The BGN News Archive

BGN 2023 Year End Review

RIP Justine Covault

JANUARY

It was a year of closings and reopenings. The Square Root closed because of a car crashing into its building. The club worked hard to repair the damage and by the end of the year had a remarkable comeback with many notable gigs including this year's International Pop Overthrow.

Closing was the Sound Museum. Des Desmond who runs the practice space complex, along with tons of musicians were extremely upset. It was a complicated problem involving the city. In the end an alternative space was found and things seemed to be alright.

RIP Vivienne Westwood who came from punk beginnings to become a major fashion influence in the world.

Interest in Lou Reed was prevalent all year. It was a late revelation that Lou was a Tai Chi aficionado. This month Lou's book The Art of the Straight Line: My Tai Chi was released.

Sapling began the year with a video of "Fox Upon The Tomb." The song was from their forthcoming album Amor Fati which was a mind bending accomplishment.

In podcasts, we got Mach Bell on Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico. Both Mach and Twisted Rico had busy years. In January Blowing Smoke also had Nat Freedberg and Reid Paley.

Brad Hallen of the Nervous Eaters was interviewed on The Don's Hit List. The Nervous Eaters would have a tremendous year as we would find out.

We get our first view of The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary with its trailer. The film was shown in numerous in regional film festivals around the country all year.

The death of Trick Wallace affected so many. He was a constant presence in the Cambridge/Somerville club scene especially. Later in the year Speedfossil pens a wonderful song inspired by Wallace.

Will miracles never cease? ManRay is revived in Central Square just blocks from it's original location. Closed since 2005, some of the same personalities that made the club special were back running the business.

This year we not only got new songs but a string of videos from the Nervous Eaters. We were thrilled at the new version of "Last Chance" and its lyrics depicted in the video.

Joanie Lindstrom celebrated 35 years on the Late Risers Club!!

Late in January we had the shocking news of the sudden death of drummer Randall Lee Gibson IV. To say people were devasted is an understatement.

John Keegan covered the 12th Annual Joe Zippo Memorial Show at Sammy's Patio in Revere. On the bill were The Promised End, The Outsiders, The USM, The Press, Razors in the Night.

Sadly another death with Gary Smith of Fort Apache Recording Studio where he recorded legendary indie groups.

The Shang Hi Los' song "Billy" made the Coolest Song in the World on Little Steven's Underground Garage.

We interviewed Tommy Ashcroft of Shred City in Wilmington. It was a community music store that had punk shows on a stage that looked like the front of the Rat. Sadly it closed by the end of the year.

It was a year of record store news. Light of Day Records located in Jamaica Plain opened a second location at the Bone Up Brewing in Everett. Later in the year they moved to Faces' Brewery in Malden.

Videos by Paper Tigers, Bang Camaro (who resurfaced this year) and Gretchen Shae & the Middle Eights were released.

We interviewed Rudy Childs the director of The Dogmatics: a Dogumentary.

Tom Verlaine of Television died. That prompted many radio shows to play that amazing music from the group.

Curt Florczak (Hi-End, Greg Allen's Fringe Religion) joined Hammered Saint on guitar.

Videos by Kid Gulliver ("Kiss & Tell") and Stormstress (Corpses Don't Cry")

"Send It Back" is the first song we hear from The Muzzins. They do a lot of shows this year.

The Cretons have been around for a long time. This year they released an album (love the Aerosmith cover rip) Pop Rocks, that shows their pop punk prowess.

Kid Gulliver released "Kiss and Tell", one of the irresistible pop songs they seem to come up with effortlessly.

The Shang Hi Los released a much anticipated album Aces Eights & Heartbreaks.

Gang Green released a 4 CD set with 56 cuts from their years with Roadrunner records to shout about. Later in the year they tour Europe.

"Like a Fire Engine" by Dream of a Man in a Top Hat, who were members of Native Tongue, was the first of a series of songs that marked the return to activity by these musicians.

Chris Brokaw had a live album, Live at the Decommissioned Power Station in Florli, Norway. It's dreams landscapes. We always follow wherever Chris's creativity leads him.

"Same Stars" was the first song by Girl With a Hawk. What a year they have!

FEBRUARY

John Keegan gave us a review of the Jon Spencer and the HITmakers show at the Middle East

Extreme cold hit on a Friday night. The Wang Theater had to cancel a show because the sprinkler system would not work.

Roger Miller did his Surrealist game night in Hartford, CT. He led people through an evening of drawing and word games developed by the Surrealists. This is his third year doing this.

The Damned came out with their new album Darkadellic with a new video for the song "Invisible Man."

Girl With a Hawk released a video for "Same Stars."

PODCASTS...

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico started the month with Rich Gilbert of Zulus and Human Sexual Response. In December Rich and his wife will move to Italy.

Later Steev had Curt Florczak in to discuss his career.

For his 200th podcast Steev had John Sox and Steve Grimes of The FUs.

Jane Hudson (The Rentals, Jeff and Jane Hudson) had an art show at Brickbottom Studios in Somerville. Jane is a notable artist now living in the Berkshires. We post her shows as they happen all year.

Brix 'n Mortar sign with WTF Records. Their album Something Ain't Right came out later in the year.

A couple new venues pop up; The Substation in Roslindale on Washington Street. A few gigs happen during the year.

and Fields West, opened in Allston. Their first show was with The Chelsea Curve. They had a few shows of interest but seems to have not continued.

A punk rock exhibit at Stockton University in New Jersey catches our attention. Fastest, Loudest displays fliers, sculpture, a button wall, album illustration, street art, poster art, zines, and photography by Philadelphia punk photographer Karen Kirchhoff.

Lenny Kaye's Nuggets album got an update. The new version has 5 albums with plenty of new garage nuggets.

The new, hysterical Buttery Cake Ass book written by Augie Stone about the music fanaticism that characterizes ....us!

Rum Bar Records introduced us to The Slamdinistas. Our first dose was "Cut Me Some Slack". We loved the album.

We even had a Nervous Eaters Commercial. See below.

The Sound Museum had it's last day. This was a huge upset to the local music community. Everyone had to find new practice spaces etc....After some hopeless months an alternative is found.

