More than two decades after helping establish the sound of Boston street punk, Michael McColgan has returned alongside a collection of longtime collaborators and friends under the banner of Michael McColgan & The Bomb Squad, launching a new five-song recording project with “ROLAND THE HEADLESS THOMPSON GUNNER”
The release marks the first of five songs scheduled to arrive digitally over the coming weeks, with the group planning to eventually compile the recordings into a vinyl EP accompanied by individual art prints created for each release.
The project was produced by Johnny Rioux and recorded at Third Coast Recording Company with engineer John Stephens, while additional production work was completed in Boston. The recordings were mixed and mastered by veteran producer TJ Rivera.
According to the band, the sessions were approached with the intention of capturing “the sound and spirit of another time” while maintaining a contemporary energy. The result is a collection of recordings rooted in classic rock, punk, and working-class American music traditions that have long informed the members’ careers.
The lineup features McColgan alongside fellow Boston punk veteran Rick Barton, bassist Johnny Rioux, Rhys Kill, Paul Rucker, and Rob Rogers. Together, the musicians represent multiple generations of the Boston punk and street rock community.
Artwork for the project has been created by longtime visual artist Pete Cardoso, whose work has remained closely associated with the punk scene for more than two decades. Additional artwork contributions will come from artist Yo Yo Yosef, with each song receiving its own dedicated visual presentation.
The release also arrives amid renewed interest in McColgan and Barton’s earliest musical collaborations. Through their live project, Michael McColgan & The Bomb Squad have been revisiting material from the formative years of Boston punk, including performances of Do or Die in its entirety, reconnecting audiences with songs that helped define a generation of East Coast punk rock.
While the upcoming EP represents new recordings rather than a retrospective project, it similarly reflects the musicians’ continued commitment to the sounds and traditions that shaped their careers. By opening the series with a Warren Zevon composition, the group further emphasizes the broad musical influences that have existed beneath the surface of Boston punk rock for decades.
Additional songs from the five-track project are expected to be released weekly throughout the summer, with details regarding the complete EP and vinyl edition to be announced.
Great content! Keep up the good work!
Thank you very much, will do!