by Zach Zollo (@zach_zollo)
The Great Scott, located in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, was a legendary venue among the national, independent music community. Famed trend-setters and sound-crafters of the DIY underground could be found earning their licks here. Ovlov was such a group to leave an impact, a band with a slow-tempo, distorted and tenderly-sung slice of indie rock. Similar to LVL UP and Cloakroom, they were loud and rapturous, sprawling but composed, and a cult-favorite among modern punks. Being that all good things come to an end, the Great Scott’s Allston location has closed its doors, due to the toll of the pandemic and gentrification gone super-saiyan.
When one chapter ends, a new one begins. For one, the venue is relocating to and becoming a part of the Regina Pizzeria off of I-90 exit 131; and two, Boston band Pet Fox, composed of Theo Hartlett and Morgan Luzzi of Ovlov and Jesse Weiss (formerly of Palehound), continue to expand on their respective styles. More Than Anything, the trio’s latest three track EP, is in line with their previous releases, but this time around, they keep the songs shorter, sweeter, and embedded with a tried-and-true, upbeat indie energy. Theo Hartlett’s vocals and songwriting may be what’s most remarkable here, as there’s a noted, natural progression in his approach that wonderfully entices.
“Imagine Why” opens the EP stellarly, with a chiming guitar, tight groove and clean production. Harlett’s melody is grounded in contrast to the playful guitar lead, but ascends to accent his lyrics at the appropriate time. Eventually, the song bursts into a distorted chorus, with an impassioned hook and uproarious spirit. “Take Note” could be the best song here, due to its range of influences. There’s traces of early Afghan Whigs twang, Frusciante chords and melody, even the gentle aura of Minus The Bear. The lyrics “Until your dream unfolds/Set aside what you’d like to learn” first offer cautionary advice, eventually flipping into “made of your weary thoughts/You take what you can from them,” a simple yet profound truth.
“Limited Me” closes out the runtime on a high note, the song with the best compositional balance here. The structure, riffs and solos are in that now classic indie rock vein, emanating warm-weather comfort to offset the literary slashing of “Just let me forget how you disregard/My efforts instead of this desperate fall.” Having lived through a culture of quarantine for over a year, this song hearkens back to what feels like a bygone era of five band bills rippin’ through fifteen minute sets in a humid garage mid-August.
More Than Anything feels both expected and promising. It continues to tread in the same waters of the members’ other projects - which is a great thing - but makes steps towards a more mature, astutely crafted and accessible sound. While refined, it’s not too simple or even stale. It’s Pet Fox, a new Boston band here to continue to grow as musicians in their beloved style. Hopefully, as we continue to see some semblance of light at the end of the tunnel, the band will continue to add to the legacy of the Great Scott, rising like a phoenix for its next phase of life.