Burnt out Zippah Studios finds a new home in Central Square at Tape Op's old hang.

It's a 20th Anniversary of the Station Nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI. They now have a memorial at the site.

Rum Bar Records went way back and scooped up the Matweeds. That was Jerry Lehane's post Dogmatics group.

Evil Filipe released Into the Ivy. A wonderful album for this talented group.

Circus Battalion released "Destroy This Place" a song about gentrification.

We got the first peek at a new song by Continental from the album Hello.

Huck 2 released "Evelyn." The group had a good year with steady releases and finally an album by year end.

Weakened by Civilization is the latest album by Horrible Earth.

MARCH

Sue Safton celebrated her 40th Anniversary on WMBR's Aural Fixation show.

Stormstress had a new video for the song "Buried You In The Snow."

The Dogmatics were guests on A Crash Course for the Ravers. They had a party time and did an excellent live set.

PODCASTS...

On Wachtelligence, A.J. Wachtel interviews had Steve Cataldo, David McLean and Adam Sherman of the Nervous Eaters. Later he had on Dan Vitale of Bim Scala Bim.

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico had JJ Gonson as a guest. She talked about her photography and the future of Once. She revealed that there will be less outside shows this year but they will be free. That turned out to be true.

On Boston Emissions, Anngelle Wood talked for a few minutes about the radio business. It was very blunt. We sort of knew a lot of what she said but never admitted it to ourselves.

Captain Easychord takes in a show at the new The Substation club. It's headlined by the Peasants.

VIDEOS...

Miracle Blood had a new song and vid called "Pomeranian." In an article on the Everything is Noise website they say it's about wanting to jump species and become a pampered Pomeranian.

Lyres do a tour of Spain. At least we get to see a video of some of it!

2023 was the third year for the Mach Bell Cowboy Awards. It's a celebration of all things Mach Bell.

Moving Targets had a video for "Ordinary Summer" off their latest album In The Dust.

Neighborhood Shit, a local hardcore band, slowly built up their reputation. They released a video for their song "Cockroach." It has fast clips of the band playing and, yes, some cockroaches.

John Keegan was at the I Am Not Gone / Asa Brebner Memorial. He talked about the "vibe" at the show and who performed, and had a slide show of photos.

The Downhauls covered "Hazy Shade of Winter" by the Bangles and get great airplay from it.

The Goon Platoon gave a provocative new album Keep On Rotting In the Free World. It had some politics and Brando reciting "The Hollow Men" from Apocalypse Now. Great stuff.

Ralph Fatello (Vinny Band, Nor'easters and BGN button logo creator) got featured on the New Hampshire Chronicle TV show. The story is all about surfing in the New Hampshire winters, something Ralph is an expert on.

We lost Paul Christian who died in a work-related accident. Paul was in a number of bands most notably Far From Finished and The New Alibis.

The Rock & Roll Rumble released the list of bands that would play this year. We were glad to see The Chelsea Curve, Paper Tigers, Michael Kane and the Morning Afters, The Endorphins, Devil Love, One Fall and Gretchen Shae and the Middle Eight. The BGN remarked (to quote ourselves): "It will be interesting to see how One Fall does." Little did we know.

Captain Easychord went north to report on a Geno's show in Portland. Groups are Tiger Bomb, Cynz, Mach Bell Experience

A Bunch of Jerks broke up and some of the members form a new band called Spackles.

Moving Targets proved to have a long and productive career. This year they gave us the excellent In the Dust.

"So It Comes" by Sunshine Riot sounds a lot like Nirvana to us and we love it.

Doug Tuttle released his new psych album Keeping Alive.

It's another pop gem by Today Junior with "Sweet Little Nothings."

After a long line of singles Cold Expectations finally released their first album, Static Reactions.

Sapling released the second song "11:37" off their upcoming album.

Eddie Japan's new song "Time Machine" had Greg Hawkes from the Cars on it.

APRIL

The Celebration of the Life of Michael Weddle at The C Note in Hull show was on Saturday, April 8th. Weddle, who passed last year, booked many shows at The C Note, including the Rat Beach Party nights. Playing are Tsunami of Sound, Tokyo Tramps, Kenne Highland Air Force, Mad Painter, Joe Viglione.

Captain Easychord reported on a Sally O'Brien's show with Linnea's Garden, Baabes and Happy Little Clouds.

No more shows at Charlie's Kitchen. No reason was given. That's the end of the punk Monday nights in Harvard Square that ran years.

A NEW record store. Music Research Library opened on Beacon Hill at 24 Joy Street. They had a store in Providence RI and people were driving down from Boston, so they got the obvious idea and there they are on Joy St.!

We interviewed Dan Bootleg Anklin. Dan booked a whole lot of cool shows this year.

Riche Parsons dropped a revelation when he announced: "I intend on recording my last Punk EP. 4 songs: "#1 Punk", "Shit Show", "Uncle Bill", and "Go Shit In Ya Hat." Before the year is over, it comes to pass as promised.

WMFO had Brad Hallen of the Nervous Eaters as a guest on Mike on the Mic show. Brad has a long and interesting career. We learn that the Nervous Eaters are recording an album this month to be out in 2024.

VIDEOS...

Jenn Lombari does a video for "Driving With Your Ghost" a song about Patrick, her amazing dog, who we all fell in love with.

The video for Eddie Japan's song "Time Machine" has Greg Hawkes (of the Cars) playing on it.

Brix'n Mortar showed their stuff on Sonic Lobotomy.

Moving Targets had a video with scenes from their tours and the soundtrack is the new In The Dust album.

PODCASTS:

The Boston Groupie News was interviewed on the First Wave podcast from Asheville, NC. We had a great time talking about punk with host Peter Abzug. Click the First Wave logo to the right to get to podcast. We're on Show 23.

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico had Chris Horne and Lynda Mandolyn from Tiger Bomb on as guests.

Steev's next guest was Paul Kolderie who did much work at Fort Apache. Steev then had Mel Lederman of the group Victory at Sea in for a discussion, followed by Dana Colley of Morphine and Vapors Of Morphine. For his final show of the month Steev has Chris Anzalone. Chris has much to talk about, his drumming career and the new ownership of Stereos Jack's in Ball Square.

