The BGN News Archive

The Dogmatics at Newbury Comics Photo: Blowfish

Friday Grade 2 was at O'Brien's. They are the punk/oi band from the Isle of Wight that we saw at Maggie's in Quincy last June. Then there were only 20 people. This time around they did better but we still expected more people.

Barfight Champs Photo: Blowfish

The show started a little after 8:30 with the Barfight Champs. They were a Boston hardcore/punk group. Their hard hitting music set the tone for the evening. Nothing was going to be too far from that. They played "Ode to a Skinhead" which was typical of most of their material. It has some tempo changes, a yelling style vocal and lyrics dealing with being a punk. They had a new song called "Glory" that we liked a lot.

They did a sharp version of "Riot" by the Oppressed that we liked better than the original even. Theirs had a sharper edge. This group kicked it out hard. We hope to see them at future hardcore shows out there.

Brix'n Mortar Photo: Blowfish

Next was Brix'n Mortar who are still riding the wave of their new CD release called Poison Words. We saw them at Great Scotts in September . Their set was similar this show. They had that cover of "New Age" by the Blitz that fits into the set nicely. Video of that below.

The beginning of the set especially hit us just the right way. What they do is so unique to the interplay between Troy style and Joey Riot's style. It can go back and forth when they take turns on the vocals and then everything unites as they sing together. It a dynamic that one can follow through the whole set. That happens on one of our favorites, "Wasted", from the Poison Words album that they did in the set. On stage they often clump together in the middle near the drums ,where Devon is going crazy, to focus energy and drill it out.
They are always forwarding positive thoughts and community support. You always feel good after one of their sets.

Grade 2 Photo: Blowfish

We were happy that Grade 2 had a better crowd this time around. Especially since it did make everything click. The music and the stage show need that audience up front pumping fists. They did that thing where the two guitarists switch from left to right repeatedly during a song. They can do that where other groups can't because they play with wireless connections.

The songs have strong melodies that they sing with two strong voices. It's made to sing along to. The guitarists plays some cutting leads that stand out.

Dogmatics Photo: Blowfish

The Dogmatics did an instore concert at Newbury Comics in Norwood on Saturday in conjunction with the release of their new EP on Rum Bar Records. There were around 50 or so people there at this nice feeling get together. The Dogmatics have done so many memorable concert appearances for years now that it is a surprise to hear that this new EP is their first recording in 30 years. That's a crime.
In the set they started with "Pipeline". How that song has lasted as a live favorite is worthy of a book. It's simple but has enough variety to not be boring. It's a surf song that even punk bands love. Funny.

Dogmatics Photo: Blowfish

They went on to play "Sister Serena", "King Sized Cigarette" and "Gimme the Shakes". They played two songs from the new CD. One being "She's the One" and that is the standout track. Just a straight ahead song that fits into the classic Dogmatic set list. They also did the "Ballad of Wilber Ross". That song is different. It's an old style political tune that echoes back to Woody Guthrie. (Wilber Ross is the Secretary of Commerce.) They also have a mandolin on it. The Dogmatics give it a light touch that makes it palatable.

They also cover the Unnatural Axe's song Summertime. That's a wonderful connection between two great Boston punk bands. On that early EP by the Axe the song stuck out. It was a slower song amidst the fast stuff. It's had a life of it's own these last years and is a classic on it's own. Every Dogmatic gig brings out a lot of feelings for us. The group has always encompassed a lot beyond the music. They represent a time and a place. They had such spirit and air of fun about them and they have carried that with them and it comes out at all their shows.
It's always renewing to hear a set like this at Newbury Comics. The store had the gorgeous yellow vinyl copy that sold a lot of copies during the day. Score that if you can.

And in other news.....

We don't like that we have to go over who died on a weekly basis, but here we go...

Eddie And The Hot Rods' front man Barrie Masters died this last week.
They were one of the very first punk bands to get attention and air play. Boy did they get airplay here in Boston on WMBR (WTBS) in the early days. That Teenage Depression LP was a staple for college radio stations.
The Hot Rods, like a lot of early Boston punk bands, were really a throwback to earlier rock with souped up energy and faster tempos. This was an easy way for older rockers to get into what became punk with music they could understand, but alas, they never made the effort. Is there anyone who considers themselves a rock fan that can't get off on their rip through "Gloria/Satisfaction"? And that's just one example of the things they did.
The Ramones and the Sex Pistols were on their heels with the punk revolution. You had to be a certain sort of person to play like Eddie and the Hot Rods at that time. We owe Barrie and the band a big debt.

