The BGN News Archive

Newest Nervous Eater - Carissa Johnson

We got BIG NEWS from the Nervous Eaters this week. Guitarist Adam Sherman has revealed that bassist Brad Hallen is stepping down and Carissa Johnson is stepping in.

Carissa has been a fan favorite since she won the 2017 Rock and Roll Rumble. She’s released four albums, the last on Rum Bar. Having Carissa in the band is a generational switch also, but the Eaters have done this before with bassist Nick Hebditch (son of long time former Nervous Eater member Alan Hebditch).

The Nervous Eaters have only made the right decisions for a long time now. They have been forward thinking and it’s all worked their way. Right now we have a big interest in hearing the group with Carissa playing. That’s going to be a blast.

Meanwhile the Eaters' label Wicked Cool Records will continue to release singles until the next album release this summer.

David John Woods died on Friday 1/12. We meet David on the scene being at the same shows repeatedly. He was a music fanatic in a way that is so familiar and understandable to us as fellow music fanatics. He would be at every Real Kids show. He was born on August 25, 1960.

There’s no Elastic Glam show on Mixcloud to post this week, or from here on out!! Sethyspice says, “Sorry Glam Fam... But I am unable to post this weekend's David Bowie tribute show. Mixcloud wants me to update my channel to premium and charge you, the listeners, a monthly subscription to post the show. I put a lot of love into making this show, and don't want to charge anyone to listen to it.”

Sethyspice is working on posting the show on YouTube. In the future you can hear the show on Friday nights online at Lemonadio. Another chance is to listen on Saturday nights at 11pm on WBAM radio.

Alas....more no longers.....Key of Caustic is calling it quits.

Their statement: "It is with such great sadness that I am announcing that Key of Caustic will be taking an indefinite hiatus.
Thank you to all the DJ’s, radio stations, podcasts, venues etc. that supported us over the last couple years or so. It meant the world.
Although it’s the end for KoC, it’s certainly not the end for me. The music of KoC will live on, but for now, the band will not.

KoC were together only a few years but had a nice string of digital singles and then the Unleashed album. They were playing punk that hit the mark every time for us.

Listen to “So Lonely” from Unleashed. It’s punk with a nice feeling to it.

Looks like Patti Smith has recovered after being hospitalized in Italy a while ago, enough that she has been active.

People magazine says she made a speech at the National Board of Review Gala on Thursday 1/11/24. She did several shows at the end of December in Chicago and NYC.

We’re glad to see Patti (now 77 years old) healthy and in the swing of things. We always remember Patti’s surprise appearance at the Art Mart in Jamaica Plain in March of 2011.

Here’s another goodbye to Providence’s Dusk. The article is from Motif magazine. It has a rundown of this final month of shows.

Meanwhile Thirsty First Lowell is havcing a Grand RE-Opening on Feb 10 starting at 6PM!

VIDEOS......

Buffalo Tom has been having a successful rejuvenation of their career. They now have a new song “Helmet” that will be on their next album titled Jump Rope. We think it’s impossible not to like this song.

The video shows them live on stage. Love the Modern Lovers shirt Bill Janovitz has on.

RADIO......

Skybar had Andrea Gillis in for an interview. We found out that Andrea was singing funk music when she was young. Later she was singing blues material at Marketplace Café near Quincy Market. She didn’t start a band until she was 27. She eventually found the Abbey Lounge and started playing there with her group Red Chord. She soon led solo projects.

They talked a bit about Justine Covault. Andrea released “Leave the Light On”, which is a remarkable song and singing performance, on Red on Red. Andrea is a unique talent and always has stellar bands behind her. Skybar plays plenty of songs that bring that all home.

You can hear more Andrea Gillis on her Bandcamp page

To hear the show go to the WMFO schedule page Hit the Rising show on 8 to 10 pm on Tuesday, then hit the ‘archive’ button.

This Tuesday Jan 16 at 8pm on WMFO 91.5 FM Skybar has Linda Viens and Daniel Coughlin from Girl With A Hawk in for an interview and some live songs in the studio. Skybar will play the whole Keep ‘Er Lit EP also.

Saturday Brian Young did a set for drummer Matt Burns on A Crash Course for the Ravers. Included in the set were: Vatican Sex Kittens – “Be More Flamboyant”, Litehouse – “Higher”, Triple Thick – “She’s a Keeper”, and Classic Ruins – “He’s Got It.” It put us in a reflective mode. We thought of all the times we saw Matt through the years, all the clubs and all the friends enjoying the same music.