Anngelle Wood is interviewed on the podcast Authentic Leadership for Every Day People. There is a lot of Rock and Roll Rumble insights.

Lou Mansdorf of Rum Bar Records has a lot to say and he does a lot too. That meant he needed a two-parter interview when they talked to him on the Born Too Late podcast on WMFU.

Jay Allen had his 60th Birthday party at The French American Club in Waltham. Bands doing short sets were Justine and The Unclean, Tom Baker's Double Down, Muck and The Mires, Stop Calling Me Frank, The Shang-Hi-Los, The Spackles, Jay Allen and The Archcriminals, Spiller, The Dogmatics

Nora Forster, wife of John Lydon dies.

Seymour Stein of Sire Records died. He was responsible for so many records that we love.

John Keegan gave us coverage of The Jungle show with Kingshot, Happy Little Clouds, Galaxy Cake, American Ocelot.

Chelsea Curve won their night at the Rumble.

It's DJ interviewing DJ when Skybar quizzes Joanie Lindstrom on his WMFO Rising Show.

On WMFO A Crash Course for the Ravers had the Classic Ruins do a live set in the studio. Songs included: "I Can't Spell Romance", "You Don't Love Me No More", "Labatts", "Heart Attack" and "Lights Out".

The Chelsea Curve and One Fall are set up for the Rock'n'Roll Rumble Finals at Sonia's in May

The Belforge Art Center in Medfield announced their summer schedule. It's a boost for the community and the arts. The big show is Buffalo Tom later in the year.

MUSIC...

Answerman released their digital single "No Complaints". They released an album later in the year.

Mad Painter released the album Splashed. Kenne Highland is on bass. It's sixties influenced rock.

American Ocelot had the album Million Things.

Key of Caustic had a single "Where Did It Go". They released an album later this year.

The Hi-End released a cover of the Dictators "Stay With Me" that sounds like it was written for them. They have a few singles posted on Bandcamp and before the year is out there will be an album.

Glowbox gave us a digital single on Bandcamp "The Joke's On You".

One of our fave groups Today Junior released a 12 song self titled album

He proves unstoppable!! Mach Bell had a new song "Power Fever" with his group Mach Bell Experience.

Sunshine Riot's new four song EP Loud, Bright, Violent was recorded in Chicago by Steve Albini.

David Goolkasian, from The Elevator Drops, joined Heather Joy Morgan in a new group named Lovesick. which have a new album Hoping This Is The End.

MAY

Moving Targets toured Japan from May 3 to May 8.

Saturday night The Dogmatics, A Dogumentary played at the Boston International Film Festival at a sold out Brattle Theatre. The film is shown during the rest of the year going from film festival to film festival. In December the Dogmatics play in conjunction with the film in California.

A Crash Course for the Ravers DJ when Brian Young had a car accident. He had a bang on the head and a sprained wrist. He was back to Crash Course on WMFO the next week.

Another venue!!! Deep Cuts located at 21 Main St., Medford opened up. They had some great shows for the rest of the year. Breweries are the new rock venues.

Skybar had the group Key of Caustic on for a lively interview. He also played the new Sapling song "Snake Charmer" and the new cover of "Bye Bye Love" of the Cars by Holy Smoke.

One Fall in their first year as a band won the Rumble.

Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth published his biography Sonic Life.

Still recovering from a car accident Brian Young had Mach Bell as a guest on A Crash Course for the Ravers.

Information came out that 290 North Beacon would be the new home of the displaced bands from the Sound Museum. It's almost hard to believe it's true.

Jim Sullivan has been Boston's leading critic for decades. he has collected his writings in two volumes named Backstage & Beyond: 45 Years of Rock Chats and & Rants.

We went to Ed Reimer's Studio to catch Richie Parsons do his "last punk recordings". The songs we heard come out later this year.

Aaron Perrino, the singer for Sheila Devine divulged his plan to open a restaurant called The Bohemian Club in Salem.

John Keegan was playing with his group Crow Follow at the Starlite in Southbridge, MA. He reported and got photos of the other groups Minibeast, Sapling and host Nikita Le Femme.

Keegan also went up to Geno's in Maine to catch the English group Sharp Class. On the bill is Muck and the Mires, Tiger Bomb, Chelsea Curve.

Algy Ward, bassist for the Saints and the Damned for a while.

Brian Coleman of Want List Records procured Brother Cleve's record collection.

Pauline Murry who made such a big impression as singer for Penetration published a new bio Life's A Gamble.

VIDEOS ...

We thought the video and song "Still Breathing" by blindspot is one of the best of the year. Video below left.

The Chelsea Curve gave us a video for their first post album single release "How Can I (Resist You)?" Video above right.

Kurt Baker had a video/song of "Anchors Up" from a forthcoming album, Rock and Roll Club.

PODCASTS...

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico got Bootleg Dan on the show. Dan gets lots of attention this year and is very busy booking shows.

After a few preliminary singles Answerman released the whole Black Light Poster album.

We are stunned how Blame It On Whitman have progressed when we hear their new EP Bait.

Huck 2 release "Star" another song recorded at Woolly Mammoth.

The Downhauls new EP Scream Into the Void gets good reviews and lots of airplay.

Girl With A Hawk's released their is "Romantic." To us it has a Velvet Underground feel. The song gets good reviews and is a radio favorite for the rest of the year.

We were taken aback by Sapling's first album Amor Fati. It's so different and there's so many ideas to absorb that we needed time to take it in. What an introductory calling card. We still are trying to catch up with this group.

We liked "I Saw God", the new song by The Rupert Selection. It hits with a grungy sound.

The members of A Bunch of Jerks started the new group The Spackles. "Happy to See You" was the first of some really neat songs they gave us this year.

JUNE

Sapling had a long article in the local Worcester Magazine. The good news is that people seem to get their art rock approach and see it as refreshing and new.

Miracle Blood went on their first 'official' tour starting in Providence at Dusk on July 19th then to NY, OH, PA and ended in Boston at the Jungle.

The Boston Globe does an article on Dickie Barrett. They reveal his anti-vax stance costs him his job on Jimmy Kimmel and the end of his relationship with the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones. His new group is called Defiant.

