Fun Fun Fun Fest Previews: Street Dogs and Betaplayer

Street Dogs hail from Boston's Dorchester neigorborhood, and are damn proud of it. The band features original Dropkick Murphys vocalist Mike McColgan (who left the Murphys for several years work as a fireman before returning to music) and features a mixture of punk and folk stylings in their songs, many of which have a definite political bent. While the 2006 album Fading American Dream addressed the Bush administration's failings and working-class problems with hearts firmly on sleeve, the band's latest, 2008's State Of Grace, feels more positive in its tonality. With heroes like Billy Bragg and Joe Strummer, it would be difficult for anyone not to enjoy spending 45 minutes with Street Dogs this weekend - because they really mean what they're doing, and you'll know it.

Street Dogs perform at Fun Fun Fun Fest on Sunday, November 8 at 4:10pm.
Street Dogs: [MySpace] [Official]

Austin's Betaplayer combine serious hip-hop lyrics with live instrumentation. The six-piece group lists influences ranging from Max Roach to Portishead to The Mars Volta on their MySpace page, which should give you the idea that they are not trying to fit in so much as stand out. To us, the music available online is reminiscent of early Michael Franti's Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, the jazzy excursions of The Roots, and Blackalicious - which is a very good thing. There's apparently some heavier, proggy material out there by Betaplayer as well - but we've not heard it yet! Come out early on Saturday and support local hip-hop - Betaplayer should provide a fine start to your FFF experience.

Betaplayer perform at Fun Fun Fun Fest on Saturday, November 7 at 12:20pm.
Betaplayer: [MySpace] [Official]