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Rock solid rhythms, gritty songs with infectious hooks, and a schizophrenic sonic palette form the basis of Worcester, Massachusetts power trio Castine. As youths growing up in Worcester county, Mike Kittredge (vocals, guitar), Greg Hyder (drums, vocals), and Tom Morris (bass) worshipped at the almighty altar of rock, learning the gospel of the classics. Applying these lessons with a healthy dose of modern rock and stirring with an eccentric twist, they formed Castine in early 2005.

The band came out of the gates with guns blazing and within months had recorded and independently released their fifteen song self-titled debut CD (2005). The album highlighted their broad influences in a wide spectrum of aggressive garage rock laden with screeching guitars, pulse-pounding rhythms, and most importantly, sweet melodic hooks. Their sound quickly caught on in the local scene, and the band was nominated for such awards as “Best Pop Act” in 2008, and “Best Rock Act” in 2007 from the Worcester Magazine Music Awards, and “Best Rock Act,” “Best Live Act,” and “Best Up and Coming Act” from the 2007 Pulse Music Awards.

Looking to sail the good ship Castine into uncharted territories, the band left town and played over fifty shows their first year in a variety of great venues, from New York's Knitting Factory to Boston's Harpers Ferry, playing alongside artists such as Stroke 9, Kevin James of The Snake The Cross The Crown, and Keith Kane of Vertical Horizon. Castine took a long enough break from relentless gigging to record the Mr. Henry's Walk EP (2007). A stronger, more focused disc, though not without the necessary quirks, Mr. Henry's Walk finds Castine in top song-writing form. Now in their fourth year, Castine continues to strengthen their sound, tighten their live act, and write new songs to show the uninitiated the ways of Castine rock n roll. They look to the future with great promise, wanting to record new material and always put on fantastic live shows in bigger and better venues throughout New England and beyond.

Buy Mr. Henry's Walk

 

The trio settled into sound that exploits the breadth of the band members’ tastes and interests. A cohesive, garage-pop sensibility runs through all three songs, and the band nicely splits the difference between grand pop gestures and punky swagger. Scott McLennan | Worcester Telegram & Gazette Newspaper

“Their songs are laid back, easy to jam to, and are sure to create a chill musical atmosphere”
- Jillian Locke | Lowell Sun Newspaper

“Singer Mike Kittredge is a certified musical schitzo. One moment he coos with certain James Dean cool, the next he’s sweet like a first kiss only to hit you a split second later with a surprise left hook of unhinged neurosis that might have made even Kurt Cobain mumble, “Hey, take it easy man.”
- Matthew Erhartic | The Pulse Magazine

...has found the perfect sonic medication ~ provide enough thrift shop, indie rock ethics to keep a hipster’s tongue waggin’ but make sure to hook it up with enough hip-gyrating grooves to keep the lady friends coming back for more.
- Matthew Erhartic | The Pulse Magazine

Hey California 05.02.2008 @ The Elevens, Northampton, MA