Skybar's Rising show on WMFO had Justine Covault and Janet Egan King of Justine and the Unclean in to talk about their new album. This is one of the last public moments for Justine.

On Wednesday Smitt E Smitty took over On The Town with Mikey Dee for a WMFO Live Music Day preview.

Shock and disbelief were the two immediate responses to the news of Justine Covault's sudden death. Then there was heartbreak ... lots of heartbreak!!

John Keegan gave us a review and compilation slide show of the photos he had taken at a series of shows featuring ....Sisters of Mercy at Big Night Live, The Black Cheers, Scumbari, Modern Faces at Kyoto, Fucked Up at The Sinclair and Fuming Mouth , The FU's, American Nightmare at the Middle East Down.

Captain Easychord gave us a review of the Midway matinee with Frank Rowe solo, the Ballbusters followed by The Thigh Scrapers and capping it off the classic Classic Ruins.

New York's Jessie Malin of D Generation fame had an inoperable spinal injury and is paralyzed from the waist down. Jesse, known for helping others, needed help himself.

Rock'N Boston started up. It's a video platform that posts Boston music both live and film. There is some original content also.

Dan Kopko decides he's not busy enough with The Shang Hi Los, Watts, The Peppermint Kicks, and The Amplifier Heads. So he started a solo project under the moniker Danny the K.

John Doe of X had the lead in a new remake of 1950's D.O.A., a classic film noir. To suit its origins it's shot in black and white.

RIP Jack Hickey of the Turbines.

Donald Holland who started ManRay and Hi Fi Pizza died.

Tom Hostage who played guitar on some Hummingbird Syndicate albums died.

In Your Ear opened a new store at 28 Market Street, Warren, RI, that's in addition to their current location at 462 Main Street, which is just a block away and packed with thousands of discounted CDs, LPs, and cassettes.

PODCASTS...

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico gets Alejandro Necochea from Bang Camaro, Worshiper and Township into the studio for an interview.

VIDEOS...

A video of the song "Hold On" by Rebuilder. See above.

"Cool Imposter" was the new song/video by Muck and the Mires. Half cartoon and half live action but all fun.

John Powhida's new song "Knoxville" has a backstory. It's ripped from the headlines. He got some attention with this.

Stupidity from Sweden who are on Red on Red records has a video for their song "Fortune Teller".

Frank Rowe started a new project going. My Little Castle is seven solo new acoustic songs, available on a few platforms. The songs were recorded at Woolly Mammoth.

The Signal Light was last album by Justine and the Unclean as we will find out.

The Gypsy Moths had a real nostalgic number in "Tilt-A-Whirl" about a ride at Paragon Park in Nantasket Beach

Brad Marino released a new digital single "Ramones and Stones" that tells you that Brad loves the two groups above all others.

Sapling did a set on the show On the Town With Mikey Dee. The group made things easy by posting the set on their Bandcamp page

The False Positives really hit their stride with their latest single "Leaves a Mark".

We heard the first song "Roller Derby Girl" from Danny the K and it's a winner. There's a video that goes with it also.

It's another strong song from Screw Cart with "Road Trip".

"People Like You" was the first song we hear from Brix'n Mortar's new album Something Ain't Right on WTF Records.

The Cretins released a four song EP We Haven't Heard of You Either that was recorded in 1998 but never released till now.

Adventure Set released a five song demo recorded in 1982 - 83.

JULY

Windle Davis from Human Sexual Response and partner to Dini Lamot passed away.

We heard from the Brooklyn Museum about their planned exhibit Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines which will run from November 17, 2023-March 31, 2024. It includes Dirt Magazine and The Boston Groupie News!!

Stereo Jack's won the 2023 Best Record Store in Boston Magazine.

TREE was playing everywhere - north shore, south shore and in town. They played the Jay Potts memorial show at the Magic Room. Adam 12 at WBOS did an interview with Dave Tree. For the rest of the year TREE gigs incessantly.

The Dogmatics were all over the place taking advantage of their Dogumentary. They were all over the place back in the day too. They've posted the entire set from their in studio live set at WERS from 1984. It's a smoking set.

Captain Easychord took in a Bootleg Dan booked show at The Square Root. It was American Ocelot, The Grip Weeds from New Jersey, and Fling. Check it out here.

John Cooper Clarke got recognition from his home town of Salford, England this week. They gave him their "Freedom of the City" for "His remarkable literary contributions.

What a gorgeous piece of work How Much Art Can You Take? turned out to be. There are reams of Philin Phlash photos. Nancy Barile has collected the essays or short memories that tell the band story and give you a sense of what the group members went through at the time. It’s a hardcover 10 inch square cover that models after a vinyl album cover.

PODCASTS...

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico uploaded two shows with hardcore legends. First up was Chris Doherty of Gang Green/Jerry's Kids and Bryan Jones of Jerry Kids.

The other show was Bob Cenci of Jerry's Kids.

VIDEOS...

Linnea's Garden's new video for "In the City" featured Carissa Johnson.

It was more impressive work from Evil Felipe with a simple but effective video for "Shadow Work" off their album Into the Ivy.

Kurt Baker gave us a video for "Rock'n Roll Club." Kurt said of the song: ""Rock N Roll Club" is an ode to the live music venue - most notably, the dingy, dark, stale beer-smelling, sticker/poster-adorned walls of your local rock n' roll club."

Danny the K’s (Dan Kopko) “Candy Crush” is the song of the summer!! It probably sounds best on the beach from a transistor radio. It starts with a tinkling loop of an ice cream truck jingle but with a big bass drum kicking in. The power crunching guitars fill in next.

WATD has their fifth Rock the Lot show. The bands were The Chelsea Curve, The New Frustrations and Warthog. Chris Atwood of the Alternative show (Friday 6:15 -10 pm)...and there's a video.

Somerville Grooves announced it was moving. New name will be Green Street Grooves when it moves to Melrose. The rent forced them out of Somerville.

MUSIC....

Finally we get the whole Brix'n Mortar album Something Ain't Right. Powerful stuff

We loved the Rum Bar Records group Lemon Drop Gang with their "Johnny is a Jerk" which does what "Gordon is a Moron" did decades ago.