Kim Shattuck, bassist and singer most notably of the The Muffs, passed away at 56 on October 2. She had a two year struggle with ALS. There was a huge outpouring of feelings on Facebook. People remarked that their feeds were filled with items about Kim. It seemed that Kim and her music was one thing that punks of all kinds could agree on. We spent a lot of time looking at the videos people posted.
One was a nice pop effort, "Don't Give It Away" with Kim and White Flag.
"Oh Nina" the video has humor and you can see and hear her punk spirit.

Still thinking of Ric Ocasek. This is not long but has some revealing quotes from Ric Ocasek. Article on Rick Ocasek from Medium.com

Black Beach have a new video for a new song called "Shampoo". Video of "Shampoo.

Michael Quaglia posted this on Soundcloud. It's the Neighborhoods at the Boston Garden, the whole show. They have guest Brad Whitford from Aerosmith. They do a few Aerosmith songs. Then they do three songs with quest Brad Delp from Boston. Tami Heidi does the intro.

We talked about archiving punk material in conjunction with last week's move DC the Capitol - DC. Here's another article about the same problem. This time is Maximum Rocknroll's punk collection. They have a huge zine collection number one. Then they have, and let's quote on this one, "an eight-ton archive of punk LPs and 7"s, the largest collection of punk records in the world". That's going to "secretive, temporary safe house at an undisclosed location" Article on Maximum Rocknroll collection.

Looks like Willie Loco Alexander will have an art show in Lanesville, MA at the Manship Estate starting Oct 19. That's the background for this Willie video.

Mono in Stereo have a new song and video. "Different Kind of Man" has a three chord crunching figure that marches you through four minutes of ELO/Cheap Trick territory.

We interviewed Chris and Glen from Kids Like You And Me a while ago. The Interview. They book shows around town. They did that last Unnatural Axe show in July.

Their next show is headlined by The Hussey from Madison, Wisconsin. They sound like a noisy punk that put on a wild show. The photo shows them burning a guitar on stage!
Also on the bill is Funeral Cone who we saw, and we know they play like they are possessed.
Then theirs's the inexplicable G. Gordon Gritty. He walks around the room while playing half-songs and connecting half-ideas in a half-stream of consciousness way. It's an experience.

This happens at the Greek American Club in Union Square, Cambridge on Monday October 21.

Friday NOV 8 at O’Brien’s….CE Skidmore, City Mouse, Stubborn Hearts. (FB page) We saw City Mouse at O’Brien’s back in Nov of 2015. They did up some cool pop punk. And we've seen Stubborn Hearts a couple of times. most recently at the opening of the Jungle. Jenn Lombardi is an amazing song writer and their sound is raw melodic punk inspired.

This Thursday till Sunday they are having a series of shows at the C-Note in Hull. They are calling it a "Help People and Animals Concert". They are having an average of 7 bands a night. There's a lot of youth bands playing. Hardwired and Climate Change get in there too.

Here's some good shows coming up this week.....

October 7 (Monday) Hambone Skinny, Indonesian Junk, Baabes at Charlie's Kitchen

October 7 (Monday) Rock'n'Roll Trivia with Erin & Bret at The City Winery 7.30-10.30

October 8 (Tuesday) Giuda w/ Electric Street Queens and Zip Tie Handcuffs at Once 7.30-10.30

October 10 (Thursday) Kid Gulliver, State of the Union and The Chelsea Curve at The Jungle

October 10 (Thursday) Dick Pics, Guilloteenagers, Big Mermaid, Thee Fightin' Fish at Club Bohemia

October 11 (Friday) Sister Suzie (from the UK) Jittery Jack & Amy Griffin at O'Brien's

October 11 (Friday) Lucifer Christmas presents: Not Your Mama's Burlesque Show! plus new music from Steady Vex

October 11 (Friday) Mike Watt + the missingmen w/ Minibeast at Once.

