YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING TO: Kingston alternative rock band Westpoint
City: Kingston
Genre(s): Alternative rock, punk rock, grunge, rock
Years active: 2013-present
Sounds like: If you ever descended a stranger’s staircase for a basement show wondering what you’re in for that night, this is the kind of loud, raucous rock music you’re hoping to hear. Westpoint strives to be a “to the point” band with a simple and raw delivery, though the mix of punk, hardcore, alternative, and grunge influences suggest there’s more to these songs than meets the ringing ear.
The echoing vocals and screeching guitars add a sense of otherworldliness to their DIY recordings, and these energetic tunes will make you feel like you’re in the same cramped, sweaty room with the band, pushing through the crowd to breathe and taking you back to a time when musicians didn’t hide behind computers and studio polish to make an impact.
For fans of: Title Fight, Tigers Jaw, Samiam, Seaweed, Pixies, Sonic Youth, Hot Water Music, Nirvana, Milk Music, Texas Is the Reason, and Jawbreaker
Number of albums/EPs released: Three (two EPs, a demo in 2014 and “Dive” in 2015, and a self-titled full-length album in 2016)
Latest album/EP: “Westpoint,” set to be released Nov. 18, 2016
Fun fact: The band has a strict DIY attitude and has never released music produced in a studio. Their newest record was recorded in a living room, a storage unit, and a basement.
Upcoming shows:
Nov. 18: The Other Side (119 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre) with Bracewar, Bent Life, Lost Souls, Trail of Lies, and Worn, 7 p.m.
Jan. 5: Knockdown Center (52-19 Flushing Ave., Maspeth, NY) with Title Fight and GIVE, 9 p.m.
Jan. 6: First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St., Philadelphia) with Title Fight and GIVE, 8 p.m.
