We Know What We Did Last Summer (And Now You Will Too)

“Slasher Movie Weather” Music Video Co-Directors Goddamn Glenn and Honey Pie.

Boston, MA
August 16, 2024

Ok, so they really mean THIS summer. The one slipping through our fingers right now. The summer of 2024. But this concerns all summers. Whether it be 2024 or 1984. Because summer is for killers…most specifically those creepers donning hockey masks: Summer Slashers. On Friday August 16th Parlour Bells release the second single “Slasher Movie Weather” from their new EP To Be Or Not To Behave and it arrives packaged with a short horror film / music video written and directed by singer Goddamn Glenn and his wife and creative partner, burlesque performer Honey Pie.

Both the song and video are a nostalgic homage to the 1980s slasher movie aesthetic.

“One of my guilty pleasures on a sweltering summer night is sitting in my office with the AC cranked and watching some of the lousiest, cheesiest slasher movies from the 80s,” says Glenn of his inspiration for the song and video.

When asked about how women are presented in many of the slasher films of the 80s, Honey Pie says, “Growing up on those movies made me who I am today, where I want to be scantily clad and I want to see other women scantily clad. I always wanted to be the girl in the 80s music video and in the horror movies, and now I get to be both.”

And since no summer slasher movie is complete without a group of skimpily-clad campers, Honey Pie suggested that they gather some of her good friends and dance troupe members to take on these roles.

Honey Pie in “Slasher Movie Weather” (2024). Makeup by Tracey Vaughan.

“Working with them was as seamless and ideal as I imagined,” says Honey Pie of her fellow dancers. “Most of these women I have been dancing with for over a decade and we are all comfortable in each other’s presence in both a professional and friendly setting. I am familiar with how each of them moves, uses their face and personality on stage. Over the years, Glenn and I have watched horror movies together and would always imagine our friends as some of these characters. It was the most fun we had all summer!”

Of the dancers, Glenn adds, “You get so much more than performances from them. They are like this creative brain trust constantly thinking on their feet and so quick to provide a creative solution. They know so much about set and prop design, makeup, movement. I’m so lucky to have such fun and talented people in my life. This video would be nothing without them.”

Performing in the video alongside Honey Pie are dancers Maggie Maraschino, Tracey “Muthafuckin” Vaughan, Abby Normal and Pearl Buttons. Maraschino and Vaughan were also responsible for all of the special effects, gory prosthetics and makeup. Also featured in the video is local drummer Mark Goveia playing the hitchhiker. Goddamn Glenn also delivers his vocal performance bloodied and face down in the dirt.

Behind the scenes of “Slasher Movie Weather.”

Tracey MF Vaughan also brought something else to the table–or in this case to the street: her red 1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet convertible, which gets a fair amount of screen time as the campers head off to their doomed weekend in the woods!

Clockwise from bottom left: Honey Pie, Maggie Maraschino, Abby Normal, Pearl Buttons and Tracey “Muthafuckin” Vaughan.

On working creatively with Glenn, Honey Pie says, “With my background in dance and choreography it was very natural for me to take the reins of directing and say what I wanted to see. There’s never any conflict or need to control the project. We just let each other roll with it. We had a lot of fun with it, but we have fun every day!”

“We first met when I cast her in ‘Bachelor Hours’ back in 2013, the first music video Parlour Bells ever released,” Glenn says of Honey Pie. “Since then, we got married and always provide each other creative feedback on our respective projects. Her opinion means everything to me. So it feels so perfect to present this new video as a team effort under both our names. She always says that, together, we’re unstoppable. When we co-create things like this, I know she’s right about that.”

Honey Pie in the “Bachelor Hours” music video (2013).

Filming for “Slasher Movie Weather” began in early June of 2024 and wrapped on August 3rd.

The track “Slasher Movie Weather” was recorded at both Q Division Studios and Rare Signals and was mixed and mastered by Brian Charles of Rare Signals. The band Parlour Bells is composed of Goddamn Glenn (vocals), Allison Sigrist (keys), Mike Leggio (bass), Tony Porter (drums) and Michael J Johnson (guitar).
The full EP from Parlour Bells, To Be Or Not To Behave, will be released in late September. The first single “Knight Owl” was released on July 4th.

Promotional artwork for “Slasher Movie Weather.”
Parlour Bells. Clockwise from top: Goddamn Glenn, Allison Sigrist, Tony Porter, Michael J Johnson and Mike Leggio

Parlour Bells Ask “To Be Or Not To Behave?” With New EP Due This Summer

BOSTON, MA (July 2, 2024)

If you sense a little saltiness in their new single, “Knight Owl,” your musical taste buds would not be far off track. For over 14 years, Parlour Bells have experienced many of the highs and lows that come with being longtime veterans of a dynamic local music community. From lineup changes to shuttered venues, being in a band brings its share of growing pains. But with age comes deeper wisdom–and what doesn’t kill you makes you even stronger. And that wisdom and experience has culminated in the new EP from Parlour Bells titled To Be Or Not To Behave due later this summer.

