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Miss Lyn being filmed for the Jonathn Richman documentary

We’re in the News this week!! We were filmed by Cliff Pintak who is doing a documentary on Jonathan Richman! Cliff had two film assistants who really knew their stuff and made us look good. Cliff was in the Boston area shooting all the locals like Willie Alexander, Phil Milstein, Elle Marshall, Barry Marshall, Steve Nelson and more. He has Ernie Brooks in the film.

Miss Lyn talked about a very early Jonathan appearance at Cantone’s where Jonathan crawled on the floor singing “I’m a Little Dinosaur”. Miss Lyn took a photo of that - to the right.
Richman wrote the BGN a letter in 1977 thanking us for our review of the Modern Lover’s Rock and Roll album. The return address on the envelope? A P.O. box at the Government Center.

Blowfish talked about his meeting with Jonathan about going on tour with him in 1977. That’s a long story – see the film. The working title for the film The Little Prince after the book by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
When we talked to Cliff it didn’t take long to see he knew a lot about Jonathan. He knew all we did and much, much more. A documentary about Jonathan is long overdue and Cliff is obviously doing an excellent job with it.

Richard Lloyd died on November 7, from bile duct cancer that was diagnosed in March of this year. He was most famous for his work with Television. That group was at ground zero for the NYC punk scene. They were the first band to play CBGB’s. We think of the Marquee Moon album; its magic is a combo of the singing, lyrics and no small part the stellar guitar interplay of Lloyd and Verlaine.

Lloyd is always thought of as part of Television, but his solo albums were right up there too. His first album Alchemy had songs with their own enticements. Local scenesters were always proud that Matthew MacKenzie, ex of Reddy Teddy, was the guitar foil for Lloyd on that album. Maxine Satori from WBCN was responsible for suggesting Matthew to Lloyd. Lloyd’s Real Life album has some extended guitar trips. We covered Richard Lloyd at Once in 2017 at Church in November of 2008, and at Once in 2019.

Lloyd wrote an autobiography, Everything Is Combustible and he tells his story frankly. You get the story on those magic early NYC days. You can get it at Bookshop.org. We have a review in our Book Review page. Here's an article on the Paste website. Even the NY Times gave him an obit.

We often come back to the Patti Smith show at the Jazz Workshop in January 1976. That was one of the first places that the people who became the Boston punk scene gathered in the same place. One of the shows in that club date was recorded by WBCN. That is now available on the Radio Revolution Substack. It's done by Bill Lichtenstein who was the director of The American Revolution Documentary about WBCN. Hit the link below to hear the show and take in a short film on the circumstances around the broadcast.

Hand on the Switch: Patti Smith Live and Uncensored on WBCN

For our South Shore buds: The Common Groove Records store is now open in Bridgewater, 50 Common Square. Hours Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 7pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. They say the store will have some Trivia Nights, Album release parties and even some shows at the adjacent Music Alley venue. There’s an article in the South Shore Times.

RADIO......

Skybar, on his 11/2 Rising show, had an interview with a newish local band Objects in Motion. Skybar has them describe how they got together. Then they talk about their new EP Inside Outside Upside Down and the meaning of some songs. Their song "Allston Christmas Ham" about Allston Christmas.

They play what they describe as indie dream pop. The guitar is restrained and tasteful. The songs are grounded solidly with drums and bass. There is some steel guitar slipped in there too. The singing is distinctive and confident. We think they have a sound that will get them attention and fans.

We have half the interview below with two songs from the EP below.

For the rest go to the WMFO 91.5 FM websiteand search for the schedule, hit the Rising Show and then the 11/2 show in the archive. Check The Objects in Motion Bandcamp page.

PODCASTS......

The 11/6 Elastic Glam show started with a Blondie cover of “Call Me” by Kelsy Karter & the Heroines. Then it was a new glam song “Stress Is a Killer” by Not Richard & and Her Majesty. That has provocative lyrics delivered deadpan. In their video they are glammed up as they sing their ideas with no emotion.

