Ray Boyce & The New Thirty

The New Thirty is an original rock band from Boston that started playing music together in January of 2005. Although a new band, each member of The New Thirty has been involved in Boston's indie music scene since the late 80's and/or early 90's. Playing material primarily drawn from songwriters Ray Dunetz (Guitars, Bass, Vocals) and Ray Boyce (Bass, Guitars, Vocals), The New Thirty seamlessly combine post-punk, alt-country, classic rock, power-pop and indie-rock. When the talents and contributions of lead guitarist Fred Pickard and drummer Kevin Moylan are added, the New Thirty create an original sound that features strong songwriting, loud guitars, distinctive vocal harmonies, powerful drums, and hi-energy live performances. Recently selected to play the International Pop Overthrow Festival (held at The Paradise Lounge in Boston), the New Thirty has also just released its debut full-length CD, "Racecar", on FOC Records. "Racecar" features 11 original songs written by band members Ray Dunetz and Ray Boyce, as well as a cover version of Love's "Message To Pretty" (written by Arthur Lee). The band will be supporting the release of the CD with gigs in and around New England during the winter and spring of 2007.

Ray D. was originally introduced to Ray B. at a Pernice Brothers show a few years ago by their mutual friend Mark Erdody (Kudgel, Bullpen Catcher). After realizing they shared many of the same musical tastes and influences, Ray D. and Ray B. decided it was finally time to start writing and playing original music again, even though it had been several years since either one had played in an original music project.

Ray D. had played in several popular bands in Virginia while attending college in the early 80's, including "Geneva Convention" and "Peasants", opening up for notable acts such as the Long Ryders, Translator and the Violent Femmes. After moving to Boston in the mid 80's, Ray D. formed the band "Mahatma Dogma", which recorded several singles with legendary producer Paul Kolderie at Fort Apache Studios that received extensive local radio airplay. But by 1990, after playing the local Boston club circuit for several years, Ray D. decided to stop playing guitar in original rock bands (too much beer and not enough women). In the 1990's, Ray D. played saxophone in the world's greatest (and biggest) circus music band, "Jumbo".

Ray B. played guitar and co-wrote songs in a popular Boston band called "The Returnables" from 1990-1993. After releasing an album in 1992 that reached number 2 on WFNX's "Boston Rocks" album chart (receiving airplay on WFNX, WZBC, WMBR, WBCN, WMFO and WCGY), making it to the semi-finals of the "Tanqueray Rocks" Talent Contest, sharing bills with local rock legends Morphine, O Positive, Cliffs of Dooneen and the Swirlies (to name just a few), and playing just about every club in the Boston area (including The Paradise, The Rat, Nightstage, & T.T. the Bear's), the Returnables decided to call it quits in 1993 when it stopped being fun. In the mid-90's, Ray wrote songs and played guitar in a band called "M.O.D.E.", whose roots-rock/hard-rock sound was definitely unique (but not always appreciated) in Boston. After M.O.D.E. disbanded in 1995, Ray kept writing and recording songs, eventually releasing a 5 song EP that was recorded by Ducky Carlisle at his "Room 9 From Outer Space" studio in South Boston.

Fred joined "The Returnables" at the height of their popularity in 1992, playing guitar and bass. Fred's presence promptly caused the band to enter into a death sprial in 1993 from which they could not recover (we're just kidding - it wasn't really Fred's fault). From '93-'95, Fred foolishly decided to keep playing original music with Ray B. in the band "M.O.D.E.". However, too few practices and too much beer eventually caused the collapse of that band after just a handful of gigs and a 5 song demo.

Kevin had played drums in several long-running party/cover bands (The Field of Carrots, Triple Dog Dare) with both Fred and Ray B. in the late 80's and thru much of the 90's, while also playing drums in a few other bands that we don't like to talk about. After Kevin re-connected with Ray B. and Fred in 2000, the three friends started to occasionally meet in Ray B's home studio for some stress-free interpretations of other people's music - in other words, they would play some cover songs in the basement. Naming their low-key cover band "Big Vise", and with Ray B. switching to bass, they attempted to keep up their chops by butchering classic rock songs. When it was time to form a new band that would play original songs written by Ray D. and Ray B., it seemed only natural for the members of Big Vise to join forces with Ray D. and form "The New Thirty".

Since their first gig in March of 2005, The New Thirty has played some of the best clubs in greater Boston over the past year and a half, including The Paradise Lounge, T.T. the Bear's Place, P.A.'s Lounge, O'Brien's Pub, The