The first offering from the new EP is an anthemic arena rocker called “Knight Owl” that takes aim at the scene sycophants and phonies who too often take the fun out of being an artist. But while cynical at times, the song’s protagonist is never defeated. Behind some of the angrier lines is a smiling anti-hero who claims victory by turning their spite into big glorious rock and roll songs. There’s also some obvious but cute wordplay with the song’s title as the protagonist concedes that it’s “all who (hoo) who you know.”

Not wasting a second of track time, the song opens with a monstrous voice sample summoning the namesake “KNIGHT OWL,” getting right to the point. Tony Porter’s drums clobber everything within earshot as Mike Leggio’s bass alternates between marching ahead and just giving right into the dance groove at the core of this gleeful little fight song. In a nod to the soft / loud aesthetic of his beloved 90s influences, Goddamn Glenn delivers his vocal intimately as if unaware of the raucous audio storm just beside him. Allison Sigrist’s keys undergird the 80s metal sheen of the track with dreamy new wave siren calls that elevate the chorus as Michael Johnson shreds into a guitar solo for the rock ages.

“Knight Owl,” as with all of the forthcoming To Be Or Not To Behave EP, was recorded at both Q Division and Rare Signals. Mixed and produced by the fantastically talented Brian Charles of Rare Signals in Cambridge MA, this new EP and era for Parlour Bells is marked by the same deep love of songwriting and the endless pursuit of the catchiest chorus possible.

Parlour Bells celebrates the release of “Knight Owl” on Saturday July 6th at The Rockwell in Davis Square, Somerville. They perform at 8pm and will be followed by Lovina Falls and Happy Little Clouds.

ARTWORK FOR KNIGHT OWL. AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE ON JULY 5TH

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The Reason for the Season

On Thursday December 8th 2022 at Faces Brewing Co, Parlour Bells is excited to take part in Anngelle Wood’s 11th Annual Spectacular Gift Drive to benefit the DCF Wonderfund. The Wonderfund is a private nonprofit, 501(c)3 serving kids engaged with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. The organization provides comfort and dignity to 53,000 children who have been impacted by abuse and neglect.

We’re asking attendees of the event to consider bringing an unwrapped gift to the show. Gifts can include toys, clothing, art supplies, personal care items, books, electronics, sporting goods, hoodies, gift cards, and things kids of any age would like to get for the holidays!

This is going to be an incredible holiday party featuring some fantastic local rock music, including Parlour Bells, Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight and Little Fuss!

Parlour Bells

Boston Tumbles 4 Culture Club, Brings Good Karma for Parlour Bells at Pavilion

Photo by Adam P. Salsman

Photo by Adam P. Salsman

On Sunday, August 2, 2015, Parlour Bells enjoyed the distinct honor of performing as the supporting act for a newly reformed Culture Club featuring all four of its original core members (Boy George, Mikey Craig, Jon Moss, Roy Hay) at Boston’s Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in the City’s thriving Seaport district. In a strange coincidence, Parlour Bells singer and principal songwriter Goddamn Glenn learned about the booking via group text message as he was making his way to the Pavilion to catch The Smashing Pumpkins / Marilyn Manson concert 5 days before the Culture Club show would take place. The 2014 Boston Music Awards nominee for Live Artist of the Year, Parlour Bells leapt at the opportunity to open for the iconic, New Romantic legends most famously known for their hits “Karma Chameleon,” “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” “Time (Clock of the Heart)” and “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya.”

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The band welcomed its cadre of faithful photographers to the event and helped secure them access to the Pavilion’s photo pit as a token of thanks for all their coverage over the years. Below are some of the photos from Coleman Rogers, Mike Oliver and Adam P. Salsman. 

Photo by Coleman Rogers

Photo by Coleman Rogers

Photo by Mike Oliver

Photo by Mike Oliver

Photo by Adam P. Salsman

Photo by Adam P. Salsman

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Parlour Bells delivered a 45 minute set to the gracious and receptive Blue Hills Bank Pavilion crowd. Press from both The Boston Herald and The Boston Globe were in attendance and said of the band’s opening set:

Parlour Bells…a great pick to open for Culture Club and I recommend Live Nation consider the glam demi-gods provide support for any Bowie, Morrissey or Jane’s Addiction shows that come along. — Jed Gottlieb, The Boston Herald

Boston’s own Parlour Bells treated the crowd to a short but lean opening set of theatrical glam rock. Taking a picture of the audience, frontman Goddamn Glenn instructed everyone to say the evening’s unofficial motto: “I’ll tumble for ya.” — James Reed, The Boston Globe

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After the performance, Parlour Bells greeted their new fans near the merch area, where they also said hello to Boston DJ and local rock supporter Anngelle Wood, who took in Parlour Bells’ set before jetting off to her shift at 100.7 WZLX where she then kicked off her Boston Emissions program with a block of 4 Parlour Bells songs in celebration of the evening11836832_10153572070161789_2676940978748020774_n     11811582_993634097323453_6473210660578957728_n

Afterwards, the band took in Culture Club’s fantastic set stageside, and then spent some moments chatting after the show. Backstage, Elvira “Mistress of the Dark” even made a surprise appearance.

