The Chelsea Curve – Never Come Down
The stretch of roadway just north of Boston that lends The Chelsea Curve its instantly recognizable band name is filled with sudden twists and turns. So it makes sense then that the mod-pop trio are bound to shake up their sound, if only ever so slightly, and provide a sonic zig to a usually familiar zag.
That aural detour shines through on the band’s new single “Never Come Down,” an anthemic belter that recalls late-’60s psychedelia and mid-’90s Britpop, set for release on Friday, August 29 on Rum Bar Records. The new single marks the tireless band’s fourth release on the Boston indie label in just four months.
And “Never Come Down” arrives during a fast and flashy stretch for The Chelsea Curve, following sparkplug July single “Kindawanna,” a reloaded Rum Bar re-issue of debut album All The Things (And More).
In the meantime, it makes perfect sense that the band would head out to the subculture motherland armed with a new banger that’s not just indebted to various eras of UK style and sound, but that also recalls that free spirit and wanderlust that makes such a trip possible.
While “Never Come Down” is a creative shift for the trio, bringing guitarist Tim Gillis to lead vocal duties, the forward-motion mantra and relentless backbeat that has made The Chelsea Curve, rounded out by bassist and vocalist Linda Pardee and new recruit drummer Bruce Caporal, one of Boston’s most beloved bands is well intact.
“It’s about the ultimate feeling of being free,” says Gillis of the new single. “I mean, who doesn’t want to feel free, unfettered, unbound? It’s about being up above it all, opening arms wide to possibilities, and expanding infinitely into forever – going where distractions are a distant memory. It’s pretty cosmic, and a little trippy. But it’s still got our sound wrapped around it; filled with some hooks, and always with some edge.”
The hooks blast out from the speakers with a British Invasion infectiousness, and the edge would not seem out of place at an NME party at the height of Cool Britannia (“I was in a bit of an Oasis mood for this one,” admits Gillis with a laugh). The Chelsea Curve’s aural cocktail has always juxtaposed a snarl and a smooch, and “Never Come Down” exemplifies that in spades.
“It is a little bit of a veer-off for us,” admits Gillis. “We wanted it to have a big sound, and we layered a LOT of vocal tracks to get that. And there’s a more extensive guitar solo than in most of our songs. And a little more 12-string. So subtle differences here and there.” Adds Pardee: “Tim’s vocals are our secret weapon as our live audience knows, but now with a proper release others will find out too!”
The track was recorded by Mike Quinn at Mad Oak Studios in Allston, Massachusetts, and mixed across the Charles River by Quinn at Bluetone Studio in Somerville. It was produced by The Chelsea Curve and mastered by Dave Locke / JP Masters, with Pardee crafting the eye-catching, poster-styled artwork.
“‘Never Come Down’ shows that we can expand our mod-punk sound to be flavored by other genres while still sounding like The Chelsea Curve… just a wee bit groooooovier,” says Pardee. “We are also veering into soul, ska, and even electronica, on some upcoming tunes.”
Audiences across England will get a taste of that sauce, and experience some band friendships fully in bloom. The Chelsea Curve have been engaged in “a sort of band-exchange program,” as Pardee wonderfully puts it, trading off hosting mini-tours with hooky trio The Len Price 3 and stylish young mod trio Sharp Class both here in the United States and across the pond.
For the Poco Loco show in Chatham (August 21), the band will be joined by The Len Price 3, heading to their home turf for the second time after previously hosting them here in the States, as well as Burntwick Smugglers and Cream Soda.
For the next two dates, the Curve is linking back up with Sharp Class for the sixth exchange trip (three here, three over there) in three years, playing August 22 at Corcorde 2 in Brighton during the Mod Weekender with The Jam’d and Cian Downing; and then August 23 at Ryde Pavilion on the Isle of Wight at the world’s largest scooter rally.
“I can’t wait to get back to the UK – not just to hang out and play with our pals Sharp Class and The Len Price 3 – but to reconnect with the fans we’ve made, and to make new ones,” exclaims Pardee. “Sharp Class is a fantastic young mod power trio who we have been fast friends with since we met in 2022. They have an insane amount of energy, and they play their hearts out onstage. Their mod-inspired tunes are hooky and melodic — right up my alley. I can hear a lot of The Jam in their style.”
The Len Price 3 earn similar adoration from the band.
“They are another fantastic garage power trio who have hooks to spare,” Pardee adds. “The Len Price 3 also have seemingly unlimited energy onstage, and their tunes will have you singing and dancing along! Guarantee that you’ll leave their show with one of their songs stuck-in-your-head!”
Those bands have been playing to lively English audiences on home turf for a while now, and The Chelsea Curve are eager to get in on the action. When they last played the UK, in May 2024, they split time between a scooter rally in Skegness on the northeast coast and Mods Mayday in London, and scenes at both were absolutely mental. Before that, in 2022, the band hit Liverpool and London – where they met Sharp Class for the first time.
“UK fans are beyond passionate, and aren’t afraid to show it,” Pardee says. “We’ve been very well received there, and the fans make us feel great! One of the best things about heading over to England is playing in the town that launched some of our biggest influences – The Clash, The Jam, Buzzcocks – and being embraced by some of the same fans. Our set’s all short, melodic, hooky stuff, designed to uplift you. Resistance is futile!”
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