October 12 (Saturday) Benefit Multimedia Concert to benefit the South Texas Human Rights Center & BORDERx Comix project with GHOST GRL, Crow Follow, Spectramotiv and Visual Multimedia: BORDERx Comix Artists. Admission $10 To help Asylum Seekers and Migrants caught up in the border crisis - All Proceeds will go to these two beneficiaries. at The Lily Pad Inman Square FB page for more info.

October 12 (Saturday) Wire Lines, Green Piece, Cujo [Boston Emissions Birthday+Benefit Show] at Sally O'Brien's

October 12 (Saturday) Lyres, Tiger Bomb, Glider at Sun Tiki Studios 375 Forest Avenue, Portland, Maine 04101 FB page

October 13 (Sunday) The Cranktones, with Sax Gordon and DJ Todd Purple at the Midway matinee 3-7Pm

October 13 (Sunday) The Legendary Cazbats Psychedelic 60's Dance Party at the Jungle 6-8:30 PM

And further out there is.....

October 16 (Wednesday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers begin a Third Wednesday (of each month) residency at The Plough & Stars. 6-8PM

October 17 (Thursday) Robotic Hawks, Billy Connors Project, Spaces For Two at The Jungle

October 18 (Friday) Time and Place, The Knock Ups, Wolf Tape, Cook Bag at The Midway

October 18 (Friday) PowerSlut, Mint Green, The Only Humans, Baby Driver at The Worthen Attic Lowell.

October 18 (Friday) Marianne Toilet & The Runs, Corner Soul, Smitty E Smitty and the Feztones, The Melatonins are at Koto Salem.

October 19 (Saturday) A Crash Course for the Ravers has Richard Mirsky - 1-4PM WMFO 91.5 FM

October 19 (Saturday) Watts, Kid Gulliver, State of the Union at The Square Root

October 19 (Saturday) Avenir (French punk rock) at the News Cafe in Provi RI - check out their bandcamp page ..and here's the FB page for the show & tix etc!!!

October 19 (Saturday) Cactus Attack, Black Leather Lagoon, Tarantula Bros, Nick the Barbarian at Opus in salem

October 20 (Sunday) Stiff Little Fingers, The Avengers at Brighton Music Hall doors 7PM

October 20 (Sunday) The Vivian Girls are at Once

October 21 (Monday) Cherry Brat, Street Milk, The Wild Allegations at The Jungle

October 23 (Wednesday) Flipper with David Yow (Jesus Lizard) "40th Anniversary Show" at The MIddle East Down

October 23 (Wednesday) 999, The Clap, Vixen 77 at The Fire Philly PA FB Page

October 25 (Friday) Road Soldier, The Manglers, New American Good Time Boys at The Midway (night show)

October 25 (Friday) The "Scare" Root Halloween Show! with Justine's Black Threads, The Chelsea Curve, Little Billy Lost at the Square Root

October 25 (Friday) Flamin' Groovies, Richard Lloyd Group, Tiger Bomb at ONCE

October 25 (Friday) 999, The Clap, the Parasitix, The Transmission Now at the Catasauqua American Legion 215 PA FB page

October 26 (Saturday) The Fleshtones, GLiDER, Muck & the Mires, Baabes at Once Ballroom

October 26 (Saturday) The Dogmatics Record Release Party! with Stop Calling Me Frank, The New Frustrations, Grommets at the New World Tavern Plymouth FB page

October 26 (Saturday) Pale Lips (MTL) with The Gala, Loretta, & Kathy Snax at O'Brien's

October 26 (Saturday) Stop Calling Me Frank, Dogmatics, New Frustrations, The Grommets at the New World TAvern Plymouth MA - FB page for info

October 26 (Saturday) 999, The Clap, The Bobby Lees, Blank Spots at Coney Island Baby in NYC FB page

October 28 (Monday) Cycling w/ The Melted Chapstixs at The Jungle 5-8PM

October 29 (Tuesday) 999 & The Clap at Randy Now's Man Cave 134 Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown, New Jersey 08505 FB page

October 30 (Wednesday) Devil's Night at O'Brien's with Babes of Mutilation (as the Pixies), Fury Things (Dinosaur Jr. tribute), The Knock Ups as Hole, Queers of the Stoned Age, Corner Soul as The Stooges