Sethyspice played a three-fer of Gene Dante and the Future Starlets for the fifth anniversary of their DL/UX album. The last song was a Future Starlets signature song “Love Is For Suckers”.

And yet another new glam song of note was “Wild in the City Tonight” by Velvet Insane. (On Bandcamp) There was a remembrance of Clem Catini a British drummer who recently died and who was on 40 number one hits.

Roger Miller did a long interview with Mike Watt on the Watt From Pedro Podcast. Mike asked about how and where Roger records. It turns out there is a fine studio right in the area where Roger lives in Guilford, VT. To break up the interview Watt plays a tune from The Green Man and then a few more new songs that were compatible.

Roger revealed that he sometimes has lyrics in a made up language. He lets you hear what you THINK he’s saying. He also let us in on the fact that the lyrics to “Golden Hair” was all from a poem by James Joyce. He also revealed that he has all the songs for the next album already written.

To hear the Watt Podcast go to the Watt From Pedro webpage.
We have The Green Man embedded below.

NEW MUSIC/CD's ......

The Ape Hangers return to being an active band has been welcome if unexpected. Their linking up with Rum Bar Records has been too perfect. Rum Bar has released a few singles and the EP This Is It. Now we have the release Ape Hangers II. This album contains most of the songs on the Ape Hangers self-titled album released in 1997. When that album came out the record company, JerryTunes, dropped the group. When you hear the album now, you've got to wonder about the sanity of the label dropping the group.

The album starts with “I’m Your Man” a tune that we have heard guitarist Pete Sjastedt perform in his current group Muck and the Mires. It’s always a killer. That’s followed with “I Don’t Mind”. Those two songs alone should put the Ape Hangers on any rock fans must get list. They rock with a manic energy while still showing off song craft with a top notch performance and the recording captures it all.

The band is so good that you can listen to just the drums, guitar or bass at any point and get an earful of fulfilling playing. They know enough to pair the rockers with songs of a different pace and tone. That makes the 16 cuts a very listenable album.

The last four songs on the album are the This Is It EP. To their credit you can’t tell in any way that those songs were done almost 30 years later. As a matter of fact to us “Bombay” from the EP is the most striking and memorable song of all.
We join everybody else in saying their career got sidelined by the unfortunate circumstances in 1997. Ultrasounds is the name of the Ape Hangers other album and we think that will be release later by Rum Bar

Dan Kopko has entertained us under many monikers. Now, it’s Danny the K who gives us “Hanging In the Car Wash”. This song is more fun than it has any right to be, but the music is as bubbly as the subject matter.

Dan is at his poppy best here. The bass and drums are somehow buoyant and the whole mix is loose but controlled just enough. The singing recalls countless sixties groups whose tricks Dan must have absorbed over a long time. That “run, run away” chorus just nails it.

Joining in on the singing is Lynda Mandolyn who has given us many musical highlights in her time with Tiger Bomb and her wide ranging creative solo work. “Real Love”, her collaboration with Lee Harrington is a highlight for us. Excuse us as we head for the car wash and get in some hanky panky ourselves.

Stop Calling Me Frank have a band story for the books. They came back after a few decades’ hiatus. Now they give you the receipts. They just released a set that was recorded at The Rat in 1986. The new record is titled simply Live At The Rat 8/16/1986. The set was recorded on cassette by the legendary Rat soundman Richard ‘Granny’ Weidman. It was restored by Ed Reimer of Ed’s Barn. Even remixed they don’t approach studio fidelity, this is all about the fun of a live set.

There’s just a few titles they've played in their new incarnation like “Whale Baby”, “Baby Cyclone Baby” and “Drinking After Work”. The group sounds just about the same. Lenny’s vocals seem a little more punky in spots maybe - we’re thinking of “Looney Man” here. The songs always have lyrics that make a point, often a personal quirk.