Kid Gulliver's new 8 song album came out. It's what we expect of the band now…solid pop delights.

Glowbox released "Go Like Hell" which is good example of the pop they play effortlessly.

AUGUST

Jamie Reid who made the instantly recognizable ransom note art work for the cover of the Sex Pistols album and several singles passed away. His collage of God Save the Queen is one of the most influential images of its time.

Skybar had the Gypsy Moths in the studio for an interview and live set.

Purchase Street Records in New Bedford was voted best record store on the South Shore in the South Shore Almanac.

We had the sad, sad news that Michele Haber, lead guitarist for The Bristols had passed away.

Liz Borden of Lizzie Borden and the Axes moved to Hollywood to take up an acting career. She's been in a bunch of films. Now one of those can be seen on Amazon Prime. It's The 3rd Annual Matricher Falls International Film Festival. Liz says "This film is to film festivals what Spinal Tap is to rock bands."

Brian Young had the Va Va Voodoos as a guest on A Crash Course for the Ravers. The group is from Troy, NY. They play a primitive garage style. Bootleg Dan booked them at the Square Root.

Humanoids don't gig often these days. John Keegan caught them in fine form at the Midway with The Electric Street Queens and Dyr Faser. Click here to get the review.

VIDEOS...

Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys love to dress up on stage. That stagecraft makes them suitable for videos big time, like in "Goth Beach". Now we have the sexy "Keep My Head".

Looking Glass War got lots of attention this year. Want to know why? Check out the lyric video for "I Can Tell By the Cars".

The Drop Nineteens are back! They haven't released anything since 1994. Their new album Hard Light is on Wharf Cat Records. The leading single "Scapa Flow" is out with a video.

The Rat Tales podcast got Fred Pineau (Atlantics, Little Billy Lost) into the studio for an interview. Fred has been on the scene from the beginning and has played in tons of clubs.

Paul Armstrong gets a Zoom interview by Matthew Street. Before 1.4.5. Paul was in The Flashcubes and their new album Pop Masters, coming out on August on Big Stir Records. Video below left.

Dave Tree is on the New York Hardcore Chronicles Live. Video above right.

PODCASTS...

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico interviewed Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses, Breeders and Belly. Steev scooped up another high profile act with Juliana Hatfield.

Steev was on a streak. He had Greg Norton from Husker Du to face the grilling.

We get the first chance to hear The Elastic Glam Show from West Barnstable, MA, because it's posted on Mixcloud. We find there's a female Glam group called Slady! We made it our duty to hear (and post) this show every week.

Al Quint's Sonic Overload always gives you plenty of hardcore to digest. We really like the punk sets he plays too. This week he opened with the Swell Maps doing "Let's Build a Car." One set he played: Jayne County and the Electric Chairs - "Rock 'n Roll Resurrection," Poles - "CN Tower", Eater - "Outside View."

Brian Young on A Crash Course for the Ravers show had Ray Paul on as a guest. Ray Paul gave Boston some Power Pop in the early punk years.

Saturday night was WRPS Rocks - Scholarship Fundraiser: A Dogumentary & The Dogmatics at Rockland High School Auditorium and The Dogmatics did a set after the film.

The Prozacs' new EP We Scream came out. It's pop punk from the best.

The Winter Project had three EP's on Bandcamp. Now they've upgraded to a 10 song album with Chasing the Light.

The Dutch Tulips released the intriguing "Gold Chain."

The duo Kooked Out came out with their album Vis Viva It's bright, punchy and surfy.

Brad Marino's latest was "Lucy" and it got good airplay.

Kurt Baker teased with another pre-album single. "She Don't Wanna Be Alone." It's gorgeous pop.

Nick from Nick & the Adversaries/Lost City Angels had a new project, and album, called Team Doomsday, a collaboration between Nick and Scott Mx Turner from New Orleans.

SEPTEMBER

The Fuzztival came back. It was September 15 and 16 (Friday and Saturday) at the Armory in Somerville.

The SSD photo/essay book, How Much Art Can You Take? Book Launch was at the Aloft Hotel on September 16th!

We didn't think there was such a thing as an official Punk Rock Week but the Boston Public Library had one. They had a week (September 16 to 22) of Punk activities at the Parker Hill Library

Two local companies have joined forces to create Source Audio's Vertigo Tremolo guitar pedal. It includes six unique tremolo effects designed by Mission of Burma guitarist Roger Miller. The graphics on the pedal are from the album VS.

Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom was writing a book about The Cars. He was working with Greg Hawke, David Robinson and Elliot Easton. He invited anyone who thought they could contribute to the story to contact him.

John Keegan took in the low key vibes at a Sunday stripped down show at the Worthen House in Lowell to see The Darlings (Simon Ritt and Kelly Knapp) with Linda Viens and Dan Coughlin of Girl With A Hawk. John reminds us that "Lowell is closer, cheaper and cooler than you remember. "

The club Toad got a new owner. The good news was that they wouldn't change anything. A gift from the gods!

Crow Follow was signed to Rock Garden Records. Crow Follow includes BGN's photographer extraordinaire John Keegan on sax!

VIDEOS...

Geoff Palmer slipped out a video of the song "Give It Up" which was leading to an album release on October 20 on Stardumb Records. Soon he has another video for "In the Groove". Video below left.

The Jacklights gave us a new video for the title song fromt heir forthcoming EP Final Girl. The video is above right.

Little Billy Lost came out with a new video out for "Dance Angelina Dance." That song got its share of radio play in town and on internet radio shows.

Far Out Magazine quotes the BGN 1980 interview with Jonathan Richman. Picasso was an asshole? Maybe.

There was the British TV series Pistol based on Steve Jones' book Lonely Boy. Now there was I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol, a film on based on Glen Matlock's book.

We got a pre-release of the New Frustrations upcoming album Lifeline and it's crankin' pop rock.

Treat Her Right has a reunion show at Sally O'Brien's.

The Boston Globe had an article about the SSD/Phil'in Phlash book How Much Art Can You Take?

