Drug Rug is a Boston psych-folk band lead by Tommy Allen and Sarah Cronin. The couple’s carefree strumming, lighthearted plucking, and bare-bones beats shine a light on their 1960's folk and country influences. Those simple tunes drift in a warm fuzz of keyboards, tambourines, shakers, and reverb, which marries the music with the creak and crinkle of Tommy's mellow croon and Sarah's high-strung cords. Drug Rug sounds like a sunny AM radio folk revival but their lyrics are dark and sung with a modern blasé for love and youth. While these two may be as dirty as hippies – a drug rug is slang for a baja poncho – they are not as optimistic, which is why I like them. They they will be releasing their forthcoming s/t record on Black and Greene and Jeremy Black, drummer from Apollo Sunshine, even played on a few tracks.

Drug Rug is playing next Friday with the noisy upbeat rockers Los Campesinos! at the Mercury Lounge (tix). This rising band from Cardiff, Whales also has a random name that roughly translates from Spanish to mean “The Farmers!” or “The Peasants!.” While I doubt anyone will be wearing a baja or speaking Spanish at the show, these two bands are still worth checking out.

DOWNLOAD:
Drug Rug – Day I Die (MP3)
Drug Rug – Tiny People (MP3)
Los Campesinos! – Don't Tell Me to Do the Math (MP3)
Los Campesinos! – We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives (MP3)