November 1 (Friday) Change Today (Joe Wood era TSOL), Covered In Bees & Tiger Bomb at Gino's in Portland ME FB Page

November 2 (Saturday) Shut Up (NJ), HIXX, The Guilloteenagers, A Bunch of Jerks at the Midway for a matinee show 3-7PM

November 2 (Saturday) Gene Dante & The Future Starlets, Cold Expectations (record release) and The Chelsea Curve! at Sally O'Brien's

November 2 (Saturday) Relapse, blindspot, Motel Black at the Middle east Up - 6PM show - all ages.

November 5 (Saturday) The Von Traps, Pretty Pleased (Chicago), Crunchtime at The Jungle- this is a FREE SHOW!!!

November 8 (Friday) Wolftape, Doug McDonald Band, Crunchtime, Thigh Scrapers at Pete's Grill Quincy FB page

November 8 (Friday) Muck & The Mires, The Gotham Rockets, Tiger Bomb, Gene Dante at Alchemy in Providence RI FB page.

November 9 (Saturday) Muck And The Mires, The Downbeat 5, and Gotham Rockets at Sally O'Brien's

November 9 (Saturday) Black Helicopter, Baabes, blindspot, Jakals at Opus in Salem

November 9 (Saturday) Change Today: Joe Wood era TSOL at Ralph's Rock Diner Worcester.

November 11 (Monday) Samiam, Moving Targets, F.U.s, Rocking Bob, and Far Above the Ground at Once - All ages - starts at 6PM- 10:30PM!! FB page for tix etc.

November 14 (Thursday) Halshug (from Denmark), Corrode, Skinned Alive, Skrawl at the Dorchester Art Project

November 16 (Saturday) Brian Young's a Crash Course for the Ravers is featuring Greg Allen's Fringe Religion. 1-4PM WMFO 91.5 FM at http://www.wmfo.org/popout_player.php?bitrate=256

November 16 (Saturday) International Pop Overthrow at Union Tavern...check FB page for info as it comes.

November 21 (Thursday) Robert Gordon with special guest Chris Spedding and Diablogato at Once

November 23 (Saturday) A Crash Course For The Ravers featuring A Bunch Of Jerks 1-4PM WMFO 91.5

November 23 (Saturday) The Knock Ups, blindspot, Lonely Leesa & The Lost Cowboys at Sally O'Brien's

November 23 (Saturday) "Love The Bands" @ ONCE Featuring: Smitty E. Smitty & The Feztones, PowerSlut, Corner Soul, The Rupert Selection - Doors: 8:30PM, Music 9PM

December 7 (Saturday) Triple B Records presents: American Hardcore Fest 2019 with Magnitude, Wild Side, One Step Closer, Restraining Order, Method of Doubt, Anxious, Big Mack, Field Agent- All Ages, $25Advance / $30Day of Show, *NOTE* 12:00PM Doors- this is an early show!! FB page.

December 14 (Saturday) Baabes, The Von Traps, The Hi-End, The Stigmatics at the Midway Matinee Show 3-7Pm

December 15 (Sunday) Thrash N Bang's 8th Annual Punk Pizza Party! at the Midway Matinee Show 3-7Pm

December 21 (Saturday) MOTO, The Thigh Scrapers, The Thirsty Pirates (NYC) , The Montgomerys at The Midway for a Matinee Show 3-7:30PM

December 21 (Saturday) Mother Iron Horse, Tied to a Baear, Von Traps, Skytigers at Opus in Sale

January 10 (Friday) The Mercy Case, Bystander, blindspot, Foxes at Koto Salem

January 18 (Saturay) Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, Muck and the Mires at The Middle East FB page and tickets

March 28 (Saturday) The Zulus at The Paradise

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too. .

Eric, Wayne, Blowfish and Lou. Photo: Teresa Powers

Next time you see Wayne Viens he may be wearing this. Photo: Blowfish

Barfight Heroes Photo: Blowfish

Brix'n MOrtar Photo: Blowfish

Brix'n Mortar Photo: John Keegan

Dogmatics Photo: John Keegan

Dogmatics Photo: John Keegan