Joanie Lindstrom gave us a report on Vintage Crop from Australia who played their first set in America at the Lily Pad. Al Quint was the DJ for the night and locals Landowner were on the bill. CLICK HERE for the story and photos.

Our ears perked right up when we heard DMZ's "Ball Me Out" on Ron's Monday Late Risers Show. It wasn't DMZ!, it was a cover by the French group NC Five. It is rough, but it should be rough to be real.

PODCASTS...

The busy and productive Dan Kopko was interviewed on WFMO's Born Too Late Podcast.

Al Quint started his Sonic Overload podcast with a set of songs by The Effigies in remembrance of John Kezdy who died this week.

The podcast Punk Till I Die interviewed Geoff Palmer who lives in Madison, WI now.

The Jacklights told their story on Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico.

Steev also logs a session with Corey Loog Brennan of Bullet LaVolta and The Lemonheads.

Skybar's Rising show had Key of Caustic on for an interview. The band is one of the few that started at the same time as Covid and was able to grow and get some attention despite that.

Also on WMFO this time on Mike on the Mic show at 9am Saturday morning had Randy Black in talking exclusively about Limbo Race. This was a must for fans of the group.

Skybar's Rising had Rick Barton as guest. The minute Rick got on mic he started spilling stories of The Outlets.

We loved our weekly hit of Glam from the Elastic Glam Breakfast Show. Along with the familiar T Rex and David Bowie we took in new songs to us like The Midnight Callers with "New York Tramp," Glitter Wizard doing "Gliterati," TAFKAVince with "Magazine Pages" and The Struts doing "Too Good At Raising Hell."

This Day in History released the indie/psych album Years of Wear and Tear.

Already Dead records a version of the old labor/strike song "Bread & Roses".

The Last Ones' drop the 45 "I Don't Wanna Be Right"/"I Warned Ya" on colored vinyl.

Stars Like Ours came out with the killer EP Better Every Day.

The Hi-End had their 11 cut album, Nothing to Hide, up on Bandcamp. It's a line up of unrelenting rocking songs. All in a row you feel like you're getting hammered.

Paper Tigers were right on the verge of their new album Charmer. The latest single "Into That Good Night" is a typical powerful song by this serious group.

Justin Keane from the duo Canyons and Locusts took his minimal sound solo under the name Jack Graham. The new album Pentecost Flame and Sepulchre is just Justin singing with drums and guitar.

Gretchen Shae and the Middle Eights' new single was "Pretty Little Lies." It was their first release since the excellent "Skeleton Closet."

The Gypsy Moths are such a neat local band! They are so charming and appealing. They release their album Sounds On, the elegant writing and playing, goes a long way.

Barrence Whitfield and the Savages' new album Glory (recorded in May) came out on FOLC records, tremendous! The group is cranking.

The Evil Streaks' new single "Satan's Satellite" is garage on steroids.

OCTOBER

It was a big disappointment when the Dead Boys cancelled their Middle East show. Cheetah Chrome was down and out with the flu. They did play two days later in Providence. Captain Easychord was there. The night started with 2023 Rumble winners One Fall, then it was Provy locals Midnight Creeps. Then it was Glider, who covered La Peste's "Stuck on the Same Refrain", and finally Dead Boys. Cheetah still was battling the flu and the set ended early but the crowd was slam dancing like crazy while it lasted.

The New England Music Hall of Fame night at the Regent Theater in October and Captain Easychord was there too. Captain talks about The Atlantics, Mach Bell (in the Hall of Fame), a moving tribute to Justine Covault, The Bentmen, Girl With a Hawk. Angela Gillis, Rick Berlin and more.

Ducky Carlile, producer/drummer died and will be missed on the Boston music scene.

Skybar had Cold Expectations as guests on his show. They play their new cover of Lou Miami's "I Live With Ghosts".

The Len Price 3 from England play the Burren and John Keegan is there for the report.

A Crash Course for the Ravers had Muck and the Mires who had lots of news to catch up on.

Kurt Baker got into the radio biz…or buzz. His show, The Buzz Electric, is on the Underground Garage station on Sirius Radio

The Jacklights were on Skybar's Rising show.

Pop master Dwight Twilley dies.

VIDEOS...

We feel like we're in dreamland by getting new Nervous Eaters songs and videos regularly. Their newest song/video in October was is "Kelly's Sixteen," another classic Eaters effort and another quality video.

Kurt Baker's new album Rock 'N'Roll Club was getting closer to release. We got a video of one of the songs; "Bright Blue Sky."

The Scruffy the Cat documentary Take Me Away was just posted on September 24. It was an 18 minute long Harvard Film school project from 1987.

Color Killer did a great job with "High School Never Ends" by Bowling For Soup. They finished with the cover songs and will be working on new material.

Smitt E Smitty timed his latest effort to lead into Halloween. In "The Growler" video Smitty lets his inner animal out.

Local Music Now is a video show by Gretchen Shae. This week she had Sapling on. The band prove to be provocative, challenging, and innovative.

Dan Kopko released a video of the title song of his Danny The K EP "Cigarettes and Silhouettes."

Cold Expectations' video of Lou Miami's "(I Live With) Ghosts" was released

PODCASTS...

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico had Kurt Davis the lead singer from Bullet LaVolta and the Konks.

We now have glam in our lives every week with the Elastic Glam Breakfast podcast. There's so much good stuff this week. It's a whole bunch of new to us songs we love: Vera Bloom - "Eyes On You", Warwick - "Let's Get the Party Going", Roger Joseph Manning Jr - "Rockin' It Our Way", Royal Sugar - "Heels" and the Washington Flyers with "Another Saturday Morning".

Hard to believe but One Fall who won the Rock and Roll Rumble this year only played their first show last December. They released a 5 song EP, Spine First that we got an early listen to. "Rage/Quit" comes on like a herd of buffalos going over your head. The drummer, Caleb Wheeler, is a beast! It's an awesome EP.

Mach Bell announced he has a third book Rock Survival is coming out.

A GoFundMe page was set up for Tamora Gooding the drummer for Gene Dante & the Future Starlets, Magen Tracy & the Missed Connections and Axemunkee who had some emergency surgery and was unable to work during her long recovery.

MUSIC...

