Lou’s Underground Presents: Octave Museum w/ Hannah Hoffman from Dutch Experts
Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 | Doors: 8:00 PM | Show: 8:30 PM | 21+ | Standing Room Only
In 2005, Stephen Brodsky found himself at a crossroads. His long-running band, Cave In, had gone on an indefinite hiatus, fueled largely by the commercial (though not critical) failure of their 2002 major label-released LP, Antenna. The band had been at it for 10 years—since Brodsky was 15 years old—and suddenly he was searching for a new creative outlet. With a pair of records donning his own name already under his belt, the solo route seemed the obvious path, but as the singer/guitarist continued to work on material, the idea of a band began to take hold. Thus, Octave Museum was born.
Though billed as Brodsky’s third solo outing, the record took on its eccentricities from all three players—drummer Kevin Shurtleff of New Hampshire powerhouse Scissorfight, and bassist Johnny Northrup of grungy garage rockers Thee Electric Bastards rounding out the sound. With its shimmery effects, infectious melodies, and upbeat grooves, Octave Museum was an exhibition in psychedelic pop rock, sounding as near to the lesser-appreciated British Invasion bands like The Kinks and The Pretty Things as it did any modern indie rock.
Though short-lived, the band—billed as the record title—hit the road, notably playing with heavy blues godfathers Blue Cheer and touring alongside fellow Bostonians Clouds (who also featured the bass stylings of Northrup as well as Cave In guitarist Adam McGrath). And while they may have only existed for a couple years, the music they left behind made a lasting impression on those who heard it, and still sounds remarkably fresh today.
In 2026, The Octave Museum was recently given a digital reissue via Pax Aeternum with loads of bonus material including demos and live recordings. To celebrate, the band just played their first show in nearly 20 years - if you missed it, then now’s your chance to catch em at Lou’s!
Writer: Colin Roberts
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