The song “I Never Said” captured us. Lenny sings with quiet emotion here. The first half is almost just him and some nice drum work by Eddie Barese. Halfway through Terry O’ Malley’s sax slips in and underlines the vocals. The song never leaves its mid-tempo or ups its volume and that seems to reinforce the singer’s state of heartache and regret. Very touching.
For those that didn’t see them back in the day, this proves they had it all together even back in 1986

We liked Alex Little’s (from Vancouver) last EP Spider In The Sink that came out last December. We have the same feelings about the current three song EP Conversations In My Head. The first song sounds like a New Wave take off with its garage organ sound. Soon though some post punk angular playing comes in. Then you notice that the instruments are so well played and the singing has character. This group knows exactly what to do.

The title song “Conversations In My Head” is someone struggling with that inner voice that won’t shut up sometimes. That reminds us of the Lemon Drop Gang’s resent “My Mind Has A Mind Of It’s Own”. Alex Little takes a less manic look at the situation. The song’s melodicism sweeps you along.

The last EP has some nice guitar solos in it and we were waiting for that here. It does show up on the last song “Validation”. The song is another showcase of quality singing and songwriting. At the very end they tuck in 25 seconds of some lively whammy bar infused soloing that we replayed a few times.

Charge 69 are an Oi/street punk band from France. Their current album Much More Than Music vol.2 has some top notch punk songs with the added bonus of some famous punkers. They have Nick Cash of 999, Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69, Henry Cluney of Stiff Little Fingers, Nick Tesco of The Members and Gene October of Chelsea. It would be a good listen even if you didn’t know who was singing.

The Descendents have released Bonus Fat on vinyl, cassette and CD. Bonus Fat has their original 1979 single “Ride the Wild”/”It’s a Hectic World”, the whole 1981 Fat E.P. and an 1981 outtake “Global Probing”.

We always remember hearing that Fat E.P. “I Like Food” and “Wienerschnitzel” were fast and funny hardcore. A mindbender in it’s day. You can get all formats on the Descendents webstore.

Slovenly Records went down to South Africa to find the group Necklace. They heard them once and signed them. You can understand when you hear their self-titled album. Slovenly cites The Stooges as a similar sounding group. That’s a good way of getting into Necklace. The singing is gruff and the band sound is heavy but not hardcore heavy.

We were blown away at the beginning of “Angel Says”. That song begins with just the bass, but what a bass. It so rough sounding you could use it to scarify asphalt . All their rhythms are mechanical sounding and don’t vary much. That takes them into trance inducing areas. They actually have a song titled “Trance”.
A lot of it reminded us of Joy Division and other groups from that era.

What we have here is the reissued 1990 recordings of the Victoria, Canada group 64 Funnycars. They hung with Seattle groups The Young Fresh Fellows and The Poses. They cover several genres.

Our fave is the humorous Hot Rod song “AMC Pacer”. Just hearing the name of that car makes us laugh. We used to call it the fishbowl because the upper part was all windows. They say it used to cook in there on hot sunny days. The song revs up more than the Pacer every would. They have another instrumental “Highway to Parksville” that is an upbeat aggro ride.

“Fading Away” and “Crush” are two indie style tunes. “My First Date” is done in 1950s style and you know that the nerd will never get that first date. “Alone With The Blues” is the solitary country song.
For us “AMC Pacer” is the draw.

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

November 20, 2026 (Friday) Minibeast, Thalia Zedek Band, Flying Vipers at O'Brien's

November 21, 2026 (Saturday) The Annual Women of the Pit Boston Winter Coat Drive: with Clock Out, Burn Kit, Josephine With a Cause, DJ Matawana at The Middle East UP - All Ages EARLY show doors at 12NOON

November 21, 2026 (Saturday) Spectacle, Modern Day Idols, Tad Overbaugh and the Late Arrivals at The Midway 3PM MATINE

November 21, 2026 (Saturday) ASA BREBNER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION · We’re getting the gang back together to celebrate ASA BREBNER with an evening of live music featuring friends and fellow musicians from the infamous 2017 Route One Project Norwood Pit Stop: The Emily Grogan Band, Natalie Flanagan, Freddy K, Mike Nolan, Charlie, Mo & Tommy Leger, Marcia Mello, Tom Satch Kerans, and special guests. Asa’s imagination went well beyond the stage, he was a visual artist as well. Come early to explore an exhibition of his guitars and assemblages, alongside a salute to WBCN and WFNX. all happening at Irish Boston Brewing · Norwood Space Center 83 Morse Street, Norwood. FB page for more info.