To hear the show go to the WMFO schedule page. Hit the Crash Course for the Raves show on Saturday at 1pm and then hit the ‘archive’ link.

On Thursday’s Late Risers Club Joanie Lindstrom played an Italian band doing a mash up of punk and 60’s rock. Lisa Beat and the Liars do a cover of “Sheena is a Beat Rocker” taking the Ramones and making it sound like it came from the English Invasion. Then they take “California Sun” and rename and reword it to become “Italian Sun”. They finish with “Little Latin Lupe Lu.” They would fit on a bill with Muck and the Mires!!

To hear Joanie’s Thursday LRC show go to the WMBR archive page hit the LRC show for Thursday 1/11.

On Sonic Overload Al Quint dedicated the show to Jimmy Flynn who died on Christmas Day. Jimmy was 40 years old, he booked so many hardcore shows under the banner Hardcore Stadium. Al played a few sets Jimmy’s favorite groups. One set had groups that Jimmy played in.

You can hear the show at Sonic Overload.

PODCASTS.........

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico had Jonathan Anastas the bassist of DYS in to talk about the rerelease of the 1983 DYS album Brotherhood on Bridge 9 Records.

The profits from the album will go toward the medical expenses of singer Dave Smalley. During his cancer treatments he contracted an infection in the hospital. Anastas gave much praise to Dave through the whole interview.

Anastas has great recall and gives plenty of details in telling the DYS story. He said that the band recorded at Radio Beat (Kenmore Square) because that was literally the only recording studio they knew. That was the place hardcore groups went.

The band has more material already recorded. They have a 40th anniversary of “Wolfpack” that just needs Dave Smalley’s vocal. In addition the song has some guest singers.

These days DYS is based in Los Angeles.

In another episode Steev had a lively discussion with Keith Bennett. Keith has been in a few bands Panzer Bastard, Death Ray Vision, and Casket Rats. He’s also worked at most local rock clubs. He was at Once for a while. He currently is at the Middle East. We were glad when he threw some shade on the concept of having cover groups playing on a Friday/Saturday night.

The Dogmatics looked like they had a ball in Los Angeles for the Punk Film Festival. They had some past members there for the film and the after film gig.

They were on a podcast out there called Punk Rock Demo. The Dogs have posted that interview on a YouTube post and that’s the easiest way to hear it.

The Dogmatics interview on Punk Rock Demo.

NEW MUSIC/CDs......

It’s been a while since we heard from Sundrifter. Their last album was 2019. They use a lot of labels to ID their sound like stoner rock, hard rock and psychedelic but they are very much their own thing. The combination of the group playing and the distinctive singing of Craig Peura evoke desert landscapes. The group doesn’t play a drone but their chord moves are minimal. Peura has a haunting voice that sometimes has Middle Eastern tonalities.

Right now they have the song “Begin Again” on Bandcamp in preparation for the release of their album An Earlier Time.

“Begin Again” is over six minutes; their songs tend to run longer than three minute pop tunes. It’s been years but we immediately got drawn into their world again. Every element of this song works for us. We got lost in the bass work a few times.

We’re glad to see them back because there’s really nowhere else to get this. We were much impressed when we saw them in 2017 and 2019

Evil Felipe have a new song out titled “Forever and a Day.” We recognize their group sound now and perk up just at that.

Forever and a Day is a relationship song and that makes it universal but also it seems specific to their generation. That’s a big plus with Evil Felipe, they are very much a group that reflects today’s concerns. They are headlining at the Palladium Upstairs in Worcester on February 3, with Good Sleepy, Day Glow Foxes, Please Deal With Me, and Square Loop! So catch them there.

You can hear the song below but you get a better understanding looking at the lyric video on YouTube

The group has a show on February 3 at the Palladium Upstairs in Worcester with Good Sleepy, Day Glow Foxes, Please Deal With Me, and Square Loop!

Rum Bar Records artists The Glimmer Stars now have their version of “Rollers Show” originally done by Nick Lowe. Here’s Nick talking about the song and why he wrote it

It was funny to hear this song in the throws of punk back in the day. It wallows in the Rollers sound and fan mania. The Glimmer Stars likewise immerse themselves in the whole package and there’s no sense of irony at all. They get in there and play the sweet pop and they love it.