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During one memorable exchange, Parlour Bells gave legendary frontman Boy George the task of choosing the Culture Club song the band should cover in the future. His response underscored his authenticity and integrity as a songwriter as he suggested that the band cover a lesser known (albeit clearly cherished) song called “Love Is Love” from the 1984 pre-Internet singularity computer/human romance sleeper Electric Dreams. George relayed that while it was a favorite, the song hadn’t received a great deal of attention or airplay over the years. Glenn made a point to queue the song up upon returning home and instantly understood how perfect it was for the band to cover.

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Culture Club are set to release their first album of original music in over 15 years with the forthcoming Tribes. Click here to listen to the album’s first single More Than Silence.

Parlour Bells would like to thank Culture Club, their crew, the staff of Blue Hills Bank Pavilion and Live Nation for being tremendously accommodating and helpful to the band, for this historic opportunity, and for a night we will never forget.

The New Single from Parlour Bells, WETWARE, Available 11/11/14

Photo by Derek Kouyoumjian.

Photo by Derek Kouyoumjian.

Wetware, the new single from Boston’s Parlour Bells (just nominated for LIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR in the 2014 Boston Music Awards) will be released on 11/11/14 as part of the Keep Safe Boston local music compilation to benefit Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, with a show to follow at Brighton Music Hall on December 10, 2014. Stream it now here on YouTube. Read more about the song and the benefit in the Boston Herald.

Bachelor Hours Video Feted at The Pill, Our Cocktail Party in the Sky

Parlour Bells, Bachelor Hours Video Release

When we set out to make our first video, we had the pleasure, and urgency, of knowing exactly when it would need to be done. Michael Marotta, the celebrated music editor of the sadly missed Boston Phoenix (who got right back at it by founding the comprehensive Vanyaland online music magazine)

Michael Marotta of Vanyaland

Michael Marotta of Vanyaland

welcomed us to release and publicly screen the premiere of Bachelor Hours at the pill at Great Scott in Allston MA. And it would all go down on June 28, 2013. We had some work to do.

The journey to the end of the night would take us to alleyways, conveyor belts, a warehouse, Radio bar, Trina’s Starlight Lounge, the streets of Davis Square, and gave us the opportunity to work with a diverse cross section of the Boston music community. To say that we have a cooperative, collaborative arts community just doesn’t say enough.

John Langton and Sophia Cacciola in Bachelor Hours

Scene from “Bachelor Hours”

So, Parlour Bells would just like to thank:

Gene Dante, Mary Widow, Roger Metcalf, Douglas Sherman, Malik Haddadi, Kate Sweet, Neehmias Afonso, Meaghan Sinclair, Meghan Chiampa, Autumn Pincus, Andrew Wilson, Michael J. Epstein, Sophia Cacciola, Clark Sullivan, Katrina Galore, Michael Oliver, Leesa Coyne, Rick Kotowski, Richard Bouchard, Douglas Orey, Bridget Leahy, Emily Diggins, Janelle LaMarche, Kristen Scioli, John Langton, Elvis Collins, James Johnson, Phil Fleming, Peter Moore, Sarah Rabdau, Leah Principe, Adam Bouchard, Porcelain Dalya, and Darren McDonald, Trina’s Starlight Lounge, Radio, Anytime Limousine, Great Scott, Michael Marotta, Derek Kouyoumjian, Patrick Mussari, Garth McMurray and Charlotte Sweet.  You all helped us get this thing done just in the nick of time.

Vanyaland Premieres Bachelor Hours

Vanyaland TV

Michael Marotta world premiered the video on Vanyaland in conjunction with MediaBoss TV, and we had just enough time to edit a few extra hours of b-roll to loop during the DJ sets for the celebration and Parlour Bells show at the pill later that night. We performed two short sets, with a break in between to screen the video to a live audience.   

Since the release, the response has been tremendous, with coverage coming in from The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, Radio BDC, Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood, and Performer Magazine.

Bachelor Hours Video Release Party, Photo by Derek Kouyoumjian

“Bachelor Hours” Video Release Post Screening Dance Party

It’s here we keep Bachelor Hours

Written and Directed by Glenn di Benedetto.
Filmed by Roger Metcalf and Glenn di Benedetto.Produced and Edited by Glenn di Benedetto.
Additional Post Production by Roger Metcalf.