November 21, 2026 (Saturday) Who Killed Spikey Jacket, American Ethos, The War Lovers, ICBM at O'Brien's

November 21, 2026 (Saturday) Little Billy Lost, Typhoid Mary, Crow Follow, The BickerSins at The Midway 8PM show

November 21 & 22, 2026 (Saturday & Sunday) Allston's Makers Market is back! Gifts with actual personality. Quite possibly Allston's biggest-ever market taking place at O'Brien's and the former Stingray space

November 21, 2026 (Saturday) Tree, Inverter, Aces High, Bed of Razors at Ralph’s Rock Diner Worcester

November 22, 2026 (Sunday) Ghost Painted Sky, Bloodx3, Architrave, Hidden Fountain at The Midway for a 3PM matinee

November 28, 2026 (Saturday) Joe Gittleman & Friends, Diablogato, Mark Lind at The Middle East UP All Ages

November 28, 2026 (Saturday) K.C.U.F., Unseemlier, Today Junior, Grub Lord at Deepcuts Medford

December 4, 2026 (Friday) Under The Influences (Social Distortion Tribute) with BOLLOCKS (Sex Pistols Tribute) at The Midway 9:30PN show

December 4, 2026 (Friday) American Ocelot, Girl with a Hawk, Lovina Falls and The Day Lilies at Deep Cuts, Medford- music at 8pm

December 5, 2026 (Saturday) Michael Kane & The Morning Afters, Perfectly Lethal, Perpetual Stu at Faces Malden

December 5, 2026 (Saturday) Jittery Jack Holiday Bash! Jittery Jack with Amy Griffin on Guitar will be joined by The Rover Boys Trio from NYC and Buck Lonesome and the Table for One.

December 5, 2026 (Saturday) Bootleg Dan presents Tom Springer Band, Spackles, Amanda White Band at Under Bones, Davis Square

December 12, 2026 (Saturday) The Weisstronauts 28th Annual Holiday Celebration with special guests special guests Hot Franks, Cotton Candy, Josh Kantor, and our inimitable MC/roaster/host Patrick Bryant at The Lilypad, Inman Sq Somerville. FB page

December 12, 2026 (Saturday) Crow Follow holiday show with Crow Follow, Adi Sun solo, Randy Black and the Heathcroppers, Joanne the Band - at Underbones

December 12, 2026 (Saturday) Stop Calling Me Frank, The Wynotts, Galaxy Cake at The Square Root

December 17, 2026 (Thursday) Christmas Party with Kenne Highland's Air Force, 1977!, Jay Allen & The Archcriminals, Mickey Bliss (psst, it's his birthday) at The Jungle

December 17, 2026 (Thursday) Lydia Lunch special guests Cryin Caleb, Matt Nelson and Tim Dahl and Gossip Collar at Alchemy Providence, 7-10PM . TIX

December 18, 2026 (Friday) Lydia Lunch special guests Cryin Caleb, Matt Nelson and Tim Dahl at Koto, Salem - FB page

December 31, 2026 (Thursday) New Year's Eve Show with Salyse, On What You're On, Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners, Hambone Skinny at The Jungle TIX!

January 21, 2027 (Thursday) Dead Pioneers, Neighborhood Shit, Dizeaze, Cartridge at Sonia

January 24, 2027 (Sunday) Screw Cart, Sourpunch, The Wynotts, The Lansburys at The Midway for a Matinee at 3PM.

February 7, 2027 (Sunday) Martin/Morell and Fredette, Freeloader, American Ocelot at The Midway , a Matinee at 4-7

March 10, 2027 (Sunday) Gang Of Four at The Sinclair FB page

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com

Send us your gig listings, your anything else you've got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too.