Sometimes it’s not the destination but the journey that matters. And, as a bright 2011 for Parlour Bells winds to a close, that was certainly case when it came to the band’s campaign to perform at the abandoned Faces nightclub on Route 2 in Cambridge, MA. The Boston Phoenix expressed immediate interest in the grassroots effort to perform at the site where the Heart Beatings artwork was photographed, and followed the story until the end. While the site developers were initially receptive to the campaign, the small scale of the event did not accomodate the band’s performance goals and they dropped their bid to play.

But as the year ends, the efforts did not go unrecognized, and in The Boston Phoenix’s ”Year in Boston Rock” feature Parlour Bells earned a hat tip for giving the campaign their best shot.

The Faces building has since been demolished, but Derek Kouyoumjian’s Heart Beatings images live on as some of the last artistic photographs of the site.

On December 15, 2011 The Boston Phoenix hit newsstands with a very special gift to its readers: a QR code download link to an 8 song holiday music sampler from some of Boston’s hottest acts. Shakedown: The Phoenix Holiday EP, curated by Phoenix Music Editor and host of 101.7 WFNX’s Boston Accents Michael Marotta, the collection includes the premiere of “O Holiday,” the newest single from Parlour Bells. Of the track, Michael Marotta says “…the noir-pop smarts of Parlour Bells dress Bowie in red and green garland and sparkle like the Corner Tavern on Christmas night. Vocalist Glenn di Benedetto, wearing mistletoe as a halo, positions himself as a fine holiday crooner, a glam Michael Buble for the guyliner-and-flask set.”

Parlour Bells are part of this collection that also includes artists Moon Crew Featuring Ra3x, Eldridge Rodriguez, Streight Angular, Halston, Quichenight, Happy Jawbone Family Band and The Hush Now.

On Thursday, October 27th the legendary guitarist of Jane’s Addiction, Dave Navarro tweeted “Great @parlourbells cover of Jane’s Addiction’s Classic Girl!” He was referring to the stripped-down acoustic cover that Glenn and Nate had recorded in preparation for their one night transformation into Jane’s Addiction for a Halloween cover show at Radio in Union Square, Somerville MA. Glenn di Benedetto and Nate Leavitt cut their teeth on Jane’s Addiction back in high school, so becoming Perry and Dave for one evening had been a long time in the making. And reading Navarro’s tweet just one day before the show made doing the tribute even sweeter. How Navarro actually stumbled upo the track is still a mystery, but Parlour Bells were honored to get this nod of support from one of their earliest influences. You can find  Parlour Bells’ cover of “Classic Girl” here on their Bandcamp page, the link to which Navarro included in his tweet.

Here’s footage from the Halloween performance, where they played “Classic Girl” live:

When the Boston Globe recently reported that developers were planning to throw a predemolition party for the long defunct and dilapidated Faces nightclub, Parlour Bells naturally felt compelled to ask for one last dance with the fallen discotheque. After all, it was in the back lot of Faces where Glenn di Benedetto and Nate Leavitt found the perfect setting for Derek Kouyoumjian’s crime scene photography that would become the signature artwork for their debut release Heart Beatings. The band has created a Facebook page to gather support and petition the developers that they perform at the event, and even the Boston Phoenix has thrown their support behind the band’s effort to bid adieu to what has become both an eyesore but also a gritty, even romanticized icon of the Bay State’s landscape.

In its debut week, “Speak Up,” the new single from Parlour Bells was voted number one in the 7/31/11 local song poll on Boston Emissions on 100.7 WZLX. Thanks to all who voted! And, according to show host Anngelle Wood, the Top 5 made history of sorts as it featured singer Glenn di Benedetto twice in the same poll. His duet with Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, a cover of the Eurythmics classic “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” also made the Top 5, landing at number four. Help keep both of these tracks in the Top 5, by voting here on the Boston Emissions webpage!

Listen to “Speak Up”

Speak Up by ParlourBells

“Speak Up,” the new single from Parlour Bells is now available for download from our Bandcamp page! The track also debuted on Boston Emissions on 100.7 WZLX and has been included in the 7/24/2011 local song poll. Click here to VOTE and keep “Speak Up” in the Top 5!

To promote their upcoming 7/22/11 show at Lizard Lounge in Cambridge MA, Glenn joined Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola of Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling for a dusky cover of the 1983 Eurythmics classic “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” Initially, it was just planned as a “top secret duet.” Glenn works on a multitude of projects with Epstein and Cacciola, including producing the second video from their The New Number 2 debut, a cover of “First We Take Manhattan,” which will also be premiered at the Lizard Lounge show. With this, and the locally produced Special Friends sitcom in development, it was only a matter of time before they teamed up musically. In fact, the duet worked out so well, they decided to record it in time for the show. Check out Michael Marotta’s take on their collaboration in the Boston Phoenix.

UPDATE! On 7/25/2011, Adam 12 of 101.7 WFNX featured the song in the “Undercover” segment of his afternoon program!

Stream it here!

Bands, DJs, Knobtweakers! We’re excited to kickoff a collaborative music experiment called The Heavy Dream REMIX Project. We want you to remix and put your own creative spin on the track “Heavy Dream” from our debut EP Heart Beatings. It’s not a contest! It’s just a way for bands and artists to cross-pollinate their styles with ours. Interested parties should drop us a line at ParlourBells@gmail.com.

THE FIRST TWO REMIXES ARE UP! Download the “Heavy Dream Remix Project” where you can also get a free copy of the original EP version from Heart Beatings.

VIDEO! We also produced this short video for the first remix.

On March 30, 2011, Parlour Bells opened for Dangerbird Records recording artist THE DEARS of Montreal at Brighton Music Hall. The Dears have been getting a lot of airplay lately for their new single “Blood” on 101.7 WFNX. Also on this exciting lineup was Garvy J, of the highly popular and adored Boston act The Elevator Drops. Check out video of Parlour Bells performing “Speak Up,” which also includes highlights of The Dears from their set.

Parlour Bells are excited to announce that they will be opening for Dangerbird Records recording artist The Dears at Brighton Music Hall on Wednesday, March 30, 2011. Doors open at 8PM. 18+

Tickets are available here at Ticketmaster.