Getting over the loss of Justine Covault doesn't get any easier. There are always reminders because she was involved in so much of what we care about. Now, a Justine tribute song "Sister in Crime" by Jay Allen is another reminder.

New album by Kurt Baker. For anyone else it would be a career high, for Kurt Baker, his new album Rock N' Roll Club is one of many. He puts out these amazing pop collections time after time.

The Beatersband from Italy released their new EP 52 Ways to Murder. It's four Misfits songs. The Beatersband bring out the fifties/sixties influences in the songs.

The Jacklights drop The Final Girl EP.

The Looking Glass War got plenty of air play with their first two songs ("Arrive, " I Can Tell By The Cars"). Now they have two more for the Where Neon Meets the Rain EP.

There's another tribute to Justine Covault: Stop Calling Me Frank came out with "My Band On Her T-shirt." It's about seeing Justine wearing a SCMF t-shirt at a show ... and the photo on the digital single is the proof.

Crow Follow had a new single. "In Between" has all the Crow Follow earmarks. They always have their signature smoldering sound, this time the hooks seem secure in place, their group sound even more assured.

Rum Bar Records released new 42 cut….42 cut!!!...sampler After School Special.

Richie Parsons releases "Shit Show" off his punk EP Rhymes With Rock

Canyons and Locusts do a lot with just two instruments and they've had a signature sound since the first single. Their newly released song "Buck Dharma's Eyes" has that sound.

The Va Va Voodoos from Albany did some local shows. Their new release is a cover of Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso". They pack it with echoed up grungy noise and make it their own. It's dark and menacing. Nice twist

The Spackles came out with a new digital single. "The Man With the X-ray Eyes" has a glam feel and plenty of Bowie touching points. They also covered the "Theme Song to The Blob"

Brad Marino's album is Grin & Bear It. It's no surprise that it is filled with rocking good tunes.

Geoff Palmer's An Otherwise Negative Situation is a continuation of the quality material he's been releasing for years now.

Double Star describe themselves as 'Oddball pop rock with horns and harmonies' and we agree with that. They also are a ska band but they tend to leave that out sometimes. Their EP is called Late At Night, Inside My Head

The years seem to just melt away when you hear the new Dogmatics song "I Can't Get Over You". The song is so good and this was quite a year for the Dogs!

Shiverlane's new single "I Get Nervous" checks off a lot of boxes for us. The best thing is that the band has a natural raw garage/punk sound.

The New Frustrations record the best work of the bands career. Recorded at Woolly Mammoth.

Tom "Satch" Kerans released "Those Lies." Tom name checks the Kingsmen, the Sonics and the Knickerbockers as influences. We get those early/mid-sixties vibes for sure, especially the Knickerbockers.

Cindy Lawson had a new release Don't Come Crying To Me (on Rum Bar Records). It's very much influenced by early sixties rock, but Cindy puts in grit and punch that's not in the music originally.

NOVEMBER

Third Annual Benefit Coleman/Linnea show is on November 24 at The C Note in Hull.

Brian Young on A Crash Course for the Ravers had the Cocktail Slippers (Norway) and the Diamond Dogs (Sweden) in as guests. They both played the Burren with Soria.

Bootleg Dan show at the Burren was a big hit. John Keegan was at those shows. For a few days The Cocktail Slippers and Diamond Dogs had the local rock aficionado's attention. John also writes up Ivan Julian who played the Burren. Then there was one more show - Handsome Dick Manitoba of the Dictators at Sammy's Patio in Revere. See below.

Rat Scabies was back in the Damned line up nd they are going to tour as the original live up. We'll see how long this lasts.

JJ Gonson had her photography show (some early Kurt Cobain shots) at the Event Them Gallery in Medford.

The I Want You had a video of "My Favorite Dive" that was filmed at the Sligo Pub. Sadly that bar closed after 75 years!

The reissued SSD album The Kids Will Have Their Say was released on November 17 on Trust Records. There's now a video for the remastered version of "Boiling Point".

Brad Marino released a video for "Lucy" a song off his latest album Grin & Bear It.

The Nervous Eaters come out with another song/video for "Talkk". There's no group local or national that has been as productive as the Eaters this last few years. These videos and songs are coming out like clockwork. View below.

Weakened Friends released song/video of "Awkward." The video is set in a bedroom decked out like a stage. A place where a person could act it all out.

The Amplifier Heads released "Something Went Down" a new song/video. Jen D'Angora sings the song and is featured in the video.

J Prozac had a new video for "We Scream" from the Prozacs EP of the same title on River Monster Records

Rebuilder had a video for their song "Hanging On A Telephone, Part II" that incorporates scenes from one of their Sinclair shows. You see the audience, the band rehearsing and singer Sal Ellington going down into the audience and giving out hugs.

We continue to color our week with the Saturday Elastic Glam Show.

Rock Garden Records had their coming out party at the Brighton Music Hall. They got a good publicity in the Boston Herald with an article by Brett Milano.

We are sad to hear that Shred City in Wilmington has closed its doors. We interviewed owner Tommy Ashcraft back in January.

We used to go crazy for Endation and were sad when they broke up. Well ... They announced they are back together!!

Gloucester now has a new music venue - The Cut. It's got a bar, serves food and will have entertainment. It looks very cool. The opening day/show is none other than with Willie Loco Alexander on Saturday, January 13. It's his huge birthday celebration!!

MUSIC...

Linnea's Garden dropped the Mirrors EP. It gets good radio play and attention for the rest of the year.

Rob Moss played with Government Issue in the 80s and went on to other bands and has done some solo work. He grew up in D.C. but is based in Boston now. He has a new album coming out under the name Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin. The first single was "We Just Don't Know."

Girl With A Hawk will have a five song EP out soon. Meanwhile they've released "Feel Me" which is a song about Justine Covault.

Hammered Saint have two songs up on Bandcamp. "Dirty Work" and "Steal the Show" both have a hard edge to them that we like.

We go bonkers for "Aeroplane Driver" by Shiverlane sounds like a theme song to a Saturday morning show in our dreams. In actuality it's about the songwriters father.

