The Chelsea Curve raise free spirits high with the anthemic ‘Never Come Down’
The Boston trio shake up the sonics with an energetic and psychedelic summer belter out Friday, August 29 via Rum Bar Records
The Chelsea Curve head to England for live gigs at the Mod Weekender and the world’s largest scooter rally with best mates Sharp Class and The Len Price 3
BOSTON, MA [August 29, 2025] -- 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), and just after a quick jaunt across the Atlantic for a trio of shows around England with mod brethren The Len Price 3 and Sharp Class (August 21 in Chatham; August 22 in Brighton; and August 23 on the Isle of Wight).
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!”
A new single, live shows across England, and more new music on the way is keeping the band laser-focused on the road ahead. When The Chelsea Curve sing about never coming down, we can certainly understand why – even as their sound keeps eager listeners on their (tapping) toes.
‘Never Come Down’ artwork:
The Chelsea Curve are:
Tim Gillis: Guitars, vocals
Linda Pardee: Bass, vocals
Bruce Caporal: Drums, tambourine
‘Never Come Down’ production credits:
Music by The Chelsea Curve
Lyrics by Tim Gillis
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
**
August 2025 live dates in England:
The Chelsea Curve 2025 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 2020 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 and sound, The Chelsea Curve are Linda Pardee (bass/vocals), Tim Gillis (guitar/vocals), and Bruce Caporal (drums/vocals). A series of eight monthly singles in 2021, aptly titled The Singles Scene, led to the band’s 2022 debut album All The Things (Red on Red Records), which earned global press and radio airplay, including regular spins on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage.
From there, the stages grew larger, as did the crowds: Playing Boston Calling Music Festival, skipping across the Atlantic for a UK tour, holding court at scooter rallies from Boston to Las Vegas. 2024 saw The Chelsea Curve play the 45th anniversary Mods Mayday show in London around a tour of England, as well as performing stateside with the UK's Sharp Class and Norway's The Cocktail Slippers.
The Chelsea Curve kicked off 2025 with a hit and run US West Coast tour (again with Sharp Class) and then jumped right into the studio to begin recording tracks for their new record. Freshly outfitted by 66 Clothing and Mod Shoes, the band is now looking and sounding sharper than ever! With a new record on the horizon, and partnered with Rum Bar Records, 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.
Media praise for The Chelsea Curve:
“Mod Pop mainstays of the Boston scene…” _Rock And Roll Fables
“...one big ball of energy!” _Faster And Louder
“[T]his band’s blend of rock, mod and soul has rarely sounded better.” _Real Gone
Let’s see. What should a vintage summer hit sound like? Zippy, fuzzing and buzzing, full-blooded, powered by resounding guitars, a thunderous beat, vehement vocals, and a killer chorus. Enter KINDAWANNA, a perfect example. Did I hear The Who’s Roger Daltrey say: The Chelsea Curve are alright? Definitely, maybe. KINDALIKETHISALOT.” _Turn Up The Volume
“It doesn’t get much cooler than this.” _Add To Want List
“In a city heavy with garage rock bands, Boston’s The Chelsea Curve have quickly become one of our favorites. The trio’s latest single, ‘Kindawanna’, is a mod-pop song that updates the garage rock and mod rock of the 1960's for today…. It’s a fun and summery track with the style of keyboards reminiscent of classic artists like ? & The Mysterians.”_If It’s Too Loud
“The Chelsea Curve is on fire, leaning into the rock and moving with the roll just as it is meant to be.” _WoNoBlog
“[The Chelsea Curve] are creating a retro, power pop sound (and look) that harkens back to Boston's clubs and pubs of yore.” _WBUR, Boston’s NPR
“...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
“The Chelsea Curve strike at full force with a sound that is sonic perfection paired with an intoxicating melody that is pure rock and roll, you can hear it loud and clear in this song that the Chelsea Curve are having the time of their lives.” _The Whole Kameese
"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)
“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
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