This will be part of the album The Rise of the Glimmer Stars Rum Bar has lined up.

We know about The Mochines because Curt Florczak plays guitar in the band. Rum Bar Records is releasing their new album Modern Information.

The group tours a lot in the US and in Europe. Thus it makes sense that the album was recorded in Barcelona, Los Angeles and mastered in Cambridge, MA (New Alliance).

There are three cuts on Bandcamp now. They all rock like crazy! We like “Ran Out of Luck With Me.” Groups could use this song to see how to give a song momentum. This races to the very end.

And Rum Bar has gone punk! At least a little. It has Richie Parsons’ Rhymes with Rock album just out last month and now they have the group WIMP! from Rockford, Illinois with the album Black Sheep.

It’s an eight song album. There are three songs on Bandcamp now. It’s nice hearing a straight up punk album like this with no pretentions. “Yesterday” is our fave pick.

The whole album comes out February 2.

Here's a link to the Bandcamp page.

We’ve been to a share of Jittery Jack shows around town through the years. They all bring on warm memories. A lot of that comes back listing to Tonight’s the Night album on Rum Bar Records.

Jittery Jack along with guitarist Amy Griffin make Rockabilly all new again. They make it feel current and it glows with good feelings.

There’s so much packed into the title song “Tonight’s the Night” that you could just sit on that for a while. There is appeal for locals in “Tavern At the End of My Career”. The title comes from a comment from Corin Ashley when he played the Charlestown bar Tavern At the End of the World. There’s a little Chuck Berry in “Winter in New England”. “Avid Indoorsman” has some very clever lyrics to check out. Listening to the whole thing at once is the way to go. Then you have to go back and relisten to those insane riffs by Amy Griffen.

Dream of a Man in a Top Hat have a digital single titled “Dimmer Switch.” It’s a mindbender lyrically and musically. The music sounds like circus music that’s been put through the blender. There’s something in there that sounds like it’s running at ¼ speed or less. The melody is in the middle of this and remains a bit jaunty. Then the lyrics play around with the idea of a dimmer switch changing the light and what that does to your mind. The inner world and outer world are connected and confusing.

We found it lots of fun to listen to.

Hammered Saint have four songs up on Bandcamp that are covers that they recorded at their practice place.

They are “The Witch” by the Sonics, “Sex Beat” by Gun Club, “Sick on You” by the Boys (or further back – The Hollywood Brats) and “Thin White Line” by the Avengers.

Excellent choice of covers and shows the band’s influences. They sent the recordings to be professionally mixed by Hans Molnar, and Andy says "they came back sounding amazing."

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

January 19, 2024 (Friday) O Positive and Three Colors, are reuniting at the Paradise Rock Club (show at 8pm) for WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS-A Benefit Concert For A Friend In Need. The evening will raise funds for a friend’s medical bills in her battle against brain cancer. FB event page.

January 19, 2024 (Friday) Bootleg Dan presents American Ocelot, Elsewhere, The Holy Rollers. at The Square Root

January 19, 2024 (Friday) Azn Jujube, Galaxy Cake, Glutty, Corner Soul at The Jungle 8Pm

January 19, 2024 (Friday) Wargraves, Marianne Toilet and The Runs, Scarecrow Hill, Auzzy Blood at The Middle East Up

January 20, 2024 (Saturday) Key of Caustic, Jennifer Tefft & The Strange, Ski Bunny, Never Gonna Make It at The Midway 8PM

January 24, 2024 (Wednesday) Sweet Petunia, SiMoN (On Tour From Japan), Ivy Boy, Daphne Blue Underworld at The Silhouette

January 25, 2024 (Thursday) The Strangemen and Fast Tracks are playing Bakbar at Tempo restaurant, 494 Moody Street in Waltham. 8PM doors.

January 26, 2024 (Friday) Hooligan Holiday Night 1 - Suited and Booted with DJ Boss Hooligan, Stress The White Boy, DJ Ruben Doc Marten Soundsystem - MIddle East UP

January 26, 2024 (Friday) Mercury On Mars, The Zip Ups, Phantom Ocean at Faces Malden

January 27, 2024 (Saturday) HRT'S (Heather) Birthday Masqueerade with Hands of Spite, CE Skidmore & the DFB, KCUF, Shake, GHOST GRL at The Midway 8PM

January 27, 2024 (Saturday) Hi-End, Classic Ruins, CYNZ, Rearview Romantic at The Square Root

January 27, 2024 (Saturday) BikeTrasher, Miracle Blood, Neck Dive at Faces Malden - tix here!