Captain Easychord has been a presence on the scene for a few years. He's in a few groups like the Kenne Highland Airforce and Glider. When not doing that, he will be at the shows and taking photos and doing some reports for the BGN. Now, he has a digital single of his own on Rock Garden Records. "Rain On My Parade" is an old style moody ballad.

Magic City is a new Boston group. They introduced themselves with the song "Roadrunner Vs Your Mother".

Dream of a Man in a Top Hat have their fifth song out now. These two ex-Native Tongue members still sound cutting edge. "The Bad Side" bubbles and lurches along with some hard guitar crunching with it.

Dave Herlihy and Alan Petitti from O Positive did a version of the Lemon Pipers "Green Tambourine." What a great job.

DECEMBER

Shane MacGowen of the Pogues died this week. That's a big loss!! Early punks would remember his first group the Nipple Erectors who later changed their name to the Nips.

Killing Joke guitarist Kevin 'Geordie' Walker died. His post punk guitar work was a touchstone for many.

Brian Young on A Crash Course for the Ravers had Linnea Herzog and Meredith Bee of Galaxy Cake as guests.

The Mike on the Mic show on WMFO on Saturday morning had Steve Cataldo for an interview. It was excellent, hope you didn't miss it!

The Thirsty First Tavern in Lowell is up and running after being forced to relocate. Rock on!

Scott "Top Ten" Kempner of the Dictators died at 69 from complications from early onset dementia.

SS Decontrol has gotten a lot of attention with the rerelease of The Kids Will Have Their Say. This month they're in Guitar World magazine.

The BGN is in an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum in NYC. Miss Lyn takes a trip to take it in. See below.

Boston fanzines at Copy Machine Manifesto at Brooklyn Museum CLICK PHOTO for the BGN report on the show.

It's a long story but The Dogmatics finally got their money from Brown Ticket! They had a segment on NBC Channel 10 that tells the story.

John Lydon is in the AARP newsletter....a moment to mark for punk.

John Keegan reports on the show at the Middle East with Brad Marino Band, The Plimsouls were choice with our own Anthony Kaczynskii on vocals and guitar, and Garret Vandermolen of Speed Fossil on bass along with the Josie Cotton band!

Plimsouls at the Middle East CLICK PHOTO for the BGN report on the show.

Rich Gilbert moved to Italy. Ciao!

Buffalo Tom performed the theme song to the new sitcom Extended Family coming to your TV screen soon.

The I Want You had a video for their song "The Pixies (Just Pixies)." Since the song is about the Pixies they decided to do the video like the Pixies, specifically, the Pixies video of "Head On" which was a Jesus and Mary Chain cover.

FEEP had a video for their song "Salem." In the video someone mysterious messes with their stage electronics and then the plastic androgynous inflatable alien takes over the band. Lots of fun.

"Be My Baby" is a romantic song for the ages. The Beatersband from Italy beefed up the song and lets the bass carry most of the load, that made it a romantic punk version.

Evil Felipe shared videos of them in the process of creating. The latest is the making of their video for Summer Rain (above left). In the other video it's humbling to see the group in a home studio recording and mixing the music that became their Into The Ivy album. Video is above right.

The latest Canyons and Locusts song/video is "Art Bell." It's a stunning video too. See below.

Duplex Planet was a fanzine in the eighties. Now the whole Duplex Planet story is becoming a film by Beth Harrington called Beyond the Duplex Planet. Harrington sang with Jonathan Richman for many years.

The in-studio live performance of Linnea's Garden on WERS was posted on YouTube. A perfect opportunity to see the group and hear their latest material from the Mirrors EP.

The Elastic Glam show was in the Christmas spirit all through December. One show began with T.Rex's "Christmas Bop". Later it was tribute band Slady doing "Slade is For Life (Not Just for Xmas)", The Volts with "Do You Remember Christmas" and original Slade member Don Powell and the Occasional Flames with their "Ding Dong Merrily." We have to say the glam stomping songs suit Christmas just fine.

Blowing Smoke had on Max Davis from Blame It On Whitman in for an interview. The number one thing that the interview confirmed for us was that the "Whitman" that deserves the blame is the town of Whitman not a person or any other thing. The band had a practice place in the town. Max is the son of Curt Davis of Bullet LaVolta/Konks.

Another week Steev had Jaime Sciarappa and Chris Foley of SS Decontrol. Pete Cassani from The Peasants proved to be a lively interview for Steev.

MUSIC...

Rum Bar Records got a real gem with Tony Marsico (Plugz/Cruzados) and his 6 song EP Sleepwalker.

Rum Bar has yet another big sampler. 31 songs on The Nice Price

Yet more Rum Bar news, there's a new album by Jittery Jack and Amy Griffin.

Bob Moss says he's a nice guy, it's just that he's got a bunch of problems following him around. That's what the lyrics to Bob Moss and the Skin-Tight Skin say in his new song "I Got Lots of Problems."

Abbie Barrett had a well done Christmas song with "Christmas Star," a very adult/romantic song.

It was the seventh Christmas for the Miracle on Comm Ave series. This album is a fund raiser for Child's Play, a charity to buy video games and other toys for terminally sick children.

The Mal Thursday Quintet do up the Treat Her Right song "Picture of the Future." Original member David Champagne is playing on the recording.

Richie Parsons' new punk EP Rhymes With Rock is released in full. Being that Parsons helped form Boston punk, this is a big deal.

Girl With A Hawk released Keep'er Lit. The group got high praise for the EP and much airplay.

Huck 2 have been releasing some fine singles for about a year now. Those singles were released as part of the new album Soylent Red, White and Blue.

Screw Cart's new song "Mudroom" might seem like a harmless romp….but this is Screw Cart.

Brotherhood, the DYS 1983 album originally on X-Claim records is having a special re-edition on Bridge 9.

It's hard to stand out on a compilation with 40 other bands. The Glimmer Stars from Los Angeles did that on Rum Bar's After School Special album with "Pictures of You." They now have a four song EP

Final sad news, a huge loss for the Boston Hardcore community was the passing of Jimmy Flynn, CEO of Hardcore Stadium on Christmas Day at only 40. Jimmy booked tons of great hardcore shows in the area and was a much loved character. He will be sorely missed!!