Ghouls Celebrate Rise After Winning Boston’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble

Boston, Massachusetts — The Ghouls, a rising punk rock band, captured attention last year by winning the Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble, a prestigious battle of the bands held in Boston. Despite being up against seasoned musicians, the band’s raw energy and unique sound secured their victory in the 2024 competition.

“Going in with all the older bands, I felt like our age might be a disadvantage,” Ghouls singer and guitarist George Danahy told the Boston Herald. “Everyone was coming in with fancy suitcases and three CDs of albums. I was like, ‘(expletive), we have one song out on Spotify and a cardboard box.”

At the time of their win, all four Ghouls members—Danahy, guitarist Peter Trainor, bassist Jacob Babcock, and drummer Bryce Maher—were still pursuing music degrees at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Their energetic performance featured a mix of punk rock blended with elements of power pop, metal, and progressive rock.

Danahy shared his influences, stating, “A lot of the songwriting influences I have come from the Strokes, Weezer, bands like that. But as a guitarist, I was obsessed with shred guitarists like Randy Rhodes, Eddie Van Halen, and Brian May especially.”

The Ghouls utilized their Rumble victory to record their debut album, “Handle With Care,” which is set for release on June 6 at Middle East. The album showcases their vibrant live sound, capturing the chaos and excitement that defines their music.

In addition to their victory, the Ghouls have achieved numerous milestones over the past year, including four graduations and two nominations at the Boston Music Awards, where they won Rock Artist of the Year and delivered a standout live performance.

“Yes, yes, to say the least, yes, it’s been a wild year for me,” Danahy expressed. He recalled the whirlwind experience of balancing rehearsals for the Rumble while completing his capstone project for graduation, all while recovering from COVID-19.

One memorable moment for the band occurred during their December performance at the Boston Music Awards, where they led a large crowd in a singalong of their song “Game.” “It always feels good when I can get people to sing along to lyrics I wrote. But I’d never seen it done by so many people,” he said.

The Ghouls are now gearing up for what they hope will be another successful year. For tickets and additional details about their upcoming events, visit theghouls.net.