January 27, 2024 (Saturday) Hooligan Holiday Night 2 - The Templars, Battle Ruins, Merauder, Violent Way, Powerhouse at The Paradise

February 3, 2024 (Saturday) The New Frustrations, The Instamatics, Wired for Sound at The Jungle, 4pm Matinee

February 3, 2024 (Saturday) Bootleg Dan presents The Sigmatics, Haxawald, The BickerSins at The Square Root.

February 3, 2024 (Saturday) Happy Little Clouds, Crow Follow, more TBA at The Jungle

February 3, 2024 (Saturday) TJ Welsh & The Wasted, The Gobshoites, Queens Reign at The Midway 8PM doors

February 4, 2024 (Sunday) Gossip Collar, Wake In Fright, The Brave Noise, Stress Balls at the Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callendar St Cambridge. All proceeds to the Jimmy Flynn Memorial Fund

February 7, 2024 (Wednesday) Pledge Pins, Nice Guys, Andy California at The Silhouette

February 7, 2024 (Wednesday) Jon Spencer, Tiger Bomb at Sun Tiki Studio, Portland, ME - FB page

February 8, 2024 (Thursday) The Dreadnoughts, The Gobshites, Mickey Rickshaw at The Burren - 7-9PM show.

February 9, 2024 (Friday) The Dreadnoughts, Mickey Rickshaw, The Pourmen at Stone Church, New Market, NH

February 10, 2024 (Saturday) Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight, Ex-Hyena, Looking Glass War at Faces Malden

February 10, 2024 (Saturday) The Grand RE-Opening of Thirsty First in Lowell with music by Matt Charrette, Motel Black and More TBA FB page to check as we get closer to the actual date.

February 10, 2024 (Saturday) The Dreadnoughts, Mickey Rickshaw, The McGunks at Askew in Provi, RI

February 17, 2024 (Saturday) State of the Union, Huck 2 at the Square Root presented by Bootleg Dan

February 17, 2024 (Saturday) Payphones, Hell Bech, KCUF, Jeff Rowe at Faces Malden

February 17, 2024 (Saturday) Warthog (Ramones Tribute), Tsunami of Sound, Bikini Whale (B52s Tribute), The Angry Debutantes at The Midway

February 25, 2024 (Sunday) LøbøHømbre, Pint Killer, The Hagglers, Shuriken at The Midway for a 3PM matinee show

March 2, 2024 (Saturday) Tj Welch & The Wasted, Hold Fast,| The McGunks,| State Of The Union for a 3PM Matinee at The Midway

March 2, 2024 (Saturday) Negative FX, Wrecking Crew. Wound Man, Savage Heads, Please Die, Eye Witness at The Middle East Down - all ages 1PM matinee show

March 16, 2024 (Saturday) Junkyard's 35th Anniversary Tour also on the bill Casket Rats at Koto Lowell (76 Merrimack St)

March 16, 2024 (Saturday) 13th Annual Joe Zippo Fund & Scholarship show with Mephiskapheles, Mamadou, The Riki Rocksteady All-Stars (appearing as a trio this show) with DJ sets by Breaux Silcio of Residency Records. At Salem Old Town Hall -7-11PM FB page

March 20, 2024 (Wednesday) Chinese Telephones, Constant Insult, Cigarette Camp & Blame It On Whitman at Faces Malden

March 29, 2024 (Saturday) Cold Expectations and Hasbro and Fandango (both from NYC) at The Square Root

April 6, 2024 (Saturday) Huck 2 and Island of Alaska at The JUngle Somerville.

April 13, 2024 (Saturday) Children of the Flaming Wheel, Electric Street Queens, Orange Whip, Christian Kids -8PM at The Midway FB page

April 19, 2024 (Friday) Quattracenta, Thalia Zedek Band, Rip Room - at The midway - 9:30 show.

May 4, 2024 (Saturday) The Lights Out, Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight, BBrain K & The Parkway at Faces Malden

May 16, 2024 (Thursday) The Dead Boys, Nervous Eaters, The Plimsouls at Sonia this is a 7PM show.

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.