Porchfest), local breweries (Red on Red’s summer showcase at Craft Food Halls) and the much-missed rock clubs like The Jungle in Somerville, where they warmed up the winter and welcomed 2022 with a two-night residency.
The success of Singles Scene, and its new approach to releasing music in the digital age, led directly into The Chelsea Curve’s March 2022 debut record, which earned widespread blog and media praise and global indie radio airplay. From there, the stages grew larger, as did the crowds: The band played Boston Calling Music Festival, skipped across the Atlantic for a UK tour, and held court at a scooter rally in Las Vegas. Now new music is planned for 2023, starting with spring single “How Can I (Resist You)?”, and more music to follow in the summer and fall.
It’s clear that everyone who listens to The Chelsea Curve connects the band’s influence to their own personal favorites of yesterday. But with a debut album racking up streams and a growing homegrown fanbase amplifying their presence louder and louder at each show, The Chelsea Curve are quickly forging their own rock and roll path connecting the past to the present.
And in their world, there is no standing still.
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The music of The Chelsea Curve has been heard on:
USA: Bill Kelly’s Blackhole Bandstand on SiriusXM, Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood, The Rodent Hour on Radio Free Brooklyn, WZBC’s Fuzzed Out, Bay State Rock, BumbleBee Radio, Rising with Skybar and Strike The Box on WMFO Tufts Radio, Music Authority, FONR, Hanks Alternative Radio, WITR, KZUU, Chasing The Essential, iROCK Radio, Krux FM, Garagerocktopia, Aggie Radio, New Visions Radio Network, Woody Radio, Lucky Star, DM Pulse, WORT, WMPG, KTAL, Rock And Roll Radio, Power Pop Shop Chicago, Red Red Wine on a Sunday.
United Kingdom: Somer Valley, Radio Skye, EN5, Howfen Radio, UK Independent, CDNX, Camglen Radio, IPO Radio, Pop Radio UK, Radio Wey, Belter Radio, Radio VGR, Oban (Scotland), KOR Radio, Merseyland, KCC Live, Limehead Radio, Military Veterans Network, Perfumed Allotment, IC Radio, Redwall, LSR Leeds, Future Radio, EDA Scotland, Dandelion, Cambridge, Castledown, Radio Warfare, Steve Garnett’s New Music Radio, The Menace’s House of Music.
Around The World: Banks Radio Australia, Base FM (New Zealand), Lux Radio (Brazil), Radio Sotra (Norway), Radio Jade (Germany), Flatlines Radio (Germany), Valley 89.5 FM (Australia), Dublin City FM (Dublin), Narradio 95.3 (Sweden), QCIndie (Canada), Mike Rogers Show (Japan), FM4 (Germany), Radio Pepito (Mexico), Island 92 (Phillipsburg, Saint Maarten), Radio Ara (Lux), Only Rock Radio (Spain), Queens of Noize (Australia), Voix de Garage (France), Plastico Elastico (Spain), Shakin’ Street (Dublin), Fun Rock Radio (Norway).
And other fine stations, shows, playlists, and programs.
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Media praise for The Chelsea Curve:
“[The Chelsea Curve] are creating a retro, power pop sound (and look) that harkens back to Boston's clubs and pubs of yore.” _WBUR
“It’s hard to place the record or the band in a specific era. The trio (Linda Pardee, Tim Gillis, and Ron Belanger) take the best parts of power-pop, punk, mod, rock-’n’-soul and everything in between to create something that sounds fresh yet familiar and fully conceived. Kinda like The Muffs took on Elvis Costello as an additional member. With All The Things, The Chelsea Curve are here to make rock-‘n’-roll hearts beat faster. _Add To Want List
“...the Boston-based band's album is an absolute blast, an incredibly catchy explosion of vibrant, high-spirited rock ‘n’ roll that’s a little bit bubble gum, and a little bit whiskey. It’s unrelentingly upbeat at points, but there’s still a bite.” _Worcester Magazine
“On last year's All the Things, they play a slick as hell version of garage rock borrowing heavily from pop and maybe dipping their toes a bit in oldies rock. Friday night they were much louder than I expected and far more punk sounding. They had much more of a Ramones sound than The Archies. Plus, The Chelsea Curve just emanated cool. Some bands just have that captivating factor as soon as they walk on stage, and The Chelsea Curve are stars just waiting to happen.” _If It’s Too Loud
Waving the mod flag high and proud is the Chelsea Curve … I really like how [‘Nuthin’ Goin’ On’] blends punk and ska together while being an anthem for those who are looking to make something happen.” _DigBoston’s Best of 2022
"Are the gal and guys of the Chelsea Curve really releasing a new single every month? Man, I hate overachievers, mainly because I'm jealous of, y'know, ambition. I forgive 'em quickly because each of these singles has been pretty damned swell, which is why we play them all on the radio.” _Boppin’ Like The Hip Folks Do (Carl Cafarelli)
“The Boston trio just released ‘A Better Way,’ and it's virtually perfect… a jangly as hell pop punk/garage rock jam. It's a bouncy song dripping with punk attitude despite being filled with pop hooks.” _If It’s Too Loud
"'Drag' is something special. When that chorus hits, it's absolute magic... If catchy mod-pop with tons of smarts, big hooks, and amazing vocals sounds appealing to you, all of these Chelsea Curve singles are essential downloads." _Faster and Louder
“Keep doubling up on all the good stuff! Thatʼs the kind of good advice we need and we get from The Chelsea Curve on new single ʻTop It Up.ʼ Pub rock, power pop, pop punk, old school punk rock (yes, yes, yes and yes)” _The Boston Herald
"The song [‘Inconceivable’] is a dazzling, mesmerizing track ... and they really have a sound that pays homage to the past, while also embracing the musical possibilities of the future." _Music Box Pete
“[The Chelsea Curve] excel both in the more classic melodic punk style ...and in their more quirky material, like the ditty they wrote explaining how to decode the weather beacon atop the old John Hancock building in Boston.” _Rock And Reel
“‘A Better Way’ is a jangly, Jam-like affair. Like the others it sounds like maybe it was a hit before and you just can't recognize it. Singer Linda Bean Pardee has another stellar vocal performance. There's a little Chrissie Hynde in it. The way the song is written allows her to wrap the words around the melody and give them a twist that your ear just loves